The Good And The Bad (Week 10)

**PARavensJeff** · 11-13-2006, 11:30 AM

Great post PR

A good will also be that our team as a whole, & the defense especially, made adjustments at the half. Imagine something that this team has been criticized for since Billick came here. I think the Titans had just over 100 yards total in the 2nd half.

The bad is also the officiating, which on many replays you could see the Ravens D line & LB's constantly being held & no laundry flying.

**hurting** · 11-13-2006, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by PARavensJeff

The bad is also the officiating, which on many replays you could see the Ravens D line & LB's constantly being held & no laundry flying.

I noticed the blatant holding too. On one play I watched a Titan grab onto and hold Bart scott's left arm. Bart was trying to tackle the ball carrier and his right arm was reaching forward for the cackle while hil left arm was clearly behind him being held onto.

I saw many blatant holding calls missed. And not the nit-picky kind that O-linemen do on every play. These were the kind that stops the defender from making a play.

**PurpleRulz** · 11-14-2006, 05:44 AM

Originally Posted by 52decleetzu

Exactly.I heard Rex Ryan this morning on 1570 and he said they basically had to create a scheme for Haley on the sidelines while the game was going on!They actually had some packages where Sapp was playing MLB,along with Scott some and Haley.

Did you also hear Rex Ryan say that the "offense bailed out the defense." Did that give you pause, because it sure did indicate how far we have come as an offense in such a short time.

With the offensive talent we have (and maybe a hope of drafting OK RB, Adrian Peterson, since with his injury, he could be available at the 32 pick

) is it possible that our offense could move from vanilla to neopolitan next year?

**ChrisQ** · 11-14-2006, 08:36 AM

It's been touched on here but not said...

The entire defense was vanilla the whole game because Haley doesn't know our defense. He only came up from the practice squad the day before. He probably knew Tennessee's defense better than ours.

This put a lot more pressure on the 2ndary because we couldn't run our crazy blitz's and stunts to befuddle the rookie QB. We had to just let him sit in the pocket and find receivers all day.

I'm guessing Haley will be eating and sleeping in the tape room this week, and hopefully we'll be able to mix it up a little more next week.

**sailorsam** · 11-16-2006, 06:00 AM

I heard Rex Ryan changed/simplified the D at halftime. it worked.
wow, Demetrius W is terrific. each week he comes in and catches 2 or 3 for first downs. and Mark Clayton? only in his 2nd year? he's everything Travis Taylor never became. we may never know how good Devard Darling could be!
anyone know what BB said to get the penaltus?
I was hoping they'd start Musa. Jamal looks like he's lost a step; no 'explosiveness', I think is how it's said. and he isn't breaking tackles. Musa suffered 'a shock to the spinal system' and should be back Sunday, might even play. I doub't they'd let him start at rb; at this point let's try PJ Daniels, or SOMETHING else. JL wasn't going through holes and he wasn't turning the corner.
the Sun is reporting that Jarret Johnson will be MLB this week. Haley will be pass-rush specialist, which he's better suited for (speed).
Corey Ivy got concussed, but he's better now (even played the 2nd half).

**Ravenswarrior19** · 11-16-2006, 09:29 AM

I just watched our game with the Colts from '04. (The year Peyton set the TD record and we couldn't beat a quality team to make the playoffs 9-7).
Jamal was such a beast in that game, playing with a bad ankle too.
He ran guys over, ran away from DB's, just ran wherever he wanted.
Almost brings a tear to my eye remembering those days. Where have they all gone?

**Fanman** · 11-16-2006, 10:28 AM

The whole "Jamal needs the ball 25 times" mantra is just stupid and I don't buy it. He is bringing down the offense and performing far below the other starters. The holes are there, but his tippy toe style just doesn't get him thru the holes fast enough.

Look at almost any other starting RB in the league and they ALL hit the hole w/ a burst of speed. LT, LJ, Willie Parker, Chester Taylor, Tiki Barber, Maroney, Thomas Jones...the list goes on and on.

Giving Anderson and Musa more touches is not only overdue...it's critical at this point to make us a legit playoff contender.

FM

**camdenyard** · 11-16-2006, 12:15 PM

I just watched our game with the Colts from '04. (The year Peyton set the TD record and we couldn't beat a quality team to make the playoffs 9-7). Jamal was such a beast in that game, playing with a bad ankle too.

Yes, I always think back to that game as well. He had one run where he broke something like 10 tackles. He ran like a man possessed. And I was at the dome...the people sitting around me couldn't believe anyone could run like that.

I just don't think he's lost that much. When he breaks it open down the sidelines, you can see he still has the speed. I do question the desire - he used to deliver punishment before going OB, now he just goes OB.

Against the Bengals and Titans, I watched him take handoffs and plow directly up Brown's or Flynn's back and stop there...with not much tippy-toe. I've seen the replays, and guys, there isn't a whole hell of a lot there in the middle resumbling a hole!

What I want Billick to do is run him outside more. Use pitchouts. Under a full head of steam, he can do damage. If he can't after using this play, well I can start buying into the "dump Jamal" argument.

**Fanman** · 11-16-2006, 12:42 PM

Hey CY: I like your optimism about Jamal...but what guy have you been watching for the past 2 seasons? He is SO done it's not even funny.

His type is a dinosaur in the NFL. Smaller, quicker bakcs that hit the hole w/ a burst of speed are successful in the league. Jamal is done here...it's time to pass the torch.

FM

**RAVENOUS52** · 11-17-2006, 10:35 AM

Is it any coincident that after feeding Jamal the rock 31 times he broke his first 100+ yard game and scored as well?

He's that kind of back now, so either we commit to that formula or sit him down. I feel that he'll become extremely valuable in the near future, so don't throw him to the wolves just yet.

**Mista T** · 11-17-2006, 11:01 AM

Our big success started when Jamal was given lots of handoffs. 55 carries against NO and Cincy translated into nearly 75 minutes time of possession. (Discount the Titans game because we had to play passing game catchup). Keeping the ball and continuing to pound - even though average YPC is not impressive - is a major reason for opening up the passing attack.

While the pitter pater and lack of bursting through are disappointing, I give major credit to Jamal's duarbility for the resurgence of the offense.

**Greg** · 11-17-2006, 11:01 AM

Is it any coincident that after feeding Jamal the rock 31 times he broke his first 100+ yard game and scored as well?

He still only got 3-3.5 yards per carry. I would buy this "formula" if in the second half he started busting some runs but he isn't. How long did we hold onto the ball against some of these teams? TOP well into the 30s and he can't make them pay.

And camden, there are a few holes, sometimes he has to cut back to find them, he just doesn't get there fast enough. He used to be into the hole ahead of or at the same time a LB would arrive and they could only try arm tackles as he went by. Now they beat him there and take him on. Most times they lose and he gets another yard and punishes them, but by then help arrives and what used to be an 8 yard gain is 3-4.

I would like us to give Mike Anderson a shot this week to see if he can get through those cracks before the LB arrives.

**Art-Florida** · 11-17-2006, 02:10 PM

The formula itself is fine. However the technician (Jamal) isn't. Mike Anderson, M.Smith, P.J. Daniels, - Cory Ross even. Get SOMEONE in at tailback to actually hit those holes.

**highwater** · 11-17-2006, 02:37 PM

I absolutely agree with Art. Billick has made a commitment to establishing the running game since he took over the playcalling, and he's giving Jamal plenty of opportunities, but Jamal is still not looking very good. If it takes him 30 or more carries to gain 100 yards, okay, but can't Musa Smith or Mike Anderson do that too, and maybe do better than that?

I like the renewed focus on the running game, but Jamal may not be the best RB on the team to implement that attack. We've got depth at RB -- let's use it.

**RAVENOUS52** · 11-21-2006, 12:35 AM

Ahem...Keep giving Jamal the ball.

That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

**Sephy** · 11-21-2006, 02:45 AM

Originally Posted by RAVENOUS52

Ahem...Keep giving Jamal the ball.

That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

The thing is, ANY of our backs could be that kind of back. Do nothing for 20 carries, then when the defense finally tires, start getting some runs. That's the baseline with any back we can get. I'd prefer to put in someone with some upside for those first 20 carries so we don't have to constantly play catchup in the second half.

We need to keep giving SOMEONE the ball, and Jamal hasn't proven it should be him. Notice when Musa got the carries at the end of the game he was busting those same kind of runs?