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

[JamesA119]

Also throw in Joe looks like he just don't care anymore and all of last year issue still exists. I think this team is heading for a cultural change.

I agree with cultural change for sure. By the time everything is settled there's gonna be a big overhaul, and our identity is likely to be something totally different.

[52liveforever]

3 hours ago, law215 said:

The Ravens biggest problem is they lost their winning identity. Currently, the Ravens are a SOFT football team. They traded toughness for finesse. Tough guys for wimps. It hurts to admit it.

Top 10 indicators

1. Your FB dives at LB ankles when lead blocking on the goal line. (Leach, O Neal, Gash would not ever do that)
2. They pass the ball close to 65-70% of the time. Tough teams love to impose their will
3. They dominate no one!
4. Lack emotional leaders. No one looks pissed off after 3 straight losses. They are accepting losing.

Where is the fire?

5. In short yardage, they try tosses and trickery instead of hat on hat blocking.
6. No Dawgs in the locker room.

Webb and J Smith (the 2 top paid DBs) automatically let Weddle be their leader before he made one play wearing purple and black

When Ray was younger, he didn’t let Woodson, Goose, McCrary or even Deon Sanders walk in the locker for him to follow.

7. Ravens have a finesse approach to the offense line.

Ravens used to have guys like Zeus, JO, Mulitalo, Searcy, Birk, and even KO. Tough means guys that knocked people off the ball.

Over the pass few seasons, they have too many guys like Shipley, Monroe, Oher, and Hurst. Too many wimps on that offensive line.

Only Yanda is a PROVEN, consistent tough guy. They got math professors blocking for the $20M QB, and RBs

8. No fear factor on defense. Lewis, Reed, JJ, McAlister, Goose, Herring, A. Thomas, Ngata, Pollard, Landry, B. Scott, Sharper, Hartwell, and C. Williams. The list could go on.

The Ravens use to have guys on defense that tried to knock people out or could make big plays. They were feisty, sometime knuckle headed, but intimidated people from being in the middle of the field.

Who scares you on defense? No one!

9. The best players are over 30 years old and most were drafted by another team
10. Soft players lack mental toughness and discipline

Soft players commit penalties because they are TOO WEAK to block so they hold,
TOO SLOW to keep up so they grab,
They DROP balls because they are more concerned with the hit than making the play
They attempt to tackle with their arms instead of giving up their body and wrapping people up.
They false start because the guy across from them has them scared and insecure

They need to get back to a hard-nosed, smash mouth, AFC North Football

Point 1. Duuude you seriously hit this one on the head. I like Juice in the passing game, but as a fullback you're #1 job is lead blocking. Leach laying Casey Hampton on his butt is what I look for in a fullback.

Point 2. Agreed. We look better when we play smash mouth football. This finesse offense is not us.

Point 3. Nope

Point 4. Totally agree! I was hoping Correa could be this guy, but it seems even his fire was put out with that lack of fuel rendering him completely ineffective.

Point 5. Let West pound it!

Point 6. This goes with 4 a bit. No one wants to lead.

Point 7. I will defend Alex Lewis here. The kid is tough as nails and has played exceedingly well. 

Point 8. Well... With Suggs and Mosely out you have a point.

Point 9. Also true. Hadn't thought about that and now that I have it's pretty disappointing.

Point 10. Disagree here.  I think we have some tough guys on this team. It's point 4 and 6 that kill it. 

[RaRaRavens]

Eisenberg is right about the problem, but wrong about the source of the problem. What I mean, is that failure to get into endzone is not a 1 game performance problem or not even this season thing. The issue runs deeper and the issue is that for some reason we have not been able to groom our draft picks into solid starters, who can make a difference when it matters.

In some games that manifests as an inability to score from 1yard line. In some, as an inability to hold on to the lead at the end of games. But the root of the problem is the quality of our young players.

Our franchise players are getting old, losing their edge and retiring, but we haven't been able to find new, young play makers from the draft (with few bright exceptions on D like Mosley, Williams, Jernigan, but even those guys have been inconsistent at times).

Oz might be a wizard, but a cursed one at that, because all of his great value, high ceiling picks seem not to live up to their advertised high potential, perform below par or not even make it to the field at all. And this has been the story for at least 3 drafts now.

If many of our young guys don't somehow start performing like superstars all of a sudden, then we are probably in for a handful of dark seasons.

Edited October 19, 2016 by RaRaRavens

[craymonham]

We need to trade for 1 offensive lineman. I would not mind us trading a 2nd round pick for it neither. Its time we start taking chances and stop sitting back like we know everything. We need to stop drafting squares and draft some nasty players with a bit of a mean streak.

[billiejean]

The Ravens biggest problem is they lost their winning identity. Currently, the Ravens are a SOFT football team. They traded toughness for finesse. Tough guys for wimps. It hurts to admit it.

Top 10 indicators

1. Your FB dives at LB ankles when lead blocking on the goal line. (Leach, O Neal, Gash would not ever do that)
2. They pass the ball close to 65-70% of the time. Tough teams love to impose their will
3. They dominate no one!
4. Lack emotional leaders. No one looks pissed off after 3 straight losses. They are accepting losing.

Where is the fire?

5. In short yardage, they try tosses and trickery instead of hat on hat blocking.
6. No Dawgs in the locker room.

Webb and J Smith (the 2 top paid DBs) automatically let Weddle be their leader before he made one play wearing purple and black

When Ray was younger, he didn’t let Woodson, Goose, McCrary or even Deon Sanders walk in the locker for him to follow.

7. Ravens have a finesse approach to the offense line.

Ravens used to have guys like Zeus, JO, Mulitalo, Searcy, Birk, and even KO. Tough means guys that knocked people off the ball.

Over the pass few seasons, they have too many guys like Shipley, Monroe, Oher, and Hurst. Too many wimps on that offensive line.

Only Yanda is a PROVEN, consistent tough guy. They got math professors blocking for the $20M QB, and RBs

8. No fear factor on defense. Lewis, Reed, JJ, McAlister, Goose, Herring, A. Thomas, Ngata, Pollard, Landry, B. Scott, Sharper, Hartwell, and C. Williams. The list could go on.

The Ravens use to have guys on defense that tried to knock people out or could make big plays. They were feisty, sometime knuckle headed, but intimidated people from being in the middle of the field.

Who scares you on defense? No one!

9. The best players are over 30 years old and most were drafted by another team
10. Soft players lack mental toughness and discipline

Soft players commit penalties because they are TOO WEAK to block so they hold,
TOO SLOW to keep up so they grab,
They DROP balls because they are more concerned with the hit than making the play
They attempt to tackle with their arms instead of giving up their body and wrapping people up.
They false start because the guy across from them has them scared and insecure

They need to get back to a hard-nosed, smash mouth, AFC North Football

Juice keeps his feet we get in the end zone on that play. That was frustrating to watch.

[Rav'n Maniac]

This offense just doesn't believe in themselves right now and it starts with Joe. They have to find a way to get through their frustrations and play quality, mistake free ball one down at a time. A solid win would go a long way to help them overcome their frustrations and get out of this funk.

I agree with J.E. We need to finish drives and put the ball in the end zone. But, to do that we have to eliminate the penalties, the bad throws and catch the ball. We have to score TD's and not settle for field goals. The best kicker in the league is the one you only need for extra points.

This last game we threw over 40 times and had 0 passing scores. That can't happen if we want to win in today's NFL.

[Ravenshine]

This offense just doesn't believe in themselves right now and it starts with Joe. They have to find a way to get through their frustrations and play quality, mistake free ball one down at a time. A solid win would go a long way to help them overcome their frustrations and get out of this funk.

I agree with J.E. We need to finish drives and put the ball in the end zone. But, to do that we have to eliminate the penalties, the bad throws and catch the ball. We have to score TD's and not settle for field goals. The best kicker in the league is the one you only need for extra points.

This last game we threw over 40 times and had 0 passing scores. That can't happen if we want to win in today's NFL.

I agree. What characterizes last week's loss...is more than one single thing, but one of those was lack of big plays from our WR. With the exception of Perriman making a play in first drive of first quarter...and I think Wallace had one...if we could photo copy those plays and place them strategically in every quarter, we would have won game.

We also would have won game imo if Jimmy Smith had stayed on OBJ but ofc he couldn't play with concussion...but I think that was crucial. It stings that the D had them at 4-1 just before Beckham ...changed the entire dynamic of that game.

[Minionhunter]

This offense just doesn't believe in themselves right now and it starts with Joe. They have to find a way to get through their frustrations and play quality, mistake free ball one down at a time. A solid win would go a long way to help them overcome their frustrations and get out of this funk.

I agree with J.E. We need to finish drives and put the ball in the end zone. But, to do that we have to eliminate the penalties, the bad throws and catch the ball. We have to score TD's and not settle for field goals. The best kicker in the league is the one you only need for extra points.

This last game we threw over 40 times and had 0 passing scores. That can't happen if we want to win in today's NFL.

I am mostly in agreement. I think Joe does believe in himself and the offense. If he didn't he wouldn't be taking those deep shots to his guys.

Did you see the stat that the Ravens have thrown the ball the most in the entire NFL this year? It's not even close to the next team. Joe does not call the plays, and he can't check out of everything, he must, must trust his OC and he does. What is needed is that the OC must cal;l more running plays and a lot more to get things back in balance and the passing plays under 41-42 per game maximum. The only exception I can think of to that is if the passing game is working extremely well, but we have not seen that yet.

[Crusader]

John H with Ray & Crew 54 wins 26 Loses, John with out Ray & Crew 26 wins and 28 Loses. Exclude Gary K 16 wins and 22 Loses. Your right the change is Attitude.

[Ravenshine]

  41 minutes ago, Rav'n Maniac said:

This offense just doesn't believe in themselves right now and it starts with Joe. They have to find a way to get through their frustrations and play quality, mistake free ball one down at a time. A solid win would go a long way to help them overcome their frustrations and get out of this funk.

I agree with J.E. We need to finish drives and put the ball in the end zone. But, to do that we have to eliminate the penalties, the bad throws and catch the ball. We have to score TD's and not settle for field goals. The best kicker in the league is the one you only need for extra points.

This last game we threw over 40 times and had 0 passing scores. That can't happen if we want to win in today's NFL.

I am mostly in agreement. I think Joe does believe in himself and the offense. If he didn't he wouldn't be taking those deep shots to his guys.

Did you see the stat that the Ravens have thrown the ball the most in the entire NFL this year? It's not even close to the next team. Joe does not call the plays, and he can't check out of everything, he must, must trust his OC and he does. What is needed is that the OC must cal;l more running plays and a lot more to get things back in balance and the passing plays under 41-42 per game maximum. The only exception I can think of to that is if the passing game is working extremely well, but we have not seen that yet.

Yeah I think the team believes in themselves, I agree with that part. I think however the frustration is tangible on Joe's face recently after games which I didn't used to see that much previously. On the exorbitant amount of passing attempts...that a Trestman era legacy that should even out as the season goes on and Marty calls for more running plays.

[Derrel]

Flacco overthrew a wide open Mike Wallace inside the 10. That throw ended the game.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

15 hours ago, law215 said:

The Ravens biggest problem is they lost their winning identity. Currently, the Ravens are a SOFT football team. They traded toughness for finesse. Tough guys for wimps. It hurts to admit it.

Top 10 indicators

1. Your FB dives at LB ankles when lead blocking on the goal line. (Leach, O Neal, Gash would not ever do that)
2. They pass the ball close to 65-70% of the time. Tough teams love to impose their will
3. They dominate no one!
4. Lack emotional leaders. No one looks pissed off after 3 straight losses. They are accepting losing.

Where is the fire?

5. In short yardage, they try tosses and trickery instead of hat on hat blocking.
6. No Dawgs in the locker room.

Webb and J Smith (the 2 top paid DBs) automatically let Weddle be their leader before he made one play wearing purple and black

When Ray was younger, he didn’t let Woodson, Goose, McCrary or even Deon Sanders walk in the locker for him to follow.

7. Ravens have a finesse approach to the offense line.

Ravens used to have guys like Zeus, JO, Mulitalo, Searcy, Birk, and even KO. Tough means guys that knocked people off the ball.

Over the pass few seasons, they have too many guys like Shipley, Monroe, Oher, and Hurst. Too many wimps on that offensive line.

Only Yanda is a PROVEN, consistent tough guy. They got math professors blocking for the $20M QB, and RBs

8. No fear factor on defense. Lewis, Reed, JJ, McAlister, Goose, Herring, A. Thomas, Ngata, Pollard, Landry, B. Scott, Sharper, Hartwell, and C. Williams. The list could go on.

The Ravens use to have guys on defense that tried to knock people out or could make big plays. They were feisty, sometime knuckle headed, but intimidated people from being in the middle of the field.

Who scares you on defense? No one!

9. The best players are over 30 years old and most were drafted by another team
10. Soft players lack mental toughness and discipline

Soft players commit penalties because they are TOO WEAK to block so they hold,
TOO SLOW to keep up so they grab,
They DROP balls because they are more concerned with the hit than making the play
They attempt to tackle with their arms instead of giving up their body and wrapping people up.
They false start because the guy across from them has them scared and insecure

They need to get back to a hard-nosed, smash mouth, AFC North Football

1) This is the first time I think I have had any reason to criticize Juice for his blocking in the entire time he has been a Raven. He just got beat to his spot on the play. He was making a lot of nice catches in the game. I don't really think Juice is the issue.

2) They are passing so much because of the stupid penalties and inability to run block.

3) Not anymore they don't.

4) Weddle is an emotional leader. You can see him on the sidelines and after plays. He just has nobody else with him.

5) The play calling is an issue. Too predictable and then just too cute. They usually screw up the too cute plays because this is not who they are.

6) They have some dawgs, and I think that is part of the reason why Onwasuor (SP) was called up, but with the need to make roster moves, he might be sent back to the PS.

The O-Line: The Ravens used to be a smash mouth team built with a sledgehammer FB that could do nothing but block, big old beasties that could road grade and nothing else (other than Ogden). When they brought in Kubiak they made a conscious effort to remold this team into a single back, 3 WR set, zone running offense. It worked for the most part when Forsett broke out. Then the injury season, now this season after the new rule change about cut blocks that now make the zone run a lot more difficult to pull off with guys that aren't athletic enough.

IMO they need to get back to the power run scheme. Two tight end sets, I formation and inside runs.

8) I agree with you. The fear would come from a healthy Suggs and Dumervil. Other than that there is nobody on the field that makes me go, "We gotta gameplan for this guy!"

9) You're right. But a lot of them were drafted by this team.

10) I would also add stupid players make mistakes too. A long time ago former OT Tony Pashos said about Billick, "He has a great offense for us to run, the problem is, you can only run the plays your players understand. That's why our offense looks the way it does." This was after he left via free agency. That was a nice way of saying, "Our guys are too stupid to run a more complex offense."

The sky isn't falling yet, but to win three and then drop three straight that were winnable games due to shooting yourself in the foot most of the time is a hard pill to swallow. You have a hard enough time beating the other team, don't make it easier by making you beat yourself too.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

1 hour ago, Derrel said:

Flacco overthrew a wide open Mike Wallace inside the 10. That throw ended the game.

I think Flacco was hurt. He sailed a pass over a wide open Dennis Pitta as well before that.

[mrc724]

  15 hours ago, law215 said:

The Ravens biggest problem is they lost their winning identity. Currently, the Ravens are a SOFT football team. They traded toughness for finesse. Tough guys for wimps. It hurts to admit it.

Top 10 indicators

1. Your FB dives at LB ankles when lead blocking on the goal line. (Leach, O Neal, Gash would not ever do that)
2. They pass the ball close to 65-70% of the time. Tough teams love to impose their will
3. They dominate no one!
4. Lack emotional leaders. No one looks pissed off after 3 straight losses. They are accepting losing.

Where is the fire?

5. In short yardage, they try tosses and trickery instead of hat on hat blocking.
6. No Dawgs in the locker room.

Webb and J Smith (the 2 top paid DBs) automatically let Weddle be their leader before he made one play wearing purple and black

When Ray was younger, he didn’t let Woodson, Goose, McCrary or even Deon Sanders walk in the locker for him to follow.

7. Ravens have a finesse approach to the offense line.

Ravens used to have guys like Zeus, JO, Mulitalo, Searcy, Birk, and even KO. Tough means guys that knocked people off the ball.

Over the pass few seasons, they have too many guys like Shipley, Monroe, Oher, and Hurst. Too many wimps on that offensive line.

Only Yanda is a PROVEN, consistent tough guy. They got math professors blocking for the $20M QB, and RBs

8. No fear factor on defense. Lewis, Reed, JJ, McAlister, Goose, Herring, A. Thomas, Ngata, Pollard, Landry, B. Scott, Sharper, Hartwell, and C. Williams. The list could go on.

The Ravens use to have guys on defense that tried to knock people out or could make big plays. They were feisty, sometime knuckle headed, but intimidated people from being in the middle of the field.

Who scares you on defense? No one!

9. The best players are over 30 years old and most were drafted by another team
10. Soft players lack mental toughness and discipline

Soft players commit penalties because they are TOO WEAK to block so they hold,
TOO SLOW to keep up so they grab,
They DROP balls because they are more concerned with the hit than making the play
They attempt to tackle with their arms instead of giving up their body and wrapping people up.
They false start because the guy across from them has them scared and insecure

They need to get back to a hard-nosed, smash mouth, AFC North Football

1) This is the first time I think I have had any reason to criticize Juice for his blocking in the entire time he has been a Raven. He just got beat to his spot on the play. He was making a lot of nice catches in the game. I don't really think Juice is the issue.

2) They are passing so much because of the stupid penalties and inability to run block.

3) Not anymore they don't.

4) Weddle is an emotional leader. You can see him on the sidelines and after plays. He just has nobody else with him.

5) The play calling is an issue. Too predictable and then just too cute. They usually screw up the too cute plays because this is not who they are.

6) They have some dawgs, and I think that is part of the reason why Onwasuor (SP) was called up, but with the need to make roster moves, he might be sent back to the PS.

The O-Line: The Ravens used to be a smash mouth team built with a sledgehammer FB that could do nothing but block, big old beasties that could road grade and nothing else (other than Ogden). When they brought in Kubiak they made a conscious effort to remold this team into a single back, 3 WR set, zone running offense. It worked for the most part when Forsett broke out. Then the injury season, now this season after the new rule change about cut blocks that now make the zone run a lot more difficult to pull off with guys that aren't athletic enough.

IMO they need to get back to the power run scheme. Two tight end sets, I formation and inside runs.

8) I agree with you. The fear would come from a healthy Suggs and Dumervil. Other than that there is nobody on the field that makes me go, "We gotta gameplan for this guy!"

9) You're right. But a lot of them were drafted by this team.

10) I would also add stupid players make mistakes too. A long time ago former OT Tony Pashos said about Billick, "He has a great offense for us to run, the problem is, you can only run the plays your players understand. That's why our offense looks the way it does." This was after he left via free agency. That was a nice way of saying, "Our guys are too stupid to run a more complex offense."

The sky isn't falling yet, but to win three and then drop three straight that were winnable games due to shooting yourself in the foot most of the time is a hard pill to swallow. You have a hard enough time beating the other team, don't make it easier by making you beat yourself too.

I agree with most of what you wrote. Flacco is still by his knee. He can't plant his knee, that's why his passes sail, or thrown into the ground, they are mostly arm throws. We need to get back to smash mouth football, our full back is not physical enough, he don't break tackles, or catch the ball well, goes down too easily. We need a bruiser. I'm probably dating my, but, why don't we try the old Green Bay power sweep. Our RB's don't have enough speed to turn the corner or break tackles, they dance around, it's not working. Put a big TE in the back field to clear the way. Again lets get back the Ravens way, that we will eat your lunch.

[Ravenshine]

2 hours ago, Ravenshine said:

Yeah I think the team believes in themselves, I agree with that part. I think however the frustration is tangible on Joe's face recently after games which I didn't used to see that much previously. On the exorbitant amount of passing attempts...that a Trestman era legacy that should even out as the season goes on and Marty calls for more running plays.

 

Anybody here ever quoted yourself? Lol...well I'm now thinking what I saw as a difference on Joe's face was not so much game frustration but pain and frustration about the shoulder issue he's having...I hope he gets rest on that, healed up and is ready to play Sunday. 

[mrc724]

  15 hours ago, law215 said:

The Ravens biggest problem is they lost their winning identity. Currently, the Ravens are a SOFT football team. They traded toughness for finesse. Tough guys for wimps. It hurts to admit it.

Top 10 indicators

1. Your FB dives at LB ankles when lead blocking on the goal line. (Leach, O Neal, Gash would not ever do that)
2. They pass the ball close to 65-70% of the time. Tough teams love to impose their will
3. They dominate no one!
4. Lack emotional leaders. No one looks pissed off after 3 straight losses. They are accepting losing.

Where is the fire?

5. In short yardage, they try tosses and trickery instead of hat on hat blocking.
6. No Dawgs in the locker room.

Webb and J Smith (the 2 top paid DBs) automatically let Weddle be their leader before he made one play wearing purple and black

When Ray was younger, he didn’t let Woodson, Goose, McCrary or even Deon Sanders walk in the locker for him to follow.

7. Ravens have a finesse approach to the offense line.

Ravens used to have guys like Zeus, JO, Mulitalo, Searcy, Birk, and even KO. Tough means guys that knocked people off the ball.

Over the pass few seasons, they have too many guys like Shipley, Monroe, Oher, and Hurst. Too many wimps on that offensive line.

Only Yanda is a PROVEN, consistent tough guy. They got math professors blocking for the $20M QB, and RBs

8. No fear factor on defense. Lewis, Reed, JJ, McAlister, Goose, Herring, A. Thomas, Ngata, Pollard, Landry, B. Scott, Sharper, Hartwell, and C. Williams. The list could go on.

The Ravens use to have guys on defense that tried to knock people out or could make big plays. They were feisty, sometime knuckle headed, but intimidated people from being in the middle of the field.

Who scares you on defense? No one!

9. The best players are over 30 years old and most were drafted by another team
10. Soft players lack mental toughness and discipline

Soft players commit penalties because they are TOO WEAK to block so they hold,
TOO SLOW to keep up so they grab,
They DROP balls because they are more concerned with the hit than making the play
They attempt to tackle with their arms instead of giving up their body and wrapping people up.
They false start because the guy across from them has them scared and insecure

They need to get back to a hard-nosed, smash mouth, AFC North Football

1) This is the first time I think I have had any reason to criticize Juice for his blocking in the entire time he has been a Raven. He just got beat to his spot on the play. He was making a lot of nice catches in the game. I don't really think Juice is the issue.

2) They are passing so much because of the stupid penalties and inability to run block.

3) Not anymore they don't.

4) Weddle is an emotional leader. You can see him on the sidelines and after plays. He just has nobody else with him.

5) The play calling is an issue. Too predictable and then just too cute. They usually screw up the too cute plays because this is not who they are.

6) They have some dawgs, and I think that is part of the reason why Onwasuor (SP) was called up, but with the need to make roster moves, he might be sent back to the PS.

The O-Line: The Ravens used to be a smash mouth team built with a sledgehammer FB that could do nothing but block, big old beasties that could road grade and nothing else (other than Ogden). When they brought in Kubiak they made a conscious effort to remold this team into a single back, 3 WR set, zone running offense. It worked for the most part when Forsett broke out. Then the injury season, now this season after the new rule change about cut blocks that now make the zone run a lot more difficult to pull off with guys that aren't athletic enough.

IMO they need to get back to the power run scheme. Two tight end sets, I formation and inside runs.

8) I agree with you. The fear would come from a healthy Suggs and Dumervil. Other than that there is nobody on the field that makes me go, "We gotta gameplan for this guy!"

9) You're right. But a lot of them were drafted by this team.

10) I would also add stupid players make mistakes too. A long time ago former OT Tony Pashos said about Billick, "He has a great offense for us to run, the problem is, you can only run the plays your players understand. That's why our offense looks the way it does." This was after he left via free agency. That was a nice way of saying, "Our guys are too stupid to run a more complex offense."

The sky isn't falling yet, but to win three and then drop three straight that were winnable games due to shooting yourself in the foot most of the time is a hard pill to swallow. You have a hard enough time beating the other team, don't make it easier by making you beat yourself too.

You are so right, if a Offense Lineman can't block get rid of them. We have too many scholars, not hard nosed football players. Look back on the lineman from Stanford, who could take the razing in Miami, he's out of football, the guys who razed him are still playing. Does that tell you something? We don't have enough tough guy. Harbaugh are you listening, no more softies, you know who they are?

[mrc724]

  15 hours ago, law215 said:

The Ravens biggest problem is they lost their winning identity. Currently, the Ravens are a SOFT football team. They traded toughness for finesse. Tough guys for wimps. It hurts to admit it.

Top 10 indicators

1. Your FB dives at LB ankles when lead blocking on the goal line. (Leach, O Neal, Gash would not ever do that)
2. They pass the ball close to 65-70% of the time. Tough teams love to impose their will
3. They dominate no one!
4. Lack emotional leaders. No one looks pissed off after 3 straight losses. They are accepting losing.

Where is the fire?

5. In short yardage, they try tosses and trickery instead of hat on hat blocking.
6. No Dawgs in the locker room.

Webb and J Smith (the 2 top paid DBs) automatically let Weddle be their leader before he made one play wearing purple and black

When Ray was younger, he didn’t let Woodson, Goose, McCrary or even Deon Sanders walk in the locker for him to follow.

7. Ravens have a finesse approach to the offense line.

Ravens used to have guys like Zeus, JO, Mulitalo, Searcy, Birk, and even KO. Tough means guys that knocked people off the ball.

Over the pass few seasons, they have too many guys like Shipley, Monroe, Oher, and Hurst. Too many wimps on that offensive line.

Only Yanda is a PROVEN, consistent tough guy. They got math professors blocking for the $20M QB, and RBs

8. No fear factor on defense. Lewis, Reed, JJ, McAlister, Goose, Herring, A. Thomas, Ngata, Pollard, Landry, B. Scott, Sharper, Hartwell, and C. Williams. The list could go on.

The Ravens use to have guys on defense that tried to knock people out or could make big plays. They were feisty, sometime knuckle headed, but intimidated people from being in the middle of the field.

Who scares you on defense? No one!

9. The best players are over 30 years old and most were drafted by another team
10. Soft players lack mental toughness and discipline

Soft players commit penalties because they are TOO WEAK to block so they hold,
TOO SLOW to keep up so they grab,
They DROP balls because they are more concerned with the hit than making the play
They attempt to tackle with their arms instead of giving up their body and wrapping people up.
They false start because the guy across from them has them scared and insecure

They need to get back to a hard-nosed, smash mouth, AFC North Football

Juice keeps his feet we get in the end zone on that play. That was frustrating to watch.

You are so right.

[mrc724]

Also throw in Joe looks like he just don't care anymore and all of last year issue still exists. I think this team is heading for a cultural change.

Flacco is to busy making babies.

[bnyce52]

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.

This guy gets it.

[mrc724]

We need to trade for 1 offensive lineman. I would not mind us trading a 2nd round pick for it neither. Its time we start taking chances and stop sitting back like we know everything. We need to stop drafting squares and draft some nasty players with a bit of a mean streak.

You are so right. Let's start drafting some ole Farm boys from the mid and upper Midwest, who toss big bails of hay like its nothing. They need that mean streak, if they don't have it, get rid of them. Urchell is studying for his PHD from MIT that's great, but can you play hard nosed football. We have too many finesse players, get nasty. Perhaps, Ray Lewis would scout players and be in the draft room. Look what's happening in Buffalo with former Ravens players and coaches.

[bnyce52]

You know what our problem is? We keep saying "we've got leaders everywhere - guys that lead each in their own way." That means that we DON'T HAVE a leader. Suggs does what he can, but he's old and cut from a different cloth than the rest of our soft defense so they don't really gravitate to his style of play. Jernigan is carefully kept within a box so as not to hurt the feelings of others, while a big ol' baby teddy bear who frightens nobody lines up in front. Steve Smith just leads himself but is too psycho to get anyone to jump aboard his wagon. Yanda just beats his man and then looks back at Joe on the ground because the rest of his line can't do their job (except for Ronnie - please get him back STAT). Joe is the man, but he isn't lighting a fire underneath anybody. Our problem? We swapped out brute toughness in exchange for a bunch of specialized sheep who will never assert their will and take over the direction of the team. The Ravens used to have SWAGGER. We don't have a winning identity anymore because our entire culture is now John Harbaugh - the great emotional equalizer. Who fears the Ravens more than us??? NOOO-BODY!!! (give me a break)

Seriously guys.... In the words of the godfather Ray Lewis, "Get pissed off right now!!!"

[mrc724]

Flacco overthrew a wide open Mike Wallace inside the 10. That throw ended the game.

I've been saying all year, that Flacco is not 100%. I just heard on today on ESPN, that he didn't practice today, shoulder problems. He keeps making arms throws, which will impact your shoulder.

[picke]

But really, penalties do factor into the large number of 3rd downs and the low conversion rate of 3rd downs. They keep putting us into a deeper hole that is harder and harder to climb out of. When 1st and 2nd down do not produce much, you find yourself facing 3rd and long. Then a penalty of the holding variety trying to keep Flacco from getting pummeled makes it 3rd and very long.

I think the red zone psyches us out now, too. We try so hard to get that red zone monkey off our back and we screw it up yet again.

But HC John says it is "easily correctable."

[4everraven]

Harbaugh has been saying easily correctable for 3 years and yet there is always many things requiring correction. He is not getting the job done. Wonder how long Bisciotti will let this mediocrity run beyond these past 3 plus years?

[JamesA119]

Harbaugh has been saying easily correctable for 3 years and yet there is always many things requiring correction. He is not getting the job done. Wonder how long Bisciotti will let this mediocrity run beyond these past 3 plus years?

Agree

[btfan2]

I have to give Joe an apology. I expressed my disappointment with his recent play. I can't get the games in Florida without refinancing my home. Anyway I caught the Ravens - Giants game on replay Tuesday or Wed night. I was calm and collected and watched without the usual nervous and crazy expectations, I just watched.

These replays don't show all the game but; enough to get a pretty accurate idea of play etc. Joe played a good game. The team actually played a pretty good game. I know, I know not good enough.

We have problems no doubt about that. It's just not as bad as presented and only seeing snippets is truly unfair on my part with a rush to judgment. My apology Joe and team...