[News] John Harbaugh On How To Improve Late-Game Speed

[BR News]

The Ravens head coach, without prompting, re-visited the offense’s urgency on its final drive in San Francisco.

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[Drew P]

The final drive of the first half needs an explanation to what a joke

[budman]

It goes back to last year and even pre-season this year. Harbaugh even said in interview "I wish just once we could make a stop inside 2 minutes". We have been horrible in that situation.

[fusuymada]

You can look at it as though the game comes down to the last possession every week so lets spend a lot of time on the last possession OR we can work on our existing issues such as receivers who can't get open, when they are open putting the ball where they stand a chance to catch it, don't throw the ball to guys in the different colored uniforms, don't throw the ball without knowing who is there, block the guy in front of you, don't get beat on a double move, don't line up 15 yards off the line of scrimmage when it is 3rd and 3, get pressure with less than 6 people rushing, manage the clock better, manage time outs better and the game wont come down to the last possession. Just saying.

Edited October 21, 2015 by fusuymada

[johnmike72]

Also, somebody should hide the red flags from Harbaugh.

[TheRavengers]

Everything needs an explanation now, moreso our pretty-much-nonexistent defense.

[Bob21043]

Maybe run the no huddle more often, so the players become accustomed to it and know what to do without having to try to think.

[Bob21043]

Every game should not have to come down to the last possession......

[BrooklynRavens]

I think everyone has the mentality "oh no dont let me mess up"....

i think they are all walking on pins and needles because noone wants to be held liable and get the fingers pointed at them

coach has to calm everyone down and just take everything one snap one assignment and one read at a time.

its not the ravens of old who can go out there and can be relied upon to be in their spot or adjust

will hill needs to be a more vocal leader because i didnt feel the heart from dumervil in his pregame speech (not saying he doesnt have it, it just may not be his cop of tea)

[ksk316]

Every time Harbaugh throws a challenge flag, I know we'll lose a timeout. I've lost all confidence in our replay team. I can understand that in the first half but in the second half when you know the game will come down to the last second, you need those timeouts.

[Bat-mite]

What I read from this is -- Trestman screwed up, and Harbaugh is taking the hit for it (publicly). Privately, I hope he is riding Trestman so that this doesn't happen again.

[salamander]

Even after I read the explanation by Harbs about the terrible clock management at the end of the game, I still do not understand how the Ravens could have conceivably been asleep at the wheel and screwed that up so badly. This is basic 2 minute offense and the lack of situational awareness was jaw dropping. I hope to God I do not see such major coaching blunders regarding football fundamentals again this season.

Edited October 21, 2015 by salamander

[WNC-Raven]

I have to wonder if it is Tressman being late with the play calls. That would explain why Joe seemed so frustrated and his lack of urgency on that final drive. It would also explain why Harbaugh called a time out at the beginning of the half. He hung his head after having to call it as if he couldnt believe the play that was being called and had to stop it. Please let me know if I am off base here.

[ravenstime]

You're absolutely right, every game should not come down to the last possession. Yet, here we are, where every game HAS been decided in the final 2 minutes. What I would like to see this week, and especially since our playoff hopes are near zero, is to try to score as many points as we can early and through the game. That means going for a touchdown if it's 4th down and goal from the 5 or so. If we use all 4 downs close to the goal line, and actually throw the ball in the end zone, when close, not short of, so we don't get stopped. Since our defense is the worst and probably helps the other team score instead of hindering them, we need to score 35 or more points every game. That hold true this week against Arizona, since they will most likely score 30 points or more.

[NCMan]

Harbaugh talks like the Ravens are all new to this. Well coached teams don't play like this. I think that pretty much sums it up.

[BillyD]

I agree with the general sentiment in a lot of these comments that games don't necessarily have to come down to the last drive. But when they do, you better be able to execute on offense and defense in those situations. And therein lies the problem. This team cannot consistently execute at a high level during the entire game, and it has put them in the same last drive situation in every single game this season. And they have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they cannot execute at all in a 2 minute situation on offense or on defense. That falls on everyone, the coaches, the players, etc. For once I'd like to see Joe just take the reigns and make a decision if the coaches are late with a play or he doesn't like the play call. I think that's something that separates him from the "elite" QBs. You see Manning, Brady, Rivers, making all kinds of calls and adjustments pre-snap. I've seen Joe do that too. Just not very often. Am I missing something?

[ravenwildman]

When I went to the free open practice at M&T one of the things they specifically worked on was the two minute fast drill, it looked pretty good then. I didn't see that in the final two minutes Sunday. Now....I know that it is tough after playing for 2 hours in 75 degree weather to "sprint" and yes Yanda got hung up, but my question is why after practicing this, plays took so long to get called and lined up for? Just like in the practice at M&T there should be 5 or so pass plays on "speed dial" that can be launched quicker. I think people are assuming people are implying the team gave up......not so, but we SHOULD be much better at this since it was a key area worked on in the preseason. My HO only. GO RAVENS!

[100CrystalClear]

All of these results are simply horrible, rotten luck. It's as if there was a hex put on our team. No way they are as bad as their record suggests.

*Channeling Ray Lewis*

I need nothing but positive energy from every fan. There's no doubt. No weapons forged against us shall prosper.

[Barry S]

If they don't know how to execute the 2 minute drill the they should watch game film of our opponents, they execute it perfectly against our defense!!!!

[sami]

one thing that might help is when we have goal and 1, SPREAD the players out. 4 wide outs will open a hole better than trying to run someone up the middle with all the offensive players and all the defensive players bunched up in a tight wad. Of course Joe has to read if they are gonna cheat a safety in the middle leaving one of the wide outs open...but that's his job.

[vinnystp]

Targeting players open in the middle of the field, with no time outs in the 2 minute drill is horrible decision making at its best. If you blow your time outs earlier in the 2nd half, the solution is simple. Target players closer to the sidelines, so they can get out of bounds, and preserve game clock. I know, Monday morning QB's always know so much more than those on the field, right? Of course I know that the defense is willing to give up plays in the middle of the field. My point is, this whole article becomes a moot point if they managed the clock better, and Joe gets the ball to someone who can step out of bounds, and stop the clock from running.

[Raven_Lunatic]

The only reason that quick play works in practice, is because you have the ravens defense covering your guys! Spike the damn ball!

Edited October 21, 2015 by Raven_Lunatic

[Bohica5]

If harbs knew how to improve late game speed..........Don't you think he would do it? Its not his 1st year here....

[GangofRavens]

Hey Harbs! How 'bout your QB and OC? Didn't they know the game situation or rather shouldn't they have. I call BS on your excuse. Somebody should have yelled at those guys to move their you know whats. The ideal person should have been your QB. If you didn't know to do it in that situation you are not a good head coach period!

[Crusader]

Bad luck is when you lose your starting QB or starting running back or your starting 1# receiver for the year. Also, bad luck does not run 8 years of with draft picks. Raven built a college team for the NFL.

[Purple Dawg 96]

I watch big ben and brady take control of their Offense even taking control from the coach and OC and this is what Joe Flacco lacks BIG TIME! He isn't AGGRESSIVE enough to run this Offense to its full potential just shoulder shrugs and we'll get'em next time crap! Tomlin doesn't always have all the answers big ben saves him constantly and Joe is leaving Harbs hangin out to dry! Gotta go to No huddle at times Duuuuuuuh but Joe gotta step up and be the leader or its a WRAP! SMH

[ellicottraven]

Harbaugh smartly changed his stance on the final 75 seconds of the SF game. I agree with him. I'm sure he had time to reflect and review the footage again, this time with input from the front office and maybe even Biscotti. I can't imagine Biscotti felt good watching the final 75 seconds of the game just like us fans. It was too obvious that the ball could've been spiked much earlier and saved time. But, in any case it is in the past now. Let's move forward and get another win soon. These are going to be few and far in-between for sure.

[TrooRavenFan]

This is NOT the Ravens I know....sighhh

[Zeus]

Lol, Harbs is funny and clueless

Edited October 22, 2015 by Zeus

[coreyadams]

Also discuss the amount of 3 and outs. Just too many.