Flacco And The Pass/Run Ratio

[ratedr]

We've been complaining about the lack of a run game, and while Cam is definitely terrible, I have to wonder how much of it is Flacco checking out of run plays. I wonder this because of him saying this week how we HAD to pass. Curious about everyone's thoughts on this.

[hawkprey]

I'm sure Joe will check out to a pass most chances he gets, but I'm pretty sure the gameplan for yesterday was to air it out because we were down. Something I definitely don't agree with. I do agree that passing the ball is the easiest way to score points fast, which you want to do when you're losing 10-0, but you can't go all pass plays and let the defense cheat. We just end up with Joe forcing the ball to young receivers when the defense already knows every play is a pass. That's why they're able to jump routes and break up passes so much. I swear every team we face looks like they spent $20 million on cornerbacks like the Eagles too.

I can't imagine Joe is checking out of too many run plays. When you pass all the time, the D expects it, and they make it easier to run the ball. So why would Joe not like the look he gets when a run play is designed? He should be getting a look that says "we're not accounting for the run".

[BenDufusberger]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1321764159' post='876545']

I can't imagine Joe is checking out of too many run plays. When you pass all the time, the D expects it, and they make it easier to run the ball. So why would Joe not like the look he gets when a run play is designed? He should be getting a look that says "we're not accounting for the run".
[/quote]

Remember , too , that the play that Joe claims he checked out of the run on was the one where they intercepted him. The thing that makes me sick about the Seattle game is the feeling I have that we played right into their hands. Pete Carroll even said that he had hoped we'd get away from Rice runs and focus on the pass attack. I think a lot of those "looks" were probably counterfeit , and that they never fully committed to run defense on many of them.

You have to take a chance and run right into those bad "looks , at least occasionally , or the defense cheats , as you said. We panicked too soon , showing all of our cards to the Seahawks , and the result was that Joe gained less yards per pass attempt than Rice averaged on his five carries.

The other thing that happens when you're so topheavy with pass plays is that play-action becomes meaningless , and Flacco shouldn't want that to happen since it's been a staple for him historically.

[Ravenslifer]

I have to agree, Joe should know that getting Rice at least 15-20 carries a game has led to great things for us this season. One run of 20+ yards by Rice in the first half could have changed the whole game. Carroll would have had to focus on him, which would have opened things up. I really hope Cam's pass-happy ways haven't infected Joe's thinking-process. He has to realize that a good day for Ray Rice usually means a good day for him as well.

[hawkprey]

[quote name='BenDufusberger' timestamp='1321765226' post='876553']

Remember , too , that the play that Joe claims he checked out of the run on was the one where they intercepted him. The thing that makes me sick about the Seattle game is the feeling I have that we played right into their hands. Pete Carroll even said that he had hoped we'd get away from Rice runs and focus on the pass attack. I think a lot of those "looks" were probably counterfeit , and that they never fully committed to run defense on many of them.

You have to take a chance and run right into those bad "looks , at least occasionally , or the defense cheats , as you said. We panicked too soon , showing all of our cards to the Seahawks , and the result was that Joe gained less yards per pass attempt than Rice averaged on his five carries.

The other thing that happens when you're so topheavy with pass plays is that play-action becomes meaningless , and Flacco shouldn't want that to happen since it's been a staple for him historically.
[/quote]
Yeah, unfortunately Joe has way too much pressure on him. We've been throwing the ball the most times in the league (lately) to probably the least-experienced WR corp. I know Joe wants to put the offense on his shoulders but this isn't how the Ravens function. It's not how any team should function. We need to balance the pass/run ratio and as Ogden said, give the O-line a chance overpower their D. Also, we need to run to control the clock. A loss of the run game will and has led to a worsening of the defense.