outlaw4

I want 4-3 back given how 3-4 seems like an overall failure since we switched over.

If our run defense completely collapses because you lose one single player, then that is a huge problem. Need bodies on defense, especially up front. Need speedy shifty targets on offense but history has shown you don't need to use high draft picks to get them.

This loss hurts. But it hurts because this team has given us reasons to care again. In a way, that does count as an improvement, especially considering we've had four close games in a row. Just that we're going to learn some lessons the hard way like with today.

He's working with what he has which isn't a lot. But I'm personally not liking the pass/run ratio.

Justin Tucker's career with the Ravens may be over. Far too many misses now. Also, why are we passing so much?

Well, we won two straight and then had an optimistic performance against the Chiefs. The trajectory has been going up and so the odds are that we're crashing back to the ground again. Same old Panthers. But I obviously would rather be proven otherwise.

I feel a big letdown game coming mainly because the Bucs will have familiarity with Canales offense.

Eberfus used that final timeout during his meeting today. Prevented his firing by 30 seconds.

I was going to say the Dak Prescott scramble a few years ago in the playoffs that ran out the clock before getting one final shot at the end zone. But what happened at the end of the Bears game is a new level of incompetence. Made even worse in that the Bears used two timeouts on that final drive after the prior play was an incomplete pass. That and it sounds like Eberflus tried putting some of the blame on Caleb only for Caleb to indicate he doesn't have the capability to call timeouts and that he waited 20 seconds for him to get that playcall. My goodness, the game ended when they still had a timeout in their pocket. I can't recall a similar situation like that ever happening.

When I look at what I can find, a carryover problem from last season is our receivers are still unable to get enough separation on a consistent basis. Canales is certainly better at scheming them open, like how he sneaked out Thielen for a big play. But then he's also having Thielen running routes he frankly shouldn't be doing anymore. I feel part of the RZ issues is not really having anyone - after trading Diontae - who can make those quick cuts on a short field to give whoever is under center a wider window to throw. We also only have one guy with blazing speed in Thompkins and from what I could see, he's really used more to draw away coverage. I bring this all up because what Canales needs for sustained success - other than QB - is the other receiver pieces we'll be getting in the offseason. Otherwise, I have to say that Canales isn't as afraid to be aggressive offensively. As others mentioned, still doesn't run the ball enough at times. Finally, I still feel his playcalls still doesn't line up with his mantra of getting rid of the ball within x amount of seconds. Maybe I count too slow. Oh, and I'm glad Canales first game after a bye looked good. I feared he'd be like Ron Rivera where we would fall flat on our faces.

So far in Baltimore, only 1 yard less productive than the legendary Ian Thomas.

Words carry a lot more weight when you can back it up with your performance on the field. Makes sense to me that one's going to say little until then.

It must be an early Christmas for JT O'Sullivan having Thielen back so he could put a coal in Thielen's stocking every chance he gets. Honestly, the biggest surprise is not so much the anticipation. There were those moments here and there last year as well. It's that even that one positive quality he had seemingly vanished his first two games to where it looked like it was all but over, only for it to start coming back some until you get exclamation points all over this game film. And some of those throws were under a lot of duress, something I feel is something new. Finally, those deeper shots are starting to land. Not all of them, but enough that defenses may have to start respecting them. No guarantees whether this will end up as more of anomaly but I certainly hope it isn't. The Green Bay game was a sampler of what BY could be. Against KC, we got a meal. If we could start getting these meals regularly, we might actually have something to work with here.

Almost to the day one year ago, Tepper told Reich he was fired. I'm hoping that he's telling Canales today to keep up the good work.

I'm being careful not to raise my expectations too much. Our offense could be to where we could score closer to 20 points than 10 like last season. Our defense is still really bad, however. I'm ultimately more about our team continuing to fight regardless of the long odds like with today.

Not being mentioned much but just having Thielen back was a boost for Bryce, basically his original reliable go-to from his rookie season. As for David Moore being a major factor today, that's an odd one. My guess is a combination of Thielen being back drawing better matchups for everyone else and essentially doing all the stuff Coker would've done but better because he has much more experience in this system. Could've also been by design from Canales because Moore got ten targets today.

This was a big test for Canales and company. One of the best teams they have on our schedule and it's after a bye, so they had more time to prepare. This may be closest equivalent they had in a while to a pseudo playoff game or even a Super Bowl. Could've so easily been the wrong side of a "get right" game as just about everyone expected. Instead, they went a full 12 rounds with the Chiefs and it took Mahomes heroics for them to win, something which has befallen much better teams. Obviously, there's still things that need work but given what little they had, they proved it not just to others but more importantly, themselves, that they belonged to be on the same field with one of the best. The hard part is to keep this going but, I'm encouraged that the trajectory the past three games is upward.

Have the game recorded and even with the L, it will be worth watching later.

So sounds like Jones wants to sign with a playoff contender before season's end. First off, definitely not us. Second, that scream more like a guy that would rather ride the coatails of a winner than someone who wants a more viable path to be a starter again. Third, which playoff team will actually want him? Initial guess is Vikings.

Great coaches inevitably get promoted to higher positions elsewhere. Obviously, if a front office wants him and he wants to leave, so be it. I do feel it's a really hard sell to the fans bringing in someone who - regardless of how little talent he has to work with - is over one of the worst defenses in the NFL right now.

Only way I see Jones rejuvenating his career is finding a team with more overall offensive talent. That's not us. We've made decisions in the past thinking we were and it bit us.

Utterly ragdolled. That's going to hurt in the morning.

At the least, this has been a pleasant surprise of a game that I don't think too many saw coming.

More pressing concern, then. I just have this feeling any large extension for Moton is going to bite us.

Best to see Icky in the position we drafted him in to see if he continues making progress. All signs point to Canales/Morgan staying on board and so decisions on whether to move him elsewhere on the line will probably be done during the offseason. Personally, I'm more concerned about a more long-term answer at safety and Moton's spot. Love the guy but he's a FA after 2026 and he'll be 32 by then. Kinda has that sign of having to let a player walk one year too early.