[News] The Breakdown: Eisenberg’s Five Thoughts On Kickoff Game

[BR News]

It’s just one game, but let’s not sugar coat how bad reigning Super Bowl champs were beat.

[url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/The-Breakdown-Eisenberg’s-Five-Thoughts-On-Kickoff-Game/38a9becb-0f2f-47d4-8da3-ae66064645be]View the full article[/url]

[dayday]

WHAT A NIGHTMARE that game was. The bright spot for me is that it happened in the first game rather than the middle or end of the season. It could be a wakeup call to the players. I still have pride for my team and I know they will clean up the mess over the course of the season. They still will make the playoffs this season. We usually do well in revenge type games so I look forward to the next time we play them. I think

[cobrajet]

Simply embarrassing second half.

[GrimRaven]

Probably a good thing for the team. To be Manning handled in the first game could be the spark needed for them to step up. However, to have the only 2 injuries caused by our own team mates? Receivers that cannot catch? The Bronco's wanted it more than the Ravens did. The Ravens need to improve in all areas. Even the coaching! (rant over)

[baltravens]

It's only our first game but we should of had it at home. I am thinking Furstenburg could at some point replace Dickson this year because if you cannot catch, no NFL team would keep you. Our secondary has to come together and improve, too.
If we can be happy about anything, it is that this is only our first game.

[ReginaldColeman1]

No receivers like Manning has. That's it simple.

[catgirl54]

We had some embarrassing losses last season too, esp. the one against the Texans in mid-season. In fact, I remember that after we beat the Bengals handily in the season opener, we were all scratching our heads and asking: "What happened to the team that ran all over Cincy?" We didn't look good again until the end of the season in spite of some easy wins -- the Browns, the Raiders. The difference is we actually had a receiving corps. PItta getting hurt, trading Boldin, now Jones getting hurt, even for a little while -- when you're as thin at receiver as we are, every little nick is like a big bruise. We have to find a way to come together. I agree, Flacco looked alone in the desert. Not good.

[Dave Koz]

The entire country saw the ball bounce to Welker. Why didn't one of our 100 coaches in the both tell Harbaugh to challenge? The players were telling him to challenge. Beside Clarks drop in the first half this Non-Challenge was the turning point on the game.

Now with that said we have some issues. Dennis "No Hands" Dickson showed up as expected.

The League got what it wanted. The Ravens gettng embarrased on national TV.
We looked horrible and deserved what we got but they need to make some personel changes already.

As everyone else has said - It's only one game but it better not be a trend.

[TheRavengers]

Some of these points I said last night, and they still hold true. I wasn't expecting the defense to be godly all night since they're new, but I wasn't expecting them to give up nearly 50 points either.

And yes, losing Michael Oher after the 2nd TD hurt a lot. Who knows how much easier the game would've been for the offense if he stayed in.

[Zeus]

All this hype about a new and improved defence, wow they were horrible.

[Zeus]

Play calling was vanilla in the preseason for a reason, what's the excuse for last night?

[ravenisthebest7]

I agree with Eisenberg's assessment.

I would still love to know why Arthur Brown, Matt Elam, Juice, and Mellette didn't play a lick! Why have them! Why have only 4 WR's active at the start of the game in Mile High!? You need to rotate, especially to run the offense that Joe is so good at.

[RaRaRavens]

First time ever when I'm embaressed about the Ravens. Not because of the blowout win, it happens, but because of the way the Ravens played. It looked like our gameplan was to make mistakes and tackle (and injure!) our own guys!

Next weeks Sunday can't come fast enough 'cause I already hate all the analysts "told you so faces".

[Dumbo of Rome]

Last year, in the regular season, we lost bad to Denver at home - I take this as a favorable sign of destiny.
However, we need Jacoby Jones and Oher back, the clearly catchable balls must be caught at least 2 times out of 3 (not asking much), one guy with a microphone connection to the HeadCoach must watch TV, and everybody has to improve a bit.
Go Ravens.

[RaRaRavens]

No receivers like Manning has. That's it simple.

Are you kidding me??????
We LITERALLY have 2 Manning's main receivers of all time. Okay, you can argue, that they are old and slow now, but we also have couple of young guns. I duno, maybe you've heard of that Torrey Smith guy, kind of a big thing for the Ravens, but was basically covered by a blanket in Denver game.

Blaming it on not having receivers is silly. I admit, our receivers were incompetent and non deserved starter job in yesterdays game, but the temas problems go much, MUCH deeper than this. Let's start from coaching staff.

[RaRaRavens]

Last year, in the regular season, we lost bad to Denver at home - I take this as a favorable sign of destiny.
However, we need Jacoby Jones and Oher back, the clearly catchable balls must be caught at least 2 times out of 3 (not asking much), one guy with a microphone connection to the HeadCoach must watch TV, and everybody has to improve a bit.
Go Ravens.

I like your way of thinking! Ravens' better make the best out of this loss!
Next weeks Sunday cannot come fast enough!
GO RAVENS

[Militant X 1]

the bright spot about that game is that it is over! smh! just a piss poor performance all around for the Ravens. this is why the Ravens are always "underdogs" going into games. FIX IT!!

~Mili

[RaRaRavens]

I agree with Eisenberg's assessment.

I would still love to know why Arthur Brown, Matt Elam, Juice, and Mellette didn't play a lick! Why have them! Why have only 4 WR's active at the start of the game in Mile High!? You need to rotate, especially to run the offense that Joe is so good at.

Completely agree with you! I see fans here blaming it on receivers or blaming it on defense or blaming it on Flacco. Probably gonna be the same thing for all the analysts and pundits for the next 1,5 weeks.
But the real problem was coaching.

 

Why didn't Harbaugh rotate our young guys? Couldn't have made anything worse anyway.

Why did Caldwell forget his regular season game plan at home and used pre-season vanilla gameplan? Midway through third quarter even my blind grandma knew what plays were gonna be called.

Why didn't Peas mix up defensive assessments while we were OBVIOUSLY getting burned alive out there? Secondary couldn't cover a tombstone out there.

 

Before rushing the team to practice squad, Harbs and other coaches need to look at the guy in the mirror first.

[Free Agent]

Marlon Brown, the lone bright spot.

[Militant X 1]

the positive thing about that game is that it is over! and, we wonder why the Ravens always seem to be "underdogs" going into a game. 2 people get injured, the receivers can't catch and no defense the rest of game! get blown out on national television and set records in the worst way! no heart! but, we want everyone to acknowledge our Championship? lol! FIX THIS MESS!!

~Mili

[crabby]

no where to go but up!

[boldtown]

ravens looked like a pop warner team in the second half. thats the nicest thing i can say.

[pmla]

Heartbreaking loss. Flacco did indeed look like one man against the world. His receivers kept dropping his near perfect throws. Think it was a mistake to get rid of several of his top notch receivers, but likely his mega salary forced the Ravens to cut somewhere. Hang touch. Put this behind you. Help Flacco. He is one of the best.

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

Expected more from our defense, well duh!!! I expected more from our offense, if they wouldn't have shown Caldwell in the booth I would swear it looked like Cam was calling that damn game. Against a QB like Manning your offense can not continue to go 3 and out, they need to put points on the board every possession!!!

Special Teams 101 - Head on a swivel, know where your return man is and FOR GOD SAKE DO NOT RUN INTO HIM!!!! YOU'RE FIRED!!!

Where was the pass rush? Where were our corners (besides Webb,sometimes)?

Like John said - can you hear the fire alarm!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

Heartbreaking loss. Flacco did indeed look like one man against the world. His receivers kept dropping his near perfect throws. Think it was a mistake to get rid of several of his top notch receivers, but likely his mega salary forced the Ravens to cut somewhere. Hang touch. Put this behind you. Help Flacco. He is one of the best.

 

Flacco's contract had nothing to do with getting rid of Boldin, Boldin's $7million salary cap nut had everything to do with why he isn't here.  Flacco's salary had nothing to do with Pitta getting hurt either!! 

[MissRay27]

Huff & Jimmy can't or won't tackle[or as Dion would say, they made "business decisions"]. Ed Dickson has no chemistry with Joe. Clark looks old and slow, and to drop that wide open pass at the goal line, no excuse. Marlon is a bright spot. The running game was non existent. Hope Oher & Jacoby are okay for next week, especially Oher, rookie couldn't handle the rush.
Ozzie are you on the phone yet??

[provemewrong2052]

yeah mistackles and a lot of no calls torrey, stokley, suggs and doom was held pulled the whole night nothing was called they wanted to see a peyton showdown. Denver didn't look that great except for the sh it that was given to them and it was a lot.

[KidNme]

All I have to say is,
You're coming home next week and if you show us ANYTHING like we saw last night, you will see your honored fan base dwindle and the Boo birds will be out in force.
You guys make WAY TOO MUCH money for the crap I saw last night!
If we lost by 14pts, I wouldn't be so mad but it looked like our 2ndary just gave up.
I just didn't see the "Heart" we're famous for.
And Clark??? It is going to be tough to get through this year without any TE's.

I'm also keeping count on Suggs penalties. He was pretty ineffective for most of the game and he's started off where he left off last year with stupid penalties.
I mentioned the penalty problem in the off season because it looked like it wasn't being addressed and I guess I was right. World champions don't play like that.

[drillem]

Sugarcoat????? Not even sugar could cover for that loss. I watched this team from day one. The struggle to build another good team, then in 1 off-season watch it be destroyed by FO moves that anyone could see were goofy. Whatever they been smokin' has definitely gone to their heads. Not enough nucleus to be viable. Now time for re-re-building. It's going to be a long long season. Bone-heads. You gotta' world class QB without doubt but no one to catch his passes. Bone-headed. The lot of them last night should step down out of respect for the fans. I gotta high school team that plays better. No way to sugar coat anything I saw last night. Maybe a train load of molasses would get close.

[provemewrong2052]

suggs was held the whole night same with doom I seen a lot of triple teams on suggs they were pulling and grabbing him it was a pathetic officiated game they let everything go no calls out the a ss anddon't get me started on our recievers being held torrey and stokley's jersey's are still in the stadium.