Ravens' strategy has to reflect reality Flacco is the guy
Ravens coach John Harbaugh named Joe Flacco the starting quarterback for the rest of the season, which may not have seemed like a foregone conclusion, but it was pretty close. For Troy Smith to have missed this much time has really put the former Heisman Trophy winner at a disadvantage and during the course of the week-to-week schedule, all the practice reps go to the starter.
As the Ravens get ready for the Indianapolis Colts, it would seem to be a good idea to return to the early-game planning which protected Flacco from having to over-reach. When you think about it, the big difference between the two wins and the two losses, at least relative to Flacco, is that in the victories, when Flacco improvised or went off-script, he was successful. Last week against Tennessee when he did the same thing, he threw interceptions.
You certainly don't want to coach the initiative out of a player, but at least on those plays, Flacco made some poor choices. Of course, to go back to the Cincinnati and Cleveland efforts means to put a lot of it on the offensive line's collective shoulders. But the Colts have the 32nd run defense out of 32 teams. Indianapolis is giving up 188 yards a game on the ground and if the Ravens can set that kind of tempo, it can help keep those pass rushers out of Flacco's face a bit.
I wouldn't be surprised if Flacco is being schooled, at least for the time being, to get rid of the ball safely when he is out of the pocket. If the Ravens give the Colts the same short field they gave the Titans, it's lights out.
And, of course, Baltimore cannot find itself in a shoot-out with Peyton Manning. That's why the Ravens have to lean on their other components. The defense has to come up big and force the Colts to settle for field goals. Meanwhile, the running game has to take advantage of an apparent opportunity and force the issue to play effective keep-away. The passing has to be under-control stuff. And special teams has to have a much, much better game than it has had the last two weeks.
Comments
I worry about Flacco a little for this game. Indy employs the same cover two defense that the Titans did. Rookie QBs seem to struggle against it. Matt Ryan's worse game of the year came against Tampa, where he didn't complete 50% of his throws and threw two picks.
The return game has been a problem for the Ravens this year. Has Figurs been playing through injuries? He looked great during the preseason, but now he doesn't even field the ball on more than a few occassions.
I think the Ravens will run the ball a lot this Sunday. If they can, look for Flacco to throw only 15 times or so.
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J,
Figurs was hurt early in the year. He was inactive for the Cleveland game but he was back for the Steelers. I don't know if that has been the problem because it may have more to do with confidence ... that's always the concern with punt guys. With Jim Leonhard replacing Dawan Landry, I doubt that they'll put Leonhard back there. Figurs just has to do what he was drafted to do. Flacco throwing fewer than 20 times would be a good sign.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: J | October 9, 2008 11:29 AM
Bill- I couple of questions about the Colts game
I feel that the Ravens need to rush Manning with at least 5 defenders on every play to keep him off balence, Do you think the Ravens will blitz manning the same way they blitzed the Bengals Carson Palmer/
Also
This may be the game where Ed Reed playing centerfield can actually benifet us. The reason we lost so many games last year was because we gave up the big play. If we keep Reed back there Manning is less likley to throw near him which would be deep and it kept us in the game against New England last year.
How much do you think his injury is actually affecting his play? I feel that they should assign him to Dallas Clark, but with his injury can he cover a TE?
Thank you for all of your responses.
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Ben,
Rex will likely rush five a good deal of the time because he understands that the worst thing you can give Manning is time. The affect of the injury on Reed is hard to estimate. According to the injury, his participation in practice is not limited so we can only draw the conclusion that he's as fine as can be expected. As far as covering the TE is concerned, Rex's rush schemes are so complex, you can't dedicate one player to covering one receiver. The schemes just aren't designed that way, as far as I know. That's why you see a NT dropping into zone every once in a while and a LB taking the underneath on a WR. So, you'll see Reed on Clark when the scheme allows it.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Ben | October 9, 2008 11:46 AM
Bill,
32nd ranked rush defense or not, if they stack 8 men in the box, the Ravens are going to have to throw ball. Wouldn't you agree that is how every team will gameplan the Ravens until Flacco proves he can complete an intermediate to long range pass? Also, they'll have to drop Wilcox and Heap into pass protection which means Mason and Clayton are your only legit threats.
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Steve,
You are right. Indianapolis will start the game with eight in the box and as a running team, the Ravens have to still be able to beat that. Philly had eight in the box against the Redskins and Washington pulverized them. Eight in the box doesn't guarantee that you can stop a good running game. Of course, you are right. Flacco then has to be able to punish the Colts if they sell out on the run.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Steve | October 9, 2008 1:30 PM
The problem with Flacco so far has been that when he has to scramble more than a couple of yards, he loses sight of the defense. Both plays he threw INTs on against the Titans he scrambled to make time, which was good, but then threw the ball towards a receiver that had a defender underneath.
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Jimbo,
You are right. You know, he got away with a couple of freelance plays early ... the run against the Bengals and the crossfield pass against the Browns so maybe that gave him a false sense of confidence about what he do when he's ad-libbing. That's why I think Cameron will be drilling him to thow it OB if he gets chased outside or at least put it right on the sideline where that undrereath coverage can't close on it.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Jimbo | October 9, 2008 1:30 PM
I feel like I want to make this blog entry sound like a Ann Landers letter titled:
"Disheartened in New Jersey."
The last two nail bitters that the Ravens played could really shake ones faith. The team played well in each game and has shown marked improvment, but still seems to have problems finishing off opponents.
Last week's loss to the Titans was mind boggeling. It was a Dennis Green moment if ever there was one! The nutball penalties that were called or not called against a sore loser Titan defense were incredible! The Ravens seem to attract every bad call in the book while their opponents seem to get by virtually unscathed.
Latest news: Hines Ward fined $5000.00 for unneccesary roughness against the Ravens.
Another penalty that wasn't called during the game, anymore questions?
Flacco being named as starter isn't surprizing, because he's not doing that bad. If Cam Cameron continues playing things close to the cuff and doesn't try to get too exotic the Ravens will be okay, as long as they can stay healthy on both sides of the ball.
Posted by: bdoc | October 9, 2008 6:10 PM
Is Ed reed really playing high level football? He looks like he is able to run the play, but when the ball comes his way- the crumpler TD- he can't move his upperbody to make a play. He is also doing a lot of grimacing.
Posted by: patrick korn | October 9, 2008 7:10 PM
Have faith!!!! The Ravens D is going to take their frustrations along with baltimores 34 years worth of frustrations out on the colts in Indy! ... ! Ray Lewis =G. O. A. T. ps for you nitwits in indy that is an acronym
Posted by: Drew | October 9, 2008 7:21 PM