Did Ray win the game?

[JZB4321]

Does anyone else think that Ray's hit on Keller caused Keller's mental error on the next play? I would prob have forgotten which down it was too if i got hit that hard!

[Jeremiah W]

It was a total team effort, but Ray still leads the way with his words and his play.

[Losac]

I think he was just so focused on getting out of bounds that he didn't pay attention.

[xmradiodave]

I am sure he was still seeing stars. If I got hit that hard, i would certainly not want to risk going for round two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMLFVdfyJ30&feature=player_embedded

[akashicrecorder]

The funniest thing is Keller knew it was coming. He was so scared he was dropping the ball anyway :laugh:

[RAVENOUS52]

It certainly had to play some part in Keller's mistake...

Intense Pain normally has that effect on people.

[mojorob]

Ray's stamp was all over last night's game. He backed up his response to Rex Ryan's calling him out. He intimidated Sanchez to slide and come up short on a crucial third down play. He blew up Keller on the last drive.

Last year I was at the San Diego game when Ray stuffed Sproles and sealed the win. I turned to a SD fan and said, "You just had the privilege of watching in person one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the NFL".

I am old enough to have seen in person or on TV great defensive players like,Gino Marchetti,Sam Huff,Dick Butkus,Bob Lilly,Ray Nitschke,Deacon Jones,Mike Singletary and Ronnie Lott. The only player I could compare to Ray would be Lawrence Taylor.

Most NFL experts consider Taylor to be the greatest of them all. He revolutionized the game with his style of play. But I think it's time to put Ray at the top of the list. His "body of work" speaks for itself. Has he slowed down? Sure. Has he missed some tackles? Sure. Has he been blocked off of the line? Sure.

But,physically,mentally,and emotionally, has any other player surpassed Ray? His teammates rise above their level because they are inspired by him. His defense is ranked at or near the top every single year he has played. His coaches have enough faith to know they can count on him to make the plays at the end of a close game like last night. Ray Lewis: Greatest defensive player in the history of the NFL.

[psuasskicker]

Does it matter?

Ray lit up Greene, Richardson and Keller and looked great last night, and the defense played well and we won the game.

Plus, I'm sorry, even if Keller got that first down, given how poorly Sanchez was playing there's hardly any way anyone can convince me that he could have led them into FG range.

- C -

[xmradiodave]

Does it matter?

Ray lit up Greene, Richardson and Keller and looked great last night, and the defense played well and we won the game.

Plus, I'm sorry, even if Keller got that first down, given how poorly Sanchez was playing there's hardly any way anyone can convince me that he could have led them into FG range.

- C -


You know everyone loves the what-if's and speculation. I agree though. I am not sure at all that they would have marched down into FG range. The JETS were not moving the ball well at all.

[Galen Sevinne]

Awesome game by Ray. DPOY type performance. The question ia though, can Ray continue for 16+ weeks like that? The last couple years and especially last year Ray has has strong starts to the season but I do think his age begins to catch up to him and he becomes less of an impact as the season endures. Haven't heard too much about this but I think it is a recent trend. After 15 years, I think it is to be expected. He has been playing for the entire length of the Ravens franchise. That is remarkable.

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[StingerNLG]

Awesome game by Ray. DPOY type performance. The question ia though, can Ray continue for 16+ weeks like that? The last couple years and especially last year Ray has has strong starts to the season but I do think his age begins to catch up to him and he becomes less of an impact as the season endures. Haven't heard too much about this but I think it is a recent trend. After 15 years, I think it is to be expected. He has been playing for the entire length of the Ravens franchise. That is remarkable.

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The question is going to be answered on whether or not the offense can continue to stay on the field for as long as they did. When the defense only has to play 20 minutes of football, I think Ray will be fine.

[HoustonRaven]

Awesome game by Ray. DPOY type performance. The question ia though, can Ray continue for 16+ weeks like that? The last couple years and especially last year Ray has has strong starts to the season but I do think his age begins to catch up to him and he becomes less of an impact as the season endures.

Not sure how you can make that claim since his total number of tackles have gone up every year for the past 5 years.

As for last season, he had 55 tackles the first half of the season.

Yes, his productivity dropped the second half of the season ... to 54 tackles. Hardly a marked drop off.

[Sua Sponte]

Does it matter?

Ray lit up Greene, Richardson and Keller and looked great last night, and the defense played well and we won the game.

Plus, I'm sorry, even if Keller got that first down, given how poorly Sanchez was playing there's hardly any way anyone can convince me that he could have led them into FG range.

- C -

I'm with you on that, they still had to get 20+ yards to get into FG range with no TO's. Keller probably ran out to save his team mates from catching one of those hits ("screw this man") Can you say the JETS O "Tapped Out"

[Losac]

Not sure how you can make that claim since his total number of tackles have gone up every year for the past 5 years.

Not to mention I have been hearing people saying he has "lost a step" every year since 2002.

[Sua Sponte]

Not to mention I have been hearing people saying he has "lost a step" every year since 2002.

He has also played at a heavier weight for the past 7-8 years, so naturally you may lose a little speed, but to keep saying that every year, if not as fast he stills makes analyze eat there words.

[StingerNLG]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-playbook/09000d5d81a89f91/Playbook-Ravens-exploit-Jets-other-CBs

I was just watching this recap video and something else we forgot about with Ray Lewis yesterday.

Remember all that talk from the Jets about "The Terminator" Tony Richardson and how he was going to destroy the Ravens defense?

Richardson's new name should be "The Terminated", because Ray handled him just fine Monday night.

[JZB4321]

His hit on Richardson when he flew to the gap and knocked him back into LT was just as impressive as the Sproles play last year. His play recognition is an awesome force to be feared.

[Galen Sevinne]

Not sure how you can make that claim since his total number of tackles have gone up every year for the past 5 years.

As for last season, he had 55 tackles the first half of the season.

Yes, his productivity dropped the second half of the season ... to 54 tackles. Hardly a marked drop off.

Number of tackles has always been questionable...especially with Ray. It just seems to me that Ray has these overpowering games early in the year when he is at his freshest but then gets pushed around a bit towards the end of the season. Not that he is a liability or anything close to that as he is still the general on the field and a force to be reckoned with It just seems to me that there hasn't been much discussion about Ray having great games late in the season.

[Sua Sponte]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-playbook/09000d5d81a89f91/Playbook-Ravens-exploit-Jets-other-CBs

I was just watching this recap video and something else we forgot about with Ray Lewis yesterday.

Remember all that talk from the Jets about "The Terminator" Tony Richardson and how he was going to destroy the Ravens defense?

Richardson's new name should be "The Terminated", because Ray handled him just fine Monday night.

Richardson is not the terminator, the other Fullback John Connor is who they call the "Terminator" I don't think it matters either way I don't care who was back there the play recognition and Rays force blew the play regardless.

[StingerNLG]

Richardson is not the terminator, the other Fullback John Connor is who they call the "Terminator" I don't think it matters either way I don't care who was back there the play recognition and Rays force blew the play regardless.

Gotcha. I took that off the video and misunderstood who they were referring to. Either way, he wasn't being blocked by either of them.

[Sua Sponte]

Gotcha. I took that off the video and misunderstood who they were referring to. Either way, he wasn't being blocked by either of them.

Yeah they did say something about the Terminator when Ray blew the play up, I was just watching it again, I don't remember seeing him maybe on ST, but I think Rex knew better than to put a Rookie FB in the game against the best LB ever.

[Mike B]

Does anyone else think that Ray's hit on Keller caused Keller's mental error on the next play? I would prob have forgotten which down it was too if i got hit that hard!

Not a doubt in my mind. Keller got rocked and was not thinking clear. We have been blessed to see what I think is the greatest inside linebacker in the history of the NFL. Last night was just another installment in the greatest hits of #52. He is simply the best.

[myfavoriteboxer]

I was in aneurysm mode while I watched this game, but when I look back on it it seems like bizarro world Ravens '09. Ray's big hit was a parallel to the much-ballyhooed Ocho Cinco hit, except this time he hit Keller below the helmet and didn't give the other team a free first down. Watching our team play disciplined and the other team extend drives with stupid penalties, particularly PI's, it was certainly strange. I didn't know what to make of it at first, because I was so SURE we were going to figure out a way to lose that game. Week 1 is always weird, though, so to really know what we're dealing with we need to see how it goes in Cincinnati, where there are two very good CB's, rather than one great one and the rest you can pick on. And a better QB and receivers who will test you.

[AirFlacco]

Yeah they did say something about the Terminator when Ray blew the play up, I was just watching it again, I don't remember seeing him maybe on ST, but I think Rex knew better than to put a Rookie FB in the game against the best LB ever.

Just like he knew better to leave a rookie CB alone with Boldin, especially
when the rap vs Wilson was his weakness prior to the draft was that he wasn't physical enough to
handle the bigger WRs who would use their bodies to screen him off the ball and he would get outmuscled,
which is exactly what happened.

Boldin flew by Wilson time and time again.

Back to Keller, here's the vid again. He clearly was dizzy. The pole is right there and he isn't even looking
for it. His eyes are to the right of the pole. He is totally dazed.

Again, he gets that foot inside the marker and they keep going with a long FG kicker waiting in the wings.



http://www.nfl.com/players/dustinkeller/profile?id=KEL091879

[darb72]

Didn't the Chargers also have someone who stepped out of bounds short of the yard stick on fourth down late in the game? I remember some other team doing it this week but can't quite remember who.

Anyway, yeah, I think Ray won this game. The rest of the defense obviously helped. (By the rest I mean the Jets defense as well, since their CBs were single-handidly extending most of our drives.)

That hit on Keller messed up his noggin, it was obvious. Usually, when you see a hard hit, the player who got smacked goes flying backwards. Keller just sank like his legs had been cut out from under him.

[AirFlacco]

From Keller himself. Like i posted, he didn't even know where the pole
was, like slightly to his left and he's looking right the entire time cause
he was dazed.


________________________________________________________
"When I caught the ball, I thought I was right at the spot and could just go out of bounds ahead of the first down mark,'' Keller said. "But that wasn't the case. I thought I was right at the sticks for a first down. But no excuses, I just didn't get it done.''

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/09/14/ravens.jets.5things/index.html?eref=sihp#ixzz0zb2lNbuT

_________________________________________________________

[RAVENOUS52]

G7 I think you have superhuman expectations for Ray because, well, he's performed at a superhuman level so many times in the past.

No player can have a signature game every game of a 16-game schedule, even the greatest LB ever.

But I can certainly tell you that at the end of the season he's every bit as good as he normally is... Ask Tom Brady about last year's game.

[Sua Sponte]

Just like he knew better to leave a rookie CB alone with Boldin, especially
when the rap vs Wilson was his weakness prior to the draft was that he wasn't physical enough to
handle the bigger WRs who would use their bodies to screen him off the ball and he would get outmuscled,
which is exactly what happened.

Boldin flew by Wilson time and time again.

Back to Keller, here's the vid again. He clearly was dizzy. The pole is right there and he isn't even looking
for it. His eyes are to the right of the pole. He is totally dazed.

Again, he gets that foot inside the marker and they keep going with a long FG kicker waiting in the wings.



http://www.nfl.com/players/dustinkeller/profile?id=KEL091879


Yeah, I didn't understand that move, I just think Rex was figuring that we had so many weapons that he would just put his CB's where ever, I don't think it mattered much, because Housh was ripping Wilson as well.
Cromartie and Wilson both were getting light up.

[AirFlacco]

And again, Housh was 1 on 1 with Wilson because of the blitz and beat him so bad Wilson had
to grab his arm. Rex didn't give the rook any help. Not too smart.

At least the TD wasn't charged to him. Smart guy.

:laugh:

Rexy had his balls handed to him and was thoroughly out-coached by
HARBs. He lived and died with the blitz - mostly died with it.

[Sua Sponte]

And that was what I liked most about Flacco's play in that game, stat wise he didn't put up huge numbers, but Schaub only threw for 107, Rodgers didn't exactly light the roof on fire and a few others didn't have huge games. Flacco was dominant on 3rd and was eating there blitz for dinner. He looked great under pressure and made good decisions whilie standing in and taking hits. Lets keep Flacco clean though.

That is all you can ask for against a D that aggressive and dominant.

[AirFlacco]

Yea, even Rex said the 3rd down is where they lost it. Joe converted so
many of them like 11 of 14 or something. Jets had what - 1 or 2.

Dirty Sanchez didn't even complete a pass in double digits until the end
of the 3rd qtr. Too little, too late.

Speaking of Keller being dazed, how about Joe on that first sack.

Does anyone think he might have been playing scared the rest of the
way blowing the TDs to MacClain, Boldin and Mason?

Just asking?

Great discussion SN.

[psuasskicker]

Rexy had his balls handed to him and was thoroughly out-coached by
HARBs.

Dead on. Rex is a really good coach, but Cam knew exactly what that defense was going to do and they abused it badly. They also knew exactly what their offense would do and they ran them into the dirt. They dared the Jets to beat them through the air deep and Rex/Schottie didn't even try.


Yea, even Rex said the 3rd down is where they lost it. Joe converted so
many of them like 11 of 14 or something. Jets had what - 1 or 2.

I think final stats were that Ravens were 9/14 and Jets were 1/11.


Dirty Sanchez didn't even complete a pass in double digits until the end
of the 3rd qtr. Too little, too late.

I don't know why this isn't talked about more, but that's not the most amazing stat. The most amazing stat is that by my count, Sanchez didn't throw the ball more than ten yards down field more than once the entire game. This includes needing about 50 yards for a FG in under two minutes on their final drive, and never throwing it 10+ once on that drive.

The one play he did, I think resulted in a penalty and was cancelled. That 13 yard reception was a catch-and-run. It's not that he couldn't complete anything long. What's so amazing is that he didn't even try!


Speaking of Keller being dazed, how about Joe on that first sack.

Does anyone think he might have been playing scared the rest of the
way blowing the TDs to MacClain, Boldin and Mason?

No, I don't think that was it at all. Joe didn't have a bad game. That's a very tough defense and one of the best pass defenses in the NFL. He did fine against them and other than the complete miss to McClain in the end zone, I'm not worried about pretty much any pass he threw. Including the INT as I think that was more of a wrong route than a bad throw.

- C -

[Rxdoxx]

Did Ray win the game?

Great discussion

Have to add that I think I remember seeing Sanchez starting his slide early with Ray homing in. Think the ball was spotted 2yds short of a 1st that could have been gotten with a dive instead of a slide.

Ray has a reputation that affects the game. The hit on Keller just re-enforced it for this year saying he didn't lose it in the off-season, and it could easily have "Eddie George'd" him for the end of the game.

I'm one of those who voted for Ray on the home page poll. Nothing against Boldin and his stellar contribution, he kept us moving and contributed greatly, but Ray got into the Jet's heads and that is HOF stuff.

[psuasskicker]

BTW, I listen to the Dan Patrick podcasts of their show every day. Yesterday, McLovin's theory on what happened to Keller, regarding the first down marker:

"He saw it, but did you see the Ray Lewis hit about a minute earlier? He chose to end the game rather than turn up-field and risk getting hit again." <laughs>

Hilarious!

- C -