FRAN THE FAN: What I Saw on Sunday Night

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Fran The Fan - FRAN THE FAN: What I Saw on Sunday Night

Posted On: 8/25/07

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Fran "The Fan" Vojik

FRAN THE FAN: What I Saw on Sunday Night

The game against the Giants was the complete opposite of the Iggles game last week. If it was a regular season game I’d call it a tank job. We were treated to a showcase of penalties, lack of focus, uninspired play calling, and some nasty injuries.

I was really disappointed to see the vanilla offense in full bloom again. During training camp all we read and heard was how the Ravens’ offense was running traps, screen plays, and crossing routes. So where was this new offense Sunday Night? What I saw was the old dink and dump passing game, running plays between the tackles, and the usual fade routes so poorly executed that even Clarence Moore couldn’t get near the ball.

So, when is the Raven brain trust going to open things up? You don’t want to show your entire hand during preseason but waiting for the regular season to air things out is perilous. During the 06 preseason Joe Gibbs and Al Saunders kept the Redskin version of the vaunted “KC” offense under wraps, and when they stepped on the gas in the regular season the players couldn’t execute. The Ravens need to really air things out against some live ammo.

Having said all this, with the exception of the injuries to Rolle and Clayton, I am as unmoved by Sunday’s loss as I was with the Ravens' 29-3 win over the Eagles last week. It just doesn’t count.

However I was really alarmed by the number and extent of injuries on both sides. The Ravens lost two starters to ankle injuries and the Giants 5, at least one of which is for the year. The NFL needs to reduce the number of preseason games to 2 and increase the regular season to 18 games. Here’s the argument I made to Tony on Game Time Sunday Morning:

· You don’t need camp and preseason to get in shape. Most players spend the off season in conditioning programs and everyone reports to camp in prime physical condition. Gone are the days when Artie Donovan used to drive to Westminster with the heat on in his car so he could sweat out the Schlitz and not get fined by Weeb Ewbank for reporting overweight. Back then camp was for getting into shape; now it’s for working on game plans and getting game fit.

· If coaches are concerned about getting the kinks out, throw a few extra scrimmages in there to make up for lack of game time. Increase the OTAs. Whatever.

· Look at the injury tab to both teams Sunday night. The ankle injuries to Samari Rolle and mark Clayton could have been catastrophic. Based on Sunday night we now know that if Rolle misses significant time the defensive backfield is in trouble. If players are going to get hurt, they may as well do it in games that count.

· Economics. Most preseason games are played to less than capacity. There had to be 30,000 empty seats at the vault the other night. Lines were thankfully short, but empty seats equal reduced concessions, equaling less money in the owner’s pockets - which is utmost in their minds anyway.

· Do something for the Fans for once. Season ticket holders like me who sit in the lower bowl are paying $80 bucks a pop to watch training camp fodder whose next real job might be behind a Hertz counter or selling real estate. For me, that’s a waste of $320 a year that I can’t write off. Let’s see football that counts.

I’m all for 18 and 2!