Ray Rice In The Redzone

[JayDaRavensFan]

The offense played well but we were still 2-5 in the redzone. Both TD's in the redzone were to Rice. Should we have been using Rice in the redzone all along, I mean no offense to Willis but Ray is the more dynamic player. Thoughts?

[gabefergy]

I like the idea of spreading out the offense when we are near the goalline. Put rice in as sole back and get him the ball in a creative way: pitch, draw, screen, etc

[Ravenmore74]

A Red Zone Ray Rice is a threat to any team. Other teams right a game plan against "Red zone Rice."

[The King]

Ray Rice is a runner who is powerful, patient, and has a low center of gravity. He could definitely be a threat in the red zone, and his hands make him even more dangerous when we put him out there close to the end zone. I would have him out on any snap in the red zone outside of five yards.

Right up on the goal line, Willis McGahee or Le'Ron McClain might be a better option, as they have more pure power to shove the line forward. But Rice is the most dynamic of the three, and that makes him dangerous from further out.

[berad]

Ray Rice also came up short on the goal-line in the third quarter. For the record, I'd rather have Willis and/or LeRon in goal-line situations but Rice gives us more versatility. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, with our OL being as inconsistent as it has been.

[ravenswoman]

Don't forget part of Ray Rice's success came from great blocking by the rest of the team. It seemed to me the whole team was playing at a different level against the Saints. That must have been one heck of a speech Ray Lewis gave Saturday night.

[Purple Punishment]

Willis only had over 10 TDs with limited use in the red zone last season. Hes was a TD machine until they decided to stop using him. I like Willis better in the red zone. Dont forget who scored our only 2 TDs in goal line stands in the AFCCG a couple of years back!

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='JayDaRavensFan' timestamp='1292975522' post='582860']
The offense played well but we were still 2-5 in the redzone. Both TD's in the redzone were to Rice. Should we have been using Rice in the redzone all along, I mean no offense to Willis but Ray is the more dynamic player. Thoughts?
[/quote]

The Ravens called plays for Ray Rice each time we got into the red zone. The reason why we went 2-5 is because, McClain dropped a TD, and Housh was pushed out of the endzone on a TD. Then on the last redzone possession the Ravens were only running the clock out and not trying to press the issue of scoring.

Us going 2-5 in the redzone really had nothing to do with Ray Rice, or the lack of touches for him. It was just missed opportunities.

[DDS]

I have a question.....if the Steelers lose Thursday night, even though they have a better division record than us, wouldnt that technically drop them down to a Wild Card spot, and have us clinch a birth?

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='DDS' timestamp='1292994860' post='583032']
I have a question.....if the Steelers lose Thursday night, even though they have a better division record than us, wouldnt that technically drop them down to a Wild Card spot, and have us clinch a birth?
[/quote]

Wow there are so many other thread this question would have been better suited for.

However you are correct. If the Steelers lose Thursday, the Ravens would be in position to clinch the North and the #2 seed if we win out.

[DDS]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1292995467' post='583037']
Wow there are so many other thread this question would have been better suited for.

However you are correct. If the Steelers lose Thursday, the Ravens would be in position to clinch the North and the #2 seed if we win out.
[/quote]

Thanks for the answer...

[Alexir]

willis isn't as dynamic?

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bwXwwWqgag[/media]


really?

[Ravensfan23]

I think the Ravens are one of those rare teams blessed with plenty of redzone options. I don't think we use them as well as we should, and also the players don't execute as well, but we definitely have options down their.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1292997726' post='583052']
willis isn't as dynamic?

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bwXwwWqgag[/media]


really?
[/quote]
No hes not, really. Not taking anything away from Willis, but Rice has more ability.

[codizzle]

At this point in their careers yes ray rice ismore dynamic and more explosive yes but no one can knock Willis for his redzone production.... He is a td machine and has proven that time and time again

[flynismo]

Have we already forgotten what McGahee does in the red zone?

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

Let's not pretend that we've been blessed with great blockingin short yardage and goal situations this year. The blocking was by-and-large a lot better against the Saints, and I would expect to see our redzone numbers go up if that continues.

[JayDaRavensFan]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1293011995' post='583102']
Have we already forgotten what McGahee does in the red zone?
[/quote]
I havent forgotten those like 14 TD's he had last year but I see he has only 5 this year and we are strugglin to get TD's in the redzone especially in the 2nd half of games. I know Willis is talented and i'm not blamin our redzone struggles on him. I just want more TD's instead of FG's. Games wouldnt be so close if we could convert more.

[Radinho84]

i think the main reason for our red zone rushing struggles comes with the loss of gaither. he is (was) one of the best run blocking LTs in this league last year and we miss him bad this season...

[purple.n.black]

I think we should be using Willis running in the red zone more than we do now. We use him a bit in the red zone but it is on passing downs, and on the fringe of the red zone usually. I wanna see him inside the 15 running it more

[Romo Ravens]

The thing with McGahee is so many Ravens fans are blinded by the fact at how many TDs he had last year. But the truth is, all he does now is dances and maybe gains a yard or so unless the offensive line is making a hole for him. It's frustrating to watch because I've been a huge Willis fan since his days at Miami, but it's time to make Rice the focal point of our offense again. Like it says in another thread, the Ravens are 17-4 when Rice has more than 15 touches a game. Not only is he versatile, but his low center of gravity would allow the offensive line to swallow him up, making it hard to see him if you're on the defensive side of the ball. He needs to be getting at least 20 touches a game, and I'm sorry Willis lovers, but I wouldn't be opposed to cutting your man once this season ends.

We're better off with Rice being the lead back and allowing him to see more touches within the opponents' 20 yard line. I'm to the point where it's annoying to see McGahee come in because he hardly eats up yardage unless he falls forward. Rice just makes plays and I think the perfect compliment to his style of running would be a burner.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Romo Ravens' timestamp='1293072905' post='583653']
The thing with McGahee is so many Ravens fans are blinded by the fact at how many TDs he had last year. But the truth is, all he does now is dances and maybe gains a yard or so unless the offensive line is making a hole for him. It's frustrating to watch because I've been a huge Willis fan since his days at Miami, but it's time to make Rice the focal point of our offense again. Like it says in another thread, the Ravens are 17-4 when Rice has more than 15 touches a game. Not only is he versatile, but his low center of gravity would allow the offensive line to swallow him up, making it hard to see him if you're on the defensive side of the ball. He needs to be getting at least 20 touches a game, and I'm sorry Willis lovers, but I wouldn't be opposed to cutting your man once this season ends.

We're better off with Rice being the lead back and allowing him to see more touches within the opponents' 20 yard line. I'm to the point where it's annoying to see McGahee come in because he hardly eats up yardage unless he falls forward. Rice just makes plays and I think the perfect compliment to his style of running would be a burner.
[/quote]

I guess I'm not the only Ray Rice lover! great post by my fellow Californian =)

[Romo Ravens]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1293074708' post='583659']
I guess I'm not the only Ray Rice lover! great post by my fellow Californian =)
[/quote]

We have to have each others backs with this board full of Marylanders