Clifton Brown of BaltimoreRavens.com and Black in the NFL joins Ken McKusick to take a look at the offensive play of the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10 in New England
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Offense Notes : Week 10 Ravens @ Patriots
Ken,
I agree that Lamar played a good game generally especially given the conditions as well as the errant snaps and dropped passes. New England played most of the game with a 3 deep four under look. This gave them enough coverage in level 1 and 2 to contain the Ravens ground attack and allowed their talented secondary to handle the Raven’s passing attack. First the injury to Nick Boyle – at the point of contact Nick was essentially unable to defend or protect himself as he is focused on finishing the catch. The defender chose to go low and hit his weight bearing leg in the knee area. To me this is a classic injury producing hit. Very few players will absorb that type of hit and not end up out for significant time. Hits on receivers in the process of catching the ball should be restricted by rule to the waist to shoulder area. Hitting outside this area should be a penalty at minimum and preferably in my view and automatic ejection.
As far as the rest of the game and our offensive effort, The Patriots defensive approach really called for the Ravens to go to a play action zone passing concept where they use spacing and route to overload the short to middle area of the field. They did this to some degree and it worked for them but I think they could have done it more effectively if they did it pervasively throughout the game plan. You know you have done it enough when Belichick changes the defense which he never did throughout the game. Duvernay’s expanded presence looks to be a positive for the offense and I think he is definitely the fastest WR on the field. Brown turned in a weak effort in my opinion. He no longer has the speed to create separation and he does not show any fight at all at the point of the catch. Lamar is clearly still forcing the ball into him at times and it is not doing anything to help the team. He was drafted to stretch defenses in the same way that Mercole Hardman and Tyreek Hill do for KC but he is not playing with enough speed and he has a serious height disadvantage against pro DB’s.
At this point, It would make more sense to start using Brown in the slot for short to middle concepts where he is working out-to-in and can stay in front of defenders at the point of catch. The best options for the outside deeper routes are Duvernay and Boykin for their respective speed and height advantage. The injuries are definitely reaching a critical stage at this point and we are solidly back in familiar territory fighting for a play-off spot and playing on the road in the post-season should we get there.