Whatchu Talkin' Bout Willis?

[FerrariFan87]

For basically the past two weeks and in weeks past, Willis McGahee, for whom we traded away 3 draft picks and gave a "$40M" contract has basically been non-existent when he did get in or didn't get in at all despite NOT being injured... My question is: Do you think Coach is saving Willis for this final stretch run or do you think he has just run out of gas?

[PuRock]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' post='96596' date='Nov 30 2008, 09:11 PM']For basically the past two weeks and in weeks past, Willis McGahee, for whom we traded away 3 draft picks and gave a "$40M" contract has basically been non-existent when he did get in or didn't get in at all despite NOT being injured... My question is: Do you think Coach is saving Willis for this final stretch run or do you think he has just run out of gas?[/quote]

Harbs could be resting him,we were playing Cinncinnati. But I think Harbs is sitting him, because of his performance. We all know Harbs doesn't start a player just because they're the starter. You need to be performing to crack the line-up. Just like Frank Walker today. It's really a conundrum, that only Harbaugh knows.

We all know McGahee hasn't been producing like he has in prior years, we also know that he has been dealing with a lot of injuries, and we also know that he can be a huge factor. So put all thatl in the blender and grind them up, what does that give us? Who knows.

[heapitup247]

I have no idea whats going on and i can't even speculate what hes doing. McClain is a good back, but hes not a good 25 carry guy. Id rather see mcgahee getting 13 and mcclain getting 12 or something along those lines.

[PuRock]

[quote name='heapitup247' post='96602' date='Nov 30 2008, 09:42 PM']I have no idea whats going on and i can't even speculate what hes doing. McClain is a good back, but hes not a good 25 carry guy. Id rather see mcgahee getting 13 and mcclain getting 12 or something along those lines.[/quote]

I agree. Unless the DL needs a phyiscal beating. McClain is not an all-down back. He's more like a third down back. But he is doing great outside the box. We need McGahee or Rice to get a fair share of the carries as well. Which one, I don't really care, I'll let Harbs choose that.

[macbrak]

From the press conference it sounded like he wasn't 100% and the others were getting the job done so they rested him. I also think they choose the RB based on the opponent. Weaker lines will get more McClain to batter them into total submission before bringing in Rice to open up.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='PuRock' post='96604' date='Nov 30 2008, 09:46 PM']I agree. Unless the DL needs a phyiscal beating. McClain is not an all-down back. He's more like a third down back. But he is doing great outside the box. We need McGahee or Rice to get a fair share of the carries as well. Which one, I don't really care, I'll let Harbs choose that.[/quote]

Agreed, we don't need McClain worn out come "you know what time" and I noticed him put the ball on the ground on more than one occasion today and that is a sign of fatigue.

[K-Dog]

I hate to say it but this fits into the catagory of
"If it works dont fix it"

We are winning and winning good.

Lets stick with that...

[YouDon'tKnowNGATA]

I think the coach is stuck, and I mean that in a good way, in a position that most coach's in the league can only dream about. The reason he is sitting McGehee is because he can. Whether it is to rest him for the playoffs, nursing an injury, or for lackluster performance at times this season. Harb has not just one but two, opposite in technique but equally hungry, birds of prey in his arsenal. The smash mouth, up the gut, bowling ball, yeah thats right I am going to drag the four of you two or three more yards before I go down, style of running that Harb asks and receives from second year, 260 pound fullback Le'Ron McClain would be enough for any team to feel secure in there running game. If the tag team of McGehee and McClain wasn't enough to shore up the future of the run in Bmore then sit back and enjoy a little R & R. I'm not talking rest and relaxation, I don't need you to take a ride on the Reading Railroad, I need you to peep the Rookie Ravens Running back from Rutgers Ray Rice. The options that this kid gives the team, are far more numerous than the number of words beginning with R in my last sentence. His speed and ability to cut when a whole fills in and did I mention his speed? His almost magician like ability to make a defender miss or the way he somehow finds a way to make a small gain into a game changer. Lets not even mention the option underneath he gives to Flacco. The way Coach is using him all over the field not only opens the offense up, but allows the rookie yes rookie to see a side of the game most third year backups never see. In my humble yet sometimes blind oppinion I believe the Ravens have been blessed this year. If you would have told me that in week thirteen of the season that the number two and number three running backs on the team would have almost a thousand yards of rushing between them I would have said you were touched. This trifecta that is tearing up the tera ferma every football day is the future of the running game in the NFL. Coach Harbaugh has no reason to play or not play either one of the triad. The options that they give him are daunting. Imagine trying to come up with a defense the week before playing the Ravens, most teams only have to plan for one type of run threat, not three, like the opponents of the Ravens do this season. If one can't get things done, here comes another, and oh yeah yet another to back him up. They all bring a different style to the field, but one thing they have in common is they believe, and thank God we have a coach willing to see what these guys are worth. I don't know about you but I say "CaChing".

[Utah20Raven]

Wow sounded like you were writing an article. lol.

I think we need Willis at 100% before we put him in, we're doing great in his absence. Ever since the browns gauged out his eyes he's had one injury after another, but when he is healthy he is a weapon. We have some tough games coming up; hopefully he will be ready.

[Shawn`]

He's just having an off season I guess. Least Mcclain is steping it up, really. Like best fullback in the league?

[Gwaihir]

I think he just wants to give Defensive Coordinaters Migraine Headaches!!

Willis was probably a little dinged up, and Le'Ron ran over the Bungles last time we played them! This was the first time this year we started the game with our "Heavy" Package and kept it up the whole game! I think he may have had plans to bring Willis in late, but the game was over in the third quarter, no reason to show anything more yet!

Each week, Cam gives opposing Defenses something else to prepare for. It must be a Major Headache to prepare to play the Ravens Offense, but it's all part of the Overall Plan! Wow, I can't believe I just typed That!

[ravensgirlx88]

I think people are reading too much into it. Coach Harbaugh is just playing who he thinks benefits most agianst each opponent. Theres really not much more to it than that. He basically said whichever player shows production on the feild is the player he will choose to put in. Mcgahee,Mcclain and Rice all have different talents. Coach harbaugh is doing a good job of using each, but Coach said yesterday that Mcgahee was still alittle injured from last week, why risk running him if he's not needed? Mcclain was doing a fine job.

[kash96ravenstotalfan]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' post='96596' date='Nov 30 2008, 09:11 PM']For basically the past two weeks and in weeks past, Willis McGahee, for whom we traded away 3 draft picks and gave a "$40M" contract has basically been non-existent when he did get in or didn't get in at all despite NOT being injured... My question is: Do you think Coach is saving Willis for this final stretch run or do you think he has just run out of gas?[/quote]
Harbs says he has a plan for Willis, but did not release any further information regarding that plan. IMO he is saving him for the late run for the playoffs. He should perform better when he is 100% healthy.

[heapitup247]

[quote name='ravensgirlx88' post='96756' date='Dec 1 2008, 02:04 PM']I think people are reading too much into it. Coach Harbaugh is just playing who he thinks benefits most agianst each opponent. Theres really not much more to it than that. He basically said whichever player shows production on the feild is the player he will choose to put in. Mcgahee,Mcclain and Rice all have different talents. Coach harbaugh is doing a good job of using each, but Coach said yesterday that Mcgahee was still alittle injured from last week, why risk running him if he's not needed? Mcclain was doing a fine job.[/quote]

While i agree that hes probably giving it to the "hot hand," why is he not even seeing the field? There's obviously something going on whether it be injury or something more that is causing him to be benched. He wouldnt be benched entirely if they were just playing the "hot hand." Why risk running McClain if its not needed? Hes our leading rusher. I hate to bring this up, but we're paying him a lot of money to ride the pine. Im not going to complain now, but if he doesnt see the field down the stretch run you have to think something is wrong.

[ROH522155]

[quote name='Shawn`' post='96737' date='Dec 1 2008, 01:01 PM']He's just having an off season I guess. Least Mcclain is steping it up, really. Like best fullback in the league?[/quote]

its not an off season its what he does in THE offseason!!!

last year he went to 80% of the voluntary workouts i believe was the number and it showed. he went to the pro bowl. this year he goes to just a couple and its showed. he's playin terrible!

[ROH522155]

i just hope that he doesnt become a problem in the locker room in the middle of playoff race because he's not playin because he didnt work

great players are made in the offseason

[ROH522155]

one last thing i wanna say here is that i think the bad work ethic goes hand in hand with the injuries

[PuRock]

[sup][/sup][quote name='ravensorioleshoyas522155' post='96789' date='Dec 1 2008, 04:16 PM']i just hope that he doesnt become a problem in the locker room in the middle of playoff race because he's not playin because he didnt work

great players are made in the offseason[/quote]


Maybe Suggs will make a comment on a radio show, that McGahee should be starting over McClain and Rice. And we will proceed by coming up with the "Suggs[sup]Squared[/sup] package, that would have McGahee as the running back, McClain as the quarterback and Rice as a WR.

[ravensgirlx88]

[quote name='PuRock' post='96796' date='Dec 1 2008, 04:26 PM']Maybe Suggs will make a comment on a radio show, that McGahee should be starting over McClain and Rice.[/quote]
God, I Just hope Suggs keeps his mouth SHUT!!! I love him as a player but when he talks sometimes I just cringe.

[charlie cash]

I like how Harbaugh is handling this, we have 3 outstanding backs....Dont tip your hand to your opponent... Each week you dont know who will be starting...It could be any one of the 3...

Your opponent does not know who to expect back there....So they are not fully prepared for the Ravens....PLus by doing this you are spliting carries with the 3 backs they all should be well rested come january hopefully when we are playing in the playoffs....

Harbaugh deff has a plan for Willis....Down the stretch I do believe Willis will be a big part of this team....he will be more healthy also since you basically had abye this week...And last week he diddnt play much at all...

You have to remember this team lost there bye week I think Harbaugh is managing this the right way....I am excited from what I am seeing....

And with Flacco progressing like he is we can run the ball and throw the ball...So teams canot cheat on the run like years past if they play 8 in the box I guarantee you Flacco makes them pay! Pick your poison!

[CP`C-Pain`CP]

[quote name='PuRock' post='96796' date='Dec 1 2008, 04:26 PM'][sup][/sup]


Maybe Suggs will make a comment on a radio show, that McGahee should be starting over McClain and Rice. And we will proceed by coming up with the "Suggs[sup]Squared[/sup] package, that would have McGahee as the running back, McClain as the quarterback and Rice as a WR.[/quote]


*Angels Chorus*

It would be a gift from the gods!

Seeing as how we start all this trick play stuff and use them successfully (knock on wood) then people follow we might pull it off for the game winner over the steelers lol.

[PitchBlack52]

I don't think McGahee was 100%.

It didn't make sense for him to risk getting further injured against the Bengals. Hopefully, he'll be fresh for the final stretch and hopefully the playoffs.

[Marc2k6]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' post='96596' date='Nov 30 2008, 09:11 PM']For basically the past two weeks and in weeks past, Willis McGahee, for whom we traded away 3 draft picks and gave a "$40M" contract has basically been non-existent when he did get in or didn't get in at all despite NOT being injured... My question is: Do you think Coach is saving Willis for this final stretch run or do you think he has just run out of gas?[/quote]

[nevermore621]

[quote name='PitchBlack52' post='96867' date='Dec 1 2008, 05:56 PM']I don't think McGahee was 100%.

It didn't make sense for him to risk getting further injured against the Bengals. Hopefully, he'll be fresh for the final stretch and hopefully the playoffs.[/quote]


[quote name='Marc2k6' post='97103' date='Dec 2 2008, 02:16 AM']

[Gwaihir]

[quote name='charlie cash' post='96843' date='Dec 1 2008, 06:29 PM']I like how Harbaugh is handling this, we have 3 outstanding backs....Dont tip your hand to your opponent... Each week you dont know who will be starting...It could be any one of the 3...

Your opponent does not know who to expect back there....So they are not fully prepared for the Ravens....PLus by doing this you are spliting carries with the 3 backs they all should be well rested come january hopefully when we are playing in the playoffs....

Harbaugh deff has a plan for Willis....Down the stretch I do believe Willis will be a big part of this team....he will be more healthy also since you basically had abye this week...And last week he diddnt play much at all...

You have to remember this team lost there bye week I think Harbaugh is managing this the right way....I am excited from what I am seeing....

And with Flacco progressing like he is we can run the ball and throw the ball...So teams canot cheat on the run like years past if they play 8 in the box I guarantee you Flacco makes them pay! Pick your poison![/quote]

I agree 100%!! Harbaugh has consistently said, Cam's Offensive Game Plan each week is designed to give future Opponents Major Head Aches. If you're the Skin's Defensive Coordinater this week, for instance, how do you prepare?

Who is the Running Back going to be? You need vastly different schemes to stop each one of them, so you have to waste time preparing for all 3!

What about the "Sugg's Package", Crap we have to waste time on that, just in case! Oh yeah, what if Clayton gets the ball on a Reverse, he might throw it, Crap, have to be prepared for that!

Oh, and I almost forgot, what about the Unbalanced Line, how should we line up against that, much less defend against it?

Then, you have all the formations, pre-snap movement, No-Huddle, etc!

I have to give Cam a lot of credit! Preparing to face this new Raven Offense is becoming a Major Nightmare for Opposing Defenses! And that's WITHOUT a true # 1 Receiver!