Week Two - Browns @ Ravens

[StingerNLG]

You know.   I sit up in 515.   So I get that top-down "Madden" view of the field (we sit to the left of the goalposts above the entrance tunnel).    Sometimes it's easy watching TV to not see just how good Joe Flacco is.

 

There was a ball he threw to Torrey Smith on the first touchdown drive today.   And really, I can't even say he threw it TO Torrey Smith.    He threw this ball to a blank spot between three Browns, and none of them were getting the ball.    Somehow he threw that ball timed so perfect Torrey was in the middle of his break inside and was there to catch the ball IN STRIDE the exact second he needed to.   I literally thought it was an incomplete pass, but then Smith zooms in and grabs it and takes off.

 

Two plays later he hits Stokley again IN STRIDE and he snatches it out of the air right in front of him, and it's another first down.

 

And then of course the throws to Marlon Brown on the second TD drive.

 

Jump-ball Joe?   Yeah.......no.

[K-Dog]

So much for Kruger having a big game. Ha.. HAHAHA!

to be honest I am surprised.

 

I would have thought he would have been full of fire playing his old team.  I mean maybe he was playing full of fire but I didnt see any evidence.

[big hits and ball hawks]

It wasn't the blowout I was hoping for, but it was the type of game I expected. I thought we improved pretty well as the game went on. Onto the next!

[Gordo52]

Unfortunately I hardly watched the game today. I was at my friends house and they had red zone on the majority of the time.

Can anybody give me some positives? From what I've gathered is our offense struggled and our defense brought the heat.

[Bravens292]

Unfortunately I hardly watched the game today. I was at my friends house and they had red zone on the majority of the time.

Can anybody give me some positives? From what I've gathered is our offense struggled and our defense brought the heat.

 

Pass rush was great (Doom and Sizzle both had 1 each, again), Coverage was good outside a handful of easy completions, Run D was stout again, Offense was terrible until the 2nd half where Marlon caught a TD, and Tucker unusually missed 2 FG's (one 50 yarder, one from short distance). Thats the game in a nutshell. Oh and Rice got hurt.

[GrimCoconut]

All right, so I've taken some time to think about this game and here my impression without going back and studying the game.

Suggs had a really, really good game against pro bowl LT Joe Thomas. He looked the best I've ever seen him. Suggs is going to be a nightmare this year and I seriously think he could win back his title.

Dumervil benefits a lot from Jones and Suggs. His speed is ridiculous coming off the edge. This combo of Suggs and Elvis is ridiculous. It's like Madden.

Cody actually applied a few pressures from what I saw. I liked it. Arthur Jones is really underrated and I'm worried her might have an Ellerbe, Kruger, etc year and be gone next. I want to keep this guy.

I'm disappointed by Haloti Ngata. He's doing well at NT but I expect much more from him in terms of applying pressure. He's our most overpaid player at this moment. There's no question. I really don't like how he's playing. Perhaps it's by design. Maybe we don't want him to get hurt. I don't know. I miss the old Ngata.

Jimmy Smith played out of his mind. He really eliminated his man most of the night. His potential is starting to be realized. I'm excited for him against Houston. Graham played decent. He needs to improve. He is getting abused in the slot. I almost wonder if we would be better having Brown playing outside and putting Webb in the slot.

Elam had a good first game. He had mistakes and those are anticipated of rookies. I expect him to improve. Ihedigbo plays well but he's a lot like Pollard. He needs to stop trying to go for the big hit.

[JEEPercreepermd]

All right, so I've taken some time to think about this game and here my impression without going back and studying the game.

Suggs had a really, really good game against pro bowl LT Joe Thomas. He looked the best I've ever seen him. Suggs is going to be a nightmare this year and I seriously think he could win back his title.

Dumervil benefits a lot from Jones and Suggs. His speed is ridiculous coming off the edge. This combo of Suggs and Elvis is ridiculous. It's like Madden.

Cody actually applied a few pressures from what I saw. I liked it. Arthur Jones is really underrated and I'm worried her might have an Ellerbe, Kruger, etc year and be gone next. I want to keep this guy.

I'm disappointed by Haloti Ngata. He's doing well at NT but I expect much more from him in terms of applying pressure. He's our most overpaid player at this moment. There's no question. I really don't like how he's playing. Perhaps it's by design. Maybe we don't want him to get hurt. I don't know. I miss the old Ngata.

Jimmy Smith played out of his mind. He really eliminated his man most of the night. His potential is starting to be realized. I'm excited for him against Houston. Graham played decent. He needs to improve. He is getting abused in the slot. I almost wonder if we would be better having Brown playing outside and putting Webb in the slot.

Elam had a good first game. He had mistakes and those are anticipated of rookies. I expect him to improve. Ihedigbo plays well but he's a lot like Pollard. He needs to stop trying to go for the big hit.

Ngata isn't a sack guy. He'll get a few every year, but his primary job is to stop the run, keep blockers of the LB's and if possible, collapse the pocket. You'll see on most plays, he's taking on both a guard and center. When he's matched up one on one, he dominates usually

[GrimCoconut]

Ngata isn't a sack guy. He'll get a few every year, but his primary job is to stop the run, keep blockers of the LB's and if possible, collapse the pocket. You'll see on most plays, he's taking on both a guard and center. When he's matched up one on one, he dominates usually

Uh, with the amount Ngata is making he Damn well better be a sack and pressure guy. You don't pay a DL 10M+ annually to just stop the run or occupy blocks. That's what made Wilfork one of the best. Same goes for JJ Watt, Justin Smith, etc. I realize he's playing NT but his salary isn't justified by his current level of play. He needs to get more pressure, get off blocks more, and also get some sacks.

Also, because this pertains to Taylor and Rice, I will also say I watched the moment where Taylor accused Ray of spitting at him. I have to say it looks like he did spit at him.