So, can we stop the Raven's running attack and win this week?

[Mr.Dibbs]

The Raven's offense is based solely on the run. Their QB is the lowest rated in the NFL. We play the run well. Is this enough to pull off a win?

 

[Jttsaz]

Even if we slow down the run...how are we gonna score against that defense? The Cards did play them tough the year they went to the Super Bowl but this looks like a daunting task...

 

[azdad1978]

Originally posted by Oran
The Raven's offense is based solely on the run. Their QB is the lowest rated in the NFL. We play the run well. Is this enough to pull off a win?

No

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Actually this is avery winnable game...Follow me:

1. Boller is just plan bad (raw is a btter term I suppose). It isnt becuase his line is bad however. I think he has been sacked 8 times in 4 games which is not bad at all. His QB rating, as mentioned earlier, is around 46.8, yes 46.8. He makes the bad read, pass, even w/o the pressure on him from blitzing. Hence this fits right in with the Cards since they have no pass rush. If you take away the run, force him to pass the ball he will make mistakes!

2. The cards are not bad at all aginst the run (3.2ypc avg, 98.4 yards per game 11th in NFL-better than the Ravens at 14th) and thus have the capability to stop Lewis.

3. Field position/turnovers. This game will come down to punting, kickoffs, and turnovers. The cards can not get into a game where they are playing from their own endzone or the Ravens will kick 5 fg's and win 15-3. The Cards have to take advantage of the weak QB and force lots of three-and-outs. Which brings me to the next point:

4. Todd Heap: He is a defense killer. The Cards need to scheme for him as he kills teams with his third down catches and will keep drives alive. DO NOT PUT MCKINNON ON THIS GUY OR IT WILL BE A VERY LONG DAY.

I think if the Cards can win this one, and in fact will. They have to come out fired up though and make sure they are very aware of field position. Hopefully Duncan can get a few into the endzone on kickoffs.

Prediction: AZ 15 Baltimore 12

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

I think it's winnable, but I know the Cardinals can find a way to make it losable. The key is to not let their defense score points off of picks and fumbles.

 

[TXCardinalsFan]

James Hodgins on Ray Ray will be interesting. Now, if Sullivan will stop taking Hodgins out of the lead blocker role and actually use him like the Rams did, we could have an interesting game!

 

[sLanidRaC]

Can you say, "Sniper"? KIDDING!

How about wrapping up 1st, then trying to punch the ball out, instead of vice versa. Enough of this bumper pool tackling.

DEFENSE!
*CLAP, CLAP*
DEFENSE!!
*CLAP, CLAP*

 

[Jim O]

Originally posted by Jttsaz
Even if we slow down the run...how are we gonna score against that defense? The Cards did play them tough the year they went to the Super Bowl but this looks like a daunting task...

Remember the knockout shot Siragusa put on Pittman? We were driving for the score and 'Goose' literally knocked Pittman out and he fumbled it away.

 

[TXCardinalsFan]

I remember that. I flew down from Oregon for that game. I was so disappointed afterwards. I did manage to rile a few Ravens fans by scream, "Go Cleveland!" As I walked the gaunlet out of the stands. Almost got into a fight about that too.......Damn Ravens fans are so touchy.

 

[CardLogic]

Originally posted by TXCardinalsFan
James Hodgins on Ray Ray will be interesting. Now, if Sullivan will stop taking Hodgins out of the lead blocker role and actually use him like the Rams did, we could have an interesting game!

TXCFan,

Good post, another fine example of the lack of scheme / game plan, etc. Taking a better than average blocking fullback and trying to make a Larry Centers type player out of him.

I remember Hodgins stating during training camp that he was looking forward to being more a part of the offensive plan (i.e. - reciever / carrying the ball). Maybe the coaching staff is trying to make him happy.

WELL SCREW THAT!!!! Look Hodgins, what you do well is knock LB's on their asses. SO DO IT!!! Take care of that aspect of the game and when we are up by two TD's we will throw you a bone every once in a while, got it!

 

[Wild Card]

Originally posted by LVCARDFREAK
Prediction: AZ 15 Baltimore 12

LVCardFreak:

I thought your breakdown was pretty reasonable, right up until the predicted final score. The Chiefs are the 2nd-highest scoring team in the league (30.2 ppg), and in their last game the Ravens defense held them to 17 points, 7 of which came from a 97-yard Dante Hall kickoff return.

Now, coming off their bye week, Baltimore's had two weeks to game-plan for the Cardinals. Hard to see the Cards (31st, 12.8 ppg) scoring even 15 points on these guys.

WC

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Originally posted by Wild Card
LVCardFreak:

I thought your breakdown was pretty reasonable, right up until the predicted final score. The Chiefs are the 2nd-highest scoring team in the league (30.2 ppg), and in their last game the Ravens defense held them to 17 points, 7 of which came from a 97-yard Dante Hall kickoff return.

Now, coming off their bye week, Baltimore's had two weeks to game-plan for the Cardinals. Hard to see the Cards (31st, 12.8 ppg) scoring even 15 points on these guys.

WC

Your probably right.....

I still think the Cards can score if they play the field position game well. Mac cant be going for it on 4th and 1 at the 50. PUNT , PUNT, PUNT.!

He also needs to remember that fg's can win the game. Anything inside the 35 should be kick time.

Maybe the Cards dont score 15 but I still believe if they play field position football and force Boller to make mistakes (hell to this point he hasnt had to be forced to make mistakes) then the cards can win a 3yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust low-scoring game....

If McGinnis doesnt put 8 men in the box all day I will be shocked

Plus they are 1-0 at home

 

[AzWins23]

After what the Raven's and Rams Defense did to us...We have no chance against the Ravens.....Just thank god we werent playing the Bucs or the Panthers!!

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Originally posted by AzWins23
After what the Raven's and Rams Defense did to us...We have no chance against the Ravens.....Just thank god we werent playing the Bucs or the Panthers!!

I respectfully disagree. I think The Ravens are a good match up for the Cards.

They will rely on Lewis and I think the Cards can shut him down (or limit him to 60-70 yards or less).

I am not saying it will be pretty but the Cards CAN win if they play the right type of game.

 

[Skkorpion]

LVCardsfreak. You nailed it. Good analysis.

The one thing our defense does is shut down running backs. We CAN win this game if we just exercise patience.

 

[Cardinal Bob]

Originally posted by LVCARDFREAK
Plus they are 1-0 at home

Not exactly.

Remember Seattle?

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Originally posted by Cardinal Bob
Not exactly.

Remember Seattle?

oh...umm...yeah...well....I..I...dont count that game because....welll


OK OK I FORGOT .....KILL ME WHY DON'T YA

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by LVCARDFREAK
Your probably right.....

I still think the Cards can score if they play the field position game well. Mac cant be going for it on 4th and 1 at the 50. PUNT , PUNT, PUNT.!

He also needs to remember that fg's can win the game. Anything inside the 35 should be kick time.

Maybe the Cards dont score 15 but I still believe if they play field position football and force Boller to make mistakes (hell to this point he hasnt had to be forced to make mistakes) then the cards can win a 3yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust low-scoring game....

If McGinnis doesnt put 8 men in the box all day I will be shocked

Plus they are 1-0 at home

I actually agree but I thought we would beat Dallas too.

People seem to think this Raven defense is comparable to the one that won the Superbowl or something, it's good but not that good. The Chargers put up 400 yards of offense on them but they forced 3 picks by Brees. If blake doesn't turn it over, we'll be in the game. He's had at least one TO in all 5 games if we finally get a game with him playing more like he did the rest of his career, I think we'll be in the game.

Knowing us we'll run that play action bootleg on the first play, the one that Little crushed Blake and he fumbled on against the Rams.

The offense has stunk the last 2 weeks from QB to OL to RB to WR we have not played well the last 2 games, so I do ask myself why I expect us to do better now against a better pass defense?

 

[Wild Card]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
People seem to think this Raven defense is comparable to the one that won the Superbowl or something, it's good but not that good. The Chargers put up 400 yards of offense on them but they forced 3 picks by Brees.

Russ:

You're right. The Baltimore defense hasn't been dominant, but they've played well enough to win in their three games since giving up 34 points to the Steelers at Pittsburgh week 1.

In their 24-10 win at San Diego, the Ravens got 14 points off 14 yards of offense, with a 50-yard fumble return for TD by Alan Ricard, and a 2-play, 14-yard drive following a Terrell Suggs INT. Take those scores away, and it was anyone's game. (Although, to be fair, the Chargers got 77 of their yards and their only TD when they were down 24-3 in the fourth quarter, and the Ravens were in the dreaded "prevent.")

If the Cardinals get their running game going, and play error-free ball, this is a winnable game. Based on their recent history, though, you'd have to say that those are pretty big "ifs."

WC

 

[Cardinal Bob]

Originally posted by LVCARDFREAK
oh...umm...yeah...well....I..I...dont count that game because....welll


OK OK I FORGOT .....KILL ME WHY DON'T YA

I've tried to erase it from my memory as well.

 

[JeffGollin]

Game Plan

1. Run the ball.

2. Stop the run.

3. No bonehead mistakes.

If we do that, at least we've got a fighting chance.

Next:

4. Constant pressure on Boller (Lock Marmie in a closet if necessary).

5. Make one more big play on special teams than we give up.

6. No blind waggles off play action until we've first established the run.

7. Beat them off the ball on O and D.

8. Keep most of our pass plays 3-step.

9. Run a lot of 2 TE stuff but utilize FJ more as a very big WR than as a true TE.

10. Run slants directly at Boulware and Suggs to negate their mobility.

11. Pray for hot, humid weather.

 

[Rivercard]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
The offense has stunk the last 2 weeks from QB to OL to RB to WR we have not played well the last 2 games, so I do ask myself why I expect us to do better now against a better pass defense?

You're right Russ. It's like Horseracing, you can't feel good betting the horse if he hasn't shown some recent form.

 

[Rivercard]

Originally posted by JeffGollin

1. Run the ball.
We can do that. Marcel time.

2. Stop the run.
We can do that.

3. No bonehead mistakes.
Not sure we can do that.

4. Constant pressure on Boller (Lock Marmie in a closet if necessary).
Odds are slim we can do that.

5. Make one more big play on special teams than we give up.
We can do that with with Player and Scobey.

6. No blind waggles off play action until we've first established the run.
We can do that.

7. Beat them off the ball on O and D.
We've struggled here.

8. Keep most of our pass plays 3-step.
Negate Blake's strong deep ball?

9. Run a lot of 2 TE stuff but utilize FJ more as a very big WR than as a true TE.
Your asking for creativity here. We haven't shown too much of that so far.

10. Run slants directly at Boulware and Suggs to negate their mobility.
We can do that.

11. Pray for hot, humid weather.

Maybe this will help.........

 

[Snakester]

I predict we win this one. 20-13 . We're do and I think we match up well with them.

 

[Stout]

No way we win this one. We may be able to stuff Lewis inside, but he has speed, and he CAN bust it outside. Plus, he can break tackles like crazy. We aren't known for being a good 'tackling' team. We arm tackle a lot. That won't work this week.

Also, just as we start to stack the box against the run, Heap will destroy us. All it will take is one or two plays too.

I really don't see them putting up huge points, though, but it will be by far enough. Our offense, I think, will gain nothing, and I mean nothing, against their D. It's a horrible matchup for us.

Sadly, I think we get rocked.