“In the National Football League system, run-first offenses and sustained winning models are considered especially heinous. In Baltimore, Maryland, the dedicated fans who support the front office and coaching are members of an elite squad known as the Purple Patrol. These are their stories.”
DUN DUN.
The Ravens got embarrassed by Miami on Sunday, and by extension, the fan base got embarrassed all over social media. In those situations where one feels embarrassment or shame, it’s not uncommon to lash out at others, look for scapegoats, and flat out melt down.
“Fire Harbaugh!”
“Fire Roman and McDonald!”
“EDC can’t draft!”
“The Ravens should’ve drafted [name a player] and signed [name a different one] they have no idea what they’re doing!”
The armchair GMs… or I guess these days it’s the SMGMs (social media general managers)… were out in full force. But let’s focus today’s Purple Patrol Report on Greg Roman, because I think the complaints are absolutely laughable coming off this past game.
Lamar Jackson currently has six touchdown passes through two games. Last year he didn’t hit his 6th touchdown pass until Week 5. The year before, it was Week 4. The year prior was his MVP campaign.
Of Lamar’s six TDs, five have gone to the wide receivers – a pair for Rashod Bateman, another pair for Devin Duvernay and one to Demarcus Robinson – which contradicts the narrative that Lamar has no viable wideouts and needed more help.
I know this sounds like I’m just praising Jackson – which of course this is praise – but why is it that any praise of the passing game is viewed as strictly Lamar-based, whereas any critique is Roman based? Why can’t praise and critique be shared by coaches and players alike? Why is it that the narrative around Roman coming into the season was that the passing game will struggle because of him… then it thrives… and it’s no credit to him?
Taking another angle to the offense, we can talk about the struggles on the ground through two weeks, where the Ravens running backs are literally bottom of the NFL in terms of rushing yards… and now this struggle is driven fully back to Roman, once again.
Why are the ground game woes a direct indictment of Roman for some, but accountability for the players on the field is ignored? I can recall some social media debates within the Ravens Flock that were centered around the running game and Roman, suggesting that Roman is not the reason the ground game is elite-level every year and that it’s 100% because of the threat of Jackson’s legs… and yet… as it’s currently struggling, it’s now a Roman issue and the grounds of “it works only because of Lamar” is suddenly a ghost of tweets past.
The debates are steeped in hypocrisy, and it’s all centered around an attempt to assassinate the contributions of the offensive coordinator.
But say you wanted him fired tomorrow and feel completely validated in your stance… who replaces him? It’s surely not going to be a positional coach of another NFL team or a college coach that would (or could) leave mid-season to run the Ravens offense. You’d need an internal hire, and while I’m sure some of you think Tee Martin or James Urban or Keith Williams would easily step into a role and thrive (while knowing literally nothing about their philosophies) do you realize that they wouldn’t change up the entire playbook overnight? That the plays would likely remain the same, just a little tweaking and a different call coming in? Surely, that wouldn’t satiate your animosity for Roman and we’d simply replace “fire Roman!” with “fire ____!”
The reality is that in short order, the offense should get JK Dobbins, Ronnie Stanley, Nick Boyle, and hopefully Gus Edwards back. Those four players will make a monumental difference on the ground game approach, and with the passing offense showing to be a well-oiled machine right now?
Y’all just need to relax… enjoy the success of the passing offense… and watch this Ravens offense take it to the next level when they’re back to full health.
7 Responses
I couldn’t agree more with the points made in this article. I had been growing tired of Roman for the past few years because his lack of creativity in the passing game was wasting Lamar’s arm talent. Through 2 games I believe this offense could be better than 2019 once the 4 players mentioned come back. Lamar may lead the league in passing TDs once again.
I agree with this analysis. Players aren’t executing in the run game. The fact that running backs are getting contact at minus a half yard from the line indicates a big issue with the O line.
On a different note, you can’t “center around” something. You can “center on” something though.
Can’t disagree, Adam.
If the discussion surrounding that loss isn’t centered around the defense then fans are wasting their breath.
I’ll disagree 100%. The reason Roman gets the blame when things go wrong on offense compared to players execution or lack of is because Roman’s track record and evidence. Roman has track record as run game wizard. He also doesn’t have a track record with developing HOF QBs like a Andy Reid or Shanahan tree. So Roman isn’t getting credit for having generational/HOF QB
Criticism of the offense is on Roman’s shoulders squarely because of his obvious inability to read/react to what’s actually going on in the field. Your run game is trash and obviously predictable as teams are CAMPING on that. Your not calling screens, bootlegs occasionally to keep defenses honest, choosing to give the ball over and over to washed up running backs instead of fresh legs like justice hill, tyson williams that average double the yards per carry or maybe the 300# fullback we have on 4th and 1 instead of QB “sneaks”.. which never are..
Poor play calling is poor play calling
You have way too much faith in players coming back from major injuries fixing the Ravens woes.
A LT who hasn’t played in 2 years is gonna transform an entire line that can’t run block? He wasn’t exactly known as a run game bruiser before his multiple surgeries?
Boyles leg injury was gruesome,and its likely he’s never the same.
Rbs the year after knee injuries? Historically unproductive.
None of this will matter with a defense surrendering 40 points.