Ravens lose - impact on UM
Ravens loss had to be best case scenario for Michigan if McDonald is indeed the new DC. Hopefully this means he spends today cleaning out his office and is in Ann Arbor for an announcement tomorrow.
He's is praised for studying film and I have to believe the sooner he's processing tape of our current players and incoming recruits to start working on how they fit and what formations he plans to use the better. Also big to complete his staff, make everyone official, and get to the business of recruiting: last bit of 2021 players like Rayshawn Benny, transfer portal, and 2022 players like Domani Jackson (set to announce at the end of the week), Will Johnson, and others.
On top of that, while losing was ideal, it happened with the defense he helped coach holding the Bills to their fewest points since week 6, and one of the two TDs the bills scored was a 101 yd pick 6. They did the best job containing Josh Allen that anyone has done in several weeks.
Hoping to see official announcements very soon.
January 17th, 2021 at 8:45 AM ^
The Ravens D played well last night, but I thought they got a few big assists from the weather on those deep passes that were open that Allen overthrew
January 17th, 2021 at 10:37 AM ^
Not sure why you’re getting negged. I think it’s a fair statement. The weather helped both defenses. Even though the Ravens ran most of the game, the Bills’ safeties were able to cheat up bc the deep threat was not the same level as without the wind gusts.
Tucker missed two fields goals that were very makeable.
Combined total points of 20 was extremely unexpected and weather played a significant role IMO.
January 17th, 2021 at 11:21 AM ^
Probably because I made a statement that’s wasn’t 100% roses and sunshine, even tho the coach(es) we’re getting weren’t solely responsible for the defensive gameplan? Is what it is, guess some didn’t agree with my assessment.
January 17th, 2021 at 11:30 AM ^
First rule of MGoPoints.....
January 17th, 2021 at 6:55 PM ^
I was surprised by the negs, then I remembered this blog is full of babies anymore around here
January 17th, 2021 at 3:23 PM ^
Tucker missed FGs because of Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth jinx.
January 17th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
That’s not the weather, Allen usually overthrows those.
January 17th, 2021 at 9:07 AM ^
The sooner the better!
January 17th, 2021 at 9:09 AM ^
The Ravens offense is starting to look like the military academies that run the triple option. It’s potent during the regular season when it catches teams off guard, but when good defenses take time to prepare for it in the postseason it gets demolished.
As for McDonald, I can’t really get excited. I hope he does well, but like Gattis when he came in, there isn’t much of a resume to assume that will be the case. If other hires had worked out better, I would be more optimistic about this one.
January 17th, 2021 at 9:16 AM ^
While at Stanford, Harbaugh uncovered a lot of gems. Hope this remains to be the case as well.
January 17th, 2021 at 9:39 AM ^
I think it's safe to say that we can't rely on Harbaugh's past performances elsewhere anymore.
January 17th, 2021 at 2:46 PM ^
Your post and Jim Harbaugh's recent comments about playing with nothing to lose are actually reassuring to me. Obviously his first years here haven't gone as well as we'd all hoped. Time for the next chapter... for better or for worse. Status quo is broken.
January 17th, 2021 at 2:30 PM ^
Do you think McDonald is the next UM DC if John wasn’t Jim’s brother?
January 17th, 2021 at 4:36 PM ^
Maybe, but what difference does it make?
January 17th, 2021 at 9:17 AM ^
It's also because Lamar, as great as he will be, still isn't at the level yet necessary in playoff games IMO.
January 17th, 2021 at 9:27 AM ^
He got a road win last week.
January 17th, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
With his legs. His passing game is weak and gets exposed in the playoffs. Only the threat of his legs gives him any credibility in the passing game.
January 17th, 2021 at 12:43 PM ^
Baltimore just really needs an elite WR1. They're too easy to defend right now.
January 17th, 2021 at 1:00 PM ^
DeVonta Smith or Jamarr Chase would be a sweet fit. John will totally grab Nico in the late rounds too.
January 17th, 2021 at 1:38 PM ^
I think the Ravens offense with Lamar is too one-dimensional. Yes, Lamar can pass decently well, but not well enough to make anyone fear you. The Bills were sending 7-8 almost every play. Lamar made them pay sometimes, but not nearly enough to change the gameplan. 3 points on offense against a fairly mediocre Bills defense says it all
January 17th, 2021 at 9:31 AM ^
If McDonald does come in, hopefully Benny, Jackson and Johnson say, "This guy's a pro coach and will get me where I want to go!" and quickly come aboard. Then McDonald can get to fielding a D that is fundamentally sound, at least average and good when it needs to be good.
January 17th, 2021 at 9:37 AM ^
Well said.
If we're stuck with Harbaugh, hopefully this guy can get the kids to play proper defense.
January 17th, 2021 at 9:37 AM ^
Could we hire John to be Co- Head coach. And then let him run the program for Jim?
January 17th, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
We DEFINITELY hired the wrong Harbaugh.
January 17th, 2021 at 10:24 AM ^
Dear Father - respectfully, your incessant negativity is wearing. Perhaps you could limit it to one post per thread. And I know, I don’t have to read your posts. But I keep hoping for something substantive. I’m sure you have lots to contribute. Thanks and have a great day.
January 17th, 2021 at 11:01 AM ^
So well said slblue.
This post should be copied and used as a reply to about half of the board these days.
January 17th, 2021 at 9:45 AM ^
Macdonald - Ravens football coach
McDonalds - great place to get French fries
January 17th, 2021 at 9:56 AM ^
McDonald will be the new Warriner/Fish with the spelling.
January 17th, 2021 at 10:00 AM ^
How many d’s are in Ruddddddddock?
January 17th, 2021 at 10:52 AM ^
Wendy’s fries are better as far as fast food fries go. If you go up a level, then Five Guys wins out (Cajun fries!!!), with Penn Station a respectable silver medalist.
January 17th, 2021 at 11:40 AM ^
Not a chance. McDonald’s has the best fast food fries and it’s not particularly close. Wendy’s is solid overall but McDonald’s fries are iconic.
January 17th, 2021 at 11:43 AM ^
Mcdonald's has the best fast food fries and it's not particularly close.
Freddy's would like a word.
January 17th, 2021 at 12:10 PM ^
And....”it’s not particularly close!”
January 17th, 2021 at 12:32 PM ^
Agreed. Freddy’s fries are awesome. They are very different though. If you don’t like the shoestring style, you won’t like them. They’re very different from McDonalds.
January 17th, 2021 at 2:21 PM ^
Gentlemen. In-N-Out fries. Beyond iconic, and beyond compare when combined with a double double.
January 17th, 2021 at 1:12 PM ^
Hell no Wendy’s fries are mediocre at best. Definitely better burgers than BK or Micky D’s but their fries leave a lot to be desired
January 17th, 2021 at 1:45 PM ^
You are 100% correct. Mcdonald's is trash compared to what it once was. Fries taste like plastic covered in salt.
I will add that CFA waffle fries are really good and hands down better than mcdonald's.
January 17th, 2021 at 2:38 PM ^
Love McDonalds. Then Arby’s curly fries. The Wendy.
BK sucks
January 17th, 2021 at 12:46 PM ^
McDonald - the guy with the soulful voice.
January 17th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
They have the golden arches.
January 17th, 2021 at 10:17 AM ^
You make it sound like the defensive plan was his. You know he is not the DC in Baltimore right? I’m not saying he may not be a good coach but let’s not give him all the credit.
January 17th, 2021 at 10:19 AM ^
Eh. Winning the Super Bowl would have been a pretty good result.
That said, the Ravens defense looked amazing and I’m looking forward to the official announcement and seeing the new staff. Hopefully Monday is a big day.
January 17th, 2021 at 10:23 AM ^
It’s also positive because Buffalo fans aren’t all that insufferable. Lovable, even.
January 18th, 2021 at 7:55 AM ^
I had season tickets to the Lions from 92-95 or so. I liked to get to know the different fan bases. Most were decent. Niners fans were arrogant but nice. Packers fans were nice. Bears fans were giant assholes and constantly started fights. Steelers fans were pretty good. The Bills fans were genuinely nice; and travelled more like a college team fan base.
January 17th, 2021 at 10:33 AM ^
The past couple of years have proven that scheme is almost a non factor on defense. Offenses have evolved far beyond the defensive imagination. I know all the casual football fans want a straight zone defense but those are as beatable as C1 and C0 schemes.
I just hope Macdonald can recruit well and get his side of the ball to play smart tough defense because the last two years we watched this team get bullied consistently.
January 17th, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^
Yes and no. I have been told numerous times on this site that Iowa St with Campbell + Heacock were "scheme forward" and able to slow down elite offenses with great playcalling and execution. I tend to believe that a good defense can slow down elite offenses somewhat (maybe keep them to only 30 points instead of 40), but that's it.
That said, a guy who has been part of some good pro defenses and, I assume, being fast tracked for a defensive coordinator position should be able to come in and use the pieces on this team (which are better than people are acknowledging) to improve significantly from last year.
January 17th, 2021 at 11:22 AM ^
The key to modern defense is to remain unpredictable. Your defense has to be passable in a number of different facets to keep the offense guessing. If the opposing offense knows what you’re going to do, it’s pretty easy for them to beat you.
Now naturally, some teams have so much talent that it doesn’t really matter what your defense does, they’re going to move the ball and score. LSU with Burrow and Alabama this season being prime examples.
The problem with Brown’s defense is that it became too predictable. You know Brown is lining up in man, and you know he’s bringing pressure. The easiest way to beat that, is mesh/slants over the heads of the linebackers. We have witnessed many times the results from teams doing that. There was enough talent that could get pressure quickly that it was still effective against bad teams, but teams like OSU and Bama had no issues with it.
Then the issues arose with DT and CB. Which allowed teams like Wisconsin to run all over our defense and some kid named Ricky White to run GO routes all game while we lose to a shitty MSU team. Brown’s issue again, was predictability. He’s been so hell-bent on his scheme, that our team is lacking in other facets. So when we HAVE to adjust, our players aren’t well versed in those schemes and we’re picked apart anyway. This is what happened when Brown was forced into calling more zone. Our guys have been almost exclusively man coverage for so long that we aren’t nearly good enough in zone coverage.
So whether it’s MacDonald, whether it’s the ISU defense, doesn’t matter. The key is ultimately becoming multiple enough that your defense can reasonably do whatever it is they need to do on any given play, so that the DC is better able to disguise and confuse the offense to get them off track, which leads to miscues and turnovers. This is necessary because it’s not often you’ll be able to play an OSU, Bama, or Clemson straight up and come out on top. They simply have too much talent. Brown wanted to solve his problems with aggression and it worked against lesser teams. But strategy and versatility is what is really needed.
Disguising your coverages, disguising your blitzes, and having the personnel versatility to throw the kitchen sink at the offense is the way you play great defense in the modern college football landscape.
January 17th, 2021 at 11:43 AM ^
This is as fair, thorough, and accurate of an analysis of the defensive issues under Don Brown that I have seen on this blog. I would very much agree. The very minor thing I would add is how long it took for young players to see the field and then become comfortable within the scheme. In today’s portal and early entry era of college football, your younger players and transfer players have to be ready to get important playing time. It seemed like it took forever for new players to be ready under Brown’s scheme.
January 17th, 2021 at 11:46 AM ^
One of my bigger issues with Brown - as a non-expert - is that his D seemed to be so complex that you needed a LOT of experience and/or reps to run it decently (and OSU would still shred it). We had 4 or 5 top LB prospects come in last class and not one of them could displace a walk-on as primary backup in case of injury??!! Same with Safety this year as well.
I guess you can use the loss of practices etc on a CoVid year as an excuse - which it seems like Don B is doing with UA reporters - but you saw the same with Dax Hill getting very little run in 2019.