A New Element For the Ravens

[tctony]

We have opened the last two years with blowouts of one of our AFC North rivals. Last season the defense completely dominated the Steelers. Suggs was a monster. Ngata was a beast. The secondary was great. The offense capitalized off of this domination and field position to rack up a lot of points. The defense won the game, however.

This year, the offense balled out and had long, efficient drives and racked up the points on their own accord. They made the job easy for the D. Last year the defense created turnovers, this year they stumbled into them.

That's actually a good thing, though - and it makes the Ravens a much more dangerous team. [u]Forcing teams to have to play catch up against our D could be a whole new element for the Ravens[/u], something we really haven't seen under the painful years of Boller. 2006 was the closest - our last 'best' shot at a SB run.

The D has already shown it can dominate and win games for us at times. It has done this without the help of the offense for many years past, but in a decreasing fashion over the recent years. This is the best offense the Ravens have ever had. There is more talent at every position on this team than ever before. If our offense can consistently put up 30+ PPG, it creates a huge advantage for our already talented defense.

When guys like Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata know that it is a passing situation, it makes their job so much easier. Our inexperienced pass rush can gain an advantage by knowing that almost every down is a passing down. It bides them time to grow until their leader Suggs comes back. We know Webb will shut down his side. And does anybody remember hearing Jimmy Smith's name vs. the Bengals? No? That means he was doing his job excellently. We may have hit gold by finding two extremely talented corners (Webb and Smith) at the same time, while also getting the services of a very solid #2/#3 guy in Cary Williams. (I'm still upset we cut Danny Gorrer over some of the others guys in the secondary, though.)

We finally have guys on our offense who can [b]catch the ball[/b]. This is been the problem in years past. Two of our top receivers [Mason, Boldin] have dropped critical passes in crucial situations [Patriots, Steelers in playoffs]. Many of our 2nd and 3rd receivers have also dropped crucial passes [Clayton vs Pats, Housh vs Steelers, Lee Evans.........]. This doesn't look to be a problem so far. Torrey Smith has improved from his rookie season, Pitta will catch anything you throw at him, Rice has great hands, Boldin is generally surehanded, LaQuan Williams has demonstrated that he can catch the ball, Jacoby Jones had a great first game with us, Dickson can catch towards the sideline, but is very weak over the middle.

Hiring Jim Caldwell is perhaps [b]the best personnel move[/b] the Ravens have ever made. He is going to be a critical link in our offense - imparting a lot of wisdom on Flacco, and helping him to develop into a really complete QB. Caldwell will also bring great new game-planning experience to Cam Cameron, to ensure we have a really spectacular game plan. Cam has demonstrated in the past that he has quite a few good offensive plays. I think we really have the players to execute this time, and bringing in Caldwell will multiply this effect.

The point is: This is perhaps the most dangerous team the Baltimore Ravens have ever fielded. They are loaded with young, ascending talent on offense. On defense we have a mix of slowly "declining" HOFs, peaking superstars, and young, developing players.

If this offense lives up to their potential, Ed Reed will finally get his first ring. Isn't it ironic that it will be largely attributable to the laurels of the offense?

[color=#4b0082][size=4]GO RAVENS! [/size][/color][color=#4B0082] [/color][color=#4b0082][size=4] [/size][/color]

[GTRavens]

[quote name='tctony' timestamp='1347770427' post='1151467']

Hiring Jim Caldwell is perhaps [b]the best personnel move[/b] the Ravens have ever made.

[/quote]

Well, I mean, well....I mean...

[PolishRifle]

I think Joes improved execution and better accuracy might be a result of coaching coming to fruition and him feeling more comfortable in the role of the QB on the NFL level, but the no-huddle offense and some of the plays that come with it mostly come from Flacco himself, who ran that type of offense in college plenty and had pretty much the same amount of responsibility and freedom to change plays. Just like Joe said in the interview "If I don't like a play, you won't see it on the field".
The rest is probably just the coaching staff having more confidence in Flaccos skills than the years prior, as well as Joes improved confidence in himself and his teammates, because of his success in the last season (remember how many hurdles he managed to overcome last season? The Steelers? Putting the team on his shoulders against Arizona? Proving he can take the team to the Superbowl?).
Cam and John officially handed Joe the keys to the car. Turns out he is a pretty good driver.

[flynismo]

You just opened an old wound for me...damn I miss Mase

But yeah, its been that way for over a decade...if you are forced to play catchup against our d, may as well turn off the lights and go home. Our offense has held us back from having a couple more trophies

[raybaby]

[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/offensive-concepts-drive-joe-flacco-baltimore-ravens-next-112050672--nfl.html"]http://sports.yahoo....50672--nfl.html[/url]

This is a really really good read about our offense in 2011 and the changes made. Honestly after reading it.. it still makes me mad at Cam. I will be holding my breath & crossing my fingers on escaping predictability this season because I think that's the only way our offense doesn't reach it's potential. I agree it's a weird but exciting feeling that our offense is in a position to take over.

[cursona pirate]

Earth, Fire, air, and water!

[RavensWin09]

who ever said lewis is declining, see last week. guy is still a monster.

[RavensWin09]

[quote name='raybaby' timestamp='1347794602' post='1151496']
[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/offensive-concepts-drive-joe-flacco-baltimore-ravens-next-112050672--nfl.html"]http://sports.yahoo....50672--nfl.html[/url]

This is a really really good read about our offense in 2011 and the changes made. Honestly after reading it.. it still makes me mad at Cam. I will be holding my breath & crossing my fingers on escaping predictability this season because I think that's the only way our offense doesn't reach it's potential. I agree it's a weird but exciting feeling that our offense is in a position to take over.
[/quote]

and did you see the comments... all respect.

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1347778684' post='1151485']
You just opened an old wound for me...damn I miss Mase

But yeah, its been that way for over a decade...if you are forced to play catchup against our d, may as well turn off the lights and go home. Our offense has held us back from having a couple more trophies
[/quote]

What I want to know is why Mase isn't here as a receiving coach.

[NaveSenrag]

[quote name='RavensWin09' timestamp='1347806649' post='1151567']
who ever said lewis is declining, see last week. guy is still a monster.
[/quote]
Yup. And playing against a pretty large group. He led the entire NFL in tackles last week.

[tctony]

[quote name='RavensWin09' timestamp='1347806649' post='1151567']
who ever said lewis is declining, see last week. guy is still a monster.
[/quote]

Haha, hence why I said "declining"

[BMORElegacy]

Rice is doing work.