So, the good news is that we're 5-1, and have a comfortable lead in our division. The bad news is that there is a lot of uncertainty of how we are going to compete these remaining 10 games.
I've studied what we do well, and what we don't, and this is my conclusion, and I'll show how I come up with it. And this is just for fun, I by no means am an expert, and I don't want this to turn into an ugly thread where we beat up on each others ideas. Just one man's opinion, wondering what others think of it, and what their opinions are.
Now that the disclaimer is out there...
On offense, we look better than we have ever in the Harbaugh era, and for that matter the only time I remember having an offense close to this was in 1996-97 when we first got to Baltimore.
The Good: Flacco is on pace for a personal record setting year. He looks sharper than ever. He's been fitting tight throws to receivers all over the field. I was concerned with the four game streak of throwing an int, but he didn't throw one on Sunday, and I think his ball security is fine, especially the fumblitus from alst year that he seems to have gotten over so far. The only critique I have for him is that he should take off and run more often. If Dicksi=on wouldn't have dropped a could passes on Sunday, Flacco could have had two, maybe even three touchdown passes (one drive ended by a drop on his part I think.) And last week drops by Boldin and Leach cost him yards and at least 1 touchdown. Sometimes his throws can be a little erratic, where he loses his mechanics and delivers a inaccurate throw, but the difference that Caldwel as made in his delievery is very apparant.
Rice is being extremely efficient, on the ground and through the air. Our receivers look amazing. We're very balanced, running and passing at different phases of the game to move the ball. The line has exceeded expectations minus one bad hiccup in Kansas City. Oher completely neutralized Ware on Sunday, his only sack came off of Williams. Pitta is money.
We're on pace for 96 explosive plays (plays that gain 20 or more yards)...that's more than the 2001 greatest show on turf. We currently have 33?
The Bad: 3rd down conversions, not very good although Sunday we showed improvement, especially picking up short ones running the ball (thank you Cam!). We even picked up a couple long ones. But consistency throughout the rest of the season is needed, especially with our defense struggling.
Dickson continues to drop easy passes....
Cam Cameron is like Jackel and Hyde with his playcalling...
Penalties are a little ridiculous...
Sometimes we need to pick up 1 -4 yards, and we bomb it 30 yards down the field.......
Defense:
The good: turnovers.
The bad: yes.
Special Teams: Jones, Tucker yes. Ayenbadejo, come on man...
So, obviously we all know the obvious, that special teams and offense are the strength of our football team now, and the defense most likely is not going to make much improvement with an injured Ngata, and having Lewis and Webb out. Obviously, game plans are team specific, but a general base plan for success should be as follows:
1.) Score early (and often) but most importantly early. We've proven we can play from behind, but I feel safer with our defense playing from a lead. We have 6 total points on opening drives this year. That's not acceptable. It's important to score whenever you can, but especially on our first three drives, let's at least get a couple of field goals and a quick seven.
2.) Play to strengths on offense. Ray Rice really should be getting 15+ touches a game. Note, I said touches, not rushing attempts. And more importantly, we should on at least 5 or six plays a game try getting him in open space with blockers in front of him. Not that he can't run in between the tackles, but Pierce has shown she's able to do that as well, so let's not where Rice out, but rather put him where he's the most dangerous.
3.) Limit turnovers. Especially on our side of the field. This is always a goal, but we can't rely on our defense as much as years past to bail us out when Flacco throws a dumb pick or somebody fumbles. I know turnovers will happen, but we need to know when to be aggresive, and when not to put our defense in a situation where they're set up to fail.
4 and 5.) Big plays are nice, and we've shown we can get them often. I don't want to take that away from our offense. But, coverting for first downs, especially on 3rd down, is also a big priority. Take out shots down the field, but be smart about what down it is, and save our best plays for converting when we really need to.
6.) Play aggresive on defense. Face it, we're going to give up a lot of yards on defense this year. So, instead of sitting back and letting teams operate on schedule, let's be aggresive at the point of attack and try to disrupt the timing and flow of the opposing team's offense. This is a teaser into...
7.) Go for turnovers. This is our best chance at getting the bal back to our offense more often, and coming up with stops. The Cowboys scored on every possession except 4: one of those was the end of the first half, one punt, the missed field goal and the interception. Basically, think Saints defense of 2010 (minus bounties) giving up yards but being opportunistic.
8.) Tackle, tackle, tackle. Go for strips, but only after you know you're going to stop the defender.
9.) Stop the run. We can't let teams pass and run all over us, so let's scheme specifically to stop the run, even if it means sacrificing a bit on the back end. At least the extra pressure up front will also be applied to the qb. Playing back hasn't helped us stop the pass, and certainly up front we can't contain the run like we used to.
10.) Jones the return kicks, yes. Good idea.
11.) Refine no huddle so we have hand signals down completely so it doesn't get ditched for loud away games.
