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Editor's note: Ravens questions for Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston can be submitted on game days from halftime until three hours after the game. Selected questions are published in a Q&A on baltimoresun.com later in the week. Listen to Mike Preston every Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. on Fox 1370 (AM) Sports.
Jon: Can you explain the Ravens' first drive to me? They win the coin toss, choose to receive and then call three very conservative plays. If you want the ball first, why call plays that make it look like you don't?
Mike Preston: No, I can't explain it. I have some theories, but like you, I thought the Ravens were conservative on the opening series, too. A lot of teams script plays, like the first 10 or 15, and then make adjustments based on what the other team is running. I really don't know if offensive coordinator Cam Cameron scripts plays. With that said, I can't criticize him for the first series. They had the entire ball game to score some points, and they just didn't get it done.
Chris: Were the Ravens and the defense in particular prepared for this game? Is defensive coordinator Rex Ryan overcompensating for our weaknesses in the secondary and thus leaving the team vulnerable to the run against a strong running team?
Mike Preston: The only thing Ryan could have done differently is sneak a 12th or 13th player on the field. Forget the packages and the schemes. When a team physically pounds you and beats you off the ball, there is nothing you can do. You pack up your stuff, get on the bus, get on the plane and go home. The New York Giants have an excellent offensive line. That group runs well. If you get a chance, go back and look at the film. There were very few times when the Giants had offensive linemen on the ground. They were always running and engaged. The Ravens wanted to play smash-mouth football. They got their wish, except they were the ones who got smashed in the mouth.
The Giants played like Ravens.
Steve: Everyone is talking about what the Giants did to our defense, but can you explain how New York's defense shut down our offense and/or why the Ravens struggled so much?
Mike Preston: The Giants beat the Ravens up front. They whipped the Ravens' offensive line, got penetration and shut down the running game. They got pressure with their front four on passing situations and dropped seven players into coverage. When you can get pressure with your front four, you're probably going to win most games. The Giants have a good, physical and athletic front four.
It would also help if the Ravens had another weapon as a receiver on offense to complement Derrick Mason. When the season started, we all knew the Ravens were limited on offense and hoped somebody would step up to make an impact. Well, it hasn't happened. Finding a receiver and cornerback during the offseason will be the Ravens' top priorities.
Chuck: My question is about the interception by Samari Rolle that was overturned. How did the NFL adopt a rule that goes beyond the dead-ball point in time? Rolle caught the ball, and he was down by contact the instant his rear end hit the ground. Yet the rule requires him -- after being down by contact -- to maintain control? Can you help me understand that one?
Mike Preston: It was the proper call. Rolle had to maintain control of the ball, and he didn't. Sorry, there is no conspiracy theory this week as far as the officials. It was the right call, and you have to give the officials credit.
Glenn: Did you agree with the Ravens' decision to punt the ball on fourth down when they were down by 17 in the fourth quarter and had the ball on the Giants' 39? Overall, what do you think about all the punts this year from within the opponents' 40-yard-line? Sam Koch's great season notwithstanding, it seems it rarely results in a pin close to the goal line. Is it worth playing it safe to only net approximately 15 yards, give or take?
Mike Preston: I thought the Ravens waived the white flag at that moment. They should have gone for it. All season long, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has talked about being unpredictable and attack oriented. At that point, the Ravens had nothing to lose. Two plays later, the Giants broke a long run down to the Ravens' 1 or 2 yard line. Harbaugh wimped out. It's plain and simple.
Brad, Columbia, S.C.: Considering the injuries to key players, how do you think the secondary has been playing overall?
Mike Preston: If the Ravens can't get pressure on the quarterback, they will most likely lose the game. They came into the season knowing that cornerbacks Rolle and Chris McAlister were injury prone, and they thought they upgraded with cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Frank Walker. Those two can match up up against No. 3 and No. 4 receivers, but they struggle against guys like Plaxico Burress, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.
And, who doesn't? There is a reason Walker and Washington are second-string cornerbacks. They are what they are. I just wished Washington could tackle better, and it's hard watching Ryan having them play seven to 10 yards off the ball because he doesn't want to give up big plays. But this is the NFL, not major league baseball. They can't just go down on the farm to find new players.
John: This offense ran best when it used Lorenzo Neal and Le'Ron McClain in a smash-mouth, straight-ahead running attack. Why has this been abandoned? Is McClain hurt? The three-headed monster has been taken out of play by our own coaching staff.
Mike Preston: Easy, John. The Ravens didn't abandon smash-mouth football. The Giants just outplayed them and took away what the Ravens do best offensively, and that's run the football. I think the Ravens will try to run the football again Sunday against the Eagles. They didn't get away from their identity Sunday against the Giants. The Giants took it away from them.
Dave: Why wasn't Troy Smith used against the Giants? Nothing else seemed to work so why not try something with him?
Mike Preston: You're not going to trick good teams often. All that deception and trick stuff works against undisciplined teams like the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, but the Giants were ready for all of that stuff. In fact, the Ravens tried some new wrinkles like the screen off the fake reverse, but the Giants stayed in their positions and were ready for it. Smith is a quarterback, not a receiver. He's trained to play that position, so let's let him play it.
Sam: Is Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles a "must win" if the Ravens are going to make the playoffs? If you had to predict today, how do you think the Ravens will finish the season?
Mike Preston: At this point, with the game being at home and the Eagles struggling, I would say it's a "must win" for lack of a better term. I think the Ravens can win two, maybe three more games. But again, they are a lot better off than I thought they would be this season, and I think this coaching staff has laid a great foundation for the future.
Jeff: How come Antwan Barnes continues to be inactive? He had been playing well as a third-down pass rusher. Is this a discipline issue or is there just not room for him on the game-day roster?
Mike Preston: The Ravens have been carrying two kickers on the game-day roster, so somebody has to be inactive. The Ravens work through a lot of scenarios before choosing their game-day roster, such as the packages they will use, if a team likes to run more than pass, who's is hot and who isn't. Barnes isn't injured and there are no discipline issues. It's just a matter of numbers, and who Harbaugh thinks will give the team the best chance of winning on Sundays.
Jon: Can you explain the Ravens' first drive to me? They win the coin toss, choose to receive and then call three very conservative plays. If you want the ball first, why call plays that make it look like you don't?
Mike Preston: No, I can't explain it. I have some theories, but like you, I thought the Ravens were conservative on the opening series, too. A lot of teams script plays, like the first 10 or 15, and then make adjustments based on what the other team is running. I really don't know if offensive coordinator Cam Cameron scripts plays. With that said, I can't criticize him for the first series. They had the entire ball game to score some points, and they just didn't get it done.
Chris: Were the Ravens and the defense in particular prepared for this game? Is defensive coordinator Rex Ryan overcompensating for our weaknesses in the secondary and thus leaving the team vulnerable to the run against a strong running team?
Mike Preston: The only thing Ryan could have done differently is sneak a 12th or 13th player on the field. Forget the packages and the schemes. When a team physically pounds you and beats you off the ball, there is nothing you can do. You pack up your stuff, get on the bus, get on the plane and go home. The New York Giants have an excellent offensive line. That group runs well. If you get a chance, go back and look at the film. There were very few times when the Giants had offensive linemen on the ground. They were always running and engaged. The Ravens wanted to play smash-mouth football. They got their wish, except they were the ones who got smashed in the mouth.
The Giants played like Ravens.
Steve: Everyone is talking about what the Giants did to our defense, but can you explain how New York's defense shut down our offense and/or why the Ravens struggled so much?
Mike Preston: The Giants beat the Ravens up front. They whipped the Ravens' offensive line, got penetration and shut down the running game. They got pressure with their front four on passing situations and dropped seven players into coverage. When you can get pressure with your front four, you're probably going to win most games. The Giants have a good, physical and athletic front four.
It would also help if the Ravens had another weapon as a receiver on offense to complement Derrick Mason. When the season started, we all knew the Ravens were limited on offense and hoped somebody would step up to make an impact. Well, it hasn't happened. Finding a receiver and cornerback during the offseason will be the Ravens' top priorities.
Chuck: My question is about the interception by Samari Rolle that was overturned. How did the NFL adopt a rule that goes beyond the dead-ball point in time? Rolle caught the ball, and he was down by contact the instant his rear end hit the ground. Yet the rule requires him -- after being down by contact -- to maintain control? Can you help me understand that one?
Mike Preston: It was the proper call. Rolle had to maintain control of the ball, and he didn't. Sorry, there is no conspiracy theory this week as far as the officials. It was the right call, and you have to give the officials credit.
Glenn: Did you agree with the Ravens' decision to punt the ball on fourth down when they were down by 17 in the fourth quarter and had the ball on the Giants' 39? Overall, what do you think about all the punts this year from within the opponents' 40-yard-line? Sam Koch's great season notwithstanding, it seems it rarely results in a pin close to the goal line. Is it worth playing it safe to only net approximately 15 yards, give or take?
Mike Preston: I thought the Ravens waived the white flag at that moment. They should have gone for it. All season long, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has talked about being unpredictable and attack oriented. At that point, the Ravens had nothing to lose. Two plays later, the Giants broke a long run down to the Ravens' 1 or 2 yard line. Harbaugh wimped out. It's plain and simple.
Brad, Columbia, S.C.: Considering the injuries to key players, how do you think the secondary has been playing overall?
Mike Preston: If the Ravens can't get pressure on the quarterback, they will most likely lose the game. They came into the season knowing that cornerbacks Rolle and Chris McAlister were injury prone, and they thought they upgraded with cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Frank Walker. Those two can match up up against No. 3 and No. 4 receivers, but they struggle against guys like Plaxico Burress, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.
And, who doesn't? There is a reason Walker and Washington are second-string cornerbacks. They are what they are. I just wished Washington could tackle better, and it's hard watching Ryan having them play seven to 10 yards off the ball because he doesn't want to give up big plays. But this is the NFL, not major league baseball. They can't just go down on the farm to find new players.
John: This offense ran best when it used Lorenzo Neal and Le'Ron McClain in a smash-mouth, straight-ahead running attack. Why has this been abandoned? Is McClain hurt? The three-headed monster has been taken out of play by our own coaching staff.
Mike Preston: Easy, John. The Ravens didn't abandon smash-mouth football. The Giants just outplayed them and took away what the Ravens do best offensively, and that's run the football. I think the Ravens will try to run the football again Sunday against the Eagles. They didn't get away from their identity Sunday against the Giants. The Giants took it away from them.
Dave: Why wasn't Troy Smith used against the Giants? Nothing else seemed to work so why not try something with him?
Mike Preston: You're not going to trick good teams often. All that deception and trick stuff works against undisciplined teams like the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, but the Giants were ready for all of that stuff. In fact, the Ravens tried some new wrinkles like the screen off the fake reverse, but the Giants stayed in their positions and were ready for it. Smith is a quarterback, not a receiver. He's trained to play that position, so let's let him play it.
Sam: Is Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles a "must win" if the Ravens are going to make the playoffs? If you had to predict today, how do you think the Ravens will finish the season?
Mike Preston: At this point, with the game being at home and the Eagles struggling, I would say it's a "must win" for lack of a better term. I think the Ravens can win two, maybe three more games. But again, they are a lot better off than I thought they would be this season, and I think this coaching staff has laid a great foundation for the future.
Jeff: How come Antwan Barnes continues to be inactive? He had been playing well as a third-down pass rusher. Is this a discipline issue or is there just not room for him on the game-day roster?
Mike Preston: The Ravens have been carrying two kickers on the game-day roster, so somebody has to be inactive. The Ravens work through a lot of scenarios before choosing their game-day roster, such as the packages they will use, if a team likes to run more than pass, who's is hot and who isn't. Barnes isn't injured and there are no discipline issues. It's just a matter of numbers, and who Harbaugh thinks will give the team the best chance of winning on Sundays.
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