[News] Late For Work 12/22: Pittsburgh Wants To Ditch Conservative Game Plan And Take It To Ravens

[BR News]

In Baltimore, all eyes rest on Joe Flacco as Ravens prepare for Pittsburgh. Ravens-Steelers rivalry compared to … Cold War? Steve Smith & Mike Mitchell bite tongues … for now. Shareece Wright up to the challenge with Jimmy Smith out.

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[sizzlingdoom]

Gilmore is back. That is huge. Put Boyle and Gilmore on the ends of the line and let's go run some bumble bees over. Can't wait for Gilmore to catch one over the middle then turn up field and absolutely truck the Carpenter over. We need to be the Bully. Just no 15 yard penalties-someone tell Timmy please. 15 yard flags is not the type of bullying I'm refferring to

[Bat-mite]

I know we all have varying opinions on what the Ravens' problems are and what it would take to fix them. Some think things are improving, others not so much. Some blame Harbaugh, some Flacco, some Mornhinweg, some Ozzie.

But the one thing we can all agree on is that we want the Ravens to beat Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and make a playoff run.

So, how about everyone post a big "Go Ravens! in solidarity, and then we can resume arguing after the game. Deal?

GO RAVENS!!!!

[ken9]

I know we all have varying opinions on what the Ravens' problems are and what it would take to fix them. Some think things are improving, others not so much. Some blame Harbaugh, some Flacco, some Mornhinweg, some Ozzie.

But the one thing we can all agree on is that we want the Ravens to beat Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and make a playoff run.

So, how about everyone post a big "Go Ravens! in solidarity, and then we can resume arguing after the game. Deal?

GO RAVENS!!!!

I agree, for whatever reason Joe always elevates his game in the Playoffs. Just get there and let's see where we can go. A healthy Jimmy Smith is all we were missing in a few games to turn L's into W's. Plus the rest of the team being healthy at this point in the season is a good sign.

[bioLarzen]

What I'm really afraid of about the steelers ghame is not Roethlisberger, Bell or Brown - it's the penalties. We kept racking up them - and often totally unnecessary ones - against lesser opponents. One cannot but fear how penalties are gonna be kept in bay against the steelers in Pittsburgh...

[bioLarzen]

I know we all have varying opinions on what the Ravens' problems are and what it would take to fix them. Some think things are improving, others not so much. Some blame Harbaugh, some Flacco, some Mornhinweg, some Ozzie.

But the one thing we can all agree on is that we want the Ravens to beat Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and make a playoff run.

So, how about everyone post a big "Go Ravens! in solidarity, and then we can resume arguing after the game. Deal?

GO RAVENS!!!!

The guys won't play well or badly because of what we're writing here... I guess the vast marority of them don't even red us here.

[rmcjacket23]

Gilmore is back. That is huge. Put Boyle and Gilmore on the ends of the line and let's go run some bumble bees over. Can't wait for Gilmore to catch one over the middle then turn up field and absolutely truck the Carpenter over. We need to be the Bully. Just no 15 yard penalties-someone tell Timmy please. 15 yard flags is not the type of bullying I'm refferring to

Just because he's practicing doesn't mean he will play. I believe he was a full participant all of last week also, as was Lewis.

[ellicottraven]

For half the marbles to the Ravens and all the marbles to the Steelers let's go kick some yellow and black rear ends!

[PurpleRainBlackVeins]

The Ravens need to ditch their conservative game plan as well. The Steelers plan to ball out and if the Ravens want a victory they are gonna have to ball out as well. Flacco needs to bring January Joe to the party.

[Shaky End of the Quarter]

If we don't show a fierce pass rush with well disguised blitzes I doubt we will win this game. Not having Jimmy to shadow Antonio Brown makes me nervous. Whatever happens I hope we don't get manhandled and blown out like the pats game. The scoreboard in the pats game didn't paint the true story of how poorly we played and how badly we got beat. If we play like we did the past 2 games Ben will have 6Tds, 300+ yds and 0 picks against us.

[rossihunter2]

if stephon tuitt's out then we really need to run the ball - he's probably been their best defensive player all year and he makes shazier and timmons look good too - if ronnie can be better against harrison (and it would be hard for him not to be better than last time) then we should at least be able to give joe more time and the run game more of a chance than the last game between these two teams

we have a lot of offensive players who have now at least flashed in certain games - perriman, pitta, wallace, flacco, west, dixon, smithy have all had encouraging games - now if more than a couple of those guys can perform on the same day then we are always gonna have a chance offensively - this is an offense with explosive potential that has never had more than 1 or 2 guys play well in a particular game (apart from vs dolphins)

the player i worry about on the steelers is eli rogers - we've never really had problems eliminating bell and brown from most games we play against them - the problem is gonna be making sure we have enough defense left over to stop the less dominant threats - if ladarius green is out that helps and allows either webb or weddle to come up to the line or help out in the slot - and im not as worried about sammie coates because he has horrendous hands and has disappeared down the stretch

[budman]

What I'm really afraid of about the steelers ghame is not Roethlisberger, Bell or Brown - it's the penalties. We kept racking up them - and often totally unnecessary ones - against lesser opponents. One cannot but fear how penalties are gonna be kept in bay against the steelers in Pittsburgh...

That is a good point. I think there will be a few Personal Fouls called in this game. Just have to watch out that nobody gets ejected. This could be a Flag Fest. Hope not.

[Bat-mite]

1 hour ago, bioLarzen said:

The guys won't play well or badly because of what we're writing here... I guess the vast marority of them don't even red us here.

Oh, I know.  It's for us, not for them.  Seems like there have been a lot of arguments lately about what's wrong.  But what unites us is a desire to see them win.

[budman]

36 minutes ago, rossihunter2 said:

if stephon tuitt's out then we really need to run the ball - he's probably been their best defensive player all year and he makes shazier and timmons look good too - if ronnie can be better against harrison (and it would be hard for him not to be better than last time) then we should at least be able to give joe more time and the run game more of a chance than the last game between these two teams

we have a lot of offensive players who have now at least flashed in certain games - perriman, pitta, wallace, flacco, west, dixon, smithy have all had encouraging games - now if more than a couple of those guys can perform on the same day then we are always gonna have a chance offensively - this is an offense with explosive potential that has never had more than 1 or 2 guys play well in a particular game (apart from vs dolphins)

the player i worry about on the steelers is eli rogers - we've never really had problems eliminating bell and brown from most games we play against them - the problem is gonna be making sure we have enough defense left over to stop the less dominant threats - if ladarius green is out that helps and allows either webb or weddle to come up to the line or help out in the slot - and im not as worried about sammie coates because he has horrendous hands and has disappeared down the stretch

Sometimes, the ones you don't worry about, end up being the hero. All bases need to be covered. This is a Playoff game. Full steam ahead and if there was ever a time to start fast and score a lot this is it. AND if we do jump out to a big lead PLease do not go to a Prevent Defense in the 4th Qtr. I think it was Parcells that said "the only thing it prevents is ;you from winning"

[Tdot.to.Bmore]

As long as we defend the big plays and refrain from stupid penalties we will win this game. i"m more concerned with giving up big plays then allowing Bell to run around for 100+ yards.

[rmcjacket23]

If we don't show a fierce pass rush with well disguised blitzes I doubt we will win this game. Not having Jimmy to shadow Antonio Brown makes me nervous. Whatever happens I hope we don't get manhandled and blown out like the pats game. The scoreboard in the pats game didn't paint the true story of how poorly we played and how badly we got beat. If we play like we did the past 2 games Ben will have 6Tds, 300+ yds and 0 picks against us.

Jimmy wouldn't be shadowing Brown even if he was playing. They move Brown all over the formation, and Jimmy isn't coming down in the slot to cover him.

Jimmy's impact will be felt far worse next week when/if AJ Green returns. We often double and triple team Brown anyway, which isn't as easy to do with Green.

[TheConquerorWorm]

I know we all have varying opinions on what the Ravens' problems are and what it would take to fix them. Some think things are improving, others not so much. Some blame Harbaugh, some Flacco, some Mornhinweg, some Ozzie.

But the one thing we can all agree on is that we want the Ravens to beat Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and make a playoff run.

So, how about everyone post a big "Go Ravens! in solidarity, and then we can resume arguing after the game. Deal?

GO RAVENS!!!!

Go Ravens! Ball so Hard! Let's Hunt!

[Shaky End of the Quarter]

  1 hour ago, Shaky End of the Quarter said:

If we don't show a fierce pass rush with well disguised blitzes I doubt we will win this game. Not having Jimmy to shadow Antonio Brown makes me nervous. Whatever happens I hope we don't get manhandled and blown out like the pats game. The scoreboard in the pats game didn't paint the true story of how poorly we played and how badly we got beat. If we play like we did the past 2 games Ben will have 6Tds, 300+ yds and 0 picks against us.

Jimmy wouldn't be shadowing Brown even if he was playing. They move Brown all over the formation, and Jimmy isn't coming down in the slot to cover him.

Jimmy's impact will be felt far worse next week when/if AJ Green returns. We often double and triple team Brown anyway, which isn't as easy to do with Green.

We shall see Jacket. The sad truth is that if we dont come out victorious this Sunday, Jimmy can completely blanket AJ next week and Flacco can hang 99 points on the Bengals and it wont mean SQUAT! We need to win now, next week is a topic for next week. That reminds me, Merry Xmas Harbaugh thanks for your ineptitude!

[rmcjacket23]

14 minutes ago, Shaky End of the Quarter said:

We shall see Jacket. The sad truth is that if we dont come out victorious this Sunday, Jimmy can completely blanket AJ next week and Flacco can hang 99 points on the Bengals and it wont mean SQUAT! We need to win now, next week is a topic for next week. That reminds me, Merry Xmas Harbaugh thanks for your ineptitude!

Well, we can lose this week and still make the playoffs, though that would require help from others (namely the Dolphins). 

Regardless, Jimmy wasn't going to shadow Brown, nor is it a requirement to stop Brown in order to win. He hung 9 for 117 against a Jimmy Smith-less secondary in the 2014 playoffs, and we won rather comfortably. And this secondary is clearly better than that one.

Will surely continue to double or triple team Brown and focus on containing Bell. And then, of course, find a way to score some damn points.

The reason I referenced the Bengals was simple... a loss to the Steelers doesn't necessarily end our season, it just ends our chances of winning the division. A loss to the Bengals likely ends our season, regardless of what happens in Pittsburgh. Though, again, a loss in Pittsburgh MAY end our season, depending on outcomes of other games.

Edited December 22, 2016 by rmcjacket23

[CQ1]

Pittsburgh would be foolish not to. As we WERE up 21-0, and almost blew it (fancy that).....Lets roll those red and green dice and hope we are on the victors side- and NOT taken to the woodshed.
Go Ravens- and to all, have a great and safe Holiday season whether you believe in it or not :)

[metalraven]

I know we all have varying opinions on what the Ravens' problems are and what it would take to fix them. Some think things are improving, others not so much. Some blame Harbaugh, some Flacco, some Mornhinweg, some Ozzie.

But the one thing we can all agree on is that we want the Ravens to beat Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and make a playoff run.

So, how about everyone post a big "Go Ravens! in solidarity, and then we can resume arguing after the game. Deal?

GO RAVENS!!!!

GO RAVENS!!!

[CQ1]

  2 hours ago, Bat-mite said:

I know we all have varying opinions on what the Ravens' problems are and what it would take to fix them. Some think things are improving, others not so much. Some blame Harbaugh, some Flacco, some Mornhinweg, some Ozzie.

But the one thing we can all agree on is that we want the Ravens to beat Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and make a playoff run.

So, how about everyone post a big "Go Ravens! in solidarity, and then we can resume arguing after the game. Deal?

GO RAVENS!!!!

Go Ravens! Ball so Hard! Let's Hunt!

Good Caw, Worm !

Go Ravens! Ball so Hard! Let's Hunt!

[balfan23]

46 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Jimmy wouldn't be shadowing Brown even if he was playing. They move Brown all over the formation, and Jimmy isn't coming down in the slot to cover him.

Jimmy's impact will be felt far worse next week when/if AJ Green returns. We often double and triple team Brown anyway, which isn't as easy to do with Green.

Regardless of specific assignment, we've generally had good success vs. Brown ... but only when Jimmy is there. The only game I can recall where Jimmy was out vs. PIT, our defense got torched for 6 TD passes. 

No doubt ... facing A. J. has always caused us trouble, with or with out Smith. But the potential to feel his absence exists with PIT as well. 

[rmcjacket23]

4 minutes ago, balfan23 said:

Regardless of specific assignment, we've generally had good success vs. Brown ... but only when Jimmy is there. The only game I can recall where Jimmy was out vs. PIT, our defense got torched for 6 TD passes. 

No doubt ... facing A. J. has always caused us trouble, with or with out Smith. But the potential to feel his absence exists with PIT as well. 

Jimmy wasn't there for the 2014 playoff game, where we won. Brown did have a good game (9 for 117), but they had no LeVeon Bell in that game.

Historically, he does not do as well against the Ravens as he does other teams.

[billiejean]

This is really just speculation because I can't see the entire play, but I think Brown was triple teamed on that play because there was no route in the flats (RB most likely stayed into block) so Orr was able to drop into coverage. I am pretty sure that if the running back ran a route on that side of the field that Orr would have been responsible for his coverage. The other possibility is that the OLB was responsible for covering the flats. Either way you can tell how much our defense respects the guy because the majority of the time in that situation (running back stays into block) the ILB would come on a delayed blitz to the QB.

[Raven in ATL]

the key to winning will be LESS Flacco, run the damn ball!

[nj_ravens]

This is really just speculation because I can't see the entire play, but I think Brown was triple teamed on that play because there was no route in the flats (RB most likely stayed into block) so Orr was able to drop into coverage. I am pretty sure that if the running back ran a route on that side of the field that Orr would have been responsible for his coverage. The other possibility is that the OLB was responsible for covering the flats. Either way you can tell how much our defense respects the guy because the majority of the time in that situation (running back stays into block) the ILB would come on a delayed blitz to the QB.

I agree. This wasn't a "designed" triple team, that's just how the coverage went.

[balfan23]

28 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Jimmy wasn't there for the 2014 playoff game, where we won. Brown did have a good game (9 for 117), but they had no LeVeon Bell in that game.

Historically, he does not do as well against the Ravens as he does other teams.

I'm referring to a game in the 2014 regular season where Jimmy was out and the Steelers put up 43 and Ben threw for 6 TDs (Brown caught 10 passes for 138 yards and a score). 

Bottom line is our secondary without Jimmy sees a pretty good drop-off .... no matter who we are playing.

[mc_red23]

19 minutes ago, Raven in ATL said:

the key to winning will be LESS Flacco, run the damn ball!

Reminds me of Sandra Bullock on The Blind Side 

[rmcjacket23]

15 minutes ago, balfan23 said:

I'm referring to a game in the 2014 regular season where Jimmy was out and the Steelers put up 43 and Ben threw for 6 TDs (Brown caught 10 passes for 138 yards and a score). 

Bottom line is our secondary without Jimmy sees a pretty good drop-off .... no matter who we are playing.

I know what game you were referring to. I was pointing out that game wasn't the only time we played Ben/Brown without Jimmy. We did in the playoffs that year as well, with a vastly different outcome.

In general I agree with our secondary taking a hit, though that definitely wasn't the case last week against the Eagles. We got gashed in the run game, but Eagles had well under 200 yards passing in that game.