Ray Rice

[Tank 92]

The jets game was a comfortable win, so no need to discuss the failings of any player on O. Who knows(or cares!)what the story line would have been if that game had played out differently. I view the titans game as a total Team failure, including coaches. No player produced as they should have and the O game plan just sucked.

RR is an explosive weapon and he more than sufficiently occupies opposing defensive coordinators whether he produces "stats" or not.

[Dudeman]

I didn't even know that so many people were looking to identify "problems" with the offense and who needs to be blamed for them.

Flacco and Rice are great players, arguably in the top 10 of their respective positions in the league. It also is still very early into their careers, and if our front office is as smart as I think they are then we are going to have those two locked up for a very long time.

Situational football dictates all the stats and any number of various circumstances are going to effect those stats. The bottom line is we have a winning offense. Furthermore I like Flacco and Rice as upstanding individuals that don't feed the press with off-field issues. So I ask you all, where's the beef? Why the complaints?

[Raving_Heathen]

[quote name='Mick0311' timestamp='1318284943' post='820284']
What have Rice's receiving numbers been looking like?
[/quote]

I'm sure this is rhetorical, but Rice leads the Ravens in receiving yards and catches through the first 4 games. He also has a nice 15.1 yards-per-catch average. Also last year, he was 2nd in catches and 4th in receiving yards for the Ravens. Like was said, Rice is an all-around back. You can't just look at his rushing stats and say he needs to produce more IMO. If there's one person on the offense over the past 2+ seasons who's carried more than his fair share of the load (no pun intended), it's Rice. Rice is almost untouchable as far as blame in my eyes.

The Ravens receivers on the other hand are the ones who have seriously under-produced IMHO, particularly Boldin. Serious question: how many clutch grabs has he made since he's been in Baltimore? And how many big drops? And how many times has he helped Flacco out by reeling in throws that are slightly off-target or positioning himself properly to come down with jump balls? Since he's been with the Ravens, I associate him more with big drops and displays of frustration/agitation, than with big catches or racking up YAC.

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='SnOoPy' timestamp='1318301023' post='820532']
imagine our offense without Ray Rice..lol
[/quote]

let's not! lol!

~Mili

[flynismo]

[quote name='Thepurplehaze' timestamp='1318330181' post='820636']
Don't forget Ricky!
No but seriously, now we're upset with Rice on the offense?
[/quote]


No, I dont think he's upset with anyone; he's just making a (valid) point. It's hard to be consistent throwing the ball if it isn't being supported by a strong ground game. And vice versa.

Basically he is saying that Rice should be taking just as much heat as Flacco takes for the games against TEN and NYJ.

[Gordo52]

Rice is also like our leading reciever. He carries our offense, without him would be very scary

[Blex64]

So many people are missing the entire point of this thread.

Nobody is suggesting Rice isn't one of the league's most talented, dynamic backs.

He's simply saying stop throwing Flacco under the bus for being inconsistent this season, the whole offense has been completely hit or miss.

[Guest RBates]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1318281031' post='820236']
I think it's funny that everyone is trashing Flacco and he has to depend on an offensive line, receivers getting separation and receivers catching the ball.

What about Ray Rice?

We have always been known as a running football team, we move our mauler back to right tackle, we sign Yanda to lock down the right interior and we have 3 pro bowlers in the left and middle as of now and when Grubbs is back he will have his spot back, and we go out and sign the best full back in the league. What has Ray Rice done. Where are his critics? He is just as responsible (if not more) for our offense stalling in those 2 games (Jets, Titans)

Listed below are the Titans and Jets Rushing yards on attempt against them from this season

[i][u]Titans[/u][/i]
Rice 3.3
[b]Jones Drew 4.0[/b]
McGahee 2.4
[b]Hillis 4.6[/b]
Redman 3.3

[i][u]Jets[/u][/i]
Rice 2.6
F.Jones 2.6
[b]Jones-Drew 4.9[/b]
[b]McFadden 9.0[/b]
[b]Green-Ellis 5.0[/b]

Highlighted in black are YPA that I feel are acceptable for a starting running back to have. 4.0 is what you want your guy to at least get every time.

Is the Jaguars offensive line better than ours? I don't believe so at all and I know their fullback isn't better than leach.

While the Browns do have a pretty sturdy, athletic Left tackle and Center, their offensive line isn't the greatest for run blocking and Vickers went to Houston. How come Hillis can put up 4.6 on the Titans?

Isaac Redman has the same YPA as Rice and has a horrible offensive line and split carries with Dwyer.

Yes McFadden is playing out of his mind and yes Green-Ellis was more of a fluke IMO but let's lay off Joe and realize that it's the WHOLE offense.

It doesn't help that we are running play action in those 2 games when the run game wasn't a real threat. In those situations we should go shotgun to just get an extra second or 2.

By no means am I saying bench Rice, or cut someone, just saying it's not all on Flacco. Rice needs to produce better.
[/quote]
Huh? Some of you are stretching this Flacco thing out way to far. Ray rice is the only constant on our offense. Please take this down, Unbelievable .He Leads the team in receptions and reception yards because of Mr. Checkdown and you say the offense is struggling. Look no farther than your Quarterback and receivers. SMH------- i can't believe a running back leads the team in receptions.

[Thepurplehaze]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1318358592' post='820877']


No, I dont think he's upset with anyone; he's just making a (valid) point. It's hard to be consistent throwing the ball if it isn't being supported by a strong ground game. And vice versa.

Basically he is saying that [b]Rice should be taking just as much heat as Flacco [/b]takes for the games against TEN and NYJ.
[/quote]
Yeah no...Flacco looked downright awful in both those games. Let's not forget, rice scored td's in both those games with no fumbles. Flacco had a lot of trouble converting on 3rd downs and throwing picks, stifling our running game.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Thepurplehaze' timestamp='1318365167' post='820985']
Yeah no...Flacco looked downright awful in both those games. Let's not forget, rice scored td's in both those games with no fumbles. Flacco had a lot of trouble converting on 3rd downs and throwing picks, stifling our running game.
[/quote]


Well, like the saying goes, a good running game sets us up for easier 3rd downs...the last couple years, we have had way too many 3rd and longs.

A case can be made either way about those games. Like Rice's 2.6 YPC verse the NYJ...depending on how you want to look at it, you can say that Rice's ineffectiveness didn't help our passing game, or you can say our lack of passing game didnt help Rice. Either way, Rice needed to play better than he did.

[CapoRocky]

Rice is fast, he can cut through holes that no one sees but him, and can catch a pass against any linebacker in the league. There is no other way to gauge his value than in his production and the numbers that he puts up this season. Whatever price he asks for they will give it to him. We will have Rice here for many years to come.

[SteelYourThunder]

I haven't paid much attention to Rice until this season and boy have I been missing out. Great hands, route running, and man is he fast.

[CorvusCorax]

He's doing fairly well this season. It's honestly too early to say much with just 4 games under our belt. Let's give him (and the rest of the offense) more time to gel and get things going.

[BmoreRaised]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1318281031' post='820236']
I think it's funny that everyone is trashing Flacco and he has to depend on an offensive line, receivers getting separation and receivers catching the ball.

What about Ray Rice?

We have always been known as a running football team, we move our mauler back to right tackle, we sign Yanda to lock down the right interior and we have 3 pro bowlers in the left and middle as of now and when Grubbs is back he will have his spot back, and we go out and sign the best full back in the league. What has Ray Rice done. Where are his critics? He is just as responsible (if not more) for our offense stalling in those 2 games (Jets, Titans)

Listed below are the Titans and Jets Rushing yards on attempt against them from this season

[i][u]Titans[/u][/i]
Rice 3.3
[b]Jones Drew 4.0[/b]
McGahee 2.4
[b]Hillis 4.6[/b]
Redman 3.3

[i][u]Jets[/u][/i]
Rice 2.6
F.Jones 2.6
[b]Jones-Drew 4.9[/b]
[b]McFadden 9.0[/b]
[b]Green-Ellis 5.0[/b]

Highlighted in black are YPA that I feel are acceptable for a starting running back to have. 4.0 is what you want your guy to at least get every time.

Is the Jaguars offensive line better than ours? I don't believe so at all and I know their fullback isn't better than leach.

While the Browns do have a pretty sturdy, athletic Left tackle and Center, their offensive line isn't the greatest for run blocking and Vickers went to Houston. How come Hillis can put up 4.6 on the Titans?

Isaac Redman has the same YPA as Rice and has a horrible offensive line and split carries with Dwyer.

Yes McFadden is playing out of his mind and yes Green-Ellis was more of a fluke IMO but let's lay off Joe and realize that it's the WHOLE offense.

It doesn't help that we are running play action in those 2 games when the run game wasn't a real threat. In those situations we should go shotgun to just get an extra second or 2.

By no means am I saying bench Rice, or cut someone, just saying it's not all on Flacco. Rice needs to produce better.
[/quote] can you get off of Flaccos [i]<back>[/i] for a second? Ray Rice is our leading Receiver if I'm not mistaken and RB and QB two diffeent positions, you can have a bad day running the ball but a QB having a horrible game? which is worse? that's what the QB does, he gets the praise and the critics.

I'm tired of hearing about the offensive line as an excuse, every QB deals with pressure at some point. Flacco just had two horrible games and those games don't compare to the two Rice had.

[Alexir]

[quote name='BmoreRaised' timestamp='1318388437' post='821254']
can you get off of Flaccos [i]<back>[/i] for a second? Ray Rice is our leading Receiver if I'm not mistaken and RB and QB two diffeent positions, you can have a bad day running the ball but a QB having a horrible game? which is worse? that's what the QB does, he gets the praise and the critics.

I'm tired of hearing about the offensive line as an excuse, every QB deals with pressure at some point. Flacco just had two horrible games and those games don't compare to the two Rice had.
[/quote]

I agree about the offensive line. That being said, Rice hasn't been impressive running behind that line and running behind Leach. I think a lot of you have some comprehension issues. Not saying Rice needs to be cut, traded or benched. Just saying Flacco isn't the only one on offense struggling.

I can call out Boldin too for looking slow out there. I can call out Dickson for not reeling in more of his targets.

Just saying get off the QB's back and realize that the whole offense is struggling.

But I don't know why I waste my time with you people when you just read one or two lines (sometimes just the title) and you rant about how he is the best weapon on our team. NO KIDDING! I know he is our best player on offense, that's why he needs to step it up a little bit.

When we signed Gurode,McKinnie, Leach and Ricky we were all talking about how insane our running game was gonna be and that Rice was gonna have another pro bowl season. As of now, he is doing a lot of great catches out of the backfield to extend drives but he isn't exactly having a pro bowl year.

[Ravensstrike4424]

team is fine leave it be

[codizzle]

[quote name='Ravensstrike4424' timestamp='1318395443' post='821337']
team is fine leave it be
[/quote]
oh i was thinking bout changing it up. Glad u said that

[rayrayven]

Ravens didn't run well vs Jets last year either if I recall coreclty. I haven't had much confidence in Raven's run blocking vs some teams. The line gets no push vs Jets. I don't know if that's due to Ryan, matchups or both. if there's a crack Rice can find it. If there isn't he gets stuck pushing against some OL's butt

[Free Agent]

I know this is beating a dead horse, but I think playcalling has something to do with it. Rice is a monster in open space, and open space is not found running between the tackles. Rice needs some running plays where he can use his speed to get to the outside and take off from there.

I can't think of a single play this season where Rice has gotten a toss or pitch to the outside. Rice is not a power back. Don't keep sending him up the middle. Let him use his speed to get to the outside and make a play in the open field. Then you will definitely see an increase in his yards per carry.

[Thepurplehaze]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1318365459' post='820994']


Well, like the saying goes, a good running game sets us up for easier 3rd downs...the last couple years, we have had way too many 3rd and longs.

A case can be made either way about those games. Like Rice's 2.6 YPC verse the NYJ...depending on how you want to look at it, you can say that Rice's ineffectiveness didn't help our passing game, or you can say our lack of passing game didnt help Rice. Either way, Rice needed to play better than he did.
[/quote]
Rice's 2.6 average came the 20 some carries he got in the second half trying to run the clock out with a 14/17 point lead. It's completely insane to say Rice has been ineffective in any way. We've clearly made a push to throw the ball more this year (e.g. Rice getting what 13 carries vs the Titans), and it has been as consistent as Flacco has made it.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='Thepurplehaze' timestamp='1318435943' post='821547']
Rice's 2.6 average came the 20 some carries he got in the second half trying to run the clock out with a 14/17 point lead. It's completely insane to say Rice has been ineffective in any way. We've clearly made a push to throw the ball more this year (e.g. Rice getting what 13 carries vs the Titans), and it has been as consistent as Flacco has made it.
[/quote]

I agree with the main point of your argument that we are running the ball more and that Rice has been effective for us but just for the sake of being picky I thought we were actually running the ball most effectively when we tried to run the clock down. When we were passing like crazy was when we were getting stuffed on the ground.

[Mick0311]

[quote name='Raving_Heathen' timestamp='1318353494' post='820794']

I'm sure this is rhetorical, but Rice leads the Ravens in receiving yards and catches through the first 4 games. He also has a nice 15.1 yards-per-catch average. Also last year, he was 2nd in catches and 4th in receiving yards for the Ravens. Like was said, Rice is an all-around back. You can't just look at his rushing stats and say he needs to produce more IMO. If there's one person on the offense over the past 2+ seasons who's carried more than his fair share of the load (no pun intended), it's Rice. Rice is almost untouchable as far as blame in my eyes.

The Ravens receivers on the other hand are the ones who have seriously under-produced IMHO, particularly Boldin. Serious question: how many clutch grabs has he made since he's been in Baltimore? And how many big drops? And how many times has he helped Flacco out by reeling in throws that are slightly off-target or positioning himself properly to come down with jump balls? Since he's been with the Ravens, I associate him more with big drops and displays of frustration/agitation, than with big catches or racking up YAC.
[/quote]

Yeah, that was pretty much my point. Kind of a silly subject for this post IMO. The guy produces, and he has the best hands of any RB in the league.

[Dfence4champs2052]

Funny you would deflect the criticism of Flacco and aim it at the one constant on offense. What Ray Rice doesn't get done in the running game he makes up for by carrying the passing game.

[Tank 92]

RR is fine, as is Flacco. No player shines every game. And who really cares as long as we put up a W.

Not sure why Joe is constantly criticized for the passes to Ray. It's merely an extension of the running game and a serious weapon. When no receiver is open should he just throw the ball away or throw a pick instead? I can live with a sometimes "vanilla" passing attack if it means low turnovers.

[Dudeman]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1318392447' post='821307']

I agree about the offensive line. That being said, Rice hasn't been impressive running behind that line and running behind Leach. I think a lot of you have some comprehension issues. Not saying Rice needs to be cut, traded or benched. Just saying Flacco isn't the only one on offense struggling.

I can call out Boldin too for looking slow out there. I can call out Dickson for not reeling in more of his targets.

Just saying get off the QB's back and realize that the whole offense is struggling.

But I don't know why I waste my time with you people when you just read one or two lines (sometimes just the title) and you rant about how he is the best weapon on our team. NO KIDDING! I know he is our best player on offense, that's why he needs to step it up a little bit.

When we signed Gurode,McKinnie, Leach and Ricky we were all talking about how insane our running game was gonna be and that Rice was gonna have another pro bowl season. As of now, he is doing a lot of great catches out of the backfield to extend drives but he isn't exactly having a pro bowl year.
[/quote]

Wow don't you think this comes across a tad over-critical and judgmental at best? How would you define "insane" running game, and by what gold standard are you comparing the offense? How can you say the offense struggles when they are winning games? Do you even like the team? I know you keep saying get off Joe's back he isn't the only one struggling. But you only back up the comments by saying everyone on the team is playing terribly.

Personally I wouldn't trade any of our guys for any other player and you can stick that in your delusional fantasy pipe and smoke it.

[CalvinSmoke]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1318392447' post='821307']

I agree about the offensive line. That being said, Rice hasn't been impressive running behind that line and running behind Leach. I think a lot of you have some comprehension issues. Not saying Rice needs to be cut, traded or benched. Just saying Flacco isn't the only one on offense struggling.

I can call out Boldin too for looking slow out there. I can call out Dickson for not reeling in more of his targets.

Just saying get off the QB's back and realize that the whole offense is struggling.

But I don't know why I waste my time with you people when you just read one or two lines (sometimes just the title) and you rant about how he is the best weapon on our team. NO KIDDING! I know he is our best player on offense, that's why he needs to step it up a little bit.

When we signed Gurode,McKinnie, Leach and Ricky we were all talking about how insane our running game was gonna be and that Rice was gonna have another pro bowl season. As of now, he is doing a lot of great catches out of the backfield to extend drives but he isn't exactly having a pro bowl year.
[/quote]
I hear you, and completely understand your point. Rice IS AND HAS BEEN our best offense weapon but even he is struggling against good defenses. So has our entire offense, i think it's because our offense is... above average, we can dominate and average defense but when you put us against a good one we struggle a bit. Hopefully it's just a developing process, i have a feeling it will correct itself sooner rather than later. Because i'd love to see Flacco get some of these critics off of him, because for some reason he gets more crap than Mark Sanchez 0.o

[flynismo]

Wow, it is embarrassing to see Baltimore's school system at work here...the guy has repeated many times what the point of the thread is, and a lot of you still cant grasp it.


And @ the guy who responded to my last post, saying that it is absurd to claim Rice was not effective in the Jets game, 2.6 YPC indicates otherwise. No ifs and or buts about it. You guys claim we make excuses for Flacco, so dont make excuses for Rice.

[codizzle]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1318479705' post='822186']
Wow, it is embarrassing to see Baltimore's school system at work here...the guy has repeated many times what the point of the thread is, and a lot of you still cant grasp it.


And @ the guy who responded to my last post, saying that it is absurd to claim Rice was not effective in the Jets game, 2.6 YPC indicates otherwise. No ifs and or buts about it. You guys claim we make excuses for Flacco, so dont make excuses for Rice.
[/quote]
reading comprehension ftw

[flynismo]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1318482096' post='822217']
reading comprehension ftw[/quote]


seems to be way too common of a problem around these parts...

[codizzle]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1318484929' post='822222']



seems to be way too common of a problem around these parts...
[/quote]
come on down to arkansas. They giving problems a new meaning everyday round here