We didn't do real great against the run but we played a good game. Jackson got 2 TD's that were the result of plays that were nothing more than just plain LUCK! And one was a push off that didn't get called.
Key parts of the game:
Clark gets the sack at a crucial time
2, not 1 but 2 or even 3(?), 2-pt conversions stopped
Contained a very mobile QB in Jackson
Passing game for the Ravens was mostly luck. Coverage was there all game.
I'm liking what I am seeing so far. Need to tighten it up on the run a bit but the Ravens are a great running team. Keep improving and we have a solid middle of the pack defense. [Reply]
Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy:
Depends on how much time was left. Gave them too much time today and it almost bit us in the ass. The fact that Harbaugh can't do basic math and constantly went for 2 was a factor in our favor.
There are reasons to play prevent, sure....but you gotta make sure the prevent is burning enough time off of the clock...not enough resistance in our prevent, been that way for a long time. Hope it gets better as the defense gels.
I think the offense has to bear some of that, too. We've got a kind of worrisome trend going the last two weeks in that we pile on yards and points in the first half, and then just sort of shut down after halftime. And we didn't really answer Baltimore drive-for-drive today, when they started to get on their roll late, which is not what you want for a team built around its offense. Now obviously part of that was the bad snap on 4th and 2, but still, we've either got an issue with second half execution, we've got an issue with second half adjustments, or we've got an issue where we're stepping off the gas when we feel comfortable with a lead (which is a Reid trait, historically).
Whatever the case is, it needs to stop. We're not a team built to win defensively, and that Ravens defense is not talented enough that they should be holding our offense to a field goal over a quarter and a half, much less the Raiders shutting us down for an entire half.
Not that there weren't some optimistic signs today. Real nice run on the FG drive, and when it looked like they were going to splutter and give Baltimore a chance to win in the last minute, that screen call that ended the game was just perfect, call and execution both. [Reply]
Originally Posted by petegz28:
And didn't they get lucky on a cross-body throw that bounced into the WR's arms to keep that drive going? A play that if ran like that 10 times would most likely fail the next 9?
I was more pissed off on Lamar's TD run when he broke multiple tackles and scored easily.....tackle him and make them run a couple of more plays to get past the two minute warning...and we don't need to sweat getting the first down to seal it.
I think the defense is better, and I am hoping that they continue to improve.
The 4th qtr defense is concerning....Quick prevent is not good. I would feel much better if their last drive took 3:30 minutes instead of a little over 2. [Reply]
Originally Posted by keg in kc:
I don't think they expected Baltimore to come out running the ball after halftime any more than I do. I mean, they were down 23-6, playing like they were the team with the lead. And, you know what, I'm kind of okay with that. If the Ravens want a 5 minute drive to start the half when they're down 17, then, shit, let em go for it. I thought it was really dumb, at the time. Thought that all they were doing was shortening the game and making it harder on themselves to catch up. And as it turns out, that was the case. They ran out of time.
And the two bombs that padded Jackson's stats in the fourth quarter, one was a PI they got away with and the other one we should've played like it was a hail mary, and not tried to catch it.
The defense did its job, in the end. They forced a FG when they needed to, and they held on the 2 point conversion. They kept them under 30, which is what you need to win with this offense. And shit, not gonna win pretty every week, and that game wasn't nearly as ugly as either the score or the yardage stats made it look.
My takeaways: Need to continue to work on the run defense. We had trouble tackling Ingram today, and I'm not sure why; tackling had been much better in previous games. I thought Thornhill had maybe his toughest game so far, but that's the learning curve for a young safety. On the flip side, I thought this was the first time the Mathieu looked good this season. The coverage is improving every week, across the board. We're starting to see some push from the defensive line on pass plays. We're starting to see a little more creativity with stunts and blitzes.
All in all, we're 3 games into a complete defensive overhaul, both personnel and system, and it's pretty much going exactly like you'd expect. Some good plays, some costly breakdowns.
This is the most sensible take on today’s defensive performance in this thread. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Coochie liquor:
This! I saw the Pats hit Brady a few times during week 2. Were gonna get some heat up the middle when we play the Pats.
Coverage was pretty good overall. Jackson barely completed any passes to WR's, and the two he just chucked up were indeed flukes.
I'm not super concerned with the d-line play as they really had to play contain all day. The sacks and pressures are starting to come.
It certainly wasn't pretty, and I'm certain you can cherry pick plays and stats in which you can assert otherwise, but I see a rising defense that gets a little better every week. [Reply]
They got gashed vs the run a bit, but that's an unconventional attack so it was gonna happen.
Fellas, it was pretty solid for 3 quarters. Then it was 30 to 13 and Lamar can't hit basic throws from the pocket so you just go into pure make them run the clock defense. [Reply]