It Sounds Blasphemous, But It's Time To Ask The Question...

[ratedr]

...is the Ravens defense better without Ray Lewis?

[McBoller]

no

[marylandmike12]

sadly ray missed 3 tackles so yes they ar better without him

[PuRock]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1324268099' post='912034']
...is the Ravens defense better without Ray Lewis?
[/quote]

I wouldn't say this game is a good measuring stick. Ray is in there to stop the run. Ray had little to do with the lack of pressure and coverage down the sidelines.

Now I am not saying we are better without him. I'm just saying we can't say this loss was due to Ray being back. The whole team sucked.

[Ravens549]

Yes, and Reed.

[baadbobby]

We didn't face the Chargers without him. Give props to a very worthy opponent, who were way hungrier and better prepared, in their own stadium. This was a team loss; ST, O, D.

[H8R]

The problem I see he can be exploited in fazes of the game on physical ability... Which means his body is wearing down. He can't play on heart alone.

[True]

Our ILBs (McClain and Ellerbe) are NOT good cover guys and Brendon Ayanbadejo is very old. Ravens need to draft a ILB who can cover the middle of the field.

[Gordo52]

Thats so disrespectful. lol

[I AM LEGEND]

It's a valid question...

Ray looked old tonight..and was exposed in coverage as he has been a lot in recent years..

Even on the play when Ray made that bonecrushing hit...it was painful to watch him in pursuit...and I instantly visioned any one of our other linebackers who could have been there probably a whole 2 secs earlier..

[i82much]

What about everybody else who sucked tonight??

[Guest RBates]

I believe that Ray should take up a position coaching job. I knew when he was going to play tonight, that it would mess up chemistry. Sadly he is slow, and often likes to be in front of the camera ranting while under performing. Sorry Ray, love you, but it is in the best interest of the team. Time has caught up to you.

[Alexir]

What about Reed or Ngata? Didn't see much from them. Cary was bad. Pollard did more running of his mouth than he did running on the field.

Ray made some great tackles and has played very well this season. Ed Reed, not so much from a statistical stand point, is a concern to me because he just doesn't seem like the ball hawk of old and he doesn't seem focused.

Like others have said, this was a team loss.

[I AM LEGEND]

I just have this bad feeling Ray is gonna be one of those greats with 2 much pride and the worse he plays the more he's gonna stick around to prove he can do it...we've already heard that he doesn't allow himself to be taken off the field...

I mean it would be.bad and kinda disrespectful to reduce his role this year with only a handful of games left...but hopefully he will make the right decision during the off season...

[tctony]

Yes.

I hate to say it: But him and Ed are not playing up to snuff anymore.

[PuRock]

[quote name='i82much' timestamp='1324268372' post='912087']
What about everybody else who sucked tonight??
[/quote]

It was only Joe, Ray and Jimmy.

There were zero players who played for us tonight. Suggs? Ngata? Cody? Redding? Reed? Cary Williams? Boldin? O-Line? Who?

[Romo Ravens]

Oh boy. We lose and our Hall of Fame players are to blame. Ray missed like what, two tackles in garbage time. Flacco threw two picks when we still had a chance and Jimmy and Cary were beaten on multiple plays. But no, it's always someone besides Flacco. Sigh

[I AM LEGEND]

[quote name='i82much' timestamp='1324268372' post='912087']
What about everybody else who sucked tonight??
[/quote]

I almost feel like its a crime to come on this board and seriously discuss any negative ravens issues..

It's horrible here after a loss...

If we win...we specifically pinpoint the top players and praise them for 7 days..

If we lose....and we try to discuss individual performances its "no no no EVERYONE sucked"


Yes we realized everyone sucked..but in order to find out why we sucked so bad...we unfortunately have to dig a little deeper...that means highlighting individual performances ...and ray wasn't the only reason we lost...but he was an issue none the less...and this thread will discuss his performance...

If people don't like it...they might wanna leave the thread

[PaintinPGPurple]

Ray Rice and Torrey Smith were the only positives. No one on defense had a good game.

[bpytnjr58]

It was a total team effort tonight...or lack of..Rivers always seem to take them to the woodshed.

[FerrariFan87]

Hard to say because [i]no one[/i] on defense decided to get off the plane...

[JohnnyBoy8102]

[quote name='I AM LEGEND' timestamp='1324268352' post='912078']
It's a valid question...

Ray looked old tonight..[b]and was exposed in coverage[/b] as he has been a lot in recent years..

Even on the play when Ray made that bonecrushing hit...it was painful to watch him in pursuit...and I instantly visioned any one of our other linebackers who could have been there probably a whole 2 secs earlier..
[/quote]

When was he exposed in coverage? The only completion I recall around him was a pass to Gates that was thrown between Ray's and DBs zone in zone coverage?

[Militant X 1]

sure, Ray got beat a few times and missed a few tackles....BUT....

Ray...didn't throw 2 pics...umm..that was Flacco
Ray...didn't get beat for TDs over the top...ummm...that was J. Smith
Ray...wasn't the one unable to get pressure on Rivers....ummm...that was the ENTIRE defensive line
Ray...didn't call for just 2 running plays on the Ravens 1st drive....ummm...that was Cam
Ray...didn't miss a FG....ummm...that was Cundiff...AGAIN!
Ray...didn't miss out on calling a timeout to stop the clock before the half.....ummm...that was Harbaugh

THE ENTIRE TEAM STUNK IT UP IN PRIMETIME.....AGAIN!! SMH!!

~Mili

[Purple Nurple]

The magic 8 ball says that this question breaks my heart. Today sucked.

[zRaven]

I love Ray Lewis but he is getting up there in age. That broken tackle by Mike Tolbert is a perfect examlple of his decline in quality. Ellerbe and McClain are much faster and more athletic at this point. However I think we are greatly dependant on Ray's leadership.

[JohnnyBoy8102]

[quote name='RBates' timestamp='1324268404' post='912090']
I believe that Ray should take up a position coaching job. I knew when he was going to play tonight, that it would mess up chemistry. Sadly he is slow, and often likes to be in front of the camera ranting while under performing. Sorry Ray, love you, but it is in the best interest of the team. Time has caught up to you.
[/quote]

This is a pathetic post.

Ray has been performing at a very high level this season. He was still the 3rd rating ILB in the league on a per play basis according to pro football focus DESPITE missing 4 games. He had only given up 14 receptions all season and a 68.4 qb rating in passes thrown his way.

[pburnett]

sadly... ray looked slow... I think it was the second play of the game where he was going sideways and just looked really slow....

[r.lewis52]

We will never no that answer. But It's sad too see our 2 all star players in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed really show their age today. I wish they would never get old but hey thats life. Will Ray and Ed retire after this season? YES! It's hurts me to say that. But on a good note, we did'nt have a bye week when we won the super bowl...Hmmm can we hold the walls....

[i82much]

[quote name='I AM LEGEND' timestamp='1324269263' post='912252']
I almost feel like its a crime to come on this board and seriously discuss any negative ravens issues..

It's horrible here after a loss...

If we win...we specifically pinpoint the top players and praise them for 7 days..

If we lose....and we try to discuss individual performances its "no no no EVERYONE sucked"


Yes we realized everyone sucked..but in order to find out why we sucked so bad...we unfortunately have to dig a little deeper...that means highlighting individual performances ...and ray wasn't the only reason we lost...but he was an issue none the less...and this thread will discuss his performance...

If people don't like it...they might wanna leave the thread
[/quote]

Thanks for the advice. My feelings are intact.

[True]

Ray wasn't sharp but it's also his first game back in a month and he has to adjust to game speed. He'll be under his feet soon enough once he gets into football shape in the next couple weeks.