Read between the D's lines.

by Monkey C on Nov 12, 2009 10:01 AM EST Comment 21 comments

D's line before the Denver game: "Coach has a good game plan and it's up to us to execute."

Translation: We don't agree with the "base defense" scheme but we are pros so we will play hard. The reality is we can't put our heart into it because "vanilla" is just not who we are and what we do but we are trying to give coach a chance.

D's line after the Dever game: "All the credit goes to coach Mattison and his game plan."

Translation: "Thanks for seeing it our way coach"

What happened: During the bye, Ray & Co. quietly went to coach and said "This is not working. This is just not who we are and what we do. We need to play mix it up, pressure D. Let us do what we do and we won't let you down. We've got your back." Coach agreed, players got behind the plan and played with their hair on fire.

D's line after the Bengals game: "Credit the Bengals, They had a good game plan"

Translation: "We had a bad game plan. Coach you let us down"

What happened: Mattison thought he could go back to pushing the buttons his way and it would work. Wrong! He turned up the heat in the second half but it was too late. How many of you thought as soon as you saw us rushing three "it's over, we're giving up the touchdown" Down deep the players feel that way also. They will play hard but these veterans can't get 100% behind a plan they know is not their best chance for success.

What now?

Worst case: Mattison rolls over the Browns with his "base defense" and convinces himself there was never anything wrong with his scheme and the players just need to make plays.

Best case: Mattison "gets it" we play Ravens D, and we have a punchers chance the rest of the season.

Bottom Line: If this isn't fixed and we start playing Ravens D it could start a rift between players and coach that will snowball downhill faster than the Steelers will score on Mattisons "base defense."

The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!

0 recs | Comment 21 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Hopefully, you are wrong, but

if you are right, we will kill the Browns (or perhaps even lose if you read my Story today) and then get steamrolled by the Colts and Steelers. That would be a huge “OUCH!”

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 12, 2009 10:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

saying it for years…rays terrible in pass defence (he fell down in the end zone 10 yards from the receiver in cincy just making a cut back). and now he’s too slow to get to the qb. he’s a rb hawk at this point. i like ray and i’m glad he’s out there but he is being totally exposed without a second LB next to him. we need the 4 man blitz and safety blitz way more often between the 25’s. we’ll get burned over 8 minutes or 1 minute. may as well find out with time on the clock for Rice.

by raven on Nov 12, 2009 3:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Mattison is learning…Gooden is learning, Boller was learning…Travis taylor was learning..Come on guys it’s the Raven way. 6 year training programs. Hmmm..Ty Law started the same day he suited up for the Broncos. Maybe we could have used a vet like that. Naaahh too much paper work.

Funny how old cheap Brandon Stokely is still playing but Travis was our #1. Chester Taylor must have been very expensive…LOL. Man the guys Billick dumped on…Oh yeah, Preist Holmes was too small. But, man oh man, keep ’ol Travis Taylor around.

by raven on Nov 12, 2009 3:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yup, 100% right

Cause all Defensive Coor and first year starters are supposed to lead our defense to #1 rankings. Of course raven.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Nov 12, 2009 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not expecting superstars to walk from the shadows- just fundamentaly sound players and field leader veterans. I don’t need tribal chants and dances as much as I need consistancy and and simple execution.

Maybe a DB that has a feel for the ball or a DE who can touch a QB. Maybe a safety that can tackle. Everyone is in a hurry to assume C-Macs field character.

My HUGE issue is that this was supposed to be “win it all” year. We weren’t ready. Why do I think this was a “win it all” year? Because Ray and many others are fading. If they are relying on the older guys for wins THEN this must be a win it all year. What’s left when they are gone. At this time, we will be in rebuilding for a long time considering there is very little to assume the verteran spots. Free agency? Not so far. Why wait? This year and next year is most likely it for our healthy older guys.

by raven on Nov 12, 2009 4:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This team, already aging

just seemed to get old a lot quicker than anyone expected. Between Pryce not getting anywhere near the QB, Lelly Gregg not seeming recovered, Gooden fast but lost and both CB’s falling down and spinning their wheels like cartoon guys, the team is hurting, along with Ed trying harder to strip the ball and make the great paly than just tackle the damn runner, it is frustrating.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 12, 2009 8:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Besides MaLor, who’s talking #1 rankings? I just pointed out good players we let go because we were so smart about our prospects. Do you think letting Chester and Holmes go was smart? How about ebven Stokely wehn we had very little in the way of receivers. 7 million to Foxworth? Getting the great Ogden and then having him protect crap QB’s for his whole career. What’s the point. The Ozzie magic is a bit overblown.

by raven on Nov 12, 2009 4:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It's a business

and making tough financial decisions doesn’t always mean keeping the best players. Everyone does it but since we’re all Ravens fans it seems like we’re the only ones. We’re not alone.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 12, 2009 8:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Financial decisions?

Stokely had to be cheap. Chester couldn’t have asked for that much. Holmes-maybe a bit pricey. But, look at who we kept too. I wouldn’t trade Ozzie for any other GM but it hasn’t all been roses or good decisions. The 10 year QB search was painful. Kelly Washington was a God send this year and a very lucky acquisition. We make moves like cargo ship. We may ultimately get there but it burns a lot of time and careeers.

by raven on Nov 13, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If it ain't broke.....

If Mattison had kept the same scheme and the D failed to perform we could say players lost a step etc. But we have the talent which was obvious when we played Denver. A new D coordinator who comes in and fundamentally changes how a perennial top tier defense plays had better get it right. He got it wrong. You have to keep offenses guessing and not give good QB’s easy pre-snap reads. Funny how the Steelers D looks a whole lot like how the Ravens D used to look. Mattison has to change or this season is going to end ugly.

by Monkey C on Nov 12, 2009 4:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Somehow I can't believe

Mattison is so dumb that he sees this is not working yet continues to keep the same schemes. Something else is wrong and it is the players not performing to the levels they were even as recent as last year. I for one, cannot and will not blame the DC.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 12, 2009 8:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

We’ll see how Cincy does against Pittsburgh. Palmer > Orton. The AFC West is soft.

The Steelers kept pressure on Orton and generally manhandled the Broncos o-line, just like the Ravens. The Broncos offense was never in either game. We’ll see how the Bengals do against Pittsburgh, then we’ll have some better comparisons to see how weak the Ravens are. I just think the Broncos O-line is easier to beat up on. Mattison is not going to be able to hide piss poor cornerbacks and aging support in Reed and Lewis unless they face a weaker O-line where they can consistently bring a lot of pressure.

by drj on Nov 12, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who wants to pay attention to the quiet virgin D-coord with the Raymanian Devil playing by his self appointed rules and agressiveness. At least Ryan matched the Raymanian Devil’s bravado…to a point.

by raven on Nov 16, 2009 12:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not Mattison’s fault but when you bring in a new DC you can expect to have a learning curve. With the best of our team being veterans, it might have been a wiser choice to make someone more familiar with them the DC. We don’t have time with our age. This was our year. We will be a 75% offensive team in the near furture. The balance won’t be there. How interesting to go from one extreme to the other so fast.

by raven on Nov 13, 2009 4:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps if

those same veterans who reportedly haven’t “bought” into Mattison had played the way the schemes call for, instead of Reed trying to strip the ball rather than tackle or Ray hold off planting a huge hit on his fiend, then our team might actualy be better than it is.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 13, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Be careful Bruce..the caped MaLor might swoop down on you for calling out Ed Lewis. Like I said before -2 game plans. 1 for the team and 1 for Ed Lewis.

by raven on Nov 13, 2009 10:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What about Ray Ray?

He doesn’t get his own game plan?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 14, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I said Ray- Ed Lewis.

My 10 players of importance in order are:
1. Rays Rice
2. JJ
3. Mason
4. Flacco
5. Reed
6. Ngata
7. Kruger – I see the future-see Cushing
8. McClaine
9. Oher
10. Lewis

by raven on Nov 14, 2009 11:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Mason ahead of Flacco?

I think we’ve proven our WR’s, including Mason are pretty irrelevant unless we got us a big name guy.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 15, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's raven for you though

One week he thinks Flacco cannot be stopped, then the next week he thinks Flacco can’t complete a 10 yard pass to save his life. I wonder what he will be like when we beat Indy?

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Nov 15, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I gave Flacco a #4 rating. That’s pretty good for a Vinny style QB.

And YES Mason over Flacco. Maybe not next year but (before last weeks tank job) he’s kept us in games with his swift first moves and hands. He’s the check down receiver even when he’s on the bench.

by raven on Nov 16, 2009 12:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs