You have just been named coach of the Ravens - name your 1st five moves

[ms maggie]

Find a fan base that doesn't moan over a 9-3 record?

[PEZ]

Find a fan base that doesn't moan over a 9-3 record?

Haha! Is a fan base ever satisfied? I'd be curious to know right now if the fan base in Houston or Atlanta (with their 11-1 records) are completely satisfied with their teams?

[OriginalColtsFan]

Haha! Is a fan base ever satisfied? I'd be curious to know right now if the fan base in Houston or Atlanta (with their 11-1 records) are completely satisfied with their teams?

That's why I like Belichick. No matter how good his team's record is, no matter how many points he'd just beaten a team by, when he talks to his players, and to the media, he always points to things that could be done better and areas that need improvement. No one seems to question his "fandom", or his knowledge of the game, or calls him a "Debbie Downer". He's simply HONEST, knows that there is no perfect team or perfect player, and that things can always be done better. How that concept gets so totally lost on some of these so-called "real fans" is beyond me.

[cmonman]

6. Call my brother and see if Alex Smith is available.

You really think Alex Smith can move the Ravens offense better than Joe Flacco? Cmonman!

[jamesdean]

The first full day at the office, Cam Cameron would be relieved of his duties. Sorry, good luck to your future but these upcoming weeks are too important to have this offense continually going back and forth like night and day. Then I would get the offensive unit along with the new OC(Caldwell would be fine, even if on an intermin basis) and tell them flat out that I will not tolerate Ray Rice not getting 25-30 touches a game. I don't care if that means 20 rushes, 10 receptions, 25 rushes, 5 catches, etc...it doesn't matter. Just give the man the damn ball! And I also would finally put to rest this insanity of trying to make Joe Flacco something he isn't. I wouldn't insult him by telling him he's another Trent Dilfer but I definetly would demand a more conservative, time consumption offense and with plays that reflect that. I would decide who are the best run blockers at a specific place on the line and put their asses out there. The no huddle offense would be terminated immediately and the visions of granduer of Torrey Smith catching 70 yard bombs from Flacco would also be over. This would be a West Coast pass attack with a heavy concentration on running the football. And while I have Joe in the room, I'll tell him to his face to not be tentative about running down the field for a first down when there's nothing in front of him. That's why the slide rule in is place and if some moron wants to hit him, we'll gladly take the 15 yard penalty. He's a big guy with decent speed and is durable. He'll be fine. No, it won't be an exciting offense and the fans will probably hate it but they'll also notice that RGIII, the Manning brothers and Andy Dalton are spending the bulk of their time on the side line. Enough said.

[johnpolitics]

I would tell everyone in the Sun's forum to #$&^%$% off!!! I'm the coach and I don't need to take advice from any one of you living in their mother's basement.

Ditto.

[Ravens2006]

1 - Pay off my mortgage
2 - Buy a beach house
3 - Get a nice Condo with a view of the ocean in Monterey, or maybe Coronado
4 - Replace Cam Cameron with Matt Cavanaugh
5 - Put more emphasis on mixing up the running attack (throw in some end-arounds; more quick hitters with the FB; more pitches; an occasional flea-flicker; etc.)
6 - Tell Joe to improve his play fake, and step in to the deep ball

I'm the coach now, I get 6 first moves!

[durango46]

1 - Pay off my mortgage
2 - Buy a beach house
3 - Get a nice Condo with a view of the ocean in Monterey, or maybe Coronado
4 - Replace Cam Cameron with Matt Cavanaugh
5 - Put more emphasis on mixing up the running attack (throw in some end-arounds; more quick hitters with the FB; more pitches; an occasional flea-flicker; etc.)
6 - Tell Joe to improve his play fake, and step in to the deep ball

I'm the coach now, I get 6 first moves!

LOL....well played

[cprenegade]

At this late date in the season there is little you can do to change the personel on the team or coaching staff, so you have to deal with it.

1. First I take the generalized game plan away from Cameron and tell him exactly what I want. Heavy dose of Ray Rice, more screen plays and west coast offense. Take some chances downfield, but stop trying to turn the offense into Baltimore's version of Air Coryell.

2. Direct Pees to start jamming WR's at the line. Playing off 10 yards is only leading to wide open receivers underneath. Hit the recievers, throw them off their routes and disrupt the passing game. The secondary is not good enough to cover once receivers are in their routes and their isn't enough pressure on the QB to hurry a throw.

3. Consult with Caldwell and make it clear that he needs to emphasize to Joe Flacco that he needs to be aware of pressure from behind. It happens, and everytime it seems to happen to him, he gets stripped. There needs to be a mental clock in his head and once the alarm goes off, he better get out of the pocket or at the very least protect the ball. Any team in the league that does their homework knows that if you hit him from behind, he drops the ball. Pittsburgh has done it in critical game situations multiple times over the last 3 years. Lebeau has obviously picked this up and game plans for it.

4. Work with Caldwell and look at Flacco's mechanics. Too many times he goes into funks where his passes sail on receivers.

5. Sit down with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and explain to them that at this point in their career, they are no longer every down players. They still have a valuable position with the team, but playing every down is not in the best interest of winning.

[prairieaug]

Assumption- assume Rikman takes over right now

1. Use Ray Rice as a split out/flanker type reciever on occasion with Vonte Leach as a blocker/enforcer to protect Joe's blind side in the backfield.

2. Use Leach inside the 5 yard line. Man's got a nose for the end-zone and I think is underutilized. Ray Rice would approve!

3. Ravens lack serious defense pressure on the QB. Blitz a linebacker or Bernard Pollard or both on every passing situation. Yes, you might get beat sometimes but you'd get your share of turnovers.

4. Ravens not good in stopping the run. Play a 4-3 on 1st down with as much beef as you can put on the line. 3rd string backs have been running through us.

5. Give Joe the option to call any play he think would work at the line. I still don't think he's been turned loose.

^^^
Like

[prairieaug]

And while I have Joe in the room, I'll tell him to his face to not be tentative about running down the field for a first down when there's nothing in front of him. That's why the slide rule in is place and if some moron wants to hit him, we'll gladly take the 15 yard penalty. He's a big guy with decent speed and is durable. He'll be fine. No, it won't be an exciting offense and the fans will probably hate it but they'll also notice that RGIII, the Manning brothers and Andy Dalton are spending the bulk of their time on the side line. Enough said.

Yes! It would be nice to see that happen!

[ms maggie]

Got a question for you folks. (I am a scabrous Steelers fan but enjoy reading all your comments and God knows I have far less knowledge re football than you folks!). I find it curious that most of the criticism is directed at the offense. I catch as many Ravens games as I can and to my uneducated eye, it's as much or not more the defense.

Am I just stupid?

[OriginalColtsFan]

Got a question for you folks. (I am a scabrous Steelers fan but enjoy reading all your comments and God knows I have far less knowledge re football than you folks!). I find it curious that most of the criticism is directed at the offense. I catch as many Ravens games as I can and to my uneducated eye, it's as much or not more the defense.

Am I just stupid?

Oh mags...knock off the false modesty; it's SO unbecoming!!!



The defense has its own problems, to be sure. What's tilted the scales so lopsidedly towards discussions about the offense has to do with the polarization of the two main elements of the offense: Cam Cameron and Joe Flacco. (It's somewhat similar to the "Kyle Boller/Brian Billick" wars of yesteryear.) But as far as what you're actually (and accurately) observing in terms of the games themselves, it's about even between offense and defense problems. That's why, especially when you factor in the poor coaching of the Ravens, I see them as about a notch above a .500 team, regardless of their W/L record. (And it's entirely possible that they could lose out and, in that case, they WOULD end the year just a notch above .500. It's like last year's "Tebow Magic". You just knew it was going to run out eventually, and it did. The Ravens had some real "Tebow Magic" moments this year; but I think they've run out of them. We'll see.)