66 replies to this topic

[KillaBirdTJ]

Its not just missing a pass rush... We are giving up underneath routes, and worst of all, not even stopping the run!

Any suggestions?

[ravens88]

get kruger back, hope suggs heals very quickly, and also hope that upshaw becomes a monster. we did pretty well against the run this week. pass rush is the glaring issue at the moment

[Ravens<3]

Execute plays. Stop playing so much zone. Pressure the QB without blitzing...

boy I miss Suggs. WHY!!!!

[PurpleReign92]

Maybe we should add another DE instead of inside linebacker for the starting team...

[Florida Ravens Fan]

Is Carter still available?

[KillaBirdTJ]

Maybe we should add another DE instead of inside linebacker for the starting team...

Now THAT is a good idea... Seems like if we are better suited personel wise to run a 4-3?

Is Carter still available?

I wouldn't mind that either, we really miss Redding and JJ...

[SideStep77]

I think the issue with our D was last game we were so keen on defending McCoy and Vick from the run perspective. Vick is an incredibly mobile quarterback, I saw Upshaw and others attempt to chase Vick down once he got outside the pocket but he's too quick and either threw it or picked up some yards with his feet. Brady is not like this he'll either throw it away or take a sack or end up getting killed by someone. So as long as the D line puts some pressure on them and our MLBs cover Gronk and I guess Winslow with Hernandez out hopefully we can keep Lloyd and Welker in check somehow too. I just hope Pollard and Kruger come back so we could have some options at LB and have the "Patriot Killer" on the field.

[JohnnyBoy8102]

Its not just missing a pass rush... We are giving up underneath routes, and worst of all, not even stopping the run!

Any suggestions?

They held McCoy to 81 yards on 25 carries and the Eagles as a team to 3.1 yards per carry.

I put in another post that the Ravens had been elite at covering TE over the last 17 regular season games prior to Celek's blowup. TE are seldom a problem for the Ravens.

It really seems that the Ravens LB and Secondary were very focused on Vick's threat of running along with the big play potential of Maclin/McCoy/Jackson. When you review the film, you notice that our LB would let Celek go once he got to a certain depth and Vick happened to be throwing to him between the LB and the Secondary.

I am more concerned with getting consistent pressure on the QB. Vick had all day to throw. That fact, along with the zone coverage the LB/Secondary were playing were the reason the Ravens got carved up.

[Death_from_Above]

I have a few questions/concerns I hope someone can help me understand.

1) Pollard clearly set the defensive tone for the Eagles game. When he went out with an injury it seemed like our defense went flat. How does a defense with Ray Lewis go flat? Is this a glimpse of our defense when Ray retires????

2) With Nagta getting double teamed and still getting to the ball, what the hell is Cody doing? My big issue with Cody is on run plays. No run should be successful inside the tackles. When Nagta is double teamed Cody should be eating runners up.

3) Why in the hell does Jimmy Smith, a 6'2" 210lbs CB, continue to play 8 and 10 yards off of WRs? We drafted him because of his size so he could get in the face of the large WRs in the game today. If I were the other team's Offesive coordinator, I'd throw 5 and 7 yard outs and curls to Jimmy Smith's side all game long.

4) I know the Suggs injury was big, but right now our best pass rusher is Webb. That's just not good enough. Where's the next man up?

5) Even with a poor offensive showing in the second half we put up 23 points. In years past, 23 points was an assured victory. Throw in the fact we also had a turn over advantage and I'm left scratching my head. Are we seeing the effects of our new Defensive coordinator?

[dirtybird10]

I think with some continuity at OLB once Kruger gets back, and Upshaw rotating with McClellan, should start to sure up that aspect. Remember, none of these guys were NFL starters last year. I think the other aspect is to get our CB's covering better. Way too many wide open receivers to be anything but concerned. Maybe Pollard being out was a big part of that, but we need to get more physical back there. I think once those two areas start to gel we will be fine.

[Ed_Reed20]

I don't see how the defense needs fixing. Pees needs to dial up better blitzes to compensate for the lack of pass rush, but that's the only glaring issue in my opinion.

Edited by Ed_Reed20, 18 September 2012 - 12:07 PM.

[BloodRaven]

Start taking advantage of Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams size in press coverage, they're getting torched anyway.

[Corvus]

Well, if Sunday was any indication, we should just do what the Eagles did and commit 30+ illegal contact penalties since the refs had zero clue about that rule apparently. Then none of Brady's receivers will be able to do anything like our guys were victimized.

In all seriousness, I am partial to man coverage with safety help over the top as a basic concept as the Eagles ran some of on Sunday. I think Webb is good enough to do that and Jimmy will get better at it as he gets more experience and if he learns to stop playing 5+ yards off of every receiver. When we drop guys into zones, we need to be mixing up blitzes with the other guys that aren't dropping, make it less "vanilla." I saw the Falcons doing some "organized chaos" type stuff last night and it makes me miss those days with our defense...

Edited by Corvus, 18 September 2012 - 12:49 PM.

[PuRock]

Get Healthy, Get Creative, hope our young guys progress faster, and cross our fingers.

[The Raven]

Now THAT is a good idea... Seems like if we are better suited personel wise to run a 4-3?

The way Pees runs the defense, it may as well already be a 4-3. I mean, what do we typically do? Rush 4, drop everyone else back. Isn't that what most 4-3 teams do? Changing the scheme won't change the fact that we can't get pressure. Whether we run a 4-3 or a 3-4, the players would be the same. Kruger and Upshaw would still be the primary pass rushers. Nothing would change except for alignments. The personnel would be the same.

Edited by The Raven, 18 September 2012 - 01:22 PM.

[funky141]

I think the D is going to struggle at times all year. The D is showing its age but will still be a decent defense just not a top 5 any more.

[Bltravens]

Start taking advantage of Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams size in press coverage, they're getting torched anyway.

This. Big corners never play particularly well in off coverage unless they are the cream of the crop. The Ravens wanted to be physical at the LOS, so they picked JSmith in the 1st only to play him 10 yards off? Where he struggled in college no less too?

Makes sense.

[Bltravens]

I think the D is going to struggle at times all year. The D is showing its age but will still be a decent defense just not a top 5 any more.

Theres 2 guys over 30.

2.

[funky141]

and those 2 guys are your best players on that side of the ball

[flynismo]

and those 2 guys are your best players on that side of the ball

After Ngata, yes. And Suggs, but I wont count him since he may not play this season.
Can make a very strong case that Suggs, Ngata and Webb are our three best defensive players.