On Monday I was on the Scott Garceau Show on 105.7 The Fan during which Femi Ayanbadejo asked me if I thought the Ravens displayed a touch of arrogance when they decided to put James Hurst, subbing for the injured Rick Wagner, one-on-one with JJ Watt.
I hope it was arrogance.
Otherwise it was ignorance.
Asking Hurst to come off the bench and take on the single-most disruptive force in the NFL is unconscionable. It’s akin to throwing underhanded to Mike Trout. The result was Watt’s most productive game as a pro (+13.2) according to Pro Football Focus’ grading system.
Great strategy there Kubes.
Don’t look now but Steve Smith, Sr. is tied for the NFL lead in dropped passes this season with 9. On Sunday he dropped more than passes – he dropped this on Ravens fans after the team’s horrific performance.
“We expect and understand the negative feedback, all the fat, lazy, sorry, couch quarterbacks that are going to come out. We expect that, understand that and we’re not going to pay attention to it.”
I guess we’ll write that off as a Senior moment.
How’s the shoe leather taste there No. 89?
HARBAUGH FUMBLES
During the third quarter following the Jacoby Jones 45-yard punt return, the Ravens faced a first-and-goal from the Houston 9 after a Texans’ penalty. The first play from scrimmage was an out to Steve Smith, Sr. to the left sideline. The pass was ruled out-of-bounds yet it looked close.
Desperately needing a score and given their inability to move the football at all, many questioned why John Harbaugh didn’t challenge the call. After all, Harbaugh has been known to challenge far less winnable plays.
Yet the red flag stayed in his pocket.
I’ll let you be the judge…
Later in the game with the score at 25-13 Harbaugh decided to go for the 2-point conversion (they failed) when a Justin Tucker PAT would have reduced the margin to 11 and not force the Ravens to produce two touchdown scoring drives.
I’m really not sure what the Ravens’ coaching braintrust thinks about sometimes…
VAPOR LOCK
I’m also not sure what goes through Joe Flacco’s head at times.
On the aforementioned failed 2-point attempt Flacco took a sack. SERIOUSLY? Just chuck it up! There’s nothing to lose, no interceptions or turnovers to worry about and MAYBE you get a flag. Taking a sack is just mind-numbingly stupid – there’s no way around it.
Just like it was cerebrally inept to throw the ball away during the team’s last possession against the Chargers when taking the sack would have kept the clock moving. That bone-headed play gave the Chargers a free timeout without which Philip Rivers may not have been able to engineer the game winning drive.
It’s these decisions that in part separate Flacco from being among the game’s best.
I GET KNOCKED DOWN
As much as I’ve beaten up on Joe Flacco over the last few days, I don’t put interception No. 3 against the Texans on him. That’s on Torrey Smith. Smith must not take to coaching well or his coaching isn’t all that.
After 4 seasons at the NFL level you might think that he might be a more accomplished route runner. He’s not. There has been little to no progression in that part of his game and on Sunday he slipped on a deep crossing route that led to pick 3 for Flacco.
Watching the video Smith falls while trying to cut to his right after planting his RIGHT foot.
Are you shaking your head like me?
The Ravens might be better off saying thanks for the memories Torrey after this season, particularly if he’s looking for anything north of Emmanuel Sanders money. Just say “pass” Ozzie!
The Browns have signed QB Tyler Thigpen to back up the great Connor Shaw this Sunday. Apparently Rex Grossman turned down the $53,000 per game “stipend” preferring instead to stay at home for Christmas.
Per @RavensInsider : Tyler Thigpen has signed to QB Browns. A few weeks ago he got a DUI in a Wendy’s drive thru. http://t.co/d85hwCxoQG
— Mark Viviano (@MarkWJZ) December 23, 2014
I guess Brian Sipe was busy…
PARTING SHOT
For those who thought this would be a one and done season with the Ravens for offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak (myself included), maybe that won’t be the case after all — not after these past 2 weeks when the Ravens needed some offense most.
