[News] Eisenberg: Defense Under Most Pressure Sunday

[NCMan]

what if we turn our first two games around? We would all be on the offenses back for not scoring and praising the defense for holding Manning to NO TDs. The truth is we came out flat in the Oakland game and paid the price. This week our defense will be back and hopefully so will our offense. I see our biggest problem is we can't score a TD when the game is on the line. The last 3 times we've tried, Joe has thrown an interception.

That's because Average (on a good day) Joe can look a whole lot like Kyle Boller on some plays. He seems to love those underthrown lobs and rainbow passes here of late. Can somebody lend him a bit of emotion? I'm sure he'll give it back afterwards.

Edited September 26, 2015 by NCMan

[Darkraven23]

The fact that some of you call yourself fans and have no faith is terrible. for years this has been a team with an up and down offense then a safe or sometimes over aggressive defense but my point is this yes we are 0-2 however though is this was in the middle of the season we wouldnt even acknowledge it which is weird alone but in anycase the things i'm seeing giving cincy the win talking about their defense talent and all this other stuff its sickening you want the truth ill tell u something that defense is just as leaky as ours if not more so and u know how i'll tell you most of their db's with the exception of kerpatrick are over 30 next pac man jones just like steve smith can have a tendency to let his emotions get him in trouble plus their front four isnt anything we havent handled before when we won 44 to 13 and on offense dalton still makes bad decisions aj green only has 3 tds against us here and that was without going against jimmy and when u look at that no other wr for them has had sucess her plus we havent allowed 100 yr rusher here since eddie lacy of the packers so have faith we always find away thats why we are an nfl team

[cobrajet]

The writers who write these blogs work for the org. They are probably told that criticizing a coach is a no no, and a boot out the door. Who tells the corners to play ten yds. off the receiver. Our red zone offense struggles. If "no phase of the unit is immune from scrutiny" does this include the coaches. Maybe its time to pick on them too rather then find excuses always on the playing field.

Agreed, the coaches have made their share of questionable decisions and should not be immune from criticism.

[RavensBaltimore]

Connect the dots Cincy > Oakland > Us. When a team destroys a team you lose to - pretty good litmus test. Barely scored against them - look like 07 Pats against us. Prove ME wrong! Go Ravens!

The NFL doesn't work like that. Each week is different. In our SB year, the Texans destroyed us, and the Patriots destroyed the Texans. So, that logic would tell you that the Patriots would destroy us, but we destroyed them. Last year, the Steelers beat a couple teams we lost to, but we destroyed them in the playoffs. There are many examples of that happening every year. It's funny you bring up the '07 Pats. We lost to an otherwise winless team that year, but we nearly beat an undefeated team.

[EliteRavens]

Everyone needs to show up and play as a unit.

[curtis0360]

I want them to play pissed off football on all sides of the ball. KILL THEM

[drillem]

Enough of this dribble The defense played awful due to a week in a San Jose Hotel prior to the game. Plain and simple. Going on at length about this player and that coach regarding the play is fruitless. Those responsible for the 'extended stay' between Denver and Oakland need to go to a re-education camp and be taught that living in a hotel isn't the same as being at home during the week and working on your game. To go from the defense that we saw in Denver to the one we saw in Oakland in one week proves my point.

[Bohica5]

Hahahaha.....the D is not the problem it's our head coach who's been riding the coattails of our great Defensive players and now they are all gone.....Pees would do better as head coach!! we are so predictable....all the time....we gotta change!

[Rose4ravens]

We are one dropped pass in the endzone By SSS in the Denver game and one slightly overthrown pass from Flacco from being 2-0...would you guys please step away from the Bay Bridge railing and stay positive? We still have 14 games left and one of the best coaches and Management in the league...Go Ravens!!

[Militant X 1]

Team sports can be strange at times. I remember Ray Lewis describing some of the games during 2012 where we just came out flat. Tackles were missed. Coverages were blown. Passes were dropped. Runningbacks kept picking wrong holes. And we couldn't string toghether a win. But the very next week everything "clicked" and we won. The same 2012 squad that won a championship got blown out by the Texans and embarassed at home by Peyton -- only to turn around and outgun and play solid defense when it mattered against both Mannings, Luck, Brady, and Kaepernick when they were burning hot.

Lewis just said "that's just sports, you move on that quickly." So I guess all we can do is recapture the focus, keep grinding, believe in the team, and claw our way back inch by inch.

The 12th defender in Raven Nation will be behind you full throat.

 

The difference?  This Ravens team IS NOT that 2012 team.  Not by a long shot!

[Maryland]

This coming game might decide the season. A win will put us just a game behind the Bengals. A loss will put us at 0-3, three games behind the Bengals. That's quite a swing. 

 

It's a shame we are even in this position when you consider we are two Steve Smith drops away from potentially being 2-0. 

[ravlivie]

The defense has good players, they just have a bad DC that should be replaced.

[Militant X 1]

The defense has good players, they just have a bad DC that should be replaced.

 

This argument gets old!  I may not care too much for Pee's playcalling at times as well BUT he is not on the field getting smoked by receivers, wiffing or missing tackles all together, not beating their man for a pass rush and giving up 37 pts.  Umm, that'd be those good "players" that you mentioned.

[steelraven]

Trading Ngata was a mistake because Timmy Jernigan is not that type of player. This offseason he let everyone know what he was really about and that's getting sacks. When you have a player more concerned about padding stats instead of doing his job you're going to have a problem at that position. His job is what everybody else's job was that played that position, plug holes to free up your linebackers. That bone headed penalty near the end of the game was frustration of not getting to the QB, and that possibly cost them the game. Ngata would have never did anything like that. That kind of selfishness play will be the downfall of the Ravens defense. Jernigan needs to know his role and it's not going after the QB on every play.

[ravenstime]

I know our defense is under the gun, so to speak. We need to keep Cincy. under 20 points, to have a chance to win, imo. If they go buck-wild or crazy, they're going to floor us and tank our season in the end.

[purpledown]

the season is on the line this weekend, hopefully we can get a W. If not he DL from Miss. would look good on the Ravens line next year.

[Crusader]

I would say Joe will have the most presume just like Denver

[20306cab]

Derrick Carr is BETTER than Andy Dalton, so the Ravens have a chance. ACTIVATE Babin!

[ciro]

Sunday then Thursday,.....constantly being on the verge of a nervous break down, ahhhhh thats the football season that I've been waiting for. Go Ravens!!!! I'm gonna go chug some milk

[RavensBaltimore]

The difference?  This Ravens team IS NOT that 2012 team.  Not by a long shot!

No team is the 2012 team, but you don't know what kind of team we are after just 2 games. The 2012 team lost 3 in a row and won the SB. The 2008 team started 2-3, then went to the AFC Championship game and had a chance to win with 4 mins left. Nothing is guaranteed, but this team could very well turn it around and contend as well. And even if that does happen, I guarantee you the fans will overreact and write the season off the next time we lose a couple.

[stampedehero]

Yes, it's true  >>>

Baltimore was always known for it's defense. 

IMHO  >>>    I believe our legendary  &  creative defense is missing within the minds of defensive coaching staff members. 

Benchmark Case::: 2008 to 2012,2014 battles with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

.BC >> 2015 Ravens where the D surrendered 37 Oakland points ()

[stampedehero]

No team is the 2012 team, but you don't know what kind of team we are after just 2 games. The 2012 team lost 3 in a row and won the SB. The 2008 team started 2-3, then went to the AFC Championship game and had a chance to win with 4 mins left. Nothing is guaranteed, but this team could very well turn it around and contend as well. And even if that does happen, I guarantee you the fans will overreact and write the season off the next time we lose a couple.

I agree.   IMO I also believe Dum and Mos have to partner like Ray & Ed did in 2004. With sizzle out, we need a another leadership core.   

[CQ1]

I can predict a Cinncy blowout AND still be a devout fan- as I am. I am a realist. Hey, if Cinncy DOES blow us out- I am kind of mentally ready for it, where as many will be very disappointed. If the Ravens do win and pull it off- I am twice as elated as many of you. I do not like the Kool Aid and try to keep an even keel. This may not make much sense to many- but it does not have too. It only has to make sense to me.

Here's hoping that we ALL revel in a much needed Ravens TEAM, victory.

Go Maalox, Go Ravens !

[DrinkmoreBeer]

The Ravens have a habit of playing to the level of their opponent, so I expect a better effort this week. Still expect Cincy to win, as they have SB talent. The only thing that ever holds them back is an Andy Dalton meltdown.

[harfordravenfan]

NOT true Eisenberg. The coaching staff and Joe Vanilla- ALONG WITH the entire defense should shoulder the "most pressure". Joe has been in the position to win the last THREE games and has not. His accuracy has been WAY off. Yes it is a team game re wins and losses, however, the highest paid position on the team is what ?....the QB. On the flip side, our defense has been suspect for quite some time for a various of reasons. I don't wear rose colored glasses. On paper- unless we change our game planning ( Joe do WHAT YOU HAVE TO TO WIN THE GAME; buy time ala other QBS in the league- like one QB in our division that has been doing it for years- and usually with a suspect line) that I will NOT mention)on both sides of the ball, along with better / consistent play we will get crushed. Back long ago in my betting days I had learned that, just when something looks too good or appears to go one way- it normally does not. Lets see where it goes. Regardless, the coaching staff and Joe- ALONG WITH the the entire defense will have to "shoulder the most pressure" when it comes to this game!

 

Last three?

[CQ1]

@harfordravenfan: the New England loss interception in last years playoff (sorry I had to bring THAT one up again)

[cobrajet]

I'm more concerned about the offense. The Bengals have CBs who can probably cover our receivers without any help, just like Denver did, which means they'll be able to keep their safeties up to stop the run and send extra blitzers at Joe. I think the key to this game will be to spread them out and go up tempo from the start. It worked in Oakland, and we were even able to move the ball in Denver when we did that. Trying to establish a power run game early will probably just get us stuffed, put us in third and long, and our receivers will be blanketed and Flacco won't have any time to throw. I'd rather us not do that again. That's my take on it. We'll see if Trestman agrees.

I agree with you. When the opposing team does not respect our passing game and stacks the box on first down and blitzes on second and third down, your not going to be able to run the ball effectively. Going up tempo and estabishing the passing game first will be better than trying to run the ball first and being shut down by the Bengals, because there is no doubt in my mind they don't respect our passing game and are going to stop the run first. If we try to run the ball right off the bat, we will go three and out, wear out our defense, and probably put ourselves in a hole from the start and be playing catch-up again for a third week in a row. We were effective spreading the ball around last week, Crockett was a beast, and Juice was really effective catching the ball.....so flip these guys the rock. When we have them on their heals doing that, then turn Forsett loose.

[The Mom Gene]

Our defense just needs to come out and pressure Reds....  period...

That's the only way we shut him down.  Reds does not like to be pressured.

[Ravensfansince03]

Is Jason Babin playing today?

[Moderator 3]

Is Jason Babin playing today?

Check when the inactives are released around 11-11:30ish