Ok, before you call me a disgruntled Ray Rice owner, I don't own Ray Rice. Watching last nights game between the Ravens and the last couple Ravens games it has become apparent to me that Ray Rice drives the bus on that team. Yet for some reason Harbaugh and Joe Flacco have not recognized it. Ray matched up on a LB is a total mismatch as witnessed last night on that 50 yard pass play where he started in motion. Yet that was the only time they ran that play. Then there were so many times Flacco chose to huck the ball deep which was very unsucceful for the most part instead of the easy HIGH PERCENTAGE dump offs to Ray. Ray is the strength of that team as he is so elusive and can rack up chuncks of yard on the ground and through the air. I have noticed this trend for the last couple weeks. Flacco totally sees Rice open underneath for a dump off but for some reason he just doesn't go Rice's way. Rice runs that offense and therefor needs the ball more often. Are you guys seeing this also, or am I just imagining things?
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Harbaugh mis-manages his Ravens Offense (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ScottyDog
- Start date
And that is Harbaugh's fault? Maybe a little, but it is Flacco who seems to be the bigger reason.
The_Man
Footballguy
The complaint in Baltimore is that Flacco isn't looking at anyone else.According to the Baltimore Sun, Rice was the target of 10 passes last week, and caught 7 of them.
One of those 3 incompletes was the game-losing play in last week's Colts-Ravens game, when 3 Colts covered Rice but Flacco forced it in to him anyway, and Indy interecepted, costing the Ravens a chance to kick the go-ahead FG with 3 minutes left to play.
LittlePhatty
Footballguy
They've been using Rice a lot. More and more as the season has gone on.
I think they know what they have. But maybe the game plan was mixed up a little because they were playing PIT? Not sure.
I think they know what they have. But maybe the game plan was mixed up a little because they were playing PIT? Not sure.
(unwelcomed)GUEST
Footballguy
Cam Cameron is the offensive coordinator, not Harbaugh. Flacco does some things well and others, not so. The Ravens Oline is playing soft and not communicating, IMHO Burk is underperforming and not handling the communication amongst linemen. Flacco's timing with the receivers is off, he's never been in sync on deep balls often delivering the ball late to open rec. He also often throws the ball over the heads of open guys. He needs to get rid of the ball quicker. Rice missed a few blocks last night too that got Flacco crushed. Now it looks like Flacco is playing with a pectoral/shoulder injury that the Ravens are remaining completely quiet on. Flacco's unwillingness to go down field has led to a predictability on third and midrange-long, check off to Rice. Its not too hard to figure that out and opposing defenses have. Opposing Ds cover the RB and Flacco usually won't throw it, it's not that Flacco doesn't see Rice; opposing D's have repetitively seen it and cover it. Just because you can't see it at home on tv doesn't mean that there isn't a LB/Dlineman that's dropped into coverage. A quality WR would really help this offense.
Now on the defensive side of the ball, that coordinator needs to be fired yesterday. Harbaugh doesn't like it, he can go too. Harbaugh and his coaching staff have made some very questionable calls this year, clock management is an issue, the use of the challenge-replay flag has been horrendous, and the Ravens have a number of aging-lost a step players. What they have done well is to keep the RB fresh. Last night, they were losing the very physical match-up with the Steelers. They were physically beaten on both sides of the ball, McClain at RB allowed Bmore to bash the Pitt D until the big back lost that battle too and was knocked out of the game by the tougher Steelers. I don't disagree with the Ravens approach considering how Pittsburgh was winning the physical battle.
Now on the defensive side of the ball, that coordinator needs to be fired yesterday. Harbaugh doesn't like it, he can go too. Harbaugh and his coaching staff have made some very questionable calls this year, clock management is an issue, the use of the challenge-replay flag has been horrendous, and the Ravens have a number of aging-lost a step players. What they have done well is to keep the RB fresh. Last night, they were losing the very physical match-up with the Steelers. They were physically beaten on both sides of the ball, McClain at RB allowed Bmore to bash the Pitt D until the big back lost that battle too and was knocked out of the game by the tougher Steelers. I don't disagree with the Ravens approach considering how Pittsburgh was winning the physical battle.
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az_prof
Footballguy
I am a Rice owner and I have to say that I think the Ravens are using him well. Early in the year they weren't using him enough but now I think they have it about right. He is a great receiving back but they do throw it to him and if you do that too much it won't work. He is still learning too--as others pointed out he did allow one sack last night that I saw when he went out on a route instead of picking up the blitz. He is the only explosive player on the offense and as others have said the whole offense would benefit from a WR who can really make things happen--a Desean Jackson or Harvin or someone like that.
Black
Footballguy
CAR is the worst (or best?) example of this. They have TWO sizeable backs and a QB that hasn't been right since coming back in 2008. All Delhomme does is throw interceptions. He has destroyed that team this season.MJD anyone? 15 carries, 75 yards @SF this week...monster pass catcher. Every time JAX got in the Redzone, Garrard fumbles or gets sacked.With Rice, his size might be an issue. I do see why you bang McGahee up the middle on shortyardage. I see why you bang the DEF with McClain as well. Another thing about Rice...BAL has been losing lately with all the short stuff (and strong Fantasy games) to Ray Rice. They were doing better earlier in the year with the 3 RB system and throwing more. They were putting up more points. So, from a coaching standpoint, it seems natural that they would go back to what they were doing when they were winning.
Rice is currently tied for 9th in the NFL with 61 receptions. The next closest running back is Matt Forte with 46. As someone who has watched more than a few Ravens games this year I can tell you that he is definitely not being underutilized. It seems the old Jim Fassel strategy of smash, smash, incompletion, punt has been replaced with look down the field for a little bit, dump it to Rice, kick a field goal in the red zone.
lyon812
Footballguy
Really, I think part of this is that Flacco has some poor receivers. Only Mason and Washington are decent, and Mason's slowing down. Neither of them are deep targets. Clayton drops easy passes and can't get open consistently. Others barely get playing time. There's a lack of depth and quality there that I think hinders Flacco more than anything. I don't blame him for dumping off to Rice.
(unwelcomed)GUEST
Footballguy
The receivers aren't good. That said, I've seen Mason and Clayton have to comeback or really slow down when they've gotten behind the defense at least a dozen times with Flacco. I don't blame Flacco for dumping it off either, it is becoming very predictable however. Flacco obviously doesn't trust any of his receivers in traffic and doesn't believe that they will fight for the ball or have the ability to go up and get it with a defender around. It doesn't look like Flacco has built that timing / repore with the receivers where he can make a quick read, launch it and then hit the receiver in stride.
fantasysharkctb
Footballguy
The recievers aren't good? Huh? Mason might not be the ideal #1 like a Randy Moss/Fitz/Andre but he's easily one of the best 30 recievers in the game on an NFL level. Don't see how you could argue against that...
zamboni
Footballguy
Mason is still a quality WR to the extent that he runs terrific routes, has great hands and can create some separation. However, he's not one that is going to stretch the field. Clayton was originally viewed as the guy to do that, but with a few flash-in-the-pan games, hasn't worked out. So Flacco has a much shorter field to work with, and uses Rice in that regard.From an outside observer, this is a team that's in desperate need of a playmaker that can stretch the field - in turn, this should give Rice more running room. Who they get though is anyone's guess.
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omally
Footballguy
Maybe they'll get Boldin.
zamboni
Footballguy
Interesting - I hadn't thought of him.
fantasysharkctb
Footballguy
Since when was Boldin a guy who can stretch the field with his amazing speed?
Sinrman
Footballguy
I was thinking the same thing when I saw McClain and McGahee out there. Granted they didn't take too many carries away, but Rice seems primed for a big season and appears to be held back. Maybe they are trying to milk McClain and/or McGahee as much as they can before one or both are out of Baltimore, to keep Rice fresher?
the branded hand
Footballguy
McGahee is due for a LARGE salary increase next year and 2011 so he's probably more likely to go... this year or next, who knows...As per Rotoworld:
3/8/2007: Signed a seven-year, $40.12 million contract. The deal contains $15 million guaranteed, including a $7.5 million signing bonus and a $6.5 million roster bonus in the second year. 2009: $620,000 (+ $1.5 million roster bonus), 2010: $3.6 million, 2011: $6 million, 2012: $6.5 million, 2013: $7.2 million, 2014: Free Agent. Cap charges: $4.87 million (2009), $6.35 million (2010), $8.75 million (2011), $9.25 million (2012), $7.5 million (2013).
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