Shift in Offensive Philosophies?

[DCRaven20]

Anyone else catch this nugget hidden in an otherwise fluff story about Flacco on ESPN?

http://espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp1...ens-next-level


"Harbaugh said he envisions the offense playing up-tempo, frequently utilizing the no-huddle, with the ball coming out of Flacco's hands quickly. They will look to strike downfield but also rely on Rice to run the ball. Harbaugh said he expects Flacco's completion percentage to climb to nearly 70 percent.

"We're putting in the offense that we've envisioned having," Harbaugh said."



Flacco seems to perform much better in these situations, so we can only hope that this is actually true...

[GOTA]

We seem to hear that every year. Then the pass protections breaks down a little and Cam goes into turtle mode. Hopefully this year is different. They certainly have the weapons to make it happen

[Raveninwoodlawn]

We seem to hear that every year. Then the pass protections breaks down a little and Cam goes into turtle mode. Hopefully this year is different. They certainly have the weapons to make it happen

Sadly I agree with this.

Although...although I will say that the team did go to a very wide open offense at the beginning of Joe's second year. WE opened up against KC and we were extremely pass heavy and really stayed that way for the first 4 weeks or so...I can't recall a time we threw the ball as much as we did against KC, the first Browns game, and NE since the Vinny years.

But it seemed that as we started to struggle (to no fault of Joe's...Clayton dropped that 4th down pass at the 8, the defense allowed a last second TD against the Bengals and Haushka missed that kick against the Vikings), we pulled in the reigns and we never really came back to that.

[bmorecareful]

Sadly I agree with this.

Although...although I will say that the team did go to a very wide open offense at the beginning of Joe's second year. WE opened up against KC and we were extremely pass heavy and really stayed that way for the first 4 weeks or so...I can't recall a time we threw the ball as much as we did against KC, the first Browns game, and NE since the Vinny years.

But it seemed that as we started to struggle (to no fault of Joe's...Clayton dropped that 4th down pass at the 8, the defense allowed a last second TD against the Bengals and Haushka missed that kick against the Vikings), we pulled in the reigns and we never really came back to that.

Not really relevant years after the fact, but the real reason we "pulled in the reins" after the Vikings game was that Flacco sustained a deep thigh bruise against the Vikings and played with it the rest of the year.

It was never on the injury reports or in the news, but it's been confirmed by multiple sources since then. Flacco could barely move for most of the rest of the 09 season and his mechanics were pretty bad being unable to fully drive throws with his legs.

Actually, the regression in Joe's throwing mechanics was still present a little bit as late as the earlier part of the 2010 season. Go back and watch say for example the first Cincinnati game, Joe was continuously throwing inaccurately off his back foot. I think the 09 thigh injury really took a while for him to come all the way back from. For a current comparison, just look at Haloti, who was rendered ineffective for several months last year with a deep thigh bruise and didn't really get all the way over it until fairly recently.

[Paintballguy]

Not really relevant years after the fact, but the real reason we "pulled in the reins" after the Vikings game was that Flacco sustained a deep thigh bruise against the Vikings and played with it the rest of the year.

It was never on the injury reports or in the news, but it's been confirmed by multiple sources since then. Flacco could barely move for most of the rest of the 09 season and his mechanics were pretty bad being unable to fully drive throws with his legs.

Actually, the regression in Joe's throwing mechanics was still present a little bit as late as the earlier part of the 2010 season. Go back and watch say for example the first Cincinnati game, Joe was continuously throwing inaccurately off his back foot. I think the 09 thigh injury really took a while for him to come all the way back from. For a current comparison, just look at Haloti, who was rendered ineffective for several months last year with a deep thigh bruise and didn't really get all the way over it until fairly recently.

Supposedly Flacco couldn't even sit down on the flight back to Baltimore because of the thigh bruise.

[Ravens44]

Not really relevant years after the fact, but the real reason we "pulled in the reins" after the Vikings game was that Flacco sustained a deep thigh bruise against the Vikings and played with it the rest of the year.

It was never on the injury reports or in the news, but it's been confirmed by multiple sources since then. Flacco could barely move for most of the rest of the 09 season and his mechanics were pretty bad being unable to fully drive throws with his legs.

Actually, the regression in Joe's throwing mechanics was still present a little bit as late as the earlier part of the 2010 season. Go back and watch say for example the first Cincinnati game, Joe was continuously throwing inaccurately off his back foot. I think the 09 thigh injury really took a while for him to come all the way back from. For a current comparison, just look at Haloti, who was rendered ineffective for several months last year with a deep thigh bruise and didn't really get all the way over it until fairly recently.

Just a throw in about Ngata, letting the thigh fully heal could have been a factor contributing to his hamstring issue.
Nagging months long injuries take longer than usual to heal. And it can contribute to the condition of the athlete going into the next season, just a few months later, simply due to inactivity for the healing to occur.

[JAB1985]

Not really relevant years after the fact, but the real reason we "pulled in the reins" after the Vikings game was that Flacco sustained a deep thigh bruise against the Vikings and played with it the rest of the year.

It was never on the injury reports or in the news, but it's been confirmed by multiple sources since then. Flacco could barely move for most of the rest of the 09 season and his mechanics were pretty bad being unable to fully drive throws with his legs.

Actually, the regression in Joe's throwing mechanics was still present a little bit as late as the earlier part of the 2010 season. Go back and watch say for example the first Cincinnati game, Joe was continuously throwing inaccurately off his back foot. I think the 09 thigh injury really took a while for him to come all the way back from. For a current comparison, just look at Haloti, who was rendered ineffective for several months last year with a deep thigh bruise and didn't really get all the way over it until fairly recently.

You mean to tell me he didnt run the media and tell them or wrap his leg in a bright color like the toughest qb ever ben roethlisberger? He just played through pain and was still very good? That doesnt sound right at all...

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Not really relevant years after the fact, but the real reason we "pulled in the reins" after the Vikings game was that Flacco sustained a deep thigh bruise against the Vikings and played with it the rest of the year.

It was never on the injury reports or in the news, but it's been confirmed by multiple sources since then. Flacco could barely move for most of the rest of the 09 season and his mechanics were pretty bad being unable to fully drive throws with his legs.

Actually, the regression in Joe's throwing mechanics was still present a little bit as late as the earlier part of the 2010 season. Go back and watch say for example the first Cincinnati game, Joe was continuously throwing inaccurately off his back foot. I think the 09 thigh injury really took a while for him to come all the way back from. For a current comparison, just look at Haloti, who was rendered ineffective for several months last year with a deep thigh bruise and didn't really get all the way over it until fairly recently.

I certainly agree with that, but we certainly could have returned to it some last year.

[Ravenswintitle]

Great article and I'm excited about the season. But I can't help but recall Harbs saying 'that's how you win football games, smash mouth, and convert third downs'. If he keeps the ball in the air with a lead, I'll be very surprised

[Stealthbirds80]

AH HA. Some has finally found something that heard from another source.

In the story I read, it was termed more of a "spread offense" and quick timing patterns. I just cannot find the link on where that story was. It didn't go in-depth, but did mention that the reporter saw some new wrinkles in the offense and liked what they saw.

They also noted that Flacco was quicker in his release and decision making. All point to a big year and increased numbers.

Good find.

[Paintballguy]

AH HA. Some has finally found something that heard from another source.

In the story I read, it was termed more of a "spread offense" and quick timing patterns. I just cannot find the link on where that story was. It didn't go in-depth, but did mention that the reporter saw some new wrinkles in the offense and liked what they saw.

They also noted that Flacco was quicker in his release and decision making. All point to a big year and increased numbers.

Good find.

Oh man I am excited. Can this season start already?

[wickedsolo]

Maybe a little of Jim Caldwell influence in all of this?