Ray Rice can be Ravens' Brian Westbrook
Not surprisingly, when a new coach takes over an NFL team, he brings with him some of the more successful concepts from his previous club. In the case of Ravens coach John Harbaugh, he spent 10 years in Philadelphia, and for the last several, watched Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook develop as not only that team’s top offensive threat but one of the most effective all-around weapons in the league.
So it makes sense that should someone come along who could do that for Harbaugh in Baltimore that he would take advantage of the opportunity.
Enter Ray Rice, rookie running back from Rutgers. Rice, like Westbrook, is compact. The Ravens’ running back is 5-8, 203; Westbrook is generously listed at 5-10, 203. Both have quickness along with speed. And while neither may be the prototypical 25- to-30-carries-a-game workhorse tailback, they are players capable of enormous impact through judicious use and the right type of touches.
Rice enjoyed his first 100-yard game from scrimmage in yesterday’s 29-10 Ravens’ win over Oakland. He had 8 carries for 64 yards and two catches for 37 more. His inclusion in the offense yesterday was a continuation of how he has been used since the second half of the blowout loss to Indianapolis. Against the Colts, Rice had 13 touches (six runs, seven catches) for 87 combined yards, most of them in the third and fourth quarters.
In the win over the Dolphins last week, he had seven runs for just 13 yards but two catches for 46, including a 40-yard screen, and he was called on to return kickoffs and brought back four for a steady 25-yard average.
Rice has had an uneven first seven games in his rookie season. In the first game, filling in for injured Willis McGahee, he had 22 carries for 64 yards and three catches for 19 yards. But in the next three games, he had just six touches from scrimmage. It would seem that the last few weeks are more indicative of how he can be utilized most effectively
In the last three games, Rice has 21 carries for 100 yards (4.8 average) and 12 catches for 147 yards, plus 155 yards on six kick returns. With most of the yards from scrimmage coming in the most recent 10 quarters, his average per-four-quarters offensive output has been 95 to 100 yards from scrimmage on 12 to 13 touches.
Using Rice as a change-up running back – he was the back-end of a 21-yard option play yesterday with QB Troy Smith – as a pass catcher and as a kickoff returner when needed gets him the type of touches that may make him an impact player for years to come. And as an aside, Rice has already gained more yards as a rookie than Westbrook did in his entire first year.
Comments
That is a very good analysis. Kudos, and I definitely agree.
------------------------------------------
Poe,
Thanks for the kind words.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Poe | October 27, 2008 11:33 AM
If all of the Sun writers were as professional as this.....
Anyways, that is an interesting statistic about Rice's rookie season and Westbrook's rookie season. Another aspect of his former team that I have appreciated Harbaugh bringing over is Special Teams success.
The first few weeks into the season, many fans were wondering why our coverage teams were struggling, why Stover was missing so much and what happened to Figurs. I had a feeling that Figurs was playing hurt, from the Pittsburgh game on. He just seemed to be playing nervous and without his usual burst.
All in all, Harbaugh has seemed to fix all of those problems. Well, Stover fixes his own. That contribution is another one from his former team that has truly benefited us. Our Coverage team is well improved. Koch is kicking very well. Leonhard/Rice are not only protecting the ball, but they are gaining yards on returns. I think that the problems with special teams have been fixed just in time for Cleveland and Joshua Cribbs, among other things.
-------------------------------------
Sudom,
We all remember Mr. Cribbs.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Shudom | October 27, 2008 12:18 PM
Bill, I agree with ya ALL THE WAY!!
I swear I've been leaving comments everywhere about Ray Rice!! What more does he have to do?? The kid can play. He has an indescribable passion for football and likes to get physical!! Since Willis gets tired early, we need to insert Rice whenever possible and use his quickness and explosiveness.
Posted by: A V | October 27, 2008 12:39 PM
Cameron is calling the offense. Ozzie and his staff drafted Rice. That Rice compares with Westbrook is natural, but Harbaugh has nothing to do with it.
Rice's diminished numbers after McGahee got healthy was just logical. That will continue as long as there is a crowd in the backfield.
-----------------------------------------------
Jon,
Thanks for writing. Frankly, I don't know what if any input Harbaugh had on draft day but my point was that as Rice's talents have become obvious that it would only be natural for the head coach to want to see him used in a way that he knew was successful with another RB who was similar.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Jon | October 27, 2008 2:51 PM
Agreed,the R&R Express can be a freight train loaded with great results if used more. Ray proved at Rutgers that he is durable and gets better with touches. Even though I wasn't glad to see Figurs out (actually I was-he plays timid), I was glad to see Ray and Leonard used on kickoffs and punt returns. Both show great heart,instincts and ability to hit the hole hard. I have not seen either make a bonehead decision like Figurs does quite often. I would've even liked to see what Zbikowski could have done on punt returns, which he did at Notre Dame. Now, back to Ray. No question he can be the Purple Birds Westbrook. It took a while when Brian was made an every down player but once he was in, he never came out! I think Ray will put the pressure on Mcgahee and McClain to step their collective games up. If they don't----well look out for that bolt of lightning that flew by. It was the R & R Express !!
Posted by: DARNELL | October 27, 2008 3:31 PM
Outstanding running back from the first time I saw him college. We need him to get the ball more. I really believe he is going to be one of the more explosive backs in the league. He reminds me of Marian Barber of Dallas and thats not bad.
Posted by: Gary | October 27, 2008 3:52 PM
Or at the very least, a new version of Priest Holmes, after he went to Kansas City. A lot of similarities. Able to be used as a receiver with the ability to make moves ofter te catch. Can run outside with speed or inside with elusive cuts. Very exciting player. This will take 2 to 3 years to prove, but this may very well be the best draft the Ravens have put together yet! Jameel may be another undrafted free agent steal based on yesterdays play.
Posted by: Henry Gardner | October 27, 2008 4:17 PM
Okay, so why is it after 5 years, Kyle Boller could'nt play well? Flacco looks better than him already. Its time to come to the reality, that Kyle Boller just
does'nt have what it takes. Im tired of the excuses about starting Kyle too soon.
Posted by: Rich | October 27, 2008 4:23 PM
Bill, you are absolutely right, Rice is extremely versatile and did some amazing things yesterday that simply sucked the life out of the Raiders defense. His runs on third and long getting us first downs showed a lot of his ability. The progression you speak of since the start of the season seems to be Cameron learning Rice's abilities and how best to take advantage of them. I look forward to some great seasons with Rice!
Posted by: CamMac | October 27, 2008 6:46 PM
Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano and John Harbaugh are friends. Harbaugh knew all about the special talents of Ray Rice.
As a fan who watched Rice play all his games at Rutgers, I am thrilled that Ray is with my hometown team the Baltimore Ravens.
Posted by: Barry | October 28, 2008 12:50 PM
Bill,
The only difference I see between Rice and Westbrook is that I think Westbrook is faster. I do like how the Ravens are using Rice and it is nice to have a back that can catch the ball out of the back field.
---------------------------------------------
Bryan,
I checked Rice's times in the draft guides -- they were 4.46 to 4.49. I wouldn't have had any idea unless you brought it up. I have no idea what Westbrook's were but as you know, sub-4.5 is fast enough. Now, Westbrook may have better zero-to-60 acceleration although I think he may have just developed better vision and anticipation with experience. All that said, the Ravens may have hit a home run with Rice.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Bryan | October 28, 2008 1:11 PM
Bill , During last april's NFL Draft , when the Ravens called Ray Rice's name in the second round , my first impression was 'who is this kid and why they draft from Rutgers ?' . I honestly thought this was another of Ozzie's bust picks . Boy , am I glad to be wrong !
---------------------------------------------
Allan,
So far so good on Rice.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Allan | October 29, 2008 11:22 AM