The Ravens Game Plan Must Revolve Around Their Strengths
The Ravens must play to their strengths. Marc Trestman must remember to think players, not plays:
The Baltimore Ravens offensive philosophy must be built around their strengths. Last season the Ravens took a new approach but we have to remember the cards were stacked against them. The offense should look very different in Marc Trestman’s second season. This is because it has to.
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Last season, the Ravens were one of the most pass heavy teams in the entire league. This had a lot to do with the fact that the team was playing catch up in many of their games. When Steve Smith Sr. went down the Ravens lacked enough play-makers to let this offensive style work. When Flacco went down, they honestly should have leaned on the ground game (even without Justin Forsett). It’s a brand new year and a fresh start.
The Ravens have three strengths on the offense. The first of those strengths is a strong-arm quarterback that they can win with. The purple and black also have a great rushing attack. Finally they have a phenomenal group of tight ends. The bottom line is that the Ravens have to play to these strengths.
The zone blocking scheme is the bedrock of the Ravens offense. It is everything for the Ravens. Juan Castillo, the offensive line coach has done a masterful job with this. In 2014 the Ravens were one of the most productive rushing attacks in the NFL. It is more than likely that the Ravens can reboot that successful rushing attack this season.
There is no reason why the Ravens can’t have the best running offense in the NFL. Justin Forsett, Terrance West, Buck Allen and Kenneth Dixon, that’s a lot of talent in the backfield. The Ravens offensive line is going to be better than people expect. Things are looking up for the running game. Trestman will see that, and act accordingly.
After all, Trestman has an incredible amount of experience as a football coach. He’s been a head coach in the CFL and the NFL. Trestman has also had many years as an assistant coach. He knows football. It would seem unfathomable that he can’t point to the strengths of his offensive unit. It would seem impossible that he wouldn’t appreciate the talent he has to work with.
Joe Flacco is not a dink and dunk quarterback. He seems to get complacent when the offense doesn’t let him take some shots. That’s when the interceptions come. Complacency is the only excuse that I find possible for throwing it right to the middle linebacker. It’s not that he doesn’t care, but the dink and dunk offense just doesn’t get his juices flowing. Flacco, as mild as he can be, is a gunslinger. The short passing game is good but when you lean on it the silly interceptions are coming.
Flacco is a Super Bowl MVP quarterback. There are times when he can perform incredibly. It has always amazed me that the Ravens haven’t realized that they have to play to his strengths. Of course, it doesn’t help when the offensive coordinator position has had this much turnover. With that caveat in mind, you still have to admit that Flacco does best when the offense is run to his liking.
By establishing a run game, they set up a phenomenal play-action passer to take shots down the field. By taking these shots down the field, you get the best out of Flacco. With Flacco feeling it, and a perfectly balanced offense Baltimore can do it all. The offensive attack will be versatile. The offensive attack will be unpredictable.
Ben Watson, Dennis Pitta and Crockett Gillmore will provide reliability for Flacco. Pitta has had back to back hip injuries end his season. If his return is successful, we already know he has a connection with Flacco.
Gillmore and Pitta have injury concerns but the Ravens also have Maxx Williams. The purple and black have depth at the tight end position. Each tight end has speed and size that makes them a mismatch waiting to happen. One of the most important things to remember is that Flacco loves throwing to tight ends. Flacco first leaned on Todd Heap, then Dennis Pitta, then old man Owen Daniels. If the tight ends can play half as good as we think they can, the offense will flourish.
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There is no doubt that the Ravens have an incredible amount of talent. At every position this team has talent. Therefore the Ravens should be successful on the offense. If the Ravens aren’t successful, Marc Trestman will probably be the one to blame. In his second season as the offensive coordinator, Trestman has no excuses readily available.
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