[News] Should Kyle Juszczyk Have Gone Down Instead Of Scoring?

[BR News]

The Ravens scored with 78 seconds remaining. The Steelers came back to win with nine seconds left. Would Baltimore have won if fullback Kyle Juszczyk hadn’t scored so fast? Head Coach John Harbaugh said it’s a tough balance, but doesn’t subscribe to purposefully not scoring.

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[thegooddoc456]

Had more faith in the offense scoring than I had in the "great" Dean Pees defense making a stop. Never seen a terrible defense ranked so high. Offense should have never left anything more than 20secs on the clock. It's all good though, this team as a whole is too poorly coached and wasn't gonna get anywhere close to the SB.

[MadStorkSociety]

We failed too many times on 1st & goal this year to even think about fooling around at the goal line. Juice, that was a great play.

Here's where are problems are...
1. Draft - we have this obsession of collecting draft picks. What good is 12 picks when you have to cut six of them. When you get those picks, use them to trade up. We need playmakers!
2. Team philosophy - we espouse a pound the rock philosophy, but in words only. Apparently, we don't mean what we say or everyone has not bought in. Everyone has to be on the same page.
3. H.C. - I'm not down on Harbs as much as some fans are. I just wish he would take a course on clock management.
4. O.C. - why can't we get a good one? One that can mesh with Joe.
5. Adaptability - why can't we make half time adjustments like other teams seem to do?
6. Game attitude - we have no killer instinct!!

[Maurice0094]

No he shouldn't have gone down to answer the articles question because who knows if you would've even scored a TD at the 5-6 yard line. But here is the real problem allowing the Stoolers long scoring drives. They had a average of 11 yards per play in the 4th quarter. The last three weeks the Ravens defense showed nothing in the final period of ball games. Granted they won against the Eagles but were on the ropes. The secondary got ate up again because of no pass rush. Again rushing 3 d lineman and rushing albert mcclellan which was terrible. I would hope that we do go out in the draft and address the secondary with another top line CB. Get a WR who can run routes and catch the ball. Also address the interior of our offensive line to help calm "fadeaway Joe's" nerves.

[The Greek]

never take that risk. take the points. defense should have held. we need a cb, center, pass rusher and receiver that can dominate. some upgrades in coaching staff as well.

[Fred Sanford]

Our likelihood of being able to score if Kyle went down at the 1 is pretty good, our likelihood of stopping Ben on a drive under two minutes is right around 0%, and it played out exactly like we've come to expect, with almost zero resistance to their last minute drive. "Always take the points" sounds good, but our record of stopping last-minute drives against anyone but the lowliest of quarterbacks is a record of almost 100% failure, for a very long time, and even old 2nd and 3rd stringers like Charlie Batch have beat us like that in the past. You aren't guaranteed to score if Kyle goes down at the 1, but you are practically guaranteed to lose if you leave Ben time on the clock with a less than 7 point lead. I'd say there's an 80% chance of still scoring if Kyle goes down, and there was about a 1% chance of stopping Ben with the way the fourth quarter was going, combined with our longstanding record of ineptitude in those situations.

[Militant X 1]

The way that this team has demonstrated nearly all season that they can't seem to score TD's in the redzone...especially when they are needed in a game of this magnitude..to even think that Juice shouldn't have scored there is pure foolishness imo.  He did the right thing!  The defense on the other hand?  Well....

[sami]

We failed too many times on 1st & goal this year to even think about fooling around at the goal line. Juice, that was a great play.

Here's where are problems are...
1. Draft - we have this obsession of collecting draft picks. What good is 12 picks when you have to cut six of them. When you get those picks, use them to trade up. We need playmakers!
2. Team philosophy - we espouse a pound the rock philosophy, but in words only. Apparently, we don't mean what we say or everyone has not bought in. Everyone has to be on the same page.
3. H.C. - I'm not down on Harbs as much as some fans are. I just wish he would take a course on clock management.
4. O.C. - why can't we get a good one? One that can mesh with Joe.
5. Adaptability - why can't we make half time adjustments like other teams seem to do?
6. Game attitude - we have no killer instinct!!

our drafts are fine. We do a lot better than most teams do so don't even go there. Our biggest problem in the last couple games was our defense playing soft in crunch time.

[UnitasGuy]

What IFs? if we're playing this game let's go back earlier in the season when our head coach kept going for it on 4th down, early in games instead of using the #1 kicker in the league - that's at minimum 2 games just this year. Last I checked the record is a reflection of the head coach... except in Baltimore. IF the MO plays out as in the past ~ a coordinator gets fired.

[HoldingCall]

These seasons are hard on the body. Unfortunately for the Ravens, early season offensive weakness may have overworked and worn down the defense. Both sides need to play their best games during the same game.

[bioLarzen]

That's utter nonsense. The D should have stopped them...

[Purple Dawg 96]

Juice did his job count the trips in the redzone and count the points coming them trips and that cost us the game!

[n#7]

Absolutely should have scored. It was a total melt down of our D which happened all too often in the second half of the season. The D in critical spots is getting too old and things have to change going forward. No more trying to plug in holes with 30 something's. They should draft with the goal of a rebuilding job on D and my personal take is to jettison the 3-4 and go back to the 4-3, with 4 legit. D lineman. LB's posing a D lineman trying to push around players who are 50 lbs. heavier is not and will not get the job done of sacking the QB!

[mc_red23]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing isn't it?

[Ravensfansince03]

Question should be..........

"Should Defense Have Stopped Steelers Offense From Marching Down Field"

[Ravensfansince03]

Honestly, with the way that game was going, I was thankful we scored that touchdown. It wasn't like Juice scored with 2 minutes left on the clock. It was just over 1 minute. And our defense let the Steelers walk right down the field, while getting out of bounds!!

[Fastynart]

This is one of the stupidest questions ever seen. Why is anyone even considering this? It is the job of the offense to score, period. Suppose he went down short of the goal line as some morons suggest? Then what if the next guy fumbles? If your defense is so bad that you can't stop a team from going the length of the field in 68 seconds, then you have no business being in the playoffs.

[scottsdaleazravensfan]

Yes the D melted down with no pressure on their QB and porous coverage . They had scored two other times in the 4th quarter so at the 2 min warning I'm yelling take your time don't leave them more then 30 sec . I believe if Kyle falls at one yd line we have first and goal to score . I'm sure we would've scored and won game . Hindsight is 20-20 but that was my strategy if I were coaching . Reminds me when Belichick went for a fourth and two at his own 29 against Manning because he knew his defense couldn't stop the Colts . I put the blame on the defensive coaches because the Steelerrs scored 14 unanswered point in the 4th quarter in Balt earlier in the year and we should have made adjustments . To give their QB enough time to plan his evening on every pass in the 4th quarter is absurd . Of course the players take some responsibility as well . The odds would've been heavily in our favor if Kyle would've stopped at the one or been tackled short of the end zone .

[scottsdaleazravensfan]

Our likelihood of being able to score if Kyle went down at the 1 is pretty good, our likelihood of stopping Ben on a drive under two minutes is right around 0%, and it played out exactly like we've come to expect, with almost zero resistance to their last minute drive. "Always take the points" sounds good, but our record of stopping last-minute drives against anyone but the lowliest of quarterbacks is a record of almost 100% failure, for a very long time, and even old 2nd and 3rd stringers like Charlie Batch have beat us like that in the past. You aren't guaranteed to score if Kyle goes down at the 1, but you are practically guaranteed to lose if you leave Ben time on the clock with a less than 7 point lead. I'd say there's an 80% chance of still scoring if Kyle goes down, and there was about a 1% chance of stopping Ben with the way the fourth quarter was going, combined with our longstanding record of ineptitude in those situations.

I totally agree ! But maybe only a 50 per cent chance of stopping the Steelers with a min plus left . I like the odds of having first and goal with 1:18 left and 4 plays to win game .

[rayven98]

We failed too many times on 1st & goal this year to even think about fooling around at the goal line. Juice, that was a great play.

Here's where are problems are...
1. Draft - we have this obsession of collecting draft picks. What good is 12 picks when you have to cut six of them. When you get those picks, use them to trade up. We need playmakers!
2. Team philosophy - we espouse a pound the rock philosophy, but in words only. Apparently, we don't mean what we say or everyone has not bought in. Everyone has to be on the same page.
3. H.C. - I'm not down on Harbs as much as some fans are. I just wish he would take a course on clock management.
4. O.C. - why can't we get a good one? One that can mesh with Joe.
5. Adaptability - why can't we make half time adjustments like other teams seem to do?
6. Game attitude - we have no killer instinct!!

Just need to trade our 2nd and 3rd rounders to try and get back in the first because 2nd round for some reason ozzie can't pick anyone worth a crap. 2nd round pick should be instant contributor. 4th round saved this last draft.

[whobilly]

I've seen teams do it when they just need a FG to win a game but never a TD.

[whobilly]

This is one of the stupidest questions ever seen. Why is anyone even considering this? It is the job of the offense to score, period. Suppose he went down short of the goal line as some morons suggest? Then what if the next guy fumbles? If your defense is so bad that you can't stop a team from going the length of the field in 68 seconds, then you have no business being in the playoffs.

True. Good teams find a way to win these games. Mediocre teams like the Ravens find a way to lose them.

[RayRayRaven]

I thought his td cost us the game....we left them too much time

[RayRayRaven]

1 hour ago, Fastynart said:

This is one of the stupidest questions ever seen. Why is anyone even considering this? It is the job of the offense to score, period. Suppose he went down short of the goal line as some morons suggest? Then what if the next guy fumbles? If your defense is so bad that you can't stop a team from going the length of the field in 68 seconds, then you have no business being in the playoffs.

problemis they only needed to go far enough for a FG.  juice clearly scored too early. we should have scored with 30 seconds or less left

[whobilly]

  2 hours ago, Fastynart said:

This is one of the stupidest questions ever seen. Why is anyone even considering this? It is the job of the offense to score, period. Suppose he went down short of the goal line as some morons suggest? Then what if the next guy fumbles? If your defense is so bad that you can't stop a team from going the length of the field in 68 seconds, then you have no business being in the playoffs.

problemis they only needed to go far enough for a FG.  juice clearly scored too early. we should have scored with 30 seconds or less left

They were losing 24-20 when Juice scored to make it 27-24. When did they put in the new 5 point FG rule?

[Dorota]

In what universe would you even consider it a bad call to score, especially when trailing, in Q4? That is seriously messed up. I'd say it's easy to have 20/20 vision after all is said and done, however, you don't know if they would have scored a TD on any play after that. Defense should have held, that's it.

[Dorota]

In what universe would you even consider it a bad call to score, especially when trailing, in Q4? That is seriously messed up. I'd say it's easy to have 20/20 vision after all is said and done, however, you don't know if they would have scored a TD on any play after that. Defense should have held, that's it.

In fact, check out the balls on Juice, pushing it down the middle and lowering his shoulders! It's generally fun to watch him, because he has what I imagined an AFC North team should have - pure guts and hard nose.

[Jfravens]

Juice is one of the most consistent players in the NFL. He's a underdog MVP. You can always count on him. As well as Tucker.

[Raven1995]

What IFs? if we're playing this game let's go back earlier in the season when our head coach kept going for it on 4th down, early in games instead of using the #1 kicker in the league - that's at minimum 2 games just this year. Last I checked the record is a reflection of the head coach... except in Baltimore. IF the MO plays out as in the past ~ a coordinator gets fired.

Don't forget the fake field goal with Tucker throwing in the wind.

[Raven1995]

Juice is one of the most consistent players in the NFL. He's a underdog MVP. You can always count on him. As well as Tucker.

I'm glad they used Juice well yesterday, but it took almost 4 years to do it. I hope we resign him Before March 1st.