Prevent defense only prevents victories

Week after week, we football fans watch helplessly as self-styled coaching geniuses abandon successful defensive strategies in the waning minutes of a game for the so-called "prevent defense" in an effort to hold onto a lead.

This strategy is designed to concede the short, underneath passes to prevent scoring. Unfortunately, the only thing these soft defenses usually concede is the win.

The Ravens-Browns game last Sunday is a case in point.

The Ravens' aggressive, relentless pass rush throttled quarterback Tim Couch for 58 minutes, but with only two minutes and no timeouts left for the Browns, the coaches changed their strategy to the prevent defense, allowing Couch to coolly march his team 92 yards for the winning touchdown.

After the game, Ravens coach Brian Billick explained the change in strategy as "allowing them to complete passes underneath so we could make tackles and run out the clock," blaming missed tackles and a penalty for the loss.

However, the loss was occasioned more by the change in strategy than by anything else.

Please explain to these geniuses that prevent defenses don't work; that, given time, receivers will get open, quarterbacks will find them, and, invariably, close games will be lost as a result.

The most effective prevent defense is, always has been and always will be an aggressive defense with emphasis on pressuring the passer.

Jerrold L. Brotman Timonium

Coverage of Ravens proves disappointing

The Sun's coverage of the Ravens prior to last Sunday's home game against Cleveland was deplorable.

The Ravens had two games remaining and very real playoff possibilities. Yet, repeatedly, The Sun's lead Ravens story was relegated to minor status, meaning minimal-size story and headline and below the fold. Your main sports story, for several days in a row, was about a losing baseball team's offseason attempts to sign free agents.

Then, after all the continued minimalist Ravens coverage, their loss was announced with a banner 2-inch headline above the fold.

The Ravens, Art Modell, Brian Billick, their staffs and this group of young overachievers were the big story that week.

With two weeks left in the NFL season, who really cares about a team with a pompous losing owner who has destroyed what was once one of the more respected franchises in baseball?

Jay Hauhn Baltimore

It's time to eat crow about Ravens, Billick

It is about time The Sun's sports writers admit they were completely wrong with their preseason predictions for the Ravens. They predicted two or maybe three wins this year, and the Ravens were picked for last place.

The writers criticized coach Brian Billick and the team management for their handling of the salary cap and only predicted gloom and doom for this year.

If the team was as bad as had been predicted, then Billick should be Coach of the Year.

The writers should admit they were wrong or nominate Billick for the Coach of the Year Award.

John C. Clarke Sr. Bradenton, Fla.

Vecsey's commentary has negative tone

After reading Laura Vecsey's column for several months, there is a certain attitude that has become apparent. As a reader, I feel a sense of negativity toward the state of sports in America.

As a fan, I revel in sports and do not focus on the aspects that many see as a detriment to society and pro athletics. I enjoy the games regardless of the impact on society, or at least I put it aside when the clock starts.

I have a tough time deciding where Ms. Vecsey comes out on this issue. While her points are usually well made and creatively constructed, I find them negative and at times accusatory.

I enjoy having a national columnist in our paper and respect the issues that Ms. Vecsey has chosen to discuss. I would, however, like to see a side of her that reflects a love of sports, a side I believe she possesses (she would not make sports her career if not).

Her skills are unquestionable, but as readers we need some validation of a love for sports. Otherwise, the negativity will only be interesting for a short time.

Andrew T. Dale Baltimore

Ditto on Redskins: Snyder is the problem

As a longtime Washington Redskins fan, I know that the author of the last week's letter ["Redskins, Bengals have much in common"] is right on the mark.

While Daniel Snyder may be a business genius, certainly the techniques for running a viable business cannot be applied to running a professional football team.

In the short period in which he has been owner of the Redskins, he has been able to make every mistake in the book, threatening to destroy a once-proud franchise.

If he would hire and keep someone who is knowledgeable in professional football and then take his own hands off the team, the Redskins might return to their glory days.

Nelson Marans Silver Spring