Baltimore Homers & Cincy Fans That Saw The Game (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

Wondering how Ravens fans and Bengals fans that watched the game yesterday are feeling about Ray Rice.

He got a ton of carries (22) but was pretty ineffective (64 yards) plus a costly fumble that turned into a TD.

Le'Ron McClain says he's a fullback first, but he was leaned on heavily down the stretch to get the ball control yards.

Rice is a guy I was expecting a lot from. If you watched the game yesterday, what's your opinion of Rice?

J

 

[xenith]

Did not see the game (w/out the ticket, no access), so nothing to add other than I am very curious as well. I have him in 2 leagues, and while I did not expect him to set the world on fire, was hoping for better to earn a nice split w/ McGahee moving forward.

 

[The_Man]

I wasn't really impressed. He seemed kind of small and slow with limited elusiveness. He did a good job of making a cut and getting into the hole, but never broke a tackle. Granted, there weren't many opportunities to break off a longer run, but once or twice he got to the second level and I was surprised at how easily he was tackled in those instances.

He also dropped a quick checkdown across the middle that Flacco, under blitz pressure, put in his hands. Flacco had to make the throw before Rice came out of his break, so the ball was right there when he turned around. But it was a great throw, hit him in stride, and would have gone for at least 25 yards, maybe even gone for a 50-yard TD if Rice had held it.

And then there was the inexcusable fumble that turned a laugher into a nail-biter. To compare him to another Raven RB, I thought he wasn't nearly as good as Chester Taylor when Taylor arrived on the scene. Of course Taylor had the luxury of backing up a healthy Jamal, so maybe Rice will improve once he's backing up McGahee instead of getting 20+ carries in his first NFL game.

 

[King of the Jungle]

I am a huge Ray Rice fan and thought after yesterdays game that there would be a RB controversy, instead Ray did not deliver. I still think he is a great running back and maybe was overwhelmed yesterday. He usually has a burst through the line and runs with good power for a guy his size, to hear differently is concerning.

I stand on my original opinion until I see more of a sample size. This week may be a good week to acquire him in dynasty though.

 

[Peyton Marino]

I didn't think he looked good or bad yesterday, he was pretty average overall. On some carries, he was able to find the hole well, on others he was hesitant, and then still on others there was no hole. I know this is hard to believe but the Cincy D, while still not good, is not as bad as it was last season.

Overall, I think if Rice is going to keep getting 15-25 touches all season, eventually he will be a guy you want in your lineup.

 

[BertJones]

Rice looked solid.

As stated here, had the chance to make a big play on the dropped pass. The fumble was on a toss play that the Bengals had sniffed out.

I think the Ravens used McClain down the stretch to bang out the tough yards in the trenches. Half his yards came in the 4th quarter on a game ending drive.

None of the runners ever had a chance to make a move in the second level of the defense and break one.

More thoughts on the game here: http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...t&p=9171777

 

[gianmarco]

I didn't think he looked good or bad yesterday, he was pretty average overall. On some carries, he was able to find the hole well, on others he was hesitant, and then still on others there was no hole. I know this is hard to believe but the Cincy D, while still not good, is not as bad as it was last season. Overall, I think if Rice is going to keep getting 15-25 touches all season, eventually he will be a guy you want in your lineup.

So, essentially, you think McGahee will become a backup to Rice?

 

[Peyton Marino]

I didn't think he looked good or bad yesterday, he was pretty average overall. On some carries, he was able to find the hole well, on others he was hesitant, and then still on others there was no hole. I know this is hard to believe but the Cincy D, while still not good, is not as bad as it was last season. Overall, I think if Rice is going to keep getting 15-25 touches all season, eventually he will be a guy you want in your lineup.

So, essentially, you think McGahee will become a backup to Rice?

I said if he keeps getting as many touches as he did in week 1, eventually he will get it and be a viable starting fantasy RB. Obviously, you have to factor in McGahee when predicting Rice's touches in upcoming weeks. When you consider that McGahee probably could have gone yesterday and they were content to rest him and go with Rice, that shows the confidence the coaching staff has in Rice. And they ended up giving him 22 carries to boot. I say he averages about 15 touches a game behind McGahee and has the potential to take over the starting job at some point this year.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I thought he looked a little tentative. It could have been just because he was nervous playing in his first game, I don't know. But I saw enough of him in college & the preseason to still think he'll be a good player - yesterday notwithstanding. He did not have a good game, but I don't think it was because he can't do it. Again, maybe it was nerves or maybe he was tired after a rugged preseason in which he played a ton.

On that last drive, I think Cameron just wanted to pound Cincy into submission with McClain. You could tell the Bengals didn't want any part of 260 lb McClain following 280 lb Lo Neal, both with a full head of steam.

 

[Todem]

I didn't think he looked good or bad yesterday, he was pretty average overall. On some carries, he was able to find the hole well, on others he was hesitant, and then still on others there was no hole. I know this is hard to believe but the Cincy D, while still not good, is not as bad as it was last season.

Overall, I think if Rice is going to keep getting 15-25 touches all season, eventually he will be a guy you want in your lineup.

So, essentially, you think McGahee will become a backup to Rice?

I said if he keeps getting as many touches as he did in week 1, eventually he will get it and be a viable starting fantasy RB. Obviously, you have to factor in McGahee when predicting Rice's touches in upcoming weeks. When you consider that McGahee probably could have gone yesterday and they were content to rest him and go with Rice, that shows the confidence the coaching staff has in Rice. And they ended up giving him 22 carries to boot. I say he averages about 15 touches a game behind McGahee and has the potential to take over the starting job at some point this year.

I say he gets 6-9 touches max a game once McGahee (next week) returns as their workhorse. And Rice will not take the job away from Willis. People are over estimating Ray Rice and under Estimating a guy who finsihed as a top 10 back last season and has barley missed any time since coming back from a massive knee injury.McGahee is the man in Baltimore. Too many rookies get overhyped when their is clearly a major road block to the job in front of them:

Mendenhall

Ray Rice

Both were being touted as guys who would eat into major touches from their veteran back in front of them.

I say blah blah blah on those 2. Now Stewart on the other hand will be the primary back in Carolina come week 9 or 10 IMO. He has clearly demonstrated he is an NFL starting caliber back right now. Same for Chris Johnson, Smith, Forte and we will see McFadden put to rest any doybters tonight.

But back to the point of the thread. I watched some of Ray Rice's samples yesterday and feel confident McGahee will be back touching the ball over 25 times a game as early as week 2.

Long term though Ray is still a good prospect. But he will be waiting for at least 2 seasons IMO if they want to pay McGahee his roster bonus next year.

 

[switz]

I wasn't really impressed. He seemed kind of small and slow with limited elusiveness. He did a good job of making a cut and getting into the hole, but never broke a tackle. Granted, there weren't many opportunities to break off a longer run, but once or twice he got to the second level and I was surprised at how easily he was tackled in those instances.

Sounds about right.

 

[roadkill1292]

I wasn't really impressed. He seemed kind of small and slow with limited elusiveness. He did a good job of making a cut and getting into the hole, but never broke a tackle. Granted, there weren't many opportunities to break off a longer run, but once or twice he got to the second level and I was surprised at how easily he was tackled in those instances.He also dropped a quick checkdown across the middle that Flacco, under blitz pressure, put in his hands. Flacco had to make the throw before Rice came out of his break, so the ball was right there when he turned around. But it was a great throw, hit him in stride, and would have gone for at least 25 yards, maybe even gone for a 50-yard TD if Rice had held it.And then there was the inexcusable fumble that turned a laugher into a nail-biter. To compare him to another Raven RB, I thought he wasn't nearly as good as Chester Taylor when Taylor arrived on the scene. Of course Taylor had the luxury of backing up a healthy Jamal, so maybe Rice will improve once he's backing up McGahee instead of getting 20+ carries in his first NFL game.

He looked very raw and didn't have the burst I was expecting. And the fumble almost cost them the game, though it's fair to say that he had a linebacker in his face as soon as he touched it. I think he can be a contributor after he grasps the concepts a little better but he's got a ways to go.

I thought he looked a little tentative. It could have been just because he was nervous playing in his first game, I don't know. But I saw enough of him in college & the preseason to still think he'll be a good player - yesterday notwithstanding. He did not have a good game, but I don't think it was because he can't do it. Again, maybe it was nerves or maybe he was tired after a rugged preseason in which he played a ton.On that last drive, I think Cameron just wanted to pound Cincy into submission with McClain. You could tell the Bengals didn't want any part of 260 lb McClain following 280 lb Lo Neal, both with a full head of steam.

Another I was more surprised by McClain's effectiveness than by Rice's lack of it. When the Ravens went unbalanced line with another tackle on the strong side and sent McClain in behind Lo Neal, the whole side of the Cincinnati defense just sorta got caved in. That was a lot of beef thundering off tackle.

 

[Darko M]

I wasn't that impressed. I was hoping he'd at least score a TD so he'd have some trade value. At this point the only value he has is to a Willis owner as a hand cuff.