[News] Eisenberg: Ravens' No. 1 Problem Is Not What You Think It Is

[BR News]

Nope, it's not penalties. It's not allowing too many big plays on defense either. It's not even the common gripe of not 'taking the points' with fields goals on fourth down instead of going for it. Those are all factors, but they're not the Ravens' biggest problem.

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[Fastynart]

I usually don't agree with these writers, but, in this case, it is true. The Ravens do not finish off anyone, nor do they score enough TDs when given the opportunities. They are terrible on short yardage situations and Flacco is too inconsistent to lead a sustained drive to the end zone. Harbaugh is a terrible clock manager, constantly blowing needless time outs, and Flacco is no better. Three times last Sunday the Ravens were either penalized for Delay of Game or a time out had to be called to prevent it. The Ravens have one more chance to actually win a game before the break and before the competition gets a lot more difficult. They have blown three opportunities for breathing room and let downs. Now, they once again have their backs to the wall and it is no one's fault but theirs.

[ravens4life86]

While Redzone efficiancy is a valid point... it would be more valid it the Oline was 100%
Sorry Eisenberg, Ravens are losing because Coach Horrible chasing points, and still passing 40 plus times a game.

Your redzone is not going to be as good without all pro Yanda,Stanley

They better get these key guys back Asap...because im not watching another 5-11 trainwreck

[Raven1995]

I don't agree on the field goal analysis. Tucker should have between 18 and 21 field goals and that's not counting the ones penalties drove them out of field goal range. He should of had 2 more try's in the Giant game. Harbaugh doesn't have to go for it all the time on fourth down, if they miss the Momentum switch's to the other team. Same thing in the Redskin game. We were leading 10 to 0, and Boom Momentum switched and Washington's defense looked like the 2000 Ravens.

[bluehen]

If you are on the 1 yard line and after 3 running plays, you are loosing yardage, the odds of another run play succeeding are not great!

[pocket]

31 minutes ago, Fastynart said:

I usually don't agree with these writers, but, in this case, it is true. The Ravens do not finish off anyone, nor do they score enough TDs when given the opportunities. They are terrible on short yardage situations and Flacco is too inconsistent to lead a sustained drive to the end zone. Harbaugh is a terrible clock manager, constantly blowing needless time outs, and Flacco is no better. Three times last Sunday the Ravens were either penalized for Delay of Game or a time out had to be called to prevent it. The Ravens have one more chance to actually win a game before the break and before the competition gets a lot more difficult. They have blown three opportunities for breathing room and let downs. Now, they once again have their backs to the wall and it is no one's fault but theirs.

It is their job to know and do. It is ours to see if they can. If they can't or don't, we stop watching. 

Edited October 18, 2016 by pocket

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Just seems like there is no put em away instinct.

[metalraven]

Just seems like there is no put em away instinct.

Correct. Even if they had score just ONE MORE TD in these games, there are still so many problems with this team.

[roamingcharges]

John I guess you're trying to say the Ravens aren't good at converting on third down... and that gets magnified in the Red Zone. The issues with this team can be trailed back to not having "alpha dogs"; those guys who just won't lose... players who hold their peers accountable. Right now the players are just playing, winning or losing, and collecting paychecks... When you get those Ed Reeds and Ray Lewises things will get better. Remember the last time the Ravens blew a team out or simply beat another team comfortably, any team even the terrible ones... I don't either.

[AlwaysA_Raven]

1. Stay patient and let the game come to you and transfer that mentality to your players. 2. Avoid penalties. 3. Practice more situational football (i.e. red zone offense and defense; goal line situations, 3rd, and short, two minute offense ...etc) ; it seems to me that's where we need to improve the most.

[Ravenshine]

I'm just gonna have to say I told you so here...because back when we were 3-0 and most here were content with this...I was putting up a telling stat: Ravens just 4TDs total vs other undefeated teams like us back then had 7, 8, 10 TDs total.

I said basically in order to keep up with the teams in this league who were winning games like us...we need to find ways to score TDs so that when we face them...in second half of our season, we can compete with them. Well, turns out it came sooner than that when we played the Raiders. And there will be no let up. After we come back from our bye, we face teams that can easily, easily put up 3+ TDs a game. That's 7 Tucker field goals! Nothing against Tucker, he won us a few close games, but not only is it unreasonable to ask our kicker to do that, it's plain embarrassing to win games that way.

But my point is not that. My point is this: we are just BEGINNING to improve - this last game...new OC, run game working, Oline looked better...but now our fans are, as a majority, getting very upset. Now, just as the team starts to make a positive turn? Yet when they were 3-0 not many people were concerned about lack of scoring and even said they don't care about it as long as we're winning? Well, that's all changed hasn't it? So now ppl are upset...but now is the time the Ravens are actually beginning to show ability of approaching TD level of scoring more often (we got into red zone and made 2 run TDs last game...which previously we had trouble getting into red zone and hung barely in fg range on most drives much less could run it in), yet ppl are not happy. Well, we all should be happy at least that this is getting addressed now as it should have been earlier but wasn't hitting the radar much back then. Some were talking about it, not just me I read others commenting about it even when 3-0 but it wasn't a main topic by any means, not as it is now. So...

Moral of this...jmo but: we learned that no we are NOT as good as our record says, nor as BAD as our record says either ? But in a league where good teams score 3+ TDs a game...that it's critical we are doing this as well. And I still disagree with the general notion that games can be close as long as we win. Why...because that is walking a fine line game after game that can easily sway the other direction. I'm all for winning 'some games' doesn't have to be every game, by 2 scores or more. Why not? Why can't we change that MO? Why does there have to be only one way to win games?

So oddly I was upset with the Ravens when they were 3-0 but I'm not upset with them now because I know they are making the changes some of us wanted to see them make back then, and yet that have more critics now than then so it's all very ironic but had to happen sooner or later.

[Space11jams]

John I guess you're trying to say the Ravens aren't good at converting on third down... and that gets magnified in the Red Zone. The issues with this team can be trailed back to not having "alpha dogs"; those guys who just won't lose... players who hold their peers accountable. Right now the players are just playing, winning or losing, and collecting paychecks... When you get those Ed Reeds and Ray Lewises things will get better. Remember the last time the Ravens blew a team out or simply beat another team comfortably, any team even the terrible ones... I don't either.

OMG those days of Reed and Lewis are GONE. Stop living in the past. Even then we had losing seasons with those two. We have alpha dogs. Suggs and I'm stamping Weedle from how he told it like it was in the press conference. Offense, Yanda, Joe and SSS. No one likes losing and lets not forget we have a fairly new o-line. Joe can't get the ball out if he does not have the protection and you can tell hes not comfortable.

[Space11jams]

Just seems like there is no put em away instinct.

I agree. That last drive they were not aggressive...at...all and that really bothered me. I get Joe is calm and cool which is need but you have to be more upbeat. Why are we getting delay of games causing Harbs to use T/O's? Come on man

[kpfeiffe]

As the field gets shorter, the QB has to make really quick decisions and make reads in tight traffic. Joe doesn't improved or make quick decisions. He has real limitations and it is affecting the team and has been for awhile. He can't put a complete game together after all these years. So inconsistent. So many do nothing but make excuses for him. He hasn't lived up to his contract - his play since the Super Bowl (that was 3 years ago) hasn't been anything special at all. That inconsistent and middling QB play with a fat contract? That's the Ravens biggest problem.

[Space11jams]

While Redzone efficiancy is a valid point... it would be more valid it the Oline was 100%
Sorry Eisenberg, Ravens are losing because Coach Horrible chasing points, and still passing 40 plus times a game.

Your redzone is not going to be as good without all pro Yanda,Stanley

They better get these key guys back Asap...because im not watching another 5-11 trainwreck

I liked the call to go for it. He's right if you cant pick up a first down when you're 4 and 1 then thats a freaking problem. A big problem. Us kicking that FG will not declare us winning the game. The game is called how the game flows. I'm quiet sure different calls would've been made and it probably wouldn't have been the same outcome. I almost can guarantee it. You also can force guys back. That stuff takes time. As much as we want those guys back, if the doctors say their not ready, they can't play. The NFL is different now. You're right, flacco can't throw 40+ but what do you expect when we keep getting 3rd and longs and penalties set us back? You have to throw! lmao

[BigUgly]

Maybe Harbs needs to come to the hard realization that Billick came to - sometimes you just have to be prepared to win ugly, even if that means taking 3 points instead of being aggressive with an offense that can't convert (BTW, aside from penalty-assists, I think we are 0-20 in our last 3rd and long situations).

[Molson Man]

We took the points and rode M. Stover to a Super Bowl. Why now is it an issue 21 out of our last 22 games have been decided by 8 points or less. If we start taking the points it will be just enough. We have proven we can hang with any team consistently we just need a few more points. I get that the red zone issu s is part of the problem, but let's not compound them by not taking what the defense gives us. If it's a field goal fine, at least we will have something to show for it instead of no point because we always want to be aggressive. You can be aggressive in January, for now we just need to stack wins.

[Molson Man]

  1 hour ago, ravens4life86 said:

While Redzone efficiancy is a valid point... it would be more valid it the Oline was 100%
Sorry Eisenberg, Ravens are losing because Coach Horrible chasing points, and still passing 40 plus times a game.

Your redzone is not going to be as good without all pro Yanda,Stanley

They better get these key guys back Asap...because im not watching another 5-11 trainwreck

I liked the call to go for it. He's right if you cant pick up a first down when you're 4 and 1 then thats a freaking problem. A big problem. Us kicking that FG will not declare us winning the game. The game is called how the game flows. I'm quiet sure different calls would've been made and it probably wouldn't have been the same outcome. I almost can guarantee it. You also can force guys back. That stuff takes time. As much as we want those guys back, if the doctors say their not ready, they can't play. The NFL is different now. You're right, flacco can't throw 40+ but what do you expect when we keep getting 3rd and longs and penalties set us back? You have to throw! lmao

This penalty thing is just another blatant Harbaugh flaw. It shows nothing less than a lack of discipline. His calls and lack of keeping his teams emotions in check hurt badly. In the past when this happened our beloved Ray Lewis or Ed Reed would give us the speech we needed to settle down. I just don't see Harbs commanding that type of respect, and he get's ride of the voices capable of doing this for fear of another mutiny. Mabey short yardage is a problem but a bigger one is a lack of motivators on this team. Playmakers aren't motivators, they just make plays. Leaders will always know what to say when it all hits the fan, Harbaugh by his own choice is our only motivator. Ask far as I can tell so far he is speaking unto deaf ears. This all points to the result of 27-29 since we had our great purge of the voices. Ray and Ed retired they dropped Boldin and Pollard, then that same offseason we had a slew of players getting arrested. The J. Jones party bus and the next year the Ray Rice saga. I might not be a math major but this paints a pretty clear total. Harbs must go or change his philosophies so we can get some alpha males back in this team instead of goofy Suggs, who nobody takes seriously because he choose to be a clown the whole time Ray and Ed were here. We have talent and playmakers, a motivator is all we are missing.

[fusuymada]

I guess I don't understand the article. In the beginning he says that the problem isn't all the things he said later in the article are the problem. Then tops it off saying its kicking FGs not touchdowns but aren't the penalties, injuries, and all the other stuff he says the reason we are kicking FGs instead of getting TDs.

As far as put them away instinct, we don't even have the motivation to hurry to the line or get a play off without a delay of game penalty in the last minute and a half, much less have the motivation to put them away.

Where I blame all these things, I blame mostly the coaching. How do we not provide help with Beckham who prior to the last game winning TD already had several big plays against us? Instead the answer is to put a rookie on him. SMH. Then we have been within a field goal in the last two games but we decided not to take a field goal earlier in both games that would have either won the game or set us up on the last drive to win it with a field goal.

Our head coach tells us the reason is that he is aggressive and thats why they make those calls. I tend to not think of it as aggressive I refer to it as gambling with the rent money. I believe it is being too arrogant to know the implications of your actions by not taking points earlier in the game, like your offense can just rip off 20 or 30 points at the drop of a hat. I don't know whether anyone told Harbaugh, but our offense sucks this year. If your offense sucks you take points when you can get them you don't gamble with what you can't afford to lose.

Harbaugh is a gambler who is so addicted to gambling that even though he knows that it is his rent money, he feels he is going to win so there is no risk. Hey John, they have a phone number you can call to get help with the gambling away our victory problem you have. You know, where you are gambling away victory after victory like you are a division leader when in reality, you just blew the rent money three months in a row. Now that the eviction notice is in the mail, he is like that gambler who is now blaming the electric bill, the cable bill, the car payment, Uncle Sam and everything else except the problem he has with gambling.  Yet when questioned about it he says that is who he is and he isn't going to change.  This guy needs an intervention.

Edited October 18, 2016 by fusuymada
additional thoughts

[Molson Man]

As the field gets shorter, the QB has to make really quick decisions and make reads in tight traffic. Joe doesn't improved or make quick decisions. He has real limitations and it is affecting the team and has been for awhile. He can't put a complete game together after all these years. So inconsistent. So many do nothing but make excuses for him. He hasn't lived up to his contract - his play since the Super Bowl (that was 3 years ago) hasn't been anything special at all. That inconsistent and middling QB play with a fat contract? That's the Ravens biggest problem.

While I agree about Flacco's progression or lack there of, he earned that contract while playing on his BS rookie contract. The way he is playing now should effect any other contract negotiations he may have from here on out. Unfortunately that's the way it works people like Revis and Owens tried to change that, by negotiating every year but eventually they to learned the truth. That just gets you on a new team.

[Raven Quill]

Come on, let's call it like it is. The problem is Flacco. I'd love to see a ranking of QBs based on yards after the catch, particularly for throws over 15 yards. Some of that, of course, has to do with the receiver, but if you can hit the WR in-stride, he's going to get 5-10 yards after the catch pretty easily. But, if you throw it 4 feet over his head or 2 feet behind him so he has to make a ridiculous move to even have a shot at the ball (and then get clobbered), you get no extra yardage. Now, you can say, we won a SuperBowl with those throws, and you're right. But, it's because we had Boldin standing on his head to make those catches. And then we let him go and gave Flacco $100 million. We should have kept Boldin and sold Flacco high.

The other problem with Flacco is that he is not a student of the game. When Peyton Manning was playing, they would show him on the sidelines after each drive and he would be reviewing pictures of defensive formations and talking with his receivers. Every time they show Flacco on the sidelines, he's on the bench by himself staring into space. He's not continuously striving to improve his game...and hasn't.

[sami]

Eisenberg is wrong. It IS the penalties. Weve had so many penalties that ends good drives and so many penalties that have let the other teams offense out of a hole that we would be 6-0 if we didn't commit penalties. We cleanup the penalties and we win the games.

[Molson Man]

I'm just gonna have to say I told you so here...because back when we were 3-0 and most here were content with this...I was putting up a telling stat: Ravens just 4TDs total vs other undefeated teams like us back then had 7, 8, 10 TDs total.

I said basically in order to keep up with the teams in this league who were winning games like us...we need to find ways to score TDs so that when we face them...in second half of our season, we can compete with them. Well, turns out it came sooner than that when we played the Raiders. And there will be no let up. After we come back from our bye, we face teams that can easily, easily put up 3+ TDs a game. That's 7 Tucker field goals! Nothing against Tucker, he won us a few close games, but not only is it unreasonable to ask our kicker to do that, it's plain embarrassing to win games that way.

But my point is not that. My point is this: we are just BEGINNING to improve - this last game...new OC, run game working, Oline looked better...but now our fans are, as a majority, getting very upset. Now, just as the team starts to make a positive turn? Yet when they were 3-0 not many people were concerned about lack of scoring and even said they don't care about it as long as we're winning? Well, that's all changed hasn't it? So now ppl are upset...but now is the time the Ravens are actually beginning to show ability of approaching TD level of scoring more often (we got into red zone and made 2 run TDs last game...which previously we had trouble getting into red zone and hung barely in fg range on most drives much less could run it in), yet ppl are not happy. Well, we all should be happy at least that this is getting addressed now as it should have been earlier but wasn't hitting the radar much back then. Some were talking about it, not just me I read others commenting about it even when 3-0 but it wasn't a main topic by any means, not as it is now. So...

Moral of this...jmo but: we learned that no we are NOT as good as our record says, nor as BAD as our record says either ? But in a league where good teams score 3+ TDs a game...that it's critical we are doing this as well. And I still disagree with the general notion that games can be close as long as we win. Why...because that is walking a fine line game after game that can easily sway the other direction. I'm all for winning 'some games' doesn't have to be every game, by 2 scores or more. Why not? Why can't we change that MO? Why does there have to be only one way to win games?

So oddly I was upset with the Ravens when they were 3-0 but I'm not upset with them now because I know they are making the changes some of us wanted to see them make back then, and yet that have more critics now than then so it's all very ironic but had to happen sooner or later.

We have proven over the last 22 games that it will be close no matter who we play. Even in 2014 we were awful on defense and almost out scored a patriots team who went on to win the Super Bowl, and we hadn't put up that many points all year. Trust me points are points with this team, as you can see we don't really like to score until it seams hopeless. Then mabey we'll punch one in there.

[SanDiegan Raven]

I agree with John to an extent. True we're not scoring touchdowns which is the major problem. The question is why? It comes back to offensive penalties that kill drives. You're going to complete 3rd and forever often. So, yes, TDs is the problem but penalties are the contributing factor why drives are stalling and prohibiting the ability to score TDs. Play calling was an issue but the balance has returned.

As far as not taking points or "chasing points" I agree with John E completely here. The Ravens have far too long been reliant upon Justin Tucker. Best kicker in the league? Absolutely, but I'm not sending him out there on 4th and a foot. If you can't get a foot that's an offensive line issue. You just got punked and owned up front, period. If I'm Harbs I'm going for it too. That's a situation where you as a player need to man up and beat the man across from you.

Lastly, I have no issues with John being aggressive. The fake FG was a good call and we would be singing the praises of a Belichick-type gutsy call. As Harbs said, nobody is complaining about the 4th down from their own 35 because they got it and subsequently scored a TD no less. You only hear and complain about the ones they don't get. We're 3-3 and it's not the end of the world. Not to mention 2 of the losses came to non-conference play. If you have to take a loss those the best ones to take. It's time for players to play "pissed-off" and with an edge that doesn't cross over to penalties. That's truly what this team needs- some nasty!

[ravens4life86]

Space11jams, we agree to disagree..
You give coach horrible a pass Im not. He wanted a less flambouyant, less talented..more overachieving high character type team...in his mold.
Hes got it.
And every week his decisions or lack thereof swing the game. Im not going for it on 4th down like we are the Greatest show on turf. And he had a defiant stance in his presser like "if thats the HC you want thsts what I'll be" uh coach..I want you to understand who the NFL is and Ravens are.

Ravens historically play close games, NFL historically is a 1 possession league..so he can give rhetoric about different games and outcomes etc...but proof is in the pudding games wouldnt change Ravens always play close games..

So dont p on me and tell me its raining. Harbaugh passing on points is costing the team wins

[Molson Man]

Eisenberg is wrong. It IS the penalties. Weve had so many penalties that ends good drives and so many penalties that have let the other teams offense out of a hole that we would be 6-0 if we didn't commit penalties. We cleanup the penalties and we win the games.

In 2012 we lead the league in penalties, the next year Seattle lead the league in penalties and they to won a Super Bowl. Penalties can be overcome by just going out there and making a play to rectify your previous mistake. That's what we don't do so well yet, that being said I liked the rhythm and flow of week one for our new OC. I think in the coming week we will be scoring a lot more points, but we still need to balance out our ratio. Honestly that penalty they called on NYG at the end of our last drive was complete BS, but they overcame that.

[SanDiegan Raven]

We took the points and rode M. Stover to a Super Bowl. Why now is it an issue 21 out of our last 22 games have been decided by 8 points or less. If we start taking the points it will be just enough. We have proven we can hang with any team consistently we just need a few more points. I get that the red zone issu s is part of the problem, but let's not compound them by not taking what the defense gives us. If it's a field goal fine, at least we will have something to show for it instead of no point because we always want to be aggressive. You can be aggressive in January, for now we just need to stack wins.

Sorry but I disagree. Be aggressive in September and in February. Saints vs. Colts Super Bowl, start of the 2nd half, Payton goes for an onside kick. Aggressive? Yes! 99% of people won't do that but it was a contributing factor in winning the game. There is a fine line between aggressive and stupid and IMO Harbs hasn't crossed that line. The timing of the calls have been good and they just haven't succeeded. This is the heat you take when you fail.

[Raven Quill]

I guess I don't understand the article. In the beginning he says that the problem isn't all the things he said later in the article are the problem. Then tops it off saying its kicking FGs not touchdowns but aren't the penalties, injuries, and all the other stuff he says the reason we are kicking FGs instead of getting TDs.

As far as put them away instinct, we don't even have the motivation to hurry to the line or get a play off without a delay of game penalty in the last minute and a half, much less have the motivation to put them away.

Where I blame all these things, I blame mostly the coaching. How do we not provide help with Beckham who prior to the last game winning TD already had several big plays against us? Instead the answer is to put a rookie on him. SMH. Then we have been within a field goal in the last two games but we decided not to take a field goal earlier in both games that would have either won the game or set us up on the last drive to win it with a field goal.

Our head coach tells us the reason is that he is aggressive and thats why they make those calls. I tend to not think of it as aggressive I refer to it as gambling with the rent money. I believe it is being too arrogant to know the implications of your actions by not taking points earlier in the game, like your offense can just rip off 20 or 30 points at the drop of a hat. I don't know whether anyone told Harbaugh, but our offense sucks this year. If your offense sucks you take points when you can get them you don't gamble with what you can't afford to lose.

Harbaugh is a gambler who is so addicted to gambling that even though he knows that it is his rent money, he feels he is going to win so there is no risk. Hey John, they have a phone number you can call to get help with the gambling away our victory problem you have. You know, where you are gambling away victory after victory like you are a division leader when in reality, you just blew the rent money three months in a row. Now that the eviction notice is in the mail, he is like that gambler who is now blaming the electric bill, the cable bill, the car payment, Uncle Sam and everything else except the problem he has with gambling.

Re Beckham, Jimmy Smith owned him in the first half. But, when he went down with a concussion, there was no one that was going to keep up. Then we lost a second CB in the game and that's all she wrote.

[SanDiegan Raven]

Maybe Harbs needs to come to the hard realization that Billick came to - sometimes you just have to be prepared to win ugly, even if that means taking 3 points instead of being aggressive with an offense that can't convert (BTW, aside from penalty-assists, I think we are 0-20 in our last 3rd and long situations).

Billick had arguably the best defense in history. Players just need to man up and execute.

[Molson Man]

1. Stay patient and let the game come to you and transfer that mentality to your players. 2. Avoid penalties. 3. Practice more situational football (i.e. red zone offense and defense; goal line situations, 3rd, and short, two minute offense ...etc) ; it seems to me that's where we need to improve the most.

Other than the patriots no team practices those situations more than us already. It seems to me like it's more of a lack of respect thing towards Harbs. Why else wouldn't this become second nature as you suggest. I agree on paper your right, but when you inquire to who practices these situations more, the ravens are right at the top just below the pats.