Thoughts on Ray Rice

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1360119106' post='1347183']
not to pull us off topic but did we sign Pierce to a three or five year deal ?
[/quote]
Four-year deal.

[K-Dog]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1360119157' post='1347185']
Four-year deal.
[/quote]

I was wrong on both.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1360119246' post='1347188']
I was wrong on both.
[/quote]
Just a FYI, I believe all picks are 4-year deals unless they are 1st round picks, where the team has the OPTION to offer an additional 5th years. I think they did away with RFAs or something.

Yep, I was right. [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7820396/nfl-restricted-free-agency-verge-extinction"]http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7820396/nfl-restricted-free-agency-verge-extinction[/url]

[quote]
[b] Rookie contracts the end of RFA[/b]

[color=#333333][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
And soon there may be no more RFAs of consequence … at all.[/size][/font][/color][color=#333333][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
The new CBA requires all rookie contracts to have a term of four years. Thus, any players of value will now be under contract through their fourth seasons. The only remaining RFAs will be undrafted players or players who washed out before the fourth year. With every drafted player between 2011 and 2020 -- more than 2,500 players -- signing for four years, the NFL and NFLPA have eliminated this entire class of free agent.[/size][/font][/color][color=#333333][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
With restricted free agency, for practical purposes, already teetering on extinction, its complete disappearance may be near.[/size][/font][/color]
[/quote]

[Purple_ICE 81]

[quote name='Mr. Irrelevant' timestamp='1360030900' post='1345709']
Pierce is going to be a superstar. The dude makes plays like its nothing.

If he works on his reciving ability. Look Out!
[/quote]
Reminds me of Lesean Mccoy, at one point he is -5 yards in the backfield looks like a loss you blink and he made a 10 yard gain.

[TonyTone1192]

[quote name='Purple_ICE 81' timestamp='1360007162' post='1344991']
Just want to get some feedback on how you all feel about Rice after the emergence of Pierce this year, Rice's slight downward production output and fumbling woes.
[/quote]

I believe that next season Pierce(barring injury) will DEFINITELY get more carries and Rice's carries will decrease. But I still expect Rice to be utilized in the passing game.

[rayrayven]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1360113785' post='1347023']
Too often thats a cop out for me with the Oline. We just went up against one of the best front 7s in the NFL so I didnt expect Rice or Pierce to have heydays but this is the same story with Rice against any team with a hint of talent in the front 7. He simply doesn't break tackles or create plays himself in the run game. We actually have 3 damn good run blockers in Osemele, Yanda and Oher. Thats 2/3 of our interior line. Again, Rice is a phenomenal back, but he struggles mightily against teams with good front 7s and its not for lack of run blocking at times.
[/quote]

Rice got NFL play of the year breaking tackles vs Chargers. He has almost a 4.5 ypc average. In 8 games he got 16 carries or less. He got around 100 yds in all but one game where he had 20+ carries. Teams take the outisde edge away from Rice and he only gets to run in the middle over and over. The Ravens zone blocking scheme is meant to minimize lost yards on run plays but it also minimizes long gains. RBs have tio commit and are usually allowed one cut if any. Once zone is inside and one is outside. Harbaugh has said in media Ravens run blocking has been lacking.

In pic below Rice was just given the ball. The middle is choked up and the unblocked LB is already crashing the edge. Rice went to bounce outside to the left but unblocked LB tackled him. Adrian Peterson couldn't go anwaywhere on that play - which was by no means unique. Some Ravens OL often play too high and they lose leverage. Over and over Raven's RBs are confronted with a wall of their own men

[img]http://i.imgur.com/rbIIIvU.jpg[/img]


"Ravens coach John Harbaugh acknowledged this week that the run blocking needs to improve."

[url="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-12-22/sports/bs-sp-ravens-giants-scouting-report-1223-20121222_1_ravens-rush-defense-backup-bernard-pierce-marshal-yanda"]http://articles.balt...e-marshal-yanda[/url]



The Zone Blocking Scheme is designed to create no-loss running plays. What this means is that while a play the RB runs may not net a large gain, it is still a positive gain. ...There are two different distinctions of ZBS - Inside/Tight Zone, or Outside/Wide Zone. While both may be different in play selection and design, their philosophy remains the same. Namely: The RB must take one-cut and go..

"Tom Cable and the Zone Blocking Scheme, explained: Part III"
[url="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2012/11/15/3647910/zone-blocking-scheme-seahawks-tom-cable-marshawn-lynch"]http://www.fieldgull...-marshawn-lynch[/url]

[H8R]

I think Rice will be better next year. The contract stuff and not being on the team was rough on him . I am slightly concerned about the playoff fumbles though .. The Bowl had a SLIGHT feel of the Steelers Divisional game a few years back, where we got up big...

[Ravenslifer]

Aside from playoff fumbles he was money all year. He's still relatively young, an excellent all-around back, and hopefully his carries start to decrease as he splits time with Pierce, prolonging both their careers.

[Tiz]

Was way too productive this year for people to second guess

[jdynamite]

I really do feel that Bernard pierce would easily be 1,100 + given the carries and opportunities. He has good instincts, doesn't hesitate to hit the hole, breaks tackles.

But Ray Rice is so versatile as a RB it makes him near irreplaceable. He's a great run blocker, receiver out of backfield, a proven runner. Rice has a shown a tendency to press too much, meaning he doesn't feel the hole or play , sometimes he begins to jump cut or run laterally and he doesn't break tackles as much as he did in his first 2 years. Rice often goes down with little contact ( shoestring tackles ).

[FerrariFan87]

Teams have to game-plan to stop Rice. His presence on the field opens up everything. Play-action, screens, draws, and straight runs. Sure, he's come up short in some big games, but he is an integral part of this TEAM and one of our very best players.

[izvoodoo]

He's overrated, he's not Ladanian Tomlinson.

But he's my favorite running back in the NFL.

[Sizzlebshu]

[quote name='Purple_ICE 81' timestamp='1360007162' post='1344991']
Just want to get some feedback on how you all feel about Rice after the emergence of Pierce this year, Rice's slight downward production output and fumbling woes.
[/quote]
.....

Rice is gameplanned for heavily in the post season. This accounts for his drop in production along witht he fact that he was underused in the regular season until Caldwell took over. The stat still stands that when Rice gets 20 touches we only have 3 losses. His fumbling IN THE POST SEASON is a problem, but he is not a fumbler. The fumble in the superbowl, the ball was punched out, so I dont put that one completely on Rice as it was a great play. He almost never fumbles in the regular season, so he knows how to protect the ball.

Rice had a down season because he had an insane season last year generating over 2,000 yards of offense from scrimmage. Its similar to the effect of the rushing title hang over. Expect his numbers to go back up next year.

[VA_Fan]

I just think Ray needs to run the ladder drill a million times this off season so he knows how to pick up his feet. He seems to go down with little or no contact at all. But I still love the guy and think he's our best option right now. BP is a great backup and will be ready to step up when needed.