Ravens season in review

[ravensdfan]

I think we need to look at drafting a true number 1 wr. Put Torrey at 2 and Brown and Doss and the slot positions. Doss didn't get a lot of time but can catch the ball. Both of them can be good at finding open spots in the defense.

I would like to resign dickson because he will come a lot cheaper and and find a nice pass catching te. It may sound blasphemous to say Dickson over Pitta but I think we really need to fix the o line problems and not just those who catch the ball and of course Pitta will get some good offers.

In the off-season if we can extend Suggs draft a free safety on cornerback and move Asa or C. Brown resign correy with Smith we can even try webb and free safety.

onto juice... maybe he can be used as a h back or split out and we can move on from leach... since we kind of already have.

 

why are we keeping Dickson? He can't catch and he is not a great blocker either.

[Militant X 1]

What did the Ravens offense and defense rank this year?  Problem solved!

 

#Mili

[ravensdfan]

No, I think Yanda and Monroe are great. KO will be fine if he comes back healthy. Zone blocking RTs are somewhat easy to find. Center is the only problem, but that would be a problem no matter who the OL coach is. 

 

The thing is, our line is very different now than what it was a year ago. What we did last year might not work with these guys. In fact, it didn't. We started using more power schemes in the second half and that never really worked either. 

 

Really? Eh no. We began the year all things the same except for Gino. The ZBS was a dismal failure.

 

It still didn't work with Monroe.

 

Sure late in the year we began to use more power schemes - and I'd disagree that they didn't work. Rice had spurts where he looked himself more than he had all year - Pierce actually began to have some success.  Of course by then Rice has the hip injury & Pierce is injured as well.

 

It doesn't really matter if it is a type of personnel we're missing or the scheme itself - it does not work here and they waited too long with the Castillo experiment to attempt to back track from it.

[The Raven]

Really? Eh no. We began the year all things the same except for Gino. The ZBS was a dismal failure.

 

It still didn't work with Monroe.

 

Sure late in the year we began to use more power schemes - and I'd disagree that they didn't work. Rice had spurts where he looked himself more than he had all year - Pierce actually began to have some success.  Of course by then Rice has the hip injury & Pierce is injured as well.

 

It doesn't really matter if it is a type of personnel we're missing or the scheme itself - it does not work here and they waited too long with the Castillo experiment to attempt to back track from it.

 

Our current projected line for next year is Monroe, KO, Gino/Rookie/FA, Yanda, Some RT. Very very different from last year. Even the line of Monroe, Shipley, Gino, Yanda, Oher was different.

 

It didn't work with Monroe, but he wasn't the problem.

 

They worked sometimes, but even the ZBS worked sometimes this year. Pierce did well running the inside zone against Cincy in week 17.

 

The scheme works all around the NFL, so it's the players. It's not like our ZBS is a completely different scheme than the ZBS in Philly. 

 

It's not worth debating anymore though. We should put this topic to rest until we make some signings and draft picks to see what direction we're going in. 

[ravensdfan]

What did the Ravens offense and defense rank this year?  Problem solved!

 

#Mili

 

I'll agree to that - if I no more have to hear how our defense "won" us a SB and carried our offense while the defense ranked 17th and the offense ranked 10th for points scored.

 

I guess bringing the Lombardi home earns them some slack for a down year.

[ravensdfan]

Our current projected line for next year is Monroe, KO, Gino/Rookie/FA, Yanda, Some RT. Very very different from last year. Even the line of Monroe, Shipley, Gino, Yanda, Oher was different.

 

It didn't work with Monroe, but he wasn't the problem.

 

They worked sometimes, but even the ZBS worked sometimes this year. Pierce did well running the inside zone against Cincy in week 17.

 

The scheme works all around the NFL, so it's the players. It's not like our ZBS is a completely different scheme than the ZBS in Philly. 

 

It's not worth debating anymore though. We should put this topic to rest until we make some signings and draft picks to see what direction we're going in. 

 

That's true going forward the line will look a lot different. I thought you meant this past season.

 

It could change but with Castillo having full reign not sure I see him backing off the ZBS.

[ravensfan520]

why are we keeping Dickson? He can't catch and he is not a great blocker either.

nobody blocked well this year so I think this may have been an off year for him as well. Yanda didn't even fair well a lot of times this year. Once Pitta came back it seemed as if Dickson hands returned with him. Dickson will come cheap and has talent. We need cheap this year and a 2 year deal could work out with incentives. Pitta's contract would probably come at twice as much and franchising him could be too much as well if we want to keep Monroe and possibly D. Smith. Although I would rather keep McClain and A. Brown and sign A.Jones. just an opinion with some hopeful cap space maneuverability.

[redrum52]

I'll agree to that - if I no more have to hear how our defense "won" us a SB and carried our offense while the defense ranked 17th and the offense ranked 10th for points scored.

I guess bringing the Lombardi home earns them some slack for a down year.

Funny how you worded this cause the defense finished 17th in yards and if you judge the offense by the same yards output they finished guess where? 16th. If you want to talk about points the offense finished 10th, yes, but the defense finished 12 in that category. Don't try to skew facts.

And who has said the defense carried us to the SB last year?

[Militant X 1]

I'll agree to that - if I no more have to hear how our defense "won" us a SB and carried our offense while the defense ranked 17th and the offense ranked 10th for points scored.

 

I guess bringing the Lombardi home earns them some slack for a down year.

 

Personally, I feel that the defense made major strides to aid their offense and yet, if we're honest; and I am...the offense failed miserably to capitalize on "their" opportunities to score, score and score some more in order to put teams away!  It just didn't happen!  Way to many 3&outs!  Flacco said it many times in his pressers that "they" (the offense) just wasn't good enough!  Now, we got to take that for what it is forth when the franchise QB says it...don't we?  Here is what I see:

 

Fact: The Ravens ranked in or near the bottom five of every prominent offensive category in 2013. They were 29th in overall offense, 25th in points per game, 30th in rushing and 31st in red-zone touchdown efficiency. Owner Steve Bisciotti called it "striking."

 

Fact: The Ravens defense had difficulties getting off the field in the fourth quarter, but improved across the board in average yards and points allowed per game (12th in each category). It finished fourth in the league in three-and-outs.

 

Just fix the whole team!  lol!

 

#Mili

[ravensdfan]

Funny how you worded this cause the defense finished 17th in yards and if you judge the offense by the same yards output they finished guess where? 16th. If you want to talk about points the offense finished 10th, yes, but the defense finished 12 in that category. Don't try to skew facts.

And who has said the defense carried us to the SB last year?

 

No last years' defense finished 17th in points. The offense finished 10th in points scored.

[ravensdfan]

Personally, I feel that the defense made major strides to aid their offense and yet, if we're honest; and I am...the offense failed miserably to capitalize on "their" opportunities to score, score and score some more in order to put teams away!  It just didn't happen!  Way to many 3&outs!  Flacco said it many times in his pressers that "they" (the offense) just wasn't good enough!  Now, we got to take that for what it is forth when the franchise QB says it...don't we?  Here is what I see:

 

Fact: The Ravens ranked in or near the bottom five of every prominent offensive category in 2013. They were 29th in overall offense, 25th in points per game, 30th in rushing and 31st in red-zone touchdown efficiency. Owner Steve Bisciotti called it "striking."

 

Fact: The Ravens defense had difficulties getting off the field in the fourth quarter, but improved across the board in average yards and points allowed per game (12th in each category). It finished fourth in the league in three-and-outs.

 

Just fix the whole team!  lol!

 

#Mili

 

Hey, the offense sucked, bottom line. There were I think 2 losses where Flacco had a rating over 90, and those losses I put squarely on the defense.

 

Here is my argument with the rankings though (where this all began lol). Ranking does not mean we fielded a better squad this year than last year. Ranking means X amount of teams performed worse than you and/or better than you this season.

 

Last years' squad allowed 21.5 pts a game and this years' squad allowed 22 pts a game. That one is a wash.

Last year's squad allowed a QB rating of 80.7. This years' squad allowed a QB ranking of 82.2. Not better.

Last year's squad allowed 4.0 yds per carry. This year's squad allowed 3.8 yds per carry. Another wash.

 

Last year's squad was ranked lower but that only means that more teams underperformed this year than last.

 

Now, in saying that - the argument isn't that I don't think we will improve with the talent we have. There were a lot of new pieces on defense and it definitely took them a bit to build that chemistry. They improved at the end of the season and I expect they will only get better from there.

 

That 4th quarter thing though - they have to fix that.

 

I concur on the fix the whole team idea lol Honestly - I don't feel like I saw any Raven football at all.

[omar586]

Because then it IS their fault. If the offense has tied the game or taken the lead - from there it is up to the defense. Period. The offense has now done their part to either take us into OT or win the game. Period. That is just a fact.

 

I don't care if we lead the game 7-3 with 2 mins left. We are winning. Whether we win or lose at that point is in the hands of the defense. No one else controls it at that point.

 

For every "the offense didn't score" claim you want to make about earlier in the game there will be just as many plays on defense that one can point to throughout the game. It is just a fact that once the game is tied or we've taken a lead in the 4th - it is now in the hands of the defense. If they fail - then they have failed. That is just a fact.

the offense takes most of the blame, especially the running game, the defense played lights out for 3 quarters and kept it close, but because of the offense struggling in run game, the D gets tired by the 4 th quarter, the D always give our offense good field position and opportunities to put up some points on the board, but our offense does with all of those opportunities is 3 & outs and field goals, that doesn't cut in a passing league.

[omar586]

the sad thing about this season is we were sooooooooooooooooooooo close to make the playoffs and soooooooooooooo close to winning close games, because of the players we lost no one thought we would b a game away from making playoffs, but couple observations from this season:

 

1. our offense is predictable, i mean "alaska" alaska, come on meh. even people that dont watch football can predict our offense.
2. Jacoby Jones is so valuable to the ravens, that if he leaves its gonna hurt both offense and STs. and i bet the Pats are gonna pick him up if we dont sign him, that would b bad.
3. Oline, is horrible, we need to beef up the oline ASAP.
4. offense missed Q & pitta big time.
5. we need a ball hawk FS
6. we need an edelman type WR that can run it and play the slot to create mismatches.
7. we need kapernick type QB to backup flacco, someone that can see passed his Oline, and can run it and sling it.
8. more depth at RB position
9. more creativity on offense and unpredictable.

[ravensdfan]

the offense takes most of the blame, especially the running game, the defense played lights out for 3 quarters and kept it close, but because of the offense struggling in run game, the D gets tired by the 4 th quarter, the D always give our offense good field position and opportunities to put up some points on the board, but our offense does with all of those opportunities is 3 & outs and field goals, that doesn't cut in a passing league.

 

The tired excuse doesn't wash. In all but 2 games TOP was in our favor until the defense allowed a late scoring drive.

 

Besides - were they tired from the word go in that first Pitt game? Where they forced only one punt?

 

Look, the offense was pathetic, we all understand that. The defense still has to play - all four quarters - and once the offense has made the game even or taken a lead - that's on the defense if they just lie down.

 

Everyone jumps on the offense for scoring FGs instead of TDs - yes we all prefer TDs - but they're putting up points. Let's just excuse the defense though if they want to take the 4th quarter off. It wasn't an isolated instance - it permeated the season.

 

The defense has so much potential  and we saw them start to put it all together as the season went on - but if they're going to piss it all away in the 4th quarter, it really doesn't matter what they do the other 3 does it?

[Militant X 1]

Hey, the offense sucked, bottom line. There were I think 2 losses where Flacco had a rating over 90, and those losses I put squarely on the defense.

 

Here is my argument with the rankings though (where this all began lol). Ranking does not mean we fielded a better squad this year than last year. Ranking means X amount of teams performed worse than you and/or better than you this season.

 

Last years' squad allowed 21.5 pts a game and this years' squad allowed 22 pts a game. That one is a wash.

Last year's squad allowed a QB rating of 80.7. This years' squad allowed a QB ranking of 82.2. Not better.

Last year's squad allowed 4.0 yds per carry. This year's squad allowed 3.8 yds per carry. Another wash.

 

Last year's squad was ranked lower but that only means that more teams underperformed this year than last.

 

Now, in saying that - the argument isn't that I don't think we will improve with the talent we have. There were a lot of new pieces on defense and it definitely took them a bit to build that chemistry. They improved at the end of the season and I expect they will only get better from there.

 

That 4th quarter thing though - they have to fix that.

 

I concur on the fix the whole team idea lol Honestly - I don't feel like I saw any Raven football at all.

 

Now see, this is why I really couldn't care less about stats even though I posted that one for you.  It is because even when they are posted as factual..."excuses" will always be made as to why they are no good.  So I say, to hell with all of the stats and just go by my own eyeballs!  The offense was straight garbage this season and there is no getting around that or defending that to me.  Of course, the defense failed a few games but the offense was damn near trashy every game!

 

The tired excuse doesn't wash. In all but 2 games TOP was in our favor until the defense allowed a late scoring drive.

 

Besides - were they tired from the word go in that first Pitt game? Where they forced only one punt?

 

Look, the offense was pathetic, we all understand that. The defense still has to play - all four quarters - and once the offense has made the game even or taken a lead - that's on the defense if they just lie down.

 

Everyone jumps on the offense for scoring FGs instead of TDs - yes we all prefer TDs - but they're putting up points. Let's just excuse the defense though if they want to take the 4th quarter off. It wasn't an isolated instance - it permeated the season.

 

The defense has so much potential  and we saw them start to put it all together as the season went on - but if they're going to piss it all away in the 4th quarter, it really doesn't matter what they do the other 3 does it?

 

I highly disagree.  Of course the defense still has to play - all four quarters but when in the hell is the offense going to show up and carry their own weight to play all four quarters themselves?  3&outs has a huge effect on defenses!  It is too quick of a turn around for them to get back on the field and mentally and physical try to keep the other team from moving the chains or scoring.  It seems as though you are on a personal crusade to balance out the blame and peoples views of the offense and defense.  That's not going to happen because of what we all witnessed this season. 

 

The offense was pure trash!  It pissed me off all season and I had absolutely no confidence in them whatsoever!  When they did score a TD...we were all surprised!  C'mon now ravensdfan!  lol!  We all know the defense failed at times but for the most part they played lights out!   You know this!  And yet, the offense, struggled nearly all season long and their Achilles heel of not scoring TD's finally caught up with them and bit them in the butt vs. the Patriots and then the Bengals.  That unit has got to play better!  And with the hit the D took in losing people; they played considerably well.  Not great!  But well!  And for the record; it is Special Teams that scored the FG's not the offense!  : )

 

#Mili

[HoldingCall]

Now see, this is why I really couldn't care less about stats even though I posted that one for you.  It is because even when they are posted as factual..."excuses" will always be made as to why they are no good.  So I say, to hell with all of the stats and just go by my own eyeballs!  The offense was straight garbage this season and there is no getting around that or defending that to me.  Of course, the defense failed a few games but the offense was damn near trashy every game!

 

 

I highly disagree.  Of course the defense still has to play - all four quarters but when in the hell is the offense going to show up and carry their own weight to play all four quarters themselves?  3&outs has a huge effect on defenses!  It is too quick of a turn around for them to get back on the field and mentally and physical try to keep the other team from moving the chains or scoring.  It seems as though you are on a personal crusade to balance out the blame and peoples views of the offense and defense.  That's not going to happen because of what we all witnessed this season. 

 

The offense was pure trash!  It pissed me off all season and I had absolutely no confidence in them whatsoever!  When they did score a TD...we were all surprised!  C'mon now ravensdfan!  lol!  We all know the defense failed at times but for the most part they played lights out!   You know this!  And yet, the offense, struggled nearly all season long and their Achilles heel of not scoring TD's finally caught up with them and bit them in the butt vs. the Patriots and then the Bengals.  That unit has got to play better!  And with the hit the D took in losing people; they played considerably well.  Not great!  But well!  And for the record; it is Special Teams that scored the FG's not the offense!  : )

 

#Mili

Well said!

[Willbacker]

Now see, this is why I really couldn't care less about stats even though I posted that one for you.  It is because even when they are posted as factual..."excuses" will always be made as to why they are no good.  So I say, to hell with all of the stats and just go by my own eyeballs!  The offense was straight garbage this season and there is no getting around that or defending that to me.  Of course, the defense failed a few games but the offense was damn near trashy every game!

 

 

I highly disagree.  Of course the defense still has to play - all four quarters but when in the hell is the offense going to show up and carry their own weight to play all four quarters themselves?  3&outs has a huge effect on defenses!  It is too quick of a turn around for them to get back on the field and mentally and physical try to keep the other team from moving the chains or scoring.  It seems as though you are on a personal crusade to balance out the blame and peoples views of the offense and defense.  That's not going to happen because of what we all witnessed this season. 

 

The offense was pure trash!  It pissed me off all season and I had absolutely no confidence in them whatsoever!  When they did score a TD...we were all surprised!  C'mon now ravensdfan!  lol!  We all know the defense failed at times but for the most part they played lights out!   You know this!  And yet, the offense, struggled nearly all season long and their Achilles heel of not scoring TD's finally caught up with them and bit them in the butt vs. the Patriots and then the Bengals.  That unit has got to play better!  And with the hit the D took in losing people; they played considerably well.  Not great!  But well!  And for the record; it is Special Teams that scored the FG's not the offense!  : )

 

#Mili

Hopefully the argument about the D folding in the 4th qtr isn't giving the O a pass. 25th in pts straight up is bad. 23 Ints is worse.

Don't know the stats for sacks/hurries or even tipped balls that weren't picked but eyeball test it was bad. Beyond bad. No holes for running game. Nothing on O especially in redzone. Justin Tucker All-Pro says it all but the D still costs us games giving up lengthy drives pretty much everytime we found some momentum. This was team effort all the way around

[Militant X 1]

Hopefully the argument about the D folding in the 4th qtr isn't giving the O a pass. 25th in pts straight up is bad. 23 Ints is worse.

Don't know the stats for sacks/hurries or even tipped balls that weren't picked but eyeball test it was bad. Beyond bad. No holes for running game. Nothing on O especially in redzone. Justin Tucker All-Pro says it all but the D still costs us games giving up lengthy drives pretty much everytime we found some momentum. This was team effort all the way around

 

Not to me!  Of course we all know that the defense failed us and let us down a few games.  But the offense?  How about that unit and what they did all season long?  The offense was straight up trash and like you...the "eyeball" test says it all with me!  To hell with the stats and comparing this to that etc.  We'll be here all night doing that!  Plain and simple the offense was not good enough to score and keep scoring!  Even Flacco said it himself that his offense was not good enough and that still doesn't seem to be good enough for people to receive.

 

#Mili

[ravensdfan]

Not to me!  Of course we all know that the defense failed us and let us down a few games.  But the offense?  How about that unit and what they did all season long?  The offense was straight up trash and like you...the "eyeball" test says it all with me!  To hell with the stats and comparing this to that etc.  We'll be here all night doing that!  Plain and simple the offense was not good enough to score and keep scoring!  Even Flacco said it himself that his offense was not good enough and that still doesn't seem to be good enough for people to receive.

 

#Mili

 

I don't understand why it is even an argument. It isn't an either/or statement. The offense was pathetic. The defense was pathetic in the 4th quarter. Both units cost us games this season.

 

Just because the offense was more pathetic doesn't excuse how pathetic the defense was in the 4th quarter this season. It is just fact. It also doesn't mean they didn't lose their share of games with their 4th quarter performance.

 

Just like the offense lost their share of games as well.

 

lol @ FGs being ST. I never once this season saw Justin Tucker line up in our own end zone to kick a FG. Wonder which unit actually got them into FG range?

[Militant X 1]

I don't understand why it is even an argument. It isn't an either/or statement. The offense was pathetic. The defense was pathetic in the 4th quarter. Both units cost us games this season.

 

Just because the offense was more pathetic doesn't excuse how pathetic the defense was in the 4th quarter this season. It is just fact. It also doesn't mean they didn't lose their share of games with their 4th quarter performance.

 

Just like the offense lost their share of games as well.

 

lol @ FGs being ST. I never once this season saw Justin Tucker line up in our own end zone to kick a FG. Wonder which unit actually got them into FG range?

 

lol @ wonder which unit actually go them into FG range cause the same said unit was too pathetic to finish off the drives with TD's even with good field position given to them because of defensive INT's, 3&outs and fumble recoveries.  Not an argument with me....it's a fact!

 

#Mili