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Thread: What made the difference?
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12-24-2012, 01:48 AM #19
Re: What made the difference?
Bingo! On 3rd and 2, they weren't trying to throw 40 yards downfield, they had receivers 4 yards down to throw to!
On that touchdown to Rice, it was a thing of beauty. They were 2nd and 5. Rice AND Pitta were right at the first down line. Pitta a yard behind it, Rice on it. Joe actually had his pick of who he could throw to and likely either of them would have had the 1st down. Actually Pitta was wide open with no one covering him. But it just so happens Rice is a little shiftier than Pitta, as San Diego also found out (no offense "Hands"), and took it for the TD.
Pitta was wide open a lot today too. Two plays come to mind. It's 2nd and 5 and they send Pitta on a simple flair out to the right. Not downfield, just a nice little short corner out. Flacco hits him and it's 7 yards and a first down. Later in the 4th quarter it's 3rd and 1. Again Cameron would launch the ball downfield. Instead, while still in the shotgun, Pitta goes short left and Flacco hits him for 6 yards and........another first down. Extending the drive.
Oh and one other thing. The Ravens got themselves in a couple ugly spots like 3rd and 19 and that whole bizarre 8 minute sequence in the 3rd quarter. Cameron at the point of 3rd and 19 would have gone with the good old predictable shotgun draw to Rice for nothing and punted. Instead THIS is the time Caldwell draws up the right deep call and Flacco hits Pitta for 36 yards. Oh yeah, and in the process Flacco takes off toward the line scrimmage to escape pressure and throws a laser-accurate pass to get it into Pitta's hands.
Same thing earlier in the game. 2nd quarter 3rd and 19. Again, Cameron would have pissed his pants and ran the ball and punted. Caldwell says hell no, and the result is Flacco throwing a 36 yard air-dart to Boldin.
Those are the kind of plays that make an offense successful, and confident. It was as much fun to watch as week 1 was.
Now, the 60 million dollar question. Does Caldwell have the balls to call these plays in Cincy next week. And does Harbaugh have the balls to let him?
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