thundercleetz

The receivers have been big upgrades for us: 25 receiving TDs (with a few drops in there as well) and we have been able to keep defenses honest by throwing the ball downfield (we are among the league leaders in big plays downfield). However, here are two numbers that are holding back our offense: - Ravens are sixth in the league in rushing attempts but are tied for 25th in the league with 3.8 yards per rushing attempt (Cincinnati is last with 3.6 YPR) - Flacco has been sacked 36 times this season, third most in the league (McNabb is second with 37 and Cutler is first with 46 sacks) Simply put, with the exception of the last two weeks, the guys up front have not been doing their job. If this line performed to the level last year's line did, this offense would definitely be a top-10 offense IMO. The loss of Gaither really hurt us. Being unable to run the ball sets up second and third-and-longs, and situations like that are leading to Flacco getting sacked a lot. Correct me if I am wrong, but the run game has been very poor in short yardage and redzone situations this season. Only 10 rushing TDs this season, 22 last season. On the positive note: - The run game has been solid the past two weeks and hopefully this is something we can carry into the playoffs. - It is really amazing how low Flacco's INT numbers are considering the large amount of times he has been in second and third-and-long situations. I don't think people really appreciate how much we have asked out of Flacco this season being how poor the offensive line and run game has been, and Flacco has stepped up!

It's not guaranteed though, cut him if he can't make it by the end of training camp, or sooner. Compared to what we've done in the past signing guys like Kenny Hamlin, Frank Walker and Cory Ivy for $1 million+ a year, $400K for a guy as talented as Kindle is certainly worth the risk to me.

I'm not saying he will overcome any of his problems, I am just saying it is a very low risk for us to take and I would not be surprised to see him re-signed next year.

If that was the case why did we sign him to a one-year deal this season? There's a big difference between giving a guy a 4-year, $10 million contract (Rolle in 2009) and giving a guy a $350K or so minimum offer. There is a really low risk with keeping a guy as talented as Kindle. If he messes up again or can't play, cut him, there is no guaranteed money involved.

We'd be able to offer Kindle a EFA offer sheet, so it would be very cheap to keep him. We are going to keep him for next season.

No way, while I do believe we have a chance of beating Indy, Pittsburgh, and New England individually, playing these teams back-to-back-to-back on the road is immensely tolling. Remember the 2008 playoffs: the Dolphins game was a breeze, but that Titans game on the road took a lot out of this team. By the time we had to go to Pittsburgh, this team was physically exhausted. Granted, we are a lot healthier this time of year than we were in 2008, but it is still tolling. I'll gladly take two of the big three, that's enough.

I don't believe we are going to Indy, I think the Raiders are going to beat the Chiefs. They beat them in OT earlier this season and the Raiders played the Colts very tough last week. Don't pencil anything in just yet guys.

It is just hard to get rid of Kindle so quickly being he was our first pick and we don't even know what we have yet. I know hindsight is 20-20, but Cody has been a complete waste of a pick so far too. Instead of Kindle, imagine how much we could have used Devon McCourty (Pro-Bowler CB for the Pats who went 27th). Nevertheless, a lot of the picks in that area of the late first round/early second round have been disappointing as well. Might as well keep the guy, just keep him on a short leash. We really need pass rush help.

I am thrilled that Cundiff made it. His leg on kickoffs has been a true weapon for us, and he has been very accurate this season. The guy has worked hard to be where he is and I am glad that the fans, players, and coaches gave him the proper recognition. Give the guy a long-term deal NOW. Sam Koch is another guy that probably should be in the Pro Bowl. However, when you are being pitted against one of the greatest punters of all-time in Shane Lechler, there is nothing you can do. Suggs, Ray, Reed, and Ngata all deserve to go. Sure, Ray hasn't had as good a season as we are used to, but he is still better than what else is out there in the AFC. You can ask the same question with Ed Reed, the guy has 6 INTs in nine games, can you really make an arguement that there is anyone better out there than Reed or Polamalu in the AFC? McClain is a good choice for a first alternate. We saw in the Pittsburgh game how much we missed him. Pass protection suffered and we had no power run game. Leach has done a great job blocking for Foster in Houston and Leach deserves to go.

Well, Kindle did a great job of making everyone forget about that potentially chronic knee problem.

After the problems we had with Katula late last season, you cannot take what Cox has done for us for granted. I also feel bummed for the guy because he was clearly distraught being lost for the season this late into a playoff run.

If KC loses and Indy wins, Indy is the four seed I believe. Not only would playing KC be much better, but it would also likely put Indy against Pittsburgh in round 2. Might as well let those two teams duke it out.

JJ said in an interview that the defense overlooked Hillis, he said guys we getting up and going to the bathroom during the film study of the Browns' offense that week. I don't expect the same thing to happen again this week.

I'm not saying they are chump teams, I just think they are more in line with teams like the Texans, Dolphins, Raiders, and Bucs. They are just not on our talent level.

I guess this is where we disagree. I see us as clear favorites over a team like the Chiefs, Jets, or Jags. I think there's a fine line between us and teams like that. Teams like that lose games they are not supposed to, we don't. I don't care if we make it close, the Steelers nearly lost to the Bills in OT on a dropped pass but they still won. A win is a win, doesn't matter how you get there. Teams like the Chiefs, Jets, and Jags stumble when they aren't supposed to. At least our loses are to elite teams.

Here’s the thing about the Saints, they thrive on turnovers. When they win the turnover battle, they win the game, simple as that. Their defense last season was a classic bend, but don’t break defense that caused turnovers when the team most needed it. And when they get turnovers, the offense almost always capitalizes. We are lucky this is a home game, because this team truly feeds off of the energy in the dome and it is almost impossible to stop their momentum once they get it. I have never seen fans live for a team like people in Louisiana live for the Saints. The Saints in their three losses have had a give away/take away of -9 (2-11 in three games, which includes loses to the Browns and Cardinals). In their 10 wins their give away/take away has been only a +3, which explains why the Saints have been in a lot of close contests with some bad teams (does that sound familiar?). This is a big change from last season when the Saints were tied for third in the league last year with a +11 differential. So the key to beating the Saints is winning the turnover battle. If we win the turnover battle we very much have a chance at winning the game. If we start giving the Saints the ball on dumb turnovers, they will kill us, and like Max said, this could get ugly. As stated in that article Max posted, Gregg Williams is a VERY aggressive coordinator. He will blitz all game. With the Saints defense there are lots of opportunities for big plays. Williams’ philosophy is if he keeps blitzing he is eventually going to force the QB to throw an INT or get a fumble on a sack. That’s how they won the Super Bowl last season. On offense the way to get to Brees is to crash the pocket. Sean Payton’s system is perfect for Brees, it allows his to get deep drops with lots of room to see over the line and step into his throws. If you can break the pocket up the middle, Brees will have trouble seeing receivers and stepping into his throws, and this is where his INTs come from. No pressure and Brees will tear us apart. Ngata must have a big game on Sunday collapsing that pocket.

Papasmurf was arguing this. And I still think I have a right to believe we would beat these team, all of our losses under Harbaugh have been to teams with similar or better talent. We don't lose to teams with less talent. Sure it gets interesting, but we still manage to win these games. I am as confident as ever against teams like the Chiefs or Jags.

I have watched the Saints ever game for the past two years. I believe we match up very well against them. This WILL NOT be a blow out. As long as we don't turn the ball over, I love our chances at winning. This is the same Saints team that got blown out by the Browns, lost to the Cardinals, and barely beat the Bengals and Cowboys. The Saints have just as many inconsistencies, weaknesses, and imperfections as we do. You guys are going to be surprised, watch.

And the Chiefs and Jags have? I don't think they have proven to be any better than us... the Jags are a couple of fluke plays away from being out of the playoffs entirely.

I'll guarantee a win against KC or Jax. 100% confident we'd kick either of these teams' butts.

Teams are taking us apart via the pass because our offense cannot sustain drives because we cannot run the ball. It is obvious how much stronger our pass defense is in the first half than the fourth quarter. The pass rush is stronger as well. The defense just gets too tired. In my opinion, the talent is there on the back-end. Webb and Wilson are solid players and had Andre Johnson shutdown in the first three quarters (save for the long pass at the end of the first half that Reed should have picked off). Same with how they shutdown Mike Wallace. If the offense could sustain drives, the defense would be much better. And when we do score, we score quickly. I'm predicting a win this Sunday. It is no fluke that we have had the lead in 12 out of 13 games going into the fourth quarter this season. I think we are going to surprise a lot of people this week.

Forget the right side, we already have problems on that left side with Oher. That Saints defensive line are going to look like superstars on Sunday. Cam just needs to go four receiver sets and have Flacco in the shotgun the whole game. Unless we are going to change our playbook to a more finesse oriented running game, don't even try and run the ball because it's not going to work.

The Bengals are not the same team that we played in Week 2. They have injuries, Carson Palmer has been terrible, and as seen by TO's latest comments, the team is turning against the coaches. The Bengals play Cleveland and San Diego in the next two weeks, two loses in my opinion. At 3-12/2-13 when they play us, I gurantee you that team will have packed it in for the year. The Saints are going to be tough, but I like our chances at home. We are not going to come out rolling over after last week. I see 3-1 as worst case scenario. I'm thinking a 11-5 record, 12-4 if we win Sunday.

Are you guys talking about the same run game that averaged 2.6 yards per carry? The run game didn't do anything for us on our touchdown drives with the exception of a couple of cheap draw plays that gained decent yardage. Flacco consistently had to convert 2nd/3rd & long situations. The run game was pathetic and if we were were hardly pounding it, unless you consider how we pounded it against the brick wall the Texans run defense put up against us.

Obviously I was being sarcastic...