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When the Ravens opened their game in New England on Oct. 4 with a first-drive touchdown, the offense was humming. Quarterback Joe Flacco was precise and efficient; wide-out Derrick Mason was unstoppable right up to his 20-yard catch in the end zone.
That series seems like a long time ago.
In fact, the Ravens haven't scored a touchdown in the first half since. That drought - five quarters, 15 possessions and 75 plays - doesn't begin to match the end zone blackout they endured in 2000, when they went five full games without an offensive touchdown and still won the Super Bowl.
But it did launch a three-game losing streak that threatens to spoil Super Bowl plans this season.
Indeed, if the 3-3 Ravens hope to beat the 6-0 Denver Broncos on Sunday, they will have to start quicker and finish stronger.
How's this for a Jekyll-Hyde act? In the first half of the past three games, the Ravens' offense has one touchdown in 16 possessions. In the second half of those games, the offense has six touchdowns in 17 possessions.
It's as hard to explain as it is to watch.
"The last three weeks, we've been kind of like that thermostat," Mason said. "We've been on 65, 70 [degrees] the first two or three quarters, and then all of a sudden we kick it up to 90 and 100. It's good at times, but we have to be able to start off at 100 - like we did the first three games - to be able to come out that first drive and establish ourselves … and enforce our will on the team. And I'm very confident that from here on out, we will do that."
Mason's analogy aside, there's more to it than flipping a switch. Of those 16 first-half possessions, 11 ended with punts, one on a field goal, one on downs, and two with interceptions in the red zone.
Much of the Ravens' second-half production was achieved in their dramatic comeback in Minnesota, when they scored four touchdowns in five possessions before falling, 33-31.
"The first couple series, you get a feel for the defense, the personnel and what's going to happen out there," wide receiver Kelley Washington said. "As a collective group, we haven't been able to gain or establish any type of momentum that can carry us through the first half. We haven't made the big plays we're capable of making in the first half."
The difference in the second half?
"We make adjustments in the second half," wide-out Mark Clayton said. "We do different things offensively."
The Ravens have scored touchdowns on their opening drive twice this season - against the Cleveland Browns and Patriots. They hit a field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs and punted in the other three games.
For offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the solution to slow starts is simple in theory, although sometimes difficult in application.
"We just have to execute," Cameron said. "Usually, most good defenses will give you something maybe that they haven't shown, so you've got to rely on just your overall football knowledge to come up with those answers during the course of a drive. Probably, that's where maybe some young players struggle a little bit. Denver, that's pretty much what they do. … Each week they give somebody something they haven't seen."
Flacco said the key is to hang in long enough to remedy the problem: "I think you always want to get into a rhythm early and come out to a quick start. But at the same time, you have to understand if that's not the way it works, you've got to be patient and keep plugging away, and eventually the game is going to come to you. Having said that, we're prepared to get off to a quick start and jump on these guys early so that we can play the game we want to."
The Ravens will need a good finish Sunday because the Broncos have been the NFL's best second-half team. They have outscored opponents 76-10 and out-gained them 1,368-605 after halftime.
More remarkable: Denver has held opponents to two successful third-down conversions in 35 tries in the second half this year.
And even more remarkable than that: The Broncos have not allowed a third-down conversion in the second half in their past four games. They are the first team since 1992 to turn that trick.
The Ravens obviously have their work cut out for them in both halves.
Notes: Left tackle Jared Gaither (neck) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game after having limited practice time Friday. He declined to comment - on mandate from coach John Harbaugh - after practice, but said he felt "great." … Linebacker Tavares Gooden (concussion) also declined to comment about his status, but he participated in the full practice Friday and is listed as probable. Other probables include Flacco (ankle), kicker Steve Hauschka (ankle), linebacker Jarret Johnson (shoulder), safety Ed Reed (illness) and wide-out David Tyree (hamstring). … The Broncos listed safety Brian Dawkins and defensive lineman Ronald Fields as probable with hamstring injuries.
That series seems like a long time ago.
In fact, the Ravens haven't scored a touchdown in the first half since. That drought - five quarters, 15 possessions and 75 plays - doesn't begin to match the end zone blackout they endured in 2000, when they went five full games without an offensive touchdown and still won the Super Bowl.
But it did launch a three-game losing streak that threatens to spoil Super Bowl plans this season.
Indeed, if the 3-3 Ravens hope to beat the 6-0 Denver Broncos on Sunday, they will have to start quicker and finish stronger.
How's this for a Jekyll-Hyde act? In the first half of the past three games, the Ravens' offense has one touchdown in 16 possessions. In the second half of those games, the offense has six touchdowns in 17 possessions.
It's as hard to explain as it is to watch.
"The last three weeks, we've been kind of like that thermostat," Mason said. "We've been on 65, 70 [degrees] the first two or three quarters, and then all of a sudden we kick it up to 90 and 100. It's good at times, but we have to be able to start off at 100 - like we did the first three games - to be able to come out that first drive and establish ourselves … and enforce our will on the team. And I'm very confident that from here on out, we will do that."
Mason's analogy aside, there's more to it than flipping a switch. Of those 16 first-half possessions, 11 ended with punts, one on a field goal, one on downs, and two with interceptions in the red zone.
Much of the Ravens' second-half production was achieved in their dramatic comeback in Minnesota, when they scored four touchdowns in five possessions before falling, 33-31.
"The first couple series, you get a feel for the defense, the personnel and what's going to happen out there," wide receiver Kelley Washington said. "As a collective group, we haven't been able to gain or establish any type of momentum that can carry us through the first half. We haven't made the big plays we're capable of making in the first half."
The difference in the second half?
"We make adjustments in the second half," wide-out Mark Clayton said. "We do different things offensively."
The Ravens have scored touchdowns on their opening drive twice this season - against the Cleveland Browns and Patriots. They hit a field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs and punted in the other three games.
For offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the solution to slow starts is simple in theory, although sometimes difficult in application.
"We just have to execute," Cameron said. "Usually, most good defenses will give you something maybe that they haven't shown, so you've got to rely on just your overall football knowledge to come up with those answers during the course of a drive. Probably, that's where maybe some young players struggle a little bit. Denver, that's pretty much what they do. … Each week they give somebody something they haven't seen."
Flacco said the key is to hang in long enough to remedy the problem: "I think you always want to get into a rhythm early and come out to a quick start. But at the same time, you have to understand if that's not the way it works, you've got to be patient and keep plugging away, and eventually the game is going to come to you. Having said that, we're prepared to get off to a quick start and jump on these guys early so that we can play the game we want to."
The Ravens will need a good finish Sunday because the Broncos have been the NFL's best second-half team. They have outscored opponents 76-10 and out-gained them 1,368-605 after halftime.
More remarkable: Denver has held opponents to two successful third-down conversions in 35 tries in the second half this year.
And even more remarkable than that: The Broncos have not allowed a third-down conversion in the second half in their past four games. They are the first team since 1992 to turn that trick.
The Ravens obviously have their work cut out for them in both halves.
Notes: Left tackle Jared Gaither (neck) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game after having limited practice time Friday. He declined to comment - on mandate from coach John Harbaugh - after practice, but said he felt "great." … Linebacker Tavares Gooden (concussion) also declined to comment about his status, but he participated in the full practice Friday and is listed as probable. Other probables include Flacco (ankle), kicker Steve Hauschka (ankle), linebacker Jarret Johnson (shoulder), safety Ed Reed (illness) and wide-out David Tyree (hamstring). … The Broncos listed safety Brian Dawkins and defensive lineman Ronald Fields as probable with hamstring injuries.
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Too funny! Let's give John Beck a chance if Joe can't win this one? What a great solution to stopping a losing streak. Bench a QB that led his team back against NE and Minnesota (Clayton drop and Hauschka miss kept him from adding two Elway like come from behind victories to his resume) and replace him with John Beck no less. Just skip right over the second string QB in Troy Smith. Amazing how some fans always want to turn to the guy they've never seen play a regular season game at QB. Do you think the coaches watch him outplay Flacco and Smith in practice everyday and just stubbornly leave him 3rd on the depth chart? C'mon man!
coach4life (11/01/2009, 12:55 AM )