After-Game Thoughts

[dirtybird10]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1313157947' post='747522']
I don't know about anyone else but I am really happy with what little I saw from Joe Flacco.
[/quote]

What I want to see is more quick plays out of him. It was quite apparent after just a few plays on the opening drive that the line was not going to hold water. Lets see some quick slants and screens. Why try and take long drops and hold the ball when pressure is cutting through our line like a knife?

[SecretAgentMan]

Lets hope Jimmy Smith can play more the next game. Foxworth will also play more the next game. Our secondary should be fine.

[itlstl7]

Honestly I still dont understand the all the criticism with our WRs. Last year everyone was all pumped up at the beginning of the season because we went out and got Boldin, Stallworth, Housh, etc. By the end of the year everyone was talking like we had the worst WRs ever! Lets not forget how we cut Clayton and he went to the Rams and killed it and Boldin (pro bowl receiver before he came here) had the worst statistical season of his career. The problem is not the WRs... Its the fact that If Flacco doesnt have time to throw the ball it doesnt matter who our WRs are... The constant penalties, the constant missed assignments, the constant pressure because of a shotty O-line is whats hurting us... Flacco isnt a mobile qb and his delivery is not quick... he needs time to set his feet and throw and we need time for our WRs to get open... Yes another WR would help but we struggled last year and will this year because of our O-line... Last night was a prime example of that...

[evil-eye1]

it's too early to draw any conclusions but i think we've takin a step backwards....WR's cant get open....STILL no pass rush. ed reed gets beat deep(uh-oh!...getting old?) our 2cnd-string back-ups could not play for any elite team. just my early ramblings from last nights game....but its only pre-season! Overall, this team looks average to me..not enough play-makers.

[callahan09]

[quote name='dirtybird10' timestamp='1313159082' post='747565']
What I want to see is more quick plays out of him. It was quite apparent after just a few plays on the opening drive that the line was not going to hold water. Lets see some quick slants and screens. Why try and take long drops and hold the ball when pressure is cutting through our line like a knife?
[/quote]

This concerns me greatly. Cam last year had a pretty poor offensive line, and yet he insisted on sending slow receivers on deep routes that they had no chance to get separation on, or having them do overly complex routes, both options requiring far too much time before the play could develop and the O-line couldn't protect Flacco enough to make it feasible.

Well, we still have an awful O-line, so let's hope Cam adjusts the playbook to accommodate for that this year.

[dirtybird10]

[quote name='evil-eye1' timestamp='1313160679' post='747649']
it's too early to draw any conclusions but i think we've takin a step backwards....WR's cant get open....STILL no pass rush. ed reed gets beat deep(uh-oh!...getting old?) our 2cnd-string back-ups could not play for any elite team. just my early ramblings from last nights game....but its only pre-season!
[/quote]

No pass rush? I don't know what game you saw, but seemed to me there was pleanty of pass rush. Yet still all they had to get the ball off because there were guys WIDE open down field. Missed tackles were a problem with our pass rush, but there was pleanty of pressure.

[dirtybird10]

[quote name='callahan09' timestamp='1313160923' post='747655']
This concerns me greatly. Cam last year had a pretty poor offensive line, and yet he insisted on sending slow receivers on deep routes that they had no chance to get separation on, or having them do overly complex routes, both options requiring far too much time before the play could develop and the O-line couldn't protect Flacco enough to make it feasible.

Well, we still have an awful O-line, so let's hope Cam adjusts the playbook to accommodate for that this year.
[/quote]

I would really like to see us try and make an early decision at O line and start to stick with that through pre season. Whether it be Jah Reid or move Yanda back over to tackle. Lets try and get the unit (as what we think) as a whole get some good game time under their belt and try and gel together as a unit. The line could greatly improve if they just stick to something through most of the preseason. That way if something is still really lacking then you know your gonna have to go out and bring somebody in to try and stop the bleeding. Seems to me it would be a whole lot better than even letting Cousins sniff the field with the first or even second team.

[evil-eye1]

[quote name='dirtybird10' timestamp='1313160986' post='747658']
No pass rush? I don't know what game you saw, but seemed to me there was pleanty of pass rush. Yet still all they had to get the ball off because there were guys WIDE open down field. Missed tackles were a problem with our pass rush, but there was pleanty of pressure.
[/quote]
but we had to blitz too much to get pressure leaving receivers wide open....we need more T-sizzle type guys aka playmakers. if we blitz big ben too much in game 1 (especially with DBs), we will get bombs dropped on us.

[D-Rey]

I don't get too hung up over the first preseason game. But I would like to see us get a OT and Center.

[evil-eye1]

btw, what the heck happened to our OL?? it was only two or three years ago that we had one of the better OLs in the league.

[dirtybird10]

[quote name='evil-eye1' timestamp='1313161325' post='747669']
but we had to blitz too much to get pressure leaving receivers wide open....we need more T-sizzle type guys aka playmakers. if we blitz big ben too much in game 1 (especially with DBs), we will get bombs dropped on us.
[/quote]

I don't know if we blitzed too much, or we just had alot of lapses in coverage. I personally think it was the later, but I may have to re watch the game. It really didn't seem like we were brining the house very often. Seemed the most consistant pressure was coming from Suggs, Kruger, and Jones.

[D-Rey]

[quote name='evil-eye1' timestamp='1313161636' post='747684']
btw, what the heck happened to our OL?? it was only two or three years ago that we had one of the better OLs in the league.
[/quote]
Gaither happened

[mhead66]

[quote name='KillaBirdTJ' timestamp='1313144735' post='747291']
Doss, Pitta, Jones, Kindle, Krugar looked good..

Id like to see moves made on BOTH sides of the ball (After Ravens announce Ngata has signed a deal):

Defense- [size="4"][b]Trade for Samuals[/b], [/size]we need a veteran, legitamite #1 CB... DE may not be as big as a need after seeing an improved Pass rush, but it couldnt hurt to add an Osi

Offense- [size="4"][b]Tade for Lee Evans[/b], [b]Sign a LT, C[/b] [/size](Mkinney/Gaither, OHara)... We may need to use Birk as a backup with his bad knee...
[/quote]
To do this, we'll first have to bribe the League Office into letting us go over the Salary Cap by $20 million...

[Juviebest]

Just got done rewatching the game after being there live last night, some things that stuck out:

Kindle is a lot bigger then I thought he'd be, high motor but needs help against the run.

Cody was blocked a little too easy on some running plays and he didn't fill his lane

Mattison at C with our "first team" line I thought did a really good job. Solid in pass protection and helped clear some running lanes for Rice.

Oher got beat for one sack. The other sack I'm blaming on Cousins who got killed on the right side and forced Flacc to step up when Oher had his man (T. Cole) contained. But Cole moved forward and there was Flacc for the sack.

Communication needs to improve between Leach and the line. RR's 6 yard loss was a result of miscommunication between Oher and Leach. That's to be expected though seeing how Leach is a week old Raven.

Cam needs to cut the crap with the screen plays. Iggles sniffed them out real quick when our first team was in there. Plus it made our O-line look worse in reality.

Tough first game for Torrey but he will get there. Remember this is a weird year and we are expecting him to be ready to go right away...that's just not going to happen.

From a "fan" perspective...reading previous posts about us losing to Pitt week 1...come on man. Not going to happen.

Jameel McClain didn't look good at all. Blew 2 cover assignments and missed tackles. Not a good look.

Nice to see production from Kruger, Jones, Pollard, McPhee, Naka. All played relatively well...with the exception of course being missed tackles.

Overall there is work to be done but we have 3 more preseason games to straighten things out. It'll get done!

BTW, listening to Iggles radio over here Merril Reese said the Ravens would "struggle" this year. He obviously knows nothing. More reason to hate Philly right there.

[mhead66]

[quote name='izvoodoo' timestamp='1313147082' post='747312']

At :57 Torrey beats nnamdi, so just give him some time.
[/quote]
Your commentary is priceless... YOU should have been the announcer last night...

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Juviebest' timestamp='1313162787' post='747722']
Just got done rewatching the game after being there live last night, some things that stuck out:

Kindle is a lot bigger then I thought he'd be, high motor but needs help against the run.

Cody was blocked a little too easy on some running plays and he didn't fill his lane

Mattison at C with our "first team" line I thought did a really good job. Solid in pass protection and helped clear some running lanes for Rice.

Oher got beat for one sack. The other sack I'm blaming on Cousins who got killed on the right side and forced Flacc to step up when Oher had his man (T. Cole) contained. But Cole moved forward and there was Flacc for the sack.

Communication needs to improve between Leach and the line. RR's 6 yard loss was a result of miscommunication between Oher and Leach. That's to be expected though seeing how Leach is a week old Raven.

Cam needs to cut the crap with the screen plays. Iggles sniffed them out real quick when our first team was in there. Plus it made our O-line look worse in reality.

Tough first game for Torrey but he will get there. Remember this is a weird year and we are expecting him to be ready to go right away...that's just not going to happen.

From a "fan" perspective...reading previous posts about us losing to Pitt week 1...come on man. Not going to happen.

Jameel McClain didn't look good at all. Blew 2 cover assignments and missed tackles. Not a good look.

Nice to see production from Kruger, Jones, Pollard, McPhee, Naka. All played relatively well...with the exception of course being missed tackles.

Overall there is work to be done but we have 3 more preseason games to straighten things out. It'll get done!

BTW, listening to Iggles radio over here Merril Reese said the Ravens would "struggle" this year. He obviously knows nothing. More reason to hate Philly right there.
[/quote]
Very well said and I agree on pretty much everything mentioned!

[atljbo]

This is the thing i said about Torrey Smith earlier(some got mad at me)... The guy has the talent.. I wanted my falcons to draft him (if we didnt trade up) .. But i dont think he is a guy that you can count on right now to be "that guy".. If you throw the guy a screen... You will see that 4.4 speed because he doesnt have to think but when it come to running routes... He is raw so you are not going to see a 4.4 guy right now...

[url="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-preston-column-0812-20110811,0,3544623.column"] link[/url]
[quote]• I believe general manager Ozzie Newsome has to be on the phone Friday morning trying to make several deals. Rookie receiver Torrey Smith, the second round pick out of Maryland, didn't look comfortable running routes, especially going in and out of breaks or cuts. There was no acceleration, as if he was unsure of where he was running.[/quote]

I think the guy will develop into a good #2 speed WR... I just dont think he is a guy you should count on right now to be that guy you guys need... At Maryland they didnt ask the guy to really run the route tree. (Lee Evens is out there)

Also with Pitta... I wanted my falcons to draft that guy 2 years ago coming out of BYU badlt... The catch the guy made last night... He made those type catches all the time in college... His game will translate to the NFL nicely (very nice pass catching TE... Dallas Clark style)

[nk02442]

[quote name='evil-eye1' timestamp='1313161636' post='747684']
btw, what the heck happened to our OL?? it was only two or three years ago that we had one of the better OLs in the league.
[/quote]


They pissed Gaither of by trying to move him to the right side. He was a monster LT and we had one of the best Olines in the league when we had:

Gaither-Grubs-Birk-Yanda-Oher

So gaither gets pissed of beacuse moving him to the right greatly reduces his value come free agency. If he was a bad LT it would make sense, but he is the proto typical LT who studdied under the best LT of all time, J.Ogden.

So they move Oher over to the left side where is is abysmal at. He was a phenominal RT in his rookie year but the FO decided to change that up and now hes on LT side , cant run block, and cant pass protect giving up sacks and QB pressures like a mad man.


Birk is at the end of his carear and despite what people say he played pretty bad last year. Run blocking was not there and he allowed to much penetration in pass pro.

Yanda who is one of the best RG in the legaue gets pulled over to RT where is does an adquate job.

Grubs and Yanda are the only real bright spots on our O line, and pray we can resign Grubbs next year, who will command a large salary.

Cousins/Chester/and the rest of the OLine cant even protect against 3rd string players. The FO has ignored the OL depth, knowing there was issues the last 3 years. They know Birk was at the end his days, but havent drafted a C.

Oline is going to make or break this team this year. Unless Flacco develops into a Rothesburger/Rodgers type of QB who can make plays when the pocket collapses.

The oline will be the difference between a 7-9 season and a 12-4 one.

[SecretAgentMan]

Philly is overrated. Assante is going to ask for a trade, Beban is a one hit wonder, Jenkins, Young, and Vick will all get hurt. That's how it is every year. Art Jones and Kruger are both going to be monsters, so we need them to step up. I think Kruger should be moved to DE again, and Jones should start, and we sould keep Redding to have a deadly rotation. Now, if we can just get Asante Samuel, or Lee Evans.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='nk02442' timestamp='1313164022' post='747750']
So they move Oher over to the left side where is is abysmal at. He was a phenominal RT in his rookie year but the FO decided to change that up and now hes on LT side , [b]cant run block[/b], and cant pass protect giving up sacks and QB pressures like a mad man.

The FO has ignored the OL depth, knowing there was issues the last 3 years. They know Birk was at the end his days, but havent drafted a C.
[/quote]

Oher obviously has his issues in pass protection, but I don't know what you're watching if you don't think he run block.

Your other point makes no sense considering the team has drafted o-lineman the past three seasons, traded for depth and signed FAs and UDFAs too.

[#1RavenFan]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1313118832' post='746825']
Very disappointed by Torrey Smith. It's still early but not even a single catch in more than a half of action!? Tandon Doss looked great though.
[/quote]


i dont know about you, but torrey smith had an excellent burst off the line, and was very quick in his routes, the only thing that kept him from getting a catch was that nnamdi was covering him for most of the time.... and lets be honest, no one gets catches when your being covered by nnamdi

[itscbm5042]

[quote name='Juviebest' timestamp='1313162787' post='747722']
Just got done rewatching the game after being there live last night, some things that stuck out:

"Kindle is a lot bigger then I thought he'd be, high motor but needs help against the run."

- I thought the same thing! Dude is huge, doesn't look like a LB, more like a DE but has the speed of a backer, nice. Kruger also looked way faster than I remember.


"Jameel McClain didn't look good at all. Blew 2 cover assignments and missed tackles. Not a good look. "

- Totally agree, the Ravens are a better team with Ellerbe at LB, he is a playmaker and runs sideline to sideline

[RoflDogs]

I think Moeller needs to go. The DUIs are one thing, but most of our players have pretty terrible technique (especially Cousins and Oher, who both like to lunge at people, which is just completely stupid)

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='RoflDogs' timestamp='1313165783' post='747798']
I think Moeller needs to go. The DUIs are one thing, but most of our players have pretty terrible technique (especially Cousins and Oher, who both like to lunge at people, which is just completely stupid)
[/quote]

How long has Moeller had to work with them? And if the team fired him now, what says his replacement would make a noticeable difference?

Oher and Cousins are just two guys who could have used OTAs and mini-camps to work on their technique. That couldn't happen.

[hawkprey]

Did anyone notice how accurate the reports out of TC were? Art, Kruger, and Doss all lived up to expectations. LaQuan Williams and Cary Williams were as advertized, and unfortunately so were Webb and the O-line.

Basically everything we've heard about individual players out of training camp was reflected in this game.

[RoflDogs]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1313166222' post='747819']
How long has Moeller had to work with them? And if the team fired him now, what says his replacement would make a noticeable difference?

Oher and Cousins are just two guys who could have used OTAs and mini-camps to work on their technique. That couldn't happen.
[/quote]

They both have had a few years to work on their technique. For it to be this bad after that is inexcusable

[flynismo]

[quote name='RoflDogs' timestamp='1313165783' post='747798']<br />I think Moeller needs to go. The DUIs are one thing, but most of our players have pretty terrible technique (especially Cousins and Oher, who both like to lunge at people, which is just completely stupid)<br />[/quote]


I agree he has to go and think Oher is the most damning evidence of that. I thought Oher was going to be a bust coming out, because he was so raw and had pretty bad technique. Oher hasn't been a bust, but at the same time, he has shown very little progression either. Technique is something that CAN be taught, so either Moeller needs to do a much better job or Oher is just uncoachable. But considering that Chester was sloppy at times, and guys like Cousins and Terry shows(ed) little improvement as well, it seems to me that they aren't getting the assistance they need.

[The Raven]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1313166669' post='747832']
I agree he has to go and think Oher is the most damning evidence of that. I thought Oher was going to be a bust coming out, because he was so raw and had pretty bad technique. Oher hasn't been a bust, but at the same time, he has shown very little progression either. Technique is something that CAN be taught, so either Moeller needs to do a much better job or Oher is just uncoachable. But considering that Chester was sloppy at times, and guys like Cousins and Terry shows(ed) little improvement as well, it seems to me that they aren't getting the assistance they need.
[/quote]

Oher is a solid tackle, but his technique needs a bit of work. At times he has really good technique! Sometimes he plays flawlessly, but he's a little inconsistent imo. What he needs to do better at is keepng his pad level low, and he needs to slow his feet down. The reason he's inconsistent against pass rushers s because his get off is so quick, he gives the rusher too much ground, and thats the last thing you wanna do as an OL. He needs to slow down his get-off, and work on pad level. Those are the main two things I've noticed.

[flynismo]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1313167066' post='747845']<br />Oher is a solid tackle, but his technique needs a bit of work. At times he has really good technique! Sometimes he plays flawlessly, but he's a little inconsistent imo. What he needs to do better at is keepng his pad level low, and he needs to slow his feet down. The reason he's inconsistent against pass rushers s because his get off is so quick, he gives the rusher too much ground, and thats the last thing you wanna do as an OL. He needs to slow down his get-off, and work on pad level. Those are the main two things I've noticed.<br />[/quote]


I agree with your assessment of Oher. And it is exactly what I mean when I said he has shown little progression in two years...not sure if you like college ball or not, but this is how he looked then too. He obviously has the skill set, but has a long way to go mentally

[The Raven]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1313167560' post='747851']
I agree with your assessment of Oher. And it is exactly what I mean when I said he has shown little progression in two years...not sure if you like college ball or not, but this is how he looked then too. He obviously has the skill set, but has a long way to go mentally
[/quote]

I agree, I haven't really seen any form of consistency in his play or his progression. Sure, he shut down Harrison in the reg season, but in the playoffs Harrison had a great game. He shut down Dwight Freeney, but Tamba Hali owned him. Oher has good days and bad days, I just hope the bad days become rarer.