Why do the Ravens insist on throwing the ball 40 yards down field on 3rd and 4 or 5 situations

[palukaraven]

It may very well be their offensive philosophy where they try to "trick" teams into believing they're going for short yardage to gain the first down, but instead go for the kills. It's one of those things where if the play doesn't work, people complain. If the play works, then everyone is happy. Years back, the Ravens notoriously would throw the ball -short- of 1st down yardage in an attempt to get YAC, and everyone hated it. I personally believe in the approach of "attempting" enough yards for the first down, and completing a higher percentage play, before going deep down field. No matter what a team does, it seems the players/coaches can't please everyone, and fans complain.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

No. But he's the Head Coach. The buck stops with him (no pun intended).

If you took a poll of the board, I think 98% of the posters here would have fired Cam years ago.

He doesn't seem to have a "feel" of the game a lot of the time, and frankly, I think the Coryell offense is severely outdated. I don't know because I don't watch other teams as closely, but while most of the successful "name" offenses like the West Coast, Coryell, Ground Chuck, Run and Shoot, and the spread have been kind of blended and most teams run stuff from each system, it seems to me that Cam (and Harbs since he seems to go right along with it), sticks way too much with stressing the vertical aspect of the Coryell...much like the Raiders. It's almost like we run the Al Davis "run it down your throat and throw it over your heads" with much better players.

We don't run enough option routes, we don't run enough outside screens, we don't run enough crosses, inside slants and in general, ignore the short/quick passing game that most of the league has gone to.

But all that being said, Cam is still here, we have won with him, we have almost gotten to the promised land only to have players fail to execute, and frankly, I don't think Harbs is going to fire him so I'm going to support him and maybe we can get over the hump soon with him.

I can hope that a college team gives him a shot as I think he'd have a lot of success depending on where he goes at that level.

[ActualSpamBot]

No. But he's the Head Coach. The buck stops with him (no pun intended).

That's right. The buck stops with Harbs. Which means he deserves the credit FOR THE FACT THAT ONCE AGAIN WE WON A FUCKING GAME AND YOU PEOPLE STILL WANT TO ACT LIKE WE'RE THE FUCKING 0-16 LIONS.

[PerpetuallyBored74]

This has always been my #1 criticism of Cam.. It is just plain f---in stupid to have 3 guys run deep routes on 3rd and short. We gotta move the sticks. I don't understand the logic. I know we won, but you gotta strive for better than 3 for 11 on 3rd down. Shit a Flacco scramble on 3rd down may be the best option if all the WRs/TEs go deep.

This is what kills many of our offensive drives.

Apparently Cameron & Harbaugh have never heard of "levels"

[Terpsfan82]

That's right. The buck stops with Harbs. Which means he deserves the credit FOR THE FACT THAT ONCE AGAIN WE WON A FUCKING GAME AND YOU PEOPLE STILL WANT TO ACT LIKE WE'RE THE FUCKING 0-16 LIONS.

Hey strawman. Switch to decaf. Once again you miss the point.

[ActualSpamBot]

You keep blaming Harbs for problems on the team, ignoring his far greater number of successes and when the illogic of that idiocy is pointed put to you, your standard response is "Switch to decaf".

Welcome to ignore.

[Terpsfan82]

If you took a poll of the board, I think 98% of the posters here would have fired Cam years ago.

He doesn't seem to have a "feel" of the game a lot of the time, and frankly, I think the Coryell offense is severely outdated. I don't know because I don't watch other teams as closely, but while most of the successful "name" offenses like the West Coast, Coryell, Ground Chuck, Run and Shoot, and the spread have been kind of blended and most teams run stuff from each system, it seems to me that Cam (and Harbs since he seems to go right along with it), sticks way too much with stressing the vertical aspect of the Coryell...much like the Raiders. It's almost like we run the Al Davis "run it down your throat and throw it over your heads" with much better players.

We don't run enough option routes, we don't run enough outside screens, we don't run enough crosses, inside slants and in general, ignore the short/quick passing game that most of the league has gone to.

But all that being said, Cam is still here, we have won with him, we have almost gotten to the promised land only to have players fail to execute, and frankly, I don't think Harbs is going to fire him so I'm going to support him and maybe we can get over the hump soon with him.

I can hope that a college team gives him a shot as I think he'd have a lot of success depending on where he goes at that level.

I don't know if I want Cam fired. After the 2008 season I thought he was one of the best in the game. I just wish there was some accountability. After the 2010 season, Harbaugh promised to get "more involved" with the offense, whatever that means. Cam is ok but you can count on two or three games a year that leaves coming away saying "WTF"? The good news is we usually lose those games. Today we won. The bad news is, he owes us two more such games.