Sponsor




Home  >  Columns   >  Rearview Mirror  >  REPORT CARD RAVENS 20 CHIEFS 10

Columns

Rearview Mirror/Post Game Analysis - REPORT CARD: RAVENS 20 CHIEFS 10

Posted On: 12/12/06
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi
QUARTERBACK: A-
 
Seemingly like a pitcher that can’t find the strike zone in the early innings, Steve McNair doesn’t get it going early on. His first few throws were off the mark and he didn’t finish his throws, failing to involve his legs fully in his delivery. Fortunately he did warm up and finished 21 of 27 on the day (78%) for 283 yards, a score and a QB Rating of 122.7. After making a couple of unnecessarily hasty decisions with the football on third downs opting for throws short of the first down marker, McNair settled in and directed the offense almost perfectly. He excelled when rolling outside of the pocket in either direction and did a very nice job squaring his shoulders to the line of scrimmage while rolling left to deliver accurate intermediate strikes to Derrick Mason along the left sideline.
 
During the Ravens back breaking drive the ended with a Jamal Lewis one yard plunge McNair was 5 of 5 on third down conversions (1 by penalty) while leading his team 86 yards on 16 plays while chewing up 9:13 of the fourth quarter. An extremely solid effort in what is normally an extremely hostile environment. And by the way, not a bad hit on Patrick Surtain during his return of Ovie Mughelli’s fumble. McNair knocked Surtain’s helmet off. But Steve, enough of that ok?
 
RUNNING BACKS: B-
 
What the new Jamal Lewis lacks in explosiveness he is trying desperately to make up for with grit, heart and determination. On one carry in the third quarter with the Ravens facing a first and 10 at their own 36, Lewis ran for 7 yards. While the end result was not game changing his determination contributed greatly to breaking the Chiefs’ defensive spirit. Lewis carried five defenders with him for four of those seven yards and while it didn’t produce points it sent a clear message.
 
Lewis also did a nice job of redirecting Tamba Hali on the 87 yard scoring pass from McNair to Mark Clayton. Lewis who had just bluffed the run on play action was able to recover and get just enough of Hali who had penetrated the backfield untouched. If Lewis doesn’t redirect Hali there would be no 87 yard score. Ovie Mughelli was a bit inconsistent with his blocking assignments, once whiffing on Kendrell Bell who took down Mike Anderson for a loss on third and one. Mughelli was also guilty of a holding penalty on a second and 5 play in the first quarter that set the Ravens back and helped force the Ravens into settling for a field goal. He also fumbled at the Chiefs’ 47 yard line early in the fourth with the score at 13-3, a mistake that could have been costly if not for the stout Ravens’ defense.
 
RECEIVERS: B+
 
This unit did everything they were called upon to do with only a couple of exceptions. Mark Clayton’s stop and go move still has the frozen Chiefs’ safety Greg Wesley thawing. Both Clayton and Mason worked the underneath routes well. Todd Heap wasn’t as big of a factor as one might have expected heading into the game. Demetrius Williams again made a big play on a third down conversion attempt. This receiving corps has become one of the more sure-handed ones in the league. Even Quinn Sypniewski managed his first NFL catch. Both he and Todd Heap were solid when blocking during the clock killing drive in the fourth. Dan Wilcox needs to do a better job of down and distance recognition.
 
OFFENSIVE LINE: B+
 
Keydrick Vincent was back in the line up again yesterday and got off to a slow start. After shaking off some of the rustiness he played well on a couple of occasions he chipped his man and continued on to the second level to help spring a couple of Jamal Lewis’ longer runs. Jonathan Ogden was dominant and Jason Brown was effective inside once turning his man completely to open a gaping hole for Jamal Lewis. Had Lewis behind and equally effective block from Mughelli continued straight instead of breaking off to the left, we may have seen the first long run from Lewis for a score in quite some time. Flynn was quiet -- a good sign although he was never really challenged with any stunt inside blitzing. Tony Pashos held his own well. The unit kept McNair clean for the third consecutive game and they have allowed just 16 sacks on the season trailing only New Orleans (15) and Indianapolis (14). For a unit that was supposed to be hazardous to Steve McNair’s health, they have certainly come around despite injuries and despite an all too predictable offense at times.
 
DEFENSIVE LINE: A+
 
Terrell Suggs development continues and he chipped in with a very solid all around game leading the team with 9 tackles plus hitting the trifecta -- sack, forced fumble and recovery on the same play. Trevor Pryce continues to look more and more comfortable in purple chipping in with 8 tackles, a sack and a QB hurry. A few of those tackles were for losses or short to no gains -- one even without a helmet. Haloti Ngata redirected interior runs and a couple times he pushed his man into the backfield to re-define the line of scrimmage -- not an easy task against a tough interior offensive line like the Chiefs’. Kelly Gregg provided some solid dirty work and Aubrayo Franklin and Dwan Edwards also played well in the D-line rotation. On a first and 10 at the Ravens 42 Edwards tipped a swing pass intended for Larry Johnson that looked like it could be damaging. The tip left the Chiefs with a second and 10, a position they never recovered from on that particular drive. Two plays after the ensuing punt McNair found Clayton to put the Ravens up 13-0.
 
LINEBACKERS: B+
 
Each starter from this corps contributed a sack and the dynamic trio of Lewis, Thomas and Scott combined for 17 tackles and an additional 3 QB hurries. For the most part Lewis and Scott kept Larry Johnson in check although Scott was caught up inside on one play and failed to execute his gap assignment. The result of the breakdown was a 47 yard gain by Larry Johnson. Scott also missed Johnson on a run blitz deep in the Chiefs’ backfield. Adalius Thomas was very solid in coverage on Tony Gonzalez and once in the right flat while assigned to the fleet Eddie Kennison two plays after the Mughelli fumble to force third and 6.
 
SECONDARY: A-
 
Perhaps the most significant thing that happened in yesterday’s game is that Ed Reed now realizes that if he carries out his assignment in the Rex Ryan defense he will make plays. On the Chiefs first possession Reed batted away a pass intended for Gonzalez. Later he would pick off two passes while patrolling the middle of the field certainly forcing Trent Green to be more hesitant over the middle as the game wore on. Dawan Landry once a question mark in coverage demonstrated why no one in these parts misses Will Demps. He broke up a deep pass down the middle intended for Samie Parker by displaying textbook technique. Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister were hardly tested but both were around the ball throughout the contest. Rolle’s resurgence is especially encouraging and it is no surprise that his improved play arrives at the same time that Ed Reed decides to stick with the game plan.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS: C-
 
Derrick Martin made a typical rookie mistake by roughing the punter at the end of the first half and probably costing the Ravens 3 points or more. He was also guilty of interfering with the punt returner, a play that cost the Ravens 30 yards of field position. The ends assigned to the Chiefs’ gunners were ineffective in slowing down Bernard Pollard who blew up the not so sure handed Cory Ross twice on punt returns netting a loss of two -- one even after a 51 yard punt. Sam Koch did manage to net 39 yards on his four punts. Matt Stover had one touchback on kick offs but failed to reach the 10 yard line twice. He did make a great and perhaps TD saving tackle on the opening kick return from the dangerous Dante Hall. After that 35 yard return the Ravens coverage unit did gather itself limiting Hall to less than 18 yards per return the rest of the way. Gary Stills added another special teams’ tackle to his league leading number (36).
 
COACHING: OFFENSE B-/DEFENSE A
 
Sometimes I don’t get Brian Billick. Maybe that’s why he’s the most successful head coach in Baltimore football history (if wins are the measuring stick) and I’m simply well…here at 5:43 writing about yesterday’s game…
 
I hated the offensive game plan in the first half and the Ravens’ inability to get Todd Heap into the flow of the game against a secondary that practically begged you to try. I dreaded the same ineffective bumper car play through the A gap with Jamal Lewis or Mike Anderson on third down that went backward more than it went forward. I longed for some sort of vertical attempt down the field -- just one! Just give me D-Will one on one down the sideline and let him try and make a play or simply assume the role of D-Back if the ball was thrown poorly. Something, anything to plant that vertical seed. Despite three first half turnovers and a stifling defense the Ravens had only 6 points to their credit in the first half. The offense’s ineptitude was keeping the Chiefs in the game.
 
The team did make some adjustments at halftime just as they have the entire season and in the second half they were much more efficient. Now they need to pick up where they left off -- mixing it up.
 
But still I don’t get Coach sometimes. What was up with that throw to Heap when facing a first and goal at the one after steamrolling the Chiefs for nearly 9 minutes? Why was he throwing there when he didn’t earlier in the game when inside the five? After such a dominating drive, doesn’t the offensive line deserve one last punch in the mouth to the Chiefs’ D-Line? Of course they do but hey, if this is all we have to complain about on a football Sunday -- how the Ravens make that final exclamation point, it’s a pretty good day. And it was.
 
Ovie Mughelli’s fumble was very close, certainly close enough to challenge. Billick has challenged far less meaningful plays in the past that were not as close. Yet he kept the red laundry in his sock. Why? Inquiring minds want to know. It was 13-3 in the fourth quarter at that point with 3 timeouts on the board. Timeouts aren’t exactly Christmas Stocking stuffers so why hoard them? The Chiefs were one pass interference call and a Larry Johnson run from making it 13-10.
 
Defensively the Ravens had a great plan and stuck to it. They were to race to the ball to get to Larry Johnson, pressure Green and take away Tony Gonzalez. If they were to be beaten yesterday Green was going to have to do it on the perimeter while throwing through gusting crosswinds. Good luck and good night! Nice job Rex!
 
OTHER NOTABLES AND QUOTABLES: I don’t know about you but I still think Lawrence Tynes’ 32 yard field goal attempt was good. I’m almost shocked that CBS didn’t have another angle on that kick. On second thought we are talking CBS…so what am I thinking?…Hey better not rag on the AFC affiliate network too much. The Ravens are now 9-0 on CBS this season and they will stay on CBS right on through the Super Bowl should they go that far!…The Ravens had 6 penalties for 75 yards. They’ll need to do better than that…Props to the Ravens fans in attendance at Kansas City. The Heap chant was heard loud and clear…Speaking of fans, Kansas City’s are either overrated or they had a bad day on Sunday. The boo birds were loud and distracting to the home team’s offense. You have to love Bart Scott’s comments on the KC unfaithful when the Red Sea was quieted by the purple: "That's the most satisfying thing; that's what all athletes dream of, to come to a hostile atmosphere, to get cussed out and get booed and to send them home with their mouths shut.” "And," he added, in one last backhand to the inhospitable hosts, "I'm disappointed in their barbecue, too."…After Ed Reed’s second pick the hometown scoreboard operator decided to play Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” I guess the M&T scoreboard operator isn’t the only one without a clue…Did you realize that if the Ravens had beaten the Bengals on November 30 they would be the AFC’s No. 1 seeded team?…Is Dan Dierdorf the master of the obvious or what? It sure would be nice to have an analyst that can actually school even the casual viewer. I guess Phil Simms won’t get to a Ravens game until they make it to the AFC Championship?…Normally I like referee Ed Hochuli and his crew. Yesterday I thought they were a bit too close. This is the NFL guys. These are meaningful games. That was not a personal foul on Terrell Suggs and I’m not convinced that the face masking on Ray Lewis was a personal foul either. And what about the interfering with the punt returner call?  Then when you consider the holding committed by the KC offensive line that was overlooked, I had to wonder if Hochuli owned an insurance company and one of his clients was Trent Green. By the way I was glad to see Herm Edwards stick with Green instead of calling upon relief pitcher Damon Huard… “When you play defense the way Baltimore can play defense, this is a Super Bowl candidate. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.” Dan Dierdorf…I sure do hope Derek Anderson starts for the Browns on Sunday. If so Ravens 34 Browns 3...Omen? I'll let you decide. The halftime musical act for Super Bowl XLI was just announced and it is none other than Prince. Purple Rain anyone?

Post your comment

Your Name:
Your Email:
Your Comment:
There are no comments. be the first to post a comment.


«Go back to the previous page.
Posted On: 12/12/06
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi

Polls

Who will sign a long term deal/extension first?


Twitter

Check us out on Twitter
  • 5/23/12: @cacaw410 @masnroch I agree. Pinch hitting could have helped. Oh and their fundamental ineptness on the bases didn't help either. Next time!
  • 5/23/12: Somebody hit me up...at O's game and Flaherty can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag...is something wrong W/ Hardy?
  • 5/22/12: There's a Betemit Sandwich!

View all tweets & follow us!

Got Poker Face?

E-News

Sign up for Email Alerts and get the best deals and news in your inbox.



Copyright © 2012 24x7 Network, LLC, All Rights Reserved
Website Design by D3Corp Ocean City Maryland