[News] Eisenberg: How Did Ravens Get Here?

[BR News]

Injuries, top draft picks’ production and salary-cap issues have all contributed to Ravens’ 1-4 record?

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[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

We got here because the Defense Cant Stop Anybody!

I am in business. If I have a manager Losing me Money, I have to make a change in that department. LOSING GAMES, LOSES THE OWNER MONEY.

Its time people, to cut our losses, Pees Defense consistently cant stop Anybody. PEES HAS TO GO, him and his playbook, his scheme, and his philosophy. If Harbs cant see that, he has to go too.....We are losing, again, and again, and again, and again, cant stop 3rd downs, cant get off the field, looooosing

[b93333]

One thing he left out... PFF ranks Flacco 36th in the league in QB performance. Did he suddenly forget how to play? I doubt it very much. I think there is a much more likely explanation and it goes beyond injuries.

[whobilly]

Upshaw The Invisible Man, Practice Squad type WR's, Perriman and when he gets back out on the field, a secondary that can't cover OR tackle, undisciplined play, Arthur Brown a BUST, plus the injury bug but EVERY team in the league deals with that. Put it all in a bag shake it up and throw it on the table and there you have it....4-12.

[thisme007]

Its call Bad Coaching,and not in Football Shape..

[whobilly]

b9333, Flacco's rating is so low because he's throwing to Practice Squad WR's that the organization vastly over rated in OTA's and Training Camp. They got excited because these guys were "Catching Everything" in shorts and a jersey....with no pads.

[Drew P]

Whiffing on early draft picks; Elam, Brown and now add Perriman

[Tenacious Faulker]

We got here because the Defense Cant Stop Anybody!

I am in business. If I have a manager Losing me Money, I have to make a change in that department. LOSING GAMES, LOSES THE OWNER MONEY.

Its time people, to cut our losses, Pees Defense consistently cant stop Anybody. PEES HAS TO GO, him and his playbook, his scheme, and his philosophy. If Harbs cant see that, he has to go too.....We are losing, again, and again, and again, and again, cant stop 3rd downs, cant get off the field, looooosing

Well, I'd say Biscotti is in business too.  The personnel business in fact and therefore understands personnel better than most of us - you too.  Cutting bait because of one awful season is shortsighted and premature.  Injuries have been a factor and that is not something that can be prevented.  Calling for Harb's head is beyond knee jerk reaction.  Get a grip, man!  Talk about throw the baby out with the bath water.  Sheeesh!  Who else are you gonna get that's better?  I don't know your business, but don't think I'd want to work for a guy that wants to clean house because of a an acute situation rather than work through the problems.  Did I say get a grip?    

 

The only name that you didn't concern me is the one that you didn't mention - Trestman - who comes with a history of mixed results.  Not that I'm advocating getting rid of him, but Harbaugh needs to WORK THROUGH THE PROBLEMS.  IF Trestman (or any coach) is unwilling to change then they need to have a separate convo.  But not before being given a chance to make it right. 

 

Too many spoiled, whining fans out there looking for immediate gratification say silly things. 

[RaineV1]

Whiffing on early draft picks; Elam, Brown and now add Perriman

How about waiting until Perriman actually plays a game before putting him in the same category as Elam?

[Crusader]

Elam could not play when on the field and Perriman can't find the field. Stupid to be a number one pick but that's not Perrimans fault.

[Purple Dawg 96]

The Ravens not coming out throwing in OT cost them the game! Went back to that "VANILLA" offense rum on 1st and 2nd pass on 3rd and punt! STOP IT! LETS GO!

[Prino61]

Being from Texas, I would like to thank the Texans and Cowboys for having losing records because i would be the laughing stock of my job, Thanks to Ean Pees and the Efense(No D)

[Weave]

The problem is defense. Offense has issues (like not enough speed.....hello Perriman)...but the dominate one is giving up too many leads due to defense. We don't have enough of a pass rush w/ Suggs out. They were counting on Suggs & Dumervil to provide that. Elvis cannot do it all himself & the loss of Suggs decimated the pass rush. W/ no pass rush - the opposing QB's have all the time in the world most plays and our secondary stinks. Its just flat out poor. They didn't have any cap so they went out and got who they could afford vs what they need to bolster the secondary. It hasn't worked. The secondary for the most part has been an issue for years. I trust Ozzie - EXCEPT when it comes to secondary personal. CB's are notoriously hard to find and groom from the draft.....and the veterans want big $$. My suggestion going forward is to clear the cap space and go for the veterans - because w/ the sole brilliant top notch exception of Ed Reed (who pretty much ran the secondary for years) - our draft history w/ secondary stinks. Go for the vets going forward. As for this season - it will be long and painful. And next season will be a rebuilding one. We're in the rebuilding phase boys & girls - just like in the late 90's when we gave up so many leads due to defense.....we are there again. Have to rebuild it. Sucks.

[BallSoHard95]

Do you want to know what I'd like to see for once? Ravens go after a big name player that is I'm their prime. We always let go of our players but don't pick up any big name players in their prime. Only after their prime

[Tenacious Faulker]

I generally agree with Mr. Eisenberg's assessment, but I'd also through in that they've faced this issue before and overcame it.  It seems to me that coaching and quality of depth needs to be added to the list specifically even if they are implied.  

 

Coaches need to readjust and be more demanding of their players actions.  Dumb penalties, blown assignments, lackadaisical execution are player issues, but the coaches need to set an expectation of ultra dedication and professionalism.  That's clearly not happening under Harbaugh''s watch this year.  John's own body language on the sidelines tells all.  He has a look of surprised relief when Tucker won the game in OT vs the Steelers and had a look of resigned disappointment during the Browns game.  Harbaugh is not very "Harbaugh" this year imo.  He needs to tap into his 2012 self and kick some coach and player butt around there.

 

Joe has no faith in his OL, is afraid to step up in the pocket and is not trusting his "other" receivers not named Pitta or Smith Sr.  That needs to change.  Trestman had not been using Forsett like Kubiak which was successful.  Why?  Because he wants HIS pass-first offense like the Bears in place.  It's ego.  Well the Bears sucked and we're still set up player-wise as a run first offense.  The injuries to Camp and Senior MADE him go back to Forsett who allowed us to win in Pitt (150 ru yard) and stay in the game vs Cleveland (121 ru yards).  Hopefully he sees the light now.  Now he needs to stop trying to force the long throws so much and figure out how to convert on 3rd downs. 

 

Defense is a mess mostly because Pees' scheme is essentially "all-in" on pass rush at the expense of our secondary and our best pass rushers are now injured.  He'll have to make some major adjustments. 

 

He knows the buck stops with him and Ozzie knows that he's not getting the

[Crusader]

Question 1: Ravens fired their coach in 1998 and in 2000 (2yrs) gone to the super bowl. 2007 they fire their coach and in 2012 in Super Bowl again. (4yrs) so 6 years if we fire John? Question 2: Will a Ravens coach be able to win a Superbowl without Ray and Edd?

[Tenacious Faulker]

How about waiting until Perriman actually plays a game before putting him in the same category as Elam?

I tend to agree, but my faith in this shaken a bit now because a 4 week injury now going on 10 weeks.  Yes we need to wait and see IF he can play, but at some point we have to wonder if he really wants to play. 

 

Hopefully that speculation is wrong and he turns into the stud I hoped he would when I predicted him getting drafted by the Ravens.  But still...its happened to other teams before.

[Drew P]

How about waiting until Perriman actually plays a game before putting him in the same category as Elam?

 

I'll be 6 feet deep by that time

[fusuymada]

John is right. It is not one thing to put your finger on it is a litany of issues that have compounded to create this situation. The defense isn't stopping teams, but the offense isn't expanding the leads when they have the chance, but the injury bug has plagued the team, but we don't have backup because of cap issues, etc.... I will add in my own thought as well. There is a locker room culture. All teams have them. The Ravens had a locker room culture and Ed and Ray (and others who have been escorted out) would get in your face and remind you what that culture was. Now we have Forsett and Flacco and Dumervil and Jimmy Smith who "lead by example". Other than SSS who was in his first year last year and his last year this year, we have no leaders and SSS cant lead for the reason previously mentioned. Coaches cant lead players like players can lead players on and off the field and we don't have that personality anymore so we don't have the culture and we cant make it happen when it has to happen. Offense or defense. I don't see the fire, the guts, the initiative I have seen in the Ravens before. They are laying down and rolling over and I believe John has alluded to that, but he created the scenario himself.

[Purple Dawg 96]

The Defense never pointed their finger at the Offense because Ray Ray didn't allow it now look at yall! It's a new day and Joe Flacco and the Offence gotta step their game up and carry this team! Joe gotta do more Pump fakes, running etc!

[Tenacious Faulker]

Question 1: Ravens fired their coach in 1998 and in 2000 (2yrs) gone to the super bowl. 2007 they fire their coach and in 2012 in Super Bowl again. (4yrs) so 6 years if we fire John? Question 2: Will a Ravens coach be able to win a Superbowl without Ray and Edd?

That pattern is meaningless.  Question 1: Who do you get to replace Harbaugh that is available an that you know is better? 

 

Answer:  No one.  Reason:  Anyone fired at the end of this season will be because they too have failed.  Is there a positional coach you have in mind?  A college coach?  Is that who you think can replace a Super Bowl winning coach with one bad season out of 8 on his resume? 

[cobrajet]

I do believe that if we could have stayed healthy we would have had a shot. So many injuries to critical players killed our chances.

[Drew P]

Being from Texas, I would like to thank the Texans and Cowboys for having losing records because i would be the laughing stock of my job, Thanks to Ean Pees and the Efense(No D)

 

No doubt, the Texans are a disgrace

[AvianBrain]

How did the Ravens get here? If you watched the pre-season you could see this defense has no depth. Once the key first-team players left the game the defense could not stop second and third team offenses. With the injuries, that is exactly what happened. And what is with the salary cap "shell game"? Who writes contracts to require paying for players that are no longer on the team? Or is that some insane league rule to counts the money even if it is not paid out? Only bright spot on this year is that we have a lot of young players getting valuable playing time. They will either come back better next year or be cut because they don't have what it takes to play like a Raven! High draft picks in every round will not be such a bad thing as we look forward to 2016. After my hopes are dashed as we lose games in the fourth quarter, the prospects for good draft picks and a better team next year gives me reason to hope.

[surfdude]

Yeah that 21 mill in dead money has really been the elephant in the room. Also I know Pita is a great guy and a good player BUT why did Ozzie sign him with a major hip concern ?

Penalties are a killer and needs to be cleaned up. Fine the players John or make them to extra work SOMETHING !

On a brighter side Ravens are favorite again , been favorites 5 out of 6 games a sign that even Vegas thinks the Ravens are a good team , but have just been snake bitten.

[Purple Dawg 96]

Rush four no more than five! Every time the Ravens blitz they got burned!

[January J]

Well one of my wishes came true. We just cut Jason Babin. As well as Rashaad Melvin.

[RangerRon777]

Another big factor not mentioned is the turnover of quality coaches. Seems like we are a launching pad for NFL coaching careers . Look around the league, Ex Ravens coaches everywhere. Successful too.

[Crusader]

How did the Ravens get there? Very Bad choices and creating an college team that players can't have a "personality" that does not fit your liking. Thinking those aggressive penalties are worse than just plain dumb penalties.

Go to the Ravens draft history and pick three pro bowl caliber players starting in 2008.

Go to the salary Cap and Dead money of all NFL teams and see where Ravens stand. Its not hard to tell whats wrong with this team. Either Ozzie has lost it or was surrounded by "good old boy" buddies scouts that don't know crap.

[The Greek]

we got here mostly because of the fo making bad draft picks and moves in recent years. secondly the injuries are killing us. idiotic penalties that are killing this team. coordinators that make minimal adjustments throughout the game. the defense has lost the swagger that is the trademark of the baltimore ravens because the hc will not hire a dc with an aggressive scheme and killer instinct. lastly players on this team that are just missing plays from the qb missing open receivers, receivers not getting open and dropping passes. poor tackling on defense and too many blown coverages. looking at the schedule i can honestly say i do not see this team winning more than 5-6 games unless everything begins to improve at the same time. the positive is we will have a top 5 pick in every rd and hopefully the fo does not drop the ball with those early rd picks and we get players that will play 10 plus years here. pass rusher should be the #1 priority followed by LT, cb and wr. freeing up all of that dead $$ will help big time next season

Edited October 13, 2015 by The Greek