Ravens @ Steelers

[tsylvester]

Yes, our favorite time of year is here, time for game of the biannual meeting, regular season with the Stillers, pardon my ignorance.

Lamar's record against the Steelers is just 1-2, having missed several games due to injury & or illness. He has thrown 4 touchdowns with six interceptions against the tough Steeler defense. They have also kept his running in check, he is averaging just 43 yards per game on the ground.

The Steelers defense is ranked 8th in the league in total yards per game, allowing 302.7, 215 passing 87 rushing.

Against the pass, however, may just be their weakness, where they are ranked 19th, allowing 8 tds and forcing 10 picks, 22 sacks.

 

Their offense under Russel Wilson is ranked 18th, 326 total yards per game, 188 via the air, 138 on the ground. They are averaging 23.9 points per game while holding teams to 16.2 points per game.

 

Wilson has played in only 3 games this year, He is averaging 245 yards per game with 6 touchdowns and 1 interception. He is completing 58% of his passes. Most of which are intermediate with his moon ball deep passes mixed in. He can still scramble, so pass rush lane discipline will be in order.

The Steelers have won the last few in a row, most came aga8nst a back up quarterback for the Ravens.

This is a fight for 1st place in the division, and to show the Steelers who is king. Pitt is very disciplined with their edges, the zone reads do not work well against them. This will likely be a game where the pass has to set up the run and when the tackles will need help with chip blocks.

Pressuring Wilson will confuse him, will cause him to just throw one or two up in the direction of their acrobatic wide out, George Pickens. It would be nice if the defensive secondary can catch a few.

So, who ya got?

[deeshopper]

Bloodbath.

[oldno82]

Tough game coming up for sure. The Pittsburgh D is really really good or at least it was before the injuries they got during the last game. Wilson is no longer a terror but his experience and intelligence will make his team have roughly equal footing with any other team.

If we had the ability to really rush the passer, I'd give us the edge. But we don't and our secondary is a basket case. I've got to think the Steelers win this one though Lamar will keep us in the game.

The rematch at the Bank should have a different outcome.

[tsylvester]

Pit may be a deceiving team. Aside from the Commandos, who have they played? They are only just now getting into their tough stretch of games. Even then, they got one lucky, wrong call to win against the Commandos.

This game should be interesting, if Lamar and the offense keep their mojo going, especially if they can get a fast start and keep the penalties from stopping their drives, they should score, a lot.

The defense will be interesting, aside from Pickens, the rabbit who bounces around as he runs, their weapons are average, even Williams. Wilson is completing 50 % of his passes, if he keeps that pace up, the defense should get a few stops, enough to get this win.

[oldno82]

Well-thought-out, but I still think we'll have our hands full. Pitts always plays us tough, especially in their stadium and their fans will be really psyched up. And let us not forget we didn't find the Commanders a pushover.

What I would really like to see is our defense stop the run and for our offense to keep going full throttle. We can't be timid playing these guys. As Billick once said, we have to go into this screaming like a banshee!

Really wished we were using organized chaos on our defense rather than Pee's bend don't break. Have we used a zero cover blitz once this season?

[tsylvester]

Yes, they have run the 0 blitz a fea times, once, I exploded they did it leaving Jackson one on one after he had been destroyed all game and of course, he was on that play, deep for a touchdown. I believe it was the Cleveland game where Winston threw it up for an easy long grab...

The issue with that is leaving the safety on an island, the biggest weakness on this team

 

[papasmurfbell]

15 hours ago, tsylvester said:

Pit may be a deceiving team. Aside from the Commandos, who have they played? They are only just now getting into their tough stretch of games. Even then, they got one lucky, wrong call to win against the Commandos.

This game should be interesting, if Lamar and the offense keep their mojo going, especially if they can get a fast start and keep the penalties from stopping their drives, they should score, a lot.

The defense will be interesting, aside from Pickens, the rabbit who bounces around as he runs, their weapons are average, even Williams. Wilson is completing 50 % of his passes, if he keeps that pace up, the defense should get a few stops, enough to get this win.

They are great against the run.  We will be 1 demential. As for their offense friamooth can cause huge damage.

 

12 hours ago, oldno82 said:

Well-thought-out, but I still think we'll have our hands full. Pitts always plays us tough, especially in their stadium and their fans will be really psyched up. And let us not forget we didn't find the Commanders a pushover.

What I would really like to see is our defense stop the run and for our offense to keep going full throttle. We can't be timid playing these guys. As Billick once said, we have to go into this screaming like a banshee!

Really wished we were using organized chaos on our defense rather than Pee's bend don't break. Have we used a zero cover blitz once this season?

what are you talking about?   It’s just break.  There is no bending.  

[tsylvester]

He is talking about the Pees philosophy, let them catch amd then swarm to takle. Force them into a mistake by being impatient or a field goal.

It's 1 reason Pees was let go, he didn't aftack.

[papasmurfbell]

I understand.  I don’t see pees saying don’t even cover these guys.

 

laconfora grout up that Orr is shaking his head to what is being said on the cans.  Maybe the position coaches up top are not good.  My understanding is he didn’t hire the guys under him.  We did have a major brain drain.  

[tsylvester]

It is quite baffling, an all peo linebacker can't  play zone any more?

At the same time, an all pro safety can't play any more.

A corner who showed great promise last year, can cover but can't  find the ball.

A safety who was decent for his career now has found the end of it.

All of this at the same time?

At the same time a new set of defensive coaches? All of them are wrong hires too?

A complete collapse of the defense that set records last year, records that had never been done?

It's as uncanny as Tucker now missing field goals and extra points.

The coaches, by now have to see what the problems are in both defense and special teams. The only moves the team tried to make at the trade deadline was for corner, which is not exactly a need, (for one of the best of in the league too boot) a wide out, and an older defensive lineman.

Harbs said no to moving Stephens Back to safety. I wonder, if they had been able to get that corner is they then would have moved him Stephens to safety?

I hear Nick Moore say that Tucker is fine, it is just his plant foot slipping most of the time.. Now I would not expect him to say what is truly wrong with the field goal unit, but all of the misses the past 2 years, almost 3 years are his plant foot slipping?

How have they not fixed the kicking problem is it is NOT simply Tucker losing his touch?

They benched both safeties over the past two games to see if they could get better play, same result.

So they know that safety is an issue. So at least they are trying to fix that part of the defense: players. At this stage, that is all that they can do then replace a lot of players next year, and maybe a few coaches. With these issues, you can't really blame Orr, or can we?

[oldno82]

I'm not suggesting they play cover 0 frequently but I do notice we don't seem to play it hardly at all. It's a risk, I know. I'm just saying throw it in there once in a while to shake up the opposing offense. It's a race between getting to the QB and the QB being fast enough to get the ball out quickly. I'd like to seem them try it once or twice a game. And they do need to blitz a bit more with one or two LB'ers bringing heat because the front four just aren't getting enough consistent pressure.

Having said all that, the biggest problem remains the secondary. I don't know what is wrong there. I keep reading about communication issues but now that we are deep in the season, it would seem those types of problems would have been solved.

Whatever the cause, it looks like poor coaching, or inexperienced coaching it the ultimate reason the defense isn't better than dead last in stopping the pass.

I don't know if a 'miracle' cure is possible this season. We might have to just continue hoping we can outscore opponents rather than stop them. When the off-season gets here though, some coaching changes need to be made.

[papasmurfbell]

And now for 2024 we have monk who will be a hc next yr.  Do we have anyone who can run this offense in 25?  

[tsylvester]

I don't think Monk is going to get a hc job, he knows the big challenges that brings. Factor in his age and I just do not see it. Where, Chicago or Indi where they have young qbs in need of guidance?

Oldno, the issues seem to be a problem with the coverage they are in. When they play cover 2 to the field side and man to the boundary, an example, for what ever reason the safety and corner; Stephens and either Jackson or Williams, plays something different. Also, to help try and confuse the offense, they will often have man under, but to put a wrinkle in it, they will mix a corner to be a safety nand visa versa.

This has confused the players, again, Stephens, Jackson, Williams.

According to Humphries, it works flawlessly in practice, but it is not being carried over into games, if we believe him.

Ive seen both Williams and Jackson having deep middle assignments, stand flat footed looking at the qb too long, trying to decide to jump a crossing route rather than the deep post/ corner.

So with better safety play, we know Williams can do it, he did here before the injury, even last year with the injury, he just couldn't tackle well because of the shoulder.

So what is his problem this year? It would be 1 thing if his speed, quickness was gone and he was getting beat.

But that is not the issue, he is stone footed, lost on what coverage they are in, trying to do too much perhaps?

[papasmurfbell]

I have heard in several areas that monk wants a hc job.  There will be a lot of openings this yr.  
 

both ny spots, Dallas, cle, Jax, chi, no, and car I expect to be open.  That is 8.  Then ten, Indy, and cincy are all real possible.  That’s a third of the league.

[oldno82]

2 hours ago, tsylvester said:

I don't think Monk is going to get a hc job, he knows the big challenges that brings. Factor in his age and I just do not see it. Where, Chicago or Indi where they have young qbs in need of guidance?

Oldno, the issues seem to be a problem with the coverage they are in. When they play cover 2 to the field side and man to the boundary, an example, for what ever reason the safety and corner; Stephens and either Jackson or Williams, plays something different. Also, to help try and confuse the offense, they will often have man under, but to put a wrinkle in it, they will mix a corner to be a safety nand visa versa.

This has confused the players, again, Stephens, Jackson, Williams.

According to Humphries, it works flawlessly in practice, but it is not being carried over into games, if we believe him.

Ive seen both Williams and Jackson having deep middle assignments, stand flat footed looking at the qb too long, trying to decide to jump a crossing route rather than the deep post/ corner.

So with better safety play, we know Williams can do it, he did here before the injury, even last year with the injury, he just couldn't tackle well because of the shoulder.

So what is his problem this year? It would be 1 thing if his speed, quickness was gone and he was getting beat.

But that is not the issue, he is stone footed, lost on what coverage they are in, trying to do too much perhaps?

Hmmm...lots of good insights here. I don't know why Williams is having so much difficulty unless like you suggested he might be trying to do too much. Jackson just hasn't impressed talent-wise. And we've got to have Hamilton back in the secondary this week or else I fear we will get beat. Orr needs to look at last year's film to see how to better utilize his talent.

As for Monken, while he's been great for us and will probably draw a few interviews, I think most teams will view him as 'too old' now that very young head coaches are all in vogue. Kind of a shame for him but good for us.

[tsylvester]

Lamar has come a long way, even from last year. His understanding of the offense, yes, thanks to 2 years with a progressive coordinator. But more so in reading defenses, and, perhaps the most important, in his mechanics, in the types of throws he needs to make.

No, he can't  drop a football 30 +yards down field into a trash can as some, some quarterbacks can. He can't make the back shoulder throw.

But he has clearly learned how to layer throws, and, how to buy time, keep his eyes down field and make the accurate throw.

I love Monken, yall know that, huge UGA fan. The way he sets up plays in the fourth quarter with one's he used in the first.

But, and this is key, as good as he has been with Lamar, for Lamar, Lamar has made Todd look great too. Remember, his system did not work out too well in Cleveland, though that was Cleveland, what does work out well there

 

[papasmurfbell]

If Lamar wins mvp again monk will get monster credit.  I don’t care about age.  Like I said a third of teams look to be open for business.  Not all can get the young hot guy.  Some will go with experience and maximizing talent.  

[papasmurfbell]

Moulett in boot this afternoon.

[tsylvester]

Kyle Van Noy | OLB (Unknown)
Injury: Illness
Practice Status: Did Not Participate In Practice

Brent Urban | DE (Unknown)
Injury: Concussion
Practice Status: Full Participation in Practice

Isaiah Likely | TE (Unknown)
Injury: Hamstring
Practice Status: Limited Participation in Practice

Kyle Hamilton | S (Unknown)
Injury: Ankle
Practice Status: Did Not Participate In Practice

Jalyn Armour-Davis | CB (Unknown)
Injury: Knee
Practice Status: Full Participation in Practice

Pit

Cameron Heyward | DT (Unknown)
Injury: NIR - Rest
Practice Status: Did Not Participate In Practice

MyCole Pruitt | TE (Unknown)
Injury: Knee
Practice Status: Did Not Participate In Practice

Isaac Seumalo | OG (Unknown)
Injury: NIR - Rest
Practice Status: Did Not Participate in practice
Alex Highsmith | LB (Unknown)
Injury: Ankle
Practice Status: Did Not Participate In Practice

Nick Herbig | LB (Unknown)
Injury: Hamstring
Practice Status: Full Participation in Practice

Donte Jackson | CB (Unknown)
Injury: Hamstring
Practice Status: Did Not Participate In Practice

Najee Harris | RB (Unknown)
Injury: Ankle
Practice Status: Did Not Participate In Practice

Van Jefferson | WR (Unknown)
Injury: Quadricep
Practice Status: Did not participate in practice

 

[oldno82]

I got this from the Ravens' website:

"

Kyle Hamilton is back at Ravens practice a week after suffering an ankle injury.

That's an encouraging sign that arguably the Ravens' most critical defender has at least a chance to play Sunday in Pittsburgh. Hamilton was officially listed as a limited participant.

Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy also returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday's practice due to illness. Tight end Isaiah Likely (hamstring) was a full participant after returning to the field Wednesday."

[papasmurfbell]

A couple interesting stats.

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/4th-quarter-points-per-game

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/opp-4th-quarter-points-per-game

[oldno82]

Interesting stuff.

I think another mind-blowing stat is how the Ravens defense is ranked #1 against the run and #32 against the pass, in yards given up.

I'm just hoping the D can put together a good all-around performance this week against Pitts. because they're going to need it.

And lets hope Lamar can break his pattern of weak past performances against them too. I think he will now that he has so many weapons to attack them with.

[papasmurfbell]

Why run when your efficiency goes through the roof passing?

[tsylvester]

The defense showed up against Buffalo, 10 pts. Can they do it again?

There is so much "weird" about this season, & I know weird, man do I.

Turnovers by the offense has been a killer when facing the Steelers, if they can stop that, maybe they can stop the losing to the Steelers.

This Tyson fight tonight just adds to the weirdness, it's rigged, right?

[tsylvester]

New episode up from coach Belly, moren x's & o's in this one, good stuff