Report Card: Ravens D Without Ray

[lowrider]

[quote name='awholelottahaloti' timestamp='1321887453' post='880103']


I think folks, including me, grade the performance on a curve set by the standard of D expected of the Ravens.

Definitely not a Ravens "B" performance. By our standard, we sucked until the last set of downs.
[/quote]
Well our defense gave the offense the ball with great field position with the turnovers. Then our offense scored quickly. Basically we are putting our defense out there for a long time. But our defense basically put 14 points on the board with those turnovers. They had their problems. But some of the problems on d was because of the turnovers the defense caused

[PuRock]

[quote name='Wallace17_OutRunMe' timestamp='1321882180' post='880020']
Im nervous as well to play the Bengals again in Pittsburgh in a few weeks seeing that Dalton looks like he is getting better and better each week. I agree with you though that could be a very very dangerous game for the Ravens on New Years Day going into Cincy seeing that the Bengals most likely are going to have to win that game to guarantee them a spot in the playoffs;also, if the Steelers win their next 5 games leading up to that game on New Years it's going to absolutely force the Ravens to win that last game in Cincy to secure the AFC North and get homefield advantage or the bye week...
[/quote]

We can only hope that by Week 17, the game doesn't really matter. Either we locked up a playoff spot/division with nowhere else to move or the Bengals have no shot at making the playoffs.

Worst case scenario. Bengals need a win to make the playoffs. We need a win to claim the division.

[757RavensFan]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1321881800' post='880015']
How receivers get that wide open on us is embarrassing. When Cary almost sacks Dalton, he keeps the play alive and strikes down field where he finds a wide open receiver for a 1st down. No one was withing 10 yards of him.
[/quote]

it's almost impossible for a DB to stay w/ a receiver longer than 5 sec when a play breaks down. It happens all the time, Roethlisberger is famous for extending plays when it looks like there's nothing there.

[FerrariFan87]

Defense gets a C today on account of them forcing 3 turnovers... but allowing a Rookie QB and no-name WRs to smoke us up and down the field is unacceptable.

[Tank 92]

[quote name='757RavensFan' timestamp='1321891120' post='880184']

it's almost impossible for a DB to stay w/ a receiver longer than 5 sec when a play breaks down. It happens all the time, Roethlisberger is famous for extending plays when it looks like there's nothing there.
[/quote]


Right. We need to generate a consistent pass rush=a good performance by the DBs.

[Wallace17_OutRunMe]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1321888997' post='880146']

We can only hope that by Week 17, the game doesn't really matter. Either we locked up a playoff spot/division with nowhere else to move or the Bengals have no shot at making the playoffs.

Worst case scenario. Bengals need a win to make the playoffs. We need a win to claim the division.
[/quote]
I think it will matter for your last worst case scenario. I think the Bengals will need that win to secure the wildcard spot since they are not going away anytime soon and have some winnable games left. I still think the division race will come down to the final week of the season between the Ravens and Steelers. I could see both the Ravens and Steelers each losing 1 game between now and that final game and the Ravens still needing to win to finish with the same record as the Steelers and win the tiebraker, or I could see both teams losing no games between now and then and the Ravens needing to win that game in Cincy so they dont have 1 more loss then the Steelers do...Right now the Steelers have potentially 2 games they could lose to finish out the season the Ravens I believe have 3. The Steelers games are with the Bengals at home and at San Fran, the Ravens games are this week with San Fran at home and at San Diego and at Cincy. I dont see the Steelers losing to the Chiefs, the Browns both times they play them,or the Rams. And I dont see the Ravens losing to the Colts or the Browns both times they still have to play them. So unless either the Steelers or Ravens lose a game unexpected it will come down to the games I just mentioned right there.

[Tank 92]

[quote name='Wallace17_OutRunMe' timestamp='1321892069' post='880199']
I think it will matter for your last worst case scenario. I think the Bengals will need that win to secure the wildcard spot since they are not going away anytime soon and have some winnable games left. I still think the division race will come down to the final week of the season between the Ravens and Steelers. I could see both the Ravens and Steelers each losing 1 game between now and that final game and the Ravens still needing to win to finish with the same record as the Steelers and win the tiebraker, or I could see both teams losing no games between now and then and the Ravens needing to win that game in Cincy so they dont have 1 more loss then the Steelers do...Right now the Steelers have potentially 2 games they could lose to finish out the season the Ravens I believe have 3. The Steelers games are with the Bengals at home and at San Fran, the Ravens games are this week with San Fran at home and at San Diego and at Cincy. I dont see the Steelers losing to the Chiefs, the Browns both times they play them,or the Rams. And I dont see the Ravens losing to the Colts or the Browns both times they still have to play them. So unless either the Steelers or Ravens lose a game unexpected it will come down to the games I just mentioned right there.
[/quote]


Ahhh, wishful thinking from a fan. Let me give you a different view.

I think we win out before New Year's Day and you lose to the niners and bengals. Our game with the niners is a short week, but they have to travel across country. Advantage Ravens. San Diego? I think we handle rivers and co..

So, it looks like, maybe, the stealers fight with cincy for a wild card and we are #1 seed. That is from a Raven's fan and what I see more likely to happen.

[Militant X 1]

B-

great against the run.
a few tunovers (Webb, Smith and Reed ints)
gave up deep plays...poor tackling and busted coverages etc.

~Mili

[Jay D83]

First half B-
Second Half D+

I don't think the D did a good enough job of imposing their will yesterday. Even the 3 INT didn't bother Dalton, and the only time I saw him frazzled was that last series.

If it wasn't for the O, we DEFINITELY would've lost yesterday. Hands down.

[Wallace17_OutRunMe]

[quote name='awholelottahaloti' timestamp='1321893376' post='880236']


Ahhh, wishful thinking from a fan. Let me give you a different view.

I think we win out before New Year's Day and you lose to the niners and bengals. Our game with the niners is a short week, but they have to travel across country. Advantage Ravens. San Diego? I think we handle rivers and co..

So, it looks like, maybe, the stealers fight with cincy for a wild card and we are #1 seed. That is from a Raven's fan and what I see more likely to happen.
[/quote]After the Ravens lost to teams like the Seahawks and Jags this season they are capable of losing to anybody on any given week. The Chargers game at San Diego wont be a pushover for the Ravens the Chargers will need to win that game to stay alive for both the division and the wildcard and the game is in San Diego and on primetime. The Steelers or the Ravens whoever doesnt win the division are right now unless they completely implode are a lock to get one of those wildcard berths. Both the Steelers and Ravens have a 2 game lead on wildcard hopeful teams such as the Bills,Jets,Titans,Broncos,and a 3 game lead over the Chargers. Plus, they both have the tiebraker currently in hand on the Bengals as well. As far as losing to both the Bengals and Niners I dont see the Steelers losing both. They might drop 1 of the 2 games but not both of them. The game with Cincy is here and the Steelers will have 11 days to get ready for the 49ers since they play a Thursday night game the week before they play them. The Steelers are getting healthier as well on both offense and defense...

[PuRock]

[quote name='awholelottahaloti' timestamp='1321893376' post='880236']


Ahhh, wishful thinking from a fan. Let me give you a different view.

I think we win out before New Year's Day and you lose to the niners and bengals. Our game with the niners is a short week, but they have to travel across country. Advantage Ravens. [b] San Diego? I think we handle rivers and co..[/b]

So, it looks like, maybe, the stealers fight with cincy for a wild card and we are #1 seed. That is from a Raven's fan and what I see more likely to happen.
[/quote]

IDK. San Diego is a losing football team. I would prefer them to be good. We have to travel coast to coast. I would not count that as a win. It's going to be a tough game for us.

[Tank 92]

I hear what you are saying about losing to the jags, hawks, titans. But we are heading into December and it seems that we play much better with a prize in sight and I don't see a let down like we had in those losses. That said, you never know in the NFL, we could lose any of our remaining games. But, it would seem that it is more likely not to happen.

[Tank 92]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1321894255' post='880259']

IDK. [i][b]San Diego is a losing football team.[/b][/i] [i][b]I would prefer them to be good.[/b][/i] We have to travel coast to coast. I would not count that as a win. It's going to be a tough game for us.
[/quote]


LOL!!! Good point!

I don't like to count the "chickens before they hatch" and really don't assume any win. It will be a challenging game, but by that time the desired end will be in sight and I don't see our "losing team" mojo taking effect. I think the bolts will have to take it from us for them to win.

And on topic, the D needs to get it together! With or without Ray, we need a consistent pass rush or we'll get cooked by the likes of rivers.

[3-4ravdef509]

C. They played with intensity, but without Ray we lost two of our strengths: communication, and disguising our looks. Examples: We needed a timeout one play because no one knew what was going on, and the touchdown when Smith got burned was because we tipped the cover zero to Dalton, who audibled to take advantage of no safety help. Jimmy should have realized the change, but had Dalton not seen the lack of safety coverage the play might not have happened. Those are issues to work on moving forward so if Ray misses more time we aren't as vulnerable.

[Mick0311]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1321840125' post='879490']
The loss of Ray wasn't really felt too bad in this game. We were able to stop the run which is one of Rays strengths. The Defense struggled more with getting to the QB and pass coverage on WRs.

I can tell you this though. The loss of Ray against the 49ers would be felt hard. The 9ers are a good rushing team with a great TE. Areas where Ray can be a force.
[/quote]


I have to disagree a slight bit. I agree with the grade, but those two TDs inside the 5 were right up the gut runs. I have to believe that Ray would have made a huge difference there. I was also disappointed to see Cody on his butt during those run plays. That is supposed to be his strength.