Ask Baltimore Beatdown: Ravens Blogger
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 16, 2009 7:19 AM PDT
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PrintHey Bolts From The Blue, it's Baltimore Beatdown, the SB Nation blog on the Baltimore Ravens. We visit sunny San Diego this weekend to take on your Chargers and with both teams looking to be among the top of the AFC, this figures to be a real tough one for us as well as you guys.
Post your questions here about the game and I'll stop back the rest of the week to repsond from a Ravens' perspective. Feel free to come on over to visit Baltimore Beatdown, join and post your thoughts and comments as well. However, keep it clean, related to football and if you dare visit us at The Beatdown, you better bring it with backup as we are a small but loyal and knowledgable group of Ravens fans.
See you all week and thanks for the questions and comments!
This FanPost was written by a member of the Bolts From The Blue community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bolts From The Blue editors or SB Nation.
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defense
What do you guys think about your defense? I’ve heard all about this “3 headed monster” but after watching the first game, I saw nothing. They looked kinda weak against the chiefs 3rd string quarter back. What are your thoughts?
Our D should be fine
We dominated the game against the Chiefs on both sides of the ball, but had a few costly mistakes that the Chiefs capitalized on. The blocked punt for a TD, and the INT returned near the goal line that resulted in a score, can’t be blamed on our D. If we clean up those mistakes, the game is a blowout. We know we can’t get away with the same things against a team of your caliber.
We had over 500 yards of offense, and 198 on the ground. I would say our running game did pretty damn good, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Rice had over 100 yards rushing and McGahee and McClain scored three touchdown combined. We threw the ball more then usual the first half, but got back to our strength, running the ball, in the second half, in which we scored four TD’s.
(The big three had a combined 237 total yards, nine catches, and three TD’s. Not sure how that is “nothing.”)
On Defense we held them to 188 total yards, and only 29 on the ground. Save for a 50 yard bomb to Bradley, they could not move the ball on us with any consistency.
+1
Not too sure what you were looking at with those comments. And to go with that 50 yard bomb to Bradley, there was a phantom roughing the passer penalty that extended that drive anyway.
However, th concernI do have is that Bradley outmuscled our DB and the bigger WR’s like V. Jax, might cause some damage unless they get some safety help.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 16, 2009 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions
I wouldn't call it "phantom".
Your D-lineman gave Croyle a forearm to the head. That’s a no-no even when he does have the ball.
Greg Maddux for manager.
by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 16, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Our guy was in the air
and Croyle stopped moving to his left and our guy couldn’t stop himself mid-air!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 16, 2009 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions
the QB hit the lineman's arm with his head
the penalty should have been on them!
by Stephen (shaynes41) on Sep 16, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
It worries every cornerback in the league.
Greg Maddux for manager.
by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 16, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Can we click the "rec" button instead of writing "+1" as the subject?
kthanksbye ;)
A kid who has a unicorn ranch in his room cannot call other people weird. Yes, we know about "Rancho Unicorno."
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Sep 16, 2009 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
+1
Great idea…….. rotflmao
If alcohol didn't exist the Irish would conquer the world.
by Zachary Beard on Sep 17, 2009 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions
you didn't see the McClain head as much...
because this year he’s serving fullback so he will get less touches.
Ray Rice is so agile. He's a whole new breed for agile you need a new word to describe his agility... UBER-AGILITY!
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Sep 16, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
It's a tough decision
when you have two big backs that can get goal line carries (McClain and McGahee). Such problems!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 17, 2009 6:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Please tell me
you don’t have a TE who will go for 100 yards and a TD against us…
by Stephen (shaynes41) on Sep 16, 2009 8:58 AM PDT reply actions
Everyone does.
Greg Maddux for manager.
by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 16, 2009 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions
Heap
Looks rejuvenated this year, so yea, he does have the potential to get close to 100yds and a TD.
I dn't know about 100 yards from Todd Heap
but even half of that on five or six catches plus a Td will be fine by me! It’s A. Gates that I’m concerned with. Wanna trade?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 16, 2009 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions
IF (a big “if”) he ever gets on the field!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 17, 2009 6:39 AM PDT up reply actions
We do.......
If alcohol didn't exist the Irish would conquer the world.
by Zachary Beard on Sep 17, 2009 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions
DON'T FORGET TO KEEP THIS POST UP TOP
of the FanPosts to stay fresh for more questions and comments.
Thanks!
aka 'Rexx'
Flacco
Haven’t had a lot of time to really take a good hard look at Flacco… Give us a break down of his strengths/weaknesses.
Accurate Pocket Quarterback with an incredible throwing arm. Loves zippy passes on curls and out routes because he can outrace cornerbacks with his arm. Solid deep ball skills. Deceptively mobile.
Weaknesses – overthrows shorter receivers, doesn’t like the wind, still not as fast through his progressions as a veteran quarterback.
Damn the wind…
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Sep 17, 2009 4:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Flacco is wise beyond his years
has a great calm temperament for a QB, much less a second year kid out of U. of Delaware! Not afraid to stand tall in the pocket waiting for a receiver to break into the clear. Not afraid to take off on the run for those frustrating just barely sideline dashes for a first down to extend drives. Doesn’t try to place ball in on the run that use to lead to picks. Has a rocket arm but a soft touch on the long throws. Still needs to find second and third reads and know where pressure is coming from and protect ball.
Good enough? Beginning to sound familiar about your QB?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 17, 2009 6:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Ummm...
It’s San Diego. What is this “wind” thing of which you speak?
by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 17, 2009 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions
No QB "likes" the wind
But Joe is one of the handful of QB’s in the league with the arm strength to cut the ball through the wind.
How dominant is your O-line? Our D-line looked invisible against Oakland...
Also…How has my boy Haloti Ngata looked thus far? Dominant as normal? He may pose serious issues to our banged up (hard to believe that it is week 2 and that is already the case) offensive line…
Formerly Blount#9...
O-Line looks positively ridiculous. Excellent Run-blocking unit. Fear Michael Oher in the blocking game. Pass protection was solid Sunday. LT Jared Gaither is usually excellent, but struggles sometimes against 3-4 linebackers. Could be a big game for Merriman.
Does he struggle against 3-4 linebackers because they can race around him with their speed? Because Merriman may not yet be at a point where he can beat anyone around the corner with his knee the way it is.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Sep 17, 2009 4:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, Jared Gaither is a beast
but is susceptible to the speed rusher. His size (6’9", 340) makes him too strong to be bull rushed but he needs to move his feet better. Rookie RT Michael Oher might be an All Pro by next year he is so athletic for a big man. Our o-line starters are as good as any in the league, but we are thin at depth there.
Defensively, Haloti Ngata is an incredible athlete and can actually dunk a b-ball at 6’4" and 340 pounds. He had 2 interceptions last year and took another one to the house this pre-season vs. the Jets! No one, repeat, no one will run on this team, as eventhe great LJ only had 20 yards on 11 carries last week. LT would be smart to stay “hurt” this weekend, just like KC’s Matt Cassel did last week!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 17, 2009 6:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Stopping Ngata
Could be the key to the game for the Chargers of offense. Ngata is a monster, and should be recognized as the elite DT in the league within a year or two. With your banged up O-Line, he, along with Gregg and Bannon, will be given every opportunity to make plays deep in your backfield and exploit your weakness. If you can handle him enough to give Rivers time to get the ball down field to Jackson and Gates, you’ll be in good shape.
Ngata chance in hell.......
If alcohol didn't exist the Irish would conquer the world.
by Zachary Beard on Sep 17, 2009 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions
It'll have to be
a function of scheme. Dielman seems to have declined, McNeill can’t stay at 100%, Mruczkowski is a career backup, Clary is too slow for the job, and Dombrowski took his first snap at RG last week. If SD’s OL can keep them from having to go to the shotgun on every play, the Ravens can probably kiss this game goodbye, regardless of what happens in the run game. But that’s a big if.
by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 18, 2009 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I really didn't get your train of thought
Are you saying that if the Chargers don’t have to use the shotgun on every play, they will win? IF? IF? Something tells me the shotgun will not determine the game, it will be the run game and the defense. Whoever wins the turnover battle wins the game. Ravens should win the trenches and that usually determines the rest of the game.
However, to be fair, the key word is “usually.”
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 18, 2009 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions
That's not far off of what I'm saying.
I don’t know that the Chargers will have to use the shotgun on every play. I’m predicting that San Diego can’t win on the ground unless they demonstrate that they might not have to. Fortunately for the Chargers, they are in fact pretty well designed to lose on the line and win the game anyway.
The great Jamal Williams is done, sadly. Long live Ogemdi Nwagbuo. I think there must be some step down, just because Williams is one of the greatest to ever play the position, and Nwagbuo is 50 lbs lighter. But Nwagbuo is young, athletic and very energetic. This is bad news, but this game will be won in the air, one way or another.
by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 19, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
In order to "win in the air"
you have to win in the trenches. The o-line and d-line determine who has time to throw and who does not. That said, unless you win in the trenches you won’t win in the air, and I have a huge problem seeing how the Chargers can win the trench warfare today.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 20, 2009 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions
hey
bruce what are the keys to beated sd i say presser and stoping sporles
okay i have cereal palsy arhrtis and chronic fatiue as well i have a grea life loveing folks some days are better that other days i got a make a wish in 2001 saw my favorive team the broncos was the trip of the lifetime i wish everyone couild gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that ok but i bleed organ and bule
Rarely
do you post coherent, relative and debatable topics anywhere!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 19, 2009 7:53 AM PDT up reply actions
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