editorials

MIS-FIRES

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 14:55:48 +0100

MIS-FIRES: As fans gnash their teeth for two weeks the Ravens have to tear apart the first part of the season and figure out what can be done to right the ship for the final run. They have dug a hole and will have to scrap and claw their way through the last nine games to make a push at the Playoffs. Fans do not have an inside view of the Team so we can only guess at why this team is looking like it has a malaise that may knock it out of the playoff run sooner rather than later.

1. Injuries: Let's get this one out of the way first, since it is the weakest point. Every team has some injuries and that does not spell doom automatically. It does influence the parts that were to be in place, and depending on when it happens, it can put players who have not had reps into the fire-fight. It also moves second-tier players to first string and lesser players into ST roles. Obviously the Pitta injury was a big one; since that was to fill the Boldin hole. Trawick's hit on Jones in the first game shook up the team on Offense and ST. Several defensive players have been hurting; especially in the line. KO appears to have an ailing back and Yanda appears not to be fully back from his surgery. Stokley has been limping along for the last few weeks. The personnel that would have to fill in for the injured players does not seem to be good enough; at least at this time.

2. Failed Personnel: It is always difficult to hit a HR on players that are drafted or signed as FA's. The problem comes when the team expects to get something from someone and their performance creates a hole because they cannot even give an average performance. The Huff signing is very perplexing since he does not appear to be able to" Play like a Raven"; he is not very good mentally and does not appear to be able (or willing) to tackle. On Sunday, he was part of the mess on ST that allowed the late TD on the KO (that was called back). He was signed to fill a gap in the secondary and has come up empty. McKinnie was re-signed, despite the knowledge that he gave no effort (except on a Party Bus). Now he is gone because he was not putting out a solid performance to protect Flacco's blind-side and open holes in the running game. Surprised? And that failure caused the team to do something that they do not normally do - give away draft picks for Monroe. Jeromy Miles was signed as a ST player and yet he was off-sides on the on-sides kick. And Asa Jackson was to be a help on the defense and probably ST, but he gets suspended for eight games.

3. Coaching: A well-respected O-Line Coach is brought in to re-do the schemes for the O-Line. As is obvious now, this team does not have the personnel to make that work and trying to teach a turkey to fly is an accident waiting to happen. Why was that necessary in the first place? Is the new wave in the NFL to have Lean-and-Athletic O-Lineman rather than Maulers? Is that a shift because of the focus on passing in the league? If so, I am not sure how you can transition that scheme unless you are willing to blow up the Line to get the proper personnel in place. I do not think it is the thing to do if your goal is to make the playoffs. Tweaking a team is what to do when you have the chance to compete; throwing out the old ways is what you do in a "rebuilding" year.

IMHO, there is a cultural change that is in the works as well. I see a change from players that are the focus to a "Patriots-like" model that the Coach is the driving force. That view says that you get Average/Above-average players that you can dump at will rather than "Bigger than Life" Players that influence how things are handled (and can lead to the inmates running the asylum). It also allows you to make moves without big Cap Hits. Big player personalities can help if they know the boundaries; but there is always the risk that the dog will bite. Altering the culture in the locker room is a very tricky thing to do since it can lead to a team that does not have the peer pressure that can make players do things to succeed. I really thought that bringing in veterans who had the desire for a ring would help; but so far that has not pushed the envelope.

We will see how Harbaugh reviews the roster and the coaching and whether he makes big moves or just tweaks things. I think that this is a big moment in this transition year. As much as he can take control, he can also lose the team. It is a delicate balance.

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PITTSBURGH 19 - BALTIMORE 16 (3-4)

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 19:36:52 +0100

PITTSBURGH 19 - BALTIMORE 16 (3-4) : A very disappointing game in the AFC North that puts the Ravens in a difficult position going into the Bye. Although I did not have a good feeling about a game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh with their season on the line, it was a winnable game and the team was not up to the challenge.

The Defense was ripped by a running game that limped into the contest as one of the worst. The Steelers were able to move the ball at will, and came up with trick plays to keep the Defense on its heels. There seemed to be no way to keep the Steelers from scoring some points on each drive.

The Offense came out slow again and did not take command of the game; although they were limited in the number of possessions. Flacco seemed off on some plays; missing on some throws that seemed to work. The Refs let the Home Team get away with at least two Pass Interference penalties. Tandon Doss still does not seem to have all of the parts to be an NFL receiver. He is good in the open but when it takes some off-the-cuff decisions he is lacking. Flacco was scrambling to the left and Doss was open at the goal-line. As Joe throws the ball, Doss just stands there; allowing the defender to get to the spot. He should have come toward the throw and close the gap. It is something that a receiver has to do to make a play. And how do you get a Delay of Game Call after a Time-Out?

I rarely question Harbaugh on in-game calls. The Onside Kick is one of the exceptions. I understand that the Steelers could have eaten up the clock and still scored. The kick was meant to be a surprise move, but it was not done well and almost cost them their kicker. And you have an Offsides to boot? It smelled of desperation; or at the very least a vote against the Defense's ability to hold the Steelers to a 3-and-out. Oh wait...

I felt that this was an 11-5 team. I figured we would lose the Denver, Houston, Green Bay games and split with Pittsburgh and lose either Chicago or Detroit. This team though does not look like a team that could win enough to make the playoffs; right now that would mean that they have to go 8-1 to meet my expectations and I do not see a team that can do that. They still can win the division with the right combination of wins, but it does not look like they have the personnel or the coaching to pull the fat out of the fire. More importantly, they do not seem to have the HEART that I expect from a Ravens team.

We now have two weeks to dissect this team and the games that have occurred. I hope that something comes together to start the run to the end of the regular season. They have two important games after the Bye (Cleveland and Cincinnati), so they have the pieces in front of them. This will be a commentary on Harbaugh as a Coach; they are very close to having the wheels come off the cart. This is where Coaches in the NFL can make a difference.

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GAME DAY IN PITTSBURGH

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:22:45 +0100

GAME DAY IN PITTSBURGH: An AFC North match-up that has historically been like a street-fight and decided by less than 7 points. These teams punch/claw/smack to see who is the last man standing. The biggest thing to be concerned about after who wins is how many casualties are listed on Monday. That defines why people get psyched for a Steelers' game every year.

The Coaches and Players know what is going on in the Castle and on Sundays. We as Fans have a limited knowledge, but are vested with our hearts and our wallets every week. The blow-back that hits the radios and message boards on the day-after show how the fans are invested in a world that separates them from the day-to-day existence. Regardless of the fact that fans know little, they express a lot of anxiety and frustration when the home team loses. Today is even more volatile since it involves a team and a city that most people hate - and who has laid the wood against the Ravens in the regular season and the playoffs. It is not the deciding game for the Ravens in their quest for the post-season in 2013 but it represents a mile-stone for the fans; who are standing on the ledge as we speak. With the Bye next week, it will be Hades in Baltimore if they lose. Please Ravens do not create turmoil for two weeks with a poor performance today. I will be forced to listen to the Classical Music station to avoid the panic in the streets.

I am concerned about the secondary against Ben today. We saw last week that Rodgers was able to side-step the pressure and to burn the defense in the second half. Ben is worse at staying up-right even if the Line and LB's get to him, and Antonio Brown can light up the Fantasy Football stats. If the Ravens get to Ben they have to wrap up his right arm and drop him to the turf. A "Bart Scott-like" Slam would not be bad either.

The Offense has to change how it operates. Get the Line to simply blow off the ball and engage the Defense on their terms. No finesse; no thinking; no tip-toe through the tulips. Smash-mouth, eye-gouging, groin-kicking AFC North Football. Beat the Steelers to the ground and then step on their head. Maul them on the running plays and keep the pocket clean on the passes. Dominate the Line and the rest will fall into place. Act like an Offense that is out for blood.

LET'S GO RAVENS !!! USE THOSE TOWELS TO CLEAN UP THE FIELD WITH WHAT IS LEFT OF THE STEELERS !!! GO INTO THE BYE LOOKING LIKE YOU BELONG IN THE DANCE !!!

PLAY LIKE A RAVEN !!!

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PURPLE FRIDAY

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 14:17:03 +0100

PURPLE FRIDAY : This is Steelers Week - and yet it feels lackluster. Is there a Super Bowl Hang-Over for Fans too? Or is it because this team is 3-3, has stumbled/fumbled/bumbled their way through the first six games; showing no spark, no imagination and no passion in four quarters of each game. There are problems with the O-Line, vanilla Play-calling and big injuries.

1. There are 10 games left, so it is hard to identify something as "crucial". The Ravens are one game back of the Bengals and have four Division games left after Sunday. They have 4 Home/3 Away after Pittsburgh, with three straight home games. Still, this is a huge game IMHO. If they go 3-0 in the next three, they move to 6-3 and grab four Division Wins. They smack down the Steelers as a threat; 1-5 would be a tough hole for them. This is really not "just another game" if they intend to be a force in the 2013 season. Grab this game and shake it with a new passion to carry forward into the Bye. John Harbaugh has the football passion. If he intends this to be his team, he needs to kick start it when it matters.

2. Pittsburgh has more to lose simply because of their position in the Division. It is Home for them and they are coming off a Win. If they can gather momentum, they can straighten out the season. Playing in Pittsburgh is not an easy trip, and the teams have played tight games most of the time. Baltimore has to find that same sense of urgency and desire to win. It will help get the team in the right frame of mind to go there and win against their arch-enemy.

3. The Defense has to look to keep away from the Big play. Denver and Green Bay had big plays as they sliced through the secondary. Buffalo and Miami also had the long pass attack. Ben is able to extend plays by bouncing out of the pocket and refusing to go down. Rodgers had success in the second half when he was able to avoid the pressure in the pocket. The killer will be the busted play where Ben gets away from a tackle and finds a receiver in the open.

4. Dick LeBeau is a great defensive mind. He will unleash an assault against the middle of the O-Line to disrupt the pocket and the run. The team has to do roll-outs and screens to try to slow that down. The pressures will come and it is up to the offense to play against that attack.

5. Historically, this has been a knock-down/drag-out slobber-knocker contest. Last year the Ravens won in Pittsburgh without an Offensive TD; and that could just as easily occur here since both Offenses have failed to show anything this year. Unfortunately, I think a low-scoring punching-fest will favor the Steelers. If this is close, they can find a way to pull the fat out of the fire because it means more to them at this stage of the season.

This is a high water mark for this team. Does it mean that they fold up and collapse for the rest of the season if they lose? I doubt it. But right now there are enough questions about cracks in the armor that a loss right before the Bye could be a bad wound for the year; not enough to be fatal but enough to cripple the will to survive.

Bring on the Fire in the Heart. Let the O-Line blow up the guy in front of them with old school blocking. Put Flacco in the No-Huddle/Sugar-Huddle mode early and strike hot with a mix of slants, crossing patterns, and screens. Bull the Steelers off the line by smash-mouth, punch-in-the-face domination; by adding a mean-streak attitude to the struggle. Mix the run and pass when they are least expected. Bring some "Swag" into Pittsburgh and let them know that their place is at the bottom of the division this year. Get Mean !! Have the defense unleashed on the weak Steeler O-Line to smack Ben around. Blow up the pocket. Act like a True Ravens Defense. Call an Offensive game that allows the talent to shine. Go into the Bye with the mind-set that this team can make the run to the post-season.

If the team that has shown up so far appears on Sunday, they probably limp out with a loss. If they take command of their fate by creating an identity on Offense they can win - even if it is 23-20. CALL IN THE FIRE OF THE RAVENS !!! PLAY LIKE A RAVEN !!!

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THE NEW WEEK

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 14:22:33 +0100

THE NEW WEEK: So the Ravens get ready to face the Steelers on Sunday in Pittsburgh, and neither team is getting any Love. Of course, based on how they have started the 2013 Season it is hard to see two powerhouses in the AFC North - or even any team in the North that "wows" you.

I would say that listening to Sports Radio this week is tough. I do get the assurance that I am not the dumbest sports fan on the block, so there is that benefit. There are so many of the callers who (1) Play Madden and think that is the sport, (2) Play Fantasy Football and think that has everything to do with the game (3) Take an argument made by some person just as dumb (who may even be on ESPN) and find it to be gospel, or (4) don't think, but figure they know what they are talking about. And of course there are those who demand that the Coach come out and rip players, answer reporters' questions or otherwise avoid "Coach-Speak". When I sit and listen to the radio, I am hoping that there may be at least a minute of real information that I can take away. Weeks like this, I should find another station.

By some accounts, Harbaugh is an ego-maniac, hires only his friends, controls the Offensive play-calling, does not involve himself in the play-calling enough because he IS a Special Teams Coach and does not know football , and has to have the Owner step in before the Team can be fixed. McKinnie is not the problem, Taylor would be able to come in every other play to juice it up, and Flacco should just get the reins so he can throw 50 times a game. Fire Harbaugh, fire Caldwell. Stick to the run; throw the ball more; kick a FG; go for it on fourth and goal.

Fans - ease up on the gas pedal. Take a Chill Pill. Would you rather be in Tampa? Jacksonville? A Giants' Fan? Does five straight years to the Playoffs and a Super Bowl Win not give the team some slack? It is six games into the season and they are one game behind the leader in the Division. They have three straight AFC North games to define if they can take the division for the third straight year. Are they worse than Pittsburgh's O-Line and Defense? Is Dalton so much better than Flacco? Is Cleveland a menace with Weeden? Are there problems? Of course. But it is not the end of the season. It is not even the half-way point yet. Let's see how they face Pittsburgh this week, and we can figure out the terrain at the Bye.

Of course, I will not listen to Sports Talk during the Bye if they lose to the Steelers. The Stupid Hot Line will be running 24/7 during the off-week for sure.

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GREEN BAY 19 - BALTIMORE 17 (3-3)

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 13:02:18 +0100

GREEN BAY 19 - BALTIMORE 17 (3-3) : The score does not reflect how the game was played. Aaron Rodgers was able to move his team and escape the rush, chewing up the clock when it was needed and getting away from the pressure when it was applied. The Ravens were able to stay close but failed to play like a good team. For a Home Game, this was not a strong performance.

1. The Offense continues to struggle. The running game is a Total Failure; starting with the O-Line. There are no holes and Rice is not the same runner. If a line cannot push forward for one yard, then there is something fundamentally wrong. Gino is a liability, both as a blocker and as a Line-caller. How many times were there obvious holes for Defenders to clobber Flacco or grab the runner in the backfield because somebody missed an assignment? Add to that the bad throws from Flacco on open receivers and there is no positive point to draw from the Offensive performance. A good team does not show up for parts of a Quarter to try to win. The game is sixty minutes.

2. The Defense put up a great performance in the first half and made up for the sluggish offense on the field. In the second half, they were unable to stop the Packers. There is still miscommunication in the secondary, as was obvious from the only TD. Webb is not as bad as it looked so somebody probably missed coverage over the top. It looks likes somebody bit on something up front and left Webb out to dry. Although they held the Packers to FG's otherwise, one big play shifted the momentum and made the game harder to win. If this team gets to the playoffs, this type of coverage will be toasted by good a QB.

3. The whole series within the Five-Yard Line was terrible, but the call to go for it at 4th and one was not the problem. At that time, the Ravens are down 3-0 and can shift the game if they score a TD. If not, the Packers are pinned against their End Zone. They had pushed forward with the run on the first three downs, but I do not agree that a run was needed on the fourth down. A roll-out, a quick pass, or something a little more surprising would have been a better call. Notwithstanding that position, it is sad that the Line cannot push for a yard. And although they lost by two points, this did not cost them. The Packers could have scored at the end regardless since they moved the ball and were within FG range.

4. On your 34 with 12 seconds left in the half, drop back to throw deep, get stripped so the Defense can pick up the ball and advance enough to let the Packers get a FG and go up 6-0. With the Line playing as poorly as it did, can you expect enough protection to get a Hail Mary? Still, it was obviously meant to try to get a score before the half. With how the offense played up to that point, it was a questionable call to try to pull it out of their hat with a daring play. Down by 6 points in the NFL is not a killer though.

5. Doss had some good catches, but he had some questionable moments in the return game. Fielding the ball inside the 10 on a punt is not a good move, even though he picked up a big return. Calling a Fair Catch when you have Ample Space and letting the ball hit the ground and roll when you can field it and get good field position are two bad moves.

6. Dallas Clark's TD catch was a great one-handed display. Jacoby also looked good on his TD.

7. The Offense was so bad that it gets two mentions. The call to throw the ball to Leach on what looked like a wheel-route is a big question mark. I love the guy but he is not a receiver. And how many times can the O-Line make enough penalties to have the Offense going backwards?

This team has the next three games to try to take control of the division. They are one game behind the Bengals, and fact the Steelers, Browns and then Cincinnati, with a Bye, after the first game. The goal for the year is to get to the dance and one way to do it is to take the Division. The chance to make it happen is now in front of them. They need the Bye to get their heads on straight, but they need to go to Pittsburgh and grab a win first.

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GAME DAY

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 12:59:54 +0100

GAME DAY: A damp, misty, and probably rainy day in Baltimore for the Ravens to host the Green Bay Packers. The Ravens have a good home record and have not lost to an NFC Team under Harbaugh here. The Packers are one of the teams that the Harbaugh-led Ravens have not beaten (albeit one game in GB).

Rain can benefit a passing game, since receivers know their routes and defenders have to adjust too quickly. Rodgers is one of the best QB's, has a quick release, and has an arsenal of good receivers. If the Defense concentrates on the aerial game though, the Packers can grind out some yards on the ground with a strong running attack.

It would make sense to play Grind-It-Out, Smash-Mouth AFC North football; to wear down the Packers and keep Rodgers off the field. Time of Possession would be crucial in a game like this one. The Packers have a good run defense according to the numbers, but is that because the passing defense is so bad that teams do not try to run?

If there are enough healthy receivers, do we see the Ravens unleash the hounds and strike the secondary and hit passes just over the LB's. Do we get to see the deep strikes with Torrey and Jacoby and the crossing patterns for Doss and Dickson? Do we see KJ play the hybrid role and show his hands? Does Baltimore get the chance to show an aerial circus on a rainy day?And if the passing game starts to open up, do we see Pierce and Rice start slashing them for large gains?

I am excited about a home game against a tough team. I think this is a test of how far the Defense has come from the game in Denver. Can they hold a very good QB with a strong passing game?

WHAT TIME IS IT ? GAME TIME !!!

WHAT TIME IS IT? GAME TIME !!!

ANY DOGS IN THE HOUSE? WOOF WOOF WOOF !!!

GO RAVENS !!!

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MIDWEEK MEANDERINGS

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 22:44:46 +0100

MIDWEEK MEANDERINGS: I have not had a chance to view the recordings of the last two games, but I have seen some clips of various plays. As of now, here are some thoughts from being at the games and how the season has developed through five games:

1. The trade for Monroe is a help, but whatever is the problem for the O-Line needs to be fixed. Flacco was slow to get up several times in the last two games and some of the shots made me cringe. Although I understand that throwing Shipley into the LG slot was an emergency move because of KO's injury, that meant that they had Gino on one side and Buffalo Butt on the other. That is a formula for getting your QB killed. And McKinnie is such a waste. For all of those that ripped Harbaugh for how he addressed it last year, what are you saying now? This guy is a disgrace as a professional player and he cannot be dropped too far on the depth chart as far as I am concerned. As for the rest of the line, there needs to be some changes to keep Joe for the balance of the season. These guys are better than what they have shown. Fix it now.

2. I was glad to see that the run game was the focus on Sunday. Although the numbers were not spectacular, at least there was the "grinding" formula that controlled the game and gave the Play-Action some teeth. It needs to be done this week to keep Rodgers off the field.

3. Watching this team is stressful. They played horribly in Buffalo and yet were in position to tie or win at the end. In Miami, it felt like they dominated the second half and yet they almost let it slip away. The Ravens play right on the edge at all times. It reminds me of constantly warning my children as they grew up to stop doing something because they could get hurt. The difference here is that you cannot grab the Ravens and pull them away from the obvious. Argh !!

3. Sam Koch is not looking like the quality Punter we have come to expect. He may be reaching the end of his shelf-life. And I loved Corey Graham last year when he became Manning's favorite receiver in the playoffs. But watching him this year, it looks like he is not as effective. With the moving pieces in the secondary, it is a major problem. With Rodgers coming into town, he will be a liability.

4. So the NFL is talking about adding two more teams to the playoffs in 2015? It will water down the regular season and bring the NFL down to other sports. Making the playoffs will not mean as much if they let almost 50% of the league get there.

5. It was great to be a part of the Take-Over of Sun Life Stadium in Miami. I have read several reports of the reaction in Miami and it was great to make noise for the Defense in Enemy Territory. Ravens' Fans travel well.

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BALTIMORE RAVENS 26 - MIAMI DOLPHINS 23 (3-2)

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 22:43:33 +0100

BALTIMORE RAVENS 26 - MIAMI DOLPHINS 23 (3-2): Getting to bed at 2:30 AM after the trip to Florida makes for a LOOONNNNGGG Monday. But it was a fulfilling return with a win under the belt. The Ravens made it happen - even if it was not at a prime performance.

1. Dickson and Doss suddenly appeared on the scene. Dickson's first catch was an excellent play and he made things happen (like he was supposed to before). Doss ran some good routes and made the plays at the right times. I am not sure if Flacco's passes to him that missed were due to the pressure he faced or to the lack of rhythm with him. I hope that this is the break-out game for both of them, since Flacco needs the receivers.

2. The Defense is still making progress, although there are still some holes. The big plays were ones that can be fixed, so I am confident that they can make it happen. Suggs is a beast.

3. Flacco is taking some serious hits. The O-Line has to fix this or we will be dealing with Taylor. There was a major problem with the injury to KO and Shipley having to fill in next to "I'll collect a Check and do Nothing" McKinnie. Get Monroe up to speed so we can sit this waste of a roster space. There were some good plays in the running game, but this still needs to be fixed for this team to be ready for the playoffs.

4. Tucker came through, as normal. He hit the kick-offs and FG's with a strong leg. Koch is starting to lose some of his usefulness though. Something is not right.

5. The Ravens Organization clearly gives Ravens' fans some recognition. Harbaugh's comments and the fact that some players came out and slapped hands with part of the crowd was a classy move. And the fans represent well on the road. As an aside, that was the hottest game I have attended so I cannot imagine how the players can put out an effort on the field. I did see Bynes at BWI with his family when we got back so they went through a long day with a hard-fought contest.

It was a very tough game and they slipped out of town with a necessary win. They have to fix the roster, especially as it relates to the O-Line. And they will have a tough opponent on Sunday in the Green Bay Packers. Rest up, fix some things based on the last two weeks and get ready to head to the break with some momentum.

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GAME DAY IN MIAMI

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 22:41:55 +0100

GAME DAY IN MIAMI: Reporting from a hot place for football. The Baltimore Ravens face the Miami Dolphins for a fight to get the team back on track.

The Offense needs to get on track and the team needs to keep from slipping behind the Mighty Browns. Stokley was cut and Bajema was re-signed but the run game has got to get on track. They need to return to the road-grading blocking to get the game set. Finesse is not a Baltimore staple so let's just smack them in the mouth.

While I sweat through the game let's cheer on the first road win of the season. To win, you have to split the road ones. They are 0-2 right now. Time to get to .500.

GO RAVENS !!!!

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