The Baltimore Ravens’ offense has struggled on the road this season. Sunday they face AFC North rival Cleveland Browns on the road. The Browns always play the Ravens tough and the Ravens need to find a way to put points on the board.
During road games, the Ravens tend to abandon the no-huddle offense, but quarterback Joe Flacco thinks they need to use it on Sunday:
“… I think it’s part of the reason why we’ve been very good at times. For us to throw it out would be a little bit foolish of us just because a couple times here and there we haven’t played great offense.”, said Flacco.
This season the Ravens have averaged 15 points on the road and 32.3 points at home; they only scored one touchdown in the last ten road quarters.
Flacco struggles on the road; he only completes 50 percent of his passes. The noise factor is partially to blame; something they do not have to deal with at home.
They need to “communicate better” or “communicate less” and incorporate more non-verbal communication in the mix.
Running back Ray Rice believes in his quarterback and coaches:
“I think the second half of the year, the best thing we have to do is all be on the same page, and let Joe drive this thing, let the coaches call the plays and we’ll go out there and execute at a high level,” Rice said.
On Wednesday, Rice talked to the media and acknowledged that while the ideal number of touches for him is 20-25 per game, he is not lobbying for more and said “there is only one football”.
He also said they need to use all the talent they have on the offense, not just him. He thinks that Flacco is the driver of the offense and believes they can have success on the road.
Last season in Cleveland, Rice had the best game of his career with 29 carries he rushed for 204 yards.
He is rested and ready to play Sunday:
“This is the healthiest I’ve felt in a while, coming off the bye and doing the right things to take care of my body,” Rice said. “I’m looking forward to a nice workload the second half of the season.”
I would like to see less no-huddle and more Rice. History tells us that the more he touches the ball, the better the offense is. The Ravens pay him a lot of money; they need to let him do his job.
The offensive line has been ineffective at protecting Flacco and it makes the no-huddle a risky proposition on the road especially in a must-win game for the Ravens.
Zennie Abraham