[News] Eisenberg: Regardless Of Who Is Coordinator, Ravens' Offensive Philosophy Needs A Makeover

[EdTheMythicalOne]

I want partial credit on this topic I see the time stamp of Eisenberg's article and look at the time stamp of my post:

Posted 3 hours ago · Report post

1) Biggest change needed on offense: Since we know it won't be the OC, I would say it is the philosophy. You have two backs churning over 4YPC and you barely used either one of them. Your passing attack did not take advantage of the skill sets your players have. Our whole off season with Bobby Engram (WR coach) should be teaching our wideouts how to get open against zone coverage and how to beat a press and emphasize fighting for the ball. It is ridiculous with some of the size/speed mismatches we should have that nobody is getting open.

Just kidding, but I think this topic is pretty obvious to every Ravens fan. We figured the best way to get a new philosophy is with a new OC. Kubiak ran a zone-blocking scheme. It might have been "west coast" influenced, but it was run to set up the pass, which a true "West Coast" offense is not. The pass compliments the run and is part of the running game.

Biggest question: Why run a scheme that our personnel does not fit?

Our runningbacks do their best work when they have a FB or two tight ends blocking for them. Not in a single back 3 WR set. They are power run type runners. One cut and gun. Our offensive line are more of the big mauler types save for Stanley and not the agile zone scheme blockers you need to run that type of offense. Our wide receivers consist of one trick pony speedsters and guys that don't run great routes and don't seem to know how to get open in zone coverage. What do you run in a West Coast offense? A bunch of short and intermediate routes designed to beat zone coverage. Our QB is not a a West Coast type QB. He's got a cannon for an arm and he's not exactly the most mobile guy in the world. He showed an extreme lack of touch on short routes. We have a FB that blocks well and isn't exactly fast or agile. He has great hands which helps, but is essentially why we use him like a TE. If he's going to be more of a TE, you might as well get another bigger body and better athlete and just put him in the backfield as a blocker. Darren Waller as an H-Back I think would be interesting.

Unless they plan to completely overhaul the pieces on this team; which isn't very likely, then they need to make the philosophy fit the talent, not the other way around. Power run, heavy package FB+TE or "Diesel (twin TE) packages) for the run game. Set up play action pass. Let your burners go deep. Get Camp and the TE's working underneath. Your RB's are weapons out of the backfield if you use them correctly and aren't running screen plays every other down without any ground game to set them up first.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

Both offensive and defensive needs a makeover The defense played pretty good most of the season but I am so tired of watching the game and not being able to see the CB's on the TV screen because they are playing so far off the WR's

The funny thing is they line up like that to prevent getting beaten deep...and they wind up being beaten deep or just getting completely trucked over after the receiver catches the ball short and then runs for 25-30 yards down the field.

Every time I see that alignment I yell, "free play."

[KidNme]

There's no need to get rid of Flacco, we just need to use him better, like Eisenberg mentions in the article. We gave Joe a bunch of new toys to play with in SSS, Wallace etc but must have forgot about the O line and D line or more likely, we just couldn't afford to do both in one year. If we give Joe a clean pocket and a little bit of time, he can make every throw on the field. When you pressure him, he gets rattled and forgets his progressions, allowable options, his mechanics, his wife's name.....
Our Defensive line needs replacements for Doom N Hacksaw and we need them ready for next season. Probably can't pay a lot for them either because we need another corner or two and they're expensive!!
Lord knows who we'll lose before next season starts in FA too.
For now, we have 2 good running backs, a reasonable QB. We have at least 2 pretty good WR's in Aiken and Perriman and maybe Moore. Wallace will probably be back too but another "Star" would be nice. Stanley and Judon are working out for young players as are a few others so I don't think we're that far away but I do believe it's possible we're more than just one draft away from having the team we all expect.
We have most of our O line and most of our D line but will be losing a few of them either in FA, cut or retired very soon so I think that's where we need to concentrate in the draft but then again, I'm just a dummy watching TV :-)

[Bohica5]

John.....................We need a Head coach!.......not going to playoffs till we get one dude and you know it...........

[Bohica5]

Brilliant article, Eisenberg. So well said.

Not brilliant.......We need a new head coach and that's it!!

[K-Dog]

25 minutes ago, Bohica5 said:

Not brilliant.......We need a new head coach and that's it!!

You have your opinion.  I have mine.  Harbs is going to be around for another year and you are just going to have to deal with it.

[The Beak]

Same harbaugh afraid to hurt somebodys feelings, I am so over his kumbaya i'm so proud speeches, we will not be a dominant team until we have a coach who hates to lose. J Harbaugh is one of these guy who thinks everybody should get a trophy for just showing up. We have the weakest staff in our history, and Steve needs to do something about it...

[bioLarzen]

I think the core of the problem is what the risk is with appointing a ST coach to HC. No matter if you're a DC or OC, you HAVE TO understand both sides of the ball to succeed - both the O and the D - one is your court and the other is the one you'll have to be successful against. But ST? They have to be good v the other ST. The heart of the problem with Harbaugh IMHO is that he simply doesn't know the O side of football well enough - ergo, he HAS TO rely on this OC. He didn't "veto" what he called "the worst call in history" v. the Eagles because he relied on his OC fully.

There's a reason you either don't see former ST coaches promoted to HC, or if it happens, he has great OC's and DC's. If not... then, well, no playoffs most of the time.

[law215]

I think Steve gave Harbs an ultimatum and Harbs is believing his best shot is with guys he knows.

Unfortunately, quality OCs, DCs, or head coaching candidate are available now and much like the draft, OZ is passing and waiting on something better.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Does this mean that in the middle of the season they will be switching coordinators again?

[Hardhitters]

We need a new head coach, Harbaugh is a garbage time coach. I liked the team better with Billick, we was either clearly in or clearly out. With Harbaugh we get to act like we good then fail come crunch time. I wish Billick had one year with Flacco before Harbaugh was given his team. Now that Billick's team is gone so is the "Ravens way".

[TheConquerorWorm]

  2 hours ago, metalraven said:

haha - I know, right? The opponent's offense is on their own 25 and the Ravens CBs are in the tunnel, behind the FG posts.

How many times have we seen it? I mean if its 3rd and 6 our CB's are playing off at least 8-10 yards

 

Zone coverage calls for CB to be 8-10 yards off the line - Cover 2, Cover 3, Cover 4, Cover 6. It's standard with every team in the NFL and college. Unless you're playing press coverage, that's exactly where they should be. And we don't have the corners to play press. That's like saying why does the RB line up behind the QB, 5 yards from the LOS on 3rd & 1. Line up under center would be way better that way, he only has to gain 2 yards instead of 6.

[mrc724]

Lets get real here, we need some big nasty, offensive linemen, it has to start with both lines. That's the key to winning teams. Ozzie has missed terribly on early round draft choices too many time. Flacco, needs to go, trade him for a first and or second draft. It could work, if Ozzie rights his own ship. Sign Tony Romo, if healthy, he may be serviceable for two or three year, he can't do any worse than Flacco. What has Flacco done since we won the Super Bowl, we keep wallowing in mediocrity with him. I think Harbaugh is burned out and needs to go else where. Being a player's coach is not working, we need someone to kick butt. Adopt the Patriot way, If you can't do the job, you're out of here, it works.

The Ravens need to stop looking at players the Matt Elams, to get better, there are many more, who are always hurt or just mistakes we've made drafting them. Like the old saying, fish or cut bait. Look around the league. How many former Ravens have made it with other teams, not many. We just don't draft serviceable players in the early rounds of the draft.

[mrc724]

  3 hours ago, ALSKAN RAVEN FAN said:

  3 hours ago, metalraven said:

haha - I know, right? The opponent's offense is on their own 25 and the Ravens CBs are in the tunnel, behind the FG posts.

How many times have we seen it? I mean if its 3rd and 6 our CB's are playing off at least 8-10 yards

 

Zone coverage calls for CB to be 8-10 yards off the line - Cover 2, Cover 3, Cover 4, Cover 6. It's standard with every team in the NFL and college. Unless you're playing press coverage, that's exactly where they should be. And we don't have the corners to play press. That's like saying why does the RB line up behind the QB, 5 yards from the LOS on 3rd & 1. Line up under center would be way better that way, he only has to gain 2 yards instead of 6.

Then we need to change coverage or draft or sign shut down corners. Oh, there's the salary cap thing. Get rid of the dead wood who can't earn there keep. Why are the Ravens so enamored with Shareese Wright, I believe the Rams cut him, need I say more.

[mrc724]

Same harbaugh afraid to hurt somebodys feelings, I am so over his kumbaya i'm so proud speeches, we will not be a dominant team until we have a coach who hates to lose. J Harbaugh is one of these guy who thinks everybody should get a trophy for just showing up. We have the weakest staff in our history, and Steve needs to do something about it...

Bravo

[jravens1313]

I can't believe we stuck with Marty. That has to go down as one of the worst personnel decisions I have seen made in the NFL. This is NOT a playoff team and won't ever be throwing the ball over 40 times a game.

Edited January 4 by jravens1313

[mrc724]

There's no need to get rid of Flacco, we just need to use him better, like Eisenberg mentions in the article. We gave Joe a bunch of new toys to play with in SSS, Wallace etc but must have forgot about the O line and D line or more likely, we just couldn't afford to do both in one year. If we give Joe a clean pocket and a little bit of time, he can make every throw on the field. When you pressure him, he gets rattled and forgets his progressions, allowable options, his mechanics, his wife's name.....
Our Defensive line needs replacements for Doom N Hacksaw and we need them ready for next season. Probably can't pay a lot for them either because we need another corner or two and they're expensive!!
Lord knows who we'll lose before next season starts in FA too.
For now, we have 2 good running backs, a reasonable QB. We have at least 2 pretty good WR's in Aiken and Perriman and maybe Moore. Wallace will probably be back too but another "Star" would be nice. Stanley and Judon are working out for young players as are a few others so I don't think we're that far away but I do believe it's possible we're more than just one draft away from having the team we all expect.
We have most of our O line and most of our D line but will be losing a few of them either in FA, cut or retired very soon so I think that's where we need to concentrate in the draft but then again, I'm just a dummy watching TV :-)

He can't move, no pocket presence. Flacco does not have a lot upstairs. If it's a design play he will roll out. Otherwise, he going to just gets sacked, hit, or harassed.

[mrc724]

  3 hours ago, metalraven said:

haha - I know, right? The opponent's offense is on their own 25 and the Ravens CBs are in the tunnel, behind the FG posts.

How many times have we seen it? I mean if its 3rd and 6 our CB's are playing off at least 8-10 yards

 

We have to jam their receivers. It's better than giving them a 5 to 10 yard head start. Our receivers can't off the line because they are jammed.

[sizzlingdoom]

  6 hours ago, KidNme said:

There's no need to get rid of Flacco, we just need to use him better, like Eisenberg mentions in the article. We gave Joe a bunch of new toys to play with in SSS, Wallace etc but must have forgot about the O line and D line or more likely, we just couldn't afford to do both in one year. If we give Joe a clean pocket and a little bit of time, he can make every throw on the field. When you pressure him, he gets rattled and forgets his progressions, allowable options, his mechanics, his wife's name.....
Our Defensive line needs replacements for Doom N Hacksaw and we need them ready for next season. Probably can't pay a lot for them either because we need another corner or two and they're expensive!!
Lord knows who we'll lose before next season starts in FA too.
For now, we have 2 good running backs, a reasonable QB. We have at least 2 pretty good WR's in Aiken and Perriman and maybe Moore. Wallace will probably be back too but another "Star" would be nice. Stanley and Judon are working out for young players as are a few others so I don't think we're that far away but I do believe it's possible we're more than just one draft away from having the team we all expect.
We have most of our O line and most of our D line but will be losing a few of them either in FA, cut or retired very soon so I think that's where we need to concentrate in the draft but then again, I'm just a dummy watching TV :-)

He can't move, no pocket presence. Flacco does not have a lot upstairs. If it's a design play he will roll out. Otherwise, he going to just gets sacked, hit, or harassed.

his pocket awareness and movement, or lack there of was about the worst I've ever seen this year. It was mind boggling. It was like Bledsoe was in the pocket with a broken foot or something

[sizzlingdoom]

Same harbaugh afraid to hurt somebodys feelings, I am so over his kumbaya i'm so proud speeches, we will not be a dominant team until we have a coach who hates to lose. J Harbaugh is one of these guy who thinks everybody should get a trophy for just showing up. We have the weakest staff in our history, and Steve needs to do something about it...

I was literally sick to my stomach and had issues today because I saw we're keeping all the same coaches. I am just so unhappy about it and feel helpless. I think it's worse than one of our stars going down. We need a whole new staff. This is insane. This year could not have been coached any worse than it was. Wth STEVE????

[RaRaRavens]

  6 hours ago, The Beak said:

Same harbaugh afraid to hurt somebodys feelings, I am so over his kumbaya i'm so proud speeches, we will not be a dominant team until we have a coach who hates to lose. J Harbaugh is one of these guy who thinks everybody should get a trophy for just showing up. We have the weakest staff in our history, and Steve needs to do something about it...

I was literally sick to my stomach and had issues today because I saw we're keeping all the same coaches. I am just so unhappy about it and feel helpless. I think it's worse than one of our stars going down. We need a whole new staff. This is insane. This year could not have been coached any worse than it was. Wth STEVE????

100% agree with you. It's as if they don't want our team to become better in 2017.

[BallsoHard622]

  7 hours ago, ALSKAN RAVEN FAN said:

  7 hours ago, metalraven said:

haha - I know, right? The opponent's offense is on their own 25 and the Ravens CBs are in the tunnel, behind the FG posts.

How many times have we seen it? I mean if its 3rd and 6 our CB's are playing off at least 8-10 yards

 

We have to jam their receivers. It's better than giving them a 5 to 10 yard head start. Our receivers can't off the line because they are jammed.

You can't jam the wr with the corners we have. They are undersized an not talented enough to do that. So that's why pees has them playing a mile away from the line of scrimmage. Until we get better corners you will always see them playing off.

[BallsoHard622]

The bottom line is Flacco's mechanics sucked.
1.We didn't replace KO who was a big part of the run game.
2.Our coaching was up an down all year on both sides of the ball.
3.We didn't do nearly enough for years when it came to bringing in quality corners.
4.We've missed on draft picks, Elam max Williams an our second and third round picks this year were a waste. We should've drafted an offensive lineman an a corner instead of the inside lb an def end.

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

  5 hours ago, mrc724 said:

  9 hours ago, ALSKAN RAVEN FAN said:

  9 hours ago, metalraven said:

haha - I know, right? The opponent's offense is on their own 25 and the Ravens CBs are in the tunnel, behind the FG posts.

How many times have we seen it? I mean if its 3rd and 6 our CB's are playing off at least 8-10 yards

 

We have to jam their receivers. It's better than giving them a 5 to 10 yard head start. Our receivers can't off the line because they are jammed.

You can't jam the wr with the corners we have. They are undersized an not talented enough to do that. So that's why pees has them playing a mile away from the line of scrimmage. Until we get better corners you will always see them playing off.

No its not they are big enough to jam J Smith 6-2 and he doesn't jam a midget can jam its pees coaching style and they make the same excuses each year different players same results also this 10 yards off stuff is pees philosophy its been that way since he got hear he doesn't want guys to get beat deep and has them playing scared if they were 10 yards off the ball and weren't supposed to be you would see coaches yelling to them to more up and they would get benched

[mc_red23]

11 hours ago, Johnny-U said:

While I blame the defense more than the offense for missing the playoffs, I (and everyone else) seem to agree that we need to run the ball more. All it takes is - CALL MORE RUNS! I can see passing when the run game isn't working, but in most this year we often didn't give the run game a chance, or worse - the run game was effective but we still went 99% pass in second half (as in the Washington game).

It's thanks to the defense that we even had a chance at getting into the playoffs. The offense was pathetic for a vast majority of the season. 

[The Greek]

watching the press conference they will hire a qb coach with off coord exp. to cover harbs butt if the offense is crappy again.

[Rav'n Maniac]

Four days into the new year and I'm already discouraged. I just can't see anything that the Ravens could do at this point that will fix this team in time for next season. It all starts with the coaching and this staff is mediocre at best with that mediocrity continuing to seep down to the players. Everyone knows what flows downhill.

[Obie]

Stop making excuses guys and face reality, we lost 3-4 games because of bad management decisions, period. This team should have been 12-4!

[sizzlingdoom]

Stop making excuses guys and face reality, we lost 3-4 games because of bad management decisions, period. This team should have been 12-4!

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!

[griffrb]

None of these discussions by Harbaugh matters to me anymore. What does Steve and Ozzie have to say about this team and the way ahead. Until then, I think all the beat writers should take a knee and drink water.