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Looking at the Ravens schedule...Yikes!

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Sceeto, Jan 3, 2009.

  1. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

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    I was looking at their record to find out certain reasons for the losses that they've had this year and something I didn't realize was that all of their losses came against really good teams whom are all in the playoffs and whom are some of the top teams in the league....

    2 losses to the Steelers.
    1 loss to the Titans.
    1 loss to the Colts.
    1 loss to the Giants.

    Yikes! With that said, the old cliche, "Any given Sunday" comes to mind. I think Penny has to have a big day because they might be able to stop our run game like they did in our first match up with them, but if Penny has time to pick his spots wherever he can, that will be key. I hope Martin is playing and healthy because I think our tight ends could have a big day, as well as quick, short to intermediate throws to Bess.

    Obviously, the other thing would be to get to Flacco and try to rattle him into some rookie mistakes, which he, surprisingly, hasn't made a lot of. His time is due. =D The lack of a consistent pass rush from us last weak makes me worry a bit. Joey P. needs to get to Flacco! They also have a lot of important guys whom are dinged up a bit, they'll be playing, but hopefully they'll be playing a little gimpy. JMO.
     
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  2. RGF

    RGF THE FINSTER Club Member

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    The other side of the coin says they have problems against the better teams.The Ravens are good but we can beat them,I`m sure of it. I agree though,Porter must step up and pressure Flacco into some mistakes. He seems to have lost a step of late and is almost non-existent when we need a big defensive stop.
     
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  3. Straz

    Straz Me and my girl :)

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    I have thought this all season: Pennington cannot afford to make any mistakes if we want to win. When the Dolphins played the Ravens earlier in the year, and Pennington threw that interception to Suggs, makes my point.
     
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  4. aWol

    aWol New Member

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    Ravens had no problems with the Dolphins in week 6. Are you saying the fish aren't a "good team"? :wink2:
     
  5. RGF

    RGF THE FINSTER Club Member

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    No I`m NOT saying that.:angry:

    Lets just say that we are a better team now .:hi5:
     
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  6. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    We've lost to:

    1. the 9-7 Jets
    2. the 11-5 Pats (second team in NFL history with that record and no playoffs)
    3. 9-7 Cardinals (NFC West Division winners)
    4. 11-5 Ravens (Wildcard winner)
    5 the 8-8 Texans.

    Point being, the teams we've lost to weren't scrubs, most made the playoffs, or had winning records as well, and for whatever reason, the Texans have our number.

    This is our game to lose.:up:
     
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  7. Jamester23

    Jamester23 Season Ticket Holder

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    I'm sorry. Aren't we in the Playoffs too?
     
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  8. Samphin

    Samphin Κακό σκυλί ψόφο δεν έχει

    I see that list and come to the conclusion that they can't beat playoff caliber teams. Without Ferguson and Soliai (which is what we were when we faced them last) we aren't a playoff caliber team. With them...we are. :up:
     
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  9. PMZQ

    PMZQ Banned

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    Absolutely....if the Ravens think they are playing the same team they played in week 6, we can have a big day. We are a much more confident team. Right now, our players BELIEVE they have a destiny to fulfill. That is a much different mindset than when we played Baltimore in October.

    A lot of football is mental, and confidence, and no one is playing with more confidence than the Miami Dolphins right now.
     
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  10. jdang307

    jdang307 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    First, they beat us mightily. You can argue Ferguson/Soliai. But, common opponents, we almost lost to the freaking Raiders. They manhandled them. They also man-handled the Texans.
     
  11. aWol

    aWol New Member

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    We destroyed the fins and Eagles. Are you saying they aren't "playoff caliber teams"?:no:

    P.S. I'm guessing you're familar with how the Ravens lost to Pitt & Tenn.!?
     
  12. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

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    Yes, but that was not the point. =D
     
  13. Samphin

    Samphin Κακό σκυλί ψόφο δεν έχει

    I am. i just don't care. :hi5:
     
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  14. Mkdave

    Mkdave New Member

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    I don't doubt that this is true, but the Ravens are a much better team now aswell. The biggest stride made by the team is probably the chemistry that Joe and Mark Clayton now have. This will probably be negated by how well your corners are playing. The defense is really what it was when we played you last time, except for the fact that Ed is in the form of him career (8 picks in his last 6 games, and a sack in the one game he didn't register 2 picks), so he's definitely someone Pennington needs to account for.
    Also most Ravens fans have been wondering if we're going to be using our version of the wildcat (with QB Troy Smith playing Ronnie Brown). We've generally only brought it out against poor defenses or when we're winning handily. We're not sure if that's them practicing it for when it matters ( I.E the playoffs) or whether we're just to chicken-**** to use it when we're not assured of a victory.
     
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  15. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    "Mightiliy"?

    Pennington had his highest yardage total of the year at that point, a pick six was the difference,

    The Raiders busted a punt for a TD, otherwise it would not have been close..at all, that game was the turning point for our Special Teams, in the last 6 games our ST unit has outplayed the Raven's ST unit.

    And the Texans just own us, I cannot explain it, seriously. :dunno:
     
  16. VanDolPhan

    VanDolPhan Club member Club Member

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    So you beat 2 winning teams when they were down and lost the rest. Are we actually trying to make that a positive?
     
  17. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    He hasn't made many mistakes this year but in the losses, he has. Crunching some numbers, he's averaging roughly two interceptions per loss. A big key is the offensive line not being able to keep him off his backside. He's been sacked on average twice per game in those losses. When he's pressured, he's not accurate. He's prone to interceptions as listed above and he's averaging a completion percentage of 49 percent - roughly eleven % lower than his average on the year of 60 %.

    More crunching of the numbers showed me some things that we need to do to win this game on defense and offense. Defensively, number one is clearly pressure the quarterback. I listed his average statistics in the losses and in those games, he was sacked at least twice. That's a big number for us to achieve because if we don't provide any pressure, he will sit back there and pick us apart. Number two is stop their two-headed duo of LaRon McClain and Willis McGahee. Every time I watch McClain, I amazed at how quick his feet are for a 260 pound fullback. He's not your typical fullback because he can run right through you and he can leave you on the ground with jukes, etc. Willis McGahee is always banged up but he can break the big run as we witnessed in the Dallas game a few weeks ago. I believe he unleashed an eighty yard touchdown to seal the game for the Ravens. However, in their losses, the duo's average per carries are 3.6, 3.4, 1.6, 2.5, and 3.3. That averages out to 2.8 yards per carry, which is well below the league average.

    On offense, we are going to need an efficient game from Chad Pennington. Seems like an easy thing for him but this is the Ravens ballhawking defense. Ed Reed will try to bait Quarterbacks to throw his way every play if he can. I'm not truly worried about Fabian Washington and Samari Rolle. Rolle doesn't have the footspeed anymore to keep up with players but he's still a good player but not the same one as he was in Tennessee. Watching Fabian Washington earlier this year, he jumps just about every route he can and he pays for it. In Washington, he gave an eight to nine yard cushion off the wide receiver and then tried to jump the slant route - eventually getting burned for a touchdown. In those games against the Ravens defense, the winning quarterback averaged a touchdown per game and 0.4 interceptions. The winning quarterback also had a completion percentage of 60%. In Conuficus great keys to the game, I believe he mentioned that we need to spread out the Ravens defense and then pick them apart with short passes, which I would agree with. Take the high success rate with the short passes but don't let Ed Reed fool you. The next thing that I noticed is that in each of those games, we're going to have to get a big play from someone. In the Pittsburgh games, their were passes of 49 yards and 30 yards. Without looking at the tapes of those games, I'm going to guess that with those long passes, the Ravens defense were on their toes and could not pin their ears back, therefore allowing short passes underneath and continuing drives. Moreover, in the Indianapolis game, Peyton Manning had a 67 yard touchdown pass. In the Tennessee game, their was a 26 yard touchdown pass by Kerry Collins. Not the longest pass but possibly enough to get the Ravens front seven to backup a little and keep it in the back of their minds. In the game against the Giants, there was no long pass play but their was a long run. A long run by Ahmad Bradshaw I believe of 77 yards.

    In the end, we're going to have to establish the run by efficient passing in my opinion. I think that the Ravens defense is a very good one but can be worked on with the spread offense and the run game. I think if you have an opportunity of Ginn going downfield when matched up with Samari Rolle, who lacks the footspeed he once had IMO, I think you take the shot because its a 50-50 shot and if successful, you got something to build on.
     
  18. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

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    Totally! Good stuff bro. Thanks! ..I especially agree with the part about spreading their D out and picking them apart with the shorter passes. I think our TEs could have a big day and I think getting it to Bess on the short to intermediate routes will be key. Penny needs to play smart, which, as we know, is one of his strengths. He needs to play smart and hopefully our OL can give him the time to go through his reads and pick his spots.
     
  19. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Agreed.

    I think with the spread, it'll be easier for the offensive line to do their job but it'll still be a difficult task simply because the Ravens are a good defense. They may not sack the quarterback but they'll put him on his back at least a few times with knockdowns in the game.

    All that said, I don't think we will this game because I don't see our run game going well and I'm not big on pinning everything on Pennington to win the game for us.
     
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  20. Mkdave

    Mkdave New Member

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    You're right when you say Samari doesn't have the footspeed that he once did, but he's still quick enough to put decent coverage on Ginn for 20-25 yards, and Chad would be ill advised to throw the ball any deeper than that because past that it's Ed Reed's ball. I think the best way to attack Rolle would be to put your biggest wideout or split out the tightend to Rolle's side and throw it short. Rolle's a willing hitter but he's physically pretty weak and that might be the best way to pick up yardage in the aerial game.
     
  21. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    I think the Ed Reed factor is huge but he can be looked off by the Quarterback to create separation for Ted Ginn.

    Good point.
     
  22. Baltboy

    Baltboy New Member

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    Problem with focusing on all the losses is that 3 of them were in the first 5 weeks when Joe was still raw,he's improved a lot since the beginning of the year.
    The Cowboys sacked him 5 times in the first half,we still won.
    We have a three headed running attack,you left out Ray Rice.
     
  23. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

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    Also, keep in mind, if a rookie QB is going to make some rookie mistakes at some point, it'll probably be in the playoffs, if they get there that is... see Matt Ryan. It's just such a big stage. One in which they haven't experienced yet. Bowl games or not.
     
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  24. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    That's very true, I was merely pointing out statistics in those losses. As I said, I don't expect us to win this game.

    I'm aware of Ray Rice but he didn't have a big impact or none at all in the game.
     
  25. dolphans1

    dolphans1 New Member

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    Well look what the Cardinals are doing to the Falcons right now, who are a pretty good team , and look what the Cardinals did to us, we had to face the Patriots 2X, who are arguably one of the best teams, and I believe we were in a very competitive division.

    We will win this game playing at home.....


    d-1



     
  26. Half this game, is 90% mental - Yogi Berra
     
  27. Baltboy

    Baltboy New Member

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    Right now with around 4 minutes left in the game Atlanta has 23 rushes and 40 passes.
    You're not going to get that from the Ravens.We rush more than anybody in the league.Flacco doesn't have to win the game for us,unlike Atlanta,we have a defense :pointlol:
     
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  28. GoPhins!

    GoPhins! Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I think that a better way of looking at it is that the 11 teams that we beat were a combined 70-106 or 39.8%. The 11 teams that the Ravens beat were a combined 71-102-3 or 41.2%. In my book that makes us about even.
     
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  29. Your defense is always ranked high, because you play Cleveland and Cincinnati twice a year...
     
  30. Mkdave

    Mkdave New Member

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    Hey, Cincinnati had a pretty good 'O' a couple years back. Cleveland I'll give you, but everyone has a dud in their division.
     
  31. "A couple years back...."

    Uh... ok.... :)
     
  32. Baltboy

    Baltboy New Member

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    You guys are definitely the underdogs but I'm old enough to clearly remember the Superbowl 3 Colts/Jets game.On any given Sunday!
    Not sure which game are you saying Rice had no impact on?
     
  33. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    In the losses. All 5 unless I missed his statistics.
     
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  34. Mkdave

    Mkdave New Member

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    Ray Rice has been used pretty erratically (like all our RBs), so I'm guessing that our losses coincide with times when we weren't giving him the ball.
     
  35. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    From the notes that I took down, Cam Cameron spread the carries mostly to McClain and McGahee. The carries for McClain go by the following: 16, 11, 2, 2, and 23. For McGahee, the carries were the following: 13, 22, 8, 9, and 8. Do the math and they had three games with 29 carries and two with 10 and 11, likely stemming from the fact that they were down early - I'm not completely sure there as I didn't catch those two games so its a guess. There was one game in which Ray Rice had the most yardage but the least amount of carries between the three IIRC.
     
  36. Mkdave

    Mkdave New Member

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    Also consider that Rice is our best reciever out of the backfield, so maybe he was getting his touches that way.
     
  37. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Possibly. Didn't look to that.
     
  38. King Felix

    King Felix Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    giants lost to the cowboys twice in the regular season, beat them in the playoffs. lost once against the packers, beat them in the playoffs. lost once against the patriots and beat them in the playoffs. you never know when it comes January
     
  39. Roman529

    Roman529 Senior Member

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    The Ravens fans who keep saying, "We dominated you earlier in the year," have to realize we are 100% better than the team we were earlier in the year. We were 2-4 after the Raven's game....we have won 9 out of 10 since then. All that matters is how we are playing right now. I know the Ravens are a better team as well, but I still like our chances at home with a more experienced QB.
     
  40. Why do you think they're a better team? IMO, their defense is over-rated, and their record is 11-5, just like ours. I guess getting the D.C. media I'm a little overwhelmed with the "Ravens Media," but I'm curious as to your thoughts...
     

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