Yeah, as a matter of fact he would, for a couple of reasons. A pass from Joe for 25 yards might take 2-3 seconds off the clock at most. 5 runs to get those same 25 yards could take several minutes off the clock – which, yesterday would have been several minutes BallerinaTom and the boys wouldn’t have been on the field.

The running game is important, even if we want (as it sometimes appears Cam does) to resurrect Air Coryell. The running game keeps the opposing defense from lining up to blitz on every play if all you’re doing is passing. Yesterday, we were, literally, running all over them. 100+ yards on 11 carries. We (Cam) simply abandoned one of our best tools yesterday and we paid the price for it. There is no way McClain should not have been the heavy back for those short yardage plays. I know we need to appease McGahee to keep him “happy”, but I can’t be the only one who remembers those games last year where McClain ran play after bruising play, 5 or so yards at a time from the 40 to the endzone. This is the other reason for a potent running attack. It wears down the defense. if you run at them early and often, you might not get a pile of yards, but by the 4th quarter, those guys are gonna be having trouble standing, much less raising their arms to knockdown passes or lifting their legs to chase after speedy little WRs.

We have simply GOT to run more. And use McClain!

Where was he yesterday, raven? That is what made the most upset is that LeRon did not get the ball in his hands once. 3rd and 1 and we QB sneak it? 4th and 1 and we run up the middle with Willis? When the hell have we had plays like this and LeRon was not the go to guy? He is the best 1-2 yard down back in the NFL, period. He needs to see the ball more, to wear down the defense.

Yes, it is about the yards and not the carries, but of the 20 incompletions Joe had, 8-10 of those could have been turned into carries, which could have turned into better control of the clock, which could have turned into maybe another 100 yards the way Rice was running all day. We got to the AFCC last year by running, running, running and running. I do love seeing us pass, but I feel like Cam is just trying to show people up at this point that we can pass.

On our first scoring drive, before the TD to Mason (which was just freaking incredible) we are 1st and goal. Pass. 2nd and goal, pass. Then all of a sudden we are 20 yards away and Joe connects to Mason on a play that will be good for a TD 1 out of 8 tries. McGahee had 6 TD’s in the redzone in the first 3 weeks. Why are we not giving it to him to get 8 stupid yards? Yes we scored, but we cannot keep living in that mentality. Our passing game has improved, but it is almost because we are throwing it 40 times a game. Of course we will see yards and completions off that.

Clock management is the way this team wins. We have been the best at it for so many years now, and if we allow Tom Brady to stay on the field for 35 minutes because our offense is getting 20 incompletions in the passing game, that is not good. Running the ball, that is what clock management is about. 16 times is not going to cut it.

I said a few weeks ago, and many people agreed with me that when we run the ball, it is not always about gaining yards. It is about eating clock, eating clock, and eating clock. Just like you eat beer brats at the tailgates.

How was Billick able to call the Bears game along with calling our offensive plays? He really is a mastermind.

raven, do you mind if I use this post in show and tell tomorrow? The use of paragraphs. Punctuation and even sentence structure is something to be proud of. Were you actually sober while writing this?

I will give you permission since raven is still standing on the ledge!
He is a very discruntled fan when they lose.

I am still curious about our DB’s. They looked better against the garbage Browns but that waxing by San Diego is still fresh in my memory. I thought the Browns should have come out gunning deep balls to test us but, true to Browns form, scouting is not budgeted.

Brady should go deep a few time very early to Moss and then backtrack with 7-10 yarders to Welker and Maroney. He’ll need to set up the run because while Fred Smith is good, he’s not turning corners on anyone especially a fast line like the Ravens have.

I’m canceling out your run game, Maroney in the passing game and pinning your chances directly on Welker’s health and Moss’s game beyond 20 yards. Brady needs to go 25-38 to smell victory. I see an honest 80 total yards from your ground game and 250 in the air. Of course, we might be caught sleeping on Galloway.

As far as the Ravens go keep an eye on Kelly Washington. I think Ray Rice will have a career day.

Jumpy Joe Flacco threw fadeaways off his back foot during the last 2 drives of the first half. He seemed to THINk the pressure was worse than it was. He had tons of time but for some reason started chucking and ducking. cam getting away from Rice and the short game was a huge mistake.

For some strange reason we air mailed 3 straight balls deep after driving the length of the field with short to mid passes. We then threw it all away and started throwing jump balls to covered receivers. Our receivers were doing fine with Joe being patient and getting open BEFORE the throw. The INT to Boden was ridiculous. Why risk a timing pattern in the flats when we were killing them with thr run and rice. Did Clayton run the wrong route? Interestingly, Boden’s first and right foot was out of bounds on the pick. Another break for NE.

This kills me to say this and I’ve held it in this year but here goes…Ray was a non factor and showing major signs of decline. He did 0 the enitre first half. He actually hurt us on NE’s first TD drive. He missed 2 tackles and got turned around on another. He didn’t support the line. He was lost in pass coverage. His guesses on downs were wrong. I like the guy but our LB play is weak.

Suggs should not be in pass coverage! He needs to get after the QB. I think our big three on D have let things go to their heads or they are more hype than help at this point. Welker turned a 3 yard catch into a none yard gain after juking Ed Reed twice to get there.

Rice was not utilized nearly enough. McGahee may as well have been benched. Cam started drives nicely but turned into an idiot when he sniffed the endzone.

Why wasn’t the hit on Joe that sent Gaither to the hospital a late hit. Watch it again if you can.

The catch by NE that was reviewed and upheld was actually a drop. The receiver pulled the ball up from his knees to his chest as he lay on the ground. It was obvious. Why bother with the reveiws when they never get it right. Is there an old man in there with bad eyesight? Horrendous calls.

Flacco could have put the Pats away early and often but threw at least 6 really bad balls. I think he is in love with his arm because he sure doesn’t use his feet to plant and throw. The O-line did a GREAT job but Joe rushed many throws or left the pocket forno reason.

What a waist of an easily winnable game. These guys need to believe in themselves a little more and Cam needs to believe in patience and his players. He, for some reason, deceided the only way we can beat Brady is with mini Hail Marys. Chicken shit again folks. We do stupid things against good teams. That tells me that deep down the coaches fear the opponent. I’m so tired of this scatter brained play calling when it counts.

i’m cool now…ray can stay for the rest of the season : )