CRAB BAG: Still something to play for?

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Derek Arnold

BEATING UP ON THE BENGALS The Ravens have racked up four consecutive wins against Cincinnati, last losing to the Bengals during Week Two of the 2010 season. Four Ravens, in particular, have put up spectacular numbers against Cincinnati in their careers. Joe Flacco is 6-3 in his career against Cincinnati, and in his last four games against them (all wins), Flacco completed 67 of 94 passes (71.3%) for 824 yards, 5 TDs and 2 INTs (106.9 QB rating). Ray Rice has averaged 5.0 yards per carry in nine career games against … Continue reading →

Caldwell should simplify offense

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Wola Odeniran

The Ravens offense needs a dose of common sense. Too many times this year, there have been issues among the fans with the way the offense is run. Cam Cameron was to blame for many of those situations rather than Joe Flacco because fans would hope the problems with their franchise quarterback are minimal. Well now the OC is fired. But yet on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, the offense still had the same issues. So when does common sense play a role? What I mean by that is the … Continue reading →

Even before it was a blowout, Vonta Leach was again forgotten

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Kris Jones

Once again, the Ravens rushing attack was non-existent in a loss. Even though they faced the NFL’s fourth ranked defense, the offense rarely displayed any sort of cohesiveness under new offensive coordinator, Jim Caldwell. Ray Rice had 38 yards on 12 attempts and wasn’t targeted a single time out of the backfield on third down. Rice’s primary blocker, fullback Vonta Leach, played just 11 of the team’s 65 offensive snaps (17%) as the Ravens routinely played from the shotgun with a three wide receiver set for most of the second … Continue reading →

They are who we…thought they were?

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Joe Polek

Dennis Green famously said “They are who we thought they were.” For the 2012 Baltimore Ravens, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m not sure anyone, including Coach John Harbaugh, nor the players themselves, knows who they are. Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron and quarterback Joe Flacco seem to want them to be a prolific passing offense. Running back Ray Rice would like them to go big and run behind Vonta Leach 25 times per game. Ravens fans would like to see a run-first offense with a Top 5 Defense. But … Continue reading →

The Good, Bad, Ugly, & The Megan Fox: Grinding it out

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Tony Lombardi

The Baltimore Ravens escaped Cleveland with a 25-15 win to push their division leading record to 6-2 and 3-0 in the AFC North. It was a game of highs and lows – really a microcosm of the season. The only predictable thing about the Ravens when they hit the road is that they are schizophrenically unpredictable. But when all was said and done, the win was reminiscent of a pitcher who can’t consistently pound the strike zone but managed to battle through. They did what they needed to do to … Continue reading →

What’s to blame for Ravens’ road woes?

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Riley Babcock

The Baltimore Ravens are widely thought to have the best home field advantage in all of football. And their current 14-game home win streak supports that notion. On the other hand, the Ravens may be one of the worst road teams in the NFL currently with just a .333 (1-2) win percentage against teams with a combined record of 10-12. It’s also worth noting that the one game the Ravens won on the road saw no touchdowns as the Ravens squeaked out a 9-6 win against the lowly Kansas City … Continue reading →

Are the Ravens still contenders?

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Riley Babcock

Despite being 5-2 heading into Week 9, many pundits are questioning whether or not the Ravens are for real. After just barely squeaking out wins against Kansas City and Dallas and then getting manhandled by Houston, there’s definitely a lot of doubt surrounding the Ravens. Injuries have hurt the Ravens the most this season. The loss of their captain Ray Lewis has impacted the team from a leadership standpoint, while the injuries to Lardarius Webb and Terrell Suggs have limited the team’s defensive effectiveness. Additionally, the offense is going through … Continue reading →

Interview: Ray Rice ready for a strong second half

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Kris Jones

During Ray Rice’s career, playing in Cleveland has typically meant a heavy workload for the Ravens running back. The Ravens have won their last nine meetings against the Browns, and in the three games Rice has been the Ravens starting running back in Cleveland Browns Stadium (2009-11), he’s never had fewer than 20 carries. However, in 2012, giving Rice more than 20 carries will mean a shift in offensive philosophy for the team. So far this season, Rice has only carried the ball 20 times in one game (New England), … Continue reading →

Does the Ravens’ “sugar huddle” spell bad clock management?

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Tony Lombardi

Yesterday my colleague Kris Jones wrote that the Ravens should eliminate or severely curb the employment of the team’s “sugar huddle” approach. Kris opined that the Ravens underutilize two of their best players due to their growing dependency on the fast break attack and that underutilization challenges clock management (the Ravens are last in the NFL), thus keeping a struggling defense on the field far too long. Good points for sure but from my vantage point, it’s not quite that simple. Clearly the Ravens do not run the ball enough … Continue reading →

Statistical Look: Ravens’ “sugar huddle” more sour than sweet

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Kris Jones

The best way for the Ravens to execute the sugar huddle in Cleveland on Sunday will be to do just that – give it the execution it deserves. Sayonara, scram, adios and goodbye. Eliminating what seems to be the Ravens’ primary offensive philosophy may seem drastic, but so far – especially on the road – it has caused more harm than good. The play calling lacks creativity, being extremely predictable in most instances. The offense is barely on the field and then a battered and bruised defense ends up getting … Continue reading →

Should the Baltimore Ravens call on Inspector Gadget?

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Tony Lombardi

It’s been said many times that if teams can force the opponent to think then half the battle on a given play has been won. Thinking forces a player to slow down. No longer can players simply employ their finely tuned reactive skills. They are forced to mentally process the changing environment that surrounds them. When they do, they slow down. When they slow down they diminish their effectiveness. Teams study each other on film prior to games. They study tendencies. They memorize them and in doing it allows them … Continue reading →

Harbaugh talks about lack of rushing attack

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Kris Jones

Coming off his worst defeat in his four-plus seasons as the Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh was more candid during his Monday press conference than usual. The loss wasn’t pretty for the Ravens, who were on the short end of a 30-point beating at the hands of the Houston Texans. Harbaugh said afterwards that the fingers should be pointed at him. “We didn’t put our players in a great position to win that game,” Harbaugh said. “We obviously weren’t ready to handle their scheme, their intensity, the crowd. All the … Continue reading →

Ravens abandon run game

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Kris Jones

Yesterday in Houston, the Ravens treated Ray Rice and Vonta Leach like they were a cardboard box full of puppies left in a grocery store parking lot. No, not cute. Abandoned. At the conclusion of the Ravens’ 43-13 beat down by the Houston Texans, Rice had failed to top at least 100 yards from scrimmage for just the third time in 2012. Rice is a phenomenal talent but Leach has had much to do with his success. While it’s understandable that defenses will sometimes eliminate their opponents rushing attack, having … Continue reading →

More Rice Please!

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Tony Lombardi

We’ve all heard the NFL has morphed into a predominantly passing league. League personnel executives are now building their rosters on both sides of the football to address the trend. On offense road grading linemen aren’t the flavor of the month. Instead teams seek athleticism and technicians who can pass protect. Tight ends are now built more like small forwards and they are being asked to challenge the foot speed of safeties. Desirable wide receivers must be tall and fast. On defense, getting to the quarterback is key and that … Continue reading →