Next up: Denver Broncos

[polynesian15]

I think our offense matches up well with their defense. It's not the offense that concerns me but our defense. We haven't played Manning with Will Hill in the secondary. Having Hill back there is going to be a boon for the defense. I'm just concerned about our DL and OLB more than anything. We'll need to pressure Manning without the blitz.

I think a nice dose of Gillmore and Juszczyk should really tilt this game in our favor. I really like them in this game. Same goes for Forsett. Only problem there is Gary knows Forsett and how he runs. I also feel good about Steve Smith Sr taking someone's lunch money in this game, whether it's Chris Harris or not.

According to sources Aqib Talib has been icing up for the past week, and it doesn't look like he's about to stop anytime soon. 

GO RAVENS!

 

Edited September 9, 2015 by polynesian15

[polynesian15]

Yeah I can agree with that, we seemed to really take off when Forsett got going and established himself as the work horse. The one positive about this year is that is the offense hasn't changed much at all personnel wise, our OL is set and is one of the best in football (fingers crossed KO stays healthy), we know Forsett is our work horse back and is a great pass protector, Steve Smith is settled in and knows Joe/the offense well, and in a way I think Gilmore might actually end up being an upgrade over Daniels because of his athleticism. We don't have Torrey or our replacement on the field yet in Perriman but I still feel good we will move the ball well and Trestman will just pick up where we left off at the end of last year. Then when Perriman get's back it will just add another dimension to an already competent offense.

Not only KO, Ricky and Eugene have also been a little knicked up lately - but like you said, our starting O-line is beastly. Fingers crossed.

[polynesian15]

Defense doesn't worry me this game. Denver, with the switch to a 3-4 will get pressure. I just hope we're able to counter it. If we're successful, able to sustain drives and punch it in, we should be fine and maybe win in a route. I don't care what anyone says. I think Harbaugh has this team on a mission and we're finally, fully realizing the power of home field. The guys who were here in 2013 will also be motivated from the last time they played.

NOTE TO SELF, START USING MULTI QUOTE MORE OFTEN.

Also, don't forget this is Smitty's last ride. This should (hopefully) provide an extra measure of urgency for everyone on the team, especially Steve who always seems fired up. Imagine if he turns it up another notch this year, compared to his first 14 seasons in the league. Lord have mercy.

[MTRavensFan]

If Elway knows by now that Peyton likes to run his own offense, but also knows that Kubiak is the same way, then why did he hire Kubiak?

My first prediction on the boards: Our D is gonna scare the hell out of Peyton. (I know it's not as daring as Climatic's scoring more points theory, but I'm sticking to it.)

Because he expected Peyton to retire - if not this year than the next. In fact Elway pressured Peyton to retire, forced him to take a substantial pay cut just to keep his job. All that public "Peyton is our guy" is as much baloney as a couple years ago when it was "Tebow is our starter" right up until the day he signed Manning.

Elway is a lying snake, and he hired Kubiak for Osweiler.

[Sami84]

This game could definitely go either way.  Kubiak's scheme relies fairly heavily on the ground game, and because of injuries Denver's offensive line is pretty crap right now.  If we're able to stop the run, get pressure on Peyton and not allow them to dink and dunk their way down the field, I think we have a decent shot at winning.  That being said, I'm not really convinced that our secondary is good enough to stop quick passes from Manning, regardless of who he's throwing to.

 

Denver's defense, on the other hand, is pretty beastly.  They have a dominant pass rush with a very good secondary.  We need to establish the run game and use that, plus quick passes, in order to move down the field.

 

Wouldn't be surpised if this was a relatively low scoring game.  17 - 13 Ravens.

 

 

I wouldnt say their offensive line is crap. They have the best guard in the NFL mathis and a very solid RG is vasquez and a rookie i really like in garcia. Clady was in a serious decline anyway. He was a liability last year.

[Purple_City39]

I wouldnt say their offensive line is crap. They have the best guard in the NFL mathis and a very solid RG is vasquez and a rookie i really like in garcia. Clady was in a serious decline anyway. He was a liability last year.

Yanda is the best guard in football.  And the Broncos o-line is closer to crap than not for now.  Mathis gave up 2.5 sacks last season in 9 games (compared to Yanda that gave up 2.5 all 18 games including playoffs).  The Broncos will put a rookie at LT to defend against Suggs and possibly Dumervil.  Their center also hasn't been playing well against starters.

 

Also Clady gave up 2 sacks all season last year, including playoffs.  I'm not sure how many pressures he gave up, but you're calling him a liability yet praising Mathis for giving up more in 8 less games.

[rmcjacket23]

Yanda is the best guard in football.  And the Broncos o-line is closer to crap than not for now.  Mathis gave up 2.5 sacks last season in 9 games (compared to Yanda that gave up 2.5 all 18 games including playoffs).  The Broncos will put a rookie at LT to defend against Suggs and possibly Dumervil.  Their center also hasn't been playing well against starters.

 

Also Clady gave up 2 sacks all season last year, including playoffs.  I'm not sure how many pressures he gave up, but you're calling him a liability yet praising Mathis for giving up more in 8 less games.

Labeling somewhat as the best at anything in football is inherently subjective. There's no right or wrong answer. His rationale for Mathis being #1 is because he was the top rated guard in the NFL according to PFF last season. They include both pass blocking and run blocking.

 

There's a lot more to rating offensive lineman than just how many sacks they allow. They also get credit for sacks allowed in some occasions where it wasn't even their fault.

[GrimCoconut]

Labeling somewhat as the best at anything in football is inherently subjective. There's no right or wrong answer. His rationale for Mathis being #1 is because he was the top rated guard in the NFL according to PFF last season. They include both pass blocking and run blocking.

 

There's a lot more to rating offensive lineman than just how many sacks they allow. They also get credit for sacks allowed in some occasions where it wasn't even their fault.

Was he really? No sarcasm, just confused. I recalled Yanda being rated one of the best players in the entire league last year, so I checked their website and my memory was affirmed:

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/05/26/the-pff-top-101-of-2014-top-to-bottom/

 

 

Top 10

1. J.J. Watt

2. Aaron Rodgers

3. Justin Houston

4. Chris Harris Jr.

5. Marshal Yanda

6. Vontae Davis

7. Antonio Brown

8. Marshawn Lynch

9. Luke Kuechly

10. Von Miller

 

I then went and searched for Mathis, and found him here: 

 

60 to 51

51. Eddie Lacy

52. Pernell McPhee

53. Julio Jones

54. Tyron Smith

55. Marcell Dareus

56. Travis Frederick

57. Matt Ryan

58. Randall Cobb

59. Evan Mathis

60. Brandon M. Marshall

So I don't think he was the best guard if that's the case, as that wouldn't make a bit of sense. Then when I went and clicked the link to see what they specifically said about Yanda, I saw this: 

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/05/19/pffs-top-101-of-2014-no-5-marshal-yanda/

 

A solid pass blocker, Yanda had the seventh-best pass-blocking grade of all guards in the regular season, allowing one sack, five hits and 10 hurries in 2014. Coming on 543 pass blocking snaps, that gave him a Pass Blocking Efficiency Rating of 97.7, 11th at the position.

Where he really dominated, however, was as a run blocker. We’ve seen Evan Mathis destroy opposing defenders in the run game in recent years, and that’s exactly the level Yanda was at in 2014. He dropped off somewhat in the final few weeks of the season, but his efforts in the first 14 weeks included some of the finest run-blocking performances we’ve ever seen from an offensive lineman. When all was said and done nobody came close to him in 2014, with Yanda’s +34.2 run-blocking grade far ahead of Mike Iupati’s +18.5 in second place.

Overall, only Mathis’ 2012 and 2013 single season overall grades were better than Yanda’s 2014 (+43.4), with that first three quarters of the season as good as you’ll see.

 

I want to make it clear that I have no horse in this race. Only stating or clarifying facts. 

[Sami84]

If you wanted to make a case for mathis..its this

 

he was on course to surpass Yanda in less games last year and over the past 3 years ..2 of them were even better than Yandas career year last year.

 

This is no knock on Yanda. He's the only one who compares to mathis..but mathis has been the most dominant player in his position since 2011.

[Static]

God help me If I see us playing 7 yards off of Sanders and Thomas. 

[Purple_City39]

God help me If I see us playing 7 yards off of Sanders and Thomas. 

I think it's safe to say that if Jimmy is covering one of them, you won't unless it's 3rd and long.  If it's Webb, you'll see it a lot.

[rmcjacket23]

Was he really? No sarcasm, just confused. I recalled Yanda being rated one of the best players in the entire league last year, so I checked their website and my memory was affirmed:

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/05/26/the-pff-top-101-of-2014-top-to-bottom/

 

 

I then went and searched for Mathis, and found him here: 

So I don't think he was the best guard if that's the case, as that wouldn't make a bit of sense. Then when I went and clicked the link to see what they specifically said about Yanda, I saw this: 

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/05/19/pffs-top-101-of-2014-no-5-marshal-yanda/

 

I want to make it clear that I have no horse in this race. Only stating or clarifying facts. 

Yeah, I think I was focused on the run blocking more than overall.

 

I believe Mathis was still the #1 run blocking Guard in football last season, though I'm sure given their rankings Yanda was significantly better in pass protection.

 

For what its worth, in 2013, Mathis was the #7 overall player according to PFF. 

[GrimCoconut]

Yeah, I think I was focused on the run blocking more than overall.

 

I believe Mathis was still the #1 run blocking Guard in football last season, though I'm sure given their rankings Yanda was significantly better in pass protection.

 

For what its worth, in 2013, Mathis was the #7 overall player according to PFF. 

Yeah, which was also I think Yanda's worst year as a pro. That was the horrible year where we had the bad OL. It brings back nightmares thinking about that OL. Mathis has typically been the better run blocker of the two, IIRC. I think Yanda edged him out last year because Mathis didn't play every game, too. I suppose it becomes the argument of play VS production. Yanda's traditionally (added for the superstitious) been very durable during his tenure here. I think Yanda's pass protection is better than Mathis', but it's like asking who's better between Brady & Manning IMO. You'll get different answers depending on who you ask. 

[Purple_City39]

Yeah, I think I was focused on the run blocking more than overall.

 

I believe Mathis was still the #1 run blocking Guard in football last season, though I'm sure given their rankings Yanda was significantly better in pass protection.

 

For what its worth, in 2013, Mathis was the #7 overall player according to PFF. 

Nah, check the links.  Yanda was far and away the best run blocker in the NFL last season.  He was also a better pass blocker than Mathis last year

[GrimCoconut]

If you wanted to make a case for mathis..its this

 

he was on course to surpass Yanda in less games last year and over the past 3 years ..2 of them were even better than Yandas career year last year.

 

This is no knock on Yanda. He's the only one who compares to mathis..but mathis has been the most dominant player in his position since 2011.

It's hard to really compare Yanda & Mathis due to their position. I suppose if you wanted, the most fair comparison you could make is to see how they played against the same competition. How many sacks, pressure, hurries & yards did they influence against the same opponents? The interior DL of the NFC East is quite different than that of the AFC North. This isn't quite the place to be discussing Evan Mathis VS Marshall Yanda, however. 

 

I do think people around here are generally underestimating that Denver Broncos' OL. I don't think it'll be a cake walk even with the state of their OL. Teams are never as bad as they appear and we've all heard this story before about how we should walk all over a team with a weak OL and they end up doing better than expected and people start freaking out. I really do believe that the key to winning this game for the Ravens is our DL. Williams is going to need to do a lot in this game. It's true that he may not get sacks, but he needs to occupy the interior OL (really he needs to take out the G & C) so the other DL or ILB can disrupt Manning.

[GrimCoconut]

Nah, check the links.  Yanda was far and away the best run blocker in the NFL last season.  He was also a better pass blocker than Mathis last year

The fair question they (those suggesting Yanda isn't as good as Mathis, which is hardly a slight, btw) need to ask is: what does this mean for a 33-year-old guard? Will he be able to adjust to a new system with Kubiak and how effective will he be? Is his health beginning to decline at his point in his career? Is this the point where Yanda overtakes him as the unquestioned better player? These are all fair questions. I suppose we'll see our answer for at least our game in less than a week. 

 

I will say, it's easy to say that Yanda had a better score than Mathis because he played in more games, but I could just as easily say that Yanda should have a lower score than Mathis because he played in fewer games. A smaller sample size can be improperly skewed in favor of the player with the smaller sample. Since Yanda played the whole year into January, I feel like his sample size is a very indicative one. I can't say the same for Mathis. It's easy to throw around how dominant a guard he's been historically, and there's no question he has been a very dominant guard. My only issue is that there comes a point where things change. 

 

I didn't quote you because I disagree, lol. Just wanted to add some comments I forgot to mention earlier.

[Ravensfan23]

If this game comes down to the battle between who's the best guard in the NFL, then it's gonna be an ugly game but i like the Ravens chances. Ravens don't have a problem with ugly football.

But on a more serious note, i think ugly football is the best way to go about this game. Pound the run game, use 2TE and HB sets, use short passes as an extension of the run game and take your strategical shots down field. Even when you 3WR bunch them near the LOS and force those LBs and Safeties to cover. One of their starting safeties is suspended i think(Ward?) and Stewart is their other safety. If you can isolate Stewart 1on1 with Gilmore, Maxx or any of our WRs i like the matchup.

As I've said before Phillips wants to pressure getting off the bus. If Trestman can slow Miller and Ware down with screena and dump off passes like we saw the first preseason game, it'll help a ton. As for Kubes, the biggest flaw in is play calling is when he gets down by 2 scores early. If you can force him away from running the ball and using his RBs and TEs the wayhe wants to, his play calling becomes sloppy and has no rhythm to it. That was shown in Houston and here last year. The biggest difference is he has arguably the smartest QB in the NFL under center.

It'll be interesting to Kubes plan of attack, if the Ravens can stop the run. Does he stubbornly stick to his offense or does he all Peyton to take over and do his thing. The Ravens need both offensive and defensive lines to be at their best. I see the Ravens as the better more well rounded team and if the play to potential it should be a fairly close game that the Ravens pull away with in the end.

[Sami84]

btw..shane ray has been tearing it up this pre-season.

 

don't forget about him

 

the broncos are the best overall team in the NFL..

 

lets stop getting ahead of ourselves.

[Purple_City39]

btw..shane ray has been tearing it up this pre-season.

 

don't forget about him

 

the broncos are the best overall team in the NFL..

 

lets stop getting ahead of ourselves.

Stated as fact without a single real snap played

[Raven'evermore]

 From what posters have stated about Peyton having trouble with Kubiak's offense and the fact that Peyton is used to calling the plays himself, I'm starting to think that there is, and will remain a lack of chemistry within the team.  If true then I think that will greatly help our chances. I believe a team with little chemistry will more than likely have a losing season regardless of the talent they might have. JMO. Then again I might be wrong.

[ellicottraven]

You know what I had a weird conundrum this morning. I thought - what would I appreciate more? A Cheatriots loss or a Ravens win? Can you imagine any other scenario where it would even deserve a thought? This time however, I actually thought long and hard! That is how much I dislike the Cheatriots fellas! For who they are and what they do and represent. An absolutely despicable team that has no business playing sports like they do, much less allowed to retain their ill gotten titles!

 

Eventually love won over hate and I chose a Ravens victory, but still, the fact that I had to think that long and hard is something that I thought I would share with my forum brothers and sisters!

[Static]

You know what I had a weird conundrum this morning. I thought - what would I appreciate more? A Cheatriots loss or a Ravens win? Can you imagine any other scenario where it would even deserve a thought? This time however, I actually thought long and hard! That is how much I dislike the Cheatriots fellas! For who they are and what they do and represent. An absolutely despicable team that has no business playing sports like they do, much less allowed to retain their ill gotten titles!

 

Eventually love won over hate and I chose a Ravens victory, but still, the fact that I had to think that long and hard is something that I thought I would share with my forum brothers and sisters!

 

 

a steelers loss would be better for the ravens though

[Sami84]

doesn't look like timmy jernigan is going to be fit for the game.

 

huge loss. 

 

Guys I'm telling you right now..don't be surprised if this is a flat our thrashing. This could easily be a blowout.

 

I really think a lot of people here are overrating us.

[DomMcRaven]

a steelers loss would be better for the ravens though

That's how I see it as well. If this was a NFC team playing, then I would hope for them to stomp all over NE. 

[GrimCoconut]

doesn't look like timmy jernigan is going to be fit for the game.

huge loss.

Guys I'm telling you right now..don't be surprised if this is a flat our thrashing. This could easily be a blowout.

I really think a lot of people here are overrating us.

Where did you read this? I don't follow Twitter so I'd like to know. Thanks

[Sami84]

Where did you read this? I don't follow Twitter so I'd like to know. Thanks

 

well he's missed practice again today ( as well as yesterday)

[GrimCoconut]

well he's missed practice again today ( as well as yesterday)

I think there's some hope with Jernigan since he's in his second year and he should know the system, but it isn't comforting. I expect we'll lean on Guy and Davis to take over for him. Guy is really solid as a run stuffer and that'll help with Kubiak. Davis showed promise as a pass rusher. Hopefully he'll build on his preseason game.

[Sami84]

i think I'm going to miss this game..it will be the first ravens game iv'e missed watching in 4 years.

 

I just feel it's going to be a hugely disappointing night for us.

 

I think we will be exposed in so many ways...get injuries..etc

 

there is something about this game that just reeks a blowout for denver

[Ravens4Real]

Jernigan out is a huge blow to our interior pass rush. Canty is not very good at it and the two backups aren't known for their pass rush skills. If Manning has room to step up in the pocket, it will be a long night.

[Ravens4Real]

What is going on with Melvin? He has been out awhile with a soft tissue injury. If he isn't able to play on Sunday, our CB's would be one injury away from being as bad as last year. He's our only viable back up outside CB.