The commentating during the Ravens and Steelers playoff game

[ravensnick]

the absolute worst had to be when we got Fouts and Dierdorf in San Diego the year of the SB. Fouts is obviously a Chargers homer and Dierdorf just hated the Ravens, so that was interesting.

[BmoreBird22]

Which was definitely an oddity, especially from that crew.

No it's not... the officials are mixed for the playoffs, but Blakeman's crew calls more penalties against the home team on average. Nothing against the Ravens

[BmoreBird22]

I thought the officiating was very boring and lacked enthusiasm, but I didn't think it was biased at all.

The commentators absolutely drooled over Suggs, showing replays of him constantly and talking about him as a HoF'er. They gave major props to the secondary, even citing the major injuries. They gave shout outs to Mosley and even joked about how he's called half man, half amazing. They gave praise you Ngata and Williams ability to push the interior. If you didn't hear the love fest for Yanda and KO, I have no idea what you were listening to. Those commentators just raved about them and lauded them.

Like I said, dull and uninterested, but they certainly gushed over the Ravens

[rmcjacket23]

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.

Not really the point. The Pro Bowl argument is completely irrelevant, given that the only Pro Bowl player we "lost" was Ray Rice, and that ignores the fact that his productivity was in serious question even before he punched his wife. There's almost no doubt in my mind that Forsett is a better back in this system that the current Ray Rice would be, because Rice was never a decisive runner to begin with. Ignoring the fact that being named to the Pro Bowl is largely irrelevant anyway, Pitta is not a Pro Bowl player.

 

You literally named four players on IR (Monroe is not). We have 19 total. That sort of proves my point. The fact that Asa Jackson, who on a healthy team is, at the very best, the third corner, is considered the "quality" player on the list is even further proof of my point. In essence, we've basically lost three starting players to IR (Pitta, Wagner, and Jimmy), and Wagner played almost an entire full season.

 

Among the players on IR: Christo Bilukidi, Arthur Brown, Jeremy Butler, Danny Gorrer, Tramain Jacobs, Kapron Lewis-Moore, Will Rackley, Jah Reid, Konrad Reuland, Aaron Ross, Brent Urban... and two long snappers

 

Of those 13 players, some of them were literally here because of injuries to prior players, and almost all of them would probably fall into one of two categories... gameday inactive or ST player.

 

So for me, the actual relevant IR list is down to about 5-6 players. If you gave me an IR list that looked like the 13 guys listed above, you would be defined as an extremely healthy team in the modern NFL.

 

If we want to talk about the losses of guys like Wagner, Pitta and Jimmy, you won't get any gripes from me, because they are key players. But every single season we lose key players, and this season is no different. It should be an expectation from the fanbase, not an unfortunate turn of events.

 

But at some point... we as fans have to stop pretending like we've got 19 key players on IR. I mean I understand that long snappers are valuable and everything, but lets not pretend like losing your long snapper is a kiss of death for a SB run.

[The Mom Gene]

No it's not... the officials are mixed for the playoffs, but Blakeman's crew calls more penalties against the home team on average. Nothing against the Ravens

Blackman has called more OPI's than any other referee.  He was the one that called the OPI against Steve Smith at the end of the Bengals game.  The guy has a history.

[rmcjacket23]

Blackman has called more OPI's than any other referee.  He was the one that called the OPI against Steve Smith at the end of the Bengals game.  The guy has a history.

Right, but it was also the correct call. That's just good officiating.

[The Mom Gene]

Right, but it was also the correct call. That's just good officiating.

Not many analysts agreed that it was the right call... let alone others.

[rmcjacket23]

Not many analysts agreed that it was the right call... let alone others.

No, but the retired officials that they asked agreed that it was.

 

No single person on the planet who has a more qualified judgment than them...

[Tank 92]

 

But at some point... we as fans have to stop pretending like we've got 19 key players on IR. I mean I understand that long snappers are valuable and everything, but lets not pretend like losing your long snapper is a kiss of death for a SB run.

 

It actually could have ended this year's run last night. And further to your comments;  If someone asked you which would you want to lose, your starting RB or your two starting O tackles, which would you choose? 

 

If losing Bell was more damaging to them then that's on them for putting all their eggs in one basket and/or not having depth at the position.  

[rmcjacket23]

It actually could have ended this year's run last night. And further to your comments;  If someone asked you which would you want to lose, your starting RB or your two starting O tackles, which would you choose? 

 

If losing Bell was more damaging to them then that's on them for putting all their eggs in one basket and/or not having depth at the position.  

But that's team dependent... because not every team has as much depth at each position nor does every team rely on certain positions as much.

 

If you're the Steelers, you'd probably rather lose your tackles. If you're the Ravens, you'd probably rather lose your RB. If your starting tackles suck anyway, you probably don't care as much, and same thing if your starting RB sucks.

[Larryterri]

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.

That's every Ravens game that duo does. Does anyone else find it suspect that he always gets our games? I hate that guy, no lie I turned the sound off and put music on after halftime. Why couldn't we get Gruden?

[BmoreBird22]

Blackman has called more OPI's than any other referee.  He was the one that called the OPI against Steve Smith at the end of the Bengals game.  The guy has a history.

But it's still a mixed officiating crew (and he's the referee, not the back judge) and his crew historically called more penalties on the home team than the away

[rmcjacket23]

That's every Ravens game that duo does. Does anyone else find it suspect that he always gets our games? I hate that guy, no lie I turned the sound off and put music on after halftime. Why couldn't we get Gruden?

Because Gruden doesn't work for NBC. You get whatever crew the network your game is on.

 

Collinsworth and Michaels do every NBC Sunday night game, and since there was only one NBC game this weekend, they did that one.

[Footman DCXLV]

But at some point... we as fans have to stop pretending like we've got 19 key players on IR. I mean I understand that long snappers are valuable and everything, but lets not pretend like losing your long snapper is a kiss of death for a SB run.

 

No, but losing six different defensive backs, at least half of which were starters at one point, generally would be. That's not even considering one of your top receiving targets and a starting offensive tackle.

There are only 22 guys that start. Nobody who has more than five or six guys on IR can say they were all "key players," by that concept.

[rmcjacket23]

No, but losing six different defensive backs, at least half of which were starters at one point, generally would be. That's not even considering one of your top receiving targets and a starting offensive tackle.

There are only 22 guys that start. Nobody who has more than five or six guys on IR can say they were all "key players," by that concept.

Right, but the majority of those defensive backs were replacement level players and replacement of replacement level players.

 

There's a difference between losing a starting caliber player and losing a couple guys who are trying to replace a starting caliber player. Every team in the league loses depth on an annual basis.

[ravensdfan]

so we're an NBC game again. Do we have them again?

[Jokerraven]

Is it too soon to know who is commentating this week for our game ?

[rmcjacket23]

Is it too soon to know who is commentating this week for our game ?

It is the only game on NBC. It will be Michaels and Collinsworth.

[Guest]

having become sick of Collingsworth last year, watching the game with no audio is the way to go

 

you see more of the action with your own eyes and don't let the talkin head announcers distract you with what they believe is significant

 

Collingsworth ruins games, turn the audio off next time and experience a ravens game the way it should be...unbiased

[JoeyFlex5]

I think Phill Simms team and Dan Dierdorfs team both like the Ravens especially Flacco.

yea phil simms and jaws both seem to be a huge flacco fan, i havent seen that from dierdorf though

[Jokerraven]

It is the only game on NBC. It will be Michaels and Collinsworth.

98 rock it is

[Ravenslifer]

jaws is a great commentator for ravens games. prob the only commentator that praises flacco.

 

Most of the quarterback analysts - Simms, Jaws, Boomer, Bradshaw, even Steve Young - generally have positive things to say about Joe.

[K-Dog]

98 rock it is

I have tried that but time alignment proved to be far more annoying.

[Tenacious Faulker]

I have just watched the condensed version of the game. There is no real passion from the commentators, before Forsett fumbles the ball. Steelers bias, IDK, but not much love. 

Colinsworth was critical of the Todd Haley hire.  I haven't seen any overt favoritism with him.

 

Personally I wasn't paying attention to the commentators as I was watching the Ravens kick the Steelers asses.

[CalvinSmoke]

Commentators appeal to the masses, and there are more Steelers fans than ravens fans. More people wanted the Steelers to win. They are a business. And lastly, yanda got high praises, our corner back injuries here mentioned. Suggs got more love ygm any raven. Jacoby Jones got love, as did Brandon Williams and ngata. Will hill got multiple praises, and forsett got his own graphic. I mean come on guys...

[beanfigger]

To be honest, I barely heard them over my muffled screams while attempting not to wake the baby.

[ravensdfan]

To be honest, I barely heard them over my muffled screams while attempting not to wake the baby.

I watched the game at work - nothing worse than trying to not only muffle your screams but censor the profanity lol

[1/28/01]

Commentators appeal to the masses, and there are more Steelers fans than ravens fans. More people wanted the Steelers to win. They are a business. And lastly, yanda got high praises, our corner back injuries here mentioned. Suggs got more love ygm any raven. Jacoby Jones got love, as did Brandon Williams and ngata. Will hill got multiple praises, and forsett got his own graphic. I mean come on guys...

Yup. The whining is sad!

[3-4ravdef509]

yea phil simms and jaws both seem to be a huge flacco fan, i havent seen that from dierdorf though

Dierdorf usually gushes over Flacco, I remember in the 2011 playoff game against the Texans he literally praised every completion saying it was "an absolutely perfect pass"

[darklight1216]

I thought the officiating was very boring and lacked enthusiasm, but I didn't think it was biased at all.

The commentators absolutely drooled over Suggs, showing replays of him constantly and talking about him as a HoF'er. They gave major props to the secondary, even citing the major injuries. They gave shout outs to Mosley and even joked about how he's called half man, half amazing. They gave praise you Ngata and Williams ability to push the interior. If you didn't hear the love fest for Yanda and KO, I have no idea what you were listening to. Those commentators just raved about them and lauded them.

Like I said, dull and uninterested, but they certainly gushed over the Ravens

That's what I thought too. I was expecting much worse from Collinsworth, but really it wasn't all that bad.