Ravens Report Card???

[DavidF]

What game was Steve Hasler viewing, that he gave a B- to the Ravens coaching? Ray Rice had only 12 carries and 1 reception - that already raises major questions (plus only 1 reception to TE). Too many passes were long but well covered or out patterns. There was very little use of the MIDDLE
of the field. Crossing patterns, especially with Bolden and Pitta, would have been very dangerous to the Steelers, a la Jerry Rice. That is more the era for Cameron, an out-of-date off. coordinator. Why doesn't he utilize that dangerous attack possibility?
On the defensive side, the Ravens schemes made Charlie Batch, a 3rd string QB, look good. They did not blitz enough, anywhere close to enough, and
they could not cover receivers for the longer time Batch often had to find an open receiver. If the Ravens, attacked Batch with many more blitzes, the
pass defenders could have kept close one-on-one during the shorter time before Batch would have been inundated. The Ravens might have given up a
long gain or two, but would have made the game a nightmare for Batch, forcing costly errors. The Ravens def. schemes made Batch look like a better QB than Flacco.
The aggressive, creative schemes that Rex Ryan used as def. coordinator were very effective for the Ravens, the two replacements have been major
steps backward, as the team defensive stats can show.
Cameron as off. coordinator has been a disapointment throughout. Earlier in his tenure, it could be said that the Ravens had an inexperienced QB and not enough quality weapons, especially speedy WRs. Now, he has an experienced, supposedly quality QB, a great RB, a Great FB, 3 high quality WRs and 2 good, developing TEs. There are no good excuses for not having a high-powered offensive attack every week against every opponent.

Coaching Grade - F

[HoustonRaven]

I'd say C for coaching, with points taken off for time clock management and not giving Ray the ball enough in the fourth.

The coaches didn't drop five balls, give up 300+ in yardage, sailed balls over Torrey's head or commit rather stupid penalties.

[NCRAVEN]

I'd say C for coaching, with points taken off for time clock management and not giving Ray the ball enough in the fourth.

The coaches didn't drop five balls, give up 300+ in yardage, sailed balls over Torrey's head or commit rather stupid penalties.

I say D minus, because I think the approach on D was don't blitz (or much at all) and keep everyone in front of you to avoid big plays and keep it close.

The lack of pressure allowed Charlie Batch to have ALL DAY.

And on offense, someone needs to realize there i a middle of the field and something other than 9 routes.

[festivus]

I thought the grades for coaching and defense were both very generous. The defense was broken all over the place & Batch missed more opportunities than he took.

As for the coaching, setting aside all the (legitimate) questions about game planning, that costly & boneheaded challenge on the Batch pass was absolutely inexcusable and worth a full grade and a half by itself.

Anything above a C- for coaching is generous, and even at C- I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that some terrible execution clouded what was otherwise occasional good judgment.

[Captain Silver]

Complete and utter nonsense to give the coaching staff anything but an F. Maybe if you put on purple shades his grading system makes sense.

[Ravenswintitle]

I'd say C for coaching, with points taken off for time clock management and not giving Ray the ball enough in the fourth.

The coaches didn't drop five balls, give up 300+ in yardage, sailed balls over Torrey's head or commit rather stupid penalties.

true but the challenge was a head scratcher. The D was spying Rice and that was part of why he wasn't used as much in the passing game but I don't know why he didn't get a carry in the 4th.

[darthpemo]

Complete and utter nonsense to give the coaching staff anything but an F. Maybe if you put on purple shades his grading system makes sense.

I agree.

Its simple... if things aren't working, the coaches need to adjust. Player execution sucked Sunday. There is no sugar coating it. However, our coaches presented the same silly crap they seem to do every game. There are different ways to try to help a struggling quarterback... basically you are seeking routes that he can hit easily to get into rhythm - but instead it seems like one of three routes, deep ball, nine, or dump off.

On defense, again, if a qb is picking you apart, you have to find a way to get pressure - I see NO creativeness on our pash rush most weeks. We either succeed with overpower the OLINE or we don't get pressure. I don't see delayed blitzes, overloads, stunts... It felt like I saw more three man rushes than blitzes on Sunday.

What's up with Sanders having nobody within a mile? If he doesn't fumble that, they probably score another td.

[Ravens44]

I would give the offensive coaching a grade of "4th down" due to running pass patterns 3 yards short of a 1st down AND never using the middle of the field. Also, I will give them extra credit for "I can't see from the sideline" what the HELL is happening during the entire game. Maybe Cam will look at game footage during next summer to see what went wrong. No RICE for YOU!

On defense, I will give a NB for NO BLITZING. How about attacking their patchwork of a horrible Oline and 37 year old QB with crossing stunts and overload blitzes to make sure they screw up? How about recognizing from the upper deck that our linebackers were not dropping deep enough in pass coverage? No...hmmm.

[Random Thoughts]

I'd say C for coaching, with points taken off for time clock management and not giving Ray the ball enough in the fourth.

The coaches didn't drop five balls, give up 300+ in yardage, sailed balls over Torrey's head or commit rather stupid penalties.

Coaching has nothing to do with that?

If it is one bad game, I am forgiving. However, it has been a pattern throughout the season.

[Shas]

Okay, I'll defend myself a bit here.

I realize the popular thing to do is to blame Cam for all losses. And to give everyone an F when the team loses.

And I realize that the easy assumption to make when the team loses is to conclude that Ray Rice didn't touch the ball enough. It's easy to look at his 6.5 yards per carry average and say, hey, run the ball all day long with him and he gets 200 yards on the day.

But I argue that part of the reason he was able to run effectively is the game plan, which I applaud, and which I believe was leaps and bounds smarter than what we saw two weeks ago in Pittsburgh, despite a better result.

I liked the approach of spreading the field and pressuring the Steelers to drop back into coverage, opening up running lanes (a hallmark of the Air Coryell system that Cam came out of).

Had the gameplan called for run, run, run, I argue that Rice's production would not be nearly as good as it looked. And besides, take away the 34 yard touchdown where he should have been tackled at the line, and his numbers don't look all that impressive.

Starting late in the second quarter, Rice's carries were for 1, 2, 3, -1, 0, and the 34 yard TD where he should have been tackled for a loss.

Had Cam kept running the ball like that, with three and outs, and then kicked the ball to the Steelers, I guarantee there would be the same harsh criticism of how conservative the offense was, and how scared Cam was to let Joe throw the ball.

Hell, even when they failed to move the ball at the end of the game and were forced to punt, Koch sent it 57 yards to the Steelers 11 and the Ravens defense still failed to hold the lead.

Take another look at the critical Flacco fourth-quarter sack/fumble after the Reed interception. It was typical of what the game was like for the Ravens. The Steelers have seven in the box and are playing one-deep. I don't know what the hell Flacco is doing. The ball should be going to an open Dennis Pitta on the forty, and thrown before he comes out of the break, because he's very much open. Torrey Smith is running a post pattern and has a step on the corner in the middle of the field. Ray Rice is there for a dump off underneath for anyone who thinks he was the magic answer.

There is nothing wrong with the play call, but Oher can't slow down Harrison and Flacco pats the ball three times too many.

No one was complaining when two plays earlier when Flacco hit Boldin for six. And no one was saying run the ball more after the next play, a run that went for -1. They did get Pitta involved on the very next play, and Oher and Flacco screwed the pooch. Not sure how that's on Cam.

I also liked how they were creative enough to get Leach involved and use Rice to draw defenders away from the flat.

My view of this game was that it was a decent gameplan spoiled by receivers who dropped balls, a left tackle who couldn't stop anyone, a quarterback who seems to have lost his way this season, and a general lack of intensity facing a wounded rival whose backs were against the wall.

Look, I would have liked to have seen a few more running plays, too, and I would like to see the route trees consist of some more rubs and unpredictability. But on my list of why the Ravens offense failed last Sunday, the gameplan and playcalling were WAY down the list of problems from my perspective.

Frankly, if I'm grading Harbaugh, Pees, and Cam, Cam gets the best grade of the bunch. Why is no one concerned that for 12 weeks now the defensive secondary can't all get on the same page and receivers are constantly open in the middle of the field?

Let's not be afraid to place blame on players when it's the players who are failing to perform.

[HoustonRaven]

Coaching has nothing to do with that?

If it is one bad game, I am forgiving. However, it has been a pattern throughout the season.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.

Coaching only goes so far. Come game time, it's up to the players to perform and this Sundays game, IMO, was a failure of execution than it was a failure of coaching.

Both sides of the coin do deserve their share of the blame, I just don't think coaching was the larger issue on Sunday.

[Shas]

There are no good excuses for not having a high-powered offensive attack every week against every opponent.

Hell, why don't we take it one step further and say there are no excuses for not winning the Super Bowl every year?

[StingerNLG]

My F for coaching is more than just gameplanning. It's also for personnel. You cannot tell me that we have the right offensive line starters out there. Execution isn't always about effort. Sometimes it's about skill. And I find it almost impossible to understand how this coaching staff feels the BEST starting offensive line we have is Oher, Reid, Birk, Yanda, KO. Jah Reid does not have the skill to be a left guard, and KO has all but admitted he doesn't have the skill to play RT. And we know from experience Michael Oher doesn't have the skill to play LT.

So why are they out there in that configuration? Because John Harbaugh is mad at Bryant McKinnie and refuses to start him. And I get it, Bryant has issues coming into camp. But he's been quiet and worked. And when he's been in there, he's been effective.

So when your coaches don't put the best players on the field, don't gameplan well, and don't put the players in position to succeed, of COURSE execution is going to be a problem.

Combine that with taking a knee going into the half with 24 seconds and 3 time outs, and then a ridiculous challenge that helped burn all your time outs when you needed it at the end of the game, and I give them an F too.

[B-more Ravor]

So why are they out there in that configuration? Because John Harbaugh is mad at Bryant McKinnie and refuses to start him. And I get it, Bryant has issues coming into camp. But he's been quiet and worked. And when he's been in there, he's been effective.

Sorry, gotta disagree here. McKinnie hasn't worked hard in practice and has basically already checked out for the season.

And, every time they do actually put him in, he's blocking air. He's also - on several occasions - clearly not known his assignment - both presnap and after he's essentially touched no one once the play has begun. There is simply no effort there, whatsoever.

[NCRAVEN]

Sorry, gotta disagree here. McKinnie hasn't worked hard in practice and has basically already checked out for the season.

Do you have inside info on this you could share?

And, every time they do actually put him in, he's blocking air. He's also - on several occasions - clearly not known his assignment - both presnap and after he's essentially touched no one once the play has begun. There is simply no effort there, whatsoever.

Maybe you're generalize for the sake of brevity, but I've personally seen him in on plays being effective. But they're mostly running plays.

[B-more Ravor]

Do you have inside info on this you could share?

I think I just did.

Maybe you're generalize for the sake of brevity, but I've personally seen him in on plays being effective. But they're mostly running plays.

OK, he's missed far more than he's made. I've also seen him on several occasion basically come out of his stance and essentially do nothing (other than perhaps an arm swat at a passing defender).

[NCRAVEN]

I think I just did.

Grrrrr. Fair enough

OK, he's missed far more than he's made. I also seen him on several occasion basically stand up and essentially do nothing (other than perhaps an arm swat at a passing defender).

I haven't seen that, but I haven't always been looking either, I'll take your word for it.

[Cj34]

Do you have inside info on this you could share?



Maybe you're generalize for the sake of brevity, but I've personally seen him in on plays being effective. But they're mostly running plays.

I'm not going to say that every play McKinney has been on the field as an extra blocker has been successful. It hasn't. But....most of the time he was brought on and the play was blown up it wasn't his man that blew up the play. It's tough for any running plays to have success when the def line is getting push up the middle on a consistent basis.

If your Center and the three-person revolving door at Left Guard this year keep getting pushed back, most running plays will not work. It's a lot easier to scheme against pressure coming from the outside then when it's consistently coming up the middle.

Does McKinney bust his ass every practice and every play? I'm not foolish enough to assert that. I know his work ethic isn't what it should be. I'm also not implying that he's pro-bowl tackle, especially at this point of his career. However, he is still the best option at LT of all the people currently on the roster.

[festivus]

So why are they out there in that configuration? Because John Harbaugh is mad at Bryant McKinnie and refuses to start him.

John Harbaugh wants to win football games. So did Brian Billick. So does every single coach in the NFL. He'd rather hold a grudge then put the best players on the field?

I don't think so. I've never been a John Harbaugh cheerleader, but I will still give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows more about what the players' capabilities are, given his 24/7 access to them, than I do, sitting here at this computer.

[Ravenswintitle]

Okay, I'll defend myself a bit here.

I realize the popular thing to do is to blame Cam for all losses. And to give everyone an F when the team loses.

And I realize that the easy assumption to make when the team loses is to conclude that Ray Rice didn't touch the ball enough. It's easy to look at his 6.5 yards per carry average and say, hey, run the ball all day long with him and he gets 200 yards on the day.

But I argue that part of the reason he was able to run effectively is the game plan, which I applaud, and which I believe was leaps and bounds smarter than what we saw two weeks ago in Pittsburgh, despite a better result.

I liked the approach of spreading the field and pressuring the Steelers to drop back into coverage, opening up running lanes (a hallmark of the Air Coryell system that Cam came out of).

Had the gameplan called for run, run, run, I argue that Rice's production would not be nearly as good as it looked. And besides, take away the 34 yard touchdown where he should have been tackled at the line, and his numbers don't look all that impressive.

Starting late in the second quarter, Rice's carries were for 1, 2, 3, -1, 0, and the 34 yard TD where he should have been tackled for a loss.

Had Cam kept running the ball like that, with three and outs, and then kicked the ball to the Steelers, I guarantee there would be the same harsh criticism of how conservative the offense was, and how scared Cam was to let Joe throw the ball.

Hell, even when they failed to move the ball at the end of the game and were forced to punt, Koch sent it 57 yards to the Steelers 11 and the Ravens defense still failed to hold the lead.

Take another look at the critical Flacco fourth-quarter sack/fumble after the Reed interception. It was typical of what the game was like for the Ravens. The Steelers have seven in the box and are playing one-deep. I don't know what the hell Flacco is doing. The ball should be going to an open Dennis Pitta on the forty, and thrown before he comes out of the break, because he's very much open. Torrey Smith is running a post pattern and has a step on the corner in the middle of the field. Ray Rice is there for a dump off underneath for anyone who thinks he was the magic answer.

There is nothing wrong with the play call, but Oher can't slow down Harrison and Flacco pats the ball three times too many.

No one was complaining when two plays earlier when Flacco hit Boldin for six. And no one was saying run the ball more after the next play, a run that went for -1. They did get Pitta involved on the very next play, and Oher and Flacco screwed the pooch. Not sure how that's on Cam.

I also liked how they were creative enough to get Leach involved and use Rice to draw defenders away from the flat.

My view of this game was that it was a decent gameplan spoiled by receivers who dropped balls, a left tackle who couldn't stop anyone, a quarterback who seems to have lost his way this season, and a general lack of intensity facing a wounded rival whose backs were against the wall.

Look, I would have liked to have seen a few more running plays, too, and I would like to see the route trees consist of some more rubs and unpredictability. But on my list of why the Ravens offense failed last Sunday, the gameplan and playcalling were WAY down the list of problems from my perspective.

Frankly, if I'm grading Harbaugh, Pees, and Cam, Cam gets the best grade of the bunch. Why is no one concerned that for 12 weeks now the defensive secondary can't all get on the same page and receivers are constantly open in the middle of the field?

Let's not be afraid to place blame on players when it's the players who are failing to perform.

good post. I liked the playcalling in the first half and actually said I thought it was one of Cam's better games. And I also liked them going deep and spreading the field, but where I thought they could improve was in using the middle of the field some and keeping Rice involved.

Honestly I felt like Pitt would come in with a 'must win' mentality and find a way to keep it close. which they did. If a few of our offensive plays could've been executed it would've gone the other way IMO