But getting to that level of consist success will take a while and I’m afraid there will be several more frustrating days like the two we’ve experienced over the past week.
I’m not going to relive the coaching mistakes from last Monday night against the Steelers. I do however hope that Harbaugh does. I hope they keep him awake at night just like the mistakes he made yesterday against the Titans. Harbaugh’s team looks more like a team playing not to lose than one playing to win.
With 14 seconds to go in the first half, Harbaugh opted to send Matt Stover out to attempt a field goal even though it was first down. Now granted, the Ravens did not have a timeout left and it is rather obvious that they would have had to either take a shot at the end zone – clearly a long shot, or a shot towards the sidelines.
Matt Stover is struggling and suddenly 45 yards seems well outside of his range. Harbaugh should have taken a chance to move the team at least 10 yards closer with 14 ticks left on the clock. If it wasn’t there, then chuck it in the front row and let Stover try the same field goal only 8 seconds later.
At least they could say they tried…
Cam Cameron tried to neutralize the Titans’ defensive line and for the most part he was very successful. He has inadvertently provided the blue print for future Titans’ opponents to limit Albert Haynesworth’s effectiveness. Haynesworth rarely penetrated the Ravens backfield as the Ravens’ interior line had the All Pro tackle moving sideways more often than not. Kudos go out to Cameron and his staff for their effective strategy.
But Cameron’s choice not to go downfield at all is a puzzling one. The Ravens never challenged the Titans vertically all afternoon with play action or even from the gun despite ample time for Joe Flacco to throw. Cornerback Courtland Finnegan’s lack of composure and his aggressiveness almost begged for Cameron to run Mason or Clayton his way on a double move. It never happened.
The Titans who possess even fewer weapons on the outside than the Ravens took a couple of shots to try and loosen things up and they were close to a big pass interference call on one play.
When the Ravens had the lead and they were driving with 7:37 to go in the game, up 10-6 and facing a first and 10 at the Titans 36, Cameron opted to run McGahee twice. The net result after the two plays – minus 1 yard. They weren’t exactly in Stover territory (at this point we aren’t even sure where that is) and that left Joe Flacco in a tough third and 11 situation. The succeeding play failed (a pass that sailed wide right of Mark Clayton) and a punt into the end zone completed a horrible set of downs.
When the Titans took over, they proved once again that the Ravens have difficulty covering tight ends. Bo Scaife and Alge Crumpler hauled in 4 passes for 48 yards including Crumpler’s TD during the game winning drive.
The playing not to lose approach was frighteningly familiar to that of Brian Billick’s. Also familiar was the lack of composure by a few of the Ravens who were flagged for their over aggressiveness. We all believed that Harbaugh would bring some needed discipline to the team yet once again when composure was needed most, the Ravens had little to none.
Now Harbaugh and his team need to collect themselves as they begin a journey that takes them on the road for five of the next six games beginning with the Colts in Indianapolis, a place where the Ravens have rarely showed great composure during a game’s pivotal moments.
They say character is determined by how you handle adversity.
Clearly the Ravens have their fair share to deal with during the weeks ahead and they will certainly get a chance to prove what they’re made of.
