After re-watching the first half...Titans/Ravens

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by Gut, Mar 23, 2009.

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  1. Gut

    Gut Pro Bowler

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    I decided enough time has passed that I can re-watch this game. I decided to pay close attention to a few players/positions given our current situation. I focused on AH, TBrown, JJones, Vickerson at DT, our DE's, Tulloch at MLB, and strategy on D. On Offense I focused on Harris at OC and Amano at LG. Here are some thoughts...

    The Ravens ran a lot and tried to use an influence block a lot...where they'd pull their OG accross...even when passing to help fool the LB's/S's. Problem was that AH is too quick and strong...before the hole left could be closed, he was blowing into the backfield and disrupting things. When they doubled him and tried it on TBrown, he had similar penetration. Our 2 DT's were wrecking their blocking. In addition, all 3 LB's were playing well. Tulloch has gotten much better at taking on an OL and slipping past him. Our D was excellent due to our DT's, our LB's and our strategy. We played a lot of 8 man front to dare them to throw it.

    When JJones and Vickerson came in, the Ravens had a lot more success...mainly because neither were getting through that hole created by the pulling OG. After a few tries, JJones got through one and caused some disruption. However, there was a very noticebale drop off in run stopping effectiveness. Prime example...on 3rd and 1, with vick and jones at DT, Tulloch crowded the OC. BOTH Vickerson and Jones got knocked 1-2 yards OFF the ball while Tulloch stuffed the OC and made the play. This doesn't bode too well for us losing AH...but we only need one guy out of Haye, Jones or Vickerson to be a good match with TBrown.

    As mentioned, Tulloch looked like a nice player.

    Sadly...if the Ravens hadn't called timeout on that 3rd and 18 play, they wouldn't have completed that bomb for a TD. The Titans actually had Griffin over the top of Harper and Hope over Finnegan. After the Ravens call TO, they got the Titans to switch up S's. Then KVB jumped offsides to make it 3rd and 13. If it had stayed 3rd and 18...they probably don't complete it since Harper wouldn't have throttled down at 12 yards. So the Titans got outcoached, got a Pro Bowl DE to jump, and then got a Pro Bowl S to guess wrong and follow that with a bad angle and a bad tackle.

    If getting outcoached on that play wasn't bad enough, on the very next 3rd and long, they did the SAME THING...got Hope over Harper and completed the pass but Mason was out of bounds! Sad!!!

    Kearse played decently but KVB was out of sync, over ran plays, ect.

    On offense, Harris/Collins definitely had trouble with the shotgun. A few bad snaps cost us field position and probably points. Harris also looked a little lost for a few plays. On one early play all he had to do was block Ray Lewis. Lewis, while staring into the backfield, tossed him around like a rag doll. However, fairly early into the game, Harris settled down with his blocking. He did some nice work double teaming and then coming off on a LB. He even helped move a DL and then took out Ray Lewis a few times. Amano is an up and down guy. There were a few plays he didn't block anyone and the Ravens took advantage. Amano seems to have some trouble engaging on the move and he doesn't sustain blocks well. However, he was a lot better in pass protection that I thought. He anchored pretty well against some big and quick NT/DT's/LB's. To show how good this OL CAN be...when Harris took on the OC and Amano took out Scott, Lewis took a rare bad angle and CJ cut back away from him and scampered a LONG way. Sure his speed and one cut were important to the play's success, but the blocking was awesome!

    Harris looks like he can play while Amano looks OK. They shouldn't offer nor give Amano big bucks...but he'd be nice to keep around at a reasonable rate.

    Gut
     
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  2. RavensShallBurn

    RavensShallBurn Ruck the Favens

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    Nice evaluation dude.

    I don't think I could ever watch that game again though... I was there. I stood still in the stadium for 25 minutes straight... no facial expressions, nothing. I want to forget all about it, but I still think about it a lot... If the Ravens had won the SB I would have been furious.
     
  3. Smash

    Smash 2017 Survivor Winner

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    Regarding KVB being "out of sync", he had been out/not playing for quite some time, due to his injury(s). That might have been a bigger issue, than we thought.

    Regarding Leeeerroooooy (JENKINS!), I had the feeling after the game, that he'd do just fine replacing Mawae and we wouldn't see much of a drop off. Of course, the experience you can't replace, but Harris looks strong and smart.
     
  4. jessestylex

    jessestylex DeadGirlsCantSayNo

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    where did you get a copy of the game yo?
     
  5. RavensShallBurn

    RavensShallBurn Ruck the Favens

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    Probably DVR.

    With that said, is there any way to watch old NFL games (other than on replays on NFL Network or ESPN Classic)?
     
  6. psychotictitan

    psychotictitan Its About That Time...

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    I'm with you bro,i couldn't rewatch that game if you paid me. I had such a nauseous feeling in my stomach after that game because i felt there was no way it should of ended like that. We put ourselves in the best position as far as having home-field advantage throughout the play-offs and felt like we had the momentum going into that game. Everything happens for a reason and i guess it just wasnt our time,its still frustrates me when i think about how close we were.
     
  7. ncaalover12

    ncaalover12 Starter

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    What momentum? Our starters had like 3 weeks off it seemed like when Fisher decided to play the backups at Indy and let them get dominated.
     
  8. Gut

    Gut Pro Bowler

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    Well...

    Leroy looks like he can take over at OC...although this is off of ONE game...and a half at that so far.

    I know KVB was coming off injury and not playing for a while, but he did stuff he doesn't normally do. He's usually a very strong run defender...holding the point of attack, or closing the end of the line, not overpursuing and being a strong tackler. Instead, he sprinted towards the middle of the line allowing the RB to cut back to where KVB should have been and forcing a footrace by the S to the sideline. And he wasn't much better on pass rush. AH was causing so much trouble, they not only doubled him, but triple teamed him sometimes leaving KVB one on one. He got pressure once being singled most of the first half. Not good! And jumping offsides on 3rd and 18 is a rookie mistake!

    He had better get back to 12 sack form or he's not gonna be here after this coming season.

    Gut
     
  9. Gut

    Gut Pro Bowler

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    Dvr

    Couldn't bring myself to erase it but couldn't watch it either!

    Gut
     
  10. Gut

    Gut Pro Bowler

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    BTW, a couple of thoughts on the penalties...

    Whomever got called for hitting the QB was ridiculous. He barely touched him.

    I hadn't actually noticed the Stewart elbow for a personal foul. I thought they had flagged Harris for knocking the Ravens defender off of CJ...whom he was trying to bend in half. I have no qualms about them throwing a PF on Stewart for what he did, but when defenders are trying to hurt the Titans star RB after he's already down, there should be a flag for that as well....I mean, if not for Harris, they'd still be trying to bend him the wrong way and he would have gotten hurt.

    Gut
     
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