Ravens @ Bills

[A Fish Called Yanda]

I'm completely and utterly shocked by that. 

 

Haha - I thought you might be.

 

Looking at the numbers however, 10 of our 30 failed 3rd down conversions were on 3 and outs.  That's way too high.

[The Raven]

Haha - I thought you might be.

 

Looking at the numbers however, 10 of our 30 failed 3rd down conversions were on 3 and outs.  That's way too high.

 

That explains why I thought it was so high.

[callahan09]

Surprisingly, we are actually ranked 8th in the league in 3rd down conversion percentage.  We are currently sitting at 44.4% (24 conversions out of 54 attempts).  Last year, regular season we had a conversion percentage of 36.9% (ranked 20th), and in the postseason we were at 45.5% (ranked 1st).

 

I'm kind of shocked by those numbers.  Seems like we've been pretty bad at converting this year, like you said.

 

I think the reason it seems we're bad at converting this year is because we so rarely ever get first downs on 1st or 2nd down.  We are very, very good on 3rd down, and absolutely terrible on 1st and 2nd down.  Here's a little chart of stats detailing some things:

 

(The rankings you see in parenthesis for the First Downs category are # of 1st downs overall, then after the slash it's ranking based on 1st down %)

 

1st Down

First Downs: 15/89, 16.9% (25th/26th)

League Average: 19/88, 21.6%

Pass/Rush Ratio: 46.1%/53.9% (League Avg = 51.5%/48.5%)

 

2nd Down

First Downs: 14/71, 19.7% (T-Last/Last)

League Average: 21/66, 32.1%

Pass/Rush Ratio: 52.1%/47.9% (League Avg = 57.5%/42.5%)

 

3rd Down

First Downs: 25/54, 46.3% (1st/T-6th)

League Average: 16/41, 39.0%

Pass/Rush Ratio: 88.9%/11.1% (League Avg = 82.2%/17.8%)

 

Total

First Downs: 54/214, 25.2% (T-16th/27th)

League Average: 56/195, 28.8%

Pass/Rush Ratio: 58.9%/41.1% (League Average = 60.0%/40.0%)

 

So what do we learn from this?  Overall we run the ball more often than the league average... Couple that with having the 2nd worst yards per rush attempt in the league, and that right there is a pretty good reason why it looks like this offense stalls out so much.  The only down we pass more than league average on is 3rd down, and ironically, that's the down we're best on compared to the rest of the league.  We are league worst on 2nd down, and also rush the ball much more on 2nd down than the league average.  First down isn't much different of a story there.

 

On first and second down, there is a huge disparity between how the league average performs and how the Ravens perform:

 

1st + 2nd Downs

First Downs: 29/160, 18.1% (30th/31st)

League Average: 40/154, 26.1%

Pass/Rush Ratio: 48.8%/51.2% (League Average = 54.1%/45.9%)

 

As you can see, this team gets itself into real trouble by setting up so many third down situations.  Again, pay close attention to those pass/rush ratios.  We run the ball significantly more often on first and second down than the league average, which is actually fairly pass happy on those downs compared to us.  When we're running the ball much more than league average in those situations, and have the 2nd worst yards per carry in the league, you can see the problem.

 

On 3rd down, we pass a ton, because we're so often set up in 3rd and long, and we do so with great success.  Flacco has the 5th best percentage of 3rd down conversions on pass attempts.  That while he's thrown 48 times on 3rd down (most in the league), compared to a league average of 34, and he's converted 22 of them (most in the league again) compared to a league average of 12.

[Purple_ICE 81]

This needs to be a good week for Flacco and our offense. 300yds for Flacco...100 for Pierce and a 4th straight fantasy let down for CJ Spiller.

[Ravenseconbeast]

This needs to be a good week for Flacco and our offense. 300yds for Flacco...100 for Pierce and a 4th straight fantasy let down for CJ Spiller.

Fred Jackson is pretty damn good. If spiller isnt avail, they got another stud rdy.

[BMORElegacy]

Not afraid.
Canty will be back and the super rotation we have will be more than enough to stop him.

We contained Foster today. Not worried about Jackson

We contained Foster and Tate without Canty or Cody and an overworked Ngata, Jones, and Spears. 

[izvoodoo]

We contained Foster and Tate without Canty or Cody and an overworked Ngata, Jones, and Spears. 

Tyson got in there too a little bit.  It's crazy how talented that D line is.

[Tank 92]

Fred Jackson is pretty damn good. If spiller isnt avail, they got another stud rdy.

Bring 'em both. We have something for them.

[Tank 92]

The Tongan Beast played 53 of 65 snaps. Bet he enjoyed his cold beverage Sunday night!

[Cville-Raven]

The Tongan Beast played 53 of 65 snaps. Bet he enjoyed his cold beverage Sunday night!

What about Royal Farms chicken. 

[big hits and ball hawks]

A few things I'd like to see in this game: improvement on the oline, improvement in the run game (which should come with the oline improving), the playbook being open a little bit more, continued dominance from the defense, good ST, and of course a win.

 

I'd like to see these things happen every week, but I especially would like to see the oline improve this week or else the concern will grow for me. We don't really face any "weak" dline's this year.

[ellicottraven]

Let's focus on winning this game. Games like these scare me because of our ability to play down to competition. Hopefully after Denver, it never happens this season! Go Ravens. Stop Spiller and the run game and make their rookie QB beat us!

[Tank 92]

What about Royal Farms chicken. 

 

 

Breast and wings please.

[ellicottraven]

Remember last time we played these guys? We got torched and nearly lost that game

And that game was at M&T too! No complacency Ravens!

[Gordo52]

Anyone know if Cantys playing?

[codizzle]

Anyone know if Cantys playing?

Lemme text him real quick

[Gordo52]

Lemme text him real quick

Ok, waiting

[FerrariFan87]

Remember when a certain WR was on the Bills and he absolutely torched us at Home? It wasn't Stevie Johnson... although he is absolutely a threat.

[BMORElegacy]

Remember when a certain WR was on the Bills and he absolutely torched us at Home? It wasn't Stevie Johnson... although he is absolutely a threat.

Oh yes... Lee Evans. 

[codizzle]

Ok, waiting

All systems go

[Alexir]

Webb on Stevie. Who else do they have ?!

[Militant X 1]

Remember when a certain WR was on the Bills and he absolutely torched us at Home? It wasn't Stevie Johnson... although he is absolutely a threat.

you mean... "he...whose name....must never be mentioned?"  lol!

 

~Mili

[Gordo52]

All systems go

Thanks....

How'd you get his # ?

[Gordo52]

Webb on Stevie. Who else do they have ?!

Robert Woods vs Graham. I can see him having a good game vs us.

[Mr. Magoo]

Comming from a Bills fan this is a very interesting game for me because my fiance is a Ravens fan. Also the Ravens are my 2nd favorite team mainly because Ravens fans that I have had the priviledge on meeting are class act's and talk about football and don't do to much trash talk.

 

  This game will go either way. Bufflao will need to get there running game going to even have a chance to win and will be especially hard with your front 7. I know that you guys lost so many players on the Defensive side of the ball, but your still good. As for the Bills Defense we have had our ups and downs, but what makes it hard on us our secondary is in shambles because of injuries. We pray to god that Leodis is gtg this weekend because Justin Rodgers is horrible at coverage and that is one of the main reasons that we lost lastweek with him giving up almost 270 yards and 2 TD's. Buffalo front 7 is great on pass plays, but still struggle on stopping the run. One player that you need to watch is Kiko Alonso, this rook had been playing lightsout and he is a absolute blast to watch.

 

All in all may the best team win.

[Mr. Magoo]

Robert Woods vs Graham. I can see him having a good game vs us.

 

Woods and Graham are the speedster for our team, but its seems that EJ has a hardtime connecting with them especially TJ.

[Mr. Magoo]

This needs to be a good week for Flacco and our offense. 300yds for Flacco...100 for Pierce and a 4th straight fantasy let down for CJ Spiller.

 

The bad thing is CJ is going back to his old ways and not running north and south like he should and he does realize that. Another note is CJ was a full go at practice today so i expect him to be playing on sunday. Dont count out Fred either we dont call him Fast Freddy for nothing.

[Mr. Magoo]

If the Bills had all their guys on defense I'd expect more of the same but they're missing Byrd, Gilmour, Dareus, and Williams has a sprained ankle.

 

Our Defensive front 7 has decent depth and we are hoping that Byrd and Leodis start this weekend because Justin Rodgers is absolute garbage in coverage (Giving up 265 yards with 2 TD's).

[allblackraven]

We learned few times there are no pushovers in this league (some fresh memories from last year too). Bills game, however, is not going to be one of those. Our team is hungry and determined to make a statement. By the looks of it, Bills will be without most of their corners and starting safety. Their defense is having hard time stopping run. All the ingredients are there for us to finally rush some and give Joe better looks at burning Bills. Doss will get snaps at WR and score.

[codizzle]

Thanks....

How'd you get his # ?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8fhNWNiO8_0