The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Week 14 Edition

[RayRayRaven]

Said this last night......Funny how Carr is getting trashed but when Hopkins abused Smith a couple of weeks ago it was because “Hopkins is a beast and unstoppable”. Brown was going to get his, he’s the best there is this year.
If you need to place blame for allowing 500 yards passing it belongs with the anemic pass rush.

agree A. Brown is a load but there were 300 other passing yards dolled out by our secondary many of which were tight end yards. Jefferson covered like your patio grill cover caught in a gale. humpf had his best game but i'm not near sold. i'm sayin his play was good fortune is all.

I think it was 2009 and we went 9-7 win one, lose one almost from where we now find ourselves. we made the playoffs and beat the pats. I don' t think we have enough secondary to do that now but 9-7 just might allow us to sneak in.

 

[RayRayRaven]

After sleeping on it, aside from the obvious questions about the defense, the one linger concern that continues to sting is following. What on earth was Jeremy Maclin doing? He collapsed on the hit like a folding chair, with his eyes completely shut during the close up. Then he stood up, and walked it off, forcing a crucial TO to be lost. He was on the sideline waiting to substitute in one play later, meaning he either voided the tent or made the trip in record time. I despise presuming about injuries, but the entire ordeal was strange enough to legitimately wonder if he was attempting to draw a flag. Then Flacco threw an on-the-money back-shoulder fade and he's stepping out of bounds before even prepping for the catch. Obviously the entire game isn't on Maclin himself. But with the chance of winning in sight, I don't know that he could've done much more to prevent a victory other than dropping a TD. It was a bizarre sequence that has not gotten easier to comprehend.

hes both a diva and nimrod. we excel at acquiring these type in FA. But we have A Collins and he makes up for a lot of bad deals.

 

[allblackraven]

anyone just finish watching the presser?

harbaugh is as angry about that game as i've ever seen him.

Just watched it. Taking sarcastic shots at fans now because we dare to say this sucked.

And then "Cleveland are very well coached team, very talented team and have very tough and creative defense to play against".....

Why did I even watch this crap? Like he was about to say something meaningful.

 

[29BmoreBird22]

it was the one pass that he threw off his back foot all game - even the int wasnt a bad looking pass it was just an awful decision to throw that ball at all

Jeff Zriebac said as the game progressed, he saw more and more throws off the back foot for Flacco.

 

[Oldfaithful]

Jeff Zriebac said as the game progressed, he saw more and more throws off the back foot for Flacco.

Flacco's game was a total mixed bag. He had a few of his patented "fuck it" throws and 2-3 throws off of his back foot(some in which he was just trying to force...) but then there were just a few instances where he made big plays to put us into scoring position. Hell, he threw an absolute on the money pass to Maclin towards the end that would have put us into Tucker's FG range.

So Flacco wasn't perfect and got away with some BS.. But he played well enough to win which is what really matters. He gets almost no blame in my eyes for the loss. Lionshare goes to the defense. Like 95% of it tbh

 

[29BmoreBird22]

Flacco's game was a total mixed bag. He had a few of his patented "fuck it" throws and 2-3 throws off of his back foot(some in which he was just trying to force...) but then there were just a few instances where he made big plays to put us into scoring position. Hell, he threw an absolute on the money pass to Maclin towards the end that would have put us into Tucker's FG range.

So Flacco wasn't perfect and got away with some BS.. But he played well enough to win which is what really matters. He gets almost no blame in my eyes for the loss. Lionshare goes to the defense. Like 95% of it tbh

I mean, the receivers, Wallace mostly, bailed Joe out on a few very bad turnover worthy throws and I still have no idea why Joe didn't just throw away the pass on the interception.

 

[Truth]

hes both a diva and nimrod. we excel at acquiring these type in FA. But we have A Collins and he makes up for a lot of bad deals.

I'm personally thrilled and relieved to see Collins excelling. I mentioned him to @RavensMania prior to the draft as a sleeper with a ton of upside. He goes to a crowded group in Seattle, is waived, and I honestly wondered if he'd ever have a significant chance elsewhere. I'm very thankful that Seattle had as many bodies as they did at RB.

 

[Oldfaithful]

I mean, the receivers, Wallace mostly, bailed Joe out on a few very bad turnover worthy throws and I still have no idea why Joe didn't just throw away the pass on the interception.

He had his head banging against the wall moments no doubt and was bailed out twice by Wallace but he still played well enough to win. Hence mixed bag. Not praising him. But I really can't blame him either. Collins was most of why we did as well as we did on offense. Dude is legit.

 

[allblackraven]

Flacco's game was a total mixed bag. He had a few of his patented "fuck it" throws and 2-3 throws off of his back foot(some in which he was just trying to force...) but then there were just a few instances where he made big plays to put us into scoring position. Hell, he threw an absolute on the money pass to Maclin towards the end that would have put us into Tucker's FG range.

So Flacco wasn't perfect and got away with some BS.. But he played well enough to win which is what really matters. He gets almost no blame in my eyes for the loss. Lionshare goes to the defense. Like 95% of it tbh

That's fair assessment but at the same time possibly our main problem.
I'd expect that from Foles, McCown, etc... not from franchise QB. No way we should be content with Flacco not losing games, we need him to win some for a change.

 

[redrum52]

Said this last night......Funny how Carr is getting trashed but when Hopkins abused Smith a couple of weeks ago it was because “Hopkins is a beast and unstoppable”. Brown was going to get his, he’s the best there is this year.
If you need to place blame for allowing 500 yards passing it belongs with the anemic pass rush.

People went in on Jimmy and it wasn't this bad. Most of those on Carr can be attributed to lack of a pass rush. I just can't get that last dagger out of my mind with the half ass jam that gives Brown separation. I'm not going to hold a grudge though. Carr has been pretty damn good for us so can't be mad.

I'd just like to know why with all these rushers we drafted we aren't more creative in ways to get them on the field especially on 3rd and longs.

 

[Oldfaithful]

That's fair assessment but at the same time possibly our main problem.
I'd expect that from Foles, McCown, etc... not from franchise QB. No way we should be content with Flacco not losing games, we need him to win some for a change.

For this game, I'd have to disagree. He did put us into scoring position and took some deep shots down the field. This game very much, like the Raiders game, felt like 2011 Flacco. Took deep shots when needed, didn't make too many mistakes. Hell... Flacco made that throw to Maclin to win the damn game. He did his part there. Maclin catches that ball we'd be singing Flacco's praises right now.

So... Yeah. I'd say Flacco played well enough to win.. Which is different than playing well enough not to lose(looking at your career Alex Smith) which is what you're saying.
Please let me know if I am misunderstanding you.

 

[rossihunter2]

Jeff Zriebac said as the game progressed, he saw more and more throws off the back foot for Flacco.

its true that i stopped watching them so much after that but im not sure we had - ive gone back and watched the tape and a fair few of his 4th quarter throws were off his back foot albeit at least half of them he had pressure in his face - although on the penultimate 3 and out it looked like he was stepping into his throws again so who knows

 

[rossihunter2]

in case anyone was wondering whether the lions game was an aberration or not:
View attachment 364

id say the lions game was the anomaly given the rest of the year and this week

 

[allblackraven]

For this game, I'd have to disagree. He did put us into scoring position and took some deep shots down the field. This game very much, like the Raiders game, felt like 2011 Flacco. Took deep shots when needed, didn't make too many mistakes. Hell... Flacco made that throw to Maclin to win the damn game. He did his part there. Maclin catches that ball we'd be singing Flacco's praises right now.

So... Yeah. I'd say Flacco played well enough to win.. Which is different than playing well enough not to lose(looking at your career Alex Smith) which is what you're saying.
Please let me know if I am misunderstanding you.

This game and couple others here and there but it's a general trend since the SB win, for whatever reason. He did not and does not win enough games.

 

[redrum52]

Outside of that pick I can't say anything real bad about Flacco. If that's a top wr we most likely kick a fg, win by 2 and it's a much different narrative surrounding this team and Flacco.

Side note Harbaugh looked pissed in that post game.

 

[Truth]

it was the one pass that he threw off his back foot all game - even the int wasnt a bad looking pass it was just an awful decision to throw that ball at all

Honestly, I felt that it was both (Link). The defense appeared to be in Cover 2. Mike Mitchell stayed true to his half. Sean Davis, on the other hand, saw Ben Watson and Chris Moore turn 4 and 5 yards into their routes, respectively, at the sticks; so he broke on the underneath route given that it was the only threat, all before Flacco made the throw. Now Jeremy Maclin had clear separation against Mike Hilton, whom had his back turned while in trail mode. If there was a window, it would've been a whip earlier in the route, no sooner than the left hash mark, which could still be intercepted if Hilton turns around in time, though given that he attempting to catch up, the chances were higher than the actual end result. Flacco instead floated it in between the hashes, which was directly to Davis' trajectory, so I'd argue that both the decision and the throw were questionable.

 

[rossihunter2]

Honestly, I felt that it was both (Link). The defense appeared to be in Cover 2. Mike Mitchell stayed true to his half. Sean Davis, on the other hand, saw Ben Watson and Chris Moore turn 4 and 5 yards into their routes, respectively, at the sticks; so he broke on the underneath route given that it was the only threat, all before Flacco made the throw. Now Jeremy Maclin had clear separation against Mike Hilton, whom had his back turned while in trail mode. If there was a window, it would've been a whip earlier in the route, no sooner than the left hash mark, which could still be intercepted if Hilton turns around in time, though given that he attempting to catch up, the chances were higher than the actual end result. Flacco instead floated it in between the hashes, which was directly to Davis' trajectory, so I'd argue that both the decision and the throw were questionable.

fair enough in those terms - what i meant by not a bad looking pass was more to do with the mechanics of the throwing motion and the footwork - his footwork was decent, he stepped into the throw and his release was good was what i meant rather than the throw selection and the decision - if that makes sense

 

[Truth]

I'm admittedly miffed by the post-game conference. Harbaugh was asked about the last play of the game wherein they huddled while unaware of the time ticking down. The prior play was upsetting enough in that T.J. Watt blew by Austin Howard, Flacco rolled to the opposite side because of Watt, even glancing back in the process, yet was somehow still unable to throw the ball away in time prior to the sack-fumble. But you still have time for something afterwards, anything. We've seen far less improbable efforts than a quick 20 yard completion to the boundary to set up a lengthy FG attempt. Likely? No. Especially with the time crunch. But it's far from outright impossible. So I personally find it infuriating to hear the HC write it off as, "You know, at that point of time, what was it, 8 seconds left in the game? I mean, did the game turn on that, you think? I don't think so." You what, mate? Of course it didn't. But it could have. That's kind of the issue, John.

 

[Truth]

fair enough in those terms - what i meant by not a bad looking pass was more to do with the mechanics of the throwing motion and the footwork - his footwork was decent, he stepped into the throw and his release was good was what i meant rather than the throw selection and the decision - if that makes sense

That makes total sense. And he essentially checked the boxes there, so if that was your point, then it still stands.

 

[rossihunter2]

That makes total sense. And he essentially checked the boxes there, so if that was your point, then it still stands.

yeah it was in the context (at least for me) of flacco's throwing motion and mechanics improving the last 2 weeks (and im not going to say we have enough evidence yet) and whether the brace really did affect his footwork and technique

it's a thesis that i pondered last week and seeing the better mechanics continue through this game (until the 4th quarter) was supportive hence why i was thinking about the throws in those terms (but again 2 weeks does not a trend make)