Extended Time.

[RavenTD]

Well here we are and which side of the fence do you sit on?

Billick has said that the starters will get extended playing time in the final preseason game, to fix what was broken in the week 3 game vs the Vikings.

A]Do you feel this is stupid and risks injuries to the starters?It's only preseason right?:261695:

B]Do you feel that this is a good punishment/wake up call to the team to stop sleep walking and get ready for week 1 vs the Buc's.

I go with B,the team needs to be focused and ready to jump out of the gates in week one.We have seen the Ravens come out in way to many games in 05 with the wrong mental attitude.

[RockyMRaven]

I go with B as well. Todd Heap was saying he has no problem with extended time. The effect of the Minny debacle was fairly depressing, and the team has to play better together before going into that first game against Tampa Bay. I'm glad that this last preseason game is an away game as well. Somehow, we've get that monkey off our backs, [I]even if it's only preseason.[I]:crazy:

[Drkraven]

The only team with more to prove Thursday night is the Redskins, I would not be suprised if Gibbs plays the starters either. At least the Ravens did not look that bad.

[PurpleRulz]

NO FREAKIN WAY! Play the starters for a couple of series and sit them down. Yes, we were sloppy on Friday, but let's not be foolish and risk injury. While there are a couple of concerning things, I am not jumping off bridges like others are around here. I like what I saw out of our offense in the first two games. The Vikings were just fired up on Friday, but they still could not put our first team away. I believe that we win that game, if it were for real.

[RavenFanatic2k6]

McNair and Co. should play at minimum the first Q. Less if say, they go down and score on their first two drives. I would not play them much more than that though.

[The Fanatic]

McNair and Co. should play at minimum the first Q. Less if say, they go down and score on their first two drives. I would not play them much more than that though.

If Mcnair and Co. score on their first drive, there won't and shouldn't be a second drive.
Even if they don't score, but put together a solid drive that only mounts to a field goal, I still think they will sit after that.

I believe that Billick simply wants them to have some level of self confidence going into the Bucs game.
One solid drive will do that.

Now if we turn the ball over or look like crap, then I think they see a second showing.

[B-more Ravor]

If they put a good 1st drive together, then that should be it for some of the starters - Ogden, Heap, McNair, Mason and Clayton.

On the other hand, I think Mulitalo, Flynn, Vincent and Pashos could use some extended time together for the rest of the 1st quarter (at least). :o

[ravensfan86]

I like the idea of extended play for the oline but sit the skilled guys and let the 2nd teamers play. Mason, Clayton, Heap and McNair. Let Musa and Anderson split the carries.

[RavenTD]

I agree with the premise that if the starting offense put a good opening drive together they should sit after that.That opening drive in week one seems so long ago now,doesn't it?

I also agree with keeping the starting O'line out there longer together,they need all the time they can get to mesh.And JO still needs plenty of work.

[BirdFan]

I believe that Billick simply wants them to have some level of self confidence going into the Bucs game.
One solid drive will do that.

Now if we turn the ball over or look like crap, then I think they see a second showing.

I say that we should play them until the score. They need to get that winning feeling back before going into Tampa.

[orionsierra]

I say that we should play them until the score. They need to get that winning feeling back before going into Tampa.

Eh, I dunno. That seems like a bit much. Of course a 40yd TD is a score so what the hell. Overall this team really needs to get the lead out and start playing with some intensity.

Question: The Vikes were crowding the line like teams did when Boller was in there. Why is that? I thought that McNair was a vet who could spot stuff like that and audible out or find the hot read without getting crazylegs. We need to start making teams pay for that crap.

On a side note, Boller had a hotroute pass that was excellent. I don't think he was into his second step before he hit the big rook TE (I can't remember his name, ends with a -SKI and am too lazy to look it up) for an 8 yard gain. I know that he's been going against the 2nd string D's but he's looked pretty good this preseason with a line that is freaken atrocious.

Until the offensive line gets thier sh_t together McNair and Boller and whomever else we put under center are going to get crushed.

O

[Mobtown]

Question: The Vikes were crowding the line like teams did when Boller was in there. Why is that? I thought that McNair was a vet who could spot stuff like that and audible out or find the hot read without getting crazylegs. We need to start making teams pay for that crap.


Answer:
1. The first half of the Min game was scripted to prevent the TB scouts from scoping our response to their D.
2. Mac probably still doesn't know all of the audibles.
3. I believe he did check down on several occasions but the Min secondary had our receivers blanketed.
4. All QBs need more than 2.3 seconds to make a play. Our OL has got to step up.

[highwater]

I say that we should play them until the score.

What if they don't? I like the idea of giving them two or three series and then pulling guys like McNair, Mason, Rolle and leaving in the OL and a few others for more extended play.

[flraven]

I agree with the thought the 1st unit should play until they score, or they can put together a couple of sustained drives, move the ball down the field and score on the road. Then they (and us!) will feel a bit more confident heading into Tampa.

[RavenScallywag]

we need to really work the OL into shape. McNair should probably come out early, but our OL needs some serious improvement before Week 1.

[GreenWave52]

I think its good that we are going to play the starters. Let them know that their performance in Minny was unnacceptable. If you want to win ON THE ROAD in the National Football League, you have to play with way more intensity.

Injuries can happen, but remember they are football players and not China dolls. They need to be ready for week 1 on the road, against a playoff team. Right now they aren't and (oldschool) Billick is letting them know that.

[RavensDomination]

I would sit McNair/Mason/Clayton/Heap and play Boller/Williams/Darling/Sypniewski in thier places. On defense I would sit Ray and start Mike Smith, sit C-Mac/Reed/Rolle and play their respective backups.

No need to risk anything. Remember how devastating the JO injury was when we played Cleveland week 1 in 2004? Kenard Lang looked like Reggie White.

[Losac]

I also think they need more playing time on Thursday. Sorry, but they are not ready for Tampa Bay, and the vets need a wake up call. I'm sick of this lethargy and lack of intensity on the road.

The O-line, I worry, is just not good. More practice probably won't do much for that group. :grbac:

[Sports Steve]

Ogden needs to play longer so he can get into playing shape not camp shape. I think the starting offense should be in a full 1st quarter regardless if they score on the first set. There are still alot of questions with this team and letting players sit down just not get to hurt I don't agree with.

:jester: :jester: :patriot:

[Losac]

Hey, we think we have it bad? The Deadskins just got hammered 41-0 by the Patriots, they are 0-3 in the preseason and the starting offense has yet to score a TD. Their defense has also looked pretty suspect.

[flraven]

Hey, we think we have it bad? The Deadskins just got hammered 41-0 by the Patriots, they are 0-3 in the preseason and the starting offense has yet to score a TD. Their defense has also looked pretty suspect.

Exactly! :laugh:

It would be good for the first units to play a little bit longer than a couple of series against the Deadskins, some good drives for the offense and for the defense to throw some three-and-outs would help to build team confidence.

[Mobtown]

Hey, we think we have it bad? The Deadskins just got hammered 41-0 by the Patriots, they are 0-3 in the preseason and the starting offense has yet to score a TD. Their defense has also looked pretty suspect.

that would make me feel much better...if DC was in our division or if this was the SB.

[BaltimoreRon]

The skins have sucked so far in the preseason. Even if we look good against them, would it really prove anything?

[Greg]

On a side note, Boller had a hotroute pass that was excellent. I don't think he was into his second step before he hit the big rook TE (I can't remember his name, ends with a -SKI and am too lazy to look it up) for an 8 yard gain. I know that he's been going against the 2nd string D's but he's looked pretty good this preseason with a line that is freaken atrocious.
He has made good reads and shown better accuracy, though at times still lacking. The fact that he is doing it against 2nd stringers isn't important, he is making the reads, finding the open man and making good decisions. The level of play of the opposition isn't important RIGHT NOW in that regard. Now when the skill level goes up and things happen a tad faster we'll see if he can make the adjustment. The thing is, he has never had this chance to build confidence against players with slightly less skills and speed.

I think the starters should play until the end of the first half or until they look competent, which ever happens first. If we have 2 drives where we get 3-4 first downs each and stall after that and then they sit, I won't sweat that. But if they look crappy they need to be back out until they show some ability to move the ball and gain confidence.

[AZRAVEN]

I never was able to catch the replay of our game on NFL network so I don't know exactly how sucky we were but based on the way it sounds if I were the head coach the first string offense would play the first half. The first string OL would play the whole game and then would have to run behind the bus (in formation) all the way back to Baltimore. There has to be some penalty for the miserable way they are performing.:grbac:
It's close enough to regular season now that they should have to play more. Injuries can happen anytime, you can't wrap them in bubble wrap to protect them.

[highwater]

Injuries can happen anytime, you can't wrap them in bubble wrap to protect them.

That's true, of course, but that's no reason to risk injury in a preseason game. Besides, how much confidence would they gain from having some success against the Redskins backups? The Redskins have looked terrible but I"m quite certain they are not playing their starters for more than the first half, probably not even that long, so what do we gain by playing any of our starters in the second half?

I'd be fine with some of the starters playing the entire first half, but not vets like McNair, Mason, Ray, and Rolle, and I don't think any of the starters should play much in the second half, if at all. We don't need to lose anyone in a preseason game. Give them some playing time, yes, but not more than one half. We need to be healthy when we go to Tampa.

[BlackSunday]

Take offensive skill players out after the first series - leave the first string O-line in the entire first half.

If they continue to play the way they did last week, they need some time getting used working with Boller.

BS