Cameron also to blame

[OriAl]

Cam Cameron is also to blame for last night's loss, and the offensive woes. Too many dumb play calls. For example, after the missed field goal last night, he calls a first down pass seven yards behind the line of scrimmage! Result - seven yard loss, momentum back to Packers. I didn't even see Flacco look downfield.

Our offense has been worse than the Cavanaugh days since the 3-0 start. Scoring 14 or fewer points a game is not good enough, but that's what our offense does. 14 vs. NE, 7 each time vs. CIN, 15 vs. IND, 14 vs. GB. And they don't even show up in the first half most games. Whose fault is that?

[PSMD410]

Yeah there has been some crap calls called. Like last night on the 1 yard line and we PA instead of calling up McClain? So much of what we did great last year was just tossed out of the window. It was nice to see Heap used more last night but where has he been all year. Its Cam's choice not to use him. One of our best offensive weapons has become a lineman. Crap like that has me scratching my head.

[RavenScallywag]

I'm agreeing with you, bit first, let me call something out...

Two weeks ago at Indy, we go 3 and out on the 1 yard line with 3 straight runs, and everyone jumps on Cam for not going PA.

Now we try PA on the one and everyone screams at Cam for not running the ball 3 times....You can't have it both ways!

Anyway, I do think Cam deserves some blame, but the part where I blame him squarely came into play at the end of the game. Our offense got the ball down 13 with 2 mins to go. And what did we get? The slow, casual pace throwing 5-6 yards to Heap and Rice.

Why didn't we dial up some deep downfield throws? By going at a leisurely pace there, you are telling me as a fan, "Hey, we're not going to win this thing, so I'm not going to bother trying". If that's the way you think as a football coach, it's time for a new job. You HAVE to try for the win, even if you fall short, at least you gave it 100%. What I saw was 0%, with that playcalling, even if you manage to work the sidelines, you score MAYBE one, with no time for a 2nd try.

[PSMD410]

And also what every happened to some trickery here and there? Where did the Suggs package ago? Last year Cam looked creative but this year he looks bland. He said he was gonna open the book up more this year well I don't see it.

[jonboy79]

Heap is a liability that was exposed last night when he was sorely overmatched one on one by AJ Hawk all game. Joe completed less then half the passes he threw at Heap.

I've been very displeased with Cam's playcalling all year. He MUST find a way to dictate the game with the good ole Balmur running game. This team is not successful unless it can consistantly run the ball.

[PSMD410]

I don't think Heap was exposed. AJ is a great player and had Heap covered. Joe shouldn't have thrown it.

[jonboy79]

I don't think Heap was exposed. AJ is a great player and had Heap covered. Joe shouldn't have thrown it.

Yes he is a great player, but I am not talking about one play. He had Heap manhandled all game long in single coverage. A top Flight TE doesn't get owned by a LB all game long. An average TE is supposed to be a matchup problem for a LB.

He is old, his body is battered. His hands are failing him, he can no longer get open, or break away from tackles. But, on his side, he is amongst the highest paid at his position.
He used to be a warrior. It's too bad.

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

The whole team is to blame:grbac:

[jonboy79]

An embarrassing performance like that certainly does draw plenty of blame.

[Carey]

See this is what i mean, Because our lack of weapons we start to blame everybody at some point. It's being over analyzed, not OC is perfect and Cam is one of the very best. Jesus Christ couldnt call plays to make this a productive offense against a good and smart defense. What i mean by smart is a defense that knows we have nobody that can run by them so we will play press man, sit on routes and keep a spy on Rice for the check down. Its not rocket science, until we get weapons that can challenge the entire field then we are gonna continue to have games like this.

[Jeremiah W]

See this is what i mean, Because our lack of weapons we start to blame everybody at some point. It's being over analyzed, not OC is perfect and Cam is one of the very best. Jesus Christ couldnt call plays to make this a productive offense against a good and smart defense. What i mean by smart is a defense that knows we have nobody that can run by them so we will play press man, sit on routes and keep a spy on Rice for the check down. Its not rocket science, until we get weapons that can challenge the entire field then we are gonna continue to have games like this.

I do not buy that. Ray Rice is a weapon. The rest of the skill position players are average to solid, but good enough to get it done if we do not turn the ball over 4 times.

None of those turnovers were called by OC, or what I would call forced by the defense. Flacco was pressured on some of those throws, but not touched. He just missed and made bad choices. Rice had not fumbled in forever, but the ball was slippery.

There should have been some runs where there were passes, and deep shots were there were dinking and dunking, different lineup combinations and all that, but there was not a terrible play call, just bad timing and execution of good plays that did not work. GB was not the best D in the NFL but they did play like it that night at the same time Flacco stunk and Reed and Suggs were out.

[RavensInBrazil]

My beef with Cameron lately hasn't been individual plays. A lot of those that failed would have been called genius had they not. A lot of them were good play-calls that just weren't executed properly. My biggest problem is how he seems to have forgotten how to be creative.

Monday night all I saw was the vanilla 2-WR, TE, RB, FB formation. Whatever happened to all those reverses, empty-backfields, Suggs package, etc? It's what made our offense so exciting last year. Sure, there was the flea-flicker, but even that call was extremely boring, the secondary didn't bite at all and Flacco wound up throwing into quadruple coverage.

I want the Cam of 2008, not Matt Cavanaugh!

[Jeremiah W]

My beef with Cameron lately hasn't been individual plays. A lot of those that failed would have been called genius had they not. A lot of them were good play-calls that just weren't executed properly. My biggest problem is how he seems to have forgotten how to be creative.

Monday night all I saw was the vanilla 2-WR, TE, RB, FB formation. Whatever happened to all those reverses, empty-backfields, Suggs package, etc? It's what made our offense so exciting last year. Sure, there was the flea-flicker, but even that call was extremely boring, the secondary didn't bite at all and Flacco wound up throwing into quadruple coverage.

I want the Cam of 2008, not Matt Cavanaugh!

I agree, but last year the interior O line was blocking better. Flacco was playing better. McClain was running down hill behind Lo Neal.

A lot of the issues Billick ran into with his playcalling came down to guys up front could not block, the QB could not read a D or make an accurate pass under pressure.

The OC should be able to break out something though when in a rut like the 1st half in GB. I was really hoping to see a little Sizzle package pass, WR reverse and just more fly patterns when they proved they could not cover it without PI.

[Dave Lap]

When the offense plays as bad as it has lately, the offensive coordinator has to get blame.

I think the execution has been lacking more than the play calls have been bad. About 90% poor execution and 10% bad play calls.

My beef is more with things like the way our pass protection has not been adapting to blitzes, not protecting the edge from pass rushers, WR's not getting open. But the MAIN thing I'm concerned about is the lack of intensity and lack of teamwork I'm seeing from the O-line. That's a real head scratcher.

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

My beef with Cameron lately hasn't been individual plays. A lot of those that failed would have been called genius had they not. A lot of them were good play-calls that just weren't executed properly. My biggest problem is how he seems to have forgotten how to be creative.

Monday night all I saw was the vanilla 2-WR, TE, RB, FB formation. Whatever happened to all those reverses, empty-backfields, Suggs package, etc? It's what made our offense so exciting last year. Sure, there was the flea-flicker, but even that call was extremely boring, the secondary didn't bite at all and Flacco wound up throwing into quadruple coverage.

I want the Cam of 2008, not Matt Cavanaugh!

:iagree:Spot on! Did you see what happened when they put D. Williams in there? I like Cam and I think he is very creative, but I do believe that every offensive coordinator doesn't want the label as being a "trick play offense". JMO

[mojorob]

When the offense plays as bad as it has lately, the offensive coordinator has to get blame.

I think the execution has been lacking more than the play calls have been bad. About 90% poor execution and 10% bad play calls.

My beef is more with things like the way our pass protection has not been adapting to blitzes, not protecting the edge from pass rushers, WR's not getting open. But the MAIN thing I'm concerned about is the lack of intensity and lack of teamwork I'm seeing from the O-line. That's a real head scratcher.

Dave,I agree with you about the O-line. There is a definite lack of cohesion in that unit. The times this season where they had a real sense of rhythm and pace have been few and far between. I had allowed myself to predict that they were going to gash the Packers. Boy,was I wrong. If they can't regroup and gash the Lions on Sunday,shame on them.

[Carey]

I do not buy that. Ray Rice is a weapon. The rest of the skill position players are average to solid, but good enough to get it done if we do not turn the ball over 4 times.

None of those turnovers were called by OC, or what I would call forced by the defense. Flacco was pressured on some of those throws, but not touched. He just missed and made bad choices. Rice had not fumbled in forever, but the ball was slippery.

There should have been some runs where there were passes, and deep shots were there were dinking and dunking, different lineup combinations and all that, but there was not a terrible play call, just bad timing and execution of good plays that did not work. GB was not the best D in the NFL but they did play like it that night at the same time Flacco stunk and Reed and Suggs were out.

Some valid points....answer me this question....what happens when you send a WR deep that cant get seperation? The QB forces it and throws a pick, Or you get a coverage sack. Those turnovers were bone head throws by Flacco but put yourself in his shoes, you drop 40 times in a game and consistently the only guy truly open is Rice in the flat. It's a miracle he hasnt forced more balls, guys could play better i grant u that....but all in all this deficiency we have in the passing game is calling people to question other things too heavily (the o-line, cam, etc.), But i do see your points and your opinion is respected

[Jeremiah W]

Some valid points....answer me this question....what happens when you send a WR deep that cant get seperation? The QB forces it and throws a pick, Or you get a coverage sack. Those turnovers were bone head throws by Flacco but put yourself in his shoes, you drop 40 times in a game and consistently the only guy truly open is Rice in the flat. It's a miracle he hasnt forced more balls, guys could play better....but all in all this deficiency we have in the passing game is calling people to question other things too heavily (the o-line, cam, etc.), But i do see your points and your opinion is respected

Thanks.

If it is 3rd and long a long pass that gets picked should be as good as a punt.

The ints Joe threw in GB were not on 3rd and long, and should have been thrown away or he should have ran the ball.

Part of the problem most NFL Qbs run into is trying to define what is open. At this level you have to throw the ball before the guy gets open or it is too late. The cable cam angles showed guys breaking wide open accross the middle just after Joe moved off his spot and started to scramble.

We have all seen Joe and this same group of players click this year. I am not sure exactly what is going wrong right now, but I am not leaning towards playcalling or lack of weapons. I think Joe just needs to stop turning the ball over on 1st and 2nd down and in the redzone, and start completing some of those long balls that have been underthrown or just a little too long an awful lot recently.

[Carey]

Thanks.

If it is 3rd and long a long pass that gets picked should be as good as a punt.

The ints Joe threw in GB were not on 3rd and long, and should have been thrown away or he should have ran the ball.

Part of the problem most NFL Qbs run into is trying to define what is open. At this level you have to throw the ball before the guy gets open or it is too late. The cable cam angles showed guys breaking wide open accross the middle just after Joe moved off his spot and started to scramble.

We have all seen Joe and this same group of players click this year. I am not sure exactly what is going wrong right now, but I am not leaning towards playcalling or lack of weapons. I think Joe just needs to stop turning the ball over on 1st and 2nd down and in the redzone, and start completing some of those long balls that have been underthrown or just a little too long an awful lot recently.

What's going on is defenses have a beat on how to play this offense, early in the year teams werent not nearly as physical at line with receivers or sat on routes, they were more reluctant to stick 8 in the box when they saw we put up points early. I really do feel if those early teams played us in a style that GB and Cincy has played us that we wouldnt have scored nearly as much as we did early