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Post by alienrace on Oct 27, 2022 7:47:29 GMT -5
While some don't seem to think this game is all that important for the Ravens (Steven A Smith, cough), I think it is. The Bucs are reeling and shorthanded. The Ravens come in dinged up (Andrews, Bateman), but mostly at full strength (note - minus Calais Campbell, who is out with an "illness" - gonna guess C19). They also have their pass rush at a level it hasn't been in years now with Houston and JPP on the field at the same time.
After a strong start, the offense has been...uneven. Though, Gus Edwards is clearly a huge boost. (I note that the Ravens actually are 3rd in scoring, so I guess they are one of the better offenses this year). Tampa has problems on both sides of the ball, and the Ravens should be able to put up points if they play to their potential. This really means, don't make dumb mistakes and turnovers. Take care of the ball. You're the better team, don't try to do too much.
There is something wrong with the Ravens mentally though. They have not been the same team since the 4th quarter blown lead defensive meltdown against the Dolphins. Nobody trusts the defense, and with good reason. The pass rush tires in the 4th, the secondary continues to have lackadaisical efforts and miscommunications. The Ravens had Cleveland on the ropes, then the defense, who'd been stuffing them since the opening drive suddenly can't even stop the Browns from gaining 10+ yards on every single play and give up a TD to let them back in it. Then the offense, perhaps again trying too hard to make up for the defense, coughs up the ball after a 7 yard gain that would have left a 3rd and short deep in Browns territory.
You wonder though if the defense, "finally" stepping up and getting that blocked kick will fix the mentality. The pass rush is definitely improving and getting David Ojabo on the field could be the feather in the cap along with Bowser - presumably in a couple of weeks.
I dunno though. I can see Brady chucking it up to Mike Evans all night long just eluding the pass rush, despite his awful o-line. Or maybe father time really has caught up to him and he just doesn't have the arm strength.
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Post by pickle20 on Oct 27, 2022 7:52:37 GMT -5
Brady has never lost 3 games in a row.
Our defense seems like a prime candidate for a "get right" game for him and the Bucs offense.
Still think it's rather low scoring being a TNF game. Bucs have been soft with run D lately, have to keep pounding the rock with Gus. Hope Drake can bounce back too.
Heart wants to say Ravens 20, Bucs 17 but I think the opposite will be closer to reality.
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Post by ivanbalt on Oct 27, 2022 7:53:44 GMT -5
Like every game, they'll play well for 3 quarters and then make it a close game where either team can win at the end.
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Post by ivanbalt on Oct 28, 2022 6:00:11 GMT -5
Horrendous first half and fantastic second half. I cannot fathom why they would think throwing 30 times in the first half was a good idea.
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Post by alienrace on Oct 28, 2022 6:59:19 GMT -5
Horrendous first half and fantastic second half. I cannot fathom why they would think throwing 30 times in the first half was a good idea. They did it because the Bucs secondary was depleted. Unfortunately for them, their pass blocking was subpar, and the replacements had some pretty tight coverage. Second half they just said "ok, enough" and unleashed the will on the Bucs and crushed them. Game wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated, the Ravens defense dropped the ball (literally) multiple times, otherwise it would have been a blowout. They've got 10 days to get healthy, and then the bye, so they should come back pretty close to full strength after that.
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Post by pickle20 on Oct 28, 2022 8:01:32 GMT -5
It feels like offense and the coaches have to reinvent the wheel every game. Run the ball and good things happen.
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Post by alienrace on Oct 28, 2022 9:08:12 GMT -5
It feels like offense and the coaches have to reinvent the wheel every game. Run the ball and good things happen. That's all teams though. Every team is trying to fool the other. If we just run all the time with no threat of passing, they'll gameplan to stop it. I understand the concept and reasoning behind what they were doing. Don't forget they also drove down and failed to score from inside the 10, and then drove again at the end of the half only to have Tucker's FG blocked. I think they had the Bucs figured out earlier than it seemed, they just couldn't cash in. Second half was just a no doubter, dominating effort. They had the Bucs completely gassed by the end, there was really no stopping the offense at that point.
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Post by alienrace on Oct 28, 2022 9:31:20 GMT -5
Actually, it turns out the truth is the gameplan was not because the Bucs secondary was depleted. According to Harbaugh in his press conference, they planned on throwing the ball around in the first half to get the Bucs defense tired from chasing them all around, then pound them in the second half. Man, if true, that was pretty brilliant.
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Post by ivanbalt on Oct 28, 2022 9:37:33 GMT -5
Actually, it turns out the truth is the gameplan was not because the Bucs secondary was depleted. According to Harbaugh in his press conference, they planned on throwing the ball around in the first half to get the Bucs defense tired from chasing them all around, then pound them in the second half. Man, if true, that was pretty brilliant. I don't believe that for a second. A better Brady would have had them up by 3 scores at halftime.
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Post by pickle20 on Oct 28, 2022 9:45:49 GMT -5
Actually, it turns out the truth is the gameplan was not because the Bucs secondary was depleted. According to Harbaugh in his press conference, they planned on throwing the ball around in the first half to get the Bucs defense tired from chasing them all around, then pound them in the second half. Man, if true, that was pretty brilliant. I don't believe that for a second. A better Brady would have had them up by 3 scores at halftime. This.
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Post by alienrace on Oct 28, 2022 10:35:37 GMT -5
Actually, it turns out the truth is the gameplan was not because the Bucs secondary was depleted. According to Harbaugh in his press conference, they planned on throwing the ball around in the first half to get the Bucs defense tired from chasing them all around, then pound them in the second half. Man, if true, that was pretty brilliant. I don't believe that for a second. A better Brady would have had them up by 3 scores at halftime. Well a better executing Ravens team would have led at halftime too - if and buts are meaningless. There isn't a better Brady - he's 45 and lost a lot of accuracy and zip on the ball, and is more immobile than ever.
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Post by pickle20 on Oct 28, 2022 10:48:28 GMT -5
Just watched the recap. Lamar really tried to crowbar the ball to Andrews in coverage. He's lucky he wasn't picked off 2 or 3 times.
Likely looks like a keeper.
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Post by ivanbalt on Oct 28, 2022 11:00:24 GMT -5
I don't believe that for a second. A better Brady would have had them up by 3 scores at halftime. Well a better executing Ravens team would have led at halftime too - if and buts are meaningless. There isn't a better Brady - he's 45 and lost a lot of accuracy and zip on the ball, and is more immobile than ever. Safe to say Ravens never execute well when they throw 30 times in a half. The entire world knew that going on 4&2 instead of a FG was going to fail except Harbaugh and Lamar.
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Post by alienrace on Oct 28, 2022 11:23:08 GMT -5
The entire world knew that going on 4&2 instead of a FG was going to fail except Harbaugh and Lamar. Yeah, this stuff drives me, and most fans nuts. That being said, they have 8 "should win" games in a row and are well positioned to win the division. The Bengals just lost Jamar Chase for 4-6 weeks.
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Post by Evil Yoda on Oct 28, 2022 12:20:08 GMT -5
Actually, it turns out the truth is the gameplan was not because the Bucs secondary was depleted. According to Harbaugh in his press conference, they planned on throwing the ball around in the first half to get the Bucs defense tired from chasing them all around, then pound them in the second half. Man, if true, that was pretty brilliant. I don't believe that for a second. A better Brady would have had them up by 3 scores at halftime. Yep. The defense was subpar in the first part of the game. If the Bucs' defense hadn't collapsed (or to assume Harbaugh is telling it true, was tuckered out by design) in the second half the Ravens likely lose that. The Ravens' offense started mediocre and improved later. The Bucs are struggling and the Ravens took advantage. It's still a W, but not the level of play that a team which expects to go deep in the post-season must demonstrate. I am still concerned about that defense. Team saying Edwards to be evaluated, while Bateman's and Andrews' injuries are not serious. Andrews looked at the time like at least a partial subluxation, but we'll see. They have 10 days to recover, face another struggling team (meaning ailing but important players could sit or take fewer snaps than normal) and then a bye. So they have their best chance to get healthy.
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Post by alienrace on Oct 31, 2022 7:50:37 GMT -5
Looks like all three (Bateman, Andrews, Edwards) will be ok. Of those, I could see Edwards sitting out against the Saints. Let's root for the Browns tonight ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Post by Evil Yoda on Oct 31, 2022 16:31:58 GMT -5
Looks like all three (Bateman, Andrews, Edwards) will be ok. Of those, I could see Edwards sitting out against the Saints. Let's root for the Browns tonight ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) Bateman seems like a guy with a glass body. I doubt he has a long career. But for now they are all okay.
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Post by alienrace on Nov 1, 2022 6:38:08 GMT -5
But for now they are all okay. Welp...looks like Bateman is going to miss a few weeks. I think you just may be right. On a plus note...they are alone in first place and with the Bengals 0-3 in the division now, have a strong grip on first.
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Post by pickle20 on Nov 2, 2022 7:11:42 GMT -5
Well, hopefully Jackson suits up on MNF. Gonna need the extra body at least.
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Post by alienrace on Nov 2, 2022 8:08:12 GMT -5
Well, hopefully Jackson suits up on MNF. Gonna need the extra body at least. Sounds like Harbs is optimistic, and that it's up to Jackson really if he feels he's ready to go, he'll go. Does sound like Ojabo and Bowser are suiting up ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Post by pickle20 on Nov 2, 2022 8:19:20 GMT -5
Excited to see how Duvernay and Likely progress in the offense sans Bateman. Just picked Duvernay up on my FF team.
I think they should give him more rushes moving forward too.
Really pumped to see the defense with Smith here now. Hope they get it started on MNF.
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