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Join Home »News »Blogs »5 Lessons Learned: At Bengals .
Sarah Ellison
5 Lessons Learned: At Bengals
Posted by Sarah Ellison on Sunday, September 19th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Categories: 2010 Season, Sarah Ellison, Week 2 at Bengals
Font Size: PLEASE NOTE: The opinions, analysis and/or speculation expressed on BaltimoreRavens.com represent those of individual authors, and unless quoted or clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of the Baltimore Ravens’ organization, front office staff, coaches and executives. Authors’ views are formulated independently from any inside knowledge and/or conversations with Ravens officials, including the coaches and scouts, unless otherwise noted.
A rattled Flacco needs help from the rushing game. I wouldn’t go as far as some of the fans that are already calling for quarterback Joe Flacco’s starting job, but we did learn that the Bengals’ defense consistently rattles the third-year quarterback. Flacco threw for one touchdown and four interceptions in two losses to Cincinatti last season. You can double that interception stat after Sunday’s terrible performance. Part of the problem is that there was a lot of passing plays and few running plays. When asked after the game what was the key in keeping Flacco out of rhythm, Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis said it was keeping running back Ray Rice hemmed in. Rice only had 16 carries and did a lot with them, averaging 5.4 yards. Willis McGahee added just three rushes and Le’Ron McClain only one. The game was never so far out of reach that Baltimore had to play catch-up, so when Flacco was struggling, Rice and Co. would have been a good option to bail him out of a nightmare day. They just need to get the ball more often.
The league is too careful with quarterbacks. Can somebody please tell me what Terrell Suggs was supposed to do to avoid the roughing the passer penalty besides giving up on the play and letting Carson Palmer have an open shot at his receiver? As Suggs said, the NFL is going to protect the players (namely quarterbacks) that pay the bills, but this is still football and the call went too far. Suggs was already engaged when Palmer still had the ball in his hand and Suggs hit him in the strike zone. If the league stands by the call, they owe Suggs and the Ravens an explanation on what roughing the passer actually is. The tripping call against Ray Lewis was also debatable. Both penalties led to a field goal, but it didn’t lose the game for the Ravens.
Offseason cornerback concerns and cries were overblown. He isn’t Peyton Manning, but Palmer is the next best thing. The Ravens brought plenty of pressure – sometimes successfully, sometimes not so successfully – leaving the corners with little help to guard potent receivers Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens and rookie Jermaine Gresham. The story of the game was Flacco’s horrible day, so it’s worth pointing out that Palmer (159) and Flacco (150) had similar passing yard stats. Most were hesitant to give the corners credit after last week’s dominance over the Jets’ young Mark Sanchez, but it’s time they get the credit they deserved, especially after getting slammed for a seven-month offseason. Also, let’s not overlook the importance of cornerback Lardarius Webb’s return. It’s been a long time since he’s played in any sort of game environment and he more than held his own.
Veteran receivers not afraid to vocally react. Word from the locker room at halftime is that new addition and eight-year veteran Anquan Boldin gave a speech to fire up the team. It seemed to work, as the Ravens came out to open up the third quarter with a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped off with a 31-yard beauty to Derrick Mason. Television cameras also showed Boldin visibly frustrated on the sidelines after several failed third-down conversions. Mason isn’t afraid to speak up, and after only one game last week, T.J. Houshmandzadeh was calling for more balls (although I wouldn’t characterize it as a frustrated request. He is just confident in his abilities). We now know our receivers have more swagger than in past years, but we don’t know how Flacco responds to it. An interesting development to watch.
Dickson, Pitta provide relief for Heap coming off a minor injury. Todd Heap’s minor shoulder injury was closely followed all week. Minor soreness and tweaks are typical for Heap, but what has been atypical is quality depth to help provide relief. Heap was still on the field vs. the Bengals, and he was second on the team with four catches for 35 yards. Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta were out there too, helping out with blocking duties and even taking reps so Heap could rest on the sideline. Heap hasn’t had that relief in quite some time. Dickson is a beast too. I loved his stiff arm on his first NFL reception for 17 yards.
Tags: 5 Lessons Learned, Cornerback, Joe Flacco, Lessons Learned, Quaterbacks, Rushing Game, Tight Ends, Wide Receivers
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0Raven4Life21
Posted
Today, 04:26 PMim sorry to say this... but to say that the blown call of roughing the passer didn't lose us the game is just proposterous... yes i know there are PLENTY of things we could have done better in other areas... but that call alone put them within field goal range and put them ahead... there is NO WAY they would have scored on us any other way... they were gonna punt and it would have been our ball and the score STILL would have been 10-9 Ravens... that's not to say that Flacco didn't help in the loss... he sure did.. but that call gave them the win... it's ridiculous when 2 teams are busting their butts to win a ball game and it comes down to a ridiculous call like that... hats off to Cincy for playing a great game... Flacco needs to get his act together... and that Ref can rot in hell... yeah you can get mad all you want but i blame the winning points on the refs... Now Cincy has a W but not at all a credible one... sorry but even if the Ravens had won... i wouldn't want it to be because of a crappy call like that... Don't get me wrong... Flacco has a LOT of growing up to do... but for the rest of the team to play as hard as they did that call blew a completely legit game for both teams... I hope i never run into that ref on the streett0Magnum316
Posted
Today, 04:06 PMI thought Flacco looked as if he didnt show up for work. He should have been benched at halftime and Bulger should have been ready. The 2 penalties on Ray and Suggs were inexcusable calls by the refs. Palmer was in Suggs' grasp when he threw the ball and when he tripped over Ray, Ray was being blocked by a Bengal OL those 2 penalties got me going on a profanity laced tirade. I realy like what I saw from Pitta and Dickson, when they werent in the game they were asking questions and that showed me they want to learn and get better.0DonPerryOn410
Posted
Today, 04:04 PMI will remember all you fans that are wanting Flacco's head when he isn't "wow"ing you guys making you think he's the next best thing since "penut butter&jelly"
Look he's a QB in his first two games. There are plenty of other QB's that are not in mid-season form this year and im sure that their fans aren't trying to say he'll never be good again. Let him get into his rythym and let the offensive timing get set, and things will start looking up. If the wide recievers aren't open they aren't open. There was only 1 or 2 plays that were unnoticed wide open recievers and if we would have won that game everyone would just be saying he needs to get it fixed quick not " Take his head off, sit him on the bench, trade him, he'll never be a elite QB". Get over this people and let him worry about his game not that he doesn't fit in B-more. How about we act like real fans and have our teams back atm instead of wanting something different. You guys make me almost sad to be a Raven.0grey32
Posted
Today, 03:47 PMI'm one of those people who jumps in the pot and will scream and holler when things are going badly, IF IT IS WARRANTED !!
It's the second game, we have a flock of new receivers who haven't played together in real games, tough games. Geeze calm down.
First you all drank way, way to much of the purple kool aid this summer and started believing all that supper bowl crap. I'm not counting out a great season but; give these guys a few games to get it together.
Yeah, Joe had a bad day. It will either make him a better QB or break him. I'm not ready to throw him under the bus just yet. I saw a few things that he did better Sunday. He actually felt guys coming for him and stepped away or ran away. He didn't do that last year.
I think the worst thing you can do right now is sit Joe down. These guys have to PLAY together to get real game timing and trust. You can't do that on the bench.
Give it a few weeks. Then I'll be making more noise then any of you, it's just way to soon to give up on the guy.1dwhravens
Posted
Today, 02:44 PMI'm sorry to say this, but Flacco should sit out. Harbaugh needs to pull his head out and put in Bulger. Flacco looked horrible. His footwork was completely off. He looked rattled the whole game. It reminded of me of Kyle Boller! We play the Steelers in two weeks, who just came off a huge turnover day. Our defense is great, but so is the Steelers. What is Joe gonna do against a great defense like the Steelers??-1Ghosted
Posted
Today, 02:31 PMThe defense can only carry this team but so far. What the offense needs is a QB that can effectively manage the game. Joe can't. In his three years, he more often than not appears timid and unsure of himself when pressured in the pocket. I said on another post that Joe does not have P.A. (pocket awareness) which in the most important trait in an Elite NFL QB. You can have intelligence, speed, strong arm, elusiveness, toughness, but without pocket awareness defenses will do what the bengals did. Elite QB have an intuitive feel for when to get rid of the ball but Joe doesn't. It's something that can't be coached. You either have it or you don't and I'm sorry but Joe dosn't have it and never will. He'll be a medicore QB at best and still unable to manage a game. Bulger is slightly better but Ravens fans will wish they had Troy Smith.0Dell Damon
Posted
Today, 02:22 PMOH, I forgot about the shortened week and the emotionally and physically draining game they had. Jets went on to play an easier defense while we still played against a formidable defense. They didn't sweep our division by luck. The AFC North is the best division in the league because of the stout defenses and great offenses w/ mean run games that we all have. PLEASE.... stop all the hating before you jinx the season. I know for damned sure none of you whiners were complaining about Joe Cool last yr when we were putting up 30+ pts a game! I bet you were saying he's better then Brady and Manning combined!! Now y'all want his head after 2 games, smh. I shouldn't be reading this on our Team site (-_-)0lwebb21
Posted
Today, 02:10 PMJake83 you are right. As long as Flacco is QB expect mediocrity.1Dell Damon
Posted
Today, 01:27 PMLook, Flacco is NOT, Peyton, or Brady... or Warner or whoever else. HE'S JOE FLACCO. Yes, ALL QBs make mistakes. This just wasnt his best game. But I know for sure Cam, Jim, Joe and Marc will work those kinks out of Flacco and he will go one to have a GREAT SEASON! It's Wk 2, let him do his thing. He's only in his third year and Still learning! If you've lost faith THIS QUICK... you are NOT a Real FAN to begin with. PERIOD! Gotta take a few Real games outside of the weekly practices for Joe and his receivers to mesh. See if he's ****** up still by the bye week. I bet we're on a streak by then, WINNING STREAK! GO RAVENS!!!!!!!0Jake83
Posted
Today, 01:17 PMOk il never be on flaccos "jock" first off man. I havent been a flacco fan since his rookie year...if i had the choice i would have put bulger in and see how he did. everybody can hate my stuff that im saying but im telling you, dont expect as much as you think from the ravens.Page 1 of 8123NextLast
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