The commentating during the Ravens and Steelers playoff game

[BSHU_Miami]

Collinsworth wanted the Ravens to lose. It wasn't obvious at first but when Ben threw his second pick he sounded like his puppy got ran over. And when the steeler fans where leaving he kept bringing up how Jennifer threw 6 TD's so they don't know what they could be missing.

[jdynamite]

I wrote during the beginning of the Game Thread I wasn't looking forward to Collinsworth because how he usually lobbies for Ravens penalties ( he's usually like that is a definitely a helmet to helmet where is the flag well I'm sure the league will fine so and so. ). Or he will say things like you just know Troy P is gonna make a play soon. Implying that we will make a mistake.

But actually during this game. I felt he went out of his way to constantly complement Forsett lol. On a few occasions he talked about how Forsett was such an excellent pass protector learned it at Cal ( then Forsett picked up that cross blitz and Collinsworth started talking about his blitz pickup again ). He went on and on about his unbelievable season.

He repeatedly spoke glowingly about Yanda being the best Guard in the league in his opinion and how he is doing well at RT. Spoke highly of Osemele a bunch too.

It wasn't his typical Raven Bash party where he makes a backhanded compliments.

[jdynamite]

Collinsworth wanted the Ravens to lose. It wasn't obvious at first but when Ben threw his second pick he sounded like his puppy got ran over. And when the steeler fans where leaving he kept bringing up how Jennifer threw 6 TD's so they don't know what they could be missing.

Jennifer threw 6 TDs lol lol lol

[jdynamite]

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

Oh yeah. I was at work when Ravens vs Denver playoff game. lead cook at the time in Buffet in local Casino so as business is picking up. I try to sneak in the break room check the score here and there seemed like when I went in there we were punting or they were driving. So we leading etc. but I'm trying not to be happy yet. Denver takes the lead everybody talking smack. When that Bomb was caught by JJ. I lost it forgot I was at work, I mean I was screaming, yelling, profanities. Then I caught myself and I was like calm down this is why you have all Sunday's off, but I think that game was a Saturday night also.

[ludy51]

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.

If you lose the starters, then the replacements, then the replacements of those guys, you can't absorb it. The amount is quantity and no matter how good or bad the replacements were you most likely are going to get guys that are even worse. So yes, the amount lost does matter.

[rmcjacket23]

If you lose the starters, then the replacements, then the replacements of those guys, you can't absorb it. The amount is quantity and no matter how good or bad the replacements were you most likely are going to get guys that are even worse. So yes, the amount lost does matter.

Are you though?

 

Because Melvin is a replacement for all of those guys on IR (and some guys that we cut)... shouldn't he be worse than those guys?

 

If you are talking about guys that we've already discussed, like Jimmy or Pitta, then yes, the replacement level players are clearly not as good.

 

If you are talking about losing somebody like a Danny Gorrer or a Terrance Brooks, then no, the replacement level players aren't necessarily worse. In our case, you can argue they are better. I'm not sure Melvin or a guy like Jeromy Miles gets more playing time if somebody like Gorrer or Brooks isn't on IR, and the former two players have performed much better than the latter guys.

 

While I agree that the gap between starter and backup is generally rather large at most positions, the gap between 2nd string and 3rd string isn't nearly as large usually in my opinion.

[BmoreBird22]

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

People are saying it was biased, but I heard more praise for the Ravens than I did the Steelers

[darklight1216]

I wrote during the beginning of the Game Thread I wasn't looking forward to Collinsworth because how he usually lobbies for Ravens penalties ( he's usually like that is a definitely a helmet to helmet where is the flag well I'm sure the league will fine so and so. ). Or he will say things like you just know Troy P is gonna make a play soon. Implying that we will make a mistake.

But actually during this game. I felt he went out of his way to constantly complement Forsett lol. On a few occasions he talked about how Forsett was such an excellent pass protector learned it at Cal ( then Forsett picked up that cross blitz and Collinsworth started talking about his blitz pickup again ). He went on and on about his unbelievable season.

He repeatedly spoke glowingly about Yanda being the best Guard in the league in his opinion and how he is doing well at RT. Spoke highly of Osemele a bunch too.

It wasn't his typical Raven Bash party where he makes a backhanded compliments.

Funny you mention Troy P. I was just thinking that it was odd how his face was on camera alot, but much of the time no one really said anything about him.

[1/28/01]

People are saying it was biased, but I heard more praise for the Ravens than I did the Steelers

Yeah, the commentating was completely fine.

[callahan09]

Are you though?

 

Because Melvin is a replacement for all of those guys on IR (and some guys that we cut)... shouldn't he be worse than those guys?

 

If you are talking about guys that we've already discussed, like Jimmy or Pitta, then yes, the replacement level players are clearly not as good.

 

If you are talking about losing somebody like a Danny Gorrer or a Terrance Brooks, then no, the replacement level players aren't necessarily worse. In our case, you can argue they are better. I'm not sure Melvin or a guy like Jeromy Miles gets more playing time if somebody like Gorrer or Brooks isn't on IR, and the former two players have performed much better than the latter guys.

 

While I agree that the gap between starter and backup is generally rather large at most positions, the gap between 2nd string and 3rd string isn't nearly as large usually in my opinion.

I think losing a top corner and a top TE alone is a significant loss.  How many other teams went the majority of their season with losses just as significant as losing Jimmy Smith & Dennis Pitta, nevermind everybody else that we lost, and made the playoffs?  I'm curious.  I don't know the answer, because I'm not honestly aware of what players were lost by what teams.

[rmcjacket23]

I think losing a top corner and a top TE alone is a significant loss.  How many other teams went the majority of their season with losses just as significant as losing Jimmy Smith & Dennis Pitta, nevermind everybody else that we lost, and made the playoffs?  I'm curious.  I don't know the answer, because I'm not honestly aware of what players were lost by what teams.

No question they are big losses... that's not the point. If that was the argument, I'd agree with it.

 

But the argument from some is that we have the most players on IR, therefore we have the worst injury situation. When as I said at least 12-13 of those players on IR are largely replaceable, that argument doesn't really hold up.

 

While we probably do have one of the worst injury situations as far as playoff teams though, I can guarantee that the Arizona Cardinals would absolutely love to trade injury situations with any team in this league. They'd gladly trade any injury scenario, as long as they could get Carson Palmer (who isn't really a great QB either) back on the field. They had defensive injuries, offensive injuries, etc., and they largely overcame all of them... except for the injury to the QB.

 

I think I said this earlier... if you had your choice between having the 19 players on IR and having one player on IR, and that player happens to be a pretty good QB (like Flacco), you'd gladly take 19 guys on IR.

[Neal Could Block the SUN!!]

Funny you mention Troy P. I was just thinking that it was odd how his face was on camera alot, but much of the time no one really said anything about him.

Like they said at the end of the game, it may have been Troy's last play off game and possibly game with the Stealers. His performance has been down and many are questioning if the team is weaker with him out there. Hate to say it, but Troy is one of the few Stealers I respect. Even though he ruined out '08 season. Troy was at least a decent person and will be missed in future match ups.

[callahan09]

No question they are big losses... that's not the point. If that was the argument, I'd agree with it.

 

But the argument from some is that we have the most players on IR, therefore we have the worst injury situation. When as I said at least 12-13 of those players on IR are largely replaceable, that argument doesn't really hold up.

 

While we probably do have one of the worst injury situations as far as playoff teams though, I can guarantee that the Arizona Cardinals would absolutely love to trade injury situations with any team in this league. They'd gladly trade any injury scenario, as long as they could get Carson Palmer (who isn't really a great QB either) back on the field. They had defensive injuries, offensive injuries, etc., and they largely overcame all of them... except for the injury to the QB.

 

I think I said this earlier... if you had your choice between having the 19 players on IR and having one player on IR, and that player happens to be a pretty good QB (like Flacco), you'd gladly take 19 guys on IR.

I agree that if we had the choice between the 19 guys we have on IR, or Flacco being out and having those 19 guys... I'd rather just have Flacco.

[rmcjacket23]

I agree that if we had the choice between the 19 guys we have on IR, or Flacco being out and having those 19 guys... I'd rather just have Flacco.

No question. And if anything, it should make fans who play the "this QB is overpaid" card to really take a step back and see what's going on.

 

A guy like Carson Palmer is a good QB, not a great one. You can win games with him, and you can probably make a deep playoff run with him.

 

The gap between him and a guy like Ryan Lindley or even to a certain extent Drew Stanton is gigantic. You can go undefeated essentially in a single season with one of them, and can incredibly struggle to convert a first down with the other... for an entire football game against basically a mediocre defense.

 

In general, in this league, you can lose key players at many positions and still be a good team. You can't lose a QB if you've got a great or even good one.

[ravensfan160]

My only complaint was how many times they mentioned Bell being hurt. Otherwise I thought it was fair. Colinsworth routinely praised our defense and they even mentioned the disparity between how many player we have our IR compared to the Steelers.

[The Mom Gene]

I watched it again last night on Game Rewind on my Tablet.  I have to admit now that it was better than I remembered.  It probably had to do with the tension of the game, and my apprehension for 4 straight hours....  and hearing Big Ben... and Bell... and Brown's names all night long....  However, that being said.  Yeah, the Bell thing was out of control.

[The Mom Gene]

I agree that if we had the choice between the 19 guys we have on IR, or Flacco being out and having those 19 guys... I'd rather just have Flacco.

Absolutely!!!

[SCraven 21]

I noticed when Steve caught the 40 yard bomb from Joe.  That was an amazing play but Al made it sound ho-hum.  Collinsworth did give Steve some props but they just pretty much acted like the catch was run of the mill.

[Kinda_Dante]

I noticed when Steve caught the 40 yard bomb from Joe.  That was an amazing play but Al made it sound ho-hum.  Collinsworth did give Steve some props but they just pretty much acted like the catch was run of the mill.

To be fair Steve Smith did also make that catch look easy lol!!

[The Mom Gene]

Just like the field goals by Tucker..  Al made the statement ....  and it goes through....  in a very non-chalant manner.  Almost disappointing.  I know I said that before, but it was one particular instance that stood out to me, and I actually said...  WOW...  to my husband when it happened on Saturday night...  It's kind of hard to "write emotion"...  but it definitely wasn't enthusiastic at all.

[SCraven 21]

To be fair Steve Smith did also make that catch look easy lol!!

Yea. lol.  I agree.  He kinda just got up and spinned the ball like..."this is what i do, whatever"

[ellicottraven]

The Steelers bias was so painfully obvious, I muted the set when the Steelers were on offense, because I couldn't stand that Collinsworth stork of a man, sucking up to Ben and the Steelers and bringing up Bell's absence. The other guy (I don't recall his name) is basically a nodding head given his limited football knowledge! Abysmal coverage by NBC. They should simply opt out of bidding for these NFL games and stick to figure skating or whatever else they do!

 

[BirdWatcher]

Yesterday we were watching the replay on NFLN and my brother said that he hadn't realized how bad Collinsworth was until then. I agree. He seems even worse on the replay.

[ravensdfan]

It wasn't what was said, they gave some nice props to our guys, it was the tone they had throughout the game. Collinsworth sounded like he should be on suicide watch near the end when we scored that final TD.

 

They sounded so disappointed every time we made a play.

 

It wasn't that they didn't say nice things about our team or our guys - it was just there in the emotion in their voices when the Steelers' did something good versus when we did something good.

[Corvus_corax]

It's weird to me how much stick you guys stateside give to Cris Collinsworth. He is extremely popular over here in the UK, amongst fans of all teams. In fact, he is widely regarded as being by far the best colour commentator out there. An opinion I share.

 

Collinsworth's reading of the game is second to none and there have been numerous times where he has predicted a play happening moments before it actually did. I always enjoy listening to Collinsworth and would be happy if he was doing our game again on Saturday.

 

If you want to talk about a commentator that sucks then look no further than Phil Simms. He's terrible.

[jaege]

Anyone know what station Sandusky does the game from?

[K-Dog]

Anyone know what station Sandusky does the game from?

98ROCK WIYY 97.9 FM

[jaege]

98ROCK WIYY 97.9 FM

Thanks