Admin Steve
01-19-2012, 12:20 PM
Offense
1. Ball ControlOffense
Tobeat Brady, you might be better off not facing him at all. For the Ravens, themission will be to hog the ball to win the time of possession (TOP) battle andkeep the Golden Boy off the field.
Muchhas been made of how the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to “out-Brady” thePatriots’ offense by mixing controlled passes with some power runs. The resultwas the Steelers controlling TOP for 39 minutes.
Inthat game, Roethlisberger was masterful and hit on a lot of short passes. TheSteelers’ passing game was an extension for their running game.
TheRavens have to take a page from Pittsburgh’s plan, although there certainlywon’t be 50 pass attempts coming from Flacco. Instead, tailback Ray Rice willbe heavily involved both as a runner and a passer.
The passing game will have to be built on underneath routes, including bubblescreens to spring the wideouts and Rice in the open field. The intermediate,middle routes will also be prevalent to take exploit the Patriots’ zone shell.
Morethan anything, Flacco has to be on top of his game on third down to sustaindrives.
2. First downpassing attack
In order to stay on the field andconvert on third down, the offense has to have manageable third-down situationsto work with. This is especially true against New England.
Flacco probably won’t have more singlecoverage matchups to work with than on first down, when the Patriots may usemore eight-man fronts to slow down Rice. This would be an ideal down to passthe ball to gain yardage and set up third-and-short conversions.
It’ll be tough for Flacco to make a living converting third-and-longsituations, especially against the Patriots zone defense. It’ll be imperativefor the Ravens to be effective on first down. In order to have success, theymust take advantage of the one-on-one matchups.
3. Zone beaters
As previously mentioned, the Patriotswill play a lot of zone. They’ve used the zone to cover up their deficiencieson the backend.
The Ravens have struggled at timesagainst zone coverage. However, they have the personnel to complete passes overthe congested middle.
If receivers Torrey Smith and Lee Evansare able to expand the zone by running through it, they’ll either be able to geton top of the deep safeties or help open space for the slot receivers and tightends over the middle.
4. Green lightoffense
Given the stakes, this is the time foroffensive coordinator Cam Cameron to unveil a more aggressive offensive attack.This does not mean having to abandon the run or spreading the field withpass-heavy formations.
Simply, the offense must change thingsup at times, stop being predictable, and put the ball in Flacco’s hands to makeplays when the opportunities arise.
Whenever the Ravens have lost big games in the past – including last year’s23-20 OT loss to the Patriots in Gillette Stadium – they became ultraconservative on offense to protect a lead. Against an offensive powerhouse likeNew England, that strategy just won’t cut it.
The Ravens need to throw haymakers. They need to go for the win.
Defense
1. Play your man –except for Gronkowski
Therehas been a lot of conversation about which personnel packages would work bestto slow down New England’s high-powered, multifaceted passing attack.
Whatmakes defending the Patriots so difficult is that they can line up in differentformations, play-to-play. Their staple is their two-tight end package with RobGronkowski and Aaron Hernandez as interchangeable pass-catchers.
Either player can line up and motion anywhere on the field. The same can alsobe said about receiver Wes Welker.
Withso many moving parts, the philosophy should be to play as much man coverage aspossible. Now, for the assignments:
LardariusWebb will check Wes Welker – more on this matchup later.
CaryWilliams will stay outside to defend Deion Branch (or Julian Edelman or OchoCinco).
JimmySmith will check Hernandez.
Forthe most part, these defensive backs most hold up without consistent help fromthe safeties. If these assignments can hold up, it’ll enable the rest of thebackend defenders to focus on Gronkowski.
2. Bracket Gronkowski
Finding a way to contain Gronkowski isthe ultimate task – one which few defenses have been able to accomplish.
Containing Gronkowski means committingmore than one defender, playing a combination of high-low coverage, and makingsure that he is accounted for at all times.
The difficult aspect of trackingGronkowski is that will run a variation of routes, including a lot of outs andscreens. The Patriots like to get this huge TE in space so he can run throughdefenders.
The Ravens will need to use a designed defender – much like they will withWelker and Gonzalez – to hit and run with Gronkowski underneath, wherever hegoes. The difference is that a second defender should also be available to providehelp if he stretches deep.
The key defenders to run with Gronkowski will be safety Bernard Pollard –coming down in the box – and linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who is the bestcover LB on the team.
3. Dimes and Nickels
The Ravens best bet would be to usePollard more than Ayanbadejo, especially on first and second down, to coverGronkowski. At 6-1, 220-pounds, he has the size to help defend the run and hispresence on the field won’t tip the Patriots as clearly as if Ayanbadejo comesinto the game.
The question is, what type of base defense would the Ravens line up in on earlydowns?
With Pollard in the box, the Ravenscould play more dime, with Lewis as the true Mike LB. This package would alsoenable defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano to bring a third safety or a fourthcornerback to play pass defense or even blitz.
When Pagano mixes a second LB likeAyanbadejo or Jameel McClain in the game to defend the run, the nickel packagewould be a straight three corner, two safety look, but Pollard would play deepalong with Ed Reed to support the corners and check Gronkowski.
No matter what Pagano does, he can’t usethe same combination on every down or Brady will get a beat on the formationand attack it adeptly. Pagano should have multiple dime and nickel formationsto counter the multiple New England formations.
4. Press the receivers
The biggest exclamation mark that appendsthis defensive game plan comes down to not only playing a lot of man coverage,but hitting the receivers at the snap. Without any form of bump or presscoverage, receivers will run free and Brady will hit them in stride.
The group of backers, safeties, andcorners on the field will have to line up and get ready to hit all day long.
One-on-OneMatchup to Watch
LardariusWebb versus Wes Welker: Webb has the athleticism and timing to disruptWelker. He is also playing his best football at the right time. The third-yearcornerback will likely get the single coverage assignment to run with Welker,wherever he goes. The difficult part about defending Welker is that he’sincredibly quick and all of his routes look identical. He can make a sudden cutand break a route in an unforeseen direction. It’ll be up to Webb to not biteor guess.
More... (http://ravens24x7.com/columns/Crystal-Ball/Battle-Plans-Ravens-vs.-Patriots)
1. Ball ControlOffense
Tobeat Brady, you might be better off not facing him at all. For the Ravens, themission will be to hog the ball to win the time of possession (TOP) battle andkeep the Golden Boy off the field.
Muchhas been made of how the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to “out-Brady” thePatriots’ offense by mixing controlled passes with some power runs. The resultwas the Steelers controlling TOP for 39 minutes.
Inthat game, Roethlisberger was masterful and hit on a lot of short passes. TheSteelers’ passing game was an extension for their running game.
TheRavens have to take a page from Pittsburgh’s plan, although there certainlywon’t be 50 pass attempts coming from Flacco. Instead, tailback Ray Rice willbe heavily involved both as a runner and a passer.
The passing game will have to be built on underneath routes, including bubblescreens to spring the wideouts and Rice in the open field. The intermediate,middle routes will also be prevalent to take exploit the Patriots’ zone shell.
Morethan anything, Flacco has to be on top of his game on third down to sustaindrives.
2. First downpassing attack
In order to stay on the field andconvert on third down, the offense has to have manageable third-down situationsto work with. This is especially true against New England.
Flacco probably won’t have more singlecoverage matchups to work with than on first down, when the Patriots may usemore eight-man fronts to slow down Rice. This would be an ideal down to passthe ball to gain yardage and set up third-and-short conversions.
It’ll be tough for Flacco to make a living converting third-and-longsituations, especially against the Patriots zone defense. It’ll be imperativefor the Ravens to be effective on first down. In order to have success, theymust take advantage of the one-on-one matchups.
3. Zone beaters
As previously mentioned, the Patriotswill play a lot of zone. They’ve used the zone to cover up their deficiencieson the backend.
The Ravens have struggled at timesagainst zone coverage. However, they have the personnel to complete passes overthe congested middle.
If receivers Torrey Smith and Lee Evansare able to expand the zone by running through it, they’ll either be able to geton top of the deep safeties or help open space for the slot receivers and tightends over the middle.
4. Green lightoffense
Given the stakes, this is the time foroffensive coordinator Cam Cameron to unveil a more aggressive offensive attack.This does not mean having to abandon the run or spreading the field withpass-heavy formations.
Simply, the offense must change thingsup at times, stop being predictable, and put the ball in Flacco’s hands to makeplays when the opportunities arise.
Whenever the Ravens have lost big games in the past – including last year’s23-20 OT loss to the Patriots in Gillette Stadium – they became ultraconservative on offense to protect a lead. Against an offensive powerhouse likeNew England, that strategy just won’t cut it.
The Ravens need to throw haymakers. They need to go for the win.
Defense
1. Play your man –except for Gronkowski
Therehas been a lot of conversation about which personnel packages would work bestto slow down New England’s high-powered, multifaceted passing attack.
Whatmakes defending the Patriots so difficult is that they can line up in differentformations, play-to-play. Their staple is their two-tight end package with RobGronkowski and Aaron Hernandez as interchangeable pass-catchers.
Either player can line up and motion anywhere on the field. The same can alsobe said about receiver Wes Welker.
Withso many moving parts, the philosophy should be to play as much man coverage aspossible. Now, for the assignments:
LardariusWebb will check Wes Welker – more on this matchup later.
CaryWilliams will stay outside to defend Deion Branch (or Julian Edelman or OchoCinco).
JimmySmith will check Hernandez.
Forthe most part, these defensive backs most hold up without consistent help fromthe safeties. If these assignments can hold up, it’ll enable the rest of thebackend defenders to focus on Gronkowski.
2. Bracket Gronkowski
Finding a way to contain Gronkowski isthe ultimate task – one which few defenses have been able to accomplish.
Containing Gronkowski means committingmore than one defender, playing a combination of high-low coverage, and makingsure that he is accounted for at all times.
The difficult aspect of trackingGronkowski is that will run a variation of routes, including a lot of outs andscreens. The Patriots like to get this huge TE in space so he can run throughdefenders.
The Ravens will need to use a designed defender – much like they will withWelker and Gonzalez – to hit and run with Gronkowski underneath, wherever hegoes. The difference is that a second defender should also be available to providehelp if he stretches deep.
The key defenders to run with Gronkowski will be safety Bernard Pollard –coming down in the box – and linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who is the bestcover LB on the team.
3. Dimes and Nickels
The Ravens best bet would be to usePollard more than Ayanbadejo, especially on first and second down, to coverGronkowski. At 6-1, 220-pounds, he has the size to help defend the run and hispresence on the field won’t tip the Patriots as clearly as if Ayanbadejo comesinto the game.
The question is, what type of base defense would the Ravens line up in on earlydowns?
With Pollard in the box, the Ravenscould play more dime, with Lewis as the true Mike LB. This package would alsoenable defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano to bring a third safety or a fourthcornerback to play pass defense or even blitz.
When Pagano mixes a second LB likeAyanbadejo or Jameel McClain in the game to defend the run, the nickel packagewould be a straight three corner, two safety look, but Pollard would play deepalong with Ed Reed to support the corners and check Gronkowski.
No matter what Pagano does, he can’t usethe same combination on every down or Brady will get a beat on the formationand attack it adeptly. Pagano should have multiple dime and nickel formationsto counter the multiple New England formations.
4. Press the receivers
The biggest exclamation mark that appendsthis defensive game plan comes down to not only playing a lot of man coverage,but hitting the receivers at the snap. Without any form of bump or presscoverage, receivers will run free and Brady will hit them in stride.
The group of backers, safeties, andcorners on the field will have to line up and get ready to hit all day long.
One-on-OneMatchup to Watch
LardariusWebb versus Wes Welker: Webb has the athleticism and timing to disruptWelker. He is also playing his best football at the right time. The third-yearcornerback will likely get the single coverage assignment to run with Welker,wherever he goes. The difficult part about defending Welker is that he’sincredibly quick and all of his routes look identical. He can make a sudden cutand break a route in an unforeseen direction. It’ll be up to Webb to not biteor guess.
More... (http://ravens24x7.com/columns/Crystal-Ball/Battle-Plans-Ravens-vs.-Patriots)