This is INSANITY

[rharris1986]

So the Ravens dicked along for 3 quarters until (figuratively) somebody whispered into somebodys ear that they might lose the game - so they opened it up. If that's the way the Ravens are being managed it is absolutely, positively INSANE.

Go out there and open it up from the start of the game and keep it going until the final whistle blows. Don't play down to the opposition - what's the point of that.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/...0-f52c4ed95b84

[leachisabeast]

Oh....my.....god

[rharris1986]

Thank you for acknowledging my presence.

But even you must be frustrated at how the offense is being managed (and I didn't even mention Cam)

Oh....my.....god

[The Fanatic]

One of two things here..

A.- They're idiots

B.- They don't trust Flacco enough on the road


I'd be open to other explanations if they make sense.

[goodandfast]

What stood out to me is that player's should not have to tell the coordinator what they should be doing. Passing along some insight as to the minutia of what defenses are doing is an invaluable form of input a coordinator can receive from players. However, a coordinator should not have to be told that the opponent is sitting on out routes because that's all they're running.

That exchange showed me that Cam has a hard time seeing the whole field from the sideline. Pees made the adjustment to the booth, and the D seems to have tightened up or at least shown an ability to adjust.

Just my .02 but I think calling plays from the booth just makes way more sense. I don't know why a coordinator wouldn't want to.

[Shambla]

Alright, I hate the play calling as much as the next man, but is this article really saying anything?

We got into a little more of a no-huddle, up-tempo type of a deal

They operated almost exclusively out of the shotgun and passed 79 percent of the time in the fourth quarter and overtime

Doesn't this happen in every NFL game? A team is down by multiple scores so they go hurry up and pass a lot and have success against an opponent that is playing soft and sitting on a lead?

[pslholder96]

Yes. This bothers me a little given our road struggles on offense. I'm kind of flabbergasted at Harbaugh's comment about being forced to open it up a little. That's a headscratcher. Why sleepwalk for 3 quarters and allow the inferior opponent to hang around. We've seen this before.

There's something telling about why the offense plays the way it plays on the road. Yes I get it. We are stilling winning games and that's awesome. There's got to be two underylying issues here. It's either a confidence factor or trust factor. One of these elements is suspect.

[Justlovemybirds]

Harbaugh said he wanted to make it into an AFCN type game (not really sure why though)

[leachisabeast]

If you want our offense to go up tempo 100 % of the time even when it doesn't make sense, go root for an NFC South team, or better yet go watch basketball or our version of football.

[JohnBKistler]

I'd be open to other explanations if they make sense.

Why sleepwalk for 3 quarters and allow the inferior opponent to hang around.

Because this "inferior opponent" ran you out of the gym the last game when you had a much better defense and the Ravens were trying to slow it down this time and keep it close. (And yes, this goes right to "They do not trust Flacco" comment from Fanatic). Harbaugh himself said he wanted this to be an "AFC North" type of game.

Not exactly thrilled with Harbaugh's comments, either...but this is the best I got.

[pslholder96]

Because this "inferior opponent" ran you out of the gym the last game when you had a much better defense and the Ravens were trying to slow it down this time and keep it close. (And yes, this goes right to "They do not trust Flacco" comment from Fanatic). Harbaugh himself said he wanted this to be an "AFC North" type of game.

Not exactly thrilled with Harbaugh's comments, either...but this is the best I got.

The "inferior" opponent from last year was not the same "inferior" opponent from this year. This notion of keeping it close is ridiculous and you know it.

[ravensnhokies]

Its Bo Schembechler football. Since Harbs and Cameron are disciples, we are going to see that football mentality. I dont agree with it but it does win a lot of games. In Bo's case, he never won the big one. So far Harbs is following that path. I sure hope our fortunes are different.

[The Fanatic]

If you want our offense to go up tempo 100 % of the time even when it doesn't make sense, go root for an NFC South team, or better yet go watch basketball or our version of football.

For me, it's about adjusting during the game in attempt to counter what the defense is doing causing you to be unsuccessful.
The object of the game (other then to win it any way) is to score points making it more likely and giving you a better chance at winning the game.

When you go series after series after series after series doing basically the same thing with no success you are leaving the door wide open for the opposition to adjust and have success against your defense.

A team like the Chargers can make that happen at any given time (and has done so on multiple occasions against us)

Not scoring puts an enormous amount of pressure on your defense to basically have to play perfect.

Fortunately they have stood up to that challenge for most of the season against inferior teams or teams that didn't have all their tools for success.

It took a miracle play to get that win because we were trying to turn it into a slug fest rather then trying to curb stomp the opponent from the get go.

We try that crap against teams in the playoffs and I'm not so sure the outcome will be the same.

[Tucker: M&T Sec 527]

If you want our offense to go up tempo 100 % of the time even when it doesn't make sense, go root for an NFC South team, or better yet go watch basketball or our version of football.

2 thoughts:

Staying out of the higher octane no huddle reduces chances of turnovers (we didn't turn the ball over, just an
Oher-recovered sack fumble and a dropped pick). Pls.see "No trust Joe" thesis;

San Diego/Qualcom was an undersold, Surf Bro setting in which the no huddle was possible (.though it was used more once the crowd had awoken)

[NCRAVEN]

I noticed something a while back and what to pose the question to see if the fans have picked up on something that our coaches have not seemed to have picked up on.

When does Flacco and our offense, but mainly Flacco, do well on the road? I know the answer (it is my question after all), does anyone else?

[ravensnhokies]

Our 'road' offense's effectiveness in the Cam scheme is predicated on the Ravens running the ball well. The OL aint opening too many holes, so the running game has been pretty poor of late. Thus we get into 3rd and longs and we have extended bad stretches during the Browns/Steelers/Chargers games. If the OL blocks better, our road offense can work, but that's a big if. I have little confidence in our OL. I really think the Texans game scared the shit out of Cam b/c the high tempo offense flopped, so Cam went back to his comfort zone, ball control offense. There could be a happy medium where you can mix it up and keep the opposing defense on their toes, but it always seems like its black or white with Cam.

[rharris1986]

I noticed something a while back and what to pose the question to see if the fans have picked up on something that our coaches have not seemed to have picked up on.

When does Flacco and our offense, but mainly Flacco, do well on the road? I know the answer (it is my question after all), does anyone else?

They play better when they are behind and Joe plays from the shotgun.

[NCRAVEN]

They play better when they are behind and Joe plays from the shotgun.

For the most part this is right. Shotgun, no huddle, more specifically the two minute drill.

Patriots playoff game
Steelers last year and 10
Chargers this year.
etc.

Why wait till you "have to" to run it if it works. I don't get it...

[Ravenswintitle]

Harbaugh said he wanted to make it into an AFCN type game (not really sure why though)

Exactly - Harbs wanted a low scoring, possession type game because he didn't think they would fare as well in a high scoring shootout. He got the game he wanted and they managed to win it.

[rharris1986]

Joe played from the shotgun at Delaware. Joe is comfortable playing from the shotgun - he has the physical height and size and arm to excel from the shotgun. He is a natural playing that way. He's better from the shotgun. Look at how Peyton Manning plays from the shotgun. Joe can do it just as well if they let him. Why they continue to try to force that square peg into the round hole of their playbook is beyond any reasonable understanding.

The problem with making it an AFC North type game is that you really have to have both teams playing comparably. It works against teams like Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Cinci because for the most part they are willing to play the same way. It doesn't usually work against teams like Texas, Atlanta, San Diego (although they pulled it out Sunday) etc. etc.

Its like scheduling a boxing match between Muhammad Ali and the World Wide Wrestling champ. Who would you expect to win that one.

For the most part this is right. Shotgun, no huddle, more specifically the two minute drill.

Patriots playoff game
Steelers last year and 10
Chargers this year.
etc.

Why wait till you "have to" to run it if it works. I don't get it...