[News] Why The Ravens Defense Is Playing Better

[BR News]

The Ravens handcuffed the Dolphins to just 82 passing yards, but they aren’t taking comfort in that yet.

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[JustinB]

that and not facing any good teams helped

[RavensQB]

Lets see if they maintain that over the next 4 games.

[ravens4life86]

Browns,Dolphins...weaker bottom ten offenses in the NFL. Also bottom ten run defenses, so Trestman didnt abanden the run game from jump street, like first half of the season. Which allows the defense to stay fresh, and have a chance to make plays. Thats Ravens football.

[fusuymada]

without Joe putting up 30 a game, we need our defense to hold the other teams. We saw that Schaub had just as many points throwing to dolphins as he did Ravens. Still, all considered, those defensive rankings point to a better defense than fans have given them credit for. In reality, the fan frustration comes down to critical errors at critical times in the game and we have really improved on that. If we can start stopping teams in the last 2 minutes of each half we would really cross a huge hurdle.

[rmcjacket23]

Browns,Dolphins...weaker bottom ten offenses in the NFL. Also bottom ten run defenses, so Trestman didnt abanden the run game from jump street, like first half of the season. Which allows the defense to stay fresh, and have a chance to make plays. Thats Ravens football.

While that may be true, keep in mind that the same bottom 10 offense in the Browns put up over 500 yards against us in our own building earlier in the season.

 

Certainly lack of great QB play has been beneficial to our schedule recently, but there's no question they are playing better.

 

We've largely been pretty solid starting from the Cardinals game forward...

[balfan23]

This defense will be tested in the games to come. With an offense that is likely to struggle, it is going to be a challenge for them to hold up. Keep fighting guys!

[The Greek]

still hope we upgrade the def coord position after the season.

[rmcjacket23]

And frankly, in my opinion, the defense is the only thing worth watching on Sunday's to be honest.

 

We know what the problems on the offense are... no QB, backup RB, missing numerous receivers including arguably your best two, lack of consistency on the offensive line. The offenses problems are largely injury-based, mixed in with the need of adding a playmaker and some depth on the Oline. Those, in my opinion, are relatively "solvable" issues.

 

The defense, frankly, is largely healthy. We lost Suggs, yes, but he's the only real starting-caliber player I see who's missed significant time. This is the unit that should be scrutinized the most and spent the most time looking at, because these are the players we are evaluating for future years. We know our offense will look quite a bit different next season, but we don't know that about the defense right now.

[reed20fence]

There seem to be several factors at work. Suggs' loss early on was incredibly difficult on the defense. I think chemistry in the secondary was also a key factor. There may have been some overlap, but generally speaking we lacked Webby early on last season and almost as soon as he returned, we lost Jimmy to his foot. Will Hill was out the first 6 games and got progressively better, but we still lacked a consistent Safety that could compliment Hill and seamlessly switch Free/Strong duties as the calls dictated. Webby and Arrington seemed to struggle outside of nickel duty so we just found a way to use them effectively in nickel positions and blitz packages. Shareece Wright is getting better and more confident each week as well.

It seems that with time and some well overdue roster continuity on the back end the communication and trust is improving between these guys.

I seriously believe that if our week 9 to 12 secondary played those better teams at the start of the year, even with the absence of Sizzle, we could have won those games.

Edited December 8, 2015 by reed20fence

[Bat-mite]

I thought it was because we have been playing against teams that suck -- Jacksonville, Cleveland, Miami ....

[Militant X 1]

And frankly, in my opinion, the defense is the only thing worth watching on Sunday's to be honest.

 

We know what the problems on the offense are... no QB, backup RB, missing numerous receivers including arguably your best two, lack of consistency on the offensive line. The offenses problems are largely injury-based, mixed in with the need of adding a playmaker and some depth on the Oline. Those, in my opinion, are relatively "solvable" issues.

 

The defense, frankly, is largely healthy. We lost Suggs, yes, but he's the only real starting-caliber player I see who's missed significant time. This is the unit that should be scrutinized the most and spent the most time looking at, because these are the players we are evaluating for future years. We know our offense will look quite a bit different next season, but we don't know that about the defense right now.

 

I definitely agree! 

 

At this point the Ravens' offense is what it is and pretty much what it has been the entire season minus Smith, Sr, Flacco and Forsett going down-mediocre at best in their game play to me.  Major upgrades are needed on that side of the ball and our defense could also use a few more solid pieces as well to become more fierce over the next few years.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

And frankly, in my opinion, the defense is the only thing worth watching on Sunday's to be honest.

 

We know what the problems on the offense are... no QB, backup RB, missing numerous receivers including arguably your best two, lack of consistency on the offensive line. The offenses problems are largely injury-based, mixed in with the need of adding a playmaker and some depth on the Oline. Those, in my opinion, are relatively "solvable" issues.

 

The defense, frankly, is largely healthy. We lost Suggs, yes, but he's the only real starting-caliber player I see who's missed significant time. This is the unit that should be scrutinized the most and spent the most time looking at, because these are the players we are evaluating for future years. We know our offense will look quite a bit different next season, but we don't know that about the defense right now.

AGREED. great post mcjacket23

[bmorefan444]

So what you're saying is that these grown need stickers to improve the way they've been playing?

[SCravenfan]

I agree mostly with jacket except I like seeing Kamar he is a keeper. Buck Allen is a stud and our TEs our good whe. Healthy. I think our weakness in online is LT. It is killing us. I enjoyed watching Our back up LG he was playing well. Please bring back our back up QB Renner from preseason. We know want our current back ups have. Let see Renner run the show.

[BmoreB]

It's mostly due to the past 4 opponents, let's not kid ourselves here. Watch what happens with our next 4, it's gonna get ugly.

[n#7]

Well, that's great and all but the real test will come this Sunday.

[ReginaldColeman1]

I hope they take care of business when Wilson starts taking off. Last game he was on the ground - not even on top of an opposing player like the time this happened to the Ravens - he started squirming around and the defender picked him up by his feet and set him down. No body slam. Nothing like that. Right away he let's go and Wilson takes off running for the end zone. Like the Ravens game except everyone saw him on the ground. No dispute like the ref got his whistle stuck in his pocket. You got to clamp down hard on him.

[Dorota]

I'm almost 28 years old and I'd still play with my hair on fire for a sticker. It's not about how old or mature you are, it's the damn sticker! (That represents validation and acknowledgment of your efforts - great motivator). What I see as a massive improvement on defense is the lack of yellow flags thrown against us.

[SuRihtanil]

They played the Dolphins thats why! LOL I mean seriously... when they keep team like Pats, Bengals, Steelers to 10 points get back with me.

[Fastynart]

Baloney. Look at the quarterbacks they played the last 4 weeks and still managed to lose half of the games. Tannehill? Seriously? He was almost as bad as Schaub. As inept as he was, he still managed to burn the Ravens secondary once again for a long TD pass. Deja Vu. Next comes Russell Wilson. then Alex Smaith, Ben and Andy Dalton. These guys are gonna light up the secondary like Christmas. How can they beat them if they can't beat the likes of Tannehill?

[stixfix69]

In other news Pats waived Melvin, lets resign him...Loved his size, he had a rough few games after coming back from injury for us, and Harbs cut him.....He is a better option than Arrington, and probably Wright if he is healthy, had he not gotten hurt, he was pushing for a top 3 CB spot coming out of camp....

Edited December 8, 2015 by stixfix69

[Purple Dawg 96]

"Why the Ravens Defense is playing better" Because that's what they do! The Offense leaves them hanging game after game after game! It's the Offense turn to carry this team but injuries and bad play calling stops this team every time! Offense been in position several times to win games and put it all on the Defense to save the game with a struggling secondary and then when the secondary comes up SHOTE here comes the sniveling and unnecessary finger pointing! Now they will be facing a mobile QB and I can just hear the whining and the Hawks got the memo or maybe from our website about our pocket passers and will surround them like Indians circling wagons! Better make plays this week with QB rolling out the pocket "FIRST" to get the pass off or its a wrap and please don't throw towards Mr Sherman if he shutdown Antonio Brown what do you think he is gonna do to Givens?! TEs will be the best mismatch and not short passes between the LBers and safeties! Gotta sling that Rock like big ben did with shots of the run to beat these dudes!

[verified]

Their only playing better because they know the seasons about to end and they want to try and sure up a job for themselves next year. I hope ozzie blows this team up. some of these guys shouldnt even be in the league

[Minionhunter]

Purple Dawg 96 - where is your qb Controversy now? Now you must have a mobile qb? You would make a great politician with all your flip flopping.

[Minionhunter]

Did the Pats really waive Melvin? If so it just proves Bellicheat signed him just to spite the Ravens.

[The Greek]

i need to see consistency from players before i buy into them. everyone is beginning to love buck allen saying he is the next best thing but i remeber everyone saying the same thing about bernard pierce and look what happened

[stixfix69]

The D is playing better,because they are supposed to....As a season goes on, all i have been saying about the young defense is that as long as they progress every week, and not regress, then it is not a totally lost season....These young guys will be really good next year with all this playing time...No surprise at all about the Defense, none of us really expected the offense to get blown up....Flacco, Forsett, Zuttah, S.Smith, all our TE's....A lot to over come, yet this team is in it every week, so good for the entire team......

Edited December 8, 2015 by stixfix69

[regz1997]

Ok so the goal for our defense next year is pick up where we left off. It'd be great if we didn't need an 8 game slump to finally hit our groove defensively.

[stixfix69]

How spoiled our fan base can get.....We have a bad year, yet can compete in every game, and the Browns who have had so many high draft picks over the last 20 years suck every year....Seriously people, give this team some credit with what they have had to work with....