Five things I noticed on the replay...

[RavensDomination]

Watching the NFL replay now (which is a great production all around), I noticed a few things...

1. The interior o-line didn't block very well in the 1st half at all. On the one sack (3rd and 9) Chester whiffed leading to a sack and a fumble. On a few runs up the middle they got no push. I'm not incredibly worried, and I know Dallas has a solid d-line, but we need to get better here to run the ball earlier in the games.

2. I know the Cowboys have a lot of weapons, but Ivy one on one with T.O. should never happen, period. He's their top WR and we dodged a huge bullet when he lost that ball in the lights early on. That would have been a game changer.

3. To touch on #2, I feel like Leonhard is a little weak in pass coverage. In the 4th qtr when the Cowboys started moving the ball through the air, nearly every pass was to his side. I'm not going to act like I know the scheme because I don't, but he was late getting over for the TD to Witten, and on the one play when we only rushed two he appeared to be out of position allowing another long completion. No one talks about losing Landry, but I think it is coming back to haunt us.

4. Tashard Choice is the real deal. He carved up the Stealers defense and did essentially the same to ours. If he would have played bad we may have shut them out, but he kept moving the ball early in the game. I was really impressed with his elusiveness and vision. He had one bad play, on a pitch where he fumbled the ball out of bounds (leading to the announcer saying "this is where they miss Marion Barber," oh please) but other than that he played great.

5. Flacco's poise really stands out when you watch this game again. He really doesn't let anything faze him. He stands back there tall and proud, Flacco just has an aura about him. He doesn't make any stupid throws, he takes what the defense gives him. It's unreal - we finally have a QB.

[BUDDAROW]

Good assessment.:iagree:

I was noticeing Tashard Choice looking pretty damn good also but my praise is a bit tempered by his pregame braggadocios bullshit. I'm paraphrasing but something along the lines of "I can't wait till the country gets to see what I'm all about" or some such shit.
Why can these assholes just let their play define them.
If you're great, others will say it. When you say it, somehow I think your opinion is biased and lacking in substance.
Flacco?? Man, whats not to love.
He don't get ROY it'll be criminal!

[PurpleRulz]

1. Watching Joe Flacco throw is a joy and a thing of beauty. You could tell that his adrenalin got the best of him when Heap was wide open for that pass that should have been a TD. I love watching him play football and I am glad he is ours.

2. A lot of folks were on the radio saying that we were in prevent defense and that led to the 2 Cowboys TDs. That was not the case. We just overpursued or did a piss poor job of tackling. Jameel McClain (who I think has a bright future) whiffed on a sure sack. Fabian has to start catching some of those sure INTs. had he turned around, he would have had an easy INT. But Fabian missed and the WR lucked up on the ball falling in his hands for a first down.

3. Mark Clayton is trying to step his game up at WR, but he missed on a beautifully thrown deep pass from Flacco. I would give him the KR job and sit Yamon down permanently.

4. All we are missing is a deep threat-field stretching WR. Give us Devery Henderson or DHB/Maclin/Pat White in the draft.

[elland]

Choice.. He played a good game, but I would gladly give him 10-30 yds and his 100 yds game, if Dallas still had produced like they did in the first 3 Qs. Romo with less than 100 yds.. Yes I think I have no problems with Choice being the entire Dallas offense for the first three Qs. And I think Rex and Ray is thinking the same thing.

If I was Dallas fan I would blame Garrett for this loss.

TO and Witten a no factor in the first 3 Qs.

Btw Roy W 3 rec. for 12 yards.. Question is.. Has that ever happend for Roy before? 3 receptions and with FOUR yards in average.

[xmradiodave]

Flacco?? Man, whats not to love.
He don't get ROY it'll be criminal!

I am inclined to believe that Matt Ryan will get ROY.

[StingerNLG]

I am inclined to believe that Matt Ryan will get ROY.

I don't know about that. Chris Johnson has to be in the mix for that right now too. He's on 1,228 yards and 9 touchdowns with the Titans. That's not bad and puts him 7th overall in rushing. Pretty good rookie numbers.

[TheExtraPoint]

3. Mark Clayton is trying to step his game up at WR, but he missed on a beautifully thrown deep pass from Flacco. I would give him the KR job and sit Yamon down permanently.

That is EXTREMELY risky given the lack of depth at the receiver position as is. With Derrick Mason's health clearly a major concern, Demetrius on IR, Yamon not gaining the confidence of anyone with his play, and Marcus Smith's inexperience, risking Clayton as a kick returner is not a chance the Ravens should take very often.

Instead, I'd think Haruki Nakamura or Tom Zbikowski would be excellent in this role. Nakamura is the type of explosive, tough athlete that would likely be very successful as a kick returner. Meanwhile, Zbikowski's return experience was as a punt returner in college, and though his athleticism might not wow you, he's a slashing runner that does a FANTASTIC job of making people miss and running through questionable tackles.

And while I think Ray Rice would make for an excellent kick returner too, I'd rather not risk him to injury in that spot either, as the dynamic he brings to our offense is not duplicated by any other player on the roster.

Haruki or Zbikowski please.

[YRKPARAVEN]

We really dodged a bullet on the throw to TO. Corey Ivy is a warrior and I love the guy but the Cowboys got the match up they were looking for, Corey Ivy one on one with TO and the ball was just a bit overthrown. Very fortunate. I also noticed it seemed Romo didn't have much of an arm. Probably still having some problem with his finger is my guess, not sure if they addressed in the booth or not.

[BUDDAROW]

I am inclined to believe that Matt Ryan will get ROY.

I agree that if would be the "glamourous" choice by the fawning media elites, given the back story of the rise from the ashes post M.Vick.....:ralph:
Bottom line, as far as all things considered, I think that Joe stacks up just as well, if not better than Ryan.
Opinions being what they are, (and the same as ie: everyone has one), I have NO illusions that the Ravens will get this notice of respect any more than any other accomplishment

[StingerNLG]

What you have to remember about Jim Leonard is that he is small. That's why he's not as good in pass coverage as some other safeties not named Ed Reed, who also has 3 inches on him. He does make up for his size in his heart and tackling/stopping.

But his size I think makes him an excellent KR. Small enough that he can cut and duck, and while not "fast", "quick" enough to get into a wedge and cut upfield.

Plus, with Landry likely back next year, that pushes Leonard out and we need to find a way to keep this guy.

[sailorsam]

We really dodged a bullet on the throw to TO. Corey Ivy is a warrior and I love the guy but the Cowboys got the match up they were looking for, Corey Ivy one on one with TO and the ball was just a bit overthrown. Very fortunate. I also noticed it seemed Romo didn't have much of an arm. Probably still having some problem with his finger is my guess, not sure if they addressed in the booth or not.

you right. what I remember from that play is both TO and Leonhard slapping themselves on the helmet in frustration; he knew they blew the coverage.
looked to me like Romo couldnt' throw long in the first half; back trouble maybe. they made some plays late; fortunately not enough.

[RavensFanIAm]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Ivy- T.O. matchup you guys are mentioning, T.O. was the slot receiver. That was the Boys scheme, rather than CI being called to defend T.O. I don't think Rex WANTED CI to defend him LOL

Other than that, I have no complaints on everything else you guys said

[Dave Lap]

What you have to remember about Jim Leonard is that he is small. That's why he's not as good in pass coverage as some other safeties not named Ed Reed, who also has 3 inches on him. He does make up for his size in his heart and tackling/stopping.

But his size I think makes him an excellent KR. Small enough that he can cut and duck, and while not "fast", "quick" enough to get into a wedge and cut upfield.

Plus, with Landry likely back next year, that pushes Leonard out and we need to find a way to keep this guy.


I agree we need to keep him and I'm sure we will. I think he should get a look as a back up WR. He has good hands, decent speed, athleticism, smarts, can jump (he can dunk a basketball) and can run very well after the catch. I think he could possibly develop into a Brandon Stokely type receiver. Maybe not as good in the hands dept. but a better runner after the catch. He's well worth a look at that postion in my opinion. Not saying he's a sure thing by any means, just that he has the tools to merit a look.

As far as being a liability in pass coverage, I'm not sure I'm ready to concede that yet. Has he been beaten? Yeah. Doesn't everyone? Well yeah.When he plays man he stays tight to the receiver, at least whenever I've watched. Witten made a tremendous catch for a TD over him but I can't fault his defense at all on that play. When they are in zone coverage it's sometimes hard to tell whether he was in postion or not.



He plays smart. In the Redskins game he lined up to blitz, recognized that the QB was going to take a 3 step drop and that he wouldn't get to him in time. Instead he camped in the lane exactly where the pass was headed and jumped up and swatted it away around the line of scrimmage area. He has an amazing number of tackles already, is a good blitzer. He doesn't have the strength that Landry has. Landry can blow up a play with his strength.

All I know is that I'm very glad to have Leonhard on this team. He has contributed more than his share to the Ravens success on D this year.