Constructive Suggestions to Improve Now

[Edug27]

1. Commit to the run. Don't panic when you lose a lead. 

2. Start T.Young on the outside.

3. Rotate other safeties in to slowly phase out Webb. 

4. Work with Joe on getting the ball out of his hands quicker. 

5. Limit penalties.

... and the obvious.. GET EVERYONE BACK HEALTHY!

[nextgen_RavensFan]

On 10/24/2016 at 7:19 PM, GrimCoconut said:

First, I think we need to stop moving away from the run. You have to stay at it and keep trying even when it doesn't work because we saw yesterday that while the Jets didn't succeed early against our run defense, they eventually broke it and got yards. That's how it goes in the run game. You need to keep at it, and we frankly abandon it too much and too early. It needs to stop because it's putting too much pressure on the OL  and Joe Flacco and even the WR. Once the run game is gone, the defense can predict we're passing and it becomes easy. I think we need to throw more 2TE sets with Waller and Pitta to beat linebackers (although having Revis on Pitta didn't help) and have some sets where we have two RB in the backfield having both West and Allen back there where one's the receiving RB and the other is the runner. It'll give Joe a checkdown option (Allen), and give him the option to hand-off to a better runner in West (not as good of hands). 

Second, I think we need to go for more interior pressure through the A-gap. Our interior DL is our strength, and we aren't getting it done on the edges so go for the interior A gap using Brandon Williams to open the hole for a linebacker like Correa who gets washed out when touched. I'm not talking about a full-on blitz, but sending a LB up the middle would help. I think when Wright returns, he should be focused on using the sideline and put a safety on top of him to get the inside route should the WR motion inside because Wright can't defend the inside. 

Excellent post and agreed on all counts.

If we cannot play to our strengths then at least try to counter them (O'line), quick drops, play action and would love to see Flacco move outside the pocket. With his arm he could make every throw Rodgers does while on the move. Keep and extra guy in the backfield if we need to keep Flacco in the pocket. Run Run Run.. LOL 

 

I think a lot of our penalties are emotional ones either due to aggression or frustration so keeping the chains moving by controlling the ball through the run. I do think we would pick up more pressure from our defense if they were not on the field 3/4 of the game and remain winded. 

 

I know a lot of folks will not agree with the next statement but for now forget the "go deep" mentality. Short to middle passes would serve us much better i feel.

[usmccharles]

8 minutes ago, nextgen_RavensFan said:

I know a lot of folks will not agree with the next statement but for now forget the "go deep" mentality. Short to middle passes would serve us much better i feel.

I wouldn't say forget it, maybe throw in some more shotgun formations to give Joe more time

[Rav'n Maniac]

6 minutes ago, usmccharles said:

I wouldn't say forget it, maybe throw in some more shotgun formations to give Joe more time

Throw in more shotgun formations? That's all he basically did under Trestman the first 5 games. I'm fairly happy seeing him finally getting back under center more. Play action seems to work so much better from under center.

[usmccharles]

9 minutes ago, Rav'n Maniac said:

Throw in more shotgun formations? That's all he basically did under Trestman the first 5 games. I'm fairly happy seeing him finally getting back under center more. Play action seems to work so much better from under center.

Man I would really like to see some numbers with QB hits and hurries comparing shotgun to 3/5 step drops

[omar586]

1. run the ball, dont abandon the running game no matter what.
2. more crossing routes 
3. blitz a LB more often , since we dont have pass rush

[Rav'n Maniac]

11 hours ago, usmccharles said:

Man I would really like to see some numbers with QB hits and hurries comparing shotgun to 3/5 step drops

That's a fair point as far as hits/hurries. I don't mind the shotgun, just always felt that play action is more deceiving coming from under center. Especially since Joe isn't a good actor with fakes like Rodgers is.

[January J]

13 hours ago, MTRavensFan said:

I would love to see more Crockett.

Agreed- don't think we've been utilizing him nearly enough. Him and pitta (and waller) need to be on the feild at the same time more often..and when they expect us to  throw to  pitta we need to start hitting Crockett. I also just dont understand when you've got a guy like waller who is a size and speed mismatch- why the heck are we not throwing him the ball in the redzone? Throw him a damn jump ball  and let him do his thing and go get it. Also throw more passes to him up the seam. I know we brought him on mainly for ST but  I've barely seen him targeted on offense at all. Matter fact I haven't seen him targeted once unless I missed it. Joe loves his tight ends- use them for crying out loud. If only we could've seen what this offense could've been like with Watson.

Edited October 27, 2016 by January J

[Rav'n Maniac]

56 minutes ago, January J said:

Agreed- don't think we've been utilizing him nearly enough. Him and pitta (and waller) need to be on the feild at the same time more often..and when they expect us to  throw to  pitta we need to start hitting Crockett. I also just dont understand when you've got a guy like waller who is a size and speed mismatch- why the heck are we not throwing him the ball in the redzone? Throw him a damn jump ball  and let him do his thing and go get it. Also throw more passes to him up the seam. I know we brought him on mainly for ST but  I've barely seen him targeted on offense at all. Matter fact I haven't seen him targeted once unless I missed it. Joe loves his tight ends- use them for crying out loud. If only we could've seen what this offense could've been like with Watson.

Should have said: Joe loves Pitta and that's why the other TE's aren't getting targets. Not that I don't like Pitta mind you , I just feel Joe zones in on him way too often it seems.

[flynismo]

22 minutes ago, Rav'n Maniac said:

Should have said: Joe loves Pitta and that's why the other TE's aren't getting targets. Not that I don't like Pitta mind you , I just feel Joe zones in on him way too often it seems.

Well, perhaps that is because Gilmore is by far our best blocking TE, and Pitta is our best receiving TE? Gilmore isn't given the same volume of opportunities because he is the backup, and because his primary value is his blocking skills.

[Rav'n Maniac]

31 minutes ago, flynismo said:

Well, perhaps that is because Gilmore is by far our best blocking TE, and Pitta is our best receiving TE? Gilmore isn't given the same volume of opportunities because he is the backup, and because his primary value is his blocking skills.

I'm not saying I don't agree with you Fly. But, I feel sometimes like Pitta is often Joe's first and only read and that Joe sometimes forces the ball to him is all I'm trying to say in reply to another post about getting the other TE's targets. It doesn't make me right as I am often very wrong, it is just a feeling I have that I'm expressing. 

Edited October 27, 2016 by Rav'n Maniac

[flynismo]

12 minutes ago, Rav'n Maniac said:

I'm not saying I don't agree with you Fly. But, I feel sometimes like Pitta is often Joe's first and only read and that Joe sometimes forces the ball to him is all I'm trying to say in reply to another post about getting the other TE's targets. It doesn't make me right as it is just a feeling I have.

No worries, nobody is trying to be right or wrong. And it isn't just a feeling you get, it is a fact that there are certain situations where Pitta is the only real read (and not just Pitta, but SSS, and occasionally Wallace). But I think you're looking at it from a perspective that isn't always going to be correct. Best way for me to phrase my thoughts:  if you can, think back to times where you felt Pitta was the first and only read. Chances are, you were probably right, or at least partially correct. Then consider the circumstances during that play. I'm willing to bet that the circumstances might explain why that was in a lot of those instances (were we playing against the clock and Pitta happened to be the hot read on that play? Was the play obviously designed to get the ball to Pitta? Etc.)

And indeed, there are also times where Flacco makes a decision on where he is going with the ball before the snap. That INT by Skrine last week was one instance of that, according to Flacco himself, no speculation needed there. But it is something he needs to do, given the state of the OL and the play calls which have been primarily been focused on quick releases or timing plays all year so far.

"Locking on to players" is a criticism Flacco has faced throughout his career, and it is not an invalid criticism. But at times, I'd venture to guess fairly often, the criticism is often not taking everything into consideration. It's hard for us as fans to make judgments like this with any certainty, we can only process what we saw and draw conclusions from it.

Edited October 27, 2016 by flynismo