The Offense Breaking Through This Week

[Merlin]

If there every was a week for the offense to break through this is the week.

The Clowns run defense is attrocious and their cornerbacks are injured. If we can't score 20+ points from the offense alone (not including scores from the defense) this week.

My top 5 wishes for the offense are:

1.) Throw on first down -- we did that in the beginning of the Raiders game and went away from it, even when there were 8 or 9 in the box
2.) Not get penalties on third down ; e.g., the Mike Flynn penalty on the 1 yard line absolutely killed us
3.) Convert third and short -- it kills me how a good running team cannot consistently convert third and short -- Jamal is not good at this for some reason; perhaps Anderson can be better
4.) Get in some of the new guys to rotate on the o-line. We don't seem to have any issues with starting some of the rookies on the defensive, e.g. Ngata and Landry. For some reason, we won't give ANY time to Jason Brown and see what he does. When Terry was out there last week he did a fine job. I for one think that Terry and Brown would do a better job on the right side if given a chance.
5.) Stop wasting balls thrown to Moore -- we are in love with the idea of lobbing the ball to Clarence which has been ineffective -- lets get more touches to Demetrius Williams instead.

[52decleetzu]

Everything seems to be favoring the Ravens to put up some nubers on the offensive side of the ball this week.The Browns are banged up,struggling on offense and the ravens D will surely get some more turnovers again this week.Lets just hope we can convert some into TD's and Fly I mean the o line doesnt cost us 7 again.

[Purplenemesis]

I agree with you for the most part

One thing I could never understand is why we cant have an actual rotation of Offensive lineman like we do with our defense line. Wouldnt rotating Brown, Chester, and Terry with the starters keep our Oline fresh for much longer into the game. Also you would get the young guys the reps they need. There obviously isnt much of a talent dropoff.

I disagree with you on Clarence Moore. He can be quite effective on the outside and in the red zone, just dont send him over the middle. Plus if Mcnair sees a short corner in one on one coverage with Moore than you should have a pretty good idea of where that ball is headed. If it is a decent pass Moore will probably come down with it. I do however want to see more DWill.

[highwater]

I disagree with you on Clarence Moore. He can be quite effective on the outside and in the red zone, just dont send him over the middle.

I agree with your disagreement. They used Moore the only appropriate way to use him, McNair just didn't connect with him. If they are going to play him at all, it's on those types of plays. He actually did catch that first pass in the end zone, the pass just led him out of bounds.

Getting back to the main point, I also think the offense could have a breakout game, but I'm not going out on a limb to predict it, seeing as how we have played poorly on the road recently (the Tampa game notwithstanding). Winning our first two road games would definitely get that monkey off the team's back for sure. But if we lose at Cleveland for the third straight year, the talk will start up again. I'm not only hoping for a win, I'm hoping for a very convincing win.

[Sports Steve]

This will be the week we score at least 30 points. This offense is ready for a breakout game. With the Cleveland defense it's just what the doctor ordered.

[Merlin]

Two numbers in reply to the Clarence Moore issue

Number of receptions that Moore has in first 2 games: Zero

Number of better receiving options than Moore in the red zone: Five -- e.g. Heap, Mason, Demetrius, Clayton, Wilcox

Just think that we have better options than Moore and haven't had consistent red zone conversions. Therefore, if its not working, stop going to it!!

[highwater]

Number of receptions that Moore has in first 2 games: Zero

I don't think Moore was even activated for the first game, so I wouldn't hold that against him.

I don't exactly think he's a go-to guy either, but if he's going to be used at all, it should be on those types of red zone plays. Just don't send him across the middle.

[RAVENOUS52]

Well having a guy that tall is something we should try to get some benefit from before we cut his ass, so I can see using him in the red zone... But other than that, the guy has been flat out unimpressive and needs to seriously up his game or step his tall ass aside.

[Mista T]

Merlin: excellent assesment. I am very hopeful that we can get over our sucky offensive play inside that stadium, and look forward to scoring a few points. My crystal ball says 16-3, but I'd be happier with 40 points!

I agree on Anderson - he has good short yardage success with the Broncos. As to Moore, I don't blame him, or McNair. Rather, it's just that the lob is so obvious, the Defense can prepare for it whenever they see Moore line up.

I disagree with passing on 1st down. Ours is a power running game.

[RavenFanatic2k6]

If McNair can throw to Moore like Boller did in 04 in the Jets/Giants games, it doesn't really matter if the opposition knows it's coming or not, they still won't be able to defend it without getting called for PI, imo. Find me another CB that's close to his size and can jump as high as he can.

[Art-Florida]

If McNair can throw to Moore like Boller did in 04 in the Jets/Giants games, it doesn't really matter if the opposition knows it's coming or not, they still won't be able to defend it without getting called for PI, imo. Find me another CB that's close to his size and can jump as high as he can.

Matt Jones - faster than Moore too, a lot.

They ought to run Moore in the middle all the time. Have him prove once and for all that he is either the coward many say he is ...or he isn't.

[RavenFanatic2k6]

I said CB Perhaps I shouldn't have put the "another" in there.

[Art-Florida]

You're right. Sorry. I can think of no cornerback that could.

[Dabruise]

I believe that even though he's not what he once was, McNair is the real deal. He's had one mediocre game and one poor one. I don't see him going "Collins or Brunell" on us. So...I expect him to lose his mind this week. We'll see the Stevie Mac who used to shred us by making the right pass just when it looked like we had him sacked. I see Heap and Mason having great games and by the 3rd Q, we'll be running Musa and Anderson down their throats.

I wouldn't say that if they hadn't beaten us last year.

As to running or passing on 1st, I don't want us to be predictable. Period. I expect us to be able to manage the type of success that will allow us too do both.

About Clarence Moore, this is a test of whether the old Billick is really gone. IMHO, he is still alive and well. He will force a diet of Clarence A.A. Moore on us no matter what the reality is on the field. DVD is in the dog house and Moore is on the field. We just have to be pleased that Mason, Clayton and Heap are very fine receivers and hope that Williams matures quickly.

[B-more Ravor]

About Clarence Moore, this is a test of whether the old Billick is really gone. IMHO, he is still alive and well. He will force a diet of Clarence A.A. Moore on us no matter what the reality is on the field. DVD is in the dog house and Moore is on the field. We just have to be pleased that Mason, Clayton and Heap are very fine receivers and hope that Williams matures quickly.

Moore was inactive for 12 of the last 12 games last year (or something like that). Darling, on the other hand, was active for most of those games. How is that force feeding Moore? Moore was inactive for game 1 this year. Again, how is that force feeding him?

Look, I know you're high on DVD and it certainly has been perplexing as to why he isn't getting a better shot, but to say that it is because Billick has some sort of man-crush on Moore, is ignoring what has really happened over the last year. After all, it's always been my understand that it's the coordinators who make the decisions on active/inactive (barring injury there will always be 1 WR inactive) with the HC decided on the final numbers based on the needs between ST, O and D.

Maybe, just maybe, DVD hasn't impressed the coaches - not just Billick - enough to warrant playing more on offense. There doesn't have to be some conspiracy here - maybe he's just not good enough or doesn't practice well enough.

And, to be clear, I am not a big fan of Moore, nor do I like the way they use him when he is in the game. It seems like each time he comes in, they throw the obligatory jump ball to him. It's pretty obvious where it's going when you do it every time he comes on the field. They always seemed to use Jermaine Lewis the same way, if he stepped on the field on offense, he was going to get the ball. I've got no problem with throwing to Moore when he's open and/or has an clear advantage, but it's really OK to bring him out and not actually throw the ball to him on occasion.

[RavenFanatic2k6]

Guys, Billick is a number of things but he isn't stupid. He has obviously seen something in Moore, or thinks Moore gives them a different dimension than Darling, or maybe Darling has done something wrong. He isn't going to play Moore over Darling for no reason other than he "likes big recievers". Maybe in other years, but this year, where he's coaching for his job? No way.

Personally, I'll take Moore over Darling as long as they use Moore the way they have been (although I'll agree, not every time he's in the game). However, I have never been a big Darling fan. I don't think he'll do anything to change our minds about the awful draft we had in 04.

[Dabruise]

I think the assumption that Billick approaches his coaching decisions rationally is flat out wrong and has been proven so. First of all, it is not human nature to be so coldly rational. We all have preferences that we default to. Sometimes when there are better options and especially when those options are marginal.
Second, it is not my imagination, nor that of Biscuit, nor media, nor players past and present that Billick gets locked in certain players and others end up in his dog house. Let me drop a few names:

FORCE FED:
Jamal Lewis in 2005.
Corey Fuller and of course...
Kyle Boller

DOG HOUSE:
Chester Taylor
Randy Hymes
Ron Johnson
Javin Hunter

Of course, he thinks he sees something in Moore. But he also appears to be doggedly in denial about the lack of production he gets with him. We're force fed Moore when he insists on trotting him out there for 2 jump balls a game, along with one short-arm, one drop and NO special teams play.

As far as DVD goes, I do think he's OK. However, as I've said before, he'll never be more productive while he's on this team. I think you're probably right. There's something (probably concentration) that makes the coaches insecure about him. I do though, think that he will be more productive than Moore.

and BR, you know as well as I that Head Coaches have tremendous input over who's on the roster and who's in the game. When a coach like Parcells or coughlin says "If a player doesn't practice, he doesn't play" are we to assume they are taking an undue or unusual interest or are they overstepping their bounds? No. Of course not. HCs take part in personnel meetings with the coaches and have the final say on individuals. It's just like our real world. It becomes clear when the boss has a pet project and no one will poo-poo it. Except Biscuit that is.

I think Clarence Moore is a waste of a roster spot. If Billick thinks the same about DVD, he should cut him. We debate keeping a specialist spot for a long-snapper of kickoff specialist that we use a dozen times a game but we don't have a problem keeping a jump ball specialist for just that one occasion when maybe we might need... and maybe he'll catch it.

[B-more Ravor]

FORCE FED:
Jamal Lewis in 2005.
Corey Fuller and of course...
Kyle Boller

Unfortunately, with all of the reports now surfacing about Chester's discipline problems, I don't see it as force feeding as much as it's not playing the guy who is late to meetings and unwilling to block.

I hated Fuller, but in 2004, he was the 4th best CB on the team and was needed for depth purposes.

Boller, well, what other option was there?

DOG HOUSE:
Randy Hymes
Ron Johnson
Javin Hunter

Who are three players no longer in the NFL?

Again, perhaps there are legitimate reasons for guys being in the "doghouse". Or, maybe they aren't in the doghouse, they just aren't very good.

and BR, you know as well as I that Head Coaches have tremendous input over who's on the roster and who's in the game.

Fair enough, then if Billick has the input, and yet is somehow force feeding Moore, why would he have been inactive for 13 of the last 14 games? Sorry, but I can't see how anyone can complain about Billick's alleged special treatment of a guy who just got a couple of passes thrown his way after 13 weeks of not even seeing the field? I see nothing special about that treatment. He's essentially the 5th of 5 WRs on the roster and, like most 5th WRs, rarely plays.

[jonboy79]

Hymes sucks dude. YOu can time him in the 40 with a sundial. He got cut by Jax, and tey have a bunch of project nobodies and Jimmy Smith retired right before camp. No doghouse, the guy is just not an NFL calibre player. No hard feelings he's much better then me, just not better then Rmby Bryant, on our PS, or any other player currently in the NFl, or somewhere there abouts.

.) Convert third and short -- it kills me how a good running team cannot consistently convert third and short -- Jamal is not good at this for some reason; perhaps Anderson can be better

MA is the key, and here is another thought to go with that... It's a copy cat league, copy the best. The pats make up for a less then steller offensive line by putting vrabel in at TE and Seymour in at FB. So why not a 3TE set with Quinn and AD to the left, Heap to the right, and Justin Bannan at FB with MA running over LT. JO and Mule still provide the corect path to run behind, I think Bannan, being fresh, having a quick step, while providing that blue collar attitude is the right man for the job. Seeing Ngata rumble down the sideline reminded me of the Fridge a little.... I'm sure he would bring that impossible to tackle presence, I'm just not sure about his reliability to hold onto the football.

[Dabruise]

Sad to say but DVD may be another that is out of the NFL in a year or two. We can debate whether he had a fair shot because he came here along with some of the other folks who ended up in the DH. However to the discussion, We seem to have a number of talented, gifted even players who show stunning upside but don't see the light of day. Then we have the Travis Taylors and the like who IMO represent the same type of liability with more limited upside. Why not play the guys you have confidence in and cut the others.

BTW, I'm not the only one to reference Billick's dog house and its "blackholeness". At least a couple of Baltimore press guys have referenced the mystery of the BB dog house, players have and there is no question that it was the stubbornness with personnel that was at the center of the "public dressing down" and the new credo at 1 winning Drive - "explain it or change it."

two things on Moore being benched last year.

1. I think he was hurt and

2. Word came down from high on both Moore and Chester Taylor last year and it was only then that BB relented and started to go with the players that were actually producing on the field.

I really didn't think I was telling a secret or anything. The stubborness, the tunnel vision, the dog house were complaints that I had last year but were addressed rather publicly in a number of forums (generic). I didn't even feel as though they were worth worrying over this year. I personally predicted that Billick would be man enough to make the necessary changes and become more rational. But from my vantage point, Moore has had more chances than any receiver we've had outside of TT. Why?

As to the Boller experiment, anything. Anything at all would have been nice. I truly believe that if Billick (and maybe Oz too) had their druthers, we'd be still saddled with an unchallenged Boller today - wasting away another season just to prove a point.

I like BB, I think he is a good coach, could be great. We all have faults and it takes time to change. Moore is something that he needs to let go.