Next up: Browns part 2

[The Raven]

our line is horrible at picking up blitzes it seems like double a gap pressure works all the time. Having a decent RB probably would help but it's ridiculous.

 

Yes, duh, double A gap pressure hurts everyone, and there's little you can do to stop it, especially when the team has JJ Watt.

 

Having a better blocking back would help. The only way to stop a double A is to have the back pick up the blitz. That's it.

[DomMcRaven]

And SF sucks lol. Not even sure how they managed to score 35.

Miracles happen.

[RavensFanMania]

name one qb in NFL history that could play well with an O-line that kept failing and receivers that don't get open

True in most part. However prior to this yr Arod had a bad ol

[RavensFanMania]

Messing with the playoff machine. We win, SD wins, Steelers win, CIN loses. Chargers become 5th seed, Ravens are 6th seed. If Chargers & Bengals win, we are OUT. We win, Chiefs win, Chargers lose, Steelers win, Bengals lose. Ravens are 5th seed, Bengals are 6th seed.

In summary, we'll have to do the one thing that will make us all sick to our stomach to do. WE HAVE TO root for the Steelers to win next week.

I'm going to vomit, especially if we root for them and they lose.

[JO_75]

I'm going to vomit, especially if we root for them and they lose.

 

Official playoff scenarios for next week have come out, and the first scenario for us is a win and a Bengals loss. So yeah we will have to root for them like I said we would have to do. Let's just hope our offense shows up and Hoyer continues sucking, otherwise we are screwed.

[AsianRice]

I just don't know what team we are for this coming Sunday.......

 

If the Bengals win tonight, we have no soul to play for the Browns and If the Bengals lose, at least our team will rally and fight for the last chance.

[monkeycatt]

we must win and either of the following two scenarios only

 

1.  cinci loses both games (making us 5th seed)

 

2. kc beats SD (making us 6th seed)

 

it's simple. 

i actually see cinci losing their final two.  (no jinx)

[rmcjacket23]

we must win and either of the following two scenarios only

 

1.  cinci loses both games (making us 5th seed)

 

2. kc beats SD (making us 6th seed)

 

it's simple. 

i actually see cinci losing their final two.  (no jinx)

Actually, Cincy losing both doesn't guarantee us the 5th seed.

 

If we win, Cincy loses both, and SD wins (I actually consider this the most likely outcome), then SD is the 5 and Ravens are the 6. SD wins the tiebreaker over us based on H2H.

 

A bit premature, but would people rather play IND or PIT in a road game and why?

[rmcjacket23]

I just don't know what team we are for this coming Sunday.......

 

If the Bengals win tonight, we have no soul to play for the Browns and If the Bengals lose, at least our team will rally and fight for the last chance.

Bengals win tonight doesn't shut us out of the playoffs though... its just means we are dependent on SD losing to get into the playoffs.

[monkeycatt]

Actually, Cincy losing both doesn't guarantee us the 5th seed.

 

If we win, Cincy loses both, and SD wins (I actually consider this the most likely outcome), then SD is the 5 and Ravens are the 6. SD wins the tiebreaker over us based on H2H.

 

A bit premature, but would people rather play IND or PIT in a road game and why?

you're right, i forgot about the tiebreaker loss to them. 

IND or PIT seem tough to beat (as we've already learned) but i'd rather face PIT (slightly more likely to shut down their run game and their defense is hit and miss).  having said that, i would hate for them to trounce us out of heinz with yet another playoff loss.

[rmcjacket23]

you're right, i forgot about the tiebreaker loss to them. 

IND or PIT seem tough to beat (as we've already learned) but i'd rather face PIT (slightly more likely to shut down their run game and their defense is hit and miss).  having said that, i would hate for them to trounce us out of heinz with yet another playoff loss.

I was actually leaning more towards Indy actually. I think both teams can spread us out and pick us apart if they want to, but I think Indy is less likely to run the ball on us and I think their defense is a bit more suspect.

 

Plus, I'd say Pittsburgh is playing the better football between the two as of now.

[rmcjacket23]

Two noteworthy reports related to Sunday...

 

Johnny Manziel (hamstring) is done for the season, Browns coach Mike Pettine announced Monday.

It ends a highly disappointing first NFL season for Manziel, who failed to beat out career journeyman backup Brian Hoyer in training camp and fell flat on his face when given late-season opportunities to play. Manziel's arm is average, and he looses all semblance of zip when he doesn't deliver passes with proper technique. He is also not close to being an even passable pocket quarterback. Barring dramatic offseason improvement, we don't see Manziel as particularly likely to open 2015 as the Browns' starter.

 

 

 

Dec 22 - 4:04 PM

 

The Browns will give starter's reps this week to UDFA Connor Shaw.

Shaw hasn't even been formally promoted off the practice squad yet, but likely will be on Tuesday. Johnny Manziel (hamstring) is done for the year, and Brian Hoyer is nursing a bum shoulder. The Browns may have to sign a free agent off the scrap heap to "compete" with Shawn in practice.

Related: Ravens

 

Source: Jeremy Fowler on Twitter

Dec 22 - 4:09 PM

[Moderator 3]

Ugh, just what we need. Another "who?" QB.

[Drew P]

Should have signed Shaw to their active roster and IR'ed Camp or fat boy. Three QB's doesn't make much sense but the season was all but done when the secondary was messed up.

[Ravenslifer]

True in most part. However prior to this yr Arod had a bad ol

 

But he's always had great receivers around him.  Even when we won the Superbowl we didn't have a great o-line the majority of that season; think the point is it's hard for any offense to succeed if none of the parts are working.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Our defense might still be banged up from their ridiculous +80 snaps they had to endure b/c of abysmal offense woes last week. 

They might be forced to do it again.  I just hope offense can get back into groove.  Its playoff time.  Please show up

[balfan23]

Our defense might still be banged up from their ridiculous +80 snaps they had to endure b/c of abysmal offense woes last week. 

They might be forced to do it again.  I just hope offense can get back into groove.  Its playoff time.  Please show up

Defense itself was partly to blame for that high snap count. Early in the game they had a hard time getting off the field and allowed multiple lengthy possessions - against a less than stellar offense. 

[Ravenseconbeast]

Defense itself was partly to blame for that high snap count. Early in the game they had a hard time getting off the field and allowed multiple lengthy possessions - against a less than stellar offense. 

 

I thought our defense did their dues for 1st half.  They had their assignment on check as best as they could.  We held them to 6 points.   By the time 2nd half showed up our defense still dominated the texans until it was physically impossible to stay on field.  

 

Offense had to show up, instead Flacco and the crew slopped around throwing INTs and dropped passes left and right with a remarkable pace of leaving the field.  CBS commentators were saying "These guys are exhausted, just give them a second to catch up their breath"   

 

But perspective as usual. 

[PurpleLady90]

just heard Manziel is out. Honestly, based on our performance against a 4th string QB yesterday, it doesn't matter what QB we play at this point. The Browns can insert a mailman into the lineup and we still might get out played. 

 

We need to head into the game focused and prepared for anything. Start fast, limit the penalties, and RUN. 

[FoxRox75]

Actually, Cincy losing both doesn't guarantee us the 5th seed.

 

If we win, Cincy loses both, and SD wins (I actually consider this the most likely outcome), then SD is the 5 and Ravens are the 6. SD wins the tiebreaker over us based on H2H.

 

A bit premature, but would people rather play IND or PIT in a road game and why?

 

IND; I think PIT will be more dangerous in the playoffs, and I'd rather not have them beat us in the playoffs for the fourth darn time.

[Dewy101]

Yes, duh, double A gap pressure hurts everyone, and there's little you can do to stop it, especially when the team has JJ Watt.

Having a better blocking back would help. The only way to stop a double A is to have the back pick up the blitz. That's it.

That's is not true if double a gap hurt everyone, everyone would do it all the time. Our lines awareness is just bad especially with the fact that Flacco isn't allowed to change protections. I've noticed that Flacco always seems to snap the ball when the pressure is shown. Unlike other QBs who do fake snap counts Flacco doesn't do any of that. I'm not sure if that's on him or the system. The ILBs had free runs to Flacco. He was getting hit with less than a second to drop back. Watt is a very good player but the Texans were lining him up with Hurst everywhere he went from LT to RT.

[ratedr]

That's is not true if double a gap hurt everyone, everyone would do it all the time. Our lines awareness is just bad especially with the fact that Flacco isn't allowed to change protections. I've noticed that Flacco always seems to snap the ball when the pressure is shown. Unlike other QBs who do fake snap counts Flacco doesn't do any of that. I'm not sure if that's on him or the system. The ILBs had free runs to Flacco. He was getting hit with less than a second to drop back. Watt is a very good player but the Texans were lining him up with Hurst everywhere he went from LT to RT.

I feel like this has been an issue forever, so hard for me to say it's the system.

[ravensdfan]

just heard Manziel is out. Honestly, based on our performance against a 4th string QB yesterday, it doesn't matter what QB we play at this point. The Browns can insert a mailman into the lineup and we still might get out played. 

 

We need to head into the game focused and prepared for anything. Start fast, limit the penalties, and RUN. 

RUN got us into the hole we found ourselves in Sunday.

 

19 yds between Forsett and Pierce. More run would have only made it worse.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

RUN got us into the hole we found ourselves in Sunday.

 

19 yds between Forsett and Pierce. More run would have only made it worse.

 

Inept offence, period, got us into that hole.

 

Can't help but agree with the initial post. Our offence needs to show up, rather than inflating it's stats against poor teams and meandering along against tougher teams.

 

We struggled past Tennessee, Jacksonville - two of the worst teams in the league. Big points against Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay - tell me, who doesn't light those defences up? Chargers defence had injuries and shut us down when it mattered most, Houston made us look like children, Indianapolis also made us look like a joke offensively, as has Cincinnati twice - sort it out, NOW.

[JO_75]

Last week we played Houston's third string QB, now we may face Cleveland's third string QB. With Manziel ruled out and Hoyer hurt, the Browns may turn to UDFA rookie QB Connor Shaw may start in week seventeen.

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/22/hoyer-manziel-are-both-hurt-so-connor-shaw-may-start/

[RavensPunkXVX]

Grossman turned the Browns down. Lol

Can't wait to hear, "we win, blow out." We might have to face a third string quarterback, but no game is ever easy for this team.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Inept offence, period, got us into that hole.

 

Can't help but agree with the initial post. Our offence needs to show up, rather than inflating it's stats against poor teams and meandering along against tougher teams.

 

We struggled past Tennessee, Jacksonville - two of the worst teams in the league. Big points against Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay - tell me, who doesn't light those defences up? Chargers defence had injuries and shut us down when it mattered most, Houston made us look like children, Indianapolis also made us look like a joke offensively, as has Cincinnati twice - sort it out, NOW.

Its hard to argue with what you've said but I will anyway. Our offense was anemic yesterday but that only tells half of the story. Take the punt that Sam Koch dropped inside Houston's 5 yard line that

Jeremy Miles didn't even look for. If he had just turned around, he could have downed the ball at the one yard line. It would have been a simple over the shoulder catch. Instead, it was a touchback.

Look at the play when Arian Foster ran through a hole as big as a Bulldog Mack truck, avoided being

tackled by Darryl Smith and then led two of our D-backs up the field for a 35 yard run. If it hadn't been so pitiful, it would have been hilarious. Right now, our whole team is inept and that includes

the coaching staff. We simply had no answer for JJ Watt and we were outcoached. I had to laugh when

Coach Harbaugh singled that we were going for two on the 2nd TD. Had we kicked the extra point, we

would have been down by 11, not 12. When we failed to convert the 2 pt. conversion, that

automatically made it a 3 score deficit to overcome. C'mon man! Yes, it is a moot point 'cause

Tucker's on-side kick attempt backfired but it takes the wind out of your players' sails. Basically, we failed to compete yesterday and that is the most bothersome issue we face. It wasn't that we lost as much as it is the way we lost. The entire team laid an egg. How many sacks did we get and who got them?

Otherwise, I agree with some of what you said but to say our offense failed against the Chargers is

just unfounded. When an offense posts 33 points, the team should be victorious. We did. Our defense

couldn't stop Philip Rivers.

[ravensdfan]

Inept offence, period, got us into that hole.

 

Can't help but agree with the initial post. Our offence needs to show up, rather than inflating it's stats against poor teams and meandering along against tougher teams.

 

We struggled past Tennessee, Jacksonville - two of the worst teams in the league. Big points against Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay - tell me, who doesn't light those defences up? Chargers defence had injuries and shut us down when it mattered most, Houston made us look like children, Indianapolis also made us look like a joke offensively, as has Cincinnati twice - sort it out, NOW.

We were run heavy the entire first half. RUN got us into that hole. If we had not been so predictable, perhaps, just a maybe mind you, the offense could have gotten something going. Not arguing the entire offense was inept, they were. Just saying you can't run on 99% of first downs, 88% of 2nd downs and expect to pick up all the 3rd and longs and get your offense into a rhythm.

Play calling was poor.

 

Chargers loss is all on the defense period. Couldn't stop the Chargers at all. Think they had one punt the entire game. No pressure at all on Rivers. Offense put up 33 pts - you should not lose a game where you post 33 pts, especially at home. They needed a TD to win, not a FG. If your defense can't be relied upon to provide one stop when it is needed at the end of the game, sorry, that is purely a defensive fail.

 

Jacksonville gave all the AFCN fits. Guess the entire division sucks.

Pitt lost to Tampa. Cincy almost did and only tied the Panthers.

[PurpleLady90]

RUN got us into the hole we found ourselves in Sunday.

 

19 yds between Forsett and Pierce. More run would have only made it worse.

I meant we will be successful if we can get the run game going because that's when we're at our best. it hasn't been there for three weeks and we've looked flat but if we can fix it somehow, I think we have a real shot to win.

[ravensdfan]

I meant we will be successful if we can get the run game going because that's when we're at our best. it hasn't been there for three weeks and we've looked flat but if we can fix it somehow, I think we have a real shot to win.

Honestly, I think Forsett is injured more than they're letting on. Outside of him, we don't have a capable back. Pierce is a wasted down unless it's in garbage time. Fitz looked good in preseason but we've seen nothing at this point to know if that will carry over to a team's first defense.