Week 1 Preview - Ravens v Bengals

[NaveSenrag]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1346546810' post='1136901']
Defensively, they've certainly got talent but I'm not too impressed with them on offense. Outside of Green and Gresham (who they underutilize), they don't have any established weapons, Dalton isn't that at the stage where he can elevate the play of those around him, their o-line is okay at-best and their RBs are just as mediocre.
[/quote]
Well, they've got two number one talent level receivers, and 3 more mediocre ones, a good running back in BJGE, and a pretty good QB in Andy Dalton. It's an offense with talent both running and passing, it might force us to fall into the trap that we did at the Championship game, where our D had to choose between giving up yards because we were covering the pass, giving up yards because we were stopping the run, or exhausting ourselves because we tried to do both. They might not be a fantastic offense, but they're good enough that they can take a lot of yards and put up points when the D makes opportunities for them.

[quote name='raybaby' timestamp='1346562476' post='1137097']
Calvin Johnson rule. You might not like the rule but it's the rule & by that rule it was the correct call.
[/quote]
What is the Calvin Johnson rule?

[1/28/01]

I just hope we use some form on the no huddle/hurry up offense. 105.7's Vinny Cerrato was saying he doesnt believe its something we will use long term and was most likely just a new wrinkle that we were simply testing game 3. I hope not!

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='NaveSenrag' timestamp='1346587740' post='1137132']
Well, [b]they've got two number one talent level receivers[/b], and 3 more mediocre ones, a good running back in BJGE, and a pretty good QB in Andy Dalton. It's an offense with talent both running and passing, it might force us to fall into the trap that we did at the Championship game, where our D had to choose between giving up yards because we were covering the pass, giving up yards because we were stopping the run, or exhausting ourselves because we tried to do both. They might not be a fantastic offense, but they're good enough that they can take a lot of yards and put up points when the D makes opportunities for them.
[/quote]

Beyond Green, none of their WRs have demonstrated #1 WR talent. I liked Sanu and Jones going into the daft but that both are buried on the depth chart behind average WRs is proof they'll need time to develop. I don't see either making much of an impact come Week 1.

Most offenses can rack up yards and put up points if given opportunities by a defense. At this point, I'm not impressed with Cincy's offensive talent to think they'll do it much against Ray and company this year. But we'll see.

[AsianRice]

I hope we put Webb on AJ.Green cuz if Green contained or shutdown, their whole offense will be shut down. Cary and Jimmy are good in slot recievers...

I expect Ed will lurking more on Green side....

The Bengals defense are always putting a challenge for us cuz of Marvin Lewis...

I believe Flacco will finally expose Marvin's defense with his crafty no hurddle offense...

It's going to be a good match...

[izvoodoo]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1346555764' post='1137028']
And yet we still won by a fairly narrow margin.
[/quote]
Our whole division is worse this year, to be quite honest.

[The Raven]

[quote name='NaveSenrag' timestamp='1346587740' post='1137132']
Well, they've got two number one talent level receivers, and 3 more mediocre ones, a good running back in BJGE, and a pretty good QB in Andy Dalton. It's an offense with talent both running and passing, it might force us to fall into the trap that we did at the Championship game, where our D had to choose between giving up yards because we were covering the pass, giving up yards because we were stopping the run, or exhausting ourselves because we tried to do both. They might not be a fantastic offense, but they're good enough that they can take a lot of yards and put up points when the D makes opportunities for them.


What is the Calvin Johnson rule?
[/quote]

I'm not exactly sure, but it says that you have to maintain complete possession of the football in the endzone to complete the catch. For example, the Gresham non-TD, and the Lee Evans drop.

[Ravenslifer]

In my opinion, the Bengals offensively should be much better this year with Dalton and Green going into their second seasons. However, this is still the Baltimore Ravens defense they have to play - Tom Brady still hasn't figured us out. At best I see their game plan as trying not to make too many mistakes and turn the ball over. I just don't see a second year quarterback being able to figure us out.

Defensively, their secondary has to be concerning to them. Hall is coming off an injury, Kirpatrick is a rookie and was also injured. Against a healthy Q and Torrey, I think we win that matchup - plus if we use multiple receiver sets, I think Doss and Jones could be x-factors. Our tight ends should also pose some serious matchup problems for their linebacking corps. Their front seven is good, but I don't see their linebackers as particularly good in coverage. I honestly expect us to win this game fairly comfortably.

[Rav'n Maniac]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1346596581' post='1137181']
In my opinion, the Bengals offensively should be much better this year with Dalton and Green going into their second seasons. However, this is still the Baltimore Ravens defense they have to play - Tom Brady still hasn't figured us out. At best I see their game plan as trying not to make too many mistakes and turn the ball over. I just don't see a second year quarterback being able to figure us out.

Defensively, their secondary has to be concerning to them. Hall is coming off an injury, Kirpatrick is a rookie and was also injured. Against a healthy Q and Torrey, I think we win that matchup - plus if we use multiple receiver sets, I think Doss and Jones could be x-factors. Our tight ends should also pose some serious matchup problems for their linebacking corps. Their front seven is good, but I don't see their linebackers as particularly good in coverage. I honestly expect us to win this game fairly comfortably.
[/quote]
I don't know man, division games are rarely comfortably won.

[Blex64]

[quote name='izvoodoo' timestamp='1346593216' post='1137145']
Our whole division is worse this year, to be quite honest.
[/quote]

I don't know why you got downvoted. With the possible exception of Cleveland, you're right.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1346600307' post='1137215']
I don't know why you got downvoted. With the possible exception of Cleveland, you're right.
[/quote]

Except he's not right. We got better offensively. Cleveland maybe improved. Cincy definitely improved. The only team in our division that has taken a potential step back is Pittsburgh, and we all know they can still win as long as they have Big Ben and Dick Lebeau. Our division got better!

[izvoodoo]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1346600307' post='1137215']
I don't know why you got downvoted. With the possible exception of Cleveland, you're right.
[/quote]
Really the only way we can win the superbowl is on Flacco's arm. I'm ok with that though.

[frezeal33]

I'm actually kinda worried about this game? But, I believe that we can do it!

I say we win 27-20.

[RavensWin09]

x factor is aj. shut him down and their offense is going nowhere. we will find out everything about our team in this game (was the defensive play a false alarm?, no huddle more than just a preseason experiment?, tucker handle big time kicking?, joe becoming elite?, etc)

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='RavensWin09' timestamp='1346605050' post='1137268']
x factor is aj. shut him down and their offense is going nowhere. [b]we will find out everything about our team in this game (was the defensive play a false alarm?, no huddle more than just a preseason experiment?, tucker handle big time kicking?, joe becoming elite?, etc)[/b]
[/quote]

It's going to take more than one game for those questions to be answered.

[RavensWin09]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1346605867' post='1137283']
It's going to take more than one game for those questions to be answered.
[/quote]
ok maybe it was an exaggeration but no doubt we will find out a lot.

[cursona pirate]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1346549518' post='1136935']


Cam CAN.
But will he ?
[/quote]
That is the question!

[RavensAllTheWay]

I noticed a lot of Cincys passing game last year was quick throws to the outside for 7-8 yards. Granted, every team does that, but especially the Bengals. If we can be physical at the line and take that away from their lesser WRs, we can find out what Dalton is really made of.

[raybaby]

[quote name='NaveSenrag' timestamp='1346587740' post='1137132']
What is the Calvin Johnson rule?
[/quote]

Pretty much the specific rule of catching the ball. You must get two feet down and maintain possession throughout the catch. In Calvin's & Gresham's case they went to the ground and lost possession of the ball.

Calvin intentionally let the ball go while it was still on the ground though which is why he brought a lot of attention to the rule.

Why everyone thought Gresham's was a TD was because he started outside the endzone and then crossed it. Many mistake that once you cross the endzone it's automatically a TD but you need possession for that to apply & like anywhere else on the field you have to complete the catch. If he had taken two steps, did a football move then crossed the endzone it would have been a TD. But he only got one down.. the second was in endzone. That's why he needed to maintain possession as he went to the ground.

[Gordo52]

BJGE concerns me though. I think he's a perfect fit in their offense. Green will be shutdown. Gresham might have a big game. Bengals Dline definetly concerns me. Our O-line can't make to many mistakes.

I'm confident we'll get the win though. I think Joe throws all over them if he gets enough time. Ray Rice will go off too. I agree with 1/28, I hope he run the no huddle on a lot of our drives.

[b]Bold prediction:[/b] Boldin and Torrey both get 2 TDs each.

Plus we were 8-0 last year at home, and 6-0 vs our division. We haven't had a home monday night game in forever.
The bank will be rocking, & Dalton will be shaking.

Final score: [b][color=#800080][size=6]Ravens 34, [/size][/color][size=6][color=#FF8C00]Bengals 10[/color][/size][/b]

[size=4][color=#000000]that new high powered offense. [/color][/size]

[descent into the maelstrom]

Forgive the off topic post, but I'm a new member and not yet allowed to start my own topic.
Where can I find out which games we'll be wearing the alternate uniforms? I think the black looks amazing under the lights in night games so, to have some relevance to this, I hope they're worn in this game.

Back on topic, Baltimore is as tough as any stadium (tougher than most!) for a road team to walk out of with a win. 12th man energized by a season opener and Monday Night Football will make things very difficult for their offense.

[DoctorBondurs]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1346587927' post='1137133']
I just hope we use some form on the no huddle/hurry up offense. 105.7's Vinny Cerrato was saying he doesnt believe its something we will use long term and was most likely just a new wrinkle that we were simply testing game 3. I hope not!
[/quote]

isnt that the same clown that said ngata would be a disapointment this year he looks slow and fat? When haloti was instructed to gain 10-15 lbs.

[NaveSenrag]

@ Ravens <3 Since when is 34 points a low scoring game? While on this topic, my own prediction is 27-24. Ravens win in overtime.

@descent The Ravens FO decides during the year what games will have the alternate uniforms. Generally, I believe we find out a week or a little more in advance.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='raybaby' timestamp='1346620406' post='1137482']


Pretty much the specific rule of catching the ball. You must get two feet down and maintain possession throughout the catch. In Calvin's & Gresham's case they went to the ground and lost possession of the ball.

Calvin intentionally let the ball go while it was still on the ground though which is why he brought a lot of attention to the rule.

Why everyone thought Gresham's was a TD was because he started outside the endzone and then crossed it. Many mistake that once you cross the endzone it's automatically a TD but you need possession for that to apply & like anywhere else on the field you have to complete the catch. If he had taken two steps, did a football move then crossed the endzone it would have been a TD. But he only got one down.. the second was in endzone. That's why he needed to maintain possession as he went to the ground.
[/quote]

Pretty thorough, except Calvin didn't purposely let go of the ball. Lost it attempting to get up from the ground.

[raybaby]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1346625251' post='1137537']
Pretty thorough, except Calvin didn't purposely let go of the ball. Lost it attempting to get up from the ground.
[/quote]

He let it go thinking he already scored the TD. He could have held on to the ball while getting up.

[raybaby]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1346625251' post='1137537']
Pretty thorough, except Calvin didn't purposely let go of the ball. Lost it attempting to get up from the ground.
[/quote]

You have a point. To me it looked like he let it go thinking he already scored the TD.

[Bazooka Joe]

Dalton snuck up on the league /division as a rookie. He was poised for a rookie. He didn't have the typical rookie jitters. But he wasn't great.

Dalton is good but I don't see a guy who'll be elite.

Their front 7 is fine but where's the passrush?

I think we win this game

32-13

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Bazooka Joe' timestamp='1346629488' post='1137570']
Dalton snuck up on the league /division as a rookie. He was poised for a rookie. He didn't have the typical rookie jitters. But he wasn't great.

Dalton is good but I don't see a guy who'll be elite.

[b]Their front 7 is fine but where's the passrush?[/b]

I think we win this game

32-13
[/quote]

With Dunlap likely to miss the opener, their biggest passing rush threat will be Atkins. Still, his presence alone will free up others.

[wrightdjohn]

I think the teams are close enough that I'd take either one +14. Not sure who I like to win even though. It should be a decent game. I'm looking forward to it.

[cursona pirate]

28 to 17 Ravens.
The first half is close but in the 4th we take over.
at least I hope so. No more conservative.

[PurpleCityLights]

[quote name='raybaby' timestamp='1346562302' post='1137095']


I think the big problem with Dalton is he relies on Green way too much.
[/quote]

Makes no since but......ok?