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No cover-2 patterns or zone coverage? That suited the Ravens' secondary just fine.
After giving up 436 yards nine days ago against the San Diego Chargers, the Ravens' defensive coaches could have called for more zone or safer coverage against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
But the coaches never backed down from their desire to be aggressive, which the defensive backs appreciated.
"The coaching staff, they have faith in us, and they know that we can play," cornerback Domonique Foxworth said after the Ravens' 34-3 demolition of the Browns. "They locked us up on receivers like Braylon Edwards in man coverage and said, 'What happened last week - while we didn't make some plays - we know that you're better than that.' ... I appreciate that the coaches still had confidence in us."
A secondary that had been torched by the Chargers' Philip Rivers turned up the heat on Cleveland's duo of Brady Quinn and former Raven Derek Anderson, who combined to throw for just 126 yards Sunday. Foxworth intercepted a pass by Quinn in the first quarter, and safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry picked off Anderson in the fourth.
And the unit might have had more, said Foxworth, who pointed out that he and Reed dropped potential interceptions Sunday.
Before the game, Foxworth rallied the secondary, which still felt the sting of that performance against San Diego.
"That's a feeling that sticks with you as a defensive back," Reed said. "We definitely want to come out and play like we played today every week, but it's not always going to happen like that. It hurt last week, that showing, for the defense and especially for the secondary. But like I said, the important thing was getting the win. We could care less about how much he threw for."
Coach John Harbaugh praised the secondary for rebounding from its performance in San Diego.
"I thought our guys did a really nice job of maintaining their level of play in the face of criticism," he said. "I can't think of a better way to say it, but they came under scrutiny a little bit because of the statistics. Maybe they felt like they had something to prove. They're going to have something to prove next week, too. That's the challenge you face every week."
Harbaugh had a humorous response Monday when asked about having any extra motivation when facing Belichick.
"The good thing about the game is that the coaches won't be lining up and teeing off on each other during the game," Harbaugh said. "I don't think anybody would pay to see that right now. I'd like to think I'd have the edge though. If we were in a hamburger drill, I think I'd have the edge, but [Belichick] might not think that."
On third-and-3 from Cleveland's 40-yard line in the second quarter, quarterback Joe Flacco took the snap from the shotgun and began running to the right. With just one defender to beat, Flacco pitched the ball to his right to Clayton, who ran 12 yards for the first down.
"I've never taken an option pitch," Clayton said. "We knew that on the weak side, they'd be short a man because of the heavy formation [to the left]. We ran it, Joe kept it, and we had just one guy [to beat], and away we go."
After giving up 436 yards nine days ago against the San Diego Chargers, the Ravens' defensive coaches could have called for more zone or safer coverage against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
But the coaches never backed down from their desire to be aggressive, which the defensive backs appreciated.
"The coaching staff, they have faith in us, and they know that we can play," cornerback Domonique Foxworth said after the Ravens' 34-3 demolition of the Browns. "They locked us up on receivers like Braylon Edwards in man coverage and said, 'What happened last week - while we didn't make some plays - we know that you're better than that.' ... I appreciate that the coaches still had confidence in us."
A secondary that had been torched by the Chargers' Philip Rivers turned up the heat on Cleveland's duo of Brady Quinn and former Raven Derek Anderson, who combined to throw for just 126 yards Sunday. Foxworth intercepted a pass by Quinn in the first quarter, and safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry picked off Anderson in the fourth.
And the unit might have had more, said Foxworth, who pointed out that he and Reed dropped potential interceptions Sunday.
Before the game, Foxworth rallied the secondary, which still felt the sting of that performance against San Diego.
"That's a feeling that sticks with you as a defensive back," Reed said. "We definitely want to come out and play like we played today every week, but it's not always going to happen like that. It hurt last week, that showing, for the defense and especially for the secondary. But like I said, the important thing was getting the win. We could care less about how much he threw for."
Coach John Harbaugh praised the secondary for rebounding from its performance in San Diego.
"I thought our guys did a really nice job of maintaining their level of play in the face of criticism," he said. "I can't think of a better way to say it, but they came under scrutiny a little bit because of the statistics. Maybe they felt like they had something to prove. They're going to have something to prove next week, too. That's the challenge you face every week."
Facing Belichick
Sunday's game against New England pits Harbaugh against Bill Belichick, who has guided the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles.Harbaugh had a humorous response Monday when asked about having any extra motivation when facing Belichick.
"The good thing about the game is that the coaches won't be lining up and teeing off on each other during the game," Harbaugh said. "I don't think anybody would pay to see that right now. I'd like to think I'd have the edge though. If we were in a hamburger drill, I think I'd have the edge, but [Belichick] might not think that."
First time for everything
Wide receiver Mark Clayton took part in something he had never done before Sunday: running the option.On third-and-3 from Cleveland's 40-yard line in the second quarter, quarterback Joe Flacco took the snap from the shotgun and began running to the right. With just one defender to beat, Flacco pitched the ball to his right to Clayton, who ran 12 yards for the first down.
"I've never taken an option pitch," Clayton said. "We knew that on the weak side, they'd be short a man because of the heavy formation [to the left]. We ran it, Joe kept it, and we had just one guy [to beat], and away we go."
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This week the Ravens are in a win win game. We're either going to win or learn or both win and learn. Having to play 1 of the best teams of all times at their home is quite the challange. They need the game far more than we do. We'll still be in 1st place in our division win or lose. It's just wonderful that the Baltimore Ravens have put themselves in such a great position. One thing for sure, Coach Harbaugh and his staff will have the team poised and ready for a great game. GO RAVENS!
ydna66 (09/29/2009, 10:10 AM )