Rice as slot receiver

[3-4ravdef509]

Just hear me out on this one. My idea is drawn from how the Patriots used Welker, and dependent on how well Pierce follows up his impressive performance from last year. I still want Rice to be our feature back on first and second down, but on third down and major passing situations, I'd like to see Rice out there as our slot receiver more often with Pierce in the backfield. He can't duplicate how Boldin would make those tough catches, but like Welker he would produce a mismatch and gain good seperation. I expect Pitta to take over Boldins role. Thoughts?

[SecretAgentMan]

I've mentione this idea to my real life friends in the past, but the more I think about it, the more I hate it.

[GrimCoconut]

Been saying this for a while now to mix it up. I doubt we make him a slot receiver. I'm sure we'll just see a lot more of him in the slot. Nothing different. Just the same but more of it.

[SecretAgentMan]

Rice is a weapon out of the backfield.... I wouldn't want to put him vs a CB

[PolishRifle]

Marshall Faulk was a huge part of the greatest show on turf. I wouldn't mind seeing Rice used that way.

[flynismo]

Don't you guys watch our games, lol? We already line Rice up in the slot on occasion

[3-4ravdef509]

Don't you guys watch our games, lol? We already line Rice up in the slot on occasion

That's why I said "more often" :P because he's effective when he is

[CapoRocky]

I'd love to see Juice in the slot next to Pitta at TE.  Try to cover both of these guys while the WRs are streaking down the field.

[CapoRocky]

Just hear me out on this one. My idea is drawn from how the Patriots used Welker, and dependent on how well Pierce follows up his impressive performance from last year. I still want Rice to be our feature back on first and second down, but on third down and major passing situations, I'd like to see Rice out there as our slot receiver more often with Pierce in the backfield. He can't duplicate how Boldin would make those tough catches, but like Welker he would produce a mismatch and gain good seperation. I expect Pitta to take over Boldins role. Thoughts?

We need Rice in the backfield to provide that extra chip block on blitzes but when he does get outside of the linemen in spread formations he can really do damage.  What made that 4th and 29 play so effective last year against the Chargers was that they were covering the receivers but didn't adjust to Rice out of the backfield.  His ability to make a play out of nowhere makes him (arguably) the best offensive player on the team.  I'm a big fan of Ray.

[The Raven]

Rice is a weapon out of the backfield.... I wouldn't want to put him vs a CB

 

Why not?

 

Rice is still our most dangerous weapon. We need to get the ball in his hands, and with a deficiency at the WR position, he could contribute from the slot.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I like Rice on the field any time we can.

I dont understand the argument to only use him out of the backfield... That is where he's best, but Pierce is going to get his carries. Last year when Pierce came in it meant Rice was on the sideline. Why not put Rice in the slot on some plays when Pierce is in the backfield?

Just another weapon and opportunity for Rice to have the ball in his hands.

[rmw10]

He's always played the slot, but as many other have said already, I'm betting we see more of him there with Pierce getting a few more carries per game.

[cwfRaven]

I'd love to see Juice in the slot next to Pitta at TE.  Try to cover both of these guys while the WRs are streaking down the field.

This. I'm excited to see what Juice can do - I just like the kid.

[BloodRaven]

Rice would be a beast for easy yardage and big plays but I'd be concerned about his catching radius and ability to make difficult catches, he's still a receiving HB.

[usmccharles]

Man...I was even saying this last year and ive also mentioned it in numerous posts about WR issue.  Im not saying make him a full time slot wr but just put him there quite a bit with BP in the backfield.  Just to mix it up some, i think this would be a good idea and i expect to see it some. 

[Yatagarasu]

The Patriots made a specific package for Shane Vereen when both of their TEs went down. I hope we get creative and use Rice more in the passing game as part of the committee to relieve the departure of Boldin.

 

With Rice moving around, we can get really creative with our system of 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB, and 1 FB package.

 

Current System:

Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones, Dennis Pitta, Ray Rice, Vonta Leach.

 

Future System:

Torrey Smith, WR, TE, Ray Rice, Kyle Juszczyk

[Yatagarasu]

I think Rice playing more at the slot position and getting less carries will help prolong his career. RBs tend to wear out fast and Rice knows this might be his only big contract before the drop-off at age 30.

[beanfigger]

I've mentione this idea to my real life friends in the past, but the more I think about it, the more I hate it.

 

So your friendship with all of us here on these boards is just a fraud! :229031_rant:

 

Anyway, I think Rice is a very great option in the slot.  However, his value in the backfield on passing downs includes his strength in blitz pickups.  If Pierce proves to be a great blocker like Rice, then I'm all for the idea of Pierce in the backfield with Rice in the slot.

[Stephenjr]

I just hope he buys some Super glue in the Playoffs!! Lol

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

I've mentione this idea to my real life friends in the past, but the more I think about it, the more I hate it.

real life you say hmm - we must be living under vanilla sky at the 13th floor then smh lol

[Cville-Raven]

I definitely would like to see it in order to give the D a bunch of different looks. 

[GrimCoconut]

I definitely would like to see it in order to give the D a bunch of different looks. 

I love the idea of returning to some 3-headed monsters in the backfield. Having Rice, Pierce & Juszczyk back there?! Whoa!

 

Juszczyk is a terrific utility weapon. The nice thing is Pierce doesn't seem to require the FB to make nice runs. That REALLY provides a lot of versatility. Considering that he has shown a knack for catching the ball, it makes him even more exciting. You can have all three in the backfield, then motion for Rice to go to the line in the slot as a WR to really confuse defenses. 

 

I'm sure Caldwell is more excited than I am, lol.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

[quote name="GrimCoconut" post="1468582" timestamp="1368473046" 
I'm sure Caldwell is more excited than I am, lol.i do hope there's a whole new playbook for this year, last year i was ok with not changing things while we were at it, but now there's plenty of time for a re-vamp

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

I'm sure Caldwell is more excited than I am, lol.

i do hope there's a whole new playbook for this year, last year i was ok with not changing things while we were at it, but now there's plenty of time for a re-vamp

[gabefergy]

Why not?

 

Rice is still our most dangerous weapon. We need to get the ball in his hands, and with a deficiency at the WR position, he could contribute from the slot.

Rice vs LB is a mis-match. Rice vs a CB may not be so much. If we are lining him up in the slot instead of motioning  out of the back-field, we lose some advantage.

[blitzking33]

I'd give Rice a breather while Pierce is in the backfield. Throw Pitta in the slot and Juice at TE.. Leach lead blocks for Pierce.

[GrimCoconut]

I'd give Rice a breather while Pierce is in the backfield. Throw Pitta in the slot and Juice at TE.. Leach lead blocks for Pierce.

Yeah, Rice needs to get a breather. Lol, he's not a machine or anything. 

[BallHawker]

The Ravens do this quite often already, especially in 3rd and long situations. Ray coming out of the backfield on a circle route is more effective, especially if he can chip a rusher. Honestly, he's way too short and isn't that great of a receiver. Nothing like Faulk. He is VERY dangerous when in the open field (e.g. 4th & 29), however. Most of his catches come on curls, dump offs, screens, and flats. Not many slants or Welker-type routes.

[PurpleCorsair]

The Ravens do this quite often already, especially in 3rd and long situations. Ray coming out of the backfield on a circle route is more effective, especially if he can chip a rusher. Honestly, he's way too short and isn't that great of a receiver. Nothing like Faulk. He is VERY dangerous when in the open field (e.g. 4th & 29), however. Most of his catches come on curls, dump offs, screens, and flats. Not many slants or Welker-type routes.

 

True, but Rice has shown the ability to run slants, angle routes, and wheel routes. I don't see why he couldn't also run a stick-nod up the seam against a LB, or an out from the slot.

[3-4ravdef509]

The Ravens do this quite often already, especially in 3rd and long situations. Ray coming out of the backfield on a circle route is more effective, especially if he can chip a rusher. Honestly, he's way too short and isn't that great of a receiver. Nothing like Faulk. He is VERY dangerous when in the open field (e.g. 4th & 29), however. Most of his catches come on curls, dump offs, screens, and flats. Not many slants or Welker-type routes.

Touchdown against the giants was a slant, tell me again he isn't effective?