[News] The Breakdown: Eisenberg's Five Thoughts vs. Cardinals

[ellicottraven]

Good effort, unfortunate outcome for the Ravens. This is one time I'm not blaming the INT on Flacco as much. Could he have thrown the ball away and got another shot? Perhaps. But, with the radios not working and only 13 tics left on the clock, he perhaps wasn't able to think it all through and take it all in. So, he tossed it up a little too deep from his back foot and was intercepted. But, keep in mind, it was an all out blitz and there was a Cardinal steamrolling towards him when he released the ball... It sucks to be a passionate Ravens fan these days, but I would say they at least played with some effort this game.

[johnnypurple]

Great coaches makes players better. The fact that we are not getting better tells me, we have a coaching problem, not to mention talent.

[balfan23]

All we can do is assume the FO knows what they are doing with respect to picking up available players when we're in need. We all knew Freeney was there for the taking. I simply thought - I'm only interested because of his name ... we have to know that he doesn't have anything left or it's too obvious - we'd at least bring him in for a look. Not exactly showing the magic an any phase of our operations this year.

[Jokerraven]

I thought as a team everyone played better I hardly ever blame the refs but really there is no way they weren't biased or blind. My final thought is at least we will draft early and can get some offensive weapons.lol

[callahan09]

Soooooooooooooo how long are we gonna ignore the elephant in the room??? Flacco's interceptions every game

It's a last play of the game interception in the end zone on a play that was fraught with issues from the start due to communication issues, a really poor effort by Crockett Gillmore, and not helped by the fact that Jefferson pushed off Gillmore for an obvious defensive pass interference (without which he never would have intercepted that ball) and that these absolutely USELESS refs didn't throw a flag on (they were screwing us on calls all game long anyway, so why start getting it right on the last play of the game?).  It's not like it's that big of an issue that this play happened to occur, Flacco was playing an excellent game up until that play and that play is not indicative in any way of a problem with Flacco.

[GO_Ravens]

If you think Flacco is the problem with this team then you don't know football.

[boconnor]

Chis Givens made a very nice catch on the final drive which you failed to mention

[ksk316]

lol..what's up with Ozzie these days? Signing Babin instead of Freeney. *smh*

[thegooddoc456]

Just a bad team. That's all.

[Arch Mage]

With all the camera angles on the field, it is becoming more apparent that refereeing is not taken seriously by the league. The league office can see the same video. I would hazard a guess that 20% of the ball spots are wrong. And those are not the controversial calls. Cameras showed me a face-mask by Fitzgerald, a Cardinal runner getting about 10 more yards after he stepped out of bounds around the 17 yard line. Others have pointed out the tackle eligible and non-tackle calls. Of course I see the calls that would benefit the Ravens!

 

Are we still on record for the most penalties in a league year? It was news at the beginning of the year....

 

Are the referees just enjoying the celebrity of being on the field too much chatting up players and couches? They have a job to do, and should be concentrating on that. No one is making them be there. (Are clocks still handled by the home teams? We know communications are. Maybe both should be league jobs.)

Edited October 27, 2015 by Arch Mage

[baru643]

Soooooooooooooo how long are we gonna ignore the elephant in the room??? Flacco's interceptions every game

Okay, Joe did throw an ugly interception on the last drive last night and yes he has made a bad decision in the others as well.  But if it wasn't for him, we would never been in any of these games to begin with and the defense has failed to shut down the opposing team at least twice this year late in games.  

 

I too get frustrated with Flacco's ill-timed mistakes, but he is a great QB and I am glad he is a Raven.  Some of the picks this season are clearly on him, but there have been many times when our receivers have either dropped the ball or ran the wrong routes. There is a lot of blame to go around on the team, coaches, and front office for the poor season we are having, don't think that Joe is the primary reason we are 1-6.      

 

Go Ravens and keep the faith! 

[riseNConquer81]

Soooooooooooooo how long are we gonna ignore the elephant in the room??? Flacco's interceptions every game

yep...these are the posts i came for, lmao.

im laughing because i knew a bunch of people were gonna come in here and do this...complain about that pick with no earthly idea what they're really talking about.

its funny for two reasons:

1) That last play was an exact rewind of week 1 in Denver. Back then, everybody was like "Joe 'underthrew' Crockett, its his fault, we shouldve won!"

This time, instead of putting it on the goal line and relying on Crockett to go get it and walk it in, Joe put the air under it, just like all you fans cried for....same result. So now its been done both ways, failed both ways and you guys dont even know what you're complaining about anymore, lol.

one thing you're definitely consistent with, though, is refusing to accept the fact that no Quarterback can be a playmaker by themselves. No matter what a QB does or how he does it, somebody has to be on the other end making the catch...being a playmaker...and we dont have enough of those. Teh elephant in the room my friend, is the lack of talent on this team despite all the cheerleading you want to do for everyone but Joe, who, ironically enough, is the only one that deserves it on the offensive side of the ball aside from Smith Senior.

2) everyone's ignoring the game situation. 2nd and goal, 13 seconds left, zero time outs, 6 rushers, (technically) 5 blockers for Joe.

There's an unblocked blitzer in Joe's face as soon as the ball is snapped. over on the left side, James Hurst is taking the edge rusher's jackt and hat and allowing him free reign in the backfield as usual.

Sidelines are covered well. If he completes anything in the middle of the field short of the endzone, the game is over cuz we cant stop the clock. Same goes for a sack, cuz even if you do get up and spike it in time somehow....now its 3rd and forever with maybe 2 seconds left.

The only option left is to send it to the endzone and rely on your receivers to make a damn play the way they havent all season. And not surprisingly, they let us down again.

The talenet is simply insufficient. accept it, move on, and be glad that Joe is here keeping us at all relevant.

Edited October 27, 2015 by riseNConquer81

[riseNConquer81]

lol..what's up with Ozzie these days? Signing Babin instead of Freeney. *smh*

once upon a time i was getting dragged for suggesting that didnt make sense. lol look at us now

[EddiOK]

I think the elephant in the room is the lousy drafting and hemorrhaging of quality players over the last 5 years. That's what's got us to this place today.

[DENNYK]

My only thought right now is that Flacco needs to have that contract re-structured. Way to much money going into his wallet for the quality of play that he is providing. Nuff said about all else that is going wrong this season. Tired of beating that dead horse. Keep losing so that we can get that great draft choice that will miraculously turn us around for next season. Hopefully, Perriman will be healthy enough to play by then too. Please cut Webb. Nothing left in his tank for sure.

[Barry S]

Joe said before the beginning of the season that he wouldn't be happy with just 10 wins this season, he wanted more. The way this thing is going they will be lucky to be 6-10 or worse, SMH!!!!!!!!!!

[baru643]

Chis Givens made a very nice catch on the final drive which you failed to mention

Like you avatar picture, nice to see I am not the only Raven's fan that was a submariner.  Go Navy and Go Ravens! 

[cbrook1862]

This defense gets no turnovers

[KidNme]

Awesome game by our guys! I know we lost but there were great strides on WR's catching the ball, O line opening holes (Although we stopped running for some reason)and the only "bad pass" Joe threw all night, was the last one! All his other throws were laser's while leading his receiver. THAT's the Joe I remember! He reverted a bit at the end there but I see reason for hope. Not for a SB run of course but hope that we at least have a good core of willing and capable players on our roster, we only need a couple more "Elite" players to get us back in the game. If Perriman ever pans out, there's one thing crossed off the list and if Joe keeps playing like he did last night, there's another thing crossed off the list. Now, how to talk SSS into staying another year!

[cbrook1862]

At this point I didn't necessarily care if they won or not, I just wanted to see some type of overall improvement. Despite the loss, I did see some. 1) despite the Chris Johnson td run, overall the defense tackled well and wrapped up more. 2) The defense was also able to get a 2-minute stop giving us enough time to drive down the field. 3) the secondary actually played well, guys weren't just getting left wide open, and the few deep passes they did give up, the receivers were covered pretty tight, but Palmer was just able to throw a really nice pass and put it right in the receivers hand because if the ball was slightly off, it would've been intercepted or incomplete. 4) We found out that Ross and Givens can make plays...despite Ross's fumble which was a good play by the tackler.

[cbrook1862]

Trawick is a great tackler and solid in coverage. I liked his play last night, he was wrapping guys up. With the first pick in the 2016 nfl draft the Baltimore Ravens select... Joey Bosa DE.

[riseNConquer81]

My only thought right now is that Flacco needs to have that contract re-structured. Way to much money going into his wallet for the quality of play that he is providing.

your only thought right now is wrong.

its also a foregone conclusion, speaking of dead horses.

An extension was always going to be done in the 2016 offseason regardless of how he was playing, so please stop whining about it.

[BillyD]

My only thought right now is that Flacco needs to have that contract re-structured. Way to much money going into his wallet for the quality of play that he is providing. Nuff said about all else that is going wrong this season. Tired of beating that dead horse. Keep losing so that we can get that great draft choice that will miraculously turn us around for next season. Hopefully, Perriman will be healthy enough to play by then too. Please cut Webb. Nothing left in his tank for sure.

It's Joe's quality of play that's the issue?  No, I disagree.  How many dropped passes?  Who is getting open?  How is our running game doing?  How is the play calling, and can we have really effective play calling with the players we have on this roster?  My thought is that your thoughts are too superficial.  One player and one contract is not the issue here.

[RyyKarsch997]

I think a lot of people have really nailed a lot of what's going on this season. My thoughts:

1. Allowing 27 points and almost 400 yards a game is absolutely unreal. No offense should have to overcome a defense that allows 100 yards and a TD every single quarter of football.

2. Flacco's contract needs to be reconstructed, but at the same time for having no #2 or #3 WR, and no #1 TE he's kept us in every single game this season. Especially with the pressure he's been getting, he's given us a chance to win - we just haven't had the weapons to get it done.

3. Along those lines, Ravens really do have no deep threat. I know Givens and Smith have got open or made a few long plays, but the offense is so one-dimensional without someone like T.Smith etc. to extend the field. I know we expected Perriman to fill that role, but I really didn't think Marlon Brown would regress as much as he has and I thought he might have been able to. Flacco, rightfully so, has no confidence going downfield anymore.

4. I know the coaching staff has been an issue. Harbaugh defends his troops and talks about "focusing on next week" no matter what miscues Pees and Trestman makes which is frustrating. I do wish we'd part ways with Pees, but I honestly don't think we're going to regardless of how bad we finish.

5. If we win another game, my goodness I hope it's against the Steelers. If we go 2 - 14 to get the number one pick but ruin the Steelers chances and make them look bad for not beating us, it'll be some consolation for the fanbase.

Sorry for the long post, boys. Love all the fans regardless of where they place the blame most weeks. We're not 1 - 6 solely because of penalties, our QB, or any one thing though and I wish people would take more note of that.

[baru643]

32 It's hard to believe they have one victory. That's incredible. 1(31)

 

Week #8 Power Ranking from CBS are out, the Ravens are ranked dead last!  Wow, never thought I would see that ever.

 

Let's hope things start getting better, maybe a coaching change (DC or OC) or someone on the current roster starts playing like a Raven!

[RavensBlood2Bone5220]

I respect the hell out of Ozzie Newsome. But Dwight Freeney and Jared Allen were available and we wasted time on Babin. I know Freeney and Allen aren't the players that they were but both of them made plays for their teams this weekend. All we got out of Babin was two stupid drive extending penalties. Why couldn't the Ravens take a look at those two. Freeney was free agent and the Panthers got Allen for a 6th round pick.

[LunarRover]

Its time to take out the trash. Dont even know where it starts or stops but i do know that E.Monroe, M.Brown, L.Webb are virtually worthless to this team now. Monroe is softer than Campanaro and is always injured and its pathetic. Brown cant catch a cold and is scared of any contact it seems, just sick of even seeing him on the field because there are plenty of guys on the practice squad that can get a chance. at this point who cares how ready they are, its time to test them. We already know what Brown brings to the table...nothing. Start giving other guys a chance now because we are not going to the playoffs this year and we need to see on-the-job film on these other guys. Im sure that someone we have overlooked will seize the opportunity and take advantage of it. Take out the trash asap

[Joshuahill2@aol.com]

Many fans here have said it and I've said it, and I'm hoping now that it was re-affirmed over and over by the national commentators on a national broadcast more and more of us get comfortable admitting the God's-honest reality of the situation.

1. When massive chunks of your salary cap (your playmakers) are either on IR (Suggs 4mm 2.8% , Pitta 6.2mm 4.4%) or are chronically injured and missing games (Canty 1.7mm 1.25%, Webby 9.2mm 6.6%, Perriman 1.58mm 1.15%) it's hard to compete.

2. Then you add in those three massive chunks of dead money we're suffering because of Rice 9.5mm 6.8% (really it should be 12mm cuz it costs us 3mm in Forsett to replace Rice) and the unavoidable parting with Ngata 7.5mm 5.35% and Jacoby 2.6mm 1.9%, and you've got another hand tied behind your back.

That's more than 30% of our cap that won't suit up for us this year or struggles to suit up consistently for us this year. That's before you dive into the strategic importance of those guys in our gameplans on either side of the ball. Go ahead and take away 30% of any other team's salary cap and see how they perform.

3. Then you add to that the phenomenon that we went literally 3 years ago from being one of the oldest rosters in the league to one of the youngest now, and it's another incredible challenge for teams to overcome immediately. As Gruden pointed out, we have the youngest TE corp in the entire league and a starting WR corps consisting of career journeyman Aiken and an undrafted player in Marlon. Credit Joe Flacco for keeping us relevant.

Any one of those things in isolation would be sufficient as an explanation (dare I say 'excuse') to explain why a team isn't winning.

But consider that we, unlike any other team in the league, are cursed with all 3 of those things simultaneously. And yet these coaches (yes, Dean Pees included) keep trying to make the best with what they have and compete game in and game out in close contests.

Not a single coach or player on this team will state these things during the season. Self-pity is not in the Raven organization's DNA.

It's our job as fans to be fair and honest though. In 2015 we were dealt a crappy hand and we're trying to make the best of it we can.

This may be the best 1-6 team in NFL history.

Well let's examine truthfully this statement. I thought I read in another post that we were in the middle of the pack in the league as far as our injuries go. Our injuries are average for a football team. So we don't get a pass there.

Secondly, just because a lot of our cap space is being taken up by players that are injured and not on the team is really no excuse. Take a look at the 49ers. They have had a very similar purge and they beat us. We made their average looking quaterback look like an MVP candidate.

Which brings me to my third point. We got beat by receivers who were in our building (Torrey Smith and Boldin). We haven't done a good job of drafting or replacing players that left. I mentioned in another post, Harbaugh hasn't actually drafted any Pro Bowl players on tjis team except Mosely and Tucker and Tucker will probably be gone too

We haven't drafted well...we let players leave without replacing them and we take players from bad teams (Kendrick Lewis, Will Hill, Shareese Wright, Eugene Monroe) that happily let them go.

The coaching staff has been mediocre. Dean Pees even when we won the Superbowl was not a Ravens defensive coordinator. He is a Patriot coordinator to his heart. He doesn't come with the exotic blitzes. He needs to be gone. As far as OC, the only good OC we had that was worth mentioning was Kubiak. He was brilliant. I can't believe we followed him up with Trestman. I can't believe Trestman is even employed in this league. Someone tell him this is the NFL and not highschool. He made Cam look like Sean Payton. He has to go.

So as far as us Ravens complaining about our misfortune, we can't. We caused this debacle as much as injuries and limited cap space.

[OzzieBisciotti]

One of the reasons why we suck has to do with player conduct. Bisciotti wanted to turn the Ravens image around- after all, we've had the most arrests in 2014. Plus, our past doesn't help out either. So if there's a mandate to keep cleaner people, then maybe Oz's hands are handcuffed. We used to forgive some mistakes, but ever since both Ray, Rays. Just a thought, but in the past it seems like we took more chances and drafted better, but maybe we're too scared now to draft anyone who has one blemish on them. It's either this, or Oz lost his touch over the past five years because our drafts and FA pick ups have been very bad- there are many articles on this- look at how many people made our team over that time period- not much. All I have to say is Elam and then people will understand.

[OzzieBisciotti]

Baltimore Ravens Help Wanted Ad: Ideal cornerback candidate that fits our team's profile is one that will be recently cut from a team, someone who plays ten yards off the receiver, and someone who is prone to injuries. If you have these traits, you will excel being a Ravens cornerback.