Ravens Loss for Third Time in Final Seconds Hurts
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 19, 2009 9:53 AM EDT
62 comments
Perhaps we would be better prepared to handle yesterday's loss if the scored ended at 27-10, which it was early in the 4th quarter. Losing by a bunch to what looked like a better team at that point in the game would have hurt, but this much? Losing three straight games that we could very well have won by making one more play on either offense or defense feels like a stab in the heart rather than just a knife in the back.
While that is a pretty sorry analogy, I'd rather be put out of my misery early than suffer to the very end of the game, only to see the same thing happen again. Each time the offense gave us hope, the defense snatched it away the very next time on the field. When the game came down to the final play again and the onus was on our kicker, how many of you actually had the confidence he would make that kick after seeing him nervously pacing the sidelines moments earlier?
More on "Ravens Loss For Third Time in Final Seconds Hurts" after the 'Jump')
I had to google the kid from the movie, 'Superbad' (Michael Cera) who was so nervous during his chance to lose his virginity, and found out his name was Evan. Steven Hauschka looked like and reminded me of Evan before attempting the kick, as he flinched on the timeout that Minnesota called to "ice" him, which it did. Even his post game interview reminded me of Evan, where he was still shy and nervous about being in front of the camera, much less the opposition. If he can't make a 44 yarder indoors in a close game, how can he make one in Pittsburgh, much less at home? I've said since Training Camp that the better pro would have been Florida State's Graham Gano, who lost the placekicking battle to Hauschka before the season. Gano didn't look that good in the few attempts he had in the pre season, but looked better in Camp and had the better college experience, playing at FSU in all those close games. His leg was stronger and he seemed to have a stronger spine as well to deal with the pressure, which pre season games do not take into consideration.
Do not start the "Matt Stover would have made that" talk here on The Beatdown! The current Stover not only wouldn't have made it, but he wouldn't have even reached the goal line with his leg. However, we all know the airwaves and internet will be flooded with the "Stover" talk, but please spare me.
However, this game was NOT lost, nor would it have been won, by the kicker. The other 59 minutes and 58 seconds determined the game, not the final :02.
This one's on the defense. While the offense seemed bland for three quarters, the team still put up 31 points on an undefeated Vikings team. If we had won that game, no one would have anything negative to say about the offense. Joe Flacco has another career high, Ray Rice settled the issue of whether or not we will be clamoring too much for Willis McGahee after playing lights out again. However, every time we inched closer to the Vikings, they just moved down the field with big plays and stupid penalties against a Ravens defense that looked lost, confused and overmatched all game long. It almost seemed that the Vikings knew they could move the ball at will and did just enough at the end to hold on for the win.
We'll have two weeks to dissect and spread the blame around, but as much as we want to say we're three plays away from being undefeated, we're 3-3 and in 3rd place in the AFC North, albeit just one game out of first place. The good news is that last season we had the same record before Ed Reed came alive and took over the game like we know he still can and remember, we did what we did with a relatively weak offense, so try to imagine....
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Landry is playing scared
Watching that came I couldn’t help but notice where the cracks are: our secondary, and Dwan Landry. He’s been playing scared all season, granted he’s lucky to be walking after taking a season ending hit in ‘08. He’s been the one giving up big pass plays, he doesn’t seem to have the same intensity he had before. For good reason, i wouldn’t want to be a vegetable either.
by stevef on Oct 19, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
what do you expect?
The safety is going to have to freeze in coverage on every play because he has no idea what Fabian Washington is about to allow to happen. For that same reason, Reed hasn’t been able to go wild this year. They’re in compensation mode, trying to put a bandaid on the gaping bullet wound that is our secondary. I don’t blame Landry, not at all. How soon we forget that he actually had two very effective years for us as a starter. Fabian and Foxworth on the other hand might have hard times finding jobs as nickel backs if/when their time here is terminated.
He’s been the one giving up big pass plays, he doesn’t seem to have the same intensity he had before.
nah dude. just watch NFL playbook this week and wait for them to talk about us. Fabian practically donates separation to receivers—they’re open before they even get out of their cuts. For a guy with his athleticism, it’s absurd.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, 2007 was when Ed was hurt
and Landry looked lost out there all year. He’s built like a truck but can’t cover worth squat. Ed needs to stay back and provide weak side help but the problem is so far both sides are the weak side, so what can the man do?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 19, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
so try to imagine....
“Imagine” by Bruce.. (forgive me John L.)
Imagine there’s no officials, it’s easy if you try.
no rules to follow..
above us only wins
Imagine all the Ravens, playing for us fans..
boo hoo, ooo
you may say I’m a dreamer,
living in Ray’s dream…
no one to believe us..
why won’t they let us win.
boohooo ooo
boohoo ooo
Bruce, playing the what if, imagine game makes all teams champs. Imagine if Johnny U QB’d the Browns? they might be in 1st place. If Ray was his old self he might help Ravens win games instead of lose games.
Where Have You Gone Johnny U?
by The Exiler on Oct 19, 2009 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Way too much thought went into those lyrics
but thanks for the try. Stay away from American Idol though!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 19, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you should see my Elvis!
;-)
Where Have You Gone Johnny U?
by The Exiler on Oct 19, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bruce I agree.
My fear is that our defense may not be able to snap out of this after the bye week. I think the swiss-cheese defense may be here to stay. I was talking to a fellow ravens fan at the bar, and he wondered aloud during the game, “at what point can you no longer say that the defense is in a slump but rather that it’s just not that good anymore.” I didn’t have a great answer for that. I’ll say this: the corner position is killing us. That and not having a solid starter at the Ted Linebacker position. I’d be happy to see Ellerbe get more time, just because he’s huge, but I’m really starting to doubt whether or not Gooden has the physical ability to get it done in there.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I just don't think they can decide who should be there
I thought Gooden and Ellerbe both made some good plays, so I can see how it is a tough situation.
by klunker18 on Oct 19, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gooden does make plays
but he can’t stack and shed blocks due to his size. I haven’t seen enough of Ellerbe to know if he has what it takes to start, but Gooden worries me.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
T-Good's plays are not "play-stoppers"
but catching up to broken plays. He doesn’t disrupt things like Bart did, or even both Jameel McClain (where the heck has he been?) and Ellerbe. I like Ellerbe to get more PT and would like to see someone else get a chance at nickel or dime back than both Carr and Walker.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 19, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ILB should be Ellerbe (if we dont go 43… grumble, grumble).
Nickel should be WEBB. OK, he tackled poorly on sunday but there’s only one way to learn how to play better and thats by PLAYING.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 20, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The defense
They still showed that they can do it, but for whatever reason they just turn it off for some plays. I mean we were down 17 points and came back to take the lead, you can’t do that without making a couple of stops. I know we hate giving up the run, but Peterson is a freak so I am not really worried about that going forward (although I can’t really explain Cedric Benson). But the corners are just not good right now, especially Frank Walker. On the Vikings final drive, I was very pleasantly surprised early on when he restrained himself from throwing down the receiver after the whistle, but then completely reminded why he sucks when he got burned, interfered, and then still allowed Sidney Rice to make the catch. Lardarius Webb needs to be on the field. The big pass play is killing us and I think we need to blitz more, that’s when it seemed to be working.
Not too much to say about the offense really, they did very well. I’d like to see more running the ball, but part of the reason we didn’t run that much yesterday is probably because we quickly went down 2 scores and the Vikings have a very good run D (although Rice did have 7.7 yards per carry).
by klunker18 on Oct 19, 2009 12:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We traded a couple of TD's for a FG and a defensive stop
but that was the best defensive series of the game and one good series does not a defense make. I think the days that this defense used to carry the offense are long gone. Until we get at least one guy who can get 10 sacks a season and free up double teams on Suggs all the time, we will only be average at best and hope our offense puts enough points up to outscore the opposition.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 19, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How about Oher?
could you be any happier with how he did the other day? He just took the best DE in the NFL by himself and he’s a rookie! His one sack just looked like a mistake because he didn’t even initiate contact with Allen. But when he did, he was every bit his match. He’s making a serious ROY case for himself.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 12:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that was actually going to be a screen play, I remember seeing Oher and Grubbs just pull off the line. I think Flacco was trying to look the defense in the other direction before turning and throwing the screen, but JA just got in there too fast.
by klunker18 on Oct 19, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah something like that
bottom line was that when Oher met Allen face-to-face, he was every bit his match.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Much better than Gaither would have done.
Aleen would have had Gaither tripping over his own feet. Oher may stay at LT the way things are going.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 19, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No Hauschka didn't lose the game for us alone... but he didn't win it either...
Let’s see… a secondary that can’t stop anyone. Safeties who are out of place 99% of the long pass plays. A front D line that has trouble putting pressure on QB’s.
It is incredible in how short a time our defense (and special teams for that matter) have to to garbage…. very heart-breaking loss…
by DAllen on Oct 19, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
amen
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm tires of everyone saying how easy Hauschka's kick was
Sure there is no wind or weather to worry about so the elements made that kick makeable. Yet, how is a game winning field goal with 2 seconds left against an undefeated team on the road in one of the most hostile environments in the league with our group of guys watching an easy kick? I put little blame on Steve for yesterday. Sure, he missed a big one and let down the work Joe did on that drive, but give the kid a break. He is basically a rookie kicker. Gonna miss some and he will learn from this. Baltimore needs to stop saying “where is Matt?”
I put this game allllll on the defense. They had us playing from behind right off the bat. Joe and Rice did every god damn thing possible to get us the win, and the unorganized chaos could not stop anything. Sure, Rex couldn’t win the big games, but Mattison can’t hold a good team to under 21. Can’t wait for John and Ray’s lame excuses again this week. Play like a Raven. Pfffft, give me a break. The defense played like a pigeon.
Limp and dangling.
by Joe Flaccid on Oct 19, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And Bruce
To say that Gano would have made that kick is a tad ignorent for lack of a better word, don’t you think? I mean, if you really feel that way, then Gano should have made his kicks in pre-season, the easiest stage of the football stadium to make them. There is a reason Steve is here and Gano is playing fr Jim Fassel in that UFL crazy league. Don’t take my tone the wrong way, just venting.
Limp and dangling.
by Joe Flaccid on Oct 19, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i agree with you man
while Hauschka obviously should have made that kick, we can’t just go around acting like we did everything right except that. Flacco, Rice, and Oher give us the promise of a BEAST offense in the coming years, but the defense is going quickly from “oh they’re just in a slump” to “I’m not even sure they’re that good anymore.”
Imagine if we HADN’T gotten steamrolled those first two drives of the game? That was way more embarassing than Hauschka’s missed kick was, and those drives cost us 14 points rather than 3. If anybody on the Ravens defense was pointing the finger at Hauschka, shame on them. Man up and do your job.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
Blaming the whole game on a kicker is just silly. WE HAD THE LEAD! All we had to do was stop them from getting into field goal range, but of course, we did not.
by mlb32001 on Oct 19, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would be reasonable to blame Hauschka had he missed 2 or 3 field goals, but he did hit a solid 28 yarder late in the game that we really needed at the time. Our entire defense has let us down so much this season, and it is hard to say something like that, just not used to it.
Limp and dangling.
by Joe Flaccid on Oct 19, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just me being a fan
of Gano’s all pre season and to see this when I think he was the better kicker just brings out a little favoritism. Didn’t know Gano ws in the UFL, which is great to keep him in sight of coaches in the NFL for a possible future tryout.
However, until Hauschka hits a game winner like that, in perfect weather conditions no less, he won’t exorcise the Matt Stover demons that follow him.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 19, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly
It should not have had to come down to Steve. Joe lead our offense to maybe the 2 quickest touchdowns in recent memory, and against one of the best defenses in the league. And Ray always talks about being great and stepping it up, well Ray, you have yet to step it up once this year besides against the Browns.
Is it just me, or has it felt like teams have yet to get like a legitimate 13-16 play, 6-8 minute drive against us this year? I feel like nearly every score we have given up has been because of a huge 40+ yard play. Anyone have the stat for most 20 or 40 yard plays given up this season by a defense? I would think we would be in the top 5 for most so far.
Limp and dangling.
by Joe Flaccid on Oct 19, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
our 4th qtr offensive explosion:
221 Yards
9 first downs
21 points scored
all in 4:25 TOP.
If your offense does that to a team in the 4th quarter and it only nets you a one-point lead, you can safely blame your defense for not winning that game.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
hope springs eternal
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WE NEED REX BACK PERIOD ORGANIZED CHAOS
by Jason200 on Oct 19, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
right
yeah Rex’s defense never gave up a game-winning drive or anything. Never had a problem with pass interference penalties. Nope. he was perfect. If only he was here, maybe we’d be….
oh wait…
we’d be 3-3 just like right now, and just like the Jets are. Oh yeah.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If all the ravens defenders suck then can the steelers have Ngata?
by archon095 on Oct 19, 2009 1:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
DEFENSE???
Totally agree with everyone’s comments. Secondary sucks but what about the ones up front??? We are not putting any pressure on the QB. Receivers have all day to run around and get open. Big plays are totally crushing this once great defense. I hope Reed starts gambling a little coming off the bye. Hopefully he will turn it on like last year!
by rightttt on Oct 19, 2009 1:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
if reed had been gambling like he’s used to, we’d have given up a lot more big plays already. He’s our only insurance policy back there and neither Fabian nor Dominique are ready to defend deep balls all alone without no. 20’s help.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s our only insurance policy back there and neither Fabian nor Dominique are ready to defend deep balls all alone without no. 20’s help.
So he needs to be back there then! If we know we are getting beat constantly on Reed’s side of the field, why is he still 10-15 yards away from the line of scrimmage? You think Favre is going to dump it off in the middle of the field to Shinacoe when he has Sidney Rice on Frank Walker? Hell no, but it seems like Reed thinks that.
Don’t even get me started with Landry. That first TD pass to Shinacoe (however you spell it) Landry literally stood there staring at the TE while there was NO ONE in the right corner of the endzone, which is what he looked like he was trying to cover as well.
Limp and dangling.
by Joe Flaccid on Oct 19, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm not going to explain that TD away
but I think it goes without saying that we need a more conservative Ed Reed this year. Our CBs aren’t responsible enough to be left alone without his help.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we get a pass rush,
watch our “good” our secondary will become. It all starts up front and no on, be it Fabian, Domonique, or even Asomonhga, or whatever, can cover without a pass rush for that long.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 19, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
welll....
I agree that it starts up front, but you can’t defend Fabian’s play yesterday. They didn’t bench him in favor of Frank Walker because he was pitching a shutout, you know?
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Repeat
We need to repeat what we did last year…we were 3-3 through 6 games last year with losses to Steelers (eventual superbowl champs), titans (best record in league), and Colts (hottest team in the league until Chargers beat them in playoffs), We have just gone through another 3 game losing streak so we can bounce back just like we did last year…we have essentially the same team. Yes I know the defense is sucking, just gotta have faith and think of last year, We can take this bye week to reflect and make changes, Harbaugh will pick our guys up, while hopefully in turn the Ravens players pick up the fans with a win against the Broncos, all of us fans need to just take a breather these next 2 weeks and come back cheering and backing our boys at home.
P.S. How about Mark Clayton bouncing back from his dropped pass for some big time catches…hopefully Hauschka will do the same with his kicks from now on.
by ShaneOmacDaddy on Oct 19, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aso is the best CB in the league with the Oakland raiders. He can cover a wideout no matter what.
by archon095 on Oct 19, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah he's a freak
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
we finally have a FRANCHISE QB AND OUR D IS HORRIBLE. MAYBE ITS JUST ME BUT I THINK FLACCO IS GOING TO THE PROBOWL JUST A THOUGHT.
by Jason200 on Oct 19, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
IM GONNA HOLD A FUNERAL FOR THE RAVENS AND RAY LEWIS IS GONNA BE THE MINISTER LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Jason200 on Oct 19, 2009 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
please stop.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 19, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
losing multiple weeks in a row sucks
Losing three straight games that we could very well have won by making one more play on either offense or defense feels like a stab in the heart rather than just a knife in the back.
Wins are like emotional sustenance to me. Not good for being a normal human, but it gets the job done. After a good football game I always think about it when I wake up the next day. Either being salty after a loss or happy for the win. Losing, especially more than one week in a row is torture. When that loss is to a mouthy division rival, it’s like living with your own personal rain cloud over your head. Believe me, Steelers fans felt that horror after losing in the final seconds in Cinci a few weeks back. But then to lose ANOTHER one after that might make me catatonic. Especially since AP went over 100 yards on the raven’s D AGAIN! Believe me I remember when the Ravens took the longest <100 rusher streak from the Steelers after we lost Aaron Smith in 2007. It sucked.
Now the worst part of the black pit of hell you are all staring into now is the BYE WEEK. It will be two weeks before you can even hope to taste a victory again. By then hopefully the Steelers will be 5-2 and the best the Ravens can do is 4-3. Of course the Steelers’ bye (and Cinci’s too) is coming up in week 8 so that the annoying record disparity will be over soon. So you sit through the bye, wait another week, and then you get the surprisingly tough Broncos coming to town. Be glad you get them at home. The Steelers have to travel out there and the air alone almost killed out safety Clark last time we played @ Mile High. Then again we get an extra week to prepare for them while the ravens hopefully rough ’em up a bit. Seriously I want to see the ravens lay the hammer on the broncos.
So to summarize, I’m trying to say, no matter how bleak things seem for the ravens, we’ve all been there. It’s a long season. Hey did any body watch the bengals get their asses kicked by the Texans, at HOME?!?! Yeah that was awesome!
Hey has anyone checked on Malor since yesterday? I haven’t seen him in like a week. He may have turned up in a padded room with some special happy medicine by now!
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
by showtime on Oct 19, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
thoughts
Well no matter how you look at it – Hauschka failed at doing the job he is paid for and we lost. Yes, the cornerbacks failed too all day, but when it came to crunch time and the entire game on the line – our kicker completely failed. I agree, Stover would not have made it. A few weeks ago Clayton dropped a pass that would have lead to victory and we all forgave him and he came back and did his job again. All we can hope is that Steve makes the next kick when the game is on the line.
Watching Jared Allen just underscores the fact that we do not have a major pass rusher. Look at Dwight Freeny. These are guys who hound the QB every play. We need 2 major Defensive Ends to scare that QB on every play. Oh I know – we’ll draft a natural pass rushing Defensive End and turn him into a LB/DE hybrid. The problems with the D have are not because Bart Scott or Jim Leonard are gone – We basically took a huge chance on Dominique Foxworth who was really an unproven entity and now we see we guessed wrong. Fabian is fast but ultimately not the answer. I truly think Ledarius Webb is the next big play maker. Already he is making an impact on the return team. Frank Walker may get flagged here and there but I still have seen him swat down more balls than most of the other CBs.
We are still in these games but it is high time we actually make the plays we have to make – it is the difference between the winners and the also rans. Again we see the importance of field position. We can still make the playoffs but it is an uphill battle. Time to start making those game ending plays. So far Ray has one against San Diego. Anyone else got a play?
by Rayfan1 on Oct 19, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LW
LeDarius Webb definetly deserves a shot playing CB, he probably has a 35-40 yd avg. on returns the past two weeks. I know the two have nothing to do with eachother but it shows the kid listens to his teachers and takes it into the game with him, Right now it absolutely cant hurt to give the man a few reps in the game…hes not gonna make things any worse and he could very well possibly make it better.
by ShaneOmacDaddy on Oct 19, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No pressure
Matison said he wasn’t going to blitz much this year. Well now we see where that gets us. The biggest difference in this defense is the lack of aggressive play-calling that we had from Rex. Hopefully, when they re-evaluate things over the bye week, they’ll recognize that.
And another thing. It’s odd, but Ray Rice contributed more (or Willis McGahee, less) the last three games that were losses. Not sure what that really means, but there may be something there.
by NFL Sage on Oct 19, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why cant we get just as mad at the offense?
They didnt show up till the 4th Quarter or so.
Lets look at it this way, if they played the whole game like they did in the 4th quarter we have a patriots style win today.
Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Willis & McClain all looked like trash till the end of the game. We cant get a full 60 minutes from any aspect of the team, so leave the Special Teams & the Defense alone.
Life is nothing but Beats & Rhymes
by Matchz Malone on Oct 19, 2009 5:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hell even at the end of the game
on them last couple of plays or w.e when we were inching for a few more yards. maybe we get one more 1st down instead of them 4 yards i think we got we’re lookin at a 34 yarder instead of a 44 yarder which im sure Steve would have been much more comfortable with
Life is nothing but Beats & Rhymes
by Matchz Malone on Oct 19, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the pass that Flacco threw out of bounds on the last series before missing the FG,
there was open field ahead of him and I yelled “RUN!” but he didn’t hear me. He might have gained close to ten more yards and then….
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 20, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
steve would've missed still
Baltimore needs to get right in between the hash marks. Steve trends to kick it right down the lane. I does not hook it very well. On the kick on sunday, he kicked it right down the center, which was on the left side of the hashes.
FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Benji5203 on Oct 20, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe true
but i’m always in favor of staying aggressive and getting as many yards as possible to give the kicker the easiest possible FG. we took a second-year guy who hasn’t kicked a lot this year to begin with, and has never been in a pressure situation like that, and asked him to win the game in a crazy pressure situation on the road. While we’d like for him to be more clutch than that, we also need to temper our expectations and put him in the best position to help the team.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 21, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Basic Football...
The Ravens main problems on defense is…“THEY CAN”T TACKLE" and “They DB”S couldn’t cover my dead grandmother".One thing left out of the conversation is we are 3 plays away from being 6 and 0.I think they will get it together,we were 2-3 last year at the start,we are still a damn good team,even if it took all game before the offense showed up,in the future we will have to depend heavily on the O to win games,but Joe can’t throw 40 plus times a game,he won’t last one doing that…..
by thomlord on Oct 19, 2009 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Predition
I believe Baltimore D will come out firing on all cylinders come week 8. For some season, I believe Ray Lewis will have his boys ready to fight for 4Q. It seems we ethier start off slow and finish hot, or start off hot and finish slow. We have to become more consistent. I just finished watching the Denver game, and they just destroyed the Chargers in the 2nd half. We have to be able to do this for the whole game. Mattison needs to stop being afraid to mess up and call a few all out blitz now and then. Our DB’s need to stop being afraid on contact and jam the hell out of those WR’s. Our LB need to start being patience and let the play come to them. Our D-line needs to start getting off the ball more often and start collasping the pocket. I believe all this will happen week 8 against Denver.
FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Benji5203 on Oct 20, 2009 12:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed, if we can limt
the Special teams of the Broncos (2 TD’s last night) and shut down their run game (we have to stop someone again, right?), then we can rush Orton (?) and cover the WR’s (??), can’t we? Guys, can’t we? (Silence…..)
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 20, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
we absolutely can.
the obvious mismatches at WR scare me. Also, that O-Line has given Orton enough time to throw that he might as well balance his check book while he’s standing back there. Those two issues are worrisome.
But Denver hasn’t really looked dominant at any point. I question how they’ll respond to Ray Rice, who is probably the most talented player running with the ball who they’ve faced all year. Also, you have to think the bye week will help a team on a three-game losing streak more than it can help a team that is 6-0 and may be tempted to rest on their laurels.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 21, 2009 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone know the status of safety Brian Dawkins?
He tweaked a hammy but I guess the Bye week will let him heal and be ready for us.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 21, 2009 10:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Considering the Vikes first 2 possessions started at the 40+, I am very concerend about ST’s. It’s all Krugers faul ; )
by raven on Oct 21, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
with the Denver duo of Marshall and Royal our DB’s will look like the worker on the back of a trash truck going 60MPH.
by raven on Oct 21, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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