Positives Against The Texans

[Ed_Reed20]

I just wanted to have a topic to discuss the positives from last night. Here a few I noticed:

Lardarius Webb - While he was certainly part of the second half defensive collapse, he made a number of big tackles and delivered huge pass break-ups the two times he was tested deep(one covering Johnson). He's also getting into a groove as a punt returner. I won't be surprised if he houses one in the remaining three games.

Sam Koch - Another outstanding game from him. He's the best in the league.

Billy Cundiff - Another few touchbacks. I know he's a kicker but this is one of the best stories in the NFL.

Josh Wilson - Like Webb, he had some rough moments during the meltdown but his pass break-up on Houston's opening drive when Schaub went deep, solid coverage most of the night and game-winning pick-six have to be mentioned.

David Reed - The return for a TD was phenomenal and he got yards after contact on seemingly all of his other returns too. Dude is a playmaker.

[True]

Even though the defense played poorly in the second half, they got two good turnovers.

The Ravens are finally even in the turnover margin for the season. Let's hope they make it a positive down the stretch.

[berad]

Agreed with all of those.

We also shifted Yanda back inside at RG, it didn't have much of an effect in the running game but I liked it, nonetheless.

Flacco outplayed Matt Schaub. Yeah, I said it. Look up the statistics - Flacco, by comparison, dominated him. One of his best games of the year, imo, wish Mase could've held on to some of those passes.

Ray Rice is still a playmaker, he just needs some open space. That's on the OL though.

Haloti had some decent pressure last night.

Terrell Suggs was, again, our only consistent presence. He played another good game.

Jameel McClain actually played fairly well.

[flynismo]

I'm not the type to label someone as 'the next big thing' after a good game, but David Reed is the real deal. Ever since he started returning kicks, he has been making plays. We got us a late round steal.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1292347784' post='575024']
I'm not the type to label someone as 'the next big thing' after a good game, but David Reed is the real deal. Ever since he started returning kicks, he has been making plays. We got us a late round steal.
[/quote]

I'm starting to believe that too. He's not the next Andre Reed but he really looks like him at times, not only in appearance, but with the way he fearlessly bounces of tacklers despite his small frame.

[Bltravens]

The front 4 and the zone blitzes in the first half got good pressure on Schaub and coupled with some dropped passes, Houstons offense was completely non existent in the first half. Then the defense literally ran out of gas.

[bpytnjr58]

Just think if Schaub would have completed more of those passes..especially those two in the endzone this would have been a lot worse...but he didn't and it was a win and now it is on to another high potency offense in the defending champs.

[irave89]

atleast we were able to score more than 20 points before the half,that was a better start last night.

Josh Wilson despite a couple plays,had a good game yesterday and I commend him for winning it for us.

Thank you Suggs for the pressure.

David Reed's return was BEAST!!!

[I AM LEGEND]

Lots of positives in the first 2 quarters...

We were getting pressure....we were playing sufficient offense...everything

Now second half I only found one positive

And.we can thank josh for that

[Ngata92NT]

1) Remember this was our first game with our new O-Line arrangement. It didn't work well AT ALL but I think the fact that we're trying something new is a positive. It was glaringly obvious that we were never going to have success with what we were doing. At least now there's potential for improvement. Cousins has had almost no game time at all, maybe with more snaps he'll develop into a SERVICEABLE RT and we can average over 3 yards a carry.

2) Houston's safety (pollard?) was in Flacco's face so much last night that there's NO WAY they won't have that figured out for next time. I don't care if we have to max-protect, we need to get the pressure off Flacco.

3) We won the game!

[btreadwell]

To All Ravens Fans this may be a little off topic , but I am a Houston Texan and the Texans are my number one team. But after last nights game the Suggs hug of Matt Shaub in the end zone after the pick was all class. I have been watching the interviews with the coaches and players of the Ravens , y'all are a class A Team , and the Ravens are now my # 2 team , good luck the rest of the journey to the superbowl. GO RAVENS

[Alexir]

Great play by special teams.

We played a great first half of football on all 3 phases.

Thats about all the positive I can say, but hey, if it was only 30 minutes of football, I think we would be undefeated.
[img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/argdancingravensblueonwkk8.gif[/img]

[Alexir]

[quote name='btreadwell' timestamp='1292349053' post='575077']
To All Ravens Fans this may be a little off topic , but I am a Houston Texan and the Texans are my number one team. But after last nights game the Suggs hug of Matt Shaub in the end zone after the pick was all class. I have been watching the interviews with the coaches and players of the Ravens , y'all are a class A Team , and the Ravens are now my # 2 team , good luck the rest of the journey to the superbowl. GO RAVENS
[/quote]

Suggs hugged him? I thought he was just out of breath and needed someone to support him from falling.

JK, yeah I saw that. I thought that was very cool. Schaub played a hell of a second half.

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='btreadwell' timestamp='1292349053' post='575077']
To All Ravens Fans this may be a little off topic , but I am a Houston Texan and the Texans are my number one team. But after last nights game the Suggs hug of Matt Shaub in the end zone after the pick was all class. I have been watching the interviews with the coaches and players of the Ravens , y'all are a class A Team , and the Ravens are now my # 2 team , good luck the rest of the journey to the superbowl. GO RAVENS
[/quote]

we appreciate it partna! and the Texans played with heart until the end. you cats have a very good team.

my positives:

the offense put up 21 pts
Mason caught 2 TDs to make up for that one dropped ball : )
special teams was hot...David Reed KO return for a TD
Carr got a pick
Suggs was beasting....again
McClain had a nice lil screen pass run
McGahee scored a TD

WILSON....WALK-OFF GAME WINNING PICK-6 IN OT

just beautiful.....just beautiful!

[Alexir]

[quote name='Ngata92NT' timestamp='1292348719' post='575063']
1) Remember this was our first game with our new O-Line arrangement. It didn't work well AT ALL but I think the fact that we're trying something new is a positive. It was glaringly obvious that we were never going to have success with what we were doing. At least now there's potential for improvement. Cousins has had almost no game time at all, maybe with more snaps he'll develop into a SERVICEABLE RT and we can average over 3 yards a carry.

2) Houston's safety (pollard?) was in Flacco's face so much last night that there's NO WAY they won't have that figured out for next time. I don't care if we have to max-protect, we need to get the pressure off Flacco.

3) We won the game!
[/quote]

Michael Oher and Dickson need to go straight to the OL coach and figure out whose assignment that was. Because that happened several times last night. It's getting old.

I think we need to call Sandra Bullock up...

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='btreadwell' timestamp='1292349053' post='575077']
To All Ravens Fans this may be a little off topic , but I am a Houston Texan and the Texans are my number one team. But after last nights game the Suggs hug of Matt Shaub in the end zone after the pick was all class. I have been watching the interviews with the coaches and players of the Ravens , y'all are a class A Team , and the Ravens are now my # 2 team , good luck the rest of the journey to the superbowl. GO RAVENS
[/quote]

I think the respect is mutual. The Texans have a great offense, not every team can drive 99 yards on the Ravens defense. Andre Johnson, Schaub, and Foster are a great trio of skill players. The Houston O-Line was impressive as well. Work on that defense and I'm sure we'll all look forward to a rematch.

[I AM LEGEND]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1292349363' post='575088']
Suggs hugged him? I thought he was just out of breath and needed someone to support him from falling.
[/quote]

Lmao

[PuRock]

When Gruden is spewing love over your kicker/punter non-stop, you know your special teams are truly special.

[Ravensfan23]

My biggest positive from this game is the resolve and championship mentality of this team. People will come up with a million reason why the Ravens won't win the Super Bowl and the biggest reason seems to be that we don't put people away, or our defense is no longer dominant.

But lets be honest here, when is the last time we saw any team dominate in the SuperBowl? 2002 with the Bucs maybe? When you talk about the playoffs and big games, it's all about finding a way to win. Last week we didn't, last night we did. Is it something that gives you great confidence going into big games? no, you would rather go into games knowing you can dominate anyone just like the Patriots have, however we saw back in 2007 that it only takes one game for you to be knocked off as the best team ever.

The Ravens defense was on the field longer in the second half then most teams where on the field for an entire game. The Defense was on the field for 55 plays and were obviously beat, but when they absolutely had to make a play they did, and that is what a being a champion is about.

I know people will say, i could i possibly thing giving up that many yards and points in the second half is championship caliber, but think about this. The Ravens defense was on the field for 55 total plays in the second half and overtime of that game. There were a total of 8 NFL teams in week 14 that had a total play count of 55 or less. Cle, Cin, TB, SF, CHI, MIA, KC, PHI, all ran 55 plays or less and a handful of other teams ran just over 60 total plays. So the Ravens defense played what was equal to a full game in the second half along.

With the game on the line, Ngata stepped up with huge pressure, and Wilson was there to reap the benefits of it. The defense came up huge in overtime and that is the biggest positive to me.