Ravens' Flacco Regroups For Solid Game
by Bruce Raffel on Aug 26, 2011 5:42 PM EDT
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Balimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco threw completed his first pass of the game in the team's 34-31 comeback victory over the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium. However, while it went for 52 yards and a TD, it also went to the Redskins' DeAngelo Hall, who stepped in front of WR Anquan Boldin and raced untouched into the end zone to shock the Ravens and quiet the home crowd.
The good news is that after that miscue, Flacco settled down and actually had a very solid game, finishing 17 of 27 for 219 yards and two TD passes to go along with that one interception. On his two touchdown passes he showed off his range of skills with a 35 yard soft pass to Lee Evans and 12 yard rocket to Anquan Boldin.
In addition, Joe found Boldin for another 30 yard pass and TE Ed Dickson for a 33 yarder to add to the proof that the Ravens plan to stretch the field, but not only with newcomer Lee Evans, but the other receivers as well. Flacco's 97.6 Passer Rating would be just fine for the regular season and despite his game-starting pick-six, would be a great way to start off the 2011 regular season when the Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 11th.
Read more on this at BaltimoreRavens.com.
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If you watch the post game interviews of Boldin doesnt look too confident in his chemistry with Flacco. The latest one he said that their still trying to figure ways to use him in the offense.
I think Boldin was a little spoiled with Kurt Warner
But really with Joe and Anquan, they are two cerebral players that use timing and rome-running more than anything else to make things happen. With Evans, Joe just throws the ball up and Evans will out run his guy to get to it, but with Bolding if they aren’t completely on the same page and see things the same way then they would be perfectly in-sync.
Though after the game last night I think Boldin was a little down because of how Hall beat him to pick off Joe’s pass (from the highlights it looks like a miscommunication between the two of them) and he wants to eliminate those mistakes.
All I can say is if not having a solid confidence in his chemistry leads to what we got last night (minus the pick-6 of course) then I’m pretty happy, especially if they only work harder to get more in-sync together.
A Ravens fan on the wrong side of the country!!
by Christopher Atwood on Aug 26, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I felt he was spoiled too with Warner
by Raven_all_day on Aug 26, 2011 7:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Boldin is a very good player
I think Boldin was a little spoiled with Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner had incredible understanding of what defenses were doing. In addition, the chemistry/trust between coach (Todd Haley) and QB (Warner) was special and the results spoke for themselves. As good as it has been at times, they are still some issues in the WR core. The lack of OTA’s hurts the chemistry process.
With Lee Evans now a Raven and a proven vertical threat (I’ve always liked Evans), Q can do what Q does best -—- working those underneath routes and occassionally getting deep when DB’s cheat and a route is “converted” as a sight adjustment. Cam Cameron has to trust Flacco with the playbook and Flacco has to trust his “new” WR’s. It’s a trickle down thing. Flacco needs autonomy! Will he get it?
Boldin has a #1 WR mentality to go along very good talent and football IQ. All players have be used correctly. I’m not sure that this happens with Cam enough for my tatse. To be fair, I was encourage by some of the things I saw from Cameron and his playcalling against Washington. A harbinger of things to come?
Any we can bundle Flacco and a couple draft picks to make a trade for Tebow?
"I hate your sig…" -Mr MaLoR
by StuckInUtah on Aug 26, 2011 6:16 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Cody & Kindle plus a 1st for Tebow…
Final offer
by Evan Skev on Aug 26, 2011 7:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
More on Flacco/Boldin
Two things:
1. Did that pick 6 look like a busted route to anyone else? Almost looked like Joe thought it was a short curl and Q was running an out and faking a curl….Hall jumped a curl route, but didn’t really look like that’s what Q was running. At least to me.
2. I get that our O-Line is very shaky and last night wasn’t even a real example of the final personnel and where they’ll be slotted….but I still don’t understand why Joe can’t get Q the ball at will. Q might well be the toughest true WR in the game…somebody who’s willing to go over the middle on slants and such and take a beating time and time again. Unless the opposing LBs are putting any pressure Q running the slant is more or less undefendable for at least 5 yards….and they never seem to take advantage of how dangerous Q is over the middle. What gives?
Say hello to cam Cameron and John Harbaugh
Wave!
by Evan Skev on Aug 26, 2011 8:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
1. Did that pick 6 look like a busted route to anyone else? Almost looked like Joe thought it was a short curl and Q was running an out and faking a curl….Hall jumped a curl route, but didn’t really look like that’s what Q was running. At least to me.
I was thinking the same thing. Flacco and Boldin definitely didn’t seem to be on the same page on that timing route. The big head scratcher for me, though, is why Boldin moved away from the trajectory of the pass as Hall jumped the route. On the replay, it doesn’t look like there’s any contact between the two at all. I’d have expected Boldin to at least try to make a play on the ball while it was still in the air.
Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.
State your case, back it up with facts and reasonable opinions ...
Bruce Raffel
I also credit Hall for jumping it. He knew what was coming, and probably saw something on film earlier in the week.
"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda
Definitely. He made a great play on the ball.
Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.
State your case, back it up with facts and reasonable opinions ...
Bruce Raffel
After watching it again you are right that something just looked off. Joe shouldn’t have thrown it still, but Boldin looked like he was doing something else. I definitely think he recognized something because he didn’t even get into a back pedal he took two small shuffles and jumped it. Can’t take anything away from Hall that was a great read.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
Joe shouldn’t have thrown it still …
From what I can tell, Hall hadn’t reversed his momentum and jumped the route by the time Flacco threw the ball, so I’m not sure why he wouldn’t have thrown the pass. If we’re correct in assuming that Flacco and Boldin were each running a different play, then it’s fairly safe to assume that Flacco thought Boldin would end up between the ball and the cornerback.
Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.
State your case, back it up with facts and reasonable opinions ...
Bruce Raffel
I guess that’s true, but you would think still that if Joe saw Hall just sitting there and being that he’s known to jump routes that he would have held back. he had a 3 step drop, so should have still spotted Hall just sitting on the underneath route. I guess we don’t know what was supposed to happen though.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
But Hall wasn’t just sitting there. As Flacco began the throwing motion, Hall was still backpedaling. The more I think about it, the more I’m becoming convinced that Flacco thought Boldin would put himself between the ball and the cornerback. I’m still not seeing anything “boneheaded” about this play.
Also, it wasn’t a three step drop. It was a timing pattern off of play action. Flacco dropped back to fake the handoff, and then threw the ball almost immediately after looking up. He wasn’t watching the secondary between the snap and the fake handoff, and he shouldn’t have been.
Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.
State your case, back it up with facts and reasonable opinions ...
Bruce Raffel
Yeah I guess we don’t know what was supposed to happen on that play. I agree though after looking at it more that something was off. Either Q was thinking the ball was supposed to be on the outside or Flacco threw a horrible pass. I don’t know that Flacco would be that off, so something definitely didn’t seem right on the play. You were right though that it was off a play action. I thought it was a three step drop for some reason.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
What I saw
Deangelo Hall recognized what was cominng by the alignment. Hall was also playing heavy inside leverage technique. Meaning, that if the WR stems the route inside the CB has an advantage and the QB should “see” this and throw the football away from the CB’s levage point outside. Hall jumped 2 yds. inside and the ball was throw right to him. Hall was lined up over Boldin 8 yds. off and waS more concerned with watching Flacco and getting to the “spot”. Int’s are a lot easier to come by when the QB stares down the WR. Whatever happen to looking off the intended target and then comming back to them?
Could Flacco have audibled to a route where Boldin runs a route that stems to the sideline? I know this is probably a question better asked to Cam Cameron.
It’s nice to have a QB who isn’t easily fazed by an early mistake. The pass to Evans was a beauty, and Joe has really perfected the back shoulder throw like the one to Dickson. I think we’ll be okay this year with Joe under center.
Dickson really excites me. Heap was great and will always be remembered, but I have a feeling that Dickson may give some people amnesia for a little while. Pitta also will be another great target. I think Pitta should be the guy in the red zone because of his hands and ability to get open. It’s funny how well Ozzie has done this off season. We release a great target in Heap, then Dickson and Pitta come out looking great. Release Mason and Evans rips it up. Let McClain walk and watch Leach bull doze people. Ozzie’s knowledge is almost supernatural.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
You know, when we released those guys I wasn’t concerned. But then when we didn’t seem to be getting the targets we were going after, I got pretty concerned given our roster at that time and the look like we were going to ride with rookies everywhere. But you are completely right. The moves we have made in FA have been on point to what we needed, but they are moves that allow for a window to have the rookies start making impacts now and take over in a few years.
I’m really excited about this team and what we can do this year. If Flacco and Evans can keep up that chemistry, it looks like Flacco may be able to hit him whenever he likes, just like he did with Mason. Except it will go 20+ yards every time. That is absolutely the steal of FA so far in my mind.
by Mstevens_Design on Aug 26, 2011 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed. I know it’s boring to use the In Ozzie we trust phrase, but damn how can anybody not? The guy is truly unbelievable and knows how to build a team. I think we could struggle initially, especially with Pitt and I know we all were saying it last year, but I think we will get things going around mid season. I really think this will be the greatest offensive team in Ravens history.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
by AV23 on Aug 26, 2011 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, I definitely agree that our offense could really be a solid force. But our defense worries me a little bit. They don’t look like a total unit right now and the corners aren’t looking too good right now…. that is the unit that will decide how well we do this year.
by Mstevens_Design on Aug 26, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the starting defense is just going through the motions right now, not wanting to get injured during the stupid preseason. Once the games begin to count, they’ll turn it up.
Agreed. The vet guys don’t have as much motivation going into a pre-season game as a regular season game and are probably just more concerned about not getting hurt and helping the young guys out. They will be ready to go come regular season.We just need to hope Cody becomes that plug we are looking for and getting Carr healthy. I think our secondary will be fine once they get some better communication and more consistency as far as who the starters are.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
My bigger worries are with the corners. These are guys that should have shined because they are all battling for the starting spots. I haven’t really seen anyone step up consistently. I know the other guys aren’t going at it full force because its just preseason, but that secondary worries me a little still.
by Mstevens_Design on Aug 27, 2011 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Jimmy Smith is not ready to start and Cary Williams is not a #1 back.
The reason Cary is starting is because we have nobody else better. We are kind of in the same position we were last year. We needed to pick up a good corner on the market and we didn’t. I think we may have hurt ourselves by not trying to renegotiate with McGahee and not sign Ricky Williams. Only time will tell but Ricky hasn’t shown me anything substantial yet.
Actually
Williams is a #1 CB, just not a “shutdown” corner. There might be all of five shutdown corners in the entire NFL. I think you would be hard pressed to name a dozen CB’s better than Williams, outside of the true shutdown ones.
Now, if Jimmy Smith grows into a true shutdown corner by the end of the year, I am perfectly happy with Smith and Williams as our starting CB’s for the next 5 – 7 years. And if Webb, or Fox or anybody else overtakes Williams, all the better.
"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
"God's whiskers! Your face is as hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
"I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today."
"It's big for a reason."
For Pittsburgh fans, that's Pope, Twain, Rostand, Rogers and Megamind
Williams is a #1 corner because he is on the Ravens
I hope he performs well, but I think as the game goes on he will get exposed. Don’t let his size fool you into a #1 ranking.
Understatement
I think we’ll be okay this year with Joe under center.
Of the century…
"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
"God's whiskers! Your face is as hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
"I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today."
"It's big for a reason."
For Pittsburgh fans, that's Pope, Twain, Rostand, Rogers and Megamind
by vlad755 on Aug 27, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
ed dickson
Dickson is going to be a good one he has the speed of a wide out and shows good hands. However the offensive line may be something to worry about for the Ravens. Hopefully when McKinnie gets up to speed he can move in at left tackle.
If Mckinnie finds some inspiration this is a January team…yes?
Everything else looks good
by Evan Skev on Aug 26, 2011 8:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The line definitely has some question marks, but I think we will be fine. Oher is going back to the right where he was dominant, we have one of the best guard combos in the league again with Yanda back there, Birk is taking snaps again and Mckinnie should at least be able to give us what Oher has. Even if he isn’t an improvement over Oher we could just help him out by keeping Dickson/Pitta in or send an RB to help out.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
Mckinnie should at least be able to give us what Oher has.
Hopefully minus the false starts.
"Cam Cameron…even his parents where obvious and repetitive." - raven
by GrumpyOldBird on Aug 26, 2011 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Mckinnie is a bum… I’m not convinced he will get back to 2009
by Evan Skev on Aug 26, 2011 8:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m not saying he will, but can he really be that much worse than Oher so far? Keeping Oher at LT potentially creates two holes instead of one. Like I mentioned if Mckinnie is the only weak point we can at least send an extra blocker to come and help.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
True. You know how I am with the lazy dudes… Can’t stand them.
by Evan Skev on Aug 26, 2011 8:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I hear you and hopefully he can rejuvenate his game here being with his fellow Miami alums and a new team. Harbaugh was saying though that he has a ton of football smarts, is eating healthy and seems to be picking up things quickly though, so I guess all we can do for now is hope for the best. I do think in the end it will work out though. Even if he doesn’t return to pro bowl form I still think it makes us a better overall line by being able to kick Oher to the right.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
Harbs is giving him some positive press… A standard to live up to… The proof is in the pudding…or in the pass protection. Why am I such a skeptic?
by Evan Skev on Aug 27, 2011 4:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Piss me off when we get 3rd and short and oher commits a false start. I hope he leaves that on the left side of the line.
by Raven_all_day on Aug 26, 2011 8:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Idk where you been but Harbaugh’s intentions are:
McKinnie Grubbs Birk Yanda Oher
The good thing is every single one of them excelled at their positions, even Oher his rookie year. The players that haven’t played this preseason in their positions are vets. It should take no time for them to mesh well.
Go Ravens
by Raven_all_day on Aug 26, 2011 8:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It sounds good but Mckinnie has to get the rocks out of his head and Birk has to heal and get in shape
I’m thinking we peak around week 16 then run the table
by Evan Skev on Aug 26, 2011 8:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Mckinnie was tired of losing, I think that’s all that was. I’m expecting bounce back years from him and Lee.
by Raven_all_day on Aug 26, 2011 8:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No, Favre got Favre killed.
"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda
I'd have to agree wtih Skev on that one.
Favre had zero O-Line help last year. I think McKinnie is a good player but overall the Vikings O-Line dropped the ball big. You can’t let a 40 year old man get hit that often.
+1000
"Cam Cameron…even his parents where obvious and repetitive." - raven
by GrumpyOldBird on Aug 27, 2011 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions
After last night
I can see why Ozzie got rid of Heap and didn’t bring in anyone else. Not sure which TE I like more, both of them do some damn good things on the football field.
"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda
I really hope we get both of them on the field because they both are too talented to leave on the bench. I personally would like Pitta in the redzone though because of his hands and ability to get open.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
Dickson ain’t too bad himself in that department either. Both of them will see time this year, neither of them have beat out the other for the starting role, which is a good thing. They both do certain things well (Dickson more of a field stretcher, Pitta more of an underneath, sure catch guy).
I could see something like this at the end of the year.
Dickson. 33 rec, 415 yards, 4 TD’s
Pitta. 21 rec, 263 yards, 3 TD’s.
"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda
I bet dickson doubles that if he stays healthy
by Evan Skev on Aug 26, 2011 8:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don’t know about doubling, but I could see them being a little higher than that. We have a lot of weapons if all used properly and those would still be great stat lines for them as I expect Joe to really spread the ball around. I think Dickson shows a ton of potential though when it comes to stretching the field and I can’t wait to see it. Dickson and Evans could be the key to getting past Pitt.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
If cam wants to throw the ball like san Diego, dickson may put up big numbers. Could be the year Flacco goes over 4000
by Raven_all_day on Aug 26, 2011 8:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I could see Flacco doing that and I guess it will depend on what Identity we take. We have the talent to be a smash mouth football team and we have the talent to air it out more. Hopefully a nice combination of both. I feel last year we were trying to become more of a passing team, but didn’t quite have all the tools to make it work.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
My fear is that, as we’ve seen with Cam before, if we get a few passes working in a game, he just abandons the run and then, of course, the passes stop working. I really think as soon as he gets a completion, even if that completion is the first one in the game and took until the 3rd quarter to get it, Cam’s brain says “YEAH – Now it’s time to become Air Coryell !!!”. And we wind up with nothing.
"Cam Cameron…even his parents where obvious and repetitive." - raven
by GrumpyOldBird on Aug 27, 2011 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
We were top-ten in the NFL in rushing attempts last season. Also, the power running game is a crucial part of the Air Coryell system. We just didn’t have any effective running behind that offensive line last year.
Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.
State your case, back it up with facts and reasonable opinions ...
Bruce Raffel
that is true I probably should have stated it more like GrumpyOldBird where Cam would abandon one of them at times instead of a good balance. Overall it was balanced, but it just seemed like there were certain times we would do a little too much running or too much passing and that’s where I think he started becoming predictable.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
On a side note the Colts better get a healthy Peyton back or they are in serious trouble. Painter just got Wayne killed.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
No I live on the other side of the country lol I just have always loved the Ravens style of play and we don’t have a team in Utah, so I adopted them as my own.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
by AV23 on Aug 26, 2011 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Lol I believe it was you, but didn’t you say you were from California? You are even further than I am.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
You’re both a couple of bandwagoners lol.
"I hate your sig…" -Mr MaLoR
by StuckInUtah on Aug 26, 2011 9:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Hey why don’t you just stay StuckInUtah? What kind of losers live there anyways?
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
I grew up in Mobtown though! Colts fan from back in the day. Glad you’re a Ravens fan!
by Evan Skev on Aug 26, 2011 10:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Ya, Utah sucks. lol
"I hate your sig…" -Mr MaLoR
by StuckInUtah on Aug 26, 2011 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Got news for ya – people on this side of the country – in Baltimore in fact – don’t watch the O’s. Far as I’m concerned, that team left town in 83.
"Cam Cameron…even his parents where obvious and repetitive." - raven
by GrumpyOldBird on Aug 27, 2011 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Yep! First the sport is boring as all hell, the players are divas by all standards, and the team has sucked for so many years they are doomed from here on out.
by Mstevens_Design on Aug 27, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I wish Flacco did not have to bounce back all the time.
It seems that Joe Flacco is always bouncing back. He can not get it done in the first quarter forcing the defense to cover for him. By the time he gets it together the defense is exhausted. I have been critical of Joe in the past but I was a big fan of his in the beginning but he keeps making the same mistakes and having the same problems especially with one team in particular. I want Joe Flacco to be the Ravens QB. He is the best we have had to date. I just would like to see him grow. It seemed like his growth stagnated last year.
It seemed like his growth stagnated last year.
The writer formerly known as This White Man Can Jump; Powah Stached; Bear Killer; Da Dude; The Other Bambino; TJ Dropped The Season; Harbaugh Is My Co-Pilot; Billick's Alter Ego; Mr. Poopy Pants.
Our losses last year are more defensive losses than anything. Joe scored enough points to win the game, but the defense was giving up pretty big leads in the 3rd and 4th quarters.
by Mstevens_Design on Aug 26, 2011 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions
The I saw is that the offense would shut down in the second half
If your defense is on the field as long as they were last year they will get exposed.
Yeah, but that is Cam at that point. We go from an aggressive attack on offense to much more relaxed, take time off the clock attack. Flacco can only do so much when he is forced to hand it to Ray Rice up the middle 15 times in a row for 1-2 yards. Then when he gets to pass, he’s completely out of synch with the WRs and the Oline because they are now more used to running the ball, so the 1 pass he gets is off target. Then its back to run run run run run runrunrunrunrunrunrunrun. If that style of offense doesnt work by going 3 and out, then the defense will be on the field a lot more. But again, that has to do with Cam and his play calling.
Flacco does make his mistakes for sure. But he was the 7th best QB in the league last year (QB rating). So really any discussion of him not being our long term QB is just silly. Any discussion of him not doing well is silly. He has proven himself in the stat department to be a top 10 guy, regardless of how we perceive him.
by Mstevens_Design on Aug 27, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
if we had gotten 5 yards a carry like the year before
Flacco would have thrown for 4000+ yards due to having more first downs and attempts
Stats what does that have to do with anything. LOL
You are right stats are better. I just get frustrated with the slow starts that plagued us last year and that it feels like he has his pets and does not know how to throw to anybody else. He seemed to be only pass to mason or to heap. I know there were a few drops from the other guy.:-) I don’t feel he uses Bodin well. I am trying to be positive just frustrated.
So if stats don’t matter to you, than all you care about is his W-L record?
We went 12-4 last year and won a playoff game on the road again.
The writer formerly known as This White Man Can Jump; Powah Stached; Bear Killer; Da Dude; The Other Bambino; TJ Dropped The Season; Harbaugh Is My Co-Pilot; Billick's Alter Ego; Mr. Poopy Pants.
I think we are all a little deceived with how slow we start our games. We all see highlights after the games about what teams scored what. But the truth is, we are pretty close to being on par with those teams’ scores by the end of the game. We typically don’t make huge plays for scores and we like to be a little more monotonous about how we drive down the field and that tends to make it look like we aren’t doing as well as the Colts or the Pats or Eagles, etc. So slow starts may be a bit off target there.
But I do agree that we don’t properly use our weapons. But then again, that has absolutely nothing to do with Flacco and more to do with Cam. I just think you might be blaming the wrong person.
by Mstevens_Design on Aug 26, 2011 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
But I do agree that we don’t properly use our weapons. But then again, that has absolutely nothing to do with Flacco and more to do with Cam. I just think you might be blaming the wrong person.
Why does nobody seem to understand this?
I think rightly so. He’s about as bad a play caller as Cam. It’s Ben’s ability to escape that let’s them move the ball and score. Take that away and give them an immobile QB and I bet their point totals would go down by half.
"Cam Cameron…even his parents where obvious and repetitive." - raven
by GrumpyOldBird on Aug 27, 2011 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly
Good players can hide the weaknesses of an OC….to casual fans at least. Anyone who knows football and watches the Ravens a lot can see how bad Cameron has been….the same goes for the Steelers. Some fans will criticize way too much and for little reason…but with Cameron there is a reason 90% of fans wanted him gone after last year.
True
It is odd that both of our OCs have orchestrated offenses good enough for making the playoffs consistantly and still we call for their heads. But we never insult our Defensive masters!
I'd sooner get Flacco'd out here in the middle of nowhere than lose face in front of my friends and family.
by steeltech on Aug 27, 2011 10:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Because the defenses are usually what pulls us out of possible losses
Or gives the offense the chance to win
The one thing I despise is that Flacco is actually pretty decent at turning a sack into more time. Yet any time you see him running for his life back there you always see our WRs standing at the end of their routes like the play is already done. Then if you watch a team like Pitt, the Eagles and Tenn (when they had Young), you will always see their WRs go from organized routes into a sandlot type of thing where they run around and try to get open.
Why is it that we can never seem to do that? That type of thing has made Big Ben into the QB he is today and without it, I’d say his number of rings go down dramatically and his stats as well. Why can’t Cam or Harbs or even Flacco chew out the WRs when they don’t put in the effort?
by Mstevens_Design on Aug 27, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
They do
It’s called pre-season.
"Cam Cameron…even his parents where obvious and repetitive." - raven
by GrumpyOldBird on Aug 27, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
… it feels like he has his pets and does not know how to throw to anybody else.
Flacco had four receivers with 40+ receptions last year (and an additional receiver with 30 receptions). His top-three targets were all within the 60-65 receptions range. Unless you’re saying that he has four or five pets (which seems like a lot of pets to me), you’re off-base here.
Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.
State your case, back it up with facts and reasonable opinions ...
Bruce Raffel
Did anyone see Sapp’s list of top 5 defenses?
You can make cases why the Jets and Steelers are ahead of us, but the Bears and Pats?
Bears are a good D, but I would take our D over there’s last season and they lost Tommie Harris and Manning.
Pats? That one doesn’t even deserve comment. That’s a joke and so is Sapp.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
He just doesn’t seem like he has that much knowledge. They asked him about the Saints D and he responded about how Lynch ran all over them and that they did nothing to help their front. They drafted Cam Jordan and then brought in Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rogers. You would think an analyst would at least know simple stuff like that.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
Bears and Pats
Do not top the Ravens defense. Period.
I'd sooner get Flacco'd out here in the middle of nowhere than lose face in front of my friends and family.
by steeltech on Aug 27, 2011 10:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I Don't Even
Know if you could make a case for the Jets…
Top 5 defense? Maybe. Better than the Ravens? I don’t think so.
Not sure how you could do a true comparison, but I think the Eagles and even the Redskins could have better defense than the Jets this year.
"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
"God's whiskers! Your face is as hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
"I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today."
"It's big for a reason."
For Pittsburgh fans, that's Pope, Twain, Rostand, Rogers and Megamind
I Know
Difficult…
"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
"God's whiskers! Your face is as hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
"I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today."
"It's big for a reason."
For Pittsburgh fans, that's Pope, Twain, Rostand, Rogers and Megamind
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