Playoffs
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Three to Focus on Texans @ Ravens, Week 6
October 14th, 2011 | Author: Gordon McGuinness
Many are tipping this game as one with a potential rematch in January, but long before we reach that point both teams need to win a few more games. For Houston the injury news goes from bad to worse. After losing Andre Johnson indefinitely last week, they have now lost their premier pass rusher, and former number 1 overall draft pick, Mario Williams for the season. And now they head, injuries and all, to Baltimore to face a Ravens team fresh off a bye and sitting at the AFC North summit at 3-1. The Ravens had hoped to come out of the bye much healthier but this late in the week there still appears to be doubts over the health of Lee Evans, Chris Carr, Ben Grubbs and Jimmy Smith all of whom the Ravens need back on the field for a variety of reasons. So where should the focus be when these two square off on Sunday?
1) Strength v Strength
Often when youre looking at matchups to focus on its easy to find one where you have a marquee player going up against someone who is struggling, thats not the case here. Its hard not to get excited thinking about the Texans running the ball right at the heart of the Ravens defense. Despite a poor performance last week against the Oakland Raiders, Chris Myers (13.6) is still our top rated center by some distance. On the other side of the field, our top MLB against the run, Ray Lewis (7.9 against the run) is having another fine start to the season. 17 of Lewis 24 tackles have been for defensive stops. He is no doubt helped by having Haloti Ngata (9.8), our third ranked DT in front of him. But the surprising story in Baltimore has been Terrence Cody. Cody (1.3) is not being pushed around at the line of scrimmage anywhere nearly as much as he was last year and is beginning to look like he may indeed live up to his second round draft tag. If there is an area the Ravens look likely to exploit in this battle it would be the Texans starting guards. Neither Wade Smith (-14.4) or Mike Brisiel (-1.4) are playing at the level they did last year. If they struggle on Sunday in Baltimore, its going to be tough for Arian Foster to get much room to run.
2) Replacing Super Mario
Could Baltimore have wished for a better set of circumstances heading into this game? Coming off their bye week they find the Texans minus their two biggest stars. The loss of Williams (10.4) looks devastating for Houston. Hes generated five sacks, two hits and 17 pressures this year and was going to be up against Ravens OTs Bryant McKinnie (-3.8) and Michael Oher (-7.9) who have struggled this year. Instead McKinnie and Oher will be dealing with Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed. Barwin (-1.5) hasnt had the same impact as Williams this year with only 11 total pressures on 157 rushes. Reed (-0.4) has only five total pressures and will need to improve on that when he sees his first career start in Baltimore on Sunday. Its unlikely that either will be able to match what Williams would have produced but how much impact they have will play a key role in the outcome of the game.
3) Flacco facing a familiar foe
When Flacco goes under center on Sunday hell see an opponent hes used to facing in the AFC North in former Cincinnati Bengals CB Johnathan Joseph. Josephs strong start to the year, hes allowing receptions on 50% of passes targeted at him, prompted me to take a look back at Flaccos success, or lack thereof, against him in previous meetings. Heres what I found: In five previous meetings Flacco has completed 16 of 31 passes thrown at Joseph. What impressed me most was that of those 15 incompletions, 10 of those have been him making a play, be it an interception or a pass defensed. From those five games, Flacco only has one touchdown on Joseph. Flacco would be wise to not target as often as he has in the past on Sunday.
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http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/10/14/three-to-focus-on-texans-ravens-week-6/
October 14th, 2011 | Author: Gordon McGuinness
Many are tipping this game as one with a potential rematch in January, but long before we reach that point both teams need to win a few more games. For Houston the injury news goes from bad to worse. After losing Andre Johnson indefinitely last week, they have now lost their premier pass rusher, and former number 1 overall draft pick, Mario Williams for the season. And now they head, injuries and all, to Baltimore to face a Ravens team fresh off a bye and sitting at the AFC North summit at 3-1. The Ravens had hoped to come out of the bye much healthier but this late in the week there still appears to be doubts over the health of Lee Evans, Chris Carr, Ben Grubbs and Jimmy Smith all of whom the Ravens need back on the field for a variety of reasons. So where should the focus be when these two square off on Sunday?
1) Strength v Strength
Often when youre looking at matchups to focus on its easy to find one where you have a marquee player going up against someone who is struggling, thats not the case here. Its hard not to get excited thinking about the Texans running the ball right at the heart of the Ravens defense. Despite a poor performance last week against the Oakland Raiders, Chris Myers (13.6) is still our top rated center by some distance. On the other side of the field, our top MLB against the run, Ray Lewis (7.9 against the run) is having another fine start to the season. 17 of Lewis 24 tackles have been for defensive stops. He is no doubt helped by having Haloti Ngata (9.8), our third ranked DT in front of him. But the surprising story in Baltimore has been Terrence Cody. Cody (1.3) is not being pushed around at the line of scrimmage anywhere nearly as much as he was last year and is beginning to look like he may indeed live up to his second round draft tag. If there is an area the Ravens look likely to exploit in this battle it would be the Texans starting guards. Neither Wade Smith (-14.4) or Mike Brisiel (-1.4) are playing at the level they did last year. If they struggle on Sunday in Baltimore, its going to be tough for Arian Foster to get much room to run.
2) Replacing Super Mario
Could Baltimore have wished for a better set of circumstances heading into this game? Coming off their bye week they find the Texans minus their two biggest stars. The loss of Williams (10.4) looks devastating for Houston. Hes generated five sacks, two hits and 17 pressures this year and was going to be up against Ravens OTs Bryant McKinnie (-3.8) and Michael Oher (-7.9) who have struggled this year. Instead McKinnie and Oher will be dealing with Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed. Barwin (-1.5) hasnt had the same impact as Williams this year with only 11 total pressures on 157 rushes. Reed (-0.4) has only five total pressures and will need to improve on that when he sees his first career start in Baltimore on Sunday. Its unlikely that either will be able to match what Williams would have produced but how much impact they have will play a key role in the outcome of the game.
3) Flacco facing a familiar foe
When Flacco goes under center on Sunday hell see an opponent hes used to facing in the AFC North in former Cincinnati Bengals CB Johnathan Joseph. Josephs strong start to the year, hes allowing receptions on 50% of passes targeted at him, prompted me to take a look back at Flaccos success, or lack thereof, against him in previous meetings. Heres what I found: In five previous meetings Flacco has completed 16 of 31 passes thrown at Joseph. What impressed me most was that of those 15 incompletions, 10 of those have been him making a play, be it an interception or a pass defensed. From those five games, Flacco only has one touchdown on Joseph. Flacco would be wise to not target as often as he has in the past on Sunday.
.
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/10/14/three-to-focus-on-texans-ravens-week-6/
