No More Pacifying Mason

[PurpleRulz]

While we were busy appeasing Mr. Mason yesterday, we missed a wide open Todd Heap on that first drive. There was NO ONE around Heap and he would have walked the ball into the endzone.

I feared that Mason's complaining would lead to us forcing balls his way. Bottomline is that we need to get the ball to the OPEN receivers. If Mason wants the ball more, then he must get open.

At this point, we can't afford to feed bruised egos.

[skaybaltimore]

Hallelujah! That's what I was getting at in another thread. That looked like almost a sure TD to Heap, btw. And Clayton -- who had finally gotten to show what he could do that past severa weeks -- got a whopping 2 tosses yesterday. Great job, Mason -- you fuckin big mouth whiner.

GO RAVENS!!!

[festivus]

Agreed. If what we saw yesterday was McNair pacifying Mason, even if was good to do it yesterday, now it's done and we can move on.

Which I was getting at in another thread. ;) :D

[skaybaltimore]

Which I was getting at in another thread. ;) :DInteresting, considering your last comment in that thread was that you'd felt the discussion had gone beyond the point that it needed to. So why are you now posting in yet another thread?

GO RAVENS!!!

[PurpleRulz]

I will go as far as to blame our lack of cohesiveness on trying to force everything to Mason. Again, I had no problem with Mason wanting to contribute more, but I was afraid that this would happen; that we would start forcing balls to Mason (even if he was double covered) and miss wide open receivers.

You are right Skay about Heap. There was NO ONE around Heap and he could have walked into the endzone. Watch the replay on NFL Network On Demand. Heap was streaking to th endzone with no one around him. Same for DWill. Williams was wide open across the middle during the Mason ego feeding.

We are in the postseason. This is clutch time and we can't afford to come out of our game to feed any one player, so if Mason wants the ball, fine, but he must get open.

I want OPEN RECEIVERS getting passes.

[skaybaltimore]

I want OPEN RECEIVERS getting passes.Word.

Me too.

GO RAVENS!!!

[ravenwoman]

Great Post Purple Rulz and SkayBaltimore.

It almost looked to me that Steve McNair was purposely looking for Derrick Mason, just to appease him.

Now that the game is over, let's get back to business and throw to the open receiver who is closest to the endzone.

[Sports Steve]

It looked like he was just going to Mason for a long time. Many in my section were saying that also. Now that we are in the playoffs the pass has to go who is open. We can't afford to take any chances at this point.

:jester: :jester:

[PurpleRulz]

I agree guys, and that is the reason our offense sputtered. The Bills probably knew that we were going to go exclusively to Mason. This cannot happen now. Hell, if Mason wants more touches, use him as KR/PR. Didn't he go to the ProBowl for that? Plus, I remember Mason being pretty darn good at PR/KR.

[festivus]

My guess is, Steve McNair knew we would win when he stepped onto the field. Remember, this is the guy who told BB "It won't take that long" in the first Browns game. He is supremely confident, which is part of what we love about him.

So he appeased Mason with a few passes early on when he could have looked elsewhere. It may have shaved some points off our final score but McNair is not a guy who would worry about the game's outcome in the 1st quarter when we have the Bills at home.

Here's hoping he's not that much of a gambler in the playoffs. . .

[skaybaltimore]

My guess is, Steve McNair knew we would win when he stepped onto the field. Remember, this is the guy who told BB "It won't take that long" in the first Browns game. He is supremely confident, which is part of what we love about him.

So he appeased Mason with a few passes early on when he could have looked elsewhere. It may have shaved some points off our final score but McNair is not a guy who would worry about the game's outcome in the 1st quarter when we have the Bills at home.

Here's hoping he's not that much of a gambler in the playoffs. . .That's got to be about the stupidest thing I've ever read in my entire life when it comes to analyzing any aspect of a football game.

GO RAVENS!!!

[festivus]

:embarassed: That'll teach me to drink before posting. Still I'm not sure what was so stupid. . . I'll go back under my rock.

[purplepoe]

Ahh, so now you guys know what is in McNairs head.

Gotcha!

PP

[Mista T]

Our offense looked so constipated yesterday, and I was thinking the same thing. Is there a younger, cheaper possession WR we can pick up next season to enable us to let go of this whiner?

[skaybaltimore]

I'm not calling to throw Mason under the bus, MistaT. Maybe just have JO smack the coaches around a little, like he did earlier to get JLew on track, is all.

:hammer:

GO RAVENS!!!

[Mista T]

I'm not calling to throw Mason under the bus, MistaT. Maybe just have JO smack the coaches around a little, like he did earlier to get JLew on track, is all.

:hammer:

GO RAVENS!!!

I am - at least it should be considered. Team chemistry was supposedly a huge issue during the 6-10 campaign. :bag: Whiners often detract from team cohesiveness.

He's old, and losing his effectiveness on anything but short routes. We already have plenty of weapons in Clayton, Heap, and Williams. I don't see much - if any - fall-off by replacing Mason. I'd give Darling a good look before venturing outside. I can't remember Mason's contract, but if we can save some good cap dollars by dumping a malcontent and replacing him with someone younger with upside, it certainly should be considered.

[skaybaltimore]

Wow. OK, MistaT. I was looking at it a little differently. I was looking at it like Mason is a veteran, who often draws the main coverage attention, which puts the other receivers one-on-one. He also has a lot of rapport with McNair, and until last night, I really didn't see the whole "blow up" as a major deal. I'm still not sure I see it as a major deal, but I do think -- after what I saw last night -- that SOMETHING was freakin going on -- and I didn't like what I saw.

My take is that if this thing is over and done with, and it didn't cost us an important game, then I definitely think Mason is more of an asset than a liability. However, if last night was just the start of things to come, then not only will I push for him to be thrown under the bus, I'll DRIVE THE DAMN BUS MYSELF.

Happy New Year Mista T and all the other 24x7 folks

GO RAVENS!!!