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The Andrews, the Defense, and the Blocking

Grim said:
This may not be a popular opinion but hear me out.

I don't think EDGE is the biggest issue on this team. I said that before, and say it again now. Clowney would've been a good add, and I even said I would like him signed back at his release. I am with you on this, because Clowney can set the edge. He is better than David Ojabo or any other clown behind Van Noy. He does stunt the growth of guys like Isaac, Green, but when you want to win a Super Bowl growth be damned to an extent.

With that said, I don't think our defense is so bad because of edge--not this year, at least. The reality is we are getting beat at IDL. Even with Madubuike we had some struggles there, but it seems we don't have someone really next to Madubuike to clog the middle like Pierce. Predictably, we are missing him a lot. What we witnessed last night is we lost the middle of our defense, which impacts the entire backbone of your defense in the secondary and linebackers.

In short, we need someone to step up after Madubuike because if not we are in major trouble. DeCosta should be trading for a guy if we can't guarantee Madubuike is back. Even if he returns, it is worth having someone. Washington is part of the problem too on our defense. He just isn't that good. Look at our DL and tell me who actually scares you? Even if it's Mike Green or Oweh, sure you double them then what? You can go one on one with our 2 DT and win potentially depending on Travis Jones. That assumes you actually need to double both Oweh & Green.

We have a dire need at DT.
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I do think the pass rush was to blame when you look at the order of how it went down. We were stuffing the run just fine, but they kept hitting 3rd and longs because of no pass rush. they also stuck with the run (something we didn't do) so they kept hammering hammering, passing for first downs. Eventually the lack of depth inside without Mads gave way and they ran all over us, but it was the passing conversions on those long drives that set it up.
 
Grim said:
Listening to the Harbaugh press conference after the loss, here's what I gathered from it:
1. Running game not good; specifically called this out as biggest problem.
2. Sounds like he is sorta blaming coaching for the loss
3. Pass rush not getting it done
4. Need to play the calls better on defense
5. Not as concerned about Lamar holding the ball to extend the play

No mention on OL, interestingly. From what he said and didn't say, I suspect they are blaming the coaching for the loss (not sure who though since he specifically said the coaches have to do a better job of playing those who are out there regarding the loss of Van Noy and Madubuike. I find that interesting as it's the slightest hint of displeasure from the defensive coaching staff I've heard him make.
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I just find it humorous, at this point, that Harbs even eludes to coaching being a problem. He so often has mentioned in his pressers that, "WE (coaching) needs to do better..." it's simply comical now.

I hope they do something about Orr, in particular, but they probably won't. What I still worry about on DEF is the hole next to Roquan. He is being asked to do too much, imo; but there are also too many guys being placed in weird positions like that one pic from earlier with Humphrey lined up next to Roquan on the goal line. I just don't get it. DEF seems poorly positioned and if this week's DEF performance was just that Marmaduke wasn't there, we've got serious problems. I think it's more than that - maybe less than that - Orr.
 
The Kansas City Chiefs been in multiple Super Bowls with Jawaan Taylor at OT, one of the worst long-term starting tackles in football. We thankfully do not need a perfect roster, as not a single team has one. We've been in position and we're in position again. We're a few tweaks away, and hopefully we'll be fully healthy in a few weeks to turn the slow start around.
 
drjohnnyfever said:
I just find it humorous, at this point, that Harbs even eludes to coaching being a problem. He so often has mentioned in his pressers that, "WE (coaching) needs to do better..." it's simply comical now.

I hope they do something about Orr, in particular, but they probably won't. What I still worry about on DEF is the hole next to Roquan. He is being asked to do too much, imo; but there are also too many guys being placed in weird positions like that one pic from earlier with Humphrey lined up next to Roquan on the goal line. I just don't get it. DEF seems poorly positioned and if this week's DEF performance was just that Marmaduke wasn't there, we've got serious problems. I think it's more than that - maybe less than that - Orr.
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Marlon Humphrey is a pretty good tackler and plays like a safety at times, It's possibly Orr likes to use Humphrey in a versatile role and maybe the defense was anticipating a pass near the goalline. Not sure what down it was . It's obvious the ravens are probably missing Malik Harrison and possibly need a more trustworthy safety to count on.
 
Simba said:
I’m willing to look dumb. It’s okay.
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I think 30 is when you get absolute full detachment from the latest generation of children. It can come earlier than 30 for sure but by then I think the stragglers have accepted that they're not children anymore. And that's the first feeling of being old.
 
UPennChem said:
I think 30 is when you get absolute full detachment from the latest generation of children. It can come earlier than 30 for sure but by then I think the stragglers have accepted that they're not children anymore. And that's the first feeling of being old.
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I said it partially in jest but not really... but yeah, the detachment from how things used to be is wild.

I'm old enough to remember Ed Reed going everywhere looking homeless as fuck because he was all ball no matter what. The young dudes these days have personal photographers that take pictures of them everywhere they go for social media clout.

They aren't the same.
 
A couple of views on my end:
1. My biggest concern is the lack of ability to run the ball without Ricard. Back to back weeks its been an issue. Doesn't sound like he's super close to returning either, and I don't think there's much you can do to fix this.
2. At some point... why is Henry still being sent out there? Hasn't played well the last two games, and three straight games with a fumble. The name on his jersey keeps him getting playing time. Not the output. They would have cut younger, less valuable RBs, for this.
3. I have concerns about the defense, but its not "yet" the pass rush. I don't know too many teams that can lose their top 2 pass rushers and generate one. It's an injury issue, but I do think we'll have options to add a guy or two if those injuries are long term.
4. Defensively, we have massive inconsistency from some of our highest paid veterans. Marlon was dog shit on Monday. So was Roquan, who was coming off maybe his best game ever as a Raven. When your expensive veterans play like shit on defense, the defense is going to play like shit. Tackling has to improve, communication has to improve, and for the love of God, Marlon, turn your head around and look where the football is.
5. Lamar had literally zero pocket awareness in this game. Oline wasn't good, but he literally walked into two sacks. I'm fine with the whole "you take the good with the bad" with Lamar, since he won't throw the ball away, but this is what the bad looks like.

I could understand the decision to move off of Orr. I think its premature, but I could understand it. I just think, today, we don't have the horses in the front seven to do much in the pass of pressure.
 
rmcjacket23 said:
A couple of views on my end:
1. My biggest concern is the lack of ability to run the ball without Ricard. Back to back weeks its been an issue. Doesn't sound like he's super close to returning either, and I don't think there's much you can do to fix this.
2. At some point... why is Henry still being sent out there? Hasn't played well the last two games, and three straight games with a fumble. The name on his jersey keeps him getting playing time. Not the output. They would have cut younger, less valuable RBs, for this.
3. I have concerns about the defense, but its not "yet" the pass rush. I don't know too many teams that can lose their top 2 pass rushers and generate one. It's an injury issue, but I do think we'll have options to add a guy or two if those injuries are long term.
4. Defensively, we have massive inconsistency from some of our highest paid veterans. Marlon was dog shit on Monday. So was Roquan, who was coming off maybe his best game ever as a Raven. When your expensive veterans play like shit on defense, the defense is going to play like shit. Tackling has to improve, communication has to improve, and for the love of God, Marlon, turn your head around and look where the football is.
5. Lamar had literally zero pocket awareness in this game. Oline wasn't good, but he literally walked into two sacks. I'm fine with the whole "you take the good with the bad" with Lamar, since he won't throw the ball away, but this is what the bad looks like.

I could understand the decision to move off of Orr. I think its premature, but I could understand it. I just think, today, we don't have the horses in the front seven to do much in the pass of pressure.
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My only disagreement is on point 2. I think the leash has to be shortened at this point, but he has a long track record to suggest this is an aberration. It simply can't continue though.

I'm curious to see how point 3 shakes out. Madubuike is obviously the big loss here. Van Noy had looked his age to start the season before he pulled up, so I do think there's somewhat of a concern with the edge rushing group. We really need the young guys to grow up fast.
 
Should we just be blitzing more since our investment is in the secondary? We don’t have the individual pass rushers but it seems like our blitzes aren’t hitting home as presently designed
 
OURavensFan said:
Should we just be blitzing more since our investment is in the secondary? We don’t have the individual pass rushers but it seems like our blitzes aren’t hitting home as presently designed
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Yes but also no if it’s going to be how it was on Monday. There was no disguise. It all felt very basic. It was fairly obvious to see where the pressure was coming from.
 
rmcjacket23 said:
A couple of views on my end:
1. My biggest concern is the lack of ability to run the ball without Ricard. Back to back weeks its been an issue. Doesn't sound like he's super close to returning either, and I don't think there's much you can do to fix this.
2. At some point... why is Henry still being sent out there? Hasn't played well the last two games, and three straight games with a fumble. The name on his jersey keeps him getting playing time. Not the output. They would have cut younger, less valuable RBs, for this.
3. I have concerns about the defense, but its not "yet" the pass rush. I don't know too many teams that can lose their top 2 pass rushers and generate one. It's an injury issue, but I do think we'll have options to add a guy or two if those injuries are long term.
4. Defensively, we have massive inconsistency from some of our highest paid veterans. Marlon was dog shit on Monday. So was Roquan, who was coming off maybe his best game ever as a Raven. When your expensive veterans play like shit on defense, the defense is going to play like shit. Tackling has to improve, communication has to improve, and for the love of God, Marlon, turn your head around and look where the football is.
5. Lamar had literally zero pocket awareness in this game. Oline wasn't good, but he literally walked into two sacks. I'm fine with the whole "you take the good with the bad" with Lamar, since he won't throw the ball away, but this is what the bad looks like.

I could understand the decision to move off of Orr. I think its premature, but I could understand it. I just think, today, we don't have the horses in the front seven to do much in the pass of pressure.
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#4 - this shouldn't be but I see this as the biggest problem.
 
I'm as upset as the Henry fumbles as anyone else, but the lions loss is 0% on him. Defense didn't stop anyone all night; we were gonna get conservative go 3 and punt and they'd drive all the same with less clock. The browns fumble doesn't really matter cuz we recovered. Buffalo one was tough, but I saw it playing out the same as our last drive did anyway.
 
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