Words can’t describe the ass-kicking that took place last Sunday in Houston, Texas. The Ravens lost to the Texans 43-13 and as a 26 year-old lifelong Ravens fan, I have never seen the team play so poorly. Even when Baltimore went 5-11 in 2007, from a fans perspective, the team never looked as apathetic as they did this past Sunday.
Courtesy: Thomas B. Shea
Why is Cam Cameron still the offensive coordinator? Why does John Harbaugh continue to escape criticism when his team struggles so mightily on the road? Why weren’t moves made in the offseason to bolster a defensive line that may be the worst in the NFL? These are all questions that need to be answered by Dick Cass, Ozzie Newsome and to a lesser degree, Steve Bisciotti.
It was only one game, and the Ravens still are in first place in the AFC North; but when considering the amount of injuries the Ravens have endured, it’s hard to imagine this team sustaining a high level of play. The thought of Joe Flacco leading the squad as an offensive power now looks unrealistic, not only is he too inconsistent, but the offensive line is in disarray and Ray Rice continues to disappear from the game plan. Here are a few ways the Ravens can get back on track and make the most of a season that began with so much promise.
1. The Gronk/Hernandez Package: The New England Patriots have mastered a new offensive philosophy which creates mismatches using a double tight-end package. The rule changes in NFL have made make it nearly impossible for defenses to combat passing formations that utilize two athletic, tall tight ends. The lack of quality play from the safety position also gives offenses more of an incentive to create packages featuring two tight ends as receiving threats. While Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson aren’t Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, they do have the skills to overwhelm many defenses. Dennis Pitta was one of Joe Flacco’s favorite targets when the season began; he has disappeared in recent weeks.
Courtesy: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
2. Get Ray Rice the Damn Ball: Be it standard running plays, screen passes, or putting Ray Rice in the slot as a receiver, the Ravens must find a better way to get the ball to their best player. Cam Cameron’s job it to identify the personnel on the offensive side of the ball that give the Ravens the best chance to win and find ways to get these players the ball. There is no excuse for Ray Rice to be out of the game on key third downs, how many times will Bernard Pierce be the featured back on a key 3rd and 4? Even if Rice is merely a decoy, his presence alone is a valuable commodity to help the Ravens convert these key plays in course of a game.
3. Find a Way to Rush the Quarterback: Why has Carry Williams gone from a pro bowl caliber cornerback to a punch-line? The answer is simple; the Ravens have the worst pass rush in the NFL. Dean Pees must go back to the Rex Ryan philosophy of getting pressure on the quarterback by creating confusion. Using complex blitz packages is the only way to get consistent pressure with a lack of talented pass rushers. Getting Terrell Suggs back is huge for the Ravens anemic defensive line which is constantly getting dominated by the opposing offensive line. Not only can Suggs create a pass rush on his own but can set the edge on running plays to his side of the ball.
This is my Notes from the Bye Week.
