Here's my bone to pick

[3-4ravdef509]

It's hard to think we're only 20 ish months removed from winning our last Super Bowl. After last year's disappointing season, we've followed up with two embarrassing outings against good teams and we have two good wins against meh teams and one barely earned win against the Browns.

Our offense and defense both have blame for those losses, and it's a lot like last year - offense wets themselves for half the game, finally comes to life to gain a lead and the defense falters. Each side of the ball's struggles correlate with one another. The offense can't keep the defense rested and off the field, and the defense gives up long time consuming drives that rob away time that our offense could be on the field trying to get their act together.

What I get frustrated with is that after our Super Bowl win, we departed with the logic of holding onto the team and trying to repeat with the same players for trying to start afresh.

The end result of that endeavor has hurt both sides and taken away from what worked so well us two years ago.

The offense isn't near as explosive, we don't scare anyone. Sure, with kubes we for the most part move the ball and gain first downs more consistently, but outside one game we've had little amount of chunk plays and trend to dink and dunk down the field. Our run game is light-years better than last year but it's not enough.

Our defense is literally anti clutch. It's almost as if they are allergic to playing well at the end of a close game. The defense wasn't stellar before, but it came up with clutch stops, culminating in 4 straight stops with their backs against their own end zone to secure a Super Bowl victory.

We sent/traded away some key guys and their replacements haven't lived up.

What's worst of all imo, is Flacco played out of his mind, and we took away the tools that helped him get there.

You think that the formula that led to 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in the playoffs would be something that you would take a close look at and try to locate in the regular season. Why on earth we had this urge to change everything and focus on the defense I don't understand. I understand that there's a certain pride about defense here in Baltimore as we had a great one for a long time, but after Ray weft, our highest-paid player is on the offense. Therefore, don't you think we should be putting it on the offense to win games? He is hundred million Dollar quarterback, we need to give him the tools and the permission to play like one! This is what brought a second Super Bowl to our city, it was letting Joe and the offense lives to score points, and counting on the defense to make stops when they could, and that should make the most important plays at the end of the game when it mattered. We instead, decided to revamp everything with the explanation of revamping the defense because it wasn't to the usual Raven standards.

Anyways, I'll and my rent. I know that momentum has a lot to do with things, as well as luck, pun intended. We can't win the mall, and some games we're going to play better than others. It's just so frustrating for me, after seeing us play so well for four games Lestin two years ago, that we have only played to complete games since them. I can't think of many other teams to win the Super Bowl and have quite to drop off that we have . But here's the moving forward and team getting everything together.

So again, to sum up my rent, we want to Super Bowl playing a certain style on both sides of the ball, and we decided to change everything. The things that were once our strengths, are gone, and have a lot to do with why we have struggled over the past year of football

I apologize for any grammatical or random wrong words, as this was typed entirely on my phone and it's very hard to proofread. I will most likely make an edit once I'm home.

[redrum52]

In both our losses our offense hasn't don't squat in the first half while our defense has hold strong. Hate to mention this, but 3 OCs and our offense still is inconsistent as hell. Maybe we need to start looking at the personnel.

Also, name another period of time Flacco has ever played remotely that well?

[3-4ravdef509]

In both our losses our offense hasn't don't squat in the first half while our defense has hold strong. Hate to mention this, but 3 OCs and our offense still is inconsistent as hell. Maybe we need to start looking at the personnel.

Also, name another period of time Flacco has ever played remotely that well?

I agree unless you're referring to Flacco, as he is not the best quarterback but he's not the problem. 11 touchdowns and no interceptions just doesn't happen by fluke I'm sorry . Because that happened we have the obligation to surround Joe with the pieces to make something close to that production possible throughout the regular season. But with the rest of the offensive personnel, I tend to agree with you, although to be fair, while we have had three different coordinators, we've only had two different systems

[Tank 92]

Didn't read the whole post(whew!), but if you recall we weren't looking like a SB team during the regular season in 2012. Give it a chance, there's a lot of talent on this squad that could start to gel at the right time.

[3-4ravdef509]

In both our losses our offense hasn't don't squat in the first half while our defense has hold strong. Hate to mention this, but 3 OCs and our offense still is inconsistent as hell. Maybe we need to start looking at the personnel.

Also, name another period of time Flacco has ever played remotely that well?

Ah, I see you added an edit about Flacco. To answer your question, for the 2010 season, after a week to new quarterback had a higher quarterback rating then Flacco except for Tom Brady. He also had a very strong start to the 2009 season, even though we lost three in a row, he played well in most of the first half of that season. He started out 2012 well, and before he got injured last year in Detroit he was starting to build momentum and starting to push the offense towards something resembling consistency.

Well he has never had a great statistical season, or great statistical stretches as he did in the playoffs that year, you have to remember that for most of his career he played in a run first offense of system that asked him to hand the ball off and take deep shops down the field. Flacco wasn't exactly a position to put up stats . Now I'll be the first to say that Joe isn't an elite quarterback, but it's not like it's easy to go out and get one of those they don't grow on trees. But Joe is a top level second tier quarterback, and a quarterbacks are more than capable of when you Super Bowl when put in the right system and surrounded with the right players, and to be honest we have that in place and then we threw it away . Why? I don't know don't ask me

[3-4ravdef509]

Didn't read the whole post(whew!), but if you recall we weren't looking like a SB team during the regular season in 2012. Give it a chance, there's a lot of talent on this squad that could star

t to gel at the right time.

You are right tank, you never know what will happen. This is more me preventing in frustration that we have struggled so much since being at the top of the mountain. And I know we're not gonna win every game ( if you look back, I actually predicted us losing to the Colts, but it's the way we lost that infuriates me, though to be fair, it's not exactly easy to lose pretty .), but it's downright embarrassing when you watch an offense, with a quarterback who less than two years ago was the MVP of the Super Bowl, struggle to put up points for thirty plus minutes of game time.

Sorry, first night out at the bar in a long while, and I didn't realize how long that rant truly was until now lol

[redrum52]

Ah, I see you added an edit about Flacco. To answer your question, for the 2010 season, after a week to new quarterback had a higher quarterback rating then Flacco except for Tom Brady. He also had a very strong start to the 2009 season, even though we lost three in a row, he played well in most of the first half of that season. He started out 2012 well, and before he got injured last year in Detroit he was starting to build momentum and starting to push the offense towards something resembling consistency.

Well he has never had a great statistical season, or great statistical stretches as he did in the playoffs that year, you have to remember that for most of his career he played in a run first offense of system that asked him to hand the ball off and take deep shops down the field. Flacco wasn't exactly a position to put up stats . Now I'll be the first to say that Joe isn't an elite quarterback, but it's not like it's easy to go out and get one of those they don't grow on trees. But Joe is a top level second tier quarterback, and a quarterbacks are more than capable of when you Super Bowl when put in the right system and surrounded with the right players, and to be honest we have that in place and then we threw it away . Why? I don't know don't ask me

Offensively we need another wr. A rb wouldn't hurt as well and possibly a new te. The wr I'd honestly rather we address through a trade or FA cause we see where that has gotten us in 18 years. We need to start getting younger guys game reps as well instead of keeping them on the shelf and wondering why they never pan out down the line, especially at a time like now when we seeing such a lack of production.

[Cville-Raven]

Going to have to disagree about the defense being anti clutch. After all they did give us the ball back at the end of the browns game and forced a miraculous fumble to give our offense a shot at getting us into overtime. If anything it's our O that lacks being clutch. 

[redrum52]

Going to have to disagree about the defense being anti clutch. After all they did give us the ball back at the end of the browns game and forced a miraculous fumble to give our offense a shot at getting us into overtime. If anything it's our O that lacks being clutch.

The defense has gotten us the ball back in each of our losses and got us the ball back in the Browns game. The offense has been the cause of both losses.

[3-4ravdef509]

Going to have to disagree about the defense being anti clutch. After all they did give us the ball back at the end of the browns game and forced a miraculous fumble to give our offense a shot at getting us into overtime. If anything it's our O that lacks being clutch.

Then they are inconsistent to say the least. And to be honest, that fumble was more luck than anything to do with our defense as I have no idea why the Colts were aggressively running the ball at that point anyway, they should've just been taking a knee.

[Tank 92]

You are right tank, you never know what will happen. This is more me preventing in frustration that we have struggled so much since being at the top of the mountain. And I know we're not gonna win every game ( if you look back, I actually predicted us losing to the Colts, but it's the way we lost that infuriates me, though to be fair, it's not exactly easy to lose pretty .), but it's downright embarrassing when you watch an offense, with a quarterback who less than two years ago was the MVP of the Super Bowl, struggle to put up points for thirty plus minutes of game time.

Sorry, first night out at the bar in a long while, and I didn't realize how long that rant truly was until now lol

I'm with ya......it all starts and stops at the core and I'm pretty sure our O line is much better than they showed last week. Consistent play there will guarantee success. If we don't drop 7 or 8 passes a game! lol

[Cville-Raven]

The defense has gotten us the ball back in each of our losses and got us the ball back in the Browns game. The offense has been the cause of both losses.

exactly

[Cville-Raven]

Then they are inconsistent to say the least. And to be honest, that fumble was more luck than anything to do with our defense as I have no idea why the Colts were aggressively running the ball at that point anyway, they should've just been taking a knee.

Luck is what got us into the Super Bowl 

[3-4ravdef509]

The defense has gotten us the ball back in each of our losses and got us the ball back in the Browns game. The offense has been the cause of both losses.

Yes, the defense has played a little bit better this year in the clutch, but this post was a observation of last year as well, where they struggled more mightily. Well they have given the ball back to the offense in both occasions, in every game except the Carolina game this year, the defense has this annoying habit to give up long time consuming drives that results in a touchdown, and to give up annoying big plays it that shouldn't happen .

[3-4ravdef509]

I'm with ya......it all starts and stops at the core and I'm pretty sure our O line is much better than they showed last week. Consistent play there will guarantee success. If we don't drop 7 or 8 passes a game! lol

Oh my goodness, dropped passes and receivers letting Flacco down seem to be one of the repeating themes of his career

[3-4ravdef509]

Offensively we need another wr. A rb wouldn't hurt as well and possibly a new te. The wr I'd honestly rather we address through a trade or FA cause we see where that has gotten us in 18 years. We need to start getting younger guys game reps as well instead of keeping them on the shelf and wondering why they never pan out down the line, especially at a time like now when we seeing such a lack of production.

What we really need is a true number one receiver, and her young one entering his prime not a 35 year one that is playing well right now but isn't going to be here in a long-term future. That's very hard to obtain in free agency or via trade, it's a lot easier in the draft, though I do concede that our history in the draft isn't exactly stellar to save the least. What really bums me is we had something close to a number one receiver via trade and we let him go, but I don't think anyone wants to hear me vent about losing Boldin yet again

[3-4ravdef509]

Luck is what got us into the Super Bowl

Luck also gave holiday two easy return touchdowns that if those hadn't happen, we might not have needed a little luck to win that game . ( I'm assuming you're referring to the Denver game as that is the only game we really got a break in.)

[redrum52]

What we really need is a true number one receiver, and her young one entering his prime not a 35 year one that is playing well right now but isn't going to be here in a long-term future. That's very hard to obtain in free agency or via trade, it's a lot easier in the draft, though I do concede that our history in the draft isn't exactly stellar to save the least. What really bums me is we had something close to a number one receiver via trade and we let him go, but I don't think anyone wants to hear me vent about losing Boldin yet again

Someone brought up a good point in a thread. Name the last team to win a SB with a true #1. I think it was the Colts with Marvin Harrison. My point is, teams who usually carry a #1 instead of a strong committee don't usually make it that far. You just need reliable targets, not necessarily a super star.

[3-4ravdef509]

Someone brought up a good point in a thread. Name the last team to win a SB with a true #1. I think it was the Colts with Marvin Harrison. My point is, teams who usually carry a #1 instead of a strong committee don't usually make it that far. You just need reliable targets, not necessarily a super star.

Perhaps, I can see that point. But you need to go to guy, someone that can make those tough contested catches. And then you need at least good depth behind that

[redrum52]

Luck is what got us into the Super Bowl

Can't disagree, but a lot teams have had some luck to get there. Part of the game.

I'd also like to mention there were about 3-4 balls thrown in the Colts playoff game that easily should've been picked off and we were lucky they weren't caught.

The Denver game we all know the Bronco Buster/Mile High Miracle, but the play before where he scrambled for only 3 years with no timeouts was one of the dumbest things I had seen in a crucial moment of a post season game. Nothing negative about the Pats game cause that was a thorough mollywhoppin.

[rmcjacket23]

I think the key thing to remember is... it really wasn't until 2012 when we fully realized that Joe was "our guy". There was always sort of that question in every bodies mind as to whether he would ever be the guy that could lead us to a SB and win it. 

 

The moment he became an incredibly well-paid QB, the days of us spending large quantities of money on defense and RBs should have become non-existent. Basically, the first thing any good franchise does when they sign a franchise QB is to get him help and weapons. That usually comes in the form of quality offensive lineman and receivers to throw to.

 

The problem is... doing those things take time, and Ravens fans have never been well-known for their patience (myself included). The idea of waiting 3-4 years for the FO to put together a top-end offensive line and receiving core isn't something most Ravens fans are willing to do.

 

While I have no doubt we are still capable of fielding a pretty good defense on an annual basis (certainly a good enough one to be a SB contender), I don't suspect you are going to see the Ravens fielding a defense with all-pros up and down the roster like we've seen prior in this franchises history. Its probably going to be mostly comprised of a "core" group of special players (such as Jimmy and CJ), a pretty decent group of quality/good players, and a large group of "fill-ins".

 

Like it or not, by default, this is Joe's team. When you pay a guy that much money, you've got to make sure that he's surrounded by players who are capable of making life great for him. Last season, he basically had nobody. Bad offensive line plays and pretty bad pass catchers. We slowly see that pieces of the puzzle are falling into place, and I think you'll see the franchise continue to attempt to surround Joe with offensive support.

[3-4ravdef509]

Can't disagree, but a lot teams have had some luck to get there. Part of the game.

I'd also like to mention there were about 3-4 balls thrown in the Colts playoff game that easily should've been picked off and we were lucky they weren't caught.

The Denver game we all know the Bronco Buster/Mile High Miracle, but the play before where he scrambled for only 3 years with no timeouts was one of the dumbest things I had seen in a crucial moment of a post season game. Nothing negative about the Pats game cause that was a thorough mollywhoppin.

Do you also remember how pathetic our offensive line held up to a three-man rush two plays in a row?

[Tank 92]

Luck is what got us into the Super Bowl 

 

 

no, he plays for indy.  

 

All teams that win the SB experience good fortune along the way. 

[RavensFanInCA]

Luck is what got us into the Super Bowl 

 

Nah, he was just the first round opponent.

[3-4ravdef509]

I think the key thing to remember is... it really wasn't until 2012 when we fully realized that Joe was "our guy". There was always sort of that question in every bodies mind as to whether he would ever be the guy that could lead us to a SB and win it.

The moment he became an incredibly well-paid QB, the days of us spending large quantities of money on defense and RBs should have become non-existent. Basically, the first thing any good franchise does when they sign a franchise QB is to get him help and weapons. That usually comes in the form of quality offensive lineman and receivers to throw to.

The problem is... doing those things take time, and Ravens fans have never been well-known for their patience (myself included). The idea of waiting 3-4 years for the FO to put together a top-end offensive line and receiving core isn't something most Ravens fans are willing to do.

While I have no doubt we are still capable of fielding a pretty good defense on an annual basis (certainly a good enough one to be a SB contender), I don't suspect you are going to see the Ravens fielding a defense with all-pros up and down the roster like we've seen prior in this franchises history. Its probably going to be mostly comprised of a "core" group of special players (such as Jimmy and CJ), a pretty decent group of quality/good players, and a large group of "fill-ins".

Like it or not, by default, this is Joe's team. When you pay a guy that much money, you've got to make sure that he's surrounded by players who are capable of making life great for him. Last season, he basically had nobody. Bad offensive line plays and pretty bad pass catchers. We slowly see that pieces of the puzzle are falling into place, and I think you'll see the franchise continue to attempt to surround Joe with offensive support.

No no no no! Don't come in here as the voice of reason with your truth and logic

[jazz1988]

Rome wasn't built in a day. This stuff takes time and it's still very early in the season. The idea that you believe we should have gave Flacco more offensive weapons or cater to him more is something I can understand at a certain extend but it's not like  Ozzie and  John gave him nothing either and he definitively has  quality receivers to throw to and be successful with  . I know Pitta is on i.r but overall Flacco has some really good offfensive weapons to throw to nonetheless but they just have to be all on one page which i never expected to happen right away.

 

 

i feel like we have replaced Boldin  with  the addition of Stevie Smith and Smith is just as tough and physical but alot more quicker and faster.Boldin didn't even have  a instant connection with Falcco when he first got here but it seems like  Steve Smith chemistry with Flacco has been on the same page right for the start of the season which is good and it should only get better.Our defense has been dealing with some injuries  or missing some important key players which has limited our defense a little but  hopefully things will get better when some of our players are healthy again and also when Will Hill returns from his suspension.

[ravensdfan]

In both our losses our offense hasn't don't squat in the first half while our defense has hold strong. Hate to mention this, but 3 OCs and our offense still is inconsistent as hell. Maybe we need to start looking at the personnel.

Also, name another period of time Flacco has ever played remotely that well?

 

2010.

 

The defense has gotten us the ball back in each of our losses and got us the ball back in the Browns game. The offense has been the cause of both losses.

 

Um..no. The offense took the lead late in the Cincy game and the defense gave up a quick TD to them. Did you forget that? Or does the defense always get a pass for you?

 

Late in the 2nd in the Colts game the defense gave up a 20 play TD drive. 20 plays! They couldn't get off the field. Were they tired that early?

 

exactly

 

*see above*

[redrum52]

2010.

Um..no. The offense took the lead late in the Cincy game and the defense gave up a quick TD to them. Did you forget that? Or does the defense always get a pass for you?

Late in the 2nd in the Colts game the defense gave up a 20 play TD drive. 20 plays! They couldn't get off the field. Were they tired that early?

*see above*

Failed to score at the end of the bengals game and failed to score at the end of the colts game. They had their chance and failed miserably. The offense was atrocious in both outings and we got lucky against the Browns. Don't care how you try to flip it. Defense did their job in both. You can't expect to win games scoring under 20 points.

[3-4ravdef509]

Failed to score at the end of the bengals game and failed to score at the end of the colts game. They had their chance and failed miserably. The offense was atrocious in both outings and we got lucky against the Browns. Don't care how you try to flip it. Defense did their job in both. You can't expect to win games scoring under 20 points.

Preach it . I made a post the other day showing our record over the past five years when we score 21 or more points, versus when we store 20 points or less. It's a pretty big discrepancy.

The defense does have plenty of areas to improve at though.

Also, I don't care if Joe could have thrown that the last ball I little bit farther, Tori has no good excuse for not catching that ball

[redrum52]

Preach it . I made a post the other day showing our record over the past five years when we score 21 or more points, versus when we store 20 points or less. It's a pretty big discrepancy.

The defense does have plenty of areas to improve at though.

True. Pass rush needs to get home more and secondary seems like they need to communicate better.