Playing Opossum

[K-Dog]

I was talking with some one today.

What are then odds the offense have been playing opossum. Not really showing their cards.
Playing just good enough to get into the playoffs, and to keep us under the radar. Just to get into the playoffs and show a full house (or what ever a really awesome hand in poker would be)

It would be pretty smart game planning in my opinion. Kinda like being a pool shark. Just kinda dorking along until it really matters.

[edreedfromtheu]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1294444185' post='595773']
I was talking with some one today.

What are then odds the offense have been playing opossum. Not really showing their cards.
Playing just good enough to get into the playoffs, and to keep us under the radar. Just to get into the playoffs and show a full house (or what ever a really awesome hand in poker would be)

It would be pretty smart game planning in my opinion. Kinda like being a pool shark. Just kinda dorking along until it really matters.
[/quote]

While I doubt this is the case, it would be incredible to see the offense just take flight through these playoffs. I don't mind hearing conspiracy theories all summer if it means the Ravens get another ring.

But yeah, once again... that would be quite a relief to see that. After all, as good as the defense is, the best way to beat MOST of these playoff teams is to keep their offense off the field for as long as possible. That means putting together drives that last a long time is actually more important than getting a quick touchdown. But I'll take the 7 points as often as I can get them too!

[ravenswoman]

ahhhh NO. To lose so many fourth quarter leads and have so many close calls, that would be a really risky strategy.

[RivenHale]

Yeah, if you say yes to this, I really think you're just grasping at straws here. We had a chance to beat the Steelers and take control of the second seed. We had a shot at knocking out the Pats and pretty much wrapping up the first seed, even though it was a bit too early to know that much. And there's no way we lay down for the Bengals - they were a division game and, as far as we knew, were going to be competing with us for a playoff spot come December. They were good last year.

We weren't "hiding" anything. We've just gotta hope we catch fire in the postseason.

[Alexir]

I think it would be idiotic. They could of had a first round bye and home field advantage. There is no playing Opossum in the NFL. Too many jobs rely on success and performance.

[Ed_Reed20]

I honestly don't know why some fans feel Cam and the offense have been holding back this season. I understand we'd all like to believe what the offense showed this season isn't all they're capable of but going into the post-season and considering the coaches and players have basically resigned themselves to the offense's reality, I think we as fans need to do the same.

[Jabara]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1294444185' post='595773']
I was talking with some one today.

What are then odds the offense have been playing opossum. Not really showing their cards.
Playing just good enough to get into the playoffs, and to keep us under the radar. Just to get into the playoffs and show a full house (or what ever a really awesome hand in poker would be)

It would be pretty smart game planning in my opinion. Kinda like being a pool shark. Just kinda dorking along until it really matters.
[/quote]
Why would we do something so silly when we had a shot at winning the division.
We didn't show any of the so-called cards during the last loss to the Steelers.
It's not smart to give up and try to get a WC spot and go on the road all throughout the playoffs.
No coach would do that.
I like the optimism though.

[K-Dog]

Not that I intend to get into an argument. I am just backing my point of view. (which I will admit does not have a lot of strength)
Two people brought up the Pittsburgh game. That one was a straight up loss. We were poised to win that game till one bone headed mistake and that poofey headed guy got the best of us. Big mistake. Period. I dont think that would have worked into the "texas hold 'em game plan" Some games are just lost. Some one has to loose every game. I mean it is a huge gamble to play each game so close to the cuff, but think about going into the playoffs totally underrated, far better than any one knows, with no one having game tape of what you are really able to do.

I dunno, hoping for the best.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1294453506' post='595909']
Not that I intend to get into an argument. I am just backing my point of view. (which I will admit does not have a lot of strength)
[b]Two people brought up the Pittsburgh game. That one was a straight up loss. We were poised to win that game till one bone headed mistake and that poofey headed guy got the best of us. Big mistake. Period. I dont think that would have worked into the "texas hold 'em game plan"[/b] Some games are just lost. Some one has to loose every game. I mean it is a huge gamble to play each game so close to the cuff, but think about going into the playoffs totally underrated, far better than any one knows, with no one having game tape of what you are really able to do.

I dunno, hoping for the best.
[/quote]

But that was a game that had the Ravens won, they would be able to sit back and relax this weekend. To me, it's just senseless not to try your hardest to win every game on your schedule. Assuming this theory of yours is true, the coaches were essentially [i]so[/i] confident they'd make the play-offs going into the season, they decided to hold back plays that could help win every game(the ultimate goal of every NFL team). I just don't see that being the case.

If it was, why would Harbaugh come out with a comment like, "We are what we are..."? Or why would Mason say the players can't make excuses anymore on offense and simply have to execute the plays that are called.

If Cam truly had a better play-book, why would he not open it up and avoid all the heat he's taken?

[Jabara]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1294453506' post='595909']
Not that I intend to get into an argument. I am just backing my point of view. (which I will admit does not have a lot of strength)
Two people brought up the Pittsburgh game. That one was a straight up loss. We were poised to win that game till one bone headed mistake and that poofey headed guy got the best of us. Big mistake. Period. I dont think that would have worked into the "texas hold 'em game plan" Some games are just lost. Some one has to loose every game. I mean it is a huge gamble to play each game so close to the cuff, but think about going into the playoffs totally underrated, far better than any one knows, with no one having game tape of what you are really able to do.

I dunno, hoping for the best.
[/quote]
I like it, but I don't think it's possible, why else lose to the Pats, or the Bengals being in our conference.
I've heard Cam say, early in the season, that he doesn't always want to show his hand, or something to that degree.
But I don't think there is this hidden agenda going on, it would be nice, and I think we'll see some plays we haven't seen yet this season, like last game with the flea flicker screen to Heap.
I doubt it, I would hope that is the case, and it's an interesting idea that at one point I was even thinking about it midseason or so, but really it made me think I was just in denial about how we actually are, and have been playing in the past.
Last season we were just as up and down, only we blew some teams out last season, not this season.

But, to play devil's advocate, do we finally show our hand in the Chiefs game?
Or do we squeak by and open it up against the Pats/Steelers?

Also, even if we do have this amazing team that we haven't seen all season, perhaps with the exception of the Saints game, teams will still practice and cover the potential of the players that are on the field.
I don't think teams would gameplan for how poorly we've played but for our potential and tendencies.

Also, how much of this does Flacco know, because if he's just been joking all season, I'll be shocked, especially if he steps up big and pays as an elite QB through the playoffs, which let's face it, is highly unlikely.

But, it's the NFL, and the element of surprise is inevitable, so who knows...

[ravensdfan]

I don't think there's a chance that this was going on all season long. I DO think that some of this went on in the 2nd half of the Bengals' game once the Steelers got up big on the Browns.

Admittedly our offense has in no way played up to their potential. IMO it has to do with Cam's playcalling. I think there is a lot of voices coming out of the locker room right now though about that. Cam has to have a feeling that his job might be at stake during these playoffs. I don't recall any other time that everyone felt this team was destined to be in that big game like this season. If Cam's play calling costs us a loss in the playoffs, I think we could very well have seen the last of him.

All of that combined does leave me confident that everyone is on the same page heading into the playoffs. This offense needs to break out and I think Cam knows he has to do his part to see that happen.

If our D continues to show up like they have the last few weeks and the offense finally plays to their potential, I don't see a team that can stop us.

[Tank 92]

[quote name='Jabara' timestamp='1294450498' post='595858']
Why would we do something so silly when we had a shot at winning the division.
We didn't show any of the so-called cards during the last loss to the Steelers.
It's not smart to give up and try to get a WC spot and go on the road all throughout the playoffs.
No coach would do that.
I like the optimism though.
[/quote]

We had the 2nd Steelers game, and the division won, all but for a great play by Troy and a blown blocking assignment.

I think there may be some truth to the "doing just enough to win" approach. Very risky in some ways, but the fact that we almost eliminated turnovers and were in every game we played, it's not a far stretch. It certainly makes things stressful for us fans, but we had an excellent chance to go undefeated!

Since Cam IS a Raven, I'm believing he has a whole different(read unpredictable)scheme to throw on the chiefs, steelers, whoever. You have to believe if you are a fan and want the Ravens to win it all! If Biscotti believes, I do as well.

[McBoller]

no, no, no...and in case you didnt understand that...[size="7"]NO[/size]

NFL teams dont do this, PERIOD. Probably in pop warner, maybe in high school, not in the NFL.

You play to win the game. If anything Cam's butt tightens up when we play good teams and in the playoffs. Its against bad teams that he tries to fling the ball around and busts out the trick plays.

Now that its playoff time look for us to run the ball as much as possible. If that doesnt work Joe is gonna have to step up but dont look for anything new that we havent already seen. Other than ONE or TWO plays, you wont see it.

[Tank 92]

[quote name='McBoller' timestamp='1294463319' post='595979']
no, no, no...and in case you didnt understand that...[size="7"]NO[/size]

NFL teams dont do this, PERIOD. Probably in pop warner, maybe in high school, not in the NFL.

You play to win the game. If anything Cam's butt tightens up when we play good teams and in the playoffs. Its against bad teams that he tries to fling the ball around and busts out the trick plays.

[i][b]Now that its playoff time look for us to run the ball as much as possible.[/b][/i] If that doesnt work Joe is gonna have to step up but dont look for anything new that we havent already seen. Other than ONE or TWO plays, you wont see it.
[/quote]

Yes, [size="4"]YES, [size="7"]yes !!!!!!!!

[size="2"]Care to recant?[/size]

Go Ravens!!!!!!!!
[/size][/size]

[catty112]

Cam thanks for laying off the herb this week

[lowrider]

This is a ridiculous thread. Its not like that Ravens had these magical plays that were holding back for the playoffs. Different things work for different teams. Holding things back wouldn't make any sense because what are you going to hold back?

We are peaking at the right time and that's what is going right. But the Steelers defense is way better than the Chiefs defense. Let's not get carried away.

[Ed_Reed20]

Agreed lowrider.

I saw more crossing routes and slants today than I've seen all season but Cam hasn't been holding anything back this season.