The Defense, the Turnovers, and the Redzone Offense

[UPennChem]

I mean, we still have some personnel issues. We can only do so much with schemed pressure. We're quite simply going to need those guys to step up and win 1v1 battles when the going gets tough, and that issue probably gets re-magnified against better teams.

We're not perfect, but we're better. It's a unit you can win with still. It just unfortunately requires us to lock in and not make dumb mistakes.

I know this wasn't a direct reply to my post... but I'm simply pointing out that some of the philosophical issues are now gone. It seems ZO can start to do some things because the back line of defense is capable and running how he wants, so he can be more exotic up front.

I do feel like Orr's play calling has seemed way less Vanilla recently. Which I appreciate. I'll say though, even when Orr has seemingly been better, a lot of his guys have played like trash. Specifically like pur OL. It's not always the same guy and it's not necessarily even the same throughout the game.

Seems to me that on both sides of the ball, the team has played extremely inconsistently. Which I think is actually kinda atypical for us the last few years. Usually it's been some groups are steady while others are bad. This year it feels like the whole team is up and down.

 

[Deebo813]

And I do get that it's hard to make a move now...

- Emery Jones is just recently at practice as a rookie at a brand new position. They have high hopes but that's going to take some time.
- Ben Cleveland has never really gotten an opportunity and put in just as bad of a preseason performance as the guys we're complaining about right now.
- Corey Bullock is slightly undersized and I don't think they view him as a G at this point based on what I've heard.
- Kenyon Green may be your best immediate bet but his track record is... not great either.
- Joe Noteboom may be a possibility now that Carson Vinson has stepped up but his G track record isn't as good as his T track record.

Don't get me wrong. I'd make a move. I'd have made a move weeks ago. But I also understand the theory that they just don't have better bodies that are ready to step in right now.

Somebody gotta be atleast a tad bit better than faalele, gotta be lol

 

[Deebo813]

Two years in a row his Defense took time to settle. If he and Harbaugh last until next year, there better not be a third year where it repeats

We arent playing any good offensive teams at all just like last season. It has gotten better for sure but its still early to be really confident

 

[Deebo813]

I’m playing a little catch up on film (still breezing through though) so this is related to this game as well as the prior 2…

Zach Orr’s scheme problems I was going on about earlier in the season have seemingly disappeared. It’s almost like he needs a capable S and that unlocks what he really wants to do up front. Kyle Hamilton helps a ton, but it just feels like such a philosophical difference from what he was seemingly asking them to do early in the season. Either that or them dudes really was fucking up that badly early on. It’s night and day. It’s not perfect but such a massive improvement.

We need adarius back

 

[Baltimorican]

We arent playing any good offensive teams at all just like last season. It has gotten better for sure but its still early to be really confident

Rams and Bears are in the streak.

 

[rossihunter2]

Gotta remember we're talking about a team here that values chemistry. It's why they let Zeitler walk. It's why they traded Moses. They want guys that can stay on the field and grow together. They believe that swapping guys in and out of the lineup makes things worse.

I don't agree with that take, but it's what they believe.

i mean i definitely agree that chemistry is the secret behind good OLs
the thing that makes a bunch of decent players into a great OL, the thing that makes a bunch of good guys into elite OL
the thing that takes a bunch of good individuals into a poor overall OL

and i do think it's why historically the ravens OL have got better later in the year because they've allowed the continuity to help build chemistry

but i think that's not really applicable here because 4/5 starters are the same and vorhees is the only change... they shouldn't really need more time to build that chemistry

 

[rossihunter2]

I’m playing a little catch up on film (still breezing through though) so this is related to this game as well as the prior 2…

Zach Orr’s scheme problems I was going on about earlier in the season have seemingly disappeared. It’s almost like he needs a capable S and that unlocks what he really wants to do up front. Kyle Hamilton helps a ton, but it just feels like such a philosophical difference from what he was seemingly asking them to do early in the season. Either that or them dudes really was fucking up that badly early on. It’s night and day. It’s not perfect but such a massive improvement.

just wild that it's 2 years in a row of this same thing

 

[rossihunter2]

He's started 7 games in his career and I believe he's played well in 3 of them. He also hasn't started a game since 2023. So it's not like he's some fool proof plan either. And his performance this preseason was just as dreadful as what we're getting now.

also looked even worse than faalele in preseason against the 2nd and 3rd string defences...
definitely not a solution

the bigger question is what was the point of re-signing him...?

 

[ravenslord]

also looked even worse than faalele in preseason against the 2nd and 3rd string defences...
definitely not a solution

the bigger question is what was the point of re-signing him...?

Cleveland has always practiced and played preseason poorly but admit it he has shown flashes in regular season games though highly inconsistent.
I can't imagine if you plug him in he would be worse than Falafel,could he!!?!?

 

[Simba]

i mean i definitely agree that chemistry is the secret behind good OLs
the thing that makes a bunch of decent players into a great OL, the thing that makes a bunch of good guys into elite OL
the thing that takes a bunch of good individuals into a poor overall OL

and i do think it's why historically the ravens OL have got better later in the year because they've allowed the continuity to help build chemistry

but i think that's not really applicable here because 4/5 starters are the same and vorhees is the only change... they shouldn't really need more time to build that chemistry

Agreed on that. I think chemistry is important. I think having quality players out there right now is more important than the fact that they've been (supposedly) building chemistry.

 

[Simba]

Cleveland has always practiced and played preseason poorly but admit it he has shown flashes in regular season games though highly inconsistent.
I can't imagine if you plug him in he would be worse than Falafel,could he!!?!?

Vorhees and Faalele have also shown flashes and been highly inconsistent. They aren't that different.

 

[ravenslord]

Vorhees and Faalele have also shown flashes and been highly inconsistent. They aren't that different.

So lets try a different FLASH ! LMAO.

 

[rossihunter2]

Cleveland has always practiced and played preseason poorly but admit it he has shown flashes in regular season games though highly inconsistent.
I can't imagine if you plug him in he would be worse than Falafel,could he!!?!?

he's done well in 3 games
not done well in all the others

he's a net negative in the run game, generally been ok-average in the pass game
not dissimilar to faalele

both inconsistent, both struggle finishing, both end up on the floor a lot
but faalele's bigger and longer and harder to get around

 

[rossihunter2]

Agreed on that. I think chemistry is important. I think having quality players out there right now is more important than the fact that they've been (supposedly) building chemistry.

oh i agree
just pointing out why they've been confident that not making changes in previous seasons would actually lead to improvements

i don't think the conditions that led to those thoughts and improvements in previous years exist this season, hence why i'd advocate for a change

i do think i'd only change the RG spot though, i wouldn't swap out both guards

 

[Simba]

oh i agree
just pointing out why they've been confident that not making changes in previous seasons would actually lead to improvements

i don't think the conditions that led to those thoughts and improvements in previous years exist this season, hence why i'd advocate for a change

i do think i'd only change the RG spot though, i wouldn't swap out both guards

I agree. I would have said the opposite a month and a half ago but they've swapped play with each other. Think Vorhees has been okay enough in recent weeks to keep rolling with him, but now he's been out and limited in practice this week...