[News] Eisenberg: If Ravens Don't Run, They Don't Win

[BR News]

Baltimore has always needed to pound the ball to succeed, but it’s more important now with receiver injuries.

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[Ravensfansince03]

When Steve Smith got injured, that's when our running game really got sparked up. I think Forsett & company really took it personal. I have a gut feeling that the fire will carry on! And this run game will get it going. How bout the play when Buck took a steelers DB for a ride!! LOL

[budman]

It really does hinge on Monroe, who no doubt must up his game. He needs to show us more than we have seen.

[rmcjacket23]

It really does hinge on Monroe, who no doubt must up his game. He needs to show us more than we have seen.

Or start with getting healthy, since he's missed the last few games.

[RavensAllDay1987]

Pound the rock, Forsett, Tailafero and Buck Allen. Play Action to the TE's down the seam and matchup with our size advantage with Waller and Brown. Hopefully Givens can give us the speed on the outside to keep Defenses honest. Its time to get back to Vintage Baltimore Football. DEFENSE its time to build off of last game, and start coming after offenses and putting pressure on them instead of sitting back. Dean Pees its time to hunt, Id rather us get beat bringing pressure then getting carved up and the Defense getting hit for 10 plus play drives. 1st quarter of season is over its time to win the nest 3 quarters of the season.

[salamander]

With the Browns ranking 31st in the league in rushing defense, the obvious need to lean heavily on the run game is a no-brainer. Our receivers did step up late in the Steelers game so I am hoping that each TE and WR elevates their game, realizing their critical importance to come down with the ball. Fight hard for contested balls, focus and reel in the easy catches (no drops), and put forth maximum effort to catch some passes that are a little off target. Regardless of whether SSS is out or plays through his injuries, I feel confident that 1 or 2 of the TE's and/or WR's are going to come through big for us this week.

Edited October 6, 2015 by salamander

[EliteRavens]

The run game opens everything up

[bburnham89]

I don't think having Monroe will help that much at all. He's an upgrade over Hurst for sure, but he can't stay healthy, and by the eye test, he just doesn't seem to play angry or nasty the way the other 4 OL do. He just hasn't panned out the way we thought he would. I think they should consider bumping KO out to LT and put Urschel in at LG. I know we like KO at LG, but I think he can play LT better than Monroe.

[balfan23]

We're going to have to be able to run the ball ... but the box will stacked to the max. So it still feels like we need to keep teams off balance to be able to open up the run game at the level we need.

[ellicottraven]

Well said John.

[ciro]

i remember seeing us shoving the ball down the patriots' throats last season and thinking, we are so winning this thing. flack's pick was devastating. i think it bears mentioning that flacco has take better care of the ball, ever since that game his thrown an interception. I've been checking this website religiously hoping to hear of another receiver picked up, with the amount of time elapsed I'm hoping that oz and company will add someone even if he won't play this game.

[Tenacious Faulker]

I don't know the reason for this late adjustment. Play philosophy would seem to be the only reason and Trestman's pass-first ZBS scheme is not very different that Kubiak's run-first ZBS. The personnel is mostly the same and have a season's worth of experience in Kubiak's version. While Trestman said after his hire he wouldn't be a Kubiak clone and Harbaugh saying that they were trying preserve the 2014 offense (as evidenced by Matt Schaub's signing) then it stands to reason that we're seeing Trestman's play-calling in his system which is has not worked. The forced moved back to running the ball showed that with focus on Forsett that Aiken could then get open and become dangerous. If Givens establishes himself as a legit long range weapon we won't need much more than that to right the ship. But Trestman has to stop trying to institute HIS scheme when its clear that they're better stocked, talent-wise, for a run-first offense. Make it happen Marc; and don't be another Greg Mattison!

[PalmBayRaven]

Amazing how the Seattle Seahawks have 24 Undrafted players on their 53 man roster and we can't find any WR's?

[757RavensFan]

There's a big difference in "Can't Run" and "Don't Run". 

In the 1st 3 games, the ravens actually did run, but they weren't successful at it. 

[Mystigo_Dragon]

We've been saying that since Cam Cameron's futile 8-to-12 carries for Rice losses before the "non-mutiny"!

 

I'm still surprised that we didn't get a marquee RB in the draft! We're better at that than we are picking WRs!

 

Justin Forcett's a good RB but he can't run over or evade tacklers regularly! Perhaps Taliaferro or Allen [more likely] will emerge as the year goes,...

Edited October 6, 2015 by Mystigo_Dragon

[GangofRavens]

The reason we can't find WRs is obvious and has been obvious for some time.

[GangofRavens]

Our running problems of late have rested mainly with the offensive line. Tape don't lie. Hurst and Wagner played horrible in the first 3 games-from triping over their on feet to completely missing blocks and falling on their faces.

[sami]

I think the WRs were relying on SSS to do his thing and the rest were just window dressing. When SSS got hurt the rest seen they needed to step up their game. No more watching from the cheap seats. I think the more you give the rest of our WR corps to do the better they will get. Adding a speedster like Givens will help but Aiken, Brown and Waller are going to have to play up to their expecations.

Edited October 6, 2015 by sami

[cobrajet]

Our o-line is that not good against stout defenses in the run game, so to say lets line up and pound it, IMHO is not going to win us games. If we face teams like Pittsburgh, who IMHO have a subpar defense, then I am all for running the ball. When we play the Bengals again, I hope we have our receiving weapons back. The Browns defense is better than the Steelers but not as good as Denver and Cincy so we will see what Sunday brings. We better not start the game trying to dig out of a big hole or we can throw that game plan out the window.

[cobrajet]

There's a big difference in "Can't Run" and "Don't Run". 

In the 1st 3 games, the ravens actually did run, but they weren't successful at it. 

You actually articulated our situation better than I did.

[geaux_ravens]

As i watch Monday night football, I cringe at the fact that we passed on the kid Lockett playing kick returner , punt returner and receiver in which he can run the deep go route. Get rid of whoever does the Ravens receiver's scouting.

[RavensBaltimore]

So the Steelers missed 2 FGs and their backup qb missed an open WR on 4th and 1 because we ran the ball? We don't need to run the ball to win(when healthy), and we haven't for a while. We always run the ball a ton in the 4th qtr, after we build a big lead though, which skews the stats to create the illusion that we need to run the ball to win. While our top receivers and TEs are injured, I agree that we need to run the ball, but when healthy, or even close, our offense is at it's best by far when spreading it out and passing to set up the run. In Denver, we ran on almost every 1st down, and couldn't move the ball. When we finally spread it out in the last 2 mins, we went right down the field. In Oakland, we spread them out and were pass heavy all game, and we never went 3-and-out and scored 33 points. Against Cinci, we "wasted" the 1st half trying to get the power run game going, scored 0 points, then spread it out and went pass heavy in the 2nd half and put up 17. In Pittsburgh, the run game finally got going, and we needed it to with all of our injuries, but still, our run game was about as good as it can be, and we needed 3 OT possessions just to get to 23 points against a bad defense, and we needed a lot of help from the Steelers. You can't rely on playing a backup qb and kicker every game. Against the good teams, we need to get our passing game going, and we can't waste possessions trying to force the run game, which results in us getting stuffed and going 3-and-out.

[Bat-mite]

There was no mention of the fact that Denver, Cincy and Oakland have better defensive lines than Pittsburgh.

[RavensFootballFan]

Amazing how the Seattle Seahawks have 24 Undrafted players on their 53 man roster and we can't find any WR's?

 

Want to know why the Seahawks has 24 Undrafted players? They have 8 players over $7 million on this year's cap hit, 13 players over $4 million cap hit (Ravens have 6 players over $4 million), Seahawks have around 2/3rds of their salary tied to top 13 players, leaving only 1/3rds salary cap to remaining 40 plus players. The Seahawks has least cap space in NFL at a little over $629,000. They need cheap undrafted players to fill out roster to stay below cap. They have 27 players below $700,000 out of desperation to fill out roster. Ravens offense passing is ranked 11, Seahawks 27. Ravens scores more than Seahawks 23.2 - 21.8. Ravens total offense is ranked 16, Seahawks 19. Ravens total defense is ranked 20 and Seahawks 31. We got hit with injuries at WR, if that happened to Seahawks, they would not be able to handle it as good as the Ravens. I think I will leave it to Ozzie. 

[FloridalovesRavens]

The Browns will load the box! Our O line needs to be at their best or no dice. It is well known our offense is hurting right now and we need to be perfect. Cleveland always plays us tough and this week will be no exception. Go Ravens.

[NCMan]

I think the WRs were relying on SSS to do his thing and the rest were just window dressing. When SSS got hurt the rest seen they needed to step up their game. No more watching from the cheap seats. I think the more you give the rest of our WR corps to do the better they will get. Adding a speedster like Givens will help but Aiken, Brown and Waller are going to have to play up to their expecations.

All good points. However, it will probably take a balanced approach to win this game, as with most. That, of course, means our TE's as well as the RB's all need to carry the load. It's when we become one dimensional and/or too predictable in our play calling(?) that a certain part of our game plan falters. In addition to that, in my opinion, we need to be able to keep adjusting to what Defenses are doing to slow us down. The Browns always seem to play us tough and, most likely, this game will be no different. Let's get a big and much needed "W" and stay healthy!!

[steelcityraven]

Browns will load the box. THis is the week for two TE sets. Again... we have talent at TE... we can give Joe an extra weapon... We can take some pressure off of our young WR's but occupying safeties. We can also add support in the run game and control the box. I like the offense the Trestman is putting together... but I also think we need to be adaptable and willing to showcase our strengths will reducing the impact of our weaknesses!

[ravens4life86]

You cant run, if you play against stacked fronts because nobody fears your passing game. Browns are just as stout as Denver, and Bengals upfront.. Steelers were a little weaker and we took advantage.. But I see another week of 16 carries for 50-60 yrds.

We need help! Go get a WR! Sign Nicks, trade for someone..

[Rave-O]

Flacco is at his best in play action, but in order for that to work you need to run the ball. Joe had the best year of his career last year under Kubiak b/c his offense was perfect for Joe...run 1st then play action pass.

[rmcjacket23]

So the Steelers missed 2 FGs and their backup qb missed an open WR on 4th and 1 because we ran the ball? We don't need to run the ball to win(when healthy), and we haven't for a while. We always run the ball a ton in the 4th qtr, after we build a big lead though, which skews the stats to create the illusion that we need to run the ball to win. While our top receivers and TEs are injured, I agree that we need to run the ball, but when healthy, or even close, our offense is at it's best by far when spreading it out and passing to set up the run. In Denver, we ran on almost every 1st down, and couldn't move the ball. When we finally spread it out in the last 2 mins, we went right down the field. In Oakland, we spread them out and were pass heavy all game, and we never went 3-and-out and scored 33 points. Against Cinci, we "wasted" the 1st half trying to get the power run game going, scored 0 points, then spread it out and went pass heavy in the 2nd half and put up 17. In Pittsburgh, the run game finally got going, and we needed it to with all of our injuries, but still, our run game was about as good as it can be, and we needed 3 OT possessions just to get to 23 points against a bad defense, and we needed a lot of help from the Steelers. You can't rely on playing a backup qb and kicker every game. Against the good teams, we need to get our passing game going, and we can't waste possessions trying to force the run game, which results in us getting stuffed and going 3-and-out.

Completely dependent on the team you are playing and game situation...

 

1. Against Denver, we were completely unsuccessful moving the ball via pass or run, due to a combination of us having a well below average offense and them having a great defense. To say that we moved the ball well at the end of the game when we spread it out is the right approach doesn't make sense, largely because Denver was playing a defense that allowed us to complete a lot of the passes we did. 

 

2. We were able to throw the ball against Oakland because everybody throws the ball against Oakland.

 

For the most part, we don't have the personnel capable of spreading out a defense and attacking them very often. That's due to a compilation of inconsistent pass blocking and receivers who aren't great at separating.

 

Against Cleveland, spreading out their defense and throwing the ball around the field would probably be one of the worst decisions from a gameplan perspective we could make, given its our weakest area and by far their strongest area.