Ravens Strategy 2016

[letitgosometimes]

The Ravens strategy for 2016 is to play boring, focused, controlled football.  Boring means no wasted energy on showboating.  Focused means all players understand that the game changes with every down and reacts accordingly.  Controlled football means the Ravens capture the momentum and keep it on offense and defense.  This season is not about fantasy individual statistics; rather it is about achieving team victories.  Pensive football will produce positive outcomes for the Ravens.    

[FlocksGottaFeed]

1 hour ago, letitgosometimes said:

The Ravens strategy for 2016 is to play boring, focused, controlled football.  Boring means no wasted energy on showboating.  Focused means all players understand that the game changes with every down and reacts accordingly.  Controlled football means the Ravens capture the momentum and keep it on offense and defense.  This season is not about fantasy individual statistics; rather it is about achieving team victories.  Pensive football will produce positive outcomes for the Ravens.    

 

 

 

I like the topic. Cerebral. By 'boring' are you talking about 'no celebrating as a team... or no individual celebrations like our last Superbowl team was known for...or simply being like the teams from before Billie White Shoes Johnson and Deon Sanders? I'm all with your strategy statement, but the 'showboating and stats thing eludes me. 

[CalvinSmoke]

Harbaugh has never been about Stata padding or flash. He wants fundamental football, controll the clock, force turn overs, get the lead and sit on the lead. 

[FlocksGottaFeed]

21 minutes ago, CalvinSmoke said:

Harbaugh has never been about Stata padding or flash. He wants fundamental football, controll the clock, force turn overs, get the lead and sit on the lead. 

One of Harb's (Along with Ray Lewis, Reed, Suggs and most Raven players, etc.) biggest influences as a kid was Ali. Not fundamental at all. Harb's been known for doing the unexpected, taking risk and celebrating individuality to produce a winning culture. Far from boring if anyone studies Ravens Culture...boldness and flash has definitely worked.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Late-For-Work-66-John-Harbaugh-Ray-Lewis-React-To-Passing-Of-Muhammad-Ali/53910030-657c-4516-8222-1aa18977141c

[kjbmore]

Bit early on but if our defense keeps up its current look I envisage some high scoring shoot outs, given our weapons on offense. 

We may play a little bit more controlled and try and milk the clock but when people are walking up and down the field on our D. Joe will be asked to keep us in the game.

was last season the most points we've ever scored in a season?

[Wildabeast88]

No stupid penalties, get off the field on 3rd down, convert 3rd and short, stay healthy, sounds like a winning formula to me.

[Somerset Ravens]

Control the line of scrimmage consistently and eliminate pre-snap penalties.

[sibelius]

Run early, run often. Build passing game chemistry with short, intermediate throws and blow the lid off with play action. 

[Rubberslinky1]

I'd really like to see them stretch the field vertically with Wallace and Perriman. This would open up the short routes for Steve smith and take some guys out of the box for the run game.

[January J]

Win the turnover battle and we will win games. We also need to dominate the time of possession. Get early leads and then Just tire teams down by pounding the rock. That is the winning formula and ravens football. 

[The Mom Gene]

Just Win Baby!

[RaineV1]

Personally, I'm not a fan of having a strict strategy you try to stick to. The best strategy is to try to be as flexible as possible and focus on attacking whatever the other team is weak against. It's worked well for the Patriots.

[ellicottraven]

Just don't give the ball away by turn overs or penalties. Win the time of possession battle every game and keep the defense fresh to hunt. If we do that we cannot lose a single game.

[757RavensFan]

17 hours ago, letitgosometimes said:

The Ravens strategy for 2016 is to play boring, focused, controlled football.  Boring means no wasted energy on showboating.  Focused means all players understand that the game changes with every down and reacts accordingly.  Controlled football means the Ravens capture the momentum and keep it on offense and defense.  This season is not about fantasy individual statistics; rather it is about achieving team victories.  Pensive football will produce positive outcomes for the Ravens. win!

 

 

 

fixed it for ya. 

[FlocksGottaFeed]

18 hours ago, letitgosometimes said:

This season is not about fantasy individual statistics...

Agreed. It's not all about this; however, there's an obvious contradiction to this concept.

'Fantasy' football individual stats don't completely translate to winning football, but they always translate to winning team championships. (Look at individual 'fantasy' stats since it began and look at at the ranking of Super Bowl teams, individuals and units) It's a great indicator that individual successes feed team success.

The thing is...without consistent, competitive 'individual' high performance stats that are a direct reflection and out-liner of relative offensive/defensive/special teams units and ultimately team performance stats - we don't have the luxury of melting the clock with a lead. It's an indicator that individuals haven't performed to high enough levels to 'capture' any momentum or even have a lead.

Playing 'boring' has it's place, but only when we demand high energy individual play, all-out risk taking coaching and 'ball so hard' team swag to get there. That's the Ravens Way (i.e. Do Your Thang!). The Strategy: Play like Ravens!   

[Tank 92]

Festivus Maximus

[The Raven]

What we have to do better at is just staying on schedule on offense. Under Kubiak, we got steady gains on each down. We frequently faced 3rd and 4 or less. That's a dream scenario for a coordinator. You can stay unpredictable on 3rd down. 

Last year, we faced 3rd and 10 way too much. We need to move the ball on first and second down better. We do that, we win.

On defense, we need to blow up gaps and let our front seven disrupt, and we need to stop playing afraid on the back end. Play for the pick, play for the hit. The issue on the front seven has been athleticism. We have that now. I think the issue on the back end has been mentality and talent. I think we have that now.

[Maryland]

Allow teams to dink and dunk their way into our red zone but hold them to a field goal. 

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

13 hours ago, Maryland said:

Allow teams to dink and dunk their way into our red zone but hold them to a field goal. 

I know people hate this... but its often effective as long as the offense puts up points.

We let the Colts drive twice in to the redzone, and usually if you give a team just enough rope - they end up hanging themselves. Especially if they get used to cruising and then you suddenly clamp down and ramp up the intensity in the red zone, theyre not ready for it - it disrupts their rhythm and often leads to mistakes. Thus settling for FGs bc they cant move the ball anymore, or commit stupid penalty killing drives.... or even better turn the ball over.

 

The more plays the offense has to run to move the ball down the field, the more opportunities our D has to make a game changing play. If they score in 1, well thats it.

The key ultimately is that the offense HAS TO MOVE THE BALL. First to give the defense necessary rest after long drives where they dont get the turnover or quick 3 and out... but also bc we need to at least put up FGs.

 

Its really a great strategy. If you can force FGs, and score TDs you only have to be 50% as successful as your opposition. All in theory of course. Doesnt always play out that way as we've seen first hand.

[berad]

6 minutes ago, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

I know people hate this... but its often effective as long as the offense puts up points.

We let the Colts drive twice in to the redzone, and usually if you give a team just enough rope - they end up hanging themselves. Especially if they get used to cruising and then you suddenly clamp down and ramp up the intensity in the red zone, theyre not ready for it - it disrupts their rhythm and often leads to mistakes. Thus settling for FGs bc they cant move the ball anymore, or commit stupid penalty killing drives.... or even better turn the ball over.

 

The more plays the offense has to run to move the ball down the field, the more opportunities our D has to make a game changing play. If they score in 1, well thats it.

The key ultimately is that the offense HAS TO MOVE THE BALL. First to give the defense necessary rest after long drives where they dont get the turnover or quick 3 and out... but also bc we need to at least put up FGs.

 

Its really a great strategy. If you can force FGs, and score TDs you only have to be 50% as successful as your opposition. All in theory of course. Doesnt always play out that way as we've seen first hand.

We've invested enough resources and have enough good players on defense that we shouldn't have to settle for the 'bend but don't break' nonsense for the whole season. Just annoys me because it wasn't that long ago where the Ravens defense was something the other team actually had to prepare for... recently, every other analyst starts a segment on the Ravens with 'well the purple and black has been known for defense BUT...'

The 'offense has to stay on the field' is kind of hypocritical because there is a finite amount of time in a game and if the defense cannot get off the field and gives the opposing offense a ton of TOP, then the amount of TOP the Ravens offense can get is limited.

Things the Ravens will need to fix from last season, applies to both offense and defense:

- Better 3rd down percentage

- Turnover differential

- Line play / pass rush

[ellicottraven]

1 hour ago, berad said:

We've invested enough resources and have enough good players on defense that we shouldn't have to settle for the 'bend but don't break' nonsense for the whole season. Just annoys me because it wasn't that long ago where the Ravens defense was something the other team actually had to prepare for... recently, every other analyst starts a segment on the Ravens with 'well the purple and black has been known for defense BUT...'

The 'offense has to stay on the field' is kind of hypocritical because there is a finite amount of time in a game and if the defense cannot get off the field and gives the opposing offense a ton of TOP, then the amount of TOP the Ravens offense can get is limited.

Things the Ravens will need to fix from last season, applies to both offense and defense:

- Better 3rd down percentage

- Turnover differential

- Line play / pass rush

Ever since we began rationalizing poor defensive play with the 'we'll bend but won't break' logic, we have lost that defensive mojo that personified the Baltimore Ravens. The only way we get that back is to never bend and forget about breaking strategy for a full 60 minutes! Hopefully Harbaugh has put Pees on notice regarding that strategy.

[JoeyFlex5]

15 hours ago, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

I know people hate this... but its often effective as long as the offense puts up points.

We let the Colts drive twice in to the redzone, and usually if you give a team just enough rope - they end up hanging themselves. Especially if they get used to cruising and then you suddenly clamp down and ramp up the intensity in the red zone, theyre not ready for it - it disrupts their rhythm and often leads to mistakes. Thus settling for FGs bc they cant move the ball anymore, or commit stupid penalty killing drives.... or even better turn the ball over.

 

The more plays the offense has to run to move the ball down the field, the more opportunities our D has to make a game changing play. If they score in 1, well thats it.

The key ultimately is that the offense HAS TO MOVE THE BALL. First to give the defense necessary rest after long drives where they dont get the turnover or quick 3 and out... but also bc we need to at least put up FGs.

 

Its really a great strategy. If you can force FGs, and score TDs you only have to be 50% as successful as your opposition. All in theory of course. Doesnt always play out that way as we've seen first hand.

i have no idea if this is legit or not, but ive always felt like we do pretty decent at turnovers very close to the endzone. i feel like we are horrible in the 20-10 yard range but if a team lands inside the 10 then we do very well, and i feel like we force a lot of turnovers in that area. ive never bothered to look up the stats to see where we compare to others, but ive always felt we do well there. 

 

that said, even if there are stats to confirm this(which i have no idea if there are) i think bend but dont break is just a horrible idea and unless you are a top 5 turnover team then it just becomes an excuse. bend but dont break, when executed properly, tends to force a lot of fumbles on catch and tackle plays, and with the play always staying in front of the db it is supposed to make for an easy play on the ball a few times a game, so when the philosophy is done right it should result in turnovers often, but if youre not getting those turnovers then i think its ultimately just an excuse for not playing good defense between the 20s. those long drives kill momentum, even if a fg is given up, any momentum you had on offense is dead when you gave up a 6 minute drive resulting in points, and the opposing defense getting a nice long breather makes it far more difficult to get a rhythm back. its all fine and dandy if your offense moves the ball like bellichicks offense, but most teams cant come close to that precision and consistency. 

to put it simply, bend but dont break doesnt work for this team.

[January J]

5 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

i have no idea if this is legit or not, but ive always felt like we do pretty decent at turnovers very close to the endzone. i feel like we are horrible in the 20-10 yard range but if a team lands inside the 10 then we do very well, and i feel like we force a lot of turnovers in that area. ive never bothered to look up the stats to see where we compare to others, but ive always felt we do well there. 

 

that said, even if there are stats to confirm this(which i have no idea if there are) i think bend but dont break is just a horrible idea and unless you are a top 5 turnover team then it just becomes an excuse. bend but dont break, when executed properly, tends to force a lot of fumbles on catch and tackle plays, and with the play always staying in front of the db it is supposed to make for an easy play on the ball a few times a game, so when the philosophy is done right it should result in turnovers often, but if youre not getting those turnovers then i think its ultimately just an excuse for not playing good defense between the 20s. those long drives kill momentum, even if a fg is given up, any momentum you had on offense is dead when you gave up a 6 minute drive resulting in points, and the opposing defense getting a nice long breather makes it far more difficult to get a rhythm back. its all fine and dandy if your offense moves the ball like bellichicks offense, but most teams cant come close to that precision and consistency. 

to put it simply, bend but dont break doesnt work for this team.

Agreed- really wish we would switch that philosophy. If our d struggles i think pees is givin the hook by week 6 and hopefully frazier comes in and gets rid of that b.s strategy.

[JoeyFlex5]

3 hours ago, January J said:

Agreed- really wish we would switch that philosophy. If our d struggles i think pees is givin the hook by week 6 and hopefully frazier comes in and gets rid of that b.s strategy.

I wish I could say I agree. I supported pees for years but I can't anymore. His long track record of blowing big leads or late leads is right in line with what he's done here. And I think harbaugh waits it out for the year if pees shows he doesn't have the stuff.

[letitgosometimes]

The Ravens are tactfully brewing a storm.  The defense is attacking the football with the intent of owning the football, while the offensive line is executing power blocking football for ground scorching gains and enabling time for pass-catch finesse through the air.  Undeniable Raven reverberations started in spring training and have intensified through three preseason games providing solid evidence the staid Ravens management and players are taking care of business one game at a time. 

[ERey]

I predicted 12-4. But the defense has to get off the field on 3rd down and be able to make stops to close out the game. These are my two concerns.

[letitgosometimes]

Like the "TCB" letters say on Elvis' plane, it is time for the Ravens to "Take Care of Business".  Send the Washington players home on the bus with a crab cake to wipe off their frowns.

[letitgosometimes]

The Ravens' offensive strategy must be to get the football in the hottest hands as often as possible, whether a running back or receiver.  Echoes of "Give the Ball to Jamal" are no different today than yesterday.  Look around the league and you will see wise play calling to the "Hot Hand".  This strategy is true in basketball as well in other sports.  Too bad the Orioles forgot this strategy in the playoffs, by not putting the baseball in hands of Zach Britton. 

[The Raven]

11 hours ago, letitgosometimes said:

The Ravens' offensive strategy must be to get the football in the hottest hands as often as possible, whether a running back or receiver.  Echoes of "Give the Ball to Jamal" are no different today than yesterday.  Look around the league and you will see wise play calling to the "Hot Hand".  This strategy is true in basketball as well in other sports.  Too bad the Orioles forgot this strategy in the playoffs, by not putting the baseball in hands of Zach Britton. 

 

This is probably the deepest, most insightful analysis I've ever read. Dude, why aren't you coaching?

Oh, and forgetting about Zach Britton isn't the reason we lost. I'm more concerned that we couldn't score more than two runs in twelve innings.

[letitgosometimes]

The Ravens’ strategy to win is captured in two basic numbers: 38 or more passes and 22 or more rushes.  Expect to see four or more field goals as part of the Ravens' strategy to score at every possible opportunity.   Special teams’ strategy is to keep momentum with Ravens the entire game.  This game raises a playoff question that the Ravens are willing to answer.