(HD) Ray Lewis nails Darren Sproles to end the game. (via Rusty98UMtake2)
Notice Ray starts running before the ball is even snapped. I think he may have known the snap count.
I've watched a lot of Ray Lewis in my life, and I seriously doubt he would've risked giving the Chargers an easy first down there by "taking a risk".
As I've said. Not a poor play call, not Norv Turner's fault. Even if that was a pass play, Rivers is hit before he knows what happened. This play is on the offensive line and their inexperience.
over 2 years ago
John Gennaro
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Dielman missed him completely. That may not have been his assignment, but Lewis ran right past him.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
I was watching the WWL during lunch today
and during an interview, Ray Lewis stated that he had studied quite a bit of game film on Rivers – especially in that power running formation. Rivers had a tendency to snap the ball just a second after he took his initial squat. Apparently once he saw Rivers squat down, he knew to take off and was able to time the snap perfectly. He was so far off the line, it was damn near impossible to account for getting in that quickly. No one’s really to blame on this one, just excellent scouting by a future hall of famer.
Unfortunetely there was nothing Sproles could have done.
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This is ugly
make it go away
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
Watching this confirms something I thought at the time.
There were at least two guys that could have picked up Lewis—Hester and Dielman. If either one of them do, that play works. The rest of the line got a great push.
Greg Maddux for manager.
by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 21, 2009 1:25 PM PDT reply actions
Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
Take it away! Take it away!
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 21, 2009 1:26 PM PDT reply actions
Because it shows that, more than the fault of the playcalling or the offensive line, the play happened because Ray Lewis is really, really good.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Sep 21, 2009 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Even if Ray didn't blow that up
both Dawan Landry and Tavares Gooden were waiting to take him down short of the first down. Ray did say in that interview that he studied Rivers and knew the play and snap count as soon as they got set. Then, he went on to say, he would either make the play or they would get the first down. I guess he guessed right, huh? That’s why he is still under rated as the best game film studier in the league and is still better prepared than any other player in the league, which he has to be at 34 years old. Other players join the Ravens and say they’ve never studied game film like they do with Ray.
Time to believe he is the best LB ever in the NFL. (Love the clip!)
aka 'Rexx'
Agreed on him being one of the most avid film-studiers in football. It’s one of the reasons I can never hate the man.
With that being said, he’s not the best LB ever in the NFL. Top 10, maybe top 5. Not number 1.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Sep 21, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions
That probably would have been wise.
At the very least, even if he doesn’t jump offside, he lets the blockers know he’s run-blitzing, so they can pick him up.
I still think he should have been picked up by Dielman or Mruzckowski.
Greg Maddux for manager.
by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 21, 2009 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions
ugh!!
Hey guys, I’m a new-bee. you were my only source to follow the game, I’m living up in the bay area so I had no access to radio or TV.
that being said, one of the things I keep hearing repeatedly is how awful, and bias, the officiating seemed throughout the game. How much truth did you guys see in that, those of you that were at, or watched, the game?
Yeah.
The Ravens totally got away with gobs of interference, but it was mostly ineffective anyway. And we got a couple phantom calls against us, but they also let Merriman offsides to force an interception.
by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 21, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions
The officiating was poor
But we’ve seen worse from Hochuli in Denver. There were alot of bad calls, and missed calls on both sides, but I don’t think that the officiating changed the game one way or the other. In that sense I’m not placing blame on the officials, although I do have a problem with 3-4 of the called flags, and another 3-4 non-calls.
The ones that stand out:
Running into the kicker English was pushed into the kicker and basically put up his hands to try to stop himself using the punter’s body. The punter used this to his advantage and dropped to the ground like a rock. I mean is this the NFL or womens figure skating?
No call for Pass Interference on Ravens D, against Chambers. The Ravens defender hit Chambers early, and the ball was deflected, and ultimately picked off.
Pass Intereference called on Burnett against Todd Heap. Burnett got slightly tied up with Heap while the ball was in the air, but immediately released him, allowing Heap to catch the ball uncontested. Heap dropped the ball resulting in the flag (Nice picture of this play in one of the SignonSanDiego articles).
by SJO on Sep 21, 2009 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
From what I remember...
It seemed that the Ravens were able to jump the snap count fairly easily on most plays. I’m pretty certain that Philip will change it up next week after reviewing tape.
at the end of the game
sdsuaztec4 was so pissed. His first words were “that was horrible. Norv Turner needs to be fired right now” or something of the sort. I was pretty upset too. Why take the ball out of the hands of the guy who has been producing all game? I was what it was and we lost. I appreciate your take on this post, John. It makes me feel better to acknowledge someone else’s talent rather than our own shortcomings. btw, you comin to nyc for the steelers game or what?
Bring back Balboa Stadium.
"at the end of the game sdsuaztec4 was so pissed"
damn i wish i was there
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
I’ve been trying to decide when I’m coming up. The Steelers game sounds like a good choice, although that’d be a long train-ride home if the Bolts lost. Right now I’ll say possibly. I’ll bring my lady, you can bring your lady and they can hang out with ’tec.
The worse thing about this loss is that when the Bolts are 2-2 after the Steelers game (probably), everyone is going to talk about “slow starts” and Norv again. That’s 3 tough playoff teams in the first 4 weeks! Oh well, I think Norv likes being the scapegoat. It takes pressure off of his players.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Sep 22, 2009 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Sure they'll talk about the slow start for a couple of weeks
But hopefully that Week 6-8 slate of all 3 divisional opponents would put that to rest real quick.
This should probably be the Charger fan mantra for the first half:
“I’m okay with 2-2 as long as we’re 5-2 going into the She-li Showdown Part 2”
Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.
Exactly
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Sep 23, 2009 8:08 AM PDT up reply actions
I think the steelers game is the late game
but mj armstrongs was poppin. Ran into a girl I knew from junior high, Gompers Secondary. Anyway, you should go, my girl is really excited about that game. Hopefully you dont work super early on monday. She’ll be the 6’2" girl wearing the Sproles jersey.
Incidentally, the bolts backers are organizing party buses to take to the giants game and tailgate. Kinda steep but it’s a great group of people. sdsuaztec4, parlay yourself into some tickets already.
I encourage everyone to take in a game at mj armstrongs at some point.
Bring back Balboa Stadium.
I'm not coming to MJ's this weekend either but I'll be there with you for the Steelers Game
John should cruise, maybe I’ll try to find a lady of my own to bring so I won’t be such a loser.
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 22, 2009 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Damn late games
Hmmm…..this could get tricky. I work for myself so I could take off Monday if I needed to, but my wife starts work super early. Let me think it over and see what we want to do.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Sep 23, 2009 8:14 AM PDT up reply actions
That one's on Mooch
How do you not see 52 barreling right at your QB/RB? Gotta believe Hardwick picks up that run blitz. Doubling up the RT doesn’t do much compared to moving up to take on the ILB even if he’s not blitzing. All Mooch has to do is chip Lewis to his left and it’s a whole different ball game. I agree with the comment that there was a good push on the right side of the line – at least enough to give Darren a fighting chance. Dielman had to be thinking Mooch was going to take him. Would love to hear from Mooch and Dielman what happened on that play. Don’t they come on the local radio stations?
well
since Dielman is pulling, Mooch has to hit the man in front of Dielman. McNeil doesn’t have the angle on him. If Mooch doesn’t, then Dielman’s man follows him down the line to the ball carrier. It was a no win for Mooch, if he takes the DT, Lewis makes it in, if he takes Lewis, the DT follows dielman down the line and does the exact same thing.
Ray Lewis made an educated guess and guessed right. There is no way to stop that.
by Stephen (shaynes41) on Sep 22, 2009 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions
This is exactly why Seau used to blitz 90% of the time. You can’t stop it if the guess is right.
"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock
by John Gennaro on Sep 22, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
So, some analysis. First, the run was clearly not up the gut… it was a play outside the right tackle with Chargers RG pulling and blocking with Chargers FB.
The Ravens had it called and beat. Ray Lewis bursting right through the vacated spot by Dielman is the big moment of the play, but the play was still in trouble.
The Ravens had SS Dawan Landry in contain on the outside, and he wasn’t going to be blocked by the two lead blockers. LB Tavares Gooden gets around the blockers too, meaning there were two Raven defenders right where Sproles would have wanted to run. He’s a fast little dude, so he might have made something out of it, but it wasn’t going to be easy pickings.
Bad play call? Maybe. The Chargers appear lined up in a 3 TE Goal Line formation… which appears to play to the Ravens strengths. Taking Vincent Jackson off the field for a key play is something I’m not going to complain about as a Ravens fan.
That being said, the Ravens were still playing the pass. I count pass rushing DE Trevor Pryce, LBs. Jarret Johnson, Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, Tavares Gooden, CBs Frank Walker and Dominique Foxworth, SS Dawan Landry. I’m pretty sure you were lining up with a goal line formation against our base defense. Running should give you an advantage.
by math_geek on Sep 22, 2009 1:17 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
Last second snaps helping rushers?
First time poster. Thanks for all the inciteful commentary so far.
Q: Doesn’t it help the opposition time their blitzes when you routinely snap the ball on the last second… or later?
Seems like a rusher could just start near the zero count and be perfectly timed. If they are early, it’s an automatic DoG.
Of course they have to be ready for the occasional early snap with more than one second left on the play clock too. (OK, I’m exaggerating here, but it feels that way. God knows that I am very,very often nervously watching the play clock.)
I know that the DoGs have been discussed, and Rivers has promised to fix them.
Haven’t seen this possible benefit to the rush discussed yet though.
Is it not that simple?
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