derekshank Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 Given the fact that McNair is being hyped as the messiah of the Baltimore Ravens, I decided to do some reading on the Ravens. I guess I hadn't heard this... but they are switching to the 4-4. Yeah... you know, the scheme that you ran in high-school. Does anyone think this can possibly work?Once again everyone focuses on the new names they've brought in (Pryce, Ngata), while ignoring their losses. I just don't see how they've improved. Take a look.Last yearLDE:Weaver (GONE); LDT:Kemoeatu (GONE); RDT:Gregg; RDE: SuggsOLB: Thomas; MLB: Lewis; OLB: Polley (GONE)CB: McAllister; SS: Demps (GONE); FS: Reed; CB: RolleThis yearLDE: Pryce (upgrade... but Weaver was good); LDT: Ngata (rookie. work ethic. A step back from Kemo); RDT: Gregg (same); RDE: Suggs (same)OLB: Thomas (same); ILB: Lewis (same); ILB: Scott (backup last year); OLB: Cody (big step back from leading tackler Polley)CB: McAllister (same); CB: Rolle (same)S: Reed (without Demps they have absolutely no depth)All of that to say... they brought in some names, but they lost a lot of names too.Now... the 4-4. The reason teams don't run the 4-4 in the NFL is because you leave your secondary out to dry. It is man on man with only 3 DB's in the base. We scored 63 against them last year... so I don't know why they feel their secondary is good enough to handle this. When I look at this, I see flop written all over it. 1) Their D-Line is very good... but they lost their leading tackler in Polley, so their LB depth is in question. 2) They have only one decent safety... so if he spends any time injured again this season, they're scheme is shot to hell. 3) The cornerbacks will be asked to handle our WR's in man coverage (or possibly playing a 3 deep zone). They couldn't handle them last year with 4 DB's... so why should it work with 3? When Chad gets past McAllister, no one will be between him and the endzone. They may be set up to stop the run well... but they better hope they can get a pass rush... because Carson is going to tear them to shreds.They better hope McNair can improve that offense, because we might score 100! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 All reports I have seen have the Ravens switching back to the standard 4-3 rather than the 4-4. I could be wrong however. After all, the Ravens did try to get a little too fancy last year with the Buddy Ryan ball, so maybe they are giving the idea some thought. If so, I agree with your assessment... We'll tear them apart. Well hell... We'll tear them apart either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 Nice research Derek and I agree with the outlook on the 4-4 as well. I think McNair will be an improvement over Boller, but still believe the Ravens won't be much of an issue for us again this year...WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LABengalsFan09 Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 They ran the 4-4 last year, they just didn't have the personnel throughout the season for it to work due to injuries. The Bengals are built to beat this:A. Their lineman can sustain blocks 1-on-1, w/o help from backs and or TEsB. Their receivers will feast off of 1-on-1 coverageC. Their WR corp can go 5 deep if neccessary (w/ Chris Perry taking the spot of a WR just coming out of the backfield and becoming a check-down outlet.D. The QB gets rid of the ball quickly.The 4-4 is meant to get 1-on-1 matchups with d-lineman who can defeat those offensive lineman along with a random blitzing LB. Manning and Palmer had field days with that defense last season. The return of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed will certainly revitalize the scheme, but there are just too many options for CP and co. WHO-DEY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schweinhart Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 Yeah the Ratbird defense shouldn't be any more concern than last year. What they got should be enough to throttle the Clowns and Steelers but not the Bengals. They'll be forced into a lot of nickel but also will have to play 4 DBs when it's just Chad and Housh wide or they will get their a$$es handed to them.The Ratbird offense is what should be vastly different...and better than it has been under Billick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC_Bengals_Fan Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 I can't really see them running it against the Bengals anyway on anything that even smells like a passing down. The Bengals throw a lot of 3-WR sets out there and I can't believe they'd be stupid enough to go with 3 DBs with no help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincy9275 Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 i could see them doing it in certain situations like on some running plays but not all the time . we would spread them out and just torch them there is no way there 3rd or 4th lb's can line up against any of our wideout's then leave chad and tj 1 on 1 . that would not be a very smart move on there part . but i say let them try and see what happens . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 I thought they said their gonna be running all kind of different schemes to get as many players on the field mybe they just ment 4-4 as a base like on 1st downs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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