Bernard Pierce

**Everything_Ravens** · 01-21-2013, 01:47 PM

Is it me or does it seem like as of late he is more explosive than Ray Rice. There was points in that game last night where i felt like they were handing it off to ray simply because of what he has done in the past. Should he be getting more carries than 27?

**esmd** · 01-21-2013, 01:56 PM

He's got fresh legs, first of all. And teams key on Rice, which benefits Pierce. He's a different style of runner. Rice is an all pro RB, having Pierce as a complement benefits everyone, Rice, the Ravens, Pierce, and us. They're doing a good job of getting Pierce his touches, but I wouldn't change a thing right now.

**Ravenous1** · 01-21-2013, 02:04 PM

I love me some Bernard Pierce but lets not get carried away. Pierce brings a different style to his game than Rice does his which makes him a perfect compliment to Rice. In some cases/specific situations though that style may be more effective than Rice's. We are blessed to have em both IMO.

I will add though that should god forbid Ray Rice go down with an injury, I feel one million percent better about having Pierce back there to pick up the load than anyone else we have had since McGahee.

**Bigfish** · 01-21-2013, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by esmd

He's got fresh legs, first of all. And teams key on Rice, which benefits Pierce. He's a different style of runner. Rice is an all pro RB, having Pierce as a complement benefits everyone, Rice, the Ravens, Pierce, and us. They're doing a good job of getting Pierce his touches, but I wouldn't change a thing right now.

Ditto. 2 weeks is time for Pierce to heal up. We have a great 1,2 punch.

**Bigfish** · 01-21-2013, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by esmd

He's got fresh legs, first of all. And teams key on Rice, which benefits Pierce. He's a different style of runner. Rice is an all pro RB, having Pierce as a complement benefits everyone, Rice, the Ravens, Pierce, and us. They're doing a good job of getting Pierce his touches, but I wouldn't change a thing right now.

Ditto. 2 weeks is time for Pierce to heal up. We have a great 1,2 punch.

**Everything_Ravens** · 01-21-2013, 02:15 PM

i hear you guys and i dont think they need to switch them out ether but fresher legs and defenses keying on RR are all reasons that BP maybe should have seen more carries.

i totally agree with the fresh legs thing and can not wait to see what RR looks like with 2 weeks of R&R

**Boulderraven** · 01-21-2013, 02:20 PM

Pierce is deceptive moreso than Rice. He doesnt fall into predictable running patterns which RB's can do. Like Rice used to get caught up in cutting back everything (which he doesnt do anymore) Pierce has better vision and patience if you watch his runs. He is faster than you think he is also. Pierce is not a secret anymore. He is also more explosive once he hits the hole. He is the best RB on the roster right now, Rice is also so conscious of fumbling that it is costing himself some explosion and a step.

**Shambla** · 01-21-2013, 03:48 PM

Pierce just seems to be running with more authority right now. I was actually surprised with his contribution yesterday because Aaron Wilson and the injury reports made it sound like he was pretty beat up but he ended up having some strong runs.

**pslholder96** · 01-21-2013, 03:58 PM

It's a long season. Having a two headed monster at the running back position is a huge plus but you got to give majority of the carries to the man who's earned it and that's Rice. If Pierce stays healthy and continues to run like he does he'll eventually replaced Rice at the end of his contract (Pierce that is). Isn't this what we saw when Ray Rice took over as starter for Willis Mcghaee.

**Purpleguy** · 01-21-2013, 03:59 PM

I think Pierce is a much better pure running back then Ray Rice at the moment. He hits the whole quicker and is much harder to bring down. Rice, however, blows him away in open space. He is an amazing check down option. It's great having both of them on the team, but I think Rice is quite a bit overpaid.

**Lee Van Cleef** · 01-21-2013, 04:02 PM

I think he's a better pure runner TBH, but Rice is a guy that can do everything. Rice creates mismatches because you can move him around, and he is a good runner too (quite agile); I just think that in the running game Pierce has slightly better vision and runs more aggressively... some of the cuts he makes are pretty impressive too. He had a great run last night where he made three or four little jukes that made guys miss. Surprisingly elusive.

**somedumbguy** · 01-21-2013, 04:03 PM

Rice still seems to be there in the second half to make some crucial plays. Pierce has played great in his role and I hope he continues to grow into it next year. A 1-2 punch that can keep Rice's legs fresh in December and January is a good thing.

**goldenelite28** · 01-21-2013, 04:08 PM

Pierce could easily be a 1500 yard rusher IMO.

Rice is a 2000 yard player. It's splitting hairs at this point.

**lovefootball** · 01-21-2013, 04:14 PM

Rice is known around the NFL teams he has played in the last years. Pierce is doing it on his own and other teams do not know what to expect from pierce. If Pierce had played last year, Ravens would have won more and beat the pats to go to the SB.

**bacchys** · 01-21-2013, 04:28 PM

Pierce is a bigger guy, for one thing, and his speed is deceptive. He's tougher than Rice to bring down when he's going through a lane, I think. Rice in space is very difficult to tackle, however, as the Pats (re)learned on his touchdown run to start the Ravens' scoring.

I wouldn't mind seeing more Pierce. Rice is a special player, however. He's a gamebreaker. He's a threat to score from anywhere on the field, and he can do it slashing between the tackles, catching a dump-off pass, or running a draw. But Pierce might be better at pounding a defense than Rice.

**cealex1223** · 01-21-2013, 04:38 PM

Pierce is a north and south, downhill running kinda guy. Rice makes people miss. Its apples and oranges and I'm happy to have both running for us, and not AT us.

**Lee Van Cleef** · 01-21-2013, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by cealex1223

Pierce is a north and south, downhill running kinda guy. Rice makes people miss. Its apples and oranges and I'm happy to have both running for us, and not AT us.

Not entirely, like I said, Pierce is surprisingly elusive. He breaks tackles and makes guys miss. I've been really impressed with him when the ball is in his hands. His pass blocking needs work though.

**AirFlacco** · 01-21-2013, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Purpleguy

I think Pierce is a much better pure running back then Ray Rice at the moment. He hits the whole quicker and is much harder to bring down. Rice, however, blows him away in open space. He is an amazing check down option. It's great having both of them on the team, but I think Rice is quite a bit overpaid.

Rice is a slash runner like Priest Holmes used to be but we couldn't move the chains in the red zone with him. We missed a lot of
TDs. Billick wanted a power runner to move the pile and got Jamal Lewis. Priest moved to KC and Dick Vermeil changed the
blocking schemes to fit his slashing styles and he became the best runner in the NFL but Jamal had his 2,000 plus year too.

Pierce is like Jamal and Rice is like Priest although unlike him he scores from the red zone like yesterday. He faked up
the middle and cut to the outside with a shifty move and scored standing up with a neat mocking salute to their
fans. Rice makes people miss him in the open field. And Rice is even deadlier catching the ball. TEams plan to stop
Rice, not Flacco but now they have to stop both but haven't been able to in the playoffs.

We need both.

**FlawlessVictory** · 01-21-2013, 07:50 PM

Who cares? We have both

Perfect compliment IMO... I remember at the beginning of the year, I thought it was a mistake, I wanted to see Rainey as the other RB... I am quite glad to have been dead wrong.