After 2 preseason games, how do you REALLY feel?

[ellicottraven]

I think we are in Week 2 of preseason.  I think it's difficult to see what is going to be out there when we go up against Cincy and the Squeelers.  I relish in the fact that they are our first 2 games.  It gives our guys the UMPF that they are going to need to get this season started (or ended), depending on how much "heart" they put out there on the field.  We don't even know who is going to be starting in Game 1 ....  Although our line looks like it's pretty much established, we are still working on the LB corps.... our Safeties... and our CB's. 

 

Grim is correct that our defense needs to improve.  And I believe our Front Office has done it's best to try and rectify our weaknesses...  That being said, we are still in fact finding mode, to determine what we got, and what we need...

 

I will make my predictions after we get through this process....  I think it's crazy to try and figure it all out after, yeah, after Bryant burnt our 3rd string CB...and they ran on our 2nd string LB corps....  and we have a knicked up secondary.

I think Harbs explained the Bryant reception very well. There perhaps was no way you could defend a play like that. So, we can give the secondary a pass for that. But, with Jimmy and Webb nicked up and Rice unavailable for the first 2 games, it seems like we have to play with a ton of heart and win the 2 games schematically both on offense and defense.

 

I think Kubiak has the offensive wherewithal to make game time adjustments to keep us going (especially in the first 2 games when other teams are still trying to figure us out). But, defensively, I am not a big fan of Pees' bend but don't break theory. Because if we keep being bent enough times, we will certainly break when we shouldn't .... he needs to up the coaching ante and become aggressive this year. Otherwise, it is going to be a long year for our D ( I never thought I would ever say that when the season started)...

[PurpleCityLights]

Can't stop the run & we have no CBs.

[The Mom Gene]

Can't stop the run & we have no CBs.

Well, the run is typically stopped by the Front 7, right?  Of which we were supposed to have one of the best....Well, We shall see.  I think once we get our LB corps straight, we'll be better.....  Not sure that was settled the other night either.

[TheRavenouseD2008]

I think Harbs explained the Bryant reception very well. There perhaps was no way you could defend a play like that. So, we can give the secondary a pass for that. But, with Jimmy and Webb nicked up and Rice unavailable for the first 2 games, it seems like we have to play with a ton of heart and win the 2 games schematically both on offense and defense.

 

I think Kubiak has the offensive wherewithal to make game time adjustments to keep us going (especially in the first 2 games when other teams are still trying to figure us out). But, defensively, I am not a big fan of Pees' bend but don't break theory. Because if we keep being bent enough times, we will certainly break when we shouldn't .... he needs to up the coaching ante and become aggressive this year. Otherwise, it is going to be a long year for our D ( I never thought I would ever say that when the season started)...

Just remember you only show 1/8 your play book in preseason  .........I may be wrong  but I think it will be fine ..........get you finger off the sell sell sell button sir ...

[1/28/01]

SB

[The Mom Gene]

If that's the case; why have a preseason?  Why not just jump right into the regular season?  Preseason means "nothing" record wise but it means something!  I don't just quickly dismiss it's purpose or benefit to fielding a great team as most do.  I still want to see a good looking and playing team in the preseason as well as the regular season.

 

#Mili

I think it means that we put our rookies, and our "other roster players" on the field against other teams in order that they get game reps, and we can see what they can actually do in a game setting in the NFL....  Otherwise...  you're throwing these guys in during the first games of your regular season, and you've just wasted half of the year...  because you figure out that they just aren't ready to play yet.  Hence why I don't believe when they were talking about shortening the preseason down to 2 preseason games it was in no way enough

[Edgar]

  

Well, from what I have watched for many years, pre season has little or nothing to do with what regular season performance will be like. It's a time to look at prospects, and veterans, just by human nature, are not going full speed. While we can talk about who may or may not make the Team, no conclusions can be drawn as to how the Team will perform.

Last year's preseason performance was abysmal as far as our run game/offensive line goes. This trend continued through the season. 

 I am very concerned about quality depth at outside linebacker and very concerned that we are being run on.

[Tank 92]

we suck.  I'm going to the skins boards.   

[The Mom Gene]

we suck.  I'm going to the skins boards.   

lolol....  be nice..... 

[KnowNoLimits]

I'm not a huge fan of Dean Pees...

[omar586]

I just want some honest discourse on the state of our Ravens after 2 preseason games. Let me begin first. I am somewhat dejected with both our first team offense and defense. More so with our defense than our offense because I had such high expectations for our defense.

 

My gripe is the calls are very vanilla (as expected to be in the pre-season), but our inability to stop the run is horrifying. It reminds me of last year. I know Pees won us a SB, but I don't think he is what the Ravens D is all about frankly. We are about disruption, turnovers, intimidation, smash mouth defense, organized chaos, etc, etc. (Remember Rex, Pagano, Marvin Lewis, etc?) We were feared by the entire league. Not anymore I don't think with Dean Pees with due respect. 

 

With regard to the offense, considering it is a new offense, I think we'll be alright come regular season. We may not be at the top of our game but will get there by season's end. Joe hopefully doesn't hold on to the ball any longer than he has to, because that is where our offensive woes typically start. Other than that, I am hopeful of our offense.

 

As much as you may not like what I have to say, I just thought it is time we have an honest discourse about our team after the first 2 preseason games by answering two important questions.

A) Are we really on our way to becoming a top 5 defense??

 

Are we going to win the time of possession battle and put up enough points for our D to defend?

we really feels like preseason.

[ellicottraven]

Just remember you only show 1/8 your play book in preseason  .........I may be wrong  but I think it will be fine ..........get you finger off the sell sell sell button sir ...

I only have 2 buttons sir - "The Baltimore Ravens" and "Buy"!

[Ausman]

I felt that we should have gotten Bradnon Flowers!

[ellicottraven]

I felt that we should have gotten Bradnon Flowers!

20-20 hindsight or did you really feel that way?

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I REALLY feel good about the team. The offense is going to be the best we've ever had, book it. If the run game can establish itself we have too much versatility in the passing game to not be.

 

And the defense is just us being us in the preseason. All 3 cbs would be a go if it were regular season, but its not, so step off the panic button. We're fine - 9-7 is the basement, but im feelin' 11-5 and a trip back to the AFC Championship game.

[757RavensFan]

After watching the offense click during the 1st game, it shows that they have the potential to be lethal.  However, the 2nd game offense reminded me of the lethargic offense that we've experienced the past few seasons.  Hopefully, we can have more regular season games that resembled the offense in game 1 of the pre-season.