It’s not surprising the Ravens are not going to make wholesale changes with the offense heading into Week 16.
Furthermore, the team is 9-5 and practically one win away from securing a spot in the postseason. Any online casino would suggest their odds are strong to punch their playoff ticket. But to get to the postseason dance, there are still problems that need to be addressed with the passing game … sooner or later.
The Ravens passing offense is ranked 27th in the NFL, averaging 180.6 yards per game.
They have also managed two touchdowns in the past three games.
With Lamar Jackson sidelined with a knee injury, the Ravens had 94 passing yards on 17 attempts with backups Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Huntley was 17 of 30 for 138 yards with an interception for a 54.6 rating the following week against the Cleveland Browns.
Despite these issues, Harbaugh is confident the passing offense can be salvaged over the final three games and beyond.
It comes down to scheme and execution.
“We can do things a lot better, we can look at how much we’re calling, how much motion and stuff we put in, all the football-related X-and-O stuff, we’re definitely looking at really hard,” Harbaugh said. “The volume of what we do, all those kinds of different things, and – to your first question – who’s out there doing what. So, who’s out there doing what is a big part of it. What are they capable of doing?
“Some roles maybe don’t fit certain guys; certain routes don’t fit certain guys. Sometimes, you get in the game [and] you have no choice; you call a play and some guys are just out there because that’s the way it’s rolling and that’s who you have.”
My take on Harbs' presser yesterday.
Care to discuss at the end of the bar? 🙄 https://t.co/UB7KTMkmfO
— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) December 20, 2022
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman has been the main target of criticism among the fans. It’s gotten so bad that someone scattered fliers at the team’s practice facility that said: “Fire Greg Roman”.
Meanwhile, the Ravens running game is ranked second in the NFL averaging 164.7 yards per game. Sometimes, it seems the team gets away from the run in critical situations and the passing attack has not been able to execute an effective play for a key first down or inside the red zone.
Despite the struggles and frustrations with the passing offense, Harbaugh has no plans to make any major tweaks to the coaching staff. The focus is on the next game and stacking more wins to get into the playoffs.
One of the keys will be getting Jackson back in the lineup to lead the offense. Will he play John?
“I knew you were going to ask that, or somebody was. There are probably a couple other injury questions coming up, and I think I’m going to climb behind the barricade of it’s probably not the time to put a lot of information out there on our injuries, just for competitive purposes. So, we’re just going to let that develop and see where we go with it and not try to walk the tight rope of what we say.”
16 Responses
Firing Cameron before the season ended led to an incredible SB run and MVP win, but for all his athleticism, Lamar is not the big game QB that Flacco was!
If 1 is objective on the whole “BIG Game” Flacco and trying to knock Lamar or say he isn’t. 1- Playoffs are a TEAM ACHIEVEMENT/SB is Team ACHIEVEMENT. You can look at superior Qbs then Flacco hofr like Payton who didn’t find success until midway through career bc 1 aspect of their team was flawed. For Payton Colts obviously bad defence. With Lamar until this year I didn’t consider our defense legit Sb Caliber that’s bc addingRoquan.. but still don’t have any WRs comparable to Torrey Smith, Anquan and Jacoby.
Of course their team achievements, but It was Flacco who threw 11 TD passes with no INTs, tying Joe Montana’s postseason record and passer rating of 117.2 while being named SB MVP! So, you’re entitled to your opinion, but the FACTS speak for themselves!
Man, you sure love you some Joe Flacco !!
You bet I do! Had he played in a system like Gary Kubiak’s that was suited to his skill sets, he woulda/coulda/shoulda been one of the best ever! A big arm QB, who loved the long pass, Kubiak referred to him as “elite”! But, with the exception of his spectacular SB run and the season with Kubiak, he was stuck in the same old school, antiquated ultra conservative keep it close and play not to lose Harbaugh system that has been Lamar’s undoing! Look up Flacco at Wikipedia and marvel at what he was able to accomplish despite of Harbaugh, not because of him……
I don’t need to look up Flacco at Wikipedia, I was a huge Flacco supporter. But I also remember hearing Kubiak said Flacco was lazy and didn’t want to work on fundamentals. Kubiak got results because he treated Flacco like a 12 yr old… “do again Joe” ” stop sulking Joe and do it again “. “Keep doing it till you do it right “. I also remember Steve Smith saying he was lazy. All the great QBs work with the WRs all off-season… not Joe.Willie Snead came from Drew Brees, he was amazed at the difference between Brees’s work ethic and Flaccos. I find that very disappointing.
My guess is that you’re too young to remember the HOF great, Lenny Moore of the Baltimore Colts, who had a reputation for not practicing very hard, but never being caught from behind in a game! Some players, like Moore and Flacco are “gamers”, who save their best performances for game day! And, Flacco’s record attests to the FACT that he was at his best when it counted……most!
P.S. FYI…..Kubiak also said that Flacco was the reason the Broncos hired him as HC and that he was as talented as anyone he ever worked with! Flacco turned down an offer to play in a Pro Bowl game because his wife was due to have a baby at that time, so he obviously has his priorities straight!
I’m not too young to remember Lenny Moore. I’m also not too young to remember Unitas and Berry running routes over and over in Patterson Park. Or Marino, Montana, Young, Brady, Brees. Guys who just worked their a**es off to be great. I loved Joe Flacco. I defended him till I was blue in the face when I was surrounded with Steelers and Pat’s fans. He was a GOOD QB, who had some great moments. I feel he could have been GREAT period if he worked as hard as the great ones do.
And I never said Flacco wasn’t talented. Just the opposite. That’s what I find the most frustrating. He couldn’t have been a great one. He was on his way actually. But once he got his Super Bowl win… and his huge payday, he’s won one playoff game.
Not as important as playing in a system designed for his skill sets! He became a check down QB as has Lamar because that’s what Harbaugh’s system is designed for! Remember, it wasn’t too long ago that playing pro football was seasonal with players having off season jobs! Kind of makes one wonder how healthy it is for them to be working out year round with all the non-contact injuries…….
Yeah, really good points. I have to agree with all of that. You have a guy who could make any throw anywhere on the field dumping off to a RB. Disgusting waste of a big arm. If I’m the owner Harbaugh would be gone years ago, I just don’t see what he offers to this team. Can’t listen to anymore of his rhetoric. And you might be right about the injuries too. These days they have kids in H.S. going at it all year! Then all throughout college, by the time they’ve been in the NFL a few years their bodies are beat up.
There are a lot of dynamics at play with injuries including, year long practices that seem to produce too many non-contact injuries; too long a season that is destined to be extended; games played too close together preventing adequate recovery time; composition of surfaces they play/practice on; design and composition of shoes and the list goes on! A final comment on Flacco: he got his big payday the old fashioned way by earning it just as Lamar had planned to do! Following the SB win, he seemed content to go along to get along with the a Harbaugh system and philosophy with disappointing results. As for my incessant indictment of Harbaugh as a HC who is obviously a quality guy, I can’t help thinking where he would be today had he not been FORCED to start a rookie QB because of injuries to Boller and illness to Heisman Trophy winner, Troy Smith back in 2008! I obviously have an opinion n that, too…..
I’ve also thought about how fortunate Harbaugh was having Flacco drop into his lap. I also think he got lucky having the greatest kicker in NFL history around to save his butt all these years. With this pathetic offense, without Tucker I’d wager Harbaugh’s record would be below. 500. One other thing, I would have loved to see what Billick could have done with Flacco. He had a great offensive mind but never the QB
Not true on the defense, 2 years ago when ravens played Tennessee and buffalo, they gave up 10 points in each game. 2018 and 2019 the defense ranked in the top 10 in points allowed. So, overall they’ve been solid.
Wonder if a plane flying a “Fire Roman” banner is next?