The commentating during the Ravens and Steelers playoff game

[The Mom Gene]

Fanboard fans think the refs and the commentators all hate the Ravens.

 

It is funny that I don't hear a lot of talk about the refs today... mostly because practically all of the "questionable" officiating calls in last nights game went the Ravens way.

Which was definitely an oddity, especially from that crew.

[The Mom Gene]

I agree with this. No disrespect to anyone on these forums, but it seems like every game, Ravens fans complain about the announcers being biased against the Ravens. I think Rich Gannon is kind of annoying with his hypercriticism of our team, and I have no idea why he's allowed to do Ravens games, but other than with him, I never notice any obvious bias. I've heard Collinsworth give tons of praise to the Ravens and Flacco in the past.

Only when he has to.....  And it's not always what he says as how he says it.  There is this voice of enthusiasm about how Ben was doing this and that....  Then you get what Flacco "needs to do"....  It's hard to put your finger on, but it's definitely there....  Just keep an ear open next week if he's calling the game.

[rmcjacket23]

Which was definitely an oddity, especially from that crew.

Maybe so. Just make sure you keep this game in memory for the inevitable future game when the fanboards erupt and say how we always get screwed by the refs.

[RedFire]

Ref are rarely an issue during the Harbaugh era....he sent in tapes 1st couple years and things got corrected. This ain't the bullick era.

Watch the game on silent if ya can't stand colinsworth. Not like the players are really miced up and ya can only hear certain hits anyways.

Once again this ain't the billick era...really minimal commentator basis out there. Sport analysis...of course there is basis and thats because ravens only been around 19yrs and wasn't peoples granddaddy team.

[The Mom Gene]

Maybe so. Just make sure you keep this game in memory for the inevitable future game when the fanboards erupt and say how we always get screwed by the refs.

Lolol... I know, right?????  I'm guilty of that on occasion.  I have friends that are Miami fans here in FL. They say the same thing about the Phins....

[The Mom Gene]

Ref are rarely an issue during the Harbaugh era....he sent in tapes 1st couple years and things got corrected. This ain't the bullick era.

Watch the game on silent if ya can't stand colinsworth. Not like the players are really miced up and ya can only hear certain hits anyways.

Once again this ain't the billick era...really minimal commentator basis out there. Sport analysis...of course there is basis and thats because ravens only been around 19yrs and wasn't peoples granddaddy team.

I downloaded Tunein on my laptop...  we turn on WBAL radio... it's just not as good.  I have to figure out how to plug that into my Theatre system....  maybe just a USB???    We just started doing that a couple weeks ago.

[Cville-Raven]

Tony Dungy and the half time crew rub me the wrong the way. Chris collunsworth is just an annoying color guy. I don't think he was good last night, but I wasn't expecting much from him anyway.

[Gordo52]

Maybe so. Just make sure you keep this game in memory for the inevitable future game when the fanboards erupt and say how we always get screwed by the refs.

I think they actually called a great game. Yeah, if I had to choose a side that I think they favored it would be us. But they had a lot of tough calls I think they got right and nothing called that was too outrageous.

[Militant X 1]

I couldn't care less about the commentating I loved the game! 

[rmcjacket23]

I think they actually called a great game. Yeah, if I had to choose a side that I think they favored it would be us. But they had a lot of tough calls I think they got right and nothing called that was too outrageous.

I didn't think they did a bad job either, but then again, I rarely think they do when a lot of fans swear they are terrible.

 

We got 15 yards on a late hit out of bounds call (I think it was on Jacoby but not 100% about that) that on replay clearly wasn't late at all.

 

We also get a no call on the Webb feet tangle, and while I think the no call was the correct call, corners who aren't playing the ball (and he clearly wasn't) almost always get called for PI there. Most of the time, if a corner has no idea where the ball is and he makes ANY contact at all, he's getting flagged.

[jaege]

Yeah, but you're really just nitpicking. The 19th guy went on IR, what, like 2-3 days ago? They probably we given the statistics early in the week and didn't update them.

 

Whether its 18 or 19 doesn't matter in the slightest, particularly when the 19th guy was mostly a gameday inactive for most of the season.

 

 

I don't know. These guys are supposed to be professionals. When they cannot get simple "nitpicking" facts correct, facts that any moron could easily google on their phone, it tends to bring into question their reliability. If these guys are just too bored to show a little enthusiasm or have somewhere better to be, then maybe the powers that be should get some new blood in there.

[Crabcakes&Football]

"But you gotta think that, if Le'veon Bell was playing then maybe one of those would have gone 20, 40 yards?" I wanted to smack that guy every time he said that. 

[steve1873]

I think the 10,376 commercials we have to sit through are 10 times worse than anything an announcer could ever say.

[Gordo52]

I didn't think they did a bad job either, but then again, I rarely think they do when a lot of fans swear they are terrible.

We got 15 yards on a late hit out of bounds call (I think it was on Jacoby but not 100% about that) that on replay clearly wasn't late at all.

We also get a no call on the Webb feet tangle, and while I think the no call was the correct call, corners who aren't playing the ball (and he clearly wasn't) almost always get called for PI there. Most of the time, if a corner has no idea where the ball is and he makes ANY contact at all, he's getting flagged.

Maybe my purple shades are intensified since it was against the Steelers but I thought it was a clear late hit.... From what I recall, Jacoby gave himself up and took 1 step out of bounds before the Steelers ST hit him. Also IIRC, Webb turning his head around last second saved him in that instance.

I could be completely wrong though. I'd have to see both plays again before I can confidently judge it. I only watched it live and the replays. During the game I didn't care what was being called, as long as it favored us.

I do remember thinking to myself Webb got away with a PI at one point in the 3rd quarter that fortunately wasn't called.

[rmcjacket23]

Maybe my purple shades are intensified since it was against the Steelers but I thought it was a clear late hit.... From what I recall, Jacoby gave himself up and took 1 step out of bounds before the Steelers ST hit him. Also IIRC, Webb turning his head around last second saved him in that instance.

I could be completely wrong though. I'd have to see both plays again before I can confidently judge it. I only watched it live and the replays. During the game I didn't care what was being called, as long as it favored us.

I do remember thinking to myself Webb got away with a PI at one point in the 3rd quarter that fortunately wasn't called.

It looked like a late hit in live action. Replay I believed showed that Jacoby either still had one foot in bounds at contact or was at least on the end of the white.

 

The push and Jacoby falling so far out of bounds basically "sold" that penalty if you will.

[rmcjacket23]

I don't know. These guys are supposed to be professionals. When they cannot get simple "nitpicking" facts correct, facts that any moron could easily google on their phone, it tends to bring into question their reliability. If these guys are just too bored to show a little enthusiasm or have somewhere better to be, then maybe the powers that be should get some new blood in there.

Not really their jobs though. I doubt Collinsworth or Michaels are doing their own research and stats... they've got guys that do that for them. If somebody doesn't update the statistics for them, then I doubt they're going to spend the time to do it themselves, particularly when the overall premise of the point they are making changes in no way by adding one more person to the IR list. This is a completely irrelevant complaint in my opinion.

 

If you're banking on analysts and commentators to be 100% accurate all the time, then you're going to be disappointed. Chris Carter completely butchered Osemele's last name on Countdown this morning... am I suppose to bury his credibility for eternity because he can't pronounce a name right?

[Raving_Heathen]

Although I don't think last night's crew was biased, it's funny that Nantz and Simms doing the Bengals-Colts game are talking about the Ravens and Flacco 10x's more than Michaels and Collinsworth did last night.

[Ravenseconbeast]

He sounded like he was forced to give ravens some props to me. It was awful TV time listening to him. I really want to see ravens game on cbs

[kassaiscool]

I understand that Bell just got recently injured, but Collinsworth was using that as an excuse for the Steelers. The Ravens just on offense lost Dennis pitta, both of our starting tackles who recently got injured and Ray Rice to his incident with his wife. But I didn't hear him complaining about that throughout the game. Ravens have 18 players on injured reserved to the only 3 Steelers on injured reserved.  When someone who is calling a game constantly whines like that for one team on a big prime time game, He is trying to convince the audience that the Steelers are only losing because Bell isn't in the game. Collinsworth didn't take into account how banged up the Ravens were and just slobbered all over Bell the entire game.

[ravenz2752]

The monday night football commentators love us, especially Justin Tucker because of his game against Detroit

[jaege]

Not really their jobs though. I doubt Collinsworth or Michaels are doing their own research and stats... they've got guys that do that for them. If somebody doesn't update the statistics for them, then I doubt they're going to spend the time to do it themselves, particularly when the overall premise of the point they are making changes in no way by adding one more person to the IR list. This is a completely irrelevant complaint in my opinion.

 

If you're banking on analysts and commentators to be 100% accurate all the time, then you're going to be disappointed. Chris Carter completely butchered Osemele's last name on Countdown this morning... am I suppose to bury his credibility for eternity because he can't pronounce a name right?

 

 

That still doesn't answer to their bored and unenthusiastic demeanor. I am with Mom on this too. Collinsworth is not overtly biased necessarily, but there is a subtlety to his banter that gives off the sense of bias. Lets just say it is apparent that he played for a team that is in contention with the Ravens.

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

was absolutely horrid. I'm usually not the one to complain about commentating, but man, I've lost a whole level of respect for Chris Collinsworth. Dude should be fired. Extremely dull, only gave Ravens respect at very end of game when we had it in the bag, even then still seemed "shocked" that we won, almost like he was disappointed. Only got excited when the Steelers made plays. Total snooze fest.

Does that shock you? As a former Bungle, he is not used to winning. He Always picks against us, so when we prove him wrong time after time, it makes him look more like an unknowledgable idiot!

[rmcjacket23]

I understand that Bell just got recently injured, but Collinsworth was using that as an excuse for the Steelers. The Ravens just on offense lost Dennis pitta, both of our starting tackles who recently got injured and Ray Rice to his incident with his wife. But I didn't hear him complaining about that throughout the game. Ravens have 18 players on injured reserved to the only 3 Steelers on injured reserved.  When someone who is calling a game constantly whines like that for one team on a big prime time game, He is trying to convince the audience that the Steelers are only losing because Bell isn't in the game. Collinsworth didn't take into account how banged up the Ravens were and just slobbered all over Bell the entire game.

Well, frankly, there's no question that their offense had to operate a ton differently without Bell. Its not necessarily an excuse for why they lost, but it certainly was a major factor.

 

While the tackle argument sort of holds water, the Rice/Pitta losses don't. We never had Ray Rice... he was basically never a part of this team, and we haven't had Pitta in months. We've had months to prepare and formulate gameplans that we can implement that don't involve those players. The Steelers literally had a matter of days to figure out how to be effective on offense without an elite offensive weapon this season.

 

Everybody that's on the Ravens IR has essentially been there for quite some time. We've known we weren't going to have Wagner, Pitta, Jimmy, etc. for weeks if not months now. We've had time to prepare for that... they haven't.

 

As I've been stressing on these boards for awhile now... quantity of players on IR is largely irrelevant... its quality of players on IR. A lot of the players on our IR (at least half) were either never going to be counted on to contribute anyway, or are extreme depth/very situational role players. We basically have about 3-4 key IR injuries, which I would say is probably par for the course in the NFL.

[PeRK82]

was absolutely horrid. I'm usually not the one to complain about commentating, but man, I've lost a whole level of respect for Chris Collinsworth. Dude should be fired. Extremely dull, only gave Ravens respect at very end of game when we had it in the bag, even then still seemed "shocked" that we won, almost like he was disappointed. Only got excited when the Steelers made plays. Total snooze fest.

Collinsworth has always been a Steeler Homer, When has he not giving the RAVENS respect.

[kassaiscool]

Well, frankly, there's no question that their offense had to operate a ton differently without Bell. Its not necessarily an excuse for why they lost, but it certainly was a major factor.

 

While the tackle argument sort of holds water, the Rice/Pitta losses don't. We never had Ray Rice... he was basically never a part of this team, and we haven't had Pitta in months. We've had months to prepare and formulate gameplans that we can implement that don't involve those players. The Steelers literally had a matter of days to figure out how to be effective on offense without an elite offensive weapon this season.

 

Everybody that's on the Ravens IR has essentially been there for quite some time. We've known we weren't going to have Wagner, Pitta, Jimmy, etc. for weeks if not months now. We've had time to prepare for that... they haven't.

 

As I've been stressing on these boards for awhile now... quantity of players on IR is largely irrelevant... its quality of players on IR. A lot of the players on our IR (at least half) were either never going to be counted on to contribute anyway, or are extreme depth/very situational role players. We basically have about 3-4 key IR injuries, which I would say is probably par for the course in the NFL.

 

The Ravens lost quality & quantity. Jimmy Smith, Asa Jackson, Dennis Pitta, Monroe, and Wagner. Other players are included for depth. You severely underestimate how important quantity is. After you lose a certain amount of quantity players you begin to look for street free agents. Luckily for the Ravens we have a monstrous pass rush our secondary is so beat up. If we didn't have this pass rush we are looking at a 6-10 or 7-9 team. And for your comment for Ray Rice and Dennis Pitta not counting because we had time to adjust still doesn't change the fact we are losing pro bowl players. You can try and compensate for them but it won't be the same.

[SomeCreepinaVan]

I thought he did a good job and didn't see any bias. 

[darklight1216]

The monday night football commentators love us, especially Justin Tucker because of his game against Detroit

Chuckie loves everyone.

[ravens533]

I do not ever listen to the national announcers for Ravens games. I use NFL Audio Pass and pick the Baltimore radio for game audio. That with television watching game gives me the best not at stadium game experience.

[ravensnick]

was absolutely horrid. I'm usually not the one to complain about commentating, but man, I've lost a whole level of respect for Chris Collinsworth. Dude should be fired. Extremely dull, only gave Ravens respect at very end of game when we had it in the bag, even then still seemed "shocked" that we won, almost like he was disappointed. Only got excited when the Steelers made plays. Total snooze fest.

I did like Al Micheal's commentary. Always been a fan of Michael's.I miss the Madden and Michael's days. 

[ravensnick]

Chuckie loves everyone.

Chuckie can also be a little goofy in there. I do to say, if you have a twitter, the faux Jon Gruden is golden comedy.