FanPost

Ray Rice and the Ravens run game/defense.

Okay. So we all know by now that the Pats a spanking. So my immediate thought was "My enemy's enemy is my friend."

Then i realized, oh, we have them next. My first thought was "Oh crap, our run defense will cost us this season." then i realized that my mind was still thinking in the old-Colt mentality. The mentality that for some insane reason i still use until i catch myself. So, after realizing my dumb mistake i thought, we aren't in that much trouble at all.

Now, i do have reason to worry. That Reason is Ray Rice. This game will be a rematch of the Week 11 Matchup. The Ravens came into town that week and we beat them on an edging victory 17-15.(well the margin was small, but i truly think we were more dominant than the score shows)

Here's how RR did against us:

=Rushing= 20 Carries/71 yards (3.6YPC) Longest carry=14 yards.

=Receiving= 7 Catches/64 yards. (9.1 YPR) Longest catch-22 Yards.

The receiving averages it out so that he had a decent game. But what concerns me is the rushing not passing. And our performance against them is even better because he is averaging 83.7 Yards on 15.9 Carries a game(5.3 YPC) He also averages 4.87 Catches for 43.9 yards (9.0 YPG) Overall Ray Rice had an average day against us.

Now, something that I've noticed many fans worry about is that we're at our best against speed RB's, and bad against power Rushers. This is where i think the buck needs to stop. We're a lot stronger against the run than we seem. Also, i think we have a stronger defense than New England. We have good enough corners and safety(Antoine Bethea) that i think that if pushed to it we can go with 8 men in the box and force Flacco to beat us. This is when I'm confident we can win. Also, in many of his big runs against the Patriots Ray Rice did things we can stop. In his game opening Big run he took the snap, ran down the middle, found a gap, then busted out to the outside. This is something that you see often against a 3-4 defense. The Pats came out in a 3-4. When Rice went towards the inside, 8 people crashed the line of scrimmage, leaving 2 corners and a safety deep against 2 WR's that were blocking. Ray Rice got a few good blocks and bounced out to the outside. Then the 2 WR's took out their respective corners leaving Brandon Meriweather to tackle Rice. Rice then outran Meriweather and finished what was a textbook execution of a basic run play. Now, against a 4-3 Cover 2 defense that we run that shouldn't happen. It is difficult to run inside and bounce outside against 4-3 because unlike a 3-4 our linebackers are more spread out and not too far away. On a 4-3 often an inside linebacker will crash in to compensate for the lack of linemen. Then the running back will run in then bounce outside to the same linebackers side. Then the ourside linebacker on that side will be so far wide from the gap the running back takes he can run to his side and the fast RB will outrun the common OLB. Then the RB, is free on the outside. Against a 4-3, it is first of all harder to get through the 1st line of defense. Then if you do the outside linebackers will be in between the guards and tackles. To get around then you would have to run so far OUTSIDE that a cornerback or safety as fast as the ones we have can easily but off the corner forcing out out of bounds, or forcing you to try to go back to the middle and face 2 or 3 defenders.(if he can break 3 defenders we dont deserve to stop him)


On our side of the ball, i have never worried. Peyton is simply the best. The only thing i worry about is Ray lewis. But Ray Lewis is one man. Also, they have Ed Reed. These are 2 guys than can be stopped. And the only way to stop a defender is by not attacking him, or by overloading him. (do note they have amazing supporting cast for these guys, such as Lee Suggs, but those are the main 2). This is why i think were a great team to attack Baltimore. We can run stretches away from Lewis and Suggs's side, or throw to the flats. This is why Dallas Clark will have to play a big role. If we can send Reggie Wayne deep, Reed will be forced to have to Worry about him. If he doesnt, throw to Reg. If he does, we will have the underneath ball that Manning is so great at throwing. This is where Garcon, our slot, must play his role. And our 3rd WR Collie must have a huge game if he plays on the outside. Collie is important becuase without him stepping up, it will give the Ravens a chance to double up on Clark, have Reed Help on Wayne, and practically force Garcon to be our biggest weapon.

This game will come down to our receivers. This needs to be a game where Wayne needs to feed off of the smaller guys, rather than Vis-versa. If this happens, that would mean that our young guys are doing so great that they have to leave Wayne in single coverage. Once this happens, Manning can blow the game open. I just feel that if Clark and Wayne arent forced(if theyre open let em catch em all!) to catch 8 balls each to win they can play better. If theyre forced that means they will get Picks and 3 and outs, and also we will have to send them short to get 1st downs, rather than sending Wayne deep and having confidence in others to move the Chains.

Overall, i think this is how the game will end up for our head few guys, and a few for the Ravens.

Manning-95.6 QB Rating-27/41 65.8% 341 Yards 3 TD's 2 INT's

Wayne-7 Catches/75 Yards TD

Clark-5 Catches/61 Yards

Collie-3 Catches/44 Yards

Garcon-3 Catches/63 Yards TD(he'll get a long TD, over 40 Yards)

Addai-23 Carries-74 Yards 3.2 YPC TD (4 catches 50 Yards, TD)

Flacco-96.7 QB Rating 19/29 65% 219 Yards 2 TD's 1 INT

Mason-6 Catches/84 Yards

Heap-3 Catches 45 yards TD

Rice-24 Carries/122 yards 5.1 YPC TD(4 Catches 54 yards TD)

The game will be close with a few left in the 3rd. Then in a 3-4 drive span in the late 3rd-early 4th our Clutch O will come through, and our D will step up, we will get a lead, and hold on to win.

Colts 31-24

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.