The main thing that has been troubling the Ravens' this season

[GrimCoconut]

 

 

He's always been my favorite player, personally. I think people get a preconceived notion in their head, such as Jimmy should have been Revis from day one, and when he wasn't, he was a bust. Despite outplaying Webb, no one would ever admit to that. That would mean.... *gasp* they're wrong.

 

Yep. He's been outplaying Webb. People act like he's a bum but he's not. He's a very good player who is playing up to his draft status. I feel bad for him in a way because he gets ridiculous hate. It's just absurd. I'm sick of it and you're right. People seem like they'd rather him fail than admit they're wrong. 

[baltimoreravensfan4life]

 

Yep. He's been outplaying Webb. People act like he's a bum but he's not. He's a very good player who is playing up to his draft status. I feel bad for him in a way because he gets ridiculous hate. It's just absurd. I'm sick of it and you're right. People seem like they'd rather him fail than admit they're wrong. 

Same way with Tandon Doss. I'm not saying Tandon Doss is starting material, but he's been good in that third receiver rotation and he's been coming up with some really crucial catches. I remember after the Dolphins game how people were saying that Tandon didn't even have any tough catches and they were waiting for him to make a mistake. Keep waiting.

I just hate seeing people saying Jimmy is the weak link and that other teams are going to target him. As far as I'm concerned, Jimmy is staring to get to lockdown status. Is he there? No, and likely won't be this year, but he has been playing really well. I rarely see him get targeted anymore, and when he is, he doesn't allow many catches. One against the Packers, two against the Steelers, one against the Bills, I think one or two against the Browns and like three our four pass deflections. The kid is starting to become the real deal and is definitely starting to look like the second best cornerback in that draft class. (As much as I hate Sherman and think he's overrated, he has a better track record.)

[ravens_4life]

I agree with what people are saying on here. I do expect this team to be different after the bye week. I just have a feeling that were going on a run and people are going to be saying why couldn't we do this all season. I had the same feeling last year when the playoffs started.

[Seseau]

Corey Graham is the new Cary Williams.

 

It hurts watching Corey play

[cravnravn]

Probably the main thing troubling the ravens is the run game.   

 

Mainly O-line, the run coordinator(juan), and the RBs.     Run game had been our bread and butter.  Something we've done well consistently every year.

 

Wiping out something that worked last year, and pulling our players out of comfort zone and trying schemes that didn't needed to be implemented in the first place took us out of loop.   

 

Bingo!!!!

 

Sprinkle on how undisciplined this team is, 49 penalties so far, 11 false starts, 6 holdings, 6 personal fouls..This team needs to get their act together or its going to be a long last 9 games..

[partsman88]

How about distractions! I heard this morning that the team is going to help promote Obamacare. I for one think they should stick to football an keep their noses out of politics. This country is not in favor of government run health care and just because the state is going to bribe you to do it doesn't mean you should:(  I think I'll start cheering for the Steelers!

[PurpleDoc]

I have seen one thing during this whole season that is causing all of our problems -

 

the players aren't motivated. They aren't ambitious, determined, "hungry", driven. They don't want to win as bad as the guys on other teams do. And sometimes it seems as if they don't want to win games at all.

Ngata, Rice, Dickson, J. Smith, the whole O-line and many others seem to have gotten what they wanted - SB ring. And now they don't even bother anymore. Don't get me wrong, they try to do some things some of the time. But when push comes to shove, they fold.

This is where #52 is sorely missed. Harbaugh is not capable of motivating the team enough. He can't get the players fired up and HUGNRY for that W.

Hopefully during the bye week every man on this team takes a serious look into the mirror and asks himself if he wants to be on this team and if he even wants to play football (especially Ngata who started talking about retirement already last season). And if not, step down and give your spot to the guys who actually want to play Ravens' football.

What do you guys think? Is lack of motivation the big enemy for Ravens this year?

 

Agree.  I have stated before in posts that the Ravens do not play 60 minutes of football.   Other teams playing us are playing their heart out and on fire and the Ravens look slow, sluggish and embarrassing.  I wonder if they even preview films during the week to prepare?  I blame coaching/managment for this.

 

I have to wonder what Steve Bisciotti is thinking?  If I were him, I'd be cracking some heads.

[billick]

We have a lot of free agents, people who are not "Ravens".

 

What is working, besides Joe.

 

No excuses, please.

[PurpleDoc]

Yes, yes. You nailed it. Jimmy Smith is a bum!!!

 

The last 2 years, Smith sucked.  He gets caught looking the other way most of the time.  On a rare occasion, he made a good play.  THis year, I'll admit he has improved somewhat, but he's still not where he should be.   Additionally, why our corners have to play 10 yards off the receiver is ridiculous; so Webb is not playing up  to his potential either.    

[flynismo]

You have identified one of the reasons why we are not winning the close games but it is not IMHO the main reason. If your premise is correct, I think you need to call out the coaching staff as well as the players. It is true that a hungry dog hunts best and complacency can be contagious. Its just human nature. I do think some of our players are just going through the motions. In other words, some are not playing like Ravens. When complacency does set in, its up to the HC to provide an environment that is conducive to self-motivation. That's all he can do because motivation comes from within. However, great coaches like Bobby Knight and his good friend Bill Parcells were able to do it when their respective teams needed a swift kick in the butt. I have seen nothing to make me think that John Harbaugh is providing an environment that is conducive to motivation. At least, it isn't evident when he stands on the sidelines with a finger in his mouth.

It is difficult to put a finger on the main reason we are losing because its a bunch of little things. I think even Coach Harbaugh would agree with this. As I have said before, there is very little difference between a team with a 6-10 record and a 10-6 team. The difference is just a bunch of little things.

There's a ton of difference between a 6 win and 10 win team. Maybe the 10 win team should have won 12 games but things happened that cost them two games (injuries, etc). Maybe the 6 win team should have been a 3 win team, but overachieved due to circumstances, or just sheer luck.
My point of saying that is that our issues are not due to a lack of talent or a bunch of little things, it is clear as day what is by far our biggest obstacle is that is preventing us from winning games. We fix the running game, and this team is one of the most dominant in the league. Heck, just protecting the QB at an acceptable level consistently would dramatically increase the effectiveness of the offense. Those aren't minor issues that we can clean up with a couple weeks of good practices.

And what makes you think that Harbaugh is not producing an environment conducive to motivation...whatever that means? One would assume that a professional athlete is already a highly motivated individual, so what is Harbaugh doing to stifle that? Because I get the sneaking suspicion that you are talking outta your rear ...

[frozen joe flacco fan]

There's a ton of difference between a 6 win and 10 win team. Maybe the 10 win team should have won 12 games but things happened that cost them two games (injuries, etc). Maybe the 6 win team should have been a 3 win team, but overachieved due to circumstances, or just sheer luck.
My point of saying that is that our issues are not due to a lack of talent or a bunch of little things, it is clear as day what is by far our biggest obstacle is that is preventing us from winning games. We fix the running game, and this team is one of the most dominant in the league. Heck, just protecting the QB at an acceptable level consistently would dramatically increase the effectiveness of the offense. Those aren't minor issues that we can clean up with a couple weeks of good practices.

And what makes you think that Harbaugh is not producing an environment conducive to motivation...whatever that means? One would assume that a professional athlete is already a highly motivated individual, so what is Harbaugh doing to stifle that? Because I get the sneaking suspicion that you are talking outta your rear ...

Your rebuttal is amusing. First, you acknowledge that a 10 win team could have one 12 wins were it not for certain things, e.g., sheer luck, and that a 6 win team could just as easily wind up with 3 wins. Yet, you fail to mention that the same teams could just as easily wind up with an 8-8 record by simply losing and winning two more games, respectively.

As far as your question about providing an environment which is conducive to motivation, look it up in a good book on management theory. I commend Peter Drucker as an authority on management theory. Or don't you consider head coaches to be managers. Maybe that's the answer. In baseball, they call the boss on the field a manager. In football, they call him a coach.

[GrimCoconut]

The last 2 years, Smith sucked. He gets caught looking the other way most of the time. On a rare occasion, he made a good play. THis year, I'll admit he has improved somewhat, but he's still not where he should be. Additionally, why our corners have to play 10 yards off the receiver is ridiculous; so Webb is not playing up to his potential either.

Define "suck" because I never saw that. I saw an inconsistent and young player learning.

[RavenManiac#7]

I think that you're about right. I've mentioned in numerous posts that I'm not seeing "Raven" football. I would single out a few notable exceptions; Joe, Torrey, and Suggs (most of the time), but just about everyone else has not shown me that they're putting absolutely everything they've got into they're effort on the field. The OL is the most glaring example. For this reason, I believe that our biggest problem is that the team has not learned to live without #52. Ray Lewis would NEVER have tolerated Anyone not giving 100% Every moment they were on the field. The Ravens miss him desperately and, without a doubt, are lacking in the leadership department. Harbaugh is not, and never will be, the leader that Ray was and is. I don't see anyone on this team that can fill this void. Ray Lewis is the greatest example of a leader that I have ever seen. He is a once in a generation type of leader. I have to go all the way back to Johnny Unitas to come up with anyone who had the ability to be a leader of men on par with Ray. Of course, John was a quiet leader, but he was effective in his own way. It's going to be very difficult for the Ravens to learn how to win again without their leader, but somehow they're going to have to do it. My hope, however unrealistic it may be, is that when Ray's sons are done playing football, he will miss the game enough that being a broadcaster will not be enough, and that he will find himself back on our sidelines as our head coach. And I say this not as criticism for John Harbaugh, who I consider to be a good coach. He just is not the leader of men that Ray is. I hope I, one day, have the opportunity to see if Ray Lewis can be a successful coach.

[Militant X 1]

I agree with what people are saying on here. I do expect this team to be different after the bye week. I just have a feeling that were going on a run and people are going to be saying why couldn't we do this all season. I had the same feeling last year when the playoffs started.

as embarrassed and pissed off as I have been about the Ravens poor performances (especially on offense) for 7 weeks now; I'm starting to get an odd feeling that they will right the ship and make a serious push for the AFC North crown.  I feel that once these guys step away from the game for nearly 2 weeks (with that 2 game loss hanging over their heads) and get the opportunity to "really" look at how poorly they've been playing and how they have been letting teams man handle them and push them around...they'll come back being pissed off for greatness and start ballin' out and putting the fear of God back into teams!  we'll see! 

 

GO RAVENS!!!!!

 

#Mili

[RavNMadMan]

I see several problems actually:

 

1) Oline  - can't run block or pass pro.

2 )Run defense - these guys just aren't consistently tackling

3)Special teams - they aren't

4)Coaching - sorry fellas but a lot of the scheme (particularly on offense) stinks.

[PurpleCityLights]

It's Joe Flacco's fault, he cant do anything right & we gave him all that money.....

[Tank 92]

as embarrassed and pissed off as I have been about the Ravens poor performances (especially on offense) for 7 weeks now; I'm starting to get an odd feeling that they will right the ship and make a serious push for the AFC North crown.  I feel that once these guys step away from the game for nearly 2 weeks (with that 2 game loss hanging over their heads) and get the opportunity to "really" look at how poorly they've been playing and how they have been letting teams man handle them and push them around...they'll come back being pissed off for greatness and start ballin' out and putting the fear of God back into teams!  we'll see! 

 

GO RAVENS!!!!!

 

#Mili

 

 

Stand up and man up Ravens!

[PurpleCityLights]

Even with how bad this team has been so far, we would have still won the Bill,Packers & Steelers game if John wouldn't get so emotional and stop his coaching staff from coaching....

[callahan09]

Lack of weapons on offense...Joe Flacco is the only 100 million dollar QB throwing to scrubs besides Torrey Smith. If you look at all the other big name QBs their front offices invested heavily on weapons for them... and its time for Ozzie to load Flacco up with weapons. Maybe go out and invest an early draft pick on a top rookie WR, Maybe go out and get a Hakeem Nicks or Erik Decker or some big name WR in free agency. We essentially have a  Ferrari (Flacco) that is running on fumes...time to pump the gas already, our offense needs serious stimulation we cant keep relying on young "so-so" guys to try and get the job done.

I think we have good receivers, our tight ends have been disappointing but Dallas Clark seems to be getting it together a little bit, but the big problem isn't the receivers or their speed, route running abilities, football intelligence, or hands... No, I think the reason our receivers don't live up to their potential is due to the coaching.  I don't think we have a quality wide receivers coach that knows how to instill the skills and knowledge into our players that we need.  

 

I just haven't seen anything to indicate that our receivers grow while on our roster, they just sort of stagnate in their abilities except for perhaps Torrey Smith, and so I look to the coach and attribute Torrey's growth (which honestly hasn't been substantial either, he still has a lot of issues with route running and ball tracking, but his hands have improved tremendously) to his own work ethic and not necessarily something that Jim Hostler has instilled in him.  Why hasn't Hostler taught these receivers to find a soft spot in the defense during all that time they get while Flacco is running around and escaping pressure (something Flacco doesn't get as much credit as he deserves for being able to do very, very effectively and he does it often)?

 

And beyond just the WR coach, I think they are put into a bad spot by our offensive coordinator, both under Cam, who was a notorious square peg/round hole type of coach who didn't adjust game plans to what he sees on the field during a game, and under Caldwell who is simply not (and never has been) an offensive coordinator.  They don't design plays and game plan and call plays that help our receivers get open.

 

I wouldn't invest heavily in receivers for this team.  I think we have quality at the position, we just need coaches who can unleash the potential that we have on this offense.  We are held back by coaching, I believe that whole-heartedly.

[Alexir]

I like our receivers. Not in love with our tightends though but they are serviceable. The offensive line will turn it around against the browns. I guarantee it. Quote me. We will run the ball effectively.

[JoeyFlex5]

maybe our team just isn't good enough up front to be a heavy run team, and our coach is still trying to force that style of play.

 

maybe we cant run a ZBS to save our lives and theyre trying to run it anyway.

 

maybe we give up too many big plays.

 

maybe we cant stop the run for the life of us.

 

maybe we cant cover TE's because we have a rookie SS starting at FS.

 

all in all this teams biggest problem, hands down, no questions asked, is not the o-line, or lack of leadership, its the fact that our coaches, for some reason refuse to put the ball in joes hands for 4 quarters, they constantly wait until the last minute to let joe run the show, he lights it up for the last possession or 2, and then time runs out, or the defense lets us down.

 

run the no huddle, have some creativity if your playcalling, stop trying to run so much, let joe sling it. we are NOT  a running offense, we are a big play offense, with big play receivers, and a big play QB, let them make big plays, and let joe do what he does best, avoid pressure, sling it for a few plays, then launch it

[billick]

The problem I see is we are not dominant in any one phase of the game.  We have a very good pass rush, but it is not so effective when we are behind.

 

I also believe we are a very slow team.  No speed backs, 1 fast WR.  We lack big plays. TS was leading the NFL in YPG, but Megaton had over 300 in one game.

 

Unreal !!

[PurpleCityLights]

maybe our team just isn't good enough up front to be a heavy run team, and our coach is still trying to force that style of play.

maybe we cant run a ZBS to save our lives and theyre trying to run it anyway.

maybe we give up too many big plays.

maybe we cant stop the run for the life of us.

maybe we cant cover TE's because we have a rookie SS starting at FS.

all in all this teams biggest problem, hands down, no questions asked, is not the o-line, or lack of leadership, its the fact that our coaches, for some reason refuse to put the ball in joes hands for 4 quarters, they constantly wait until the last minute to let joe run the show, he lights it up for the last possession or 2, and then time runs out, or the defense lets us down.

run the no huddle, have some creativity if your playcalling, stop trying to run so much, let joe sling it. we are NOT a running offense, we are a big play offense, with big play receivers, and a big play QB, let them make big plays, and let joe do what he does best, avoid pressure, sling it for a few plays, then launch it

I think John has gone back to not letting Joe call plays which is sad, dude is a 120million$ QB who doesnt run his teams offense......not his fault btw.

[JoeyFlex5]

I think John has gone back to not letting Joe call plays which is sad, dude is a 120million$ QB who doesnt run his teams offense......not his fault btw.

yeah ive noticed that too, joe won a super bowl mvp, put the team on his back throughout the playoffs, lit up the field against every opponent, and had a awesome first half against denver in week 1, and ever since the rest of the team choked and just said "go ahead peyton have 30 more points" its like john took the reins away from joe. joe will always be heavily pressured, trying to force throws, getting hit, etc. if were always playing from behind, and we are always playing from behind, because the coaches are forcing this run game that doesnt work, and its causing 3 and outs, which is always a recipe for a loss

[Cawtious]

  I wonder if they even preview films during the week to prepare?  I blame coaching/managment for this.

 

 

A NFL team that doesn't watch film to prepare?  C'mon Man.  

 

Young Center, a LG with a back problem, and a 34 yr. LT that came into camp overweight and sluggish were the problems early on this season.  One issue has been rectified with Edmonds.  

 

Jones was injured on a freak play, taking one of our best return players and deep threats away for numerous games.  

Ray Rice has been battling with a hip injury.

Loss of a huge, emotional leader for the defense.

Bolden gone.

 

Juggling around of positions, and the assimilation of new players, FA's, and new OL strategies.  

 

This team hasn't gelled yet.  

 

OL is about timing, matching technique, knowing each other's capabilities, and being clear on scheme and responsibilities.  In order for that OL to perform at a high level, personnel have to settle in and gel as a unit.  

 

They need an emotional, fiery, no nonsense and hard-nosed player to grab this thing by the jingle bells.  Hatin' and hurting on every run play, sticking to your blocks and pancaking the guy in front of you, and then get up and head down the field looking for someone else to punish.  

 

Once that happens, Rice, Pierce and our new RB will be in the second level looking for a corner or safety to punish before anyone lays a hand on them.  GO RAVENS

[RavensAllTheWay]

Motivation is not the problem.  Harbs is a good leader of men from what I have seen.  

 

The personnel on offense just hasn't been up to par.  The WRs are gelling at last, but the TE situation is below average and the running game is abominable.  Not to mention when the offensive line commits a bazillion penalties, it's not hard to see why the offense has struggled so much.  We can't get in rhythm because we can't stay ahead of the down and distance because we can't run and we commit too many flags.

 

Why the defense has let a few teams run all over them though, I have no idea.  Are we missing Cody?  Just a thought...