[News] Late For Work 10/8: Zombie Ravens Don't Know How To Stay Dead

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

"Brady has Rob Gronkowski" Alright... But what happens when he's injured? Brady still manages to make the offense work even with nobody at RB or WR. Flacco can barely make the offense go when he has Steve Smith and Forsett in the backfield. And when something happens to one of them, the offense can't do ANYTHING. I'm not saying Flacco is bad, he's a heck of a lot better than any other options the Ravens have, but he doesn't deserve to be in the same conversation as the top tier QBs.

You make some interesting points. The difference is Brady's guys catch and hold onto the ball when it counts and our WR's can barely make the catch when it hits them in the hands and chest with exception of SSS.  When Flacco has had SSS on the field this year  all the games the Ravens have played in with exception of week 1 against the Broncos  Flacco and the offense even with suspect blocking by the o-line at times have kept the games close and even winnable it has been the defense that has hurt us so far this year.  Flacco does need to make better decisions at times the int's he has thrown this year were his fault.  Flacco can't make his guys hold onto the football or get separation that is something they have to do themselves. I know your not saying Flacco is bad but I do think a lot of critics over look this stuff when they talk about Flacco. Flacco does indeed have to grow and get better but so do the WR's none of them seem to want to step up even when they get their opportunity Remember the season right after Oz traded Boldin? Who stepped up that year in the WR position with the competition being wide open? Flacco does in deed need to play better at times but the WR's on this team need to step up and be worthy of the #2 WR spot on this roster and when the great SSS retires at the end of this year who is going to want to play the WR position next season my guess is it's going to be wide open again?

[BillyD]

1. It's just a flesh wound.

2. History will long wonder what Flacco's stats would be like if he had an elite corp of receivers to throw to.

3. [not permitted]

4. Even if Givens is 50% ready, we need him. Just run fast and give the D something to worry about.

5. Been so long since I was 30 that I just can't think of that as old.

Nice! 

[The Mom Gene]

It still goes to the weapons you have on the field, and the amount of time you have to allow the play to develop downfield.  (The O-Line)  If you don't have that trued #1 down there, or guys that can get open...  or time in the pocket????  You aren't going to put up those kinds of numbers at all.

[RavensBaltimore]

"Brady has Rob Gronkowski" Alright... But what happens when he's injured? Brady still manages to make the offense work even with nobody at RB or WR. Flacco can barely make the offense go when he has Steve Smith and Forsett in the backfield. And when something happens to one of them, the offense can't do ANYTHING. I'm not saying Flacco is bad, he's a heck of a lot better than any other options the Ravens have, but he doesn't deserve to be in the same conversation as the top tier QBs.

 

You must not have seeen Brady last year before Gronk got healthy. He was beyond awful, and people were saying that he was done. The year before, Gronk was in and out, and the Patriots leaned on their o-line and run game, and Brady still had quick, shifty WRs who could get consistent separation. He has never even come close to making the offense work without a legit #1 target, horrible pass protection, and no run game.

 

Flacco has been making the offense work and has given the Ravens a chance to win every game this year, despite having one good WR that's 36 years old, a horrible run game except in Pittsburgh, and horrible pass protection. Just to show the difference between the help he has compared to Brady, in 2012, Kamar Aiken played for the Patriots and had ZERO receptions. In 2013, the year Gronk was in and out, and everyone says Brady "carried" them, Aiken wasn't even good enough to make their roster, yet in Pittsburgh, when the Ravens came back from a 20-7 second half deficit, he was Joe's #1 receiver.

[Zeus]

Trestman play calling is poo poo

[The Greek]

all the outlets are saying we have the worst wr corps in the league without sss. hope harbs and engram post this on the receivers lockers and lets see if they can elevate their game from here on out

[fusuymada]

C'mon Sarah the problem with Joe is not just about his 120 million dollar contract, it's the stupid mistakes he's making at his position. If the play not there throw it away, even if you get intentional grounding it's better than an interception! Who throws the ball in blind faith Joe did, and many will agree that his footwork has been terrible throwing off his back foot does not make for accurate passing attempts. In business you want your top paid people to be efficient and minimize their mistakes, you hire people who are careless and sloppy you won't be in business very long!!!!!!!!!!!

First Joe makes mistakes, like every quarterback in the league. I cant believe people are still misconstruing the 120 million dollar contract but those that do, don't know how the salary cap works. Enough said about that.  Joe throw in blind faith like every qb in the league.  The last interception the cb dropped off his coverage to cut in front of SSS.  Same way Jimmy Smith did when he got his interception.  That's why the defense gets paid also.  If you are comparing corporate America to the NFL, there will be no convincing you otherwise and I wonder why you are a fan.

[FloridalovesRavens]

I really don't think the Ravens need any posting to rise up and play like Ravens. Don't think for one moment this 1-3 record sits well with them. Go Ravens!

[Amesr52]

People beat up on Flacco for his interceptions too much. None of our wr have done enough or fought enough to make Joe feel like he can trust them to make the play. Flacco being criticized for trying to make plays with a bunch of nobodies is ridiculous. I think Flacco has done an incredible job with mediocre talent throughout his entire career with us. We have never given him a top of the line receiver for him to gel with and get comfortable with. The worse part about it is that once he does get a receiver he trusts and likes to throw too the team lets them walk or they are old and retire. (Torrey, Anquan, Mason, Steve Smith) Steve is done after this year and we will be relying on either spending another high draft pick on a WR or spending a lot of money in free agency to get a #1. Our defense is just missing a few more pieces to become a very dominant piece in a offensive league. We need to draft defense this next draft to keep the team balanced. I expect Perriman to recover and get stronger and become a great guy for us but it will take time. I honestly wanna see the team make a trade now for a guy like Jeffery and lock him up with Perriman. Those two guys with Flacco in a Marc Trestman led offensive scheme could do some serious damage.

[Amesr52]

You make some interesting points. The difference is Brady's guys catch and hold onto the ball when it counts and our WR's can barely make the catch when it hits them in the hands and chest with exception of SSS.  When Flacco has had SSS on the field this year  all the games the Ravens have played in with exception of week 1 against the Broncos  Flacco and the offense even with suspect blocking by the o-line at times have kept the games close and even winnable it has been the defense that has hurt us so far this year.  Flacco does need to make better decisions at times the int's he has thrown this year were his fault.  Flacco can't make his guys hold onto the football or get separation that is something they have to do themselves. I know your not saying Flacco is bad but I do think a lot of critics over look this stuff when they talk about Flacco. Flacco does indeed have to grow and get better but so do the WR's none of them seem to want to step up even when they get their opportunity Remember the season right after Oz traded Boldin? Who stepped up that year in the WR position with the competition being wide open? Flacco does in deed need to play better at times but the WR's on this team need to step up and be worthy of the #2 WR spot on this roster and when the great SSS retires at the end of this year who is going to want to play the WR position next season my guess is it's going to be wide open again?

I also think back to the year after Anquan left and the way the offense struggled because the wr's we had couldn't get separation for Flacco to throw too.  When Wr's can't even give Joe a tiny window to throw too he has to throw the ball in a way that gives them a chance to at least jump up for it and these guys being 6'3 or taller is why he has been making those risky throws.  The separation problems have also led to Flacco looking a Steve Smith way to soon and often which is why at least 3 of his interceptions have happened.  Also, the offensive tackles havent been allowing much time for plays to develop down field and Marc Trestman is very big on calling plays that are requiring the wrs to get 10 or 15 yards down field before comin back or cutting across the field.  It just looks bad when your most reliable receiving options after SSS are you 2 youngest rookies on the team at the TE positions.   

[VeiledPsychosis]

O'Malley was the mayor of Baltimore so I think he may be a bit biased but okay. Just an any sane person expected, the problem with 49ers last season wasn't Kap's lack of weapons, it was Kap, he was so overrated and people are finally figuring that out

[Barry S]

First Joe makes mistakes, like every quarterback in the league. I cant believe people are still misconstruing the 120 million dollar contract but those that do, don't know how the salary cap works. Enough said about that.  Joe throw in blind faith like every qb in the league.  The last interception the cb dropped off his coverage to cut in front of SSS.  Same way Jimmy Smith did when he got his interception.  That's why the defense gets paid also.  If you are comparing corporate America to the NFL, there will be no convincing you otherwise and I wonder why you are a fan.

 

Why am I a fan because I enjoy watching the games and I use this venue to vent my frustration, and the way I see it is Joe could and should be working a little bit harder because I like seeing my home team win!!!!!!!!!! Football is a big business and the analogy applies, you capitalize on the other teams mistake and don't create your own.

 

This team has been carried by the defense for years, time for the offense to pick up the slack, Joe has been in the league 7 years now he should know how it works. Score more points than your opponent.

Edited October 8, 2015 by Barry S

[OzzieBisciotti]

Flacco is franchise but he's not elite- blame Ozzie for not giving him studs to throw to if you want to reference Gronk

[geaux_ravens]

Great read today!

[Ravenshine]

Zombie comparison is funny. On that note I'm so glad we are not a team building organization that gives up on their season...to me that's wimpy. We instead place value on underdogs. And on that note, that's why when we acquire semi-good players I still get optimistic on what they can do once in Baltimore, because this coaching staff has a knack for believing in that diamond in the rough player they can work with. And Ozzy bargain hunts for this (so as to not have to enter into a team building mode) and he and the others that run this team look for certain qualities in players they can build upon...so investing in the players that way. Flacco is an unbiased quarterback compared to others in the league. He doesn't 'play favorites' I like that about him all these things combined are what make the Ravens a unique organization. Fans should be proud. We're fighters and believe in our abilities players, doesn't mean bad playing is tolerated, eventually it's not, but at least this is a team that truly operates on the principal of equality among the members and strong work ethic.

[metalraven]

No longer zombies...they're officially dead