Adjustments That Are Needed To Be Made For Divisional Round

[Tyler]

Let me start by saying it feels absolutely amazing to flip roles with Pittsburgh and finally finish out the division. It really takes a tole having to go on the road every single year in the playoffs. The amazing part is that even with the recent years only settling for the wild card, the Ravens have reached at least the divisional round each year within the Flacco-Harbaugh era. It's exciting to think of the damage this team can do at home. HOWEVER, as we know... things are far from perfect and adjustments need to be made in order to be playing in February instead of watching at home.


1. Conservative Playcalling: This is the obvious one here. Cam needs to find a happy medium between passing and rushing. Put the ball in Flacco's hands and let him make plays. This also goes for the defensive side of the ball. Looking at that horrible Zone prevent today was atrocious.

2. SPREAD THE OFFENSE OUT! Great things seem to happen when the offense is spread out with all of the weapons on the field and Joe lined up in the gun. The two tight end sets are okay, but our offense thrives when we run multiple receiver sets out of the shotgun.

3. This one hurts to say, but unfortunately, Ray needs to come out on certain passing situations. Lining Lewis out wide in man coverage today made me cringe. Ray is still an exceptional leader and sure tackler for the most part, but is a liability in coverage. Maybe when Ellerbe is healthy they can substitute him in for certain packages as he is a lot more athletic. Another route is adding another outside backer or defensive back to cover the tight ends and running backs.

4. We need to dial up the blitz packages that helped unleash our dominant defense early on in the season. I haven't seen as many of the aggressive calls to get pressure on the quarterback like we were used to previously. Our secondary has stepped up in a big way, but it needs pressure from our front in order to be more successful.

5. Heal up during the bye and take care of business in the divisional round! I'm already excited for a playoff game at the bank. It will hopefully be the first playoff game I've been to. We need to make that place loud and hostile! Can't wait.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Tyler' timestamp='1325467211' post='930735']
Let me start by saying it feels absolutely amazing to flip roles with Pittsburgh and finally finish out the division. It really takes a tole having to go on the road every single year in the playoffs. The amazing part is that even with the recent years only settling for the wild card, the Ravens have reached at least the divisional round each year within the Flacco-Harbaugh era. It's exciting to think of the damage this team can do at home. HOWEVER, as we know... things are far from perfect and adjustments need to be made in order to be playing in February instead of watching at home.


1. Conservative Playcalling: This is the obvious one here. Cam needs to find a happy medium between passing and rushing. Put the ball in Flacco's hands and let him make plays. This also goes for the defensive side of the ball. Looking at that horrible Zone prevent today was atrocious.

2. SPREAD THE OFFENSE OUT! Great things seem to happen when the offense is spread out with all of the weapons on the field and Joe lined up in the gun. The two tight end sets are okay, but our offense thrives when we run multiple receiver sets out of the shotgun.

3. This one hurts to say, but unfortunately, Ray needs to come out on certain passing situations. Lining Lewis out wide in man coverage today made me cringe. Ray is still an exceptional leader and sure tackler for the most part, but is a liability in coverage. Maybe when Ellerbe is healthy they can substitute him in for certain packages as he is a lot more athletic. Another route is adding another outside backer or defensive back to cover the tight ends and running backs.

4. We need to dial up the blitz packages that helped unleash our dominant defense early on in the season. I haven't seen as many of the aggressive calls to get pressure on the quarterback like we were used to previously. Our secondary has stepped up in a big way, but it needs pressure from our front in order to be more successful.

5. Heal up during the bye and take care of business in the divisional round! I'm already excited for a playoff game at the bank. It will hopefully be the first playoff game I've been to. We need to make that place loud and hostile! Can't wait.
[/quote]

Agreed on all except taking Ray out. Ray has the ability to make plays and change games. Sure, his coverage ability has fallen, but his gamebreaking ability is still there.

[hawkprey]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1325467391' post='930747']

Agreed on all except taking Ray out. Ray has the ability to make plays and change games. Sure, his coverage ability has fallen, but his gamebreaking ability is still there.
[/quote]
I don't see what people are talking about with his coverage. He's the best LB we have in coverage. He's no cornerback but for a linebacker I think he's still one of the better coverers.

What we need to do is get Kruger and McPhee involved early and often. We have to get sacks from the beginning of the game, and pressure QBs early. Not to mention give our starters a rest so they can go the whole game without getting winded.

[codizzle]

We didn't spread the offense out today because we didn't have anquan.. We didn't have enough weapons to make it worth spreading it out

[Fricknmaniac]

[quote name='Tyler' timestamp='1325467211' post='930735']
5. Heal up during the bye and take care of business in the divisional round! I'm already excited for a playoff game at the bank. It will hopefully be the first playoff game I've been to. We need to make that place loud and hostile! Can't wait.
[/quote]

If I had to pick just one, this would be it. The team has been seriously banged up the last few weeks and the offense has struggled without Boldin. Getting him back healthy, along with other guys who have been injured recently, Webb, Jimmy Smith, Cary Williams, is going to be a huge boost. Likewise giving the older guys like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis an extra week of rest is going to do wonders for them. We're going to have a huge leg up on whoever we play between Houston, Denver, or Pittsburgh because those teams are all banged up right now and they're not going to get any better since they all have to play next week.

[OUravensfan]

Cam Cameron is lucky Rice broke two long runs today, lets just say that. Flacco should have thrown more, and for god's sake Lee Evans do something, catch the ball when it is thrown so perfectly into your hands.

[The Raven]

[quote name='OUravensfan' timestamp='1325467902' post='930792']
Cam Cameron is lucky Rice broke two long runs today, lets just say that. Flacco should have thrown more, and for god's sake Lee Evans do something, catch the ball when it is thrown so perfectly into your hands.
[/quote]

He's "lucky"? That was the gameplan today, and it was obvious. The very obvious gameplan was to run the ball, churn out yards, win TOP, and get a big run. We came into this game commited to the run. There was nothing "lucky" about it. By that logic Sean Payton is lucky Brees threw 4 TDs.

[Fricknmaniac]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1325468042' post='930800']

He's "lucky"? That was the gameplan today, and it was obvious. The very obvious gameplan was to run the ball, churn out yards, win TOP, and get a big run. We came into this game commited to the run. There was nothing "lucky" about it. By that logic Sean Payton is lucky Brees threw 4 TDs.
[/quote]

Agreed, that's the whole point of punching the ball the entire game, eventually the defense gets gassed and makes one mistake, that's when you start getting those huge runs and just gashing them for massive amounts of yards at a time. Remember that on our final drive, Rice broke a run for 16 yards.

[OUravensfan]

Lets face it, we can't rely on Rice to break 2 long TD runs in the playoffs every game. But we can rely on him to hurt defenses when they are also worried about our receiving threat. Now I know that Boldin was out today, but watching Lee Evans drop that perfect pass just made me furious. Our receivers need to make some plays, it will take 30 or more points to beat New England if we have to play them. Our TEs are great, Torrey Smith is good but needs to connect with Joe more on the deep routes.

Here is the thing that made me sick today, Mike Flynn, that average qb from lsu, starts for Green Bay against a divison rival and throws for 490 yrds and 6 TDs. What the hell is that? It's outsanding recievers that get consistently open and make great catches and make their qbs look good. That's what Flacco needs more of.

[Npane171]

Our defense has been wholly unimpressive the past three weeks. Just ugly! We're not oozing that danger and fear like we used to, in my opinion. Yes, people are worried to face us but we aren't executing like we did. I think that starts with the lack of a pass rush since the San Diego game. I don't know what has happened, but we just simply are not getting to the QB...and we need to if we're going to win the SB. Potentially facing Aaron Rodgers, Drew B, or Tom Brady to get to the SB...we need to put pressure on these guys. So, pass rush...gotta to get that back!

There's a lot of adjustments that need to be made. I can't help thinking our pass rush, right now, is the most important.

That being said, Cam is here to stay for this season. Yet, we so desperately need to better plays called. We need to get Lee involved. He was only targeted once or twice today (he missed one, so that's on him). But, better play calling has to happen. We just look so strange on offense.

[OUravensfan]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1325468042' post='930800']

He's "lucky"? That was the gameplan today, and it was obvious. The very obvious gameplan was to run the ball, churn out yards, win TOP, and get a big run. We came into this game commited to the run. There was nothing "lucky" about it. By that logic Sean Payton is lucky Brees threw 4 TDs.
[/quote]
I don't want to rely on Rice breaking a 70 yrd run for our only source of scoring in the playoffs. Cam has no killer instinct, you'd think we learn from last Bengals game to keep scoring and not let up because they will come back. New England never has this problem, Cam went into a shell the second half.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='Tyler' timestamp='1325467211' post='930735']
Let me start by saying it feels absolutely amazing to flip roles with Pittsburgh and finally finish out the division. It really takes a tole having to go on the road every single year in the playoffs. The amazing part is that even with the recent years only settling for the wild card, the Ravens have reached at least the divisional round each year within the Flacco-Harbaugh era. It's exciting to think of the damage this team can do at home. HOWEVER, as we know... things are far from perfect and adjustments need to be made in order to be playing in February instead of watching at home.


[b]1. Conservative Playcalling: This is the obvious one here. Cam needs to find a happy medium between passing and rushing. Put the ball in Flacco's hands and let him make plays. This also goes for the defensive side of the ball. Looking at that horrible Zone prevent today was atrocious.[/b]

[b]2. SPREAD THE OFFENSE OUT! Great things seem to happen when the offense is spread out with all of the weapons on the field and Joe lined up in the gun. The two tight end sets are okay, but our offense thrives when we run multiple receiver sets out of the shotgun.[/b]

3. This one hurts to say, but unfortunately, Ray needs to come out on certain passing situations. Lining Lewis out wide in man coverage today made me cringe. Ray is still an exceptional leader and sure tackler for the most part, but is a liability in coverage. Maybe when Ellerbe is healthy they can substitute him in for certain packages as he is a lot more athletic. Another route is adding another outside backer or defensive back to cover the tight ends and running backs.

4. We need to dial up the blitz packages that helped unleash our dominant defense early on in the season. I haven't seen as many of the aggressive calls to get pressure on the quarterback like we were used to previously. Our secondary has stepped up in a big way, but it needs pressure from our front in order to be more successful.

5. Heal up during the bye and take care of business in the divisional round! I'm already excited for a playoff game at the bank. It will hopefully be the first playoff game I've been to. We need to make that place loud and hostile! Can't wait.
[/quote]


I agree with these first two big time. Using the run to set up play action should be a huge, huge staple of this offense, but at times it's been non-existent this season, and I believe it's cost us games. And getting as many receivers involved early I think gives the passing game confidence. Hopefully when Q gets back, Flacco will have several dependable receivers to spread the ball out to. I also think Lee should be used early on some shorter routes so he and Flacco can feel more comfortable with each other. But the key for this offense I think in the playoffs is to have as much variety as possible, so no teams can key in on one area and shut us down.

[The Raven]

[quote name='OUravensfan' timestamp='1325468436' post='930826']
I don't want to rely on Rice breaking a 70 yrd run for our only source of scoring in the playoffs. Cam has no killer instinct, you'd think we learn from last Bengals game to keep scoring and not let up because they will come back. New England never has this problem, Cam went into a shell the second half.
[/quote]

I don't want to rely on it either, but when the run game works, ride it. You do know Rice averaged like 7 yards a carry, right? When your run game is that efficient, you run the football.

[The Raven]

Also, you guys realize it was 30mph winds in Cincy right? Come on now...

[Dfence4champs2052]

[quote name='OUravensfan' timestamp='1325468436' post='930826']
I don't want to rely on Rice breaking a 70 yrd run for our only source of scoring in the playoffs. Cam has no killer instinct, you'd think we learn from last Bengals game to keep scoring and not let up because they will come back. New England never has this problem, Cam went into a shell the second half.
[/quote]

Exactly because they are going to game plan for Rice and believe me it will be ugly. I like the threadstarter's OP and might consider the Ray Lewis suggestion but I'm not all for that just yet.

[Npane171]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1325468686' post='930838']
Also, you guys realize it was 30mph winds in Cincy right? Come on now...
[/quote]

By that logic the wind doesn't care about football games. By that logic...

because, by that logic...that logic...fhdfhdfhdgfdhjg

Logic

[JO_75]

[quote name='OUravensfan' timestamp='1325468436' post='930826']
I don't want to rely on Rice breaking a 70 yrd run for our only source of scoring in the playoffs. [b]Cam has no killer instinct, you'd think we learn from last Bengals game to keep scoring and not let up because they will come back.[/b] New England never has this problem, Cam went into a shell the second half.
[/quote]

No he does have a killer instinct but he only brings it out like once and every season lol. He used his up during Week 1 when we beat the Steelers 34 to 7. He used it up for the playoffs of 2009 when we crushed the Patriots lol. So maybe he has a killer instinct card to use for the playoffs this year around.

[OUravensfan]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1325469501' post='930879']

No he does have a killer instinct but he only brings it out like once and every season lol. He used his up during Week 1 when we beat the Steelers 34 to 7. He used it up for the playoffs of 2009 when we crushed the Patriots lol. So maybe he has a killer instinct card to use for the playoffs this year around.
[/quote]
I hope so. Our offense has performed well vs Pitt this year, we got our home playoff game finally, it was no easy task (that's for sure). I will be sick if we let it go to waste.

[Bigbell]

even tho lee has not played well yet...i feel like he is gonna make a big play in the playoffs!

[Ed_Reed20]

The defense has it's shaky moments, but they're still a good unit and more often than note, produce big plays. It's the offense that has to get better. Here are two things I'd like to see happen:

1) Get Pitta more involved. 'Nuff said.

2) Designed plays for Torrey. He's lethal going deep and CBs give him a big enough cushion at times to allow underneath completions. Still, you'd like to see at least on or two slants and/or screens to him a game that allow him to take advantage of his crazy burst and speed.

[K-Dog]

the Ravens, meaning both offense and defense need to play wide open for the full sixty minuets. Not forty spread out here and there.
Its never okay to let up a little bit.
Not now especially.

[tsizzle95]

i think we really have to work on special teams. i feel like it is really iffy which i really dont understand since harbs was a special teams coach..

[Ravensstrike4424]

cant enjoy the win have to complain about something huh

[Ravensstrike4424]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1325467553' post='930760']
I don't see what people are talking about with his coverage. He's the best LB we have in coverage. He's no cornerback but for a linebacker I think he's still one of the better coverers.

What we need to do is get Kruger and McPhee involved early and often. We have to get sacks from the beginning of the game, and pressure QBs early. Not to mention give our starters a rest so they can go the whole game without getting winded.
[/quote]

[nk02442]

Offense needs to improve on bassically everything but the run game.

Still two big problems on D:

1. Tackle. Way to many missed tackles and sloppy play. This means you too Ed Reed. You need to stop being a lazy and wrap up. Thats atleast 5 TD you have given up this year to poor tackling/teqnique.

2. Why are the CB still play 15 yards off the line. We give teams a clean release and its way to easy to make a completeion. I dont know what Pagano is doing, but he needs to fix it.

[Terrellb2007]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1325467553' post='930760']

I don't see what people are talking about with his coverage. He's the best LB we have in coverage. He's no cornerback but for a linebacker I think he's still one of the better coverers.

What we need to do is get Kruger and McPhee involved early and often. We have to get sacks from the beginning of the game, and pressure QBs early. Not to mention give our starters a rest so they can go the whole game without getting winded.
[/quote]

I agree with that Ray is a good coverage guy but u do have to remember LB are not going to have corner or wide receiver speed. Their body frames arent even built for that type of speed. I do realize that when Kruger is in hes on the QBs back side and Mcphee has quite a few sacks for him not to start and I see him as a gamewrecker if they places him in more. We have a lot of weapons on O abd D hopefully we pull our tricks out the bag for playoff. I would definitely love to see our ST kick it up a notch in coverage and tackling as well

[atlravensfan]

In another forum someone posted the stats on ray lewis in coverage and he is still one of the best lb in coverage. I think is more scheme then anything.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravensstrike4424' timestamp='1325473017' post='931051']
cant enjoy the win have to complain about something huh
[/quote]

Of course! You've been here long enough to learn this! hahaha

[Tyler]

[quote name='Ravensstrike4424' timestamp='1325473017' post='931051']
cant enjoy the win have to complain about something huh
[/quote]

No one is questioning how sweet the win feels or complaining. Simply put, there are things this team needs to tweak in order to make that run to the super bowl. You'd be crazy to say that this team is running on all cylinders. This team has yet to peak.

[RAYvenFan20]

how bout we work on gettin to the line with more than a handful of seconds to hike the ball