2019 Pre-Game Thread: Wk. 9 at Ravens
- Thread starter DJnVa
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Can't wait to see Brady probable with right shoulder. Was the running joke for years when they used to do that.
That was a gimmick offense that once was on film was easy to stop because there was no threat of the pass. What the Ravens run is much different IMO. Jackson is becoming a very good thrower and when you combine a real threat of the pass with his running ability it is very difficult to stop.
Outside of his Miami week 1 performance he has been a below average passer.
Averaging: 19.8-32.5 221 yards, 1 TD, 0.8 INTs, 0.7 Fumbles and 2.7 Sacks/game.
Still he's lethal on the ground.
I watched the first couple episodes of "Living with Your Self" - Brady bit was funny, but the show really has hooked me. Very wacky, with good writing
He had all 5 picks in 2 games. Out of the 7 games, he's had 2 stinkers passing(Pittsburgh and Seattle) and the rest were good to great. He's had passer ratings of 158.3, 104.8, 96.1, and 84.9. The other 3 were 70.6, 69.4, and 54.9. Completion percentage on the year is 63.3(Brady's is 64.7) and his QBR is 70.9(Brady's is 60). The next thing to come for him is consistency. But, the flashes of being a really good passer have shown up. He's still developing having only started 14 career games.
As for 1, I'm guessing that the Bengals were instructing #58 to crash down to take away the dive while having a LB or safety come behind him to play the QB. From what I understand, that's the classic way to defend the RPO. The problem is that over and over, defenses are forced to try to stop Lamar with one guy, and up to know, that's been a mismatch for Lamar. Will be interesting to see how BB handles it.
One of the other quanderies for defenses is that playing man coverage is tough because the Ravens can send guys deep and then Lamar is a threat to break one.
Teams have been more successful defending against the Ravens by getting their linemen to get penetration, having extra DBs or LBs who can run to the ball, and clogging the middle of the field when Lamar throws. Still, because BAL is playing 11 on 11, they seem to be able to find one week link in every game where they can have measure of consistent success.
Will be interesting to see.
I will be flying into the Ratbirds' nest for this one on Sunday night. Question, this seems like one of the top-5 hostile fan environments for a Patriots' fan to travel to. Should I wear kevlar, or chainmail underneath my Patriots gear?
Definitely the game I've been looking to all year, and think it has "game of the year" potential. Will be there with a Ravens fan friend. Hopefully I won't die.
Humblebrag: We're in the lowers, right on the 50.
Humblebrag: We're in the lowers, right on the 50.
I don’t that is necessary. I’ve seen one fight in my Section (103) since they came from Cleveland. My daughter, huge TB fan, will be going along with my son. My advice is to not get into it verbally with rabid fans. Keep a low profile.
It’s been my experience that the fans who get into trouble are out of town fans who not only want to take in the game, but also plant the flag and claim ownership of the place. Eagle fans, for example.
The stadium is heavily policed by Baltimore policemen and State Trooper. They respond in overwhelming numbers when something break out.
Follow the text instructions and report the incident if anyone causes trouble.
Good article - made me subscribe to the Athletic, which BTW seems fantastic so far poking around. Highly recommend people spend the $30 for a year (!) to do it.
I'd always read it as DC Missile (like a defense contractor or something), but I guess DC Miss L. E. makes a certain sense.
The Ron DC turned out to be a misread too. And AmFox.
One guy's username is a tribute to an obscure bareknuckle boxer, Ebeneezer "Wrong Way" Marciano, who had an amazing 4-90 record in the 1880s and 90s.
While I'm not sure that's a humblebrag, that sounds like a blast. May your 4th quarter be filled with the deathly silence of the departed home fans.
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I kind of have a feeling this game will be a bit like the AFCCG. I think Belichick will come up with some sort of wrinkle that gets the Ravens on their heels a bit and has some success with Jackson. But Harbaugh is a good coach and I'm not sure we can count on them not making adjustments. Hopefully, we can get a lead and get the same result.
Patriots injury report
DNP-none
LP-Edelman, Burkhead, Mason, Chung, Izzo, LaCosse, Gunner
FP-none
Ravens
DNP-Bennett Jackson
LP-Earl Thomas, Hollywood Brown, Patrick Onwuasor, Jimmy Smith, Patrick Mekari
FP-none
DNP-none
LP-Edelman, Burkhead, Mason, Chung, Izzo, LaCosse, Gunner
FP-none
Ravens
DNP-Bennett Jackson
LP-Earl Thomas, Hollywood Brown, Patrick Onwuasor, Jimmy Smith, Patrick Mekari
FP-none
QBs only are entitled to special protection under the roughing the passer rules when they are in a passing posture. 12.2.11 So it can't be roughing the passer.
Otherwise, it is unnecessary roughness to hit or tackle a player who is out bounds, "out of the play," or "should not have reasonably anticipated such contact by an opponent." 12.2.8
My understanding of the rule is that a QB who has an option remains in the play until the QB no longer has the option, which is the period after which a reasonable defender would understand that the QB no longer has the ball -- and assuming that the QB does not thereafter try to engage in blocking. Clear as mud, but here's an article that quotes Blandino as sort of addressing it. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/24/chip-kelly-confused-about-what-roughing-the-passer-means/
An 84.9 passer rating is not good, not today. If that's what he had for a whole season line, it would slot in between Joe Flacco and Daniel Jones as the 25th best passer rating. The 96.1 day is buoyed by a 50 yard TD he threw down 18 with 40 seconds to go against the Browns. Prior to that meaningless pass, his rating was 79.99.
He has been a below average passer 5 games out of the 7 he's played.
If someone is Limited on Wednesday, but not Limited on Thursday shouldn't they be listed as Full? And/Or how exactly is Full used?
(Asking because of Brady)
They just removed him from the injury report altogether. Most likely he just missed a period or 2 during practice for load management because they had Kessler. You have to list someone on the injury report if they miss even parts of practice so they just put shoulder on there. Full is used for someone that is actually injured but participated in 100% of practice.
I believe Full is used where a player did not play the prior week due to injury, or where an event happened the prior week during a game, that caused his status to be questioned. For example, if Mason had returned to practice on Wednesday without limitation, he would have been an FP. It's a way to signal the world that a guy that was rendered questionable because of a game (or not playing in one) is ok.
Edit: See page 3: https://operations.nfl.com/media/2683/2017-nfl-injury-report-policy.pdf
Containment is the key. I saw some comments saying the Pats were likely going to go heavy due to Baltimore averaging nearly 200 yds rushing - but that's largely due to a QB who is setting records for yards gained on the ground, which come from breaking contain and, if not traditional "scrambling" result from rushes designed to originate from outside the box. Pressure should come from up the middle with edge rushers staying wide hoping to force throws into areas/receivers covered by elite players like Gilmore.
It's important to note the trend. The 2 best games were the first 2 of the season. And of his top 3, they came in first 4 games. In October, his passer rating was 69.0 and he threw 1 TD.
None of that is saying he's not dangerous. He absolutely is.
Cool. I usually follow the rule of "Root for your team, not against their team."
Edit: This was supposed to be a reply to DC missile's post about the relative safety of M&T stadium. I am drunk, and should go to bed.
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Interesting hearing Bill admit there isn't a front 7 player that can spy L Jax. Mentioned you need to use leverage if you are going to try to contain him with the front 7. I still think they spy with a DB and play a lot of zone this week. Way more than we've seen.
My recollection is that in the playoff game against the Tebow-led (and Josh-coached) Broncos, the Patriot LB's just put Tebow on his back every single time he pitched it. Probably didn't impact Tebow too much as he was built like a FB at 6'-3", 236, but Jackson is listed at 6'-2", 212, which is a different kettle of fish when someone like Hightower or Simon is putting you on your butt multiple times a game.
Don't know about the accuracy, but according to this article, here are Lamar's stats versus man/zone: https://www.clnsmedia.com/patriots-game-plan-new-england-defense-play-zone-lamar-jackson/
Man is a huge problem because the secondary often have their backs turned to Lamar.
It'll be interesting to see how he handles it. The Ravens have a really good TE (who will do nothing this week, because I just acquired him in fantasy) and Brown is a decent WR, but beyond that the only WR with more than 10 catches is Willie Snead.
That is why I wanted more stout players on the edges this week. Smaller and quicker DE/OLB types like Van Noy tend to get washed back inside. If you put players like Hightower and Wise on the ends they stand a better chance of holding their ground and forcing Jackson inside where Collins/Roberts/Bentley can make the tackle.
When rushing the passer, the rushers need to mirror Jackson and not get past his level. Collapse the pocket and squeeze him in.
Potential special teams role for Harry?
https://nesn.com/2019/11/bill-belichick-provides-clarity-on-josh-gordon-update-on-nkeal-harry/
https://nesn.com/2019/11/bill-belichick-provides-clarity-on-josh-gordon-update-on-nkeal-harry/
He returned 15 punts in college. If he is active, Gunner likely won't be. Jules and Harry may situationally split time on punt returns.
Another option for Sunday to combat the running ability of Jackson is this: play a 4 man front with Wise and Hightower at the ends, 2 LBs(Collins and either Bentley or Roberts) and an extra safety in the box. There is a heavier front but also an element of speed in the 2nd level with Collins/Bentley/safety chasing Jackson down.
I love KVN. I just don't think he holds up well in the running game and they have a better option to play against this type of offense on early downs in Bentley. Roberts could play the middle with Collins and Bentley if they went a basic 4-3.
Van Noy is much quicker than Bentley and I would prefer him to a safety on early downs, especially with Ingram on the field and the RPO.