Boldin

[True]

[quote name='hammer' timestamp='1291001914' post='553622']
C'mon True. You got a playbook hidden away somewhere? How do you project the routes if you dont even know the gameplan or the schemes? Thats not to demean your recomendations (I hope you dont feel that way). But C'mon man! This has got to be the job of the coaches, right?
[/quote]
I'm not sure I understand. What do you mean project routes? I TIVO the games and watch some of them again just to see what the Ravens were doing in the game and with the football knowledge I have I can make an assessment. Trust me, I don't want to come off as a coach or analyst who knows everything, just giving an opinion from my perspective on play calling.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='True' timestamp='1291001396' post='553611']
I'd like to see instead some crossing or slant routes with Boldin since he is one of the best WR with YAC. Joe is really good at throwing passes to the sideline, but I don't see him pass a lot towards the middle to WRs, unless it's to Heap or Rice. With 3 good possession receivers, going over the middle could prove to really pick up the pace of the offense.
[/quote]
Lots of teams don't pass over the middle, actually. It's not necessarily the fault of the QB, it's just that passes over the middle in traffic are high-risk, moderate-reward. If a pass gets tipped, it can easily be intercepted since more defenders are inherently in the middle of the field. Additionally, the risk of a fumble is increased, as receivers who are honed in on catching the pass are blind to the defender that's only a few paces away, about to tackle them full-speed with a jarring blow. And beyond that, the risk of injury is increased, as that full-speed tackling, especially with multiple defenders, is heightened and receivers are inherently placed in more vulnerable positions.

Now, that's not to say that there aren't routes [i]designed[/i] to throw over the middle, as there's only so much real estate outside of the hashes along the sidelines, but they're not the primary routes because they are dangerous, both to the receiver's health and to the offense's protection of the football.

Furthermore, passing over the middle is an artform that not every QB perfects. Again, part of it has to do with his receivers and their ability to take big hits, but it also has to do with gauging the placement of the ball and the distance in which a ball must be thrown to avoid a tip or a pick. Place a ball too high and a receiver is left at his most vulnerable. Place a ball too low and a defender risks getting in the way. Place a ball too far behind or too far ahead and it's asking for an interception rather than an incompletion. Place a ball right between the numbers, however, and that's where the collision course between the receiver and the nearest defender begins, assuming that there's a swarm of defenders in the middle rather than in the deep outside perimeter or in the backfield underneath.

[TXRaven]

Boldin is not forgotten at all. Defenses scheme to take him away leaving some of our other weapons open. That is all.

[True]

Good post Franchise and I can understand your perspective. However, why is it risky for the receivers to go over the middle, but it's fine for a check down to Ray Rice? The Ravens now have additional play makers at wideout so they don't have to constantly rely on him like last year. The reason I believe going over the middle is a valuable asset is because once the team is in the red zone you have a very confined space and it's harder to pass towards the sidelines or in the back of the end zone. The middle portion of the field is where you'll have a better chance of catching the ball since there is more open space to run around and try and get the ball. It's up to the QB and receiver to connect at these points and assure a score.

That's why I think if the Ravens used more plays with receivers catching balls over the middle (especially in zone coverage) you'd build that chemistry and flow where Flacco and his receiving corps can learn to throw the ball in tight windows. Yes there is a chance of a turnover by going over the middle since you venture into the hard hitting LB area, but I personally have confidence that tough receivers like Boldin/Housh can make those big plays instead of having to constantly have Ray Rice get the ball and make his miracle plays.

The Ravens have had trouble in the red zone (ranked around 23rd IIRC) and they don't have the offensive line to be aggressive enough to pound the rock in like years prior. With Flacco's increased development as a passer, I feel he could make some good plays with the possession receivers he has into scoring plays with drag, slants, crossing, etc; routes.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='True' timestamp='1290993038' post='553425']
What do you mean? I like that Joe spread the ball out to all his receivers, but for some reason I haven't heard Boldin's name a lot the last few weeks.
[/quote]

He has sure hands and is great at YAC. Defenses usually put their best CB on him. He isn't open as much. It isn't that he's forgotten or being left out intentionally. Sometimes, a talented WR winds up being a decoy allowing someone else to get open.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

This is frustrating me too. He is our best receiver easily and a real playmaker. Why he doesn't at least get more quick passes at the line us beyond me, he'll always get you 6-8 yards - he's too strong for defensive backs.

[Ed_Reed20]

According to Mike Preston, Q was bracketed which is probably why he didn't see many targets.

[Radinho84]

when you have mason and heap out there putting on a show like they did yesterday you don´t have to force the ball to boldin just to give him his stats. that´s fantasy football mentality. don´t forget that boldin´s making room for everybody on the field just because he´s out there.

he will get his stats again but if you ask him i am sure that he would rather take a W instead of having a 100+ yard game and a loss...

[Jabara]

It's pretty simple.
Teams are double teaming Boldin, after seeing what he has done.
What's the big deal.
Of course, we as fans want to see him make plays, but he's always covered by two or three players.
What else is there to worry about?
When other teams take him away, it opens up other players, like Housh or Mason.

[UMDan]

If Boldin was open, he'd be targeted. TB clearly had him covered pretty well, we'll see what the situation is with the game against Pitt coming up.

[BloodRaven]

If Boldin is getting doubled, that frees up everyone else. Win/win.

[rlh445]

As others have said, I don't see the big deal. Why is it that people always want to see (name whoever) get the ball or get more play time or whatever? I don't have an allegiance to any player on the team, I love them all equally as a team and I don't care if it's little Robbie Sparks who just joined the team from the stands getting the ball, as long as he's catching it and making plays it doesn't matter. Who cares if Boldin is getting the ball? He's making other plays..giving out fierce blocks, taking up two defenders, giving speeches on the sideline, etc. We as fans certainly don't have to be divas by proxy for the receivers.

[POE]

My only complaint about the way Boldin gets used is I feel he should get more quick slants and screen passes thrown his way. He has excelled with after the catch yardage his whole career and with getting doubled a lot lately going down field we have to find more opportunities to get the ball in his hands cause he is a play maker. Either way you look at it though the way Flacco spreads the ball around is working well and we can win games doing what we are doing obviously, but getting it in Boldin's hands a bit more without forcing it into bad coverage is only a plus.

[TSizzle00]

He has been taking all the double coverage and it is helping out the Ravens offense greatly. Good to have a WR that warrents double coverage!

[FerrariFan87]

With Oher's health up in the air, I suspect we'll be seeing a lot more 3-step drops and quick throws and WR screens. Boldin's going to show up big this upcoming week.

[Gtown Purple]

You throw to the open man...........

[Guest RBates]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1290994197' post='553459']
It's no secret that the receivers are frustrated with the offense -- but that's because there's only one ball and only so many touches per game. They all have egos, they all want the ball, but they can't be in the spotlight every week. However, it's not really a big deal because the team is winning and the receivers value winning a championship more than individual glory since they've all had their taste of the spotlight before and need that championship to cement their legacy.

Boldin getting fired up on the sideline isn't his discontent with the offense or with Flacco, it's his way of rallying the troops, similar to how Ray Lewis delivers speeches to his defense to inspire them. Mason getting into an argument with Flacco isn't his discontent with the offense, it's his way of getting Flacco to look his way more often in games where he may actually be validly open. Houshmandzadeh has always had a temper, but at least it hasn't cost him on the field.

This is a non-issue. Boldin not getting nearly as many catches isn't because the team isn't looking for him, it's because he's either being doubled or tripled by the defense, or he just wasn't open as quickly as someone else on the same play. It'd be a bigger concern if Flacco was merely targeting one receiver all season long as he did with Mason and checkdowns to Rice, but the fact remains that Flacco is spreading the ball around and the offense has never been more potent.
[/quote]
I disagree with the second paragraph its more than rallying the troops its a way to yell at the team without looking disruptive. I think the receivers are very frustrated with this offense. They have underperformed all season. The offense is boring and predictable. Oh yeah and im pretty sure he is not getting tripled unless he is running into the zone.

[CorvusCorax]

This week was Mason and TJ's week. Maybe next week will be Boldin's week. lol. Gotta take turns you know, sharing the ball and all lol.

[ml63440]

This season

Boldin: 51 receptions for 652 yards and 6 TDS
Rice: 47 receptions for 392 yards and 0 TDS
Mason: 45 receptions for 576 yards and 4 TDS
Heap: 37 receptions for 546 yards and 5 TDS

Spreading the ball works. Flacco Has 18 TDS and 8 INTS, after throwing 5 in the first 2 games, i am happy with where we are at passing, Flacco is still developing and is no Peyton, Rivers, Brees, or Brady, will he get there, who knows but he wins games. The ground game isnt being broken as open because defenses are still focusing on it, forcing flacco to beat them, which he is doing since we are 8-3. Defense is our biggest concern, they are aging. They arent horrible, but we are used to having the best defense in the league year in and year out. Things are starting to shift now more towards the offense.