Dr. Z is often the lone voice of reason in a sea full of babbling bobbleheads (even if I disagree with him about Lawrence Timmons' intent to maim Ricky Williams). And while most of the internets is lamenting the sorry state of NFL officiating, and concocting conspiracy theories about why the Ravens lost to the Patriots on Monday night, Zimmerman offers a more measured response. And one, frankly, that no one else has yet touched on:
If I were Buddy [Ryan's] son, Rex, who coordinates the Ravens' defense, I would be afraid to face the old man after that disgraceful show put on Monday night, handing the Patriots their 27-24 victory...Yeah, what happened to the blinding pressure the Ravens were putting on Brady all night? Why, on the last drive, would Ryan suddenly get conservative? This isn't the reason Baltimore lost -- there are a whole bunch of them -- just one of the most obvious (not so obvious, though, that anybody thought to mention it before now).
I'm talking about that mushball three-man rush that he treated Tom Brady to during almost the entire course of the winning drive. Rex's defense had been jacked to the eyeballs. The Ravens had Brady misreading his receivers, and the hits they laid on the wideouts had them dropping the ball. They were generating constant pressure.
Zimmerman adds that with "many lives depend[ed] on what would happen in the next few minutes ... Ryan called off the rush. He attacked with three and 'played coverages,' which is a euphemism for standing around with your finger up your ... you get the point."
Yep, Dr. Z, I get it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-04-2007 @ 11:33PM
yateck said...
You noticed that too! How about that 3-man rush on 4th and 6, when Brady took off running for a first down. Geez, I thought only Greg Williams did that.
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12-05-2007 @ 10:53AM
joe wallace said...
Well, we can't have it both ways. NOW we know the difference between an AGRESSIVE coaching strategy that has a team playing full-out, for sixty minutes, and does not call of the dogs, and one that tries not to lose. Guess who usually wins THAT battle?
To the Ravens' credit, they played inspired football for three quarters. The pats looked like they were asleep for much of the game. But you have to play agressive football for FOUR quarters in this league, especially the last one, or you will end up crying in your beer when it's all over.
Note to the Ravens about being called "boy"...he was referring to your childish behavior, doofus, and you then exemplified it by throwing a childish tantrum that may have cost your team the game. Time to grow up and start acting like a man.
Good call, Zim and Ryan. If I am going to trash you, I am a hypocrite if I don't give you props when I agree.
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12-07-2007 @ 1:07PM
kcmazz said...
even with the 3 man rush they still had them stopped
game ball to the ref's give any Q.B. that many chances and he will beat you.game ball to the ref's
p/s you never call a black man boy its
degrading.
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