AFC North didn't get the memo?

[akacrow]

There is an obvious trend in the NFL to field an offense that throws the ball quite a bit more than in decades past. Our linebackers are slimming down to meet the new challange. Both Ray Lewis and J. McClain are both, "considerably lighter" to contend with the faster, athletic running backs and tightends.

To quote Ray Lewis,

“The game ain’t no more 250 or 260-pound fullbacks and you have offenses running the ball 25, 30, 40-plus times,” Lewis said. “The game is changing to where it’s all based on matchups now. So you just change with the game. If everybody runs, you’ve got to run.”


Well it seems the AFCN, most specifically the Browns and the Steelers did not get the memo.

The Browns are fielding a runningback in Trent Richardson, I think he might see some carries, the Browns are running a fullback.

The Steelers are fielding Isaac Redman, at 6' 230# he isn't exactly a small back.

Under new Steelers coordinator Todd Haley The run-pass ratio the first two days of full-contact practices was 65-35.

A quote from the Steelers running back coach in reference to Redman,

“He’s one of the smartest halfbacks I’ve ever worked with,” said Wilson. “He’s very instinctual and he’s got very good football intelligence and I trust him in all aspects, whether it be first down or third down.”

Third down?

“Absolutely,” Wilson said. “There’s your third down back.”


The Steelers and Browns are coming at us with a smash mouth power run game in 2012. Are we prepared for such an onslaught?

I wonder if Cam Cameron will take the same approach, not a chance, he still thinks a screen game and check downs to a running back are, "basically run plays".


When the entire league is gearing up to contain the passing game, it may be a good idea to have "250 or 260-pound fullbacks and you have offenses running the ball 25, 30, 40-plus times."

[Ravenseconbeast]

LBs looks a little shaky. Kruger, Kindle, Mcphee, Jones, Upshaw. All of them will be thrown into the fire and they need to thrive on it. They all wanted the opportunity. Now we'll see if they got the goods.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1343801911' post='1107812']
LBs looks a little shaky. Kruger, Kindle, Mcphee, Jones, Upshaw. All of them will be thrown into the fire and they need to thrive on it. They all wanted the opportunity. Now we'll see if they got the goods.
[/quote]since when have mcphee and Jones played lb

[baltravens]

Our offense feeds off of Ray Rice and he is [b]a running back.[/b] His body guard, Leach, last I checked was about 260. So if the game plan dictates, we can control the clock, too. I think Pierce was drafted to contribute to my point.

[PurpleReign92]

Trent Richardson is arguably the best runningback in draft and for them i think it was a Great Move... Steelers on the other hand having a 2 rookie start on the offensive line "We Gonna run them over like a Tornado taking out a whole town."

[1/28/01]

[quote name='PurpleReign92' timestamp='1343821993' post='1107848']
Trent Richardson is arguably the best runningback in draft and for them i think it was a Great Move... Steelers on the other hand having a 2 rookie start on the offensive line [b]"We Gonna run them over like a Tornado taking out a whole town."[/b]
[/quote]
Since you quoted the part in bold, just curious who says that?

[berad]

Ray and Jameel cut weight. Cody and Ngata bulked up a little. I think that's by design.

Plus, Upshaw is gigantic - especially for a rookie.

[Bulldog]

I doubt that our ILBs slimming down has much impact on our run defense. First of all, it's about leverage and technique when taking on a block. It does not matter if you're 230 or 250 when you take on a 320+ lbs lineman, just look at PWillis and how he's able to shed blocks at 235 or whatever he is. It may be a disadvantage because you're more prone to being banged up at that weight, but I think the advantages in coverage far outweigh the negatives.

Look at Brian Cushing, he slimméd down a lot as well moving inside and he was a straight up beast last year.

[codizzle]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1343822427' post='1107852']

Since you quoted the part in bold, just curious who says that?
[/quote]
Pretty sure it's from Jersey Shore

[kassaiscool]

I am scared of Trent Richardson, if you watch some of his highlights hes broken so many tackles. Plus the browns also have Greg Little who is 6'2 and weighs 230 pounds and probably broke more tackles as any wide out in the league. They are going to be a physical team this year, as for the steelers I am not as worried they are more of a speed offense with all their WR's.

[Gordo52]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1343822427' post='1107852']

Since you quoted the part in bold, just curious who says that?
[/quote]
Lmao!

[Gordo52]

I can't wait for Richardson to meet Ngata.

[Ravensfan23]

The Ravens have never, nor will they start having a problem playing a physical brand of football. Regardless of the szie of Ray and Jameel, this defense will be as physical as ever.

The Browns have added talent, but they still have to prove they can compete. This woudln't be the first time the Browns fielded a talented team, but until they prove they can win, their results will be much of the same.

The Steelers have to transition into more of a running team because, Ben isn't a QB you can consistently have throw the ball 30+ times a game imo. In the years when the Steelers had their most success, the offense attempted between 470-500 passes while they ran the ball 470+ times. That's about as balanced as you can get, which generally means, your offense needs the run to set up the pass.

The AFC North is still the toughness, nastiest, most pyhiscal division in all of football imo. However, while running the ball and playing strong defense is still a great asset in this division, you still have to be able to compete and beat the rest of the league with strong QB play as well. So its a healthy balance that I think all 4 teams are striving for, whoever does it best will win the North.

[PurpleReign92]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1343822427' post='1107852']
Since you quoted the part in bold, just curious who says that?
[/quote]

Mayock and a bunch of there scouts..

[PurpleReign92]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1343843014' post='1108045']
I can't wait for Richardson to meet Ngata.
[/quote]
After that meeting Mr Richardson would have schedule a meeting with the massage and hot tube center...
Long Night for a Rookie running back against a veteran pro bowl defensive tackle...

[ravefan52]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1343825698' post='1107869']
Ray and Jameel cut weight. Cody and Ngata bulked up a little. I think that's by design.

Plus, Upshaw is gigantic - especially for a rookie.
[/quote]
I think that's a good point, bulking up the line and slimming the ILB's down seems like it could be a good idea. Cody and Ngata are gigantic while Art Jones isn't small either. It reminds me a bit of the giants who have a huge dline and linebackers closer to Ray and Jameel in weight.

That's one thing I liked about Upshaw a lot coming out of college was that he already had an NFL-ready body.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1343829274' post='1107891']

Pretty sure it's from Jersey Shore
[/quote]
Ha, riiiiigght

[Ravens Lover]

not a bad thought, never thought of that

[TheRavenouseD2008]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1343846081' post='1108079']


[b]The Steelers have to transition into more of a running team because, Ben isn't a QB you can consistently have throw the ball 30+ times a game imo.[/b] In the years when the Steelers had their most success, the offense attempted between 470-500 passes while they ran the ball 470+ times. That's about as balanced as you can get, which generally means, your offense needs the run to set up the pass.

[/quote]

yeah especially with a partially torn RC in his throwing arm he ought to be glad at the possibility of suggs missing cause that means suggs wont come away with a ball and an arm on a sack fumble then we would all need to give him a hand for the try lol

[Jabara]

I think this was based on the fact that Ray Lewis slimmed down a bit to be faster.
As if he whould slim down a bit, yet let his amazing, textbook tackling ability go.
Really don't think thats going to happen.
Ray will do his part. Even if two teams in our division go with bigger backs, the rest of our schedule isn't.
Even if those two teams, that we play twice a year, have bigger baks, doesn't mean a player or two on our roster, are headed in the wrong direction.
Our DC said he agreed with the move, otherwise, we would have heard more about it if it was an issue.

[display name]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1343846081' post='1108079']
The Ravens have never, nor will they start having a problem playing a physical brand of football. Regardless of the szie of Ray and Jameel, this defense will be as physical as ever.

The Browns have added talent, but they still have to prove they can compete. This woudln't be the first time the Browns fielded a talented team, but until they prove they can win, their results will be much of the same.

The Steelers have to transition into more of a running team because, Ben isn't a QB you can consistently have throw the ball 30+ times a game imo. In the years when the Steelers had their most success, the offense attempted between 470-500 passes while they ran the ball 470+ times. That's about as balanced as you can get, which generally means, your offense needs the run to set up the pass.

The AFC North is still the toughness, nastiest, most pyhiscal division in all of football imo. However, while running the ball and playing strong defense is still a great asset in this division, you still have to be able to compete and beat the rest of the league with strong QB play as well. So its a healthy balance that I think all 4 teams are striving for, whoever does it best will win the North.
[/quote]
Well said.
The Baltimore Ravens still have that smashmouth style, as do the other three teams.
I do know what you mean. The style of play in the NFL fluctuates some every decade, back and forth. The AFC North is stuck to that smashmouth, hard-nosed style. So, we are slower to evolve than the rest of the league. Bmore and maybe even Cinci included.
Personally, I prefer the style of these four teams over that high-flying 5,000 yard QB passing game that has come around over the last several years.

[The Raven]

The AFC North sent three teams to the playoffs last season, so it looks like they did get the memo. Win football games. That's the bottom line. Win games. Doesn't matter how it gets done. Just win.

[Blex64]

[quote name='display name' timestamp='1343921524' post='1108609']
Well said.
The Baltimore Ravens still have that smashmouth style, as do the other three teams.
I do know what you mean. The style of play in the NFL fluctuates some every decade, back and forth. The AFC North is stuck to that smashmouth, hard-nosed style. So, we are slower to evolve than the rest of the league. Bmore and maybe even Cinci included.
Personally, I prefer the style of these four teams over that high-flying 5,000 yard QB passing game that has come around over the last several years.
[/quote]

That is, in many ways, how we win games. All these teams run tons of DBs and few have a dominant front-7 anymore, especially when it comes to run stuffing. Pound it through their skulls, impose our physicality on them, and there's nothing they can do. They don't have the strength to fight a team that's tougher and meaner then they are.

Having the best secondary in the league helps too.