Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will reply followers’ questions all through the Ravens season. Coming off Baltimore’s 17-10 loss in Week 5 towards the Pittsburgh Steelers, loads of questions stay heading right into a Week 6 matchup towards the Tennessee Titans in London.
Here’s Preston’s take:
(Editor’s word: Questions have been edited for size and readability.)
Where is the modern offense that Todd Monken, who was profitable as a school offensive coordinator however not a lot because the OC of the Browns and Buccaneers, was going to carry to the Ravens? Lamar Jackson, who’s simply common at finest as a passer, has extra receiving weapons than ever, however Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers have mixed for zero touchdowns. I’m beginning to assume the Ravens have been higher off with Roman and Jackson main the working recreation.
— Bob Ok.
Come on Bob, don’t let the frustration of 1 loss get to you. This offense is healthier and has extra stability than underneath Greg Roman, the Ravens’ former offensive coordinator. If the receivers hadn’t dropped about six, seven or eight passes (I finished counting), we wouldn’t be having this dialogue. At the start of the season, most have been in settlement that the offense was a piece in progress. They’ve solely performed 5 video games. Repeat: 5 video games. Besides the dropped passes, the most important downside with this offense has been an absence of consistency, not from recreation to recreation, however from half to half. It’s not one space you’ll be able to pinpoint, however the quarterback play has been spotty and the Ravens can’t maintain wholesome receivers, working backs or offensive linemen on the sector.
Flowers is a rookie, so he will get a yr. With Beckham, I haven’t seen him run away from a cornerback all yr, and Nelson Agholor dropped a doable lengthy landing move Sunday, an space wherein he has struggled all through his profession. With all that mentioned, there are nonetheless 12 video games remaining, so perhaps the Ravens can pull it collectively.
So far, they appear to be the identical previous Ravens I’ve seen within the earlier two years. They can’t end video games and don’t win those they need to simply win.
“Miscommunication” price the Ravens with the Flowers truthful catch towards the Colts. “Miscommunication” price the Ravens towards the Steelers on the finish of the primary half. Miscommunication shouldn’t occur within the NFL with coaches who’re conscious of what’s occurring on the sector of play. Is this a brand new type of “coachspeak” from Harbaugh, together with one other new time period, “operational”? Is Harbaugh shedding it?
— Robert
I wouldn’t say he’s shedding it, however the Ravens must be extra organized. The group does run by way of a number of situational stuff in practices so it’s unusual these miscues proceed to occur. Against Pittsburgh, Harbaugh simply tried to be too cute as an alternative of kicking the sector aim. He additionally doesn’t have a discipline basic who will problem him or the offensive employees. Jackson turns into animated when the Ravens refuse to gamble in sure conditions, however he ought to have referred to as a timeout and challenged the teaching employees in that scenario.
But, he’s not that kind of quarterback or dynamic chief. Regardless, it comes all the way down to frequent sense. When you’re on the street, enjoying a smooth Pittsburgh offense that had solely 88 yards within the first half, you are taking the factors. Instead, the fourth down play failed and that play incited the Steelers. You can wager Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin walked into the locker room at halftime and informed his gamers how the Ravens tried to embarrass them at dwelling in entrance of their followers.
From this level on, I don’t wish to hear about “operational” or “miscommunication.” Harbaugh has been round lengthy sufficient, together with particular groups coordinator Chris Horton, that the Ravens shouldn’t have all these breakdowns.
Are there any present Ravens that mannequin Ray Lewis’ work ethic with their dedication to watching tape, working towards arduous, consuming proper, and spending time within the weight room?
— Nate
Nate, let’s be blunt. The Ravens want extra powerful guys and they should get again to the time once they had a powerful work ethic. That’s gone now. Players are lacking lengthy stretches of apply, too.. They apply for a day or two, after which exit and get beat by the Steelers. It’s inconceivable for gamers to overlook almost three or 4 weeks of apply, after which exit on the sector for 2 days earlier than enjoying on Sunday.
Who are the powerful guys on offense?: Running again Gus Edwards, heart Tyler Linderbaum, tight finish Mark Andrews, and let’s throw Flowers within the combine.
There are even fewer on protection, which lacks the character the 2000 group had with powerful guys Tony Siragusa, Sam Adams, Rob Burnett, Michael McCrary and Ray Lewis. I can put Roquan Smith in that blend, and security Kyle Hamilton could be at some point, however I don’t sense the identical spirit or the identical work ethic among the many remaining gamers.
I assume it’s not simply the Ravens. It’s a brand new period of NFL gamers. Harbaugh has been round soccer lengthy sufficient to know the distinction. Not solely has the sport modified, however the gamers in it and old-school coaches like Harbaugh have needed to change as effectively.
In his restricted play up to now this season, how has Ronnie Stanley seemed? And is it past the realm of risk the Ravens would try to commerce for a left deal with earlier than the commerce deadline?
— Paul in Orlando
I assumed Stanley had a powerful two-week interval of coaching camp when he participated daily, however then he received banged up a couple of week earlier than the beginning of the season, and he has been struggling ever since. He can nonetheless run block however has hassle move blocking as a result of his ankle doesn’t permit him to push off or plant like he as soon as did. In the opener towards Houston and final week versus Pittsburgh, he struggled.
Mike, there isn’t any doubt Lamar has improved his recreation in his sixth yr however I’m actually becoming concerned that he’s constantly melting down within the fourth quarter towards groups that matter and in massive moments. Should we be involved and why isn’t anyone speaking about this?
— Jason in Federal Hill
I wrote about it after the loss to Pittsburgh and a number of other ESPN reporters talked about it earlier this week. With Jackson, he loses focus and his mechanics and will get sloppy in crunch time due to his nervous toes, lack of feeling within the pocket and he throws sidearm. In his sixth yr, he has gotten higher, particularly within the crimson zone, however quarterbacks are paid to win video games within the remaining 4 minutes. Coaching will get a group to that time after which the playmakers, particularly the quarterback, need to make performs.
Do you count on the Ravens to gentle fires underneath coaches and gamers, or will or not it’s the identical household feel-good method we’ve seen for years?
— Peter in Virginia
In all honesty, I don’t know what to anticipate from this group. They have the expertise and will simply be 5-0. Instead, the Ravens lack a killer intuition. Until they develop it, they are going to proceed to battle.
Have a query for Mike Preston? Email sports [email protected] with “Ravens mailbag” within the topic line and it could possibly be answered in The Baltimore Sun.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com