[News] John Harbaugh Confident Ravens Can Have An 'Excellent Offense'

[20306cab]

As long as Below Average Joe is behind center, nothing will change.

[RaRaRavens]

"[Offensive Coordinator] Marc [Trestman] has his ideas." Yeah? What are they? To pass the ball 4 times with garbage bins for pass blockers in a situation, where you need 7-8 yards for a field goal with RB averaging 5 yards per carry and who has constantly been steamrolling the defense in the second half, with over a minute to go and a time out left??

Harbaugh has always said that we will run the ball until the defense can stop it. Well, the defense couldn't stop the run. Why the hell did Trestman start passing the ball with the game on the line, still enough time left to get 10 yards with 3 downs and let Tucker do what he does best?

I've been critical of Harbs and Flacco in years, but that L was all Trestman. I hope he got some words from Harbaugh, that his b s won't be tolerated anymore.

[The Beak]

Is it me or does this feel like cam Cameron 2.0, this Offense is septic , no separation (what we are accustomed to) no dynamics, Just the same old thing , we never seem to take what the defense gives us , Joe completely shut it down on the last drive , bad reads, poor pass, if he hits a wide open Pitta we win.
If things don't improve we are looking at 8-8 at best.

[Halshayeji]

9 hours ago, surfdude said:

#1 priority is getting the Offensive Line to gel. Seems the unit isn't on the same page most plays.

I don't think its being on the same page. They're just overwhelmed. Harbs said it himself. 3 of the 5 holds were good holds. Our guy just got beat and had no help so he held to protect Flacco from getting crushed.

[Halshayeji]

6 hours ago, dirtybird66 said:

the biggest thing is starting out slow,the raiders got up early so the offense had to get away from the run,then they take what teams give them and thats short yardage plays because they clamp down on the long routes,brilliant plan for them and it worked.

They didn't really... Their first first down conversion was that first TD. We had 4 possessions and stayed as far away from the run as possible for some reason. Even if we were down 14 or 17 before half time, it's not panic time. Just sustain drives and deal with it one possession at a time. 

[Halshayeji]

8 hours ago, Ugly Ball said:

We have an excellent offense !
What's needed is an excellent Offensive Coordinator, that knows what to do with excellent talent!

If any positives can be taken from this game then it's exactly that. The talent is there to be productive and allow the D to win games. It's just the execution is horrible. I honestly can't imagine us playing any worse than that even if we tried to. Starting a game with 3 and outs like that is crazy! 

[20306cab]

"[Offensive Coordinator] Marc [Trestman] has his ideas." Yeah? What are they? To pass the ball 4 times with garbage bins for pass blockers in a situation, where you need 7-8 yards for a field goal with RB averaging 5 yards per carry and who has constantly been steamrolling the defense in the second half, with over a minute to go and a time out left??

Harbaugh has always said that we will run the ball until the defense can stop it. Well, the defense couldn't stop the run. Why the hell did Trestman start passing the ball with the game on the line, still enough time left to get 10 yards with 3 downs and let Tucker do what he does best?

I've been critical of Harbs and Flacco in years, but that L was all Trestman. I hope he got some words from Harbaugh, that his b s won't be tolerated anymore.

If the HEAD COACH has no clue what the OC is going to call, or any input on it, and the $100+ mil, nine year vet QB still can't read a defense or call an audible, then maybe THEY should be gone.

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

It's the same thing every game for the past several years, they play slow the entire first half with what seems to be no sense of urgency then when they are down they start playing more aggressive, taking shots down field, moving the ball in chunks. It's not going to change, that's Harbs formula!

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

"[Offensive Coordinator] Marc [Trestman] has his ideas." Yeah? What are they? To pass the ball 4 times with garbage bins for pass blockers in a situation, where you need 7-8 yards for a field goal with RB averaging 5 yards per carry and who has constantly been steamrolling the defense in the second half, with over a minute to go and a time out left??

Harbaugh has always said that we will run the ball until the defense can stop it. Well, the defense couldn't stop the run. Why the hell did Trestman start passing the ball with the game on the line, still enough time left to get 10 yards with 3 downs and let Tucker do what he does best?

I've been critical of Harbs and Flacco in years, but that L was all Trestman. I hope he got some words from Harbaugh, that his b s won't be tolerated anymore.

You really think that was Trestmans fault - did you see how pathetic the offensive line played or did you miss that?

[good_n_purple]

I have never liked Trestman and he has not shown me anything to make me change my mind. He is supposed to be an offensive wonk who eats, and sleeps this stuff. Well, he is a starving insomniac at this point. I can't see the games most of the time where I live, but listen to them. Even I can see Trestman's gameplans are crap, and he has no feel for the game...AT ALL!

There is plenty of blame to go around. We all know Joe is not a quick read or release...he needs time and the O-line is terrible. The front office should be ashamed of themselves they did nothing to address the lack of quality backups in the off season. Hurst has no business on ANY NFL roster, Jensen may have the right attitude but lacks matching talent, and Zuttah should just stop pretending or work harder. So, center, LG, and LT this past game were turnstiles.

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

As long as Below Average Joe is behind center, nothing will change.

Righttttt, below average Joe. (rolling eyes)

[catgirl54]

Pass protection, anyone? You pay a gazillion dollars for a quarterback in this league, but no one wants to pay a good left tackle. It makes no sense. Also, where is our running game? It looked like we had too many backs in the pre-season and now we're basically down to West. hard to win games that way.

[Ravenshine]

So more talk of passing deep. Thus far it hasn't been successful besides an occasional SS catch or Wallace. But most deep passes have been wasted downs. The worst I saw in game was a couple games back we were 3rd down and 2... what do we do? Throw deep for an incomplete. Yet all we needed was 2 yards?? Wasted down and we had to kick, weren't even in field goal range. SO, the run game proved effective Sunday. Moving the ball into contention for points. Yet no real talk here of amping the run game and still touting that deep pass threat which so far hasn't been anything near a threat and more of a drive killer. Especially due to WHEN the decide to go deep, ex. 3rd and 2.

I get that they have the speed and want to utilize that. But what about balance? In RR era there was a balanced run vs pass attack and it most often worked in games and the two assaults supported each other. Also, on short yardage plays just go to TE or short pass to anyone instead of trying to 'trick' the opponent and execute a deep route because our opponents have be predicting we're doing that anyway, and they've been there to break up those plays. And, by comparison, the short pass works (at tricking opponent) because it's a quick execution play they can't always see coming and we have enough weapons out there to serve as decoys while Joe connects with any one of them who gets open. We get those few yards and a 1st down.

[barneslc@sbcglobal.net]

Why? Are they going to fire Trestman? If so, I think he may be right.

[The Greek]

lets kick some skins butt this sunday. dominate in all phases

[whobilly]

This whole article is nothing but crap. After all this time, money spent and high draft picks made to create a potent offense, we still have none. All this baloney talk about how fast our wide receivers are and how we will be going deep, we have seen absolutely none of that. The majority of passes thrown are either at or behind the line of scrimmage. It is infuriating that on third down, the Ravens always throw short of the first down marker. What the heck good is that? Take notice of what Pittsburgh did to K.C. We are no better than the Chiefs. We had better wake the heck up and win the next 3, because after the break, we get the top teams and man it will be ugly.

Every week is a new week. I also noticed what Pittsburgh did against Philly. Ya know, throwing short of the sticks on third down, etc.

[Obie]

I've seen better high school play calling, trestmans qgotta go.

[ravenwildman]

The offense has the potential to be awesome, if they stop shooting themselves in the foot with dumb penalties. It's tough going when you start going backwards, it takes the momentum right out of a drive, extra when negating good plays in the process. I know that Flacco keeps talking about big chunk plays, and they are good, but if the routes take a long time to develop then odds are that the pass rush will get to him more often than not. Two 5 yard passes is 10 yards and a first down, sure a 65 yard on a post is great, but if you don't keep the intermediate threat in their face they will blitz/stunt and get to Flacco, I don't care how good the pass blocking is. The Raiders got the ball out fast on short passes (knowing our pass rush was strong). Sure they had less yards overall, but they won. GO RAVENS! CB 25

[Wildwest Raven]

Hey Coach!...I guess being "UGLY" is not cuttin' it and preseason might have value, if it takes a quarter of the season to assess our team. Keep trying to explain things away, but reality is on the field.

[The Greek]

fix the o-line, cut back on the drive killing penalties and the offense will improve immensely. LG&C seem to be the most inconsistent thus far.

[Rav'n Maniac]

Penalties are a huge problem for us. We are the 3rd highest team in penalties.
We won't be able to cut them all out, but we have to eliminate the ***Stupid*** ones.

Wallace's unsportsman like conduct
Aiken's OPI (did he really need to run over his defender)
Aiken's "blatant" running into the returner

Come on guys, this is not Pop Warner football.

[RavenLunatic]

I can tell you what the Ravens offense is good at. Penalties. And they were committed by veteran backup players!!! Inexcusable. And there is only one option as far as a good plan is concerned. Stop committing penalties. Good grief, the Ravens were at home and Trestman goes no huddle and the team shot itself in the foot non-stop which gave Oakland even more time to settle into the game. That killed the game for us, right there and then. Discipline folks! And this is on the coaching staff. Clearly the players aren't properly prepared.

[RavenLunatic]

Hey Coach!...I guess being "UGLY" is not cuttin' it and preseason might have value, if it takes a quarter of the season to assess our team. Keep trying to explain things away, but reality is on the field.

Amen.

[cobrajet]

So more talk of passing deep. Thus far it hasn't been successful besides an occasional SS catch or Wallace. But most deep passes have been wasted downs. The worst I saw in game was a couple games back we were 3rd down and 2... what do we do? Throw deep for an incomplete. Yet all we needed was 2 yards?? Wasted down and we had to kick, weren't even in field goal range. SO, the run game proved effective Sunday. Moving the ball into contention for points. Yet no real talk here of amping the run game and still touting that deep pass threat which so far hasn't been anything near a threat and more of a drive killer. Especially due to WHEN the decide to go deep, ex. 3rd and 2.

I get that they have the speed and want to utilize that. But what about balance? In RR era there was a balanced run vs pass attack and it most often worked in games and the two assaults supported each other. Also, on short yardage plays just go to TE or short pass to anyone instead of trying to 'trick' the opponent and execute a deep route because our opponents have be predicting we're doing that anyway, and they've been there to break up those plays. And, by comparison, the short pass works (at tricking opponent) because it's a quick execution play they can't always see coming and we have enough weapons out there to serve as decoys while Joe connects with any one of them who gets open. We get those few yards and a 1st down.

I agree, so far deep shots have for this team have just wasted a valuable down. With our o-line and the pressure Joe is under, it is going to be pure luck that any deep pass is accurate or a receiver can run behind the coverage. How about just passing up field for an easy completion. That would be a good change of pace. If you are going to dump it off, then use a big man like Juice that will be hard to bring down more then once a game.

[Ravenshine]

  6 hours ago, Ravenshine said:

So more talk of passing deep. Thus far it hasn't been successful besides an occasional SS catch or Wallace. But most deep passes have been wasted downs. The worst I saw in game was a couple games back we were 3rd down and 2... what do we do? Throw deep for an incomplete. Yet all we needed was 2 yards?? Wasted down and we had to kick, weren't even in field goal range. SO, the run game proved effective Sunday. Moving the ball into contention for points. Yet no real talk here of amping the run game and still touting that deep pass threat which so far hasn't been anything near a threat and more of a drive killer. Especially due to WHEN the decide to go deep, ex. 3rd and 2.

I get that they have the speed and want to utilize that. But what about balance? In RR era there was a balanced run vs pass attack and it most often worked in games and the two assaults supported each other. Also, on short yardage plays just go to TE or short pass to anyone instead of trying to 'trick' the opponent and execute a deep route because our opponents have be predicting we're doing that anyway, and they've been there to break up those plays. And, by comparison, the short pass works (at tricking opponent) because it's a quick execution play they can't always see coming and we have enough weapons out there to serve as decoys while Joe connects with any one of them who gets open. We get those few yards and a 1st down.

I agree, so far deep shots have for this team have just wasted a valuable down. With our o-line and the pressure Joe is under, it is going to be pure luck that any deep pass is accurate or a receiver can run behind the coverage. How about just passing up field for an easy completion. That would be a good change of pace. If you are going to dump it off, then use a big man like Juice that will be hard to bring down more then once a game.

Yes, and considering the pressure they put Joe under in those plays, interceptions, deflections and flumbles become a concern. So, they should address the Oline protection if deep plays are that important. I personally (vs what maybe Joe Flacco wants) only want to occasionally see the deep pass, and have it be 'a part' of their system not its main go-to play. I just get the feeling Joe and coaches, possibly some of the players see this deep passing approach as a main game winning strategy. It worked in Denver in 2012 and we all loved the glamor of it...and it's worked other times when we play from behind to help us catch up and win. But they should be fixing the mistakes that get us behind in score with our opponents in the first place too. Cause it's a gamble type of play thus not a consistent strategy. So it's about not getting too enamored with a certain style of play and working to be consistent in all levels of playing offense and thus become unpredictable to our opponents. Because I think these other teams have pretty well figured out the Ravens offense is looking for the deep target every set of downs lol.

[Crusader]

Yea they could if they had an offensive line that kept Joe "clean"