[Blogs] Ravens Stand By 3-Man Rush

[BR News]

The Ravens had the Steelers backed up, facing third-and-19 with just more than two minutes remaining.

It looked like Baltimore’s offense was going to get the ball with a chance to win Saturday’s divisional playoff.

Then, improbably, disaster struck the Ravens.

Baltimore Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison sent a three-man rush at quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ signal-caller unleashed a deep pass down the right sideline to rookie wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Brown got behind Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb and hauled in the pass first with two hands, then held on with one hand while propping the ball against his helmet. He went out of bounds 58 yards later at the 4-yard line, setting up the Steelers’ game-winning touchdown.

“He just outran me, man,” Webb said. “I tried not to let him get behind me, but he did. He made a play, a good throw. Now I’m just trying to move on from it.”

Webb said he wasn’t expecting help over the top. He also said Brown, a sixth-round 2010 draft pick who is the Steelers’ fifth receiver “could have stopped at the sticks,” meaning he could have tried to go just deep enough for a first down.

But the Steelers were going for a big play at the suggestion of Roethlisberger.

On the play, all the receivers were supposed to run 15-yard stop routes, according to Roethlisberger. But the signal-caller told Steelers Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians to send Hines Ward and Brown on fly routes.

“Let’s just chuck it deep, if they pick it, it will be a pick way down there, just as good as a punt,” Roethlisberger said, recalling his thoughts at the time.

When Roethlisberger saw Ravens safety Ed Reed line up to the left side of the field he figured he would just “throw it as far as I can.” Brown got behind Webb before the speedy cornerback hit full speed.

Baltimore sent a three-man rush including linebacker Terrell Suggs, who was regularly beating his man and had three sacks already. The pressure didn’t rush Roethlisberger, but the play-call was defended by the players and coaches.

“We were fully confident that our three-man rush could get there,” Suggs said. “I don’t know how many he got, but you’re not supposed to give up that big one. … It’s been our philosophy all year. Don’t let the ball get thrown over your head.”

Head Coach John Harbaugh was also asked about the three-man rush.

“The ball would have been out either way,” he said. “That was a pretty quick throw. I don’t think it would have mattered how many guys we brought in that particular situation. We could have brought more and moved the ball out quicker, but you’d never do that in that situation.”

[url=http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2011/01/15/ravens-stand-by-3-man-rush/]View the full article[/url]

[Militant X 1]

the Ravens OC "Cam" goes ultra-conservative in his playcalling with a lead (although Boldin and Housh dropped passes) and the Ravens DC "Greg" goes ultra-conservative on 3rd & 19 instead of keeping the pressure on Ben by bringing the heat when they sacked him 6 times already and he only sends 3 rushers?????????

wow!

heads need to roll after this 21-7 halftime lead was blown!!

[GregRaven]

3 man rush = automatic first down. We never learn from our mistakes. POOR coaching.

Mattison was a bad experiment and must go!!!

While we are at it let's replace both coordinators.

What a waste of great talent. I feel so sorry for Lewis, Reed & Suggs.

[JIVE1000]

The defense isn't the problem. Try taking a look at the "offense".

[HeavRT08]

3 man rush is the story of our season.... this is the exact reason why New England came back and beat us

[HeavRT08]

Reed and Lewis didn't even show up tonight

[GregRaven]

Just wait till next year.......I'm so sick of saying that. Get rid of these coordinators NOW!!! We have the talent to win but lack the coaching to pull it off. 3 man rush...are you kidding me. It didn't work week one and it sure didn't work tonight. We will never get to the SB with this leadership. Another wasted year and opportunity at greatness.

[RavenInMiami]

should of one man rushed and but 10 in the back field then maybe would not let them get over top on us, but like i have read allthrough the comments this is just one play from many mistakes in this game. get it next year go ravens.

[col0709]

"We could have brought more and moved the ball out quicker, but you%u2019d never do that in that situation.%u201D

Harbaugh are you serious?

So we wont rush them - just give the QB all day & their receivers time to get downfield...

this statement really makes me angry! Does he actually have a clue as to how defence works?

[IAFF RAVEN FAN]

I hate to say this and if people think I'm a [i]<jerk>[/i] thats fine because i've been called worse but heres my opinion.

If we had to lose i'm glad it was in this manner. The problems we saw tonight have been re-occuring all year long and no changes have been made. Hopefully something good will be done to prep us for next year. Just imagine if nothing was done for next season and we all get our hopes up with the yearly "ravens are superbowl bound baby" and "we've already won the superbowl just the other teams dont know it yet" rants from our fans and we [i]<poo>[/i] the bed again next year. How upset will you be again next year? This loss is a good thing because no matter what happened this year things were never gonna change for the best. At least now there are some eyes opened and hopefully heads a rollin'.

-Kevin

[cobrajet]

You can stand by it all you want but it was my worst nightmare come true. I said it before and I'll say it again. I would rather go down playing smash mouth football than that scared crappy three man rush. Way to pressure, how did that work out for you? I have to buy my brother-in-law a heath miller jersey now. Thanks, I appreciate it and the way us fans were begging all year to stop doing it I am sure there are a lot of us in agreement.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='PITCH52BLACK' timestamp='1295151933' post='608207']
the Ravens OC "Cam" goes ultra-conservative in his playcalling with a lead (although Boldin and Housh dropped passes) and the Ravens DC "Greg" goes ultra-conservative on 3rd & 19 instead of keeping the pressure on Ben by bringing the heat when they sacked him 6 times already and he only sends 3 rushers?????????

wow!

heads need to roll after this 21-7 halftime lead was blown!!
[/quote]
Rushing 3 was the correct call.....very poor execution.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='col0709' timestamp='1295153418' post='608305']
"We could have brought more and moved the ball out quicker, but you%u2019d never do that in that situation.%u201D

Harbaugh are you serious?

So we wont rush them - just give the QB all day & their receivers time to get downfield...

this statement really makes me angry! Does he actually have a clue as to how defence works?
[/quote]
Again, correct call......so sick of snap judgment "couch callers"!

[easternshore97]

RavenInMiami is right. But there is no way you let the guy get behind you. This one isn't on Mattison because the defense made plays the whole game.

If the offense coughs up the ball and Pitt starts with it twice in/on the 20 and once inside the 30, it's awfully difficult to not give up points.

[stucknthejungle]

a three man rush on 3rd and 19....and that was after watching the three man rush fail all night....pittsburgh was 3/4 on third down conversions at that point in the game....which were all pass plays defended via 3 man rush.
Terrible call...we need some younger talent as far as the offensive and defencing coaching goes...im still proud of my ravens though... im still gonna be there for them again next year....when we get the bye week.....peace in the mideast my brothers and sisters

[bmorerave704]

If we fire our coordinators... who is available as BETTER options?

[EyeSeeTDsInBmore]

Sorry Greg, but you have got to go. Our Defense likes to blitz and you just don't do it enough.

[col0709]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1295154000' post='608340']
Again, correct call......so sick of snap judgment "couch callers"!
[/quote]

With respect it obviously wasnt the correct call bc they managed to get a downfield completion & ultimately won the game!! Surely if you have so many yards to get that 1st down you try & rush the passer so he doesnt have the time to get it out quickly & so far down the field?

Anyway this sort of situation has happened time and time again this season...when we have became far too conservative on defensive plays especially 3rd & long...I think back to New England...Houston...Tampa Bay in particular..we have given teams the oppertunity to make completions when we have been in a position to kill them off...I would like to see the figures on how many 3rd down plays the Ravens have given up this season...I expect it to be a bunch!

Now I'm not jumping on any bandwagon...but just a dissapointed Raven making an observation on what I have saw in our games this season. :-(

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1295154000' post='608340']
Again, correct call......so sick of snap judgment "couch callers"!
[/quote]

poor execution? of course but STILL a poor call!....so sick of cats always trying to "justify" assanine playcalling.

[Ray's right arm]

11 minutes ago

View PostPITCH52BLACK, on 15 January 2011 - 10:25 PM, said:
the Ravens OC "Cam" goes ultra-conservative in his playcalling with a lead (although Boldin and Housh dropped passes) and the Ravens DC "Greg" goes ultra-conservative on 3rd & 19 instead of keeping the pressure on Ben by bringing the heat when they sacked him 6 times already and he only sends 3 rushers?????????

wow!

heads need to roll after this 21-7 halftime lead was blown!!

Rushing 3 was a BAD CALL on that play as the Steelers Offensive tackles were
hurt subs in for subs. A good DC would smell the blood in the water & rush the heck out of that situation. Harbaugh protecting Mattison in the press conference. Poor defensive call & Webb got beat by a rookie 6th round WR . Just as bad tho were the drops of Flacco passes by Boldin & TJ. Ravens Deserved to lose this game !!!

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='col0709' timestamp='1295155281' post='608437']
With respect [b]it obviously wasnt the correct call bc they managed to get a downfield completion & ultimately won the game!! Surely if you have so many yards to get that 1st down you try & rush the passer so he doesnt have the time to get it out quickly & so far down the field?

Anyway this sort of situation has happened time and time again this season...when we have became far too conservative on defensive plays especially 3rd & long[/b]...I think back to New England...Houston...Tampa Bay in particular..we have given teams the oppertunity to make completions when we have been in a position to kill them off...I would like to see the figures on how many 3rd down plays the Ravens have given up this season...I expect it to be a bunch!

Now I'm not jumping on any bandwagon...but just a dissapointed Raven making an observation on what I have saw in our games this season. :-(
[/quote]

naw it didn't work! and yeah....you don't give the passer time to allow his receivers to get open on deep routes. oh wait...the Ravens D.C. does by only sending 3 rushers against 5 blockers. do the math!

[Ray's right arm]

[quote name='bmorerave704' timestamp='1295154345' post='608363']
If we fire our coordinators... who is available as BETTER options?
[/quote]
How about some coordinators with some NADS. Way to conservative & I thought some calls were BAD too but they had their chances ... blowing a 21 -7 halftime lead to the Steelers in the playoffs really hurts !! Worst 2nd half of a football game I've seen the Ravens play !

[crazypete89]

not just webb on that play tho. landry need to make sure he got deeper and he got beat. we lost the game, but i have confidence joe will be able to grow and we can move on.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='PITCH52BLACK' timestamp='1295155284' post='608439']
poor execution? of course but STILL a poor call!....so sick of cats always trying to "justify" assanine playcalling.
[/quote]
This "cat" is just saying that you don't let one of their 4 receivers get behind your 8 defenders....pretty cut and dry as it being very, very poor execution!

[Ray's right arm]

[quote name='IAFF RAVEN FAN' timestamp='1295153618' post='608317']
I hate to say this and if people think I'm a [i]<jerk>[/i] thats fine because i've been called worse but heres my opinion.

If we had to lose i'm glad it was in this manner. The problems we saw tonight have been re-occuring all year long and no changes have been made. Hopefully something good will be done to prep us for next year. Just imagine if nothing was done for next season and we all get our hopes up with the yearly "ravens are superbowl bound baby" and "we've already won the superbowl just the other teams dont know it yet" rants from our fans and we [i]<poo>[/i] the bed again next year. How upset will you be again next year? This loss is a good thing because no matter what happened this year things were never gonna change for the best. At least now there are some eyes opened and hopefully heads a rollin'.

-Kevin
[/quote]
Agree maybe it was the best thing to happen but the Ravens veterans are getting older the clock ticks down the careers of D. Mason , R. Lewis & E. Reed players that will be missed.

[PrizedRavenFan]

if they were to do it again i would call the same play. a blitz with a tired defensive wont have been that affect. the were on defensive 3 straight drives before that . the play mostly happens again if we do blitz in that situation, you cant coach speed, and cant gameplan for getting burned in prevent

[sinisterone]

Come on it's time to admit that Fluke O isn't the answer! We also need to get rid of Cam and Greg! They both can't coach a freakin' pop warner team let alone an NFL team! This was our year and we blew it! How in the hell do you get up by 14 against the Squeelers and turn around and lose the game? Unacceptable! All the fans should protest and make Steve hear what we're saying! Stop supporting the team until they make the changes that are needed to beat these pittsburgh punks!

[thor446109]

It felt like all year that Mattison's calls and game plan were forcing our defense to be something it's not...especially with our current personnel...a shut down passing team. This team was built on smashmouth football, with priorities as follows...

1.Stop the run
2.Punish the QB for stepping foot on the field
3.Not allowing the big play, however if a receiver is to catch the ball he better damn pay for it.

Our rush defense stuck strong this year despite a few suspect games, however, going into the year knowing we were thin in our secondary, the best way to prevent QB's from carving you up is to make them afraid to pass the ball. Rushing only 3 down lineman, hell throwing the prevent defense on the field during a 3rd and 19 isn't exactly smashmouth football. 3rd and 19 should have your defense licking its chops like a great white with blood in the water. I'm not saying we need to blitz every single down but jesus christ we sacked the guy 6 times already and they had pulled people from the stands to play O-Line. GO FOR THE KILL. Watching the Packers tonight made me realize something. We are a good football team. We have talent. But it felt like we never had that "IT" factor this year. That "IT" factor being a killer instinct. To have the balls to call a play that's going to give your team the best chance at winning the game in the 4th quarter under 2 minutes left at midfield on the road @ your hated rival to go to the AFC Championship game. Pure and simple. Certain coaches and players have that "IT" factor, Ray, Ed, Sizzle and Ngata at least on D. Having a coach that limit's your team's playmakers on Defense, who have to ability to change the outcome of a game...if you cannot coach to the ability and strengths of your team you are doing no good. Sorry Mattison but it's time to go

[Ray's right arm]

[quote name='BR News' timestamp='1295150797' post='608179']
<p>The Ravens had the Steelers backed up, facing third-and-19 with just more than two minutes remaining.</p><p>It looked like Baltimore’s offense was going to get the ball with a chance to win Saturday’s divisional playoff.</p><p>Then, improbably, disaster struck the Ravens.</p><p>Baltimore Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison sent a three-man rush at quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ signal-caller unleashed a deep pass down the right sideline to rookie wide receiver Antonio Brown.</p><p>Brown got behind Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb and hauled in the pass first with two hands, then held on with one hand while propping the ball against his helmet. He went out of bounds 58 yards later at the 4-yard line, setting up the Steelers’ game-winning touchdown.</p><p>“He just outran me, man,” Webb said. “I tried not to let him get behind me, but he did. He made a play, a good throw. Now I’m just trying to move on from it.”</p><p>Webb said he wasn’t expecting help over the top. He also said Brown, a sixth-round 2010 draft pick who is the Steelers’ fifth receiver “could have stopped at the sticks,” meaning he could have tried to go just deep enough for a first down.</p><p>But the Steelers were going for a big play at the suggestion of Roethlisberger.</p><p>On the play, all the receivers were supposed to run 15-yard stop routes, according to Roethlisberger. But the signal-caller told Steelers Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians to send Hines Ward and Brown on fly routes.</p><p>“Let’s just chuck it deep, if they pick it, it will be a pick way down there, just as good as a punt,” Roethlisberger said, recalling his thoughts at the time.</p><p>When Roethlisberger saw Ravens safety Ed Reed line up to the left side of the field he figured he would just “throw it as far as I can.” Brown got behind Webb before the speedy cornerback hit full speed.</p><p>Baltimore sent a three-man rush including linebacker Terrell Suggs, who was regularly beating his man and had three sacks already. The pressure didn’t rush Roethlisberger, but the play-call was defended by the players and coaches.</p><p>“We were fully confident that our three-man rush could get there,” Suggs said. “I don’t know how many he got, but you’re not supposed to give up that big one. … It’s been our philosophy all year. Don’t let the ball get thrown over your head.”</p><p>Head Coach John Harbaugh was also asked about the three-man rush.</p><p>“The ball would have been out either way,” he said. “That was a pretty quick throw. I don’t think it would have mattered how many guys we brought in that particular situation. We could have brought more and moved the ball out quicker, but you’d never do that in that situation.”</p>

[url=http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2011/01/15/ravens-stand-by-3-man-rush/]View the full article[/url]
[/quote]
What do you guys think Rex Ryan would have done ? With Pittsburg using subs at Offensive tackle I say if Ravens DC uses the full blitz Rothlisberger gets sacked or the ball gets batted out of his hand, someone breaks clean !!!

[Kiy0te]

3 man rush = Fail.

I would love to see us switch back to a 4-3 defense just imagine
DL Suggs Ngata Gregg/Cody Redding
LB Lewis Johnson Ellerbe
CB Foxworth Webb Carr free agent or draft chocie here would be nice
FS Reed
SS Landry

4-3 means Ray Lewis is free to roam again but looks like the 3-4 is here to stay and one last thing i always hear how great the 3-4 is for blitzing but our blitzes this year sucked landry come off the edge to get blocked then a cb in single coverage getting burned. Man i'm so frustrated.