Overcoming Redzone Woes

[Militant X 1]

i just re-watched the Ravens vs Chiefs game and couldn't help but notice that once again, the Ravens got off to a great opening drive. They ran and passed the ball at will [b]UNTIL [/b]they got in the redzone. on 1st and Goal, Flacco fumbled the snap. and then from there, everything went wrong and the Ravens had to get a FG. typical of the entire season!

[b]question: [/b][i]what can and should the Ravens do during the off-season to overcome their redzone woes in order to punch it or pass it in the endzone for TDs instead of just settling for FGs?[/i]

[grape drank]

[quote name='PITCH52BLACK' timestamp='1298905805' post='646698']
i just re-watched the Ravens vs Chiefs game and couldn't help but notice that once again, the Ravens got off to a great opening drive. They ran and passed the ball at will [b]UNTIL [/b]they got in the redzone. on 1st and Goal, Flacco fumbled the snap. and then from there, everything went wrong and the Ravens had to get a FG. typical of the entire season!

[b]question: [/b][i]what can and should the Ravens do during the off-season to overcome their redzone woes in order to punch it or pass it in the endzone for TDs instead of just settling for FGs?[/i]
[/quote]


Get Taller Receivers so they can go up and win Jump Ball situations. IN the Red zone, there is just simply less field for the Defence to cover, so mathematically you're going to have more defenders/m^2 than if you put them on the field with 60 yards behind them to worry about. This surplus of defenders makes possession receivers almost obsolete, especially in a zone defence as they just can't get open. Tall receivers however don't need to get separation and can just go in the red zone and win the jump ball. You can see the team already doing this by bringing in Hardy, and perhaps drafting Baldwin (I HOPE)

[fistfullwales]

Dont run a fade to Boldin (or anyone for that matter), have it fail, and try it a second time and of course it fails again. We need to use the middle of the field and short-quick routes, higher percentage passes, run spacing plays find the holes in the zones. If they are playing man run a little pick or something to get a receiver clear. Fades are low percentage and I done understand why they were Cams "go to" when in the redzone when I only remember it working once.

[berad]

[quote name='fiPlease be quiet.llwales' timestamp='1298909326' post='646716']
[b]Dont run a fade to Boldin (or anyone for that matter), have it fail, and try it a second time and of course it fails again.[/b] We need to use the middle of the field and short-quick routes, higher percentage passes, run spacing plays find the holes in the zones. If they are playing man run a little pick or something to get a receiver clear. Fades are low percentage and I done understand why they were Cams "go to" when in the redzone when I only remember it working once.
[/quote]

LOL, got a little tiresome seeing the exact same route as the last play before.

Agree with everything you said. Cam found his mojo in that Chiefs game, he was running plays like the ones you laid out. If it worked against one of the top pass-defenses in the NFL [i](tied for fifth)[/i] it can work against most anyone.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='PITCH52BLACK' timestamp='1298905805' post='646698']
[b]question: [/b][i]what can and should the Ravens do during the off-season to overcome their redzone woes in order to punch it or pass it in the endzone for TDs instead of just settling for FGs?[/i]
[/quote]

- Solidify the o-line.

- Call more than one pick play all season.

- At least once, call a play where a WR goes into motion to get separation and the QB rolls out.

- Incorporate bubble screens similar to ones Q frequently ran as a Cardinal.

- Call more slants

- Run more back-shoulder throws.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1298914992' post='646761']
- [b]Solidify the o-line.[/b]

- Call more than one pick play all season.

- At least once, call a play where a WR goes into motion to get separation and the QB rolls out.

- Incorporate bubble screens similar to ones Q frequently ran as a Cardinal.

- Call more slants

- Run more back-shoulder throws.
[/quote]
I think that is the most important issue. I believe it was during the Chiefs game that Baltimore ended up with first and goal and couldn't run for [i]one[/i] yard on three tries. The same thing happened last year and probably cost the Ravens the game against Indy.
As anyone who watched the majority of last year's games knows, the Ravens struggled mightly in that area for most of the season.


Cam could call his "interesting" plays that take a long to time to develop, and they would probably work out if the Ravens had a really good offensive line.

[ryan23945]

more 4-5 wr formation, inside routes, pick plays/rubs, run the 2 rb outta the backfield, if in man lbs will clear for inside wr routes

[Alexir]

Utilize the 3 talented Tight Ends that are 6"4+ more. They could be there to help block for our red-zone backs, or to receive the ball.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1298914992' post='646761']
- Solidify the o-line.

- Call more than one pick play all season.

- At least once, call a play where a WR goes into motion to get separation and the QB rolls out.

- Incorporate bubble screens similar to ones Q frequently ran as a Cardinal.

- Call more slants

- Run more back-shoulder throws.
[/quote]
I don't know if anyone has game film from the Jets game. But I've rewatched it about 5 times, and the one thing I keep noticing is how top quality Cam's gameplan was for that entire game. He used Heap split out wide to isolate Jim Leonhard in coverage on the outside, he uses rub and pick plays constantly in the game, he runs Boldin across the field and on quick slants. He uses a 3 TE set for a pass play that Heap dropped in the endzone that should have been a TD, Boldin runs the wrong route on Cromartie's INT that im almost positive Boldin was supposed to run a deep post on to clear out the single high safety and have Heap 1 on 1 in the endzone, but Boldin runs into Heap and brings with him Cromartie and Leonhard.

I dont know what happened to Cam, or if Joe's awful performance in the Bengal game the next week got Cam gun shy or what, but Cam's game plan against the Jets was outstanding IMO. That should have been a 7-13 point win for us instead of the 1 point.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

1) Fix the offensive line, as it got little to no push in goal or short yardage situations.

2) Be more creative with plays, making use of the talent we have.

[kagejb]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1298925214' post='646892']
I don't know if anyone has game film from the Jets game. But I've rewatched it about 5 times, and the one thing I keep noticing is how top quality Cam's gameplan was for that entire game. He used Heap split out wide to isolate Jim Leonhard in coverage on the outside, he uses rub and pick plays constantly in the game, he runs Boldin across the field and on quick slants. He uses a 3 TE set for a pass play that Heap dropped in the endzone that should have been a TD, Boldin runs the wrong route on Cromartie's INT that im almost positive Boldin was supposed to run a deep post on to clear out the single high safety and have Heap 1 on 1 in the endzone, but Boldin runs into Heap and brings with him Cromartie and Leonhard.

I dont know what happened to Cam, or if Joe's awful performance in the Bengal game the next week got Cam gun shy or what, but Cam's game plan against the Jets was outstanding IMO. That should have been a 7-13 point win for us instead of the 1 point.
[/quote]
Maybe he needs a whole offseason to gameplan for one team.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1298925214' post='646892']
I don't know if anyone has game film from the Jets game. But I've rewatched it about 5 times, and the one thing I keep noticing is how top quality Cam's gameplan was for that entire game. He used Heap split out wide to isolate Jim Leonhard in coverage on the outside, he uses rub and pick plays constantly in the game, he runs Boldin across the field and on quick slants. He uses a 3 TE set for a pass play that Heap dropped in the endzone that should have been a TD, Boldin runs the wrong route on Cromartie's INT that im almost positive Boldin was supposed to run a deep post on to clear out the single high safety and have Heap 1 on 1 in the endzone, but Boldin runs into Heap and brings with him Cromartie and Leonhard.

I dont know what happened to Cam, or if Joe's awful performance in the Bengal game the next week got Cam gun shy or what, but Cam's game plan against the Jets was outstanding IMO. That should have been a 7-13 point win for us instead of the 1 point.
[/quote]

I remember Heap being split out wide and running a slant with Leonhard trying to cover him. I also remember that dropped pass to Heap. Boldin was actually used similar to the way he was in Arizona. And you're that he ran a wrong route, which led to Cromartie grabbing the pick.

I do remember Heap being split out a few times other times but not the plays to Q. It's in line with Cam's nature to forget about plays that work except for the comeback and end around though.

[K-Dog]

be less predictable. Obvious plays are easy to defend.

[justifythegame]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1298925214' post='646892']
I don't know if anyone has game film from the Jets game. But I've rewatched it about 5 times, and the one thing I keep noticing is how top quality Cam's gameplan was for that entire game. He used Heap split out wide to isolate Jim Leonhard in coverage on the outside, he uses rub and pick plays constantly in the game, he runs Boldin across the field and on quick slants. He uses a 3 TE set for a pass play that Heap dropped in the endzone that should have been a TD, Boldin runs the wrong route on Cromartie's INT that im almost positive Boldin was supposed to run a deep post on to clear out the single high safety and have Heap 1 on 1 in the endzone, but Boldin runs into Heap and brings with him Cromartie and Leonhard.

I dont know what happened to Cam, or if Joe's awful performance in the Bengal game the next week got Cam gun shy or what, but Cam's game plan against the Jets was outstanding IMO. That should have been a 7-13 point win for us instead of the 1 point.
[/quote]
Very nicely said. This is exactly what i noticed too. Midway through the season I was thinking the same exact thing. What happened to the Ravens offense we saw during the Jets game. I just don't understand how Cam Cameron ran that offense so beautifully like he used to back in the day with the Chargers and then we saw what we saw the rest of the season. Even if we did not add ANY additional players to the offense this offseason, i feel like the Ravens offense could be in the top 10 should Cam Cameron gameplan like that every game. I just don't know how this issue is particular could be addressed though, it has to be up to Cam i guess.

I think it all starts with how Anquan Boldin is utilized. The offense has to be centered around getting the ball in his hands. Im not saying Boldin should be thrown to even if he is covered, but Boldin is a rare player who can grab the ball in traffic and Boldin only got the ball 60 times... He should be running quick slants and screens, instead he is running long routes and half way through joe flacco is getting hit.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='justifythegame' timestamp='1299288003' post='649294']
Very nicely said. This is exactly what i noticed too. Midway through the season I was thinking the same exact thing. [b]What happened to the Ravens offense we saw during the Jets game.[/b] I just don't understand how Cam Cameron ran that offense so beautifully like he used to back in the day with the Chargers and then we saw what we saw the rest of the season. Even if we did not add ANY additional players to the offense this offseason, i feel like the Ravens offense could be in the top 10 should Cam Cameron gameplan like that every game. I just don't know how this issue is particular could be addressed though, it has to be up to Cam i guess.

I think it all starts with how Anquan Boldin is utilized. The offense has to be centered around getting the ball in his hands. Im not saying Boldin should be thrown to even if he is covered, but Boldin is a rare player who can grab the ball in traffic and Boldin only got the ball 60 times... He should be running quick slants and screens, instead he is running long routes and half way through joe flacco is getting hit.
[/quote]
The one that scored ten points? I don't think it went anywhere.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='darklight1216' timestamp='1299298131' post='649331']
The one that scored ten points? I don't think it went anywhere.
[/quote]
The point output in the end wasn't great, but Cam's gameplan and even simple execution makes that at the very least a 17 point output. As I stated in my post previous, Cam's gameplan was impressive and really isolated alot of the Jets weaknesses on defense. He ran because you have to like Rex said in the post game, but Cam found ways to get Heap isolated with Leonhard multiple times, Boldin isolated on Wilson beyond multiple times. It was, after watching 5 times, a great gameplan by Cam.

[BloodRaven]

Rebuild the jumbo package, everyone knows when the run is coming anyway.

[wayne]

Simplify things down there. If you are 5 yards and less either run the PA universal play where the FB shoots out into the flats and the TE on the same side runs like a fade, drag out route right above him with the backside TE running a similar drag / slant route going to the same side......... Or just run the ball using the similar motions ( like power O PA and run ). Occassionally throw in the FB dive.