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

[Ravens549]

I can identify with pulling Ray off on 3rd and long. But can you guys imagine the disruption that would cause? Pulling the defensive leader off the field when they need him most.

[chesapeakeaviator]

Ray didn't have a good game. However, sample size has to come into play here... he has still had some killer games this year. Two or three in a row like this and you can start asking the question.

[Guest RBates]

[quote name='TXRaven' timestamp='1324393607' post='916120']
No... Ray Lewis is nearing the end, but this was a team loss. It can not be pinned on Ray, Joe, Jimmy or our pass rush. We playd poorly as a team and everyone must accept blame.
[/quote]. Add Billy and Jarrett J and you would be close IMO.

[Militant X 1]

Ray is the goat we all know that! and of course, he is getting both older and slower that is a fact! he did look slow on a few plays versus the chargers but he is also just coming back from a 4 game lay-off. that is huge for someone his age. to play 10 games straight and then sit out for 4 games straight and then to come back and play? wow! that could be too much on the body. but now that he is back and has played a game, we should see him playing a lil' more quicker in these last 2 games vs the browns and bengals.

~Mili

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Militant X 1' timestamp='1324474961' post='917213']
Ray is the goat we all know that!  and of course, he is getting both older and slower that is a fact!  he did look slow on a few plays versus the chargers but he is also just coming back from a 4 game lay-off.  that is huge for someone his age.  to play 10 games straight and then sit out for 4 games straight and then to come back and play?  wow!  that could be too much on the body.  but now that he is back and has played a game, we should see him playing a lil' more quicker in these last 2 games vs the browns and bengals.

~Mili
[/quote]
Agreed right here...the guy has had a ton more great games this year to outweigh this one mediocre game!

[good_n_purple]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1324268853' post='912186']

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?
[/quote]

Good point. From what I have seen though, as Ngata goes so goes the defense. Ngata has been nursing some kind of an injury, the Chargers nullified him, and picked up our blitzes. The other Pagano did a better job. Anyone notice how poorly we play when we have tons of time to prepare? Coaching man, coaching...

[quoth_the_raven_neverscore]

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


a lot of players, on both sides of the ball, were to blame for this loss. no one player can be singled out

let's also keep in mind that ray's been questionable to play, for weeks; who knows if his toe is 100 per cent. he knew as well as anybody that the hot in december chargers were probably going to be the team's hardest test of their remaining games, and that they needed him out there to help secure the division. like the leader he is, he went out and played. and with the lack of practice in the past few weeks, it's going to take the body some time to get back into game shape.

as he gets older he's not the same player physically, it goes without saying. time catches up with all of us... but it's ray, he's been not only the heart and soul of the team for the past 16 years, but a hero and inspiration to the city of baltimore. the man [i]is [/i]the baltimore ravens. he is contracted to play through the 2015 season, but has already stated that if the ravens were to win the superbowl this year, he will retire. so he knows that his time is coming, and when he's ready to leave the game, he will. but until that time, he'll have plenty left to contribute

[PuRock]

[quote name='good_n_purple' timestamp='1324476741' post='917227']

Good point. From what I have seen though, as Ngata goes so goes the defense. Ngata has been nursing some kind of an injury, the Chargers nullified him, and picked up our blitzes. The other Pagano did a better job. [b]Anyone notice how poorly we play when we have tons of time to prepare? [/b] Coaching man, coaching...
[/quote]

Well that's not entirely true. We had an entire offseason to plan for week 1 against the Steelers. They were making sure it counted.

[TXRaven]

[quote name='RBates' timestamp='1324474040' post='917203']. Add Billy and Jarrett J and you would be close IMO.[/quote]

Your right, fortunately they are included in everyone. It was just a horrible game all the way around... But its over and looking forward thanks to the 49ers we are still in good shape.

[wayne]

[quote name='Markus92' timestamp='1324271726' post='912529']

Im not too worried about a rematch in San Diego... yes they beat us tonight but do you honestly feel that would happen again? I know my/our ravens and know for a fact we have way too much heart and pride for that...
[/quote]

Naw, I'm very confident it wouldn't happen again and I know people are tired of hearing this cliche saying but this loss I feel will help us moving forward. All of us, including Pagano had a false sense of our secondary and what they are capable of and this game showed. I honestly feel Pagano will throw in a lot more Cover 2, Greg Mattison style D seeing that our CBs are young and can't consistently handle the job of being left on a island. We can get away doing that on most teams in the league but with some teams like the Chargers, Saints, Packers, etc....., have to show a more traditional Cover 2 sliding the Cover 1's and 0's in there, not the other way around. Yea, our D is a lot more deadly when we go to a Cover 1 but when facing teams like those, make them work the ball down the field to take away the quick scoring then hit them with the Cover 1's and 0's here and there.

People talking about the pass rush but before they could get in, Rivers was heaving the ball downfield quickly as our young CBs was falling for the double moves. With the way they we're biting on the double moves, you would think they would have safety help behind them. Also, Ray is doing fine and of course he will give up a pass or two and miss a tackle or two but I can show you footage on Patrick Willis and Brian Urlacher doing that too so its really irrelevant to say stuff like that. Even in Ray prime years, he missed tackles and gave up passes, calm down people,lol.

This loss was put on the O, Pagano being outcoached constantly running Cover 1s and 0s when that's clearly what Rivers and Co wants but in Pagano defense, I'm sure he felt like most of us did seeing our CBs hold it down one on one with Floyd and Jackson. I feel this loss completes us now, we have seen it all.

Titans with the quick passing game of the WCO

Jags and Seahawks with the pound the ball, PA max protect type of schemes

Chargers with the air it out scheme with Cover 2's and 4's needed badly

[Grapple Raven]

Ray Lewis had the highest number of tackles in the Chargers game with 10! He came back for this game because he knew how important it was going to be, and he wasn't at 100% either, not up to game speed after sitting on the sidelines for a month...I don't know about you but that is playing like a Raven to me... the man has still got skills and alot of heart!!!

[Shammy]

i think the team plays down a lil bit when ray plays tho like the rely on him more but when hes out it seems everyone comes together more and steps up

[Dfence4champs2052]

I mean doesn't he get to catch up to the speed of the game after missing four???? Damn.