Not the same defense.

[NewMarketSean]

The Ravens defense is not the shut-down defense of years past. They are allowing too many long-drives that result in points and eat up clock.

Week 1 - vs Chiefs
80 yds, 2:49

Week 2 - @ Chargers
99 yds, 2:22
60 yds, 5:58
56 yds, 3:58
58 yds, 3:54

Week 3 - vs Browns
66 yds, 7:31

Week 4 - @ Patriots
76 yds, 7:45
63 yds, 2:54
79 yds, 3:43
59 yds, 7:07

Granted, the Chargers and Patriots have good offenses and will do this against most teams they play, but if we pride ourselves on being one of the best defenses in the NFL, we can't allow this to happen. Also, the terrible roughing the passer and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the Ravens helped extend the drives in New England, but the defense is still allowing teams to convert on 3rd down too often. They are also not putting enough pressure on QB's, IMO.

[McLovin]

What a difference a coach makes, huh? It's frustrating to see Ryan get more out of so much less talent in NY.

[JohnnyK27]

What a difference a coach makes, huh? It's frustrating to see Ryan get more out of so much less talent in NY.

I agree the Jets defense looks like our defense from years past.... our defense looks like :eek:.... Well you know!

[Mackus]

Its a combination of coaching and talent.

I haven't liked Mattison's schemes. He's bringing way too many corner and safety blitzes and they are killing us. We're getting no pressure on those blitzes and that is what is leaving our secondary so exposed.

Also, we've been taking money and 1st round picks away from the defense and towards the offense for years. Combine that with Ray and Reed getting older, and the moderate decline in the defense is to be expected. I don't think we're going to be a bad defensive team, but we aren't going to be elite this year. I asked this in another thread, besiges Ngata, when's the last time we used a 1st round pick on a defensive player? Suggs?

Suggs, Boller, none, Clayton, Ngata, Grubbs, Flacco, Oher. That's two defensive player selections in the past seven drafts. In the seven drafts before that we had taken five defensive players and four offensive players.

[TJ Wrangler]

What a difference a coach makes, huh? It's frustrating to see Ryan get more out of so much less talent in NY.

I'd almost rather have it be that our defense has aged more so than our coaching is holding us back. Mattison is a Harbaugh guy, so I would hope that we wouldn't be held back because of this, since it may not be likely to change.

[JohnnyK27]

I'd almost rather have it be that our defense has aged more so than our coaching is holding us back. Mattison is a Harbaugh guy, so I would hope that we wouldn't be held back because of this, since it may not be likely to change.

I believe Steve B will hold Mattison accountable if Harbaugh doesnt.

[Miller192]

The defensive schemes and formations are not even close to what Rex used.

[Old#5fan]

The defensive schemes and formations are not even close to what Rex used.

Why is that? :scratchchinhmm:Its not like Rex took those plays and formations with him or they were under his patent? If what you are stating is true this makes little sense. Why change something that was working so well?:confused:

[Dr. FLK]

Why is that? :scratchchinhmm:Its not like Rex took those plays and formations with him or they were under his patent? If what you are stating is true this makes little sense. Why change something that was working so well?:confused:

I don't know who the other candidates were for the job, so I'll guess that they didn't have a guy with a Rex-like approach to defense.

[Miller192]

Why is that? :scratchchinhmm:Its not like Rex took those plays and formations with him or they were under his patent? If what you are stating is true this makes little sense. Why change something that was working so well?:confused:

Well, what Rex did was unconventional in the first place. He primarily operated out of the 46 and dime defense and over powered out of an unbalanced set.

We're going with a traditional 4-3 with the occasional nickle package as our primary defense. We also have gone to a dime package but only in long situations.

I think we have the better personel now to run Rex's schemes that we did last year.

This defense is slightly above average. Hopefully that's enough.

[Avsfan]

Foxworth and Washington are hurting us too...they are both the same player. Their weaknesses were shown yesterday and against SD.

[Mackus]

Foxworth and Washington are hurting us too...they are both the same player. Their weaknesses were shown yesterday and against SD.That's a good point. While both are good players, they both are very similar, with similar strengths and weaknesses. Against some teams that will help us out greatly, but against teams with big WR, its going to hurt us.

I don't think it was the bigness of the Pats WR that hurt us though, other than on that TD to Moss. So i don't think that was a main reason we lost yesterday.

[TJ Wrangler]

Well, what Rex did was unconventional in the first place. He primarily operated out of the 46 and dime defense and over powered out of an unbalanced set.

We're going with a traditional 4-3 with the occasional nickle package as our primary defense. We also have gone to a dime package but only in long situations.

I think we have the better personel now to run Rex's schemes that we did last year.

This defense is slightly above average. Hopefully that's enough.

Is this just an example of coaches being stubborn and having their own philosophy that they want to use, or does Mattison have a legitimate reason as to why he wants to change up something that worked so well?

After a year of watching Rex Ryan run what has made us an elite defense, I would expect that Mattison would see how well it worked and implement at least some aspects of Ryan's defense into his own.

[The Wedge]

Why would Mattison durastically change a system that worked so well?

I can't imagine Ray and company are happy about it.

Probably because the personnel isn't exactly the same, and when you send crazy zone blitz packages you're exposing the secondary which is an obvious weak point for us. See: Brady to Moss TD yesterday.

[Sports Guy]

Mattison was kept on because he was going to do things as Ryan did...that's why they went with him.

I think people are underrating the defense some right now...They have played 2 of the 5 best QBs in the league and 2 very good passing offenses. I think some credit should be given to the other team.

[Miller192]

Is this just an example of coaches being stubborn and having their own philosophy that they want to use, or does Mattison have a legitimate reason as to why he wants to change up something that worked so well?

After a year of watching Rex Ryan run what has made us an elite defense, I would expect that Mattison would see how well it worked and implement at least some aspects of Ryan's defense into his own.

It's Mattison's philosophy. He thought we took too many unecessary risks under Rex Ryan.

I can't really find fault what Mattison is doing I just don't think it's working as well. He's asking guys like Suggs and Pryce to generate their own rush instead of being set-up or setting up guys like Johnson as they were in the past.

He expects Washington and Foxworth to be able to cover better and be less inclined to give up the big play. He's also trying to take away the middle of the field.

The schemes and formations of this defense are almost identical to what the Pittsburgh Steelers are running.

I really liked Rex Ryan's style and had hoped we would see a similar scheme. I was hoping that with a better offense this season, that defense could play at a higher level because they would be better rested.

Again, I'm not hating on Mattison, I just think the jury is still out on whether we're going to be productive enough.

[JohnnyK27]

It's Mattison's philosophy. He thought we took too many unecessary risks under Rex Ryan.

I can't really find fault what Mattison is doing I just don't think it's working as well. He's asking guys like Suggs and Pryce to generate their own rush instead of being set-up or setting up guys like Johnson as they were in the past.

He expects Washington and Foxworth to be able to cover better and be less inclined to give up the big play. He's also trying to take away the middle of the field.

The schemes and formations of this defense are almost identical to what the Pittsburgh Steelers are running.

I really liked Rex Ryan's style and had hoped we would see a similar scheme. I was hoping that with a better offense this season, that defense could play at a higher level because they would be better rested.

Again, I'm not hating on Mattison, I just think the jury is still out on whether we're going to be productive enough.

I can .... Hes turned a top defense into a league average defense thats way to vanilla:angryfire:

[McLovin]

Why would Mattison durastically change a system that worked so well?

I can't imagine Ray and company are happy about it.
Well, some things are working. There were times last year when the Ravens were run on pretty good - that "100 yard rusher" mark notwithstanding. No one is running on the Ravens this year, but they were carved up by some pretty good passing offenses.

The dust needs to settle a bit before we can really jusdge Mattison. I know I curse him quite a bit during the game - I'm not smart enough to know if the cursing is warranted though.

[ccbird]

Besides the obvious things mentioned here like the schemes and cornerback play the other two things to note is the poor tackling and our LB's ability dropping into coverage. I'm not sure we have one above average LB in coverage anymore. Ray might still be above verage but he isn't what he once was. Basically, this defense needs to continue to be a bend but don't break defense. If they do that will be good enough. We are still in the top ten in 3rd down % and doing a good job of keeping teams out of the endzone in the redzone. The offense is more than good enough now where if we hold teams to 3s instead of 7s we will most of our games.

[Malike]

I've only been able to watch one game due to regional bias. The one thing I noticed though, as I'm sure you all have is, the front 4 are not getting to the QB, and they can't blitz the corners with regularity because of the deficiencies in the secondary, especially matching up with some of the bigger receivers. They're going to have to find a way to get to the QB with the D-Line, if you cant rush the CB's because you don't trust single coverage on the WR's it makes for a really long day for the defense.

I also agree with the posters who say, what a difference Rex made. The man is a legit defensive genius. He may not end up a great head coach, but he's going to have a long career in the NFL coaching someone's D. The only other D guy I liked about as much as Rex was Spagnola, and I bet he wishes he were back in NY right now. :laughlol:

You can just see how adaptive both of these coaches are during the games, and you know if something is working for the opponents offense in the first half of a game, they're going to disrupt it in the second half.

The Ravens will be in the top half of the league in both Offense and Defense. They are one of a handful of teams that have a legit shot to win any game they play, but they can also kill themselves like they did against NE. The season sure is going to be fun to watch for fans of any team.