Baltimore at Buffalo

[tsylvester]

Oy vey, is just one phrase shouted throughout Baltimore this past Sunday as the Ravens lost another first half lead, in the second half. So far this year, Baltimore has been out scored in the second half of games they lost, 114 to 44. 

What is the cause, one side of the ball or the other? Special teams gaffes? All of the above is the correct answer. The defense suddenly forgets how to tackle, can't get any pressure on the pocket and cannot cover a 90 year old in a wheel chair. 

The offense is much the same disappointing......... They can't  block anyone, so they cannot run, well, all except the quarterback who is running for his life at the snap of the ball.

The Bills are coming off of their bye, the Ravens heading for one after the game with the Bills.

Buffalo's biggest weakness is their defense. They have given up 30 points or more in four of their six games, in fact, they have given up 29 points or more in every game but one so far this year.

Defense, ugh, used to be the calling card of the Ravens. They even once went 5 straight games without an offensive touchdown and went 2-3 in those games. Granted, they had arguably, one of the best defenses in league history. When they had a lead, the game was over.

Lamar Jackson is expected to be back, though he may eat something spicy and all bets are off...

 

So who ya got?

[tsylvester]

The defense takes a lot of heat for the blown leads, 2nd half collapses. However, Doyle must be looked at as well for an ineffective offense in the 2nd half of games.

The scores from the 2nd half of the games this year, the one that stands out was against the worst defense in the league, outside the country

Colts- 10

Saints-3

Cowboys-17

Titans-0

Falcons-14, 21 if we count ot

Browns-0

Bengals-0

So you see with Lamar they had 2 games with 3 or less points scored in the 2nd half. Even then, the 17 against the Cowboys in Rio is more of an outlire. 

With Huntley, one magical game of 21 total points in the 2nd half & overtime, then 2 games of absolute futility in the second half.

All total, 4 of the 7 games played this year have had 3 or less points scored in the second half. It is a wonder that this team has 4 wins so fsr this season. Dolye has some work to do

[papasmurfbell]

This is the first time he has called plays.  TBD on if he is good at it yet.

[tsylvester]

I'm wondering about both guys right now. They kick tail in the first half of games, both offense & defense.

Then what? A poor half time speech? Are they forced into workouts at half time so they have no energy in the second half?

Or is it that both The Minter and The Doyle are terrible  at half time adjustments?

This game should be interesting if Lamar comes back. Rust, poor half time adjustments like most games or will they find their groove? Buffalo's defense is just a hair better than that of the Cowboys 

[tsylvester]

McL sprain per NBC

Ravens rookie guard Vega Ioane had to leave Sunday’s loss to the Bengals with a knee injury and a report on Tuesday suggests he’ll miss some more time before returning to action.

NFL Media reports that Ioane has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain. The injury is expected to have him out of the lineup in the near future.

[papasmurfbell]

S this center 5?

[oldno82]

5 hours ago, tsylvester said:

I'm wondering about both guys right now. They kick tail in the first half of games, both offense & defense.

Then what? A poor half time speech? Are they forced into workouts at half time so they have no energy in the second half?

Or is it that both The Minter and The Doyle are terrible  at half time adjustments?

This game should be interesting if Lamar comes back. Rust, poor half time adjustments like most games or will they find their groove? Buffalo's defense is just a hair better than that of the Cowboys 

Looks like they're good at drawing up game plans and scripting the first 10 or so plays but adjustments are either absent or very poor. Probably due to inexperience on Minter and Doyle's part. Hopefully, it is something they can get better with over time though I haven't seen any evidence of improvement in that regard so far.

[tsylvester]

2 hours ago, papasmurfbell said:

S this center 5?

Sign a safety, who is very bad, but not willing to give up a 5th for Buckner, or a 3rd this and 4th next for an exceptional guard?

Both moves would hwve helped this team, either replace an injured defensive lineman or replace a terrible guard in Simpson.

That is, if that is what you are referring to....

[GrubberRaven]

Our cap is too small to sign/trade for any new players

[oldno82]

I'm afraid you're right.

[tsylvester]

17 minutes ago, GrubberRaven said:

Our cap is too small to sign/trade for any new players

They are both on expiring contracts, surely the great Sashi could have made one of them work 

[papasmurfbell]

16 hours ago, tsylvester said:

Sign a safety, who is very bad, but not willing to give up a 5th for Buckner, or a 3rd this and 4th next for an exceptional guard?

Both moves would hwve helped this team, either replace an injured defensive lineman or replace a terrible guard in Simpson.

That is, if that is what you are referring to....

That was supposed to be is.  Are we at 5 now?

[tsylvester]

15 minutes ago, papasmurfbell said:

That was supposed to be is.  Are we at 5 now?

Oh sorry, yep, astonishing ain't it, and the Ravens aren't alone, the Packers are losing linemen just as quickly

[oldno82]

2 hours ago, tsylvester said:

They are both on expiring contracts, surely the great Sashi could have made one of them work 

True but that would have meant giving up a pick for a 3 month rental.

[oldno82]

Lamar was back at practice today and was a full participant. I'm not so sure that means he can or should play Sunday with a high ankle sprain that's on the mend when the Ravens have a Thursday night game next week against the Jags. 

From a medical point of view maybe he should be held out until the Jags game. It means another loss against the Bills but what about the long term viewpoint here?

Whaddya think?

[tsylvester]

A lot will depend on how he feels tomorrow, it is easy to gut it out for a day, but the next day is the true tell of healing.

If he is fine he better play, there is still a question as to the extent,  type of ankle injury he suffered. High, low, middle, what ever.

Funny, the only time we heard high ankle was from him and The Minter said it him self, he was a bit shocked that Lamar didnt play against the Bengals. 

[oldno82]

I know the Ravens under Harbaugh hated to detail injury data in order to keep the next opponent guessing but I don't think it really affects much in that regard. It seems the Ravens have gone all in on that philosophy. Don't the training staffers talk to Minter? Why should he be taken by surprise that Lamar didn't play. Or does the team allow Lamar to use his own private trainers? There's always been a touch of paranoia on Lamar's part and the team's part about how much to reveal about the interaction between team and player when it comes to him.

[tsylvester]

From what I read, NBC did a story on it, Lamar was a go all week, ramping up each day and then went to the TV production meeting that is usually set aside for the starters, for thos playing in the game.

This, according to The Minter, was a true indicator that Lamar was going to play. 

[oldno82]

Gee, you would think the head coach would know what the true status of his star quarterback is at all times. But I don't think that is how the Ravens handle Lamar. Sometimes I think they're so afraid of offending him, it's a detriment to the team. Does management really know wtf is going on or not?

Anyway, it looks like he's playing this week. Will be interesting to see if the Ravens can rebound against one of the top teams in the league.

[tsylvester]

Allen is a lot harder to bring down than Burrow was, I don't have high hopes of keeping him bottled up.

If anything, this will have to be a shoot out, at least in the 2nd half. The Bills defense is really not that good, so ball control mixed with a few quick scores may just be what is needed.

[papasmurfbell]

They are petrified of Lamar.  They are never critical even when he screws up.  

[oldno82]

You can't run a successful football team if you're scared of offending your players, stars or not. Not saying you should intentionally be critical just to show your dominance, but there ought to be some red lines for everybody.

[tsylvester]

Interesting, Ione was at practice today, you know, the rookie guard who sprained his MCL, full gear

[tsylvester]

Okay, now this is totally nuts

The Titans (1-6) are receiving 2027 and 2028 first-round picks, plus a 2027 fourth-round pick, from the Bears (5-2) for Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

[GrubberRaven]

Anyone notice that the Bears O is insanely better without Doyle?