MVN - Most Valuable Network

Baltimore Ravens: Midweek Report

     Well we have all had a few days to digest Sunday’s almost meltdown. This team is definitely making the season interesting so far. This could very easily be a 0 - 3 team going into week four, but you know what? I am going to think positive, they are 2 - 1 and have a big conference game coming up on Sunday against the Browns.

     A few notes for the “What others are saying” page, Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun did his weekly questions where he answers fan questions about the team. Here are some quick quotes: “Teams have discovered the Ravens don’t play solid pass coverage and are going after them……Billick doesn’t help the defense out, either. Three times this season he could have used the clock with a running game that was effective, but he doesn’t have that feel for when to slow it down.”, “Billick hasn’t produced a good offense since he became head coach in 1999……Ryan has been the defensive coordinator for barely more than two years. In that time, he has had one of the two top defenses in the league. For now, Ryan gets a “get out of jail free card.”.

     OFFENSE:  Sounds like echos of what myself and Mike Brown have been saying since preseason. Where is the running game? Why does it always seem that when the opportunity calls for run, Billick ALWAYS passes. You don’t confuse anyone by predictability. You confuse them by mixing it up. If you base your gameplan on statistics and diagrams, well then the other team can use those same statistics and diagrams to figure out what you will do. Now I don’t know for sure if this is what Brian Billick does, but it really seams like it. I don’t have a problem with passing 2nd and 7, but not every-time. If you run for no gain on first and second down, the defense knows you will have to pass on third down. You become predictable, and he is. What happened to coaching by the feel of the game? Great coaches always seemed to know when to do something, and it worked.

DEFENSE: I really do not think it is a coincidence that in the past two weeks the Ravens have been lit up defensively in the fourth quarter. In week 1 they were lit up in the first half the same way. But at the half, the defense made adjustments and the Ravens shut the Bengals down and were in position to win the game. The defenses around the league are not afraid of the Ravens’ offense, they have no reason to be. But they are afraid of the Ravens’ defense. They know that if they can just hang out for three quarters, then hit them in the fourth like the Bengals did in week one, they can beat this team. That way there is no time for halftime adjustments. Just my opinion.

Week 4: A quick look into the future and I see Jamal Lewis running into town. Coming off of a 200+ yard effort, Jamal is out to prove that all of those comments he made the past few years about not getting enough carries is right on point. Right now I almost believe him. I think in a way Jamal shut himself down last year to avoid injury and to slap the team in the face that would not sign him long term. Now he comes back refreshed and regeared. I expect to see him try to prove a point this week. I also expect him to find out what is has been like to play the Raven’s defense for all of the other running backs in the league. Brutal. I don’t think Jamal will break 100 yards. He may be determined, but I will bet Ray Lewis and company will be equally determined to shut him down.

INJURY UPDATE: Todd Heap suffered a concussion late in Sunday’s game with a catch that, with the resulting penalty, was probably a game saver. Everywhere I read says Todd Heap will probably play this Sunday. Samari Rolle is also expected to return. Trevor Pryce will most likely be out again with the broken wrist. Jonathan Odgen is still being evaluated, but I don’t expect him to play.

Well that’s it for now, look for Mike Brown’s Week 4 preview later in the week, and look for the live thread on Sunday. I hope to get a few more on there this week.

Last week I was asked by Dan Benton from AOL Sports and MVN to answer questions for his ‘Five Questions with an Enemy Blogger”. Dan writes the Cardinal’s blog for AOL Sports. You can find it here if your interested. I tend to write from the seat of my pants a lot, everyonce in a while I will throw statistics around. But I say what I believe and feel. It was freaky reading that again AFTER the game and seeing that some of my concerns going into it played out.

All opinions are mine, who else could come up with this crap?  Mike Z

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 25th, 2007 at 11:06 pm and is filed under Baltimore Ravens Mid Week Report. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.