Follow us on Twitter

Mojo Man is all about football. He has played at many levels and recognizes coaching can make all the difference. He also believes the O-line controls the game. If the O-line can consistently provide running lanes and gaps for RBs to run through, they control the ball, clock and game. It also provides protection so a QB can go through all the reads and make good decisions. Mojo Man believes the Ravens have one of the best coaches in the NFL and the team will reflect that character while winning the AFC North.

Mojo Man

Pressure, Pressure & More Pressure

Thursday, 01 October 2009 06:23 Written by Rick Drozinski

Pressure, Pressure & More Pressure click to see full-size image

The New England Patriots are a very good football team. Sure they lost to the N.Y. Jets, struggled against the Buffalo Bills and needed all 4 quarters to pull away from an upstart Falcon team, but, make no mistake, these Patriots can still be potent on offense and are well-coached. This means they will be well prepared. So, for the Ravens to be successful, they must apply pressure, pressure and more pressure, and do so frequently because, let’s face it, Brady will likely have 50+ pass attempts. He will do this, not because he believes he can exploit the Ravens secondary, but rather, because the chowders can’t run the ball. Yeah, Fred Taylor hit the century mark vs. the Falcons, but Atlanta is 24th in the NFL against the run; the Ravens are #1 in that category. I’m fairly confident he won’t be rushing for 100+ this week. No disrespect to Taylor, but rather, a judgment against the run-block scheme and technique of the New England O-line. Let’s face it, for some years now, the Patriots offense has not relied on their running game. Any past success in the running game was dictated by the success in their passing attack. This season, with personnel changes, injuries and a nervous looking QB, the passing game has changed. They are the 3rd ranked passing offense based on yards per game, but, with less effectiveness (only 3 TD’s). Yet, they have the most passing attempts (142) of any team.

The Ravens need to do one thing very well Sunday in Foxboro; apply pressure on Tom Brady; pressure, pressure & more pressure. If there is one thing Brady does not do well, it’s handle pressure. It should be the Purple Birds number 1 objective. Everyone recognizes Brady has been uneasy at times this year. The Ravens should be able to elevate his frustration level significantly, and I can’t wait to watch it. For their part, the Ravens offense must protect the ball and sustain drives; a different type of pressure. But, the number 1 thing to watch for is the pressure Baltimore can consistently apply on Brady.

Like this? Tweet it to your followers!
Like this? Let your friends know now!

Rate this article

(2 votes)

Latest articles from Rick Drozinski

  • Growing Pains posted on Monday, 05 October 2009 21:32

    In my first article for Raven Fan, titled Focus, I said that focus was paramount…

  • Pressure, Pressure & More Pressure posted on Thursday, 01 October 2009 06:23

    The New England Patriots are a very good football team. Sure they lost to the…

  • Lost Luster posted on Monday, 28 September 2009 08:02

    For just a moment, let’s look at two of college football’s all-time great coaches, Joe…

Latest 'tweets' from ravenfan.com

back to top
Comments (5)Add Comment
feedSubscribe to this comment's feed
lkonig
...
written by Lance, October 01, 2009
I couldn't agree more. The problem is The Patriots never release an injury report and Wes Welker is suppose to play which adds that middle threat and makes the linebackrers stay home. We need to blitz Brady from all over the field. Keeping pressure on Brady makes him un-easy.
Tentman
...
written by Tentman, October 01, 2009
Yeah, I know Welker will prob return, but, he may not be as effective since Galloway isn't providing coverage distraction. Moss? We know he's going to get his, but, if they can keep it to possession type receptions, I think we'll be okay. What may be the bigger story is, can the Ravens offense move the ball consistently on sustained drives. If yes, then Brady, Moss & Co. will be limited and maybe a little more predictable. Also, if we can get a +2 in TO's, we should be welcoming home the 4-0 Ravens.
0
...
written by PatriotsInRaleigh, October 01, 2009
In past years if you attacked Brady, he would make you pay. Blitz him, and he’d quickly get rid of the ball, find the open receiver, and burn you. There was no need to test the risk.

With Brady still rusty and wary from offseason surgery, defenses (mainly NYJ) have pressured Brady with an all out blitz-o-rama, and it may seem like it has gotten him off his game. But look closer, Brady has been sacked once in three games, and not once by the Jets.

The Patriots issue is not protecting Brady against the blitz, its executing in the red-zone. The Patriots have scored four touchdowns on 13 trips inside the 20-yard line. Their success rate of 30.8 percent is ranked 28th in the league. Baltimore has the league’s top-ranked red-zone defense. And that is where this game will be decided.

Before Moss, the patriots won games by winning the ball control battle via runs (Corey Dillon) and screen passes. Moss arrived and the Pats diverted from the run and screen mentality, and were often going for the big play via Moss, with a lot of early success. The early success led to teams blitzing less in fear of Brady going deep to Moss, and the Pats going 18-1 (although I witnessed a scare in the 3rd row/35-yard line at M&T Bank Stadium on a chilly December night).

The NFL is a copy cat league and defenses will now be blitz happy against the Patriots and I see the Patriots reverting back to the days before Moss and back to run and screen to beat the blitz, we saw this against Atlanta and Fred Taylor closely resembled the 2004/05 Dillon. The Patriots have been successful because Belicheck is a master of adapting to team's strength's.


Tentman
...
written by Tentman, October 01, 2009
The year the Giants embarrassed the Pats in the Super Bowl, was due to pressure. And, while sacks are good, that's something different than pressure. Pressure is changing the pocket, pressure is hurrying the throw, pressure is moving an immobile QB, pressure is disrupting check downs, pressure is forcing turnovers, pressure is a little different than sacks. Thanks for pointing out the Pats problem in the red zone. That problem exists because as I said, they are no threat running the ball. If you think the Pats are going to beat the Ravens on screen-passes, you need to re-think Minuteman.
Tentman
...
written by Tentman, October 01, 2009
Ravens vs. Pats preview

http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/play/nfl/gH54k2EbjfZoCA3Q2x6RJAxDhesTPE0D?source=videobox_nfl

Write comment

busy