Analysts' Reasons For Picking Ravens | Page 6

49erRider · 2013-02-02T08:42:40-08:00

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/90802/sandos-best-guess-super-bowl-prediction Am I the only one who thinks some of the analysts' reasons for picking the Ravens are just stupid? It makes it seem like they just don't want to pick the 49ers, so they go with dumb things like this: Mike Golic, co-host of ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning: 27-24. "San Francisco may be the better team but I picked the Ravens at the start of the year and I still think they have the team to do it." In other words, Golic's reasoning is he picked the Ravens at the start of the year so SF being the better team doesn't matter. Mike Greenberg, co-host of ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning: 22-16. "Kaepernick will have his time. This one goes to Flacco -- his is a team of destiny." Is that even a valid reason? What the hell does that even mean? Seriously. Come on. Jon Gruden, "Monday Night Football" analyst and Super Bowl champion coach: 23-20. "If this really is Ray Lewis' last game, how can I pick it any other way?" Great analysis, Jon. Since it's Ray Lewis' last game, the Ravens automatically win. Makes sense. Just like how the Falcons won in Tony Gonzalez' last game, right? Mike Hill, co-host of ESPN Radio's Hill and Schlereth: 27-23. "The passion of Ray Lewis; his teammates want him to end his career on top." So Ray Lewis' teammates wanting him to win is all that matters? I guess none of the 49ers want to win. Suzy Kolber, NFL32 host: 27-24. "Lightning in a bottle season." Great explanation, Suzy. I now see why you're employed. Steve Levy, SportsCenter anchor: 27-24. "I think the Ray Lewis' 'distraction' this week helps keep Baltimore focused and it's time John Harbaugh outshines his brother Jim." OK, so a distraction is going to help the Ravens. That's funny, because usually people think distractions like that will HURT the team. Go figure. Oh, and since it's time John outshines Jim, I guess you can't argue with that, huh? Stuart Scott, anchor, "SportsCenter," and co-host, "Monday Night Countdown": 29-24. "Colin Kaepernick will have a great game but he hasn't seen a defense like this in the playoffs." This one just straight up contradicts itself. If he's gonna have a great game, then why would it matter if he's seen a defense like that in the playoffs? You'd figure that not having seen a defense like theirs would hinder his performance, but no, he's gonna have a great game, yet somehow the defense matters even though the guy pretty much said it wouldn't matter by predicting the great game. Good job, buddy. None of these reasons are valid, in my opinion. None of them are claiming the Ravens are the better team or have the better matchups, they're just pulling nonsense from their rear ends in order to justify picking Baltimore. Meanwhile, the people picking the 49ers are using reasons such as our guys in the trenches being better, the Niners being the more talented team, having the better scheme offensively due to the fact nobody really knows how to defend the pistol yet, etc. Your thoughts? Do you guys feel like some of these people picking the Ravens to win are truly just hating on the 49ers? Or is it because some of them have to side with the other team to make people believe it can go either way and still want to watch it? I usually don't pay any mind to the predictions because a lot of these guys pick against the Niners no matter what, but I was reading this article and just thinking to myself "what the hell are these fools talking about?"

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:09 PM

#76

IdahoNiner
Veteran
Posts: 9,543

Originally posted by dscola:
I feel differently than you guys. I feel like the analysts think we (Ravens) don't have any business in the game. As if we're the 89 Broncos against the Super 9ers.

Both teams were 1 special team blunder away from going to back to back Superbowls. The analysts are just lazy and refuse to dig deep into the game and give equal time to both teams.

For example:

Ray Rice in the screen game. He is a mismatch vs any team and will have to be accounted for.
Justin and Aldon Smith vs our revamped left side. Our RG, Osemele is huge and is nasty. This should be a key. How about Leach destroying your linebackers last year on iso blocks.
Just a few things that could be key but analysts think we're here because every team we played had bad games.

This game is going to be amazing and no matter who wins I'm gooing to be proud of my team.

This game is going to be much differant than last seasons game. Not even close to a valid comparison. The curcumstances are night and day.

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:16 PM

#77

SofaKing
Veteran
Posts: 27,442

Originally posted by dscola:
I feel differently than you guys. I feel like the analysts think we (Ravens) don't have any business in the game. As if we're the 89 Broncos against the Super 9ers.

Both teams were 1 special team blunder away from going to back to back Superbowls. The analysts are just lazy and refuse to dig deep into the game and give equal time to both teams.

For example:

Ray Rice in the screen game. He is a mismatch vs any team and will have to be accounted for.
Justin and Aldon Smith vs our revamped left side. Our RG, Osemele is huge and is nasty. This should be a key. How about Leach destroying your linebackers last year on iso blocks.
Just a few things that could be key but analysts think we're here because every team we played had bad games.

This game is going to be amazing and no matter who wins I'm gooing to be proud of my team.

Depends who you listen to really. From what I've seen, most of the guys at ESPN pick the 49ers. Then I watch CBS and most of them pick the Ravens. I agree all these analysts have been too lazy to break down the game and make legitimate arguments as to why one team should be favored over the other.

In response to your points:

We've defended against RB screens very well. Over half of the RB screens ran against us resulted in a gain of 5 or fewer yards.

Osemele is your LG, not RG. He's a big man, but I like Aldon and Justin Smith matched up against McKinnie and a rookie. Justin has been getting more strength in his arm each day. He should be ready to play balls out tomorrow, and Aldon will be the biggest beneficiary.

Leach is a beast. Willis and Bowman are going to have some violent collisions with this guy, but they can get the job done. They always do. Teams do not run up the gut on us. Sopoaga very quietly does an excellent job of plugging the inside gaps, and Willis and Bowman are the 2 best ILB's in the game. You guys had Leach last year, and all Rice could muster against us was 59 yards on 21 carries.

Should be a great game. Good luck to ya.

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:21 PM

#78

dscola
Veteran
Posts: 8

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:
This game is going to be much differant than last seasons game. Not even close to a valid comparison. The curcumstances are night and day.

My post is not about last years game. My point is that Analysts and your fans act like we just have no business in this game. As if we haven't been to 3 AFCC games i n 5 years. As if we haven't gotten healthy at the best time. As if your teams defense has been out of this world the last 5 weeks.

The game will be very competitive no matter the outcome.

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:28 PM

#79

IdahoNiner
Veteran
Posts: 9,543

Originally posted by dscola:

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:
This game is going to be much differant than last seasons game. Not even close to a valid comparison. The curcumstances are night and day.

My post is not about last years game. My point is that Analysts and your fans act like we just have no business in this game. As if we haven't been to 3 AFCC games i n 5 years. As if we haven't gotten healthy at the best time. As if your teams defense has been out of this world the last 5 weeks.

The game will be very competitive no matter the outcome.

I never said you have no buisness in the game. I just happen to think the AFC is very weak compared to the NFC right now as far as level of competition week in and week out, and i dont think you guys have had any experiance this season facing a team like this 49ers team. The niners on the other hand have had a very diverse schedule, and we play in a division with very good defenses throughout. Better than the ravens. The ravens defense is ageing, and without the big plays from flacco you would not be where you are this season. I feel this 49ers team is going to seriously exploit your defense. Further more we have played the whos who of top NFL offenses this season, and more often than not we came out on top. Your offense simple does not scare me.

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:34 PM

#80

RabidNiner
Veteran
Posts: 4,322

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:
I never said you have no buisness in the game. I just happen to think the AFC is very weak compared to the NFC right now as far as level of competition week in and week out, and i dont think you guys have had any experiance this season facing a team like this 49ers team. . Your offense simple does not scare me.

Great post and I couldn't agree more with these points above.

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:40 PM

#81

dscola
Veteran
Posts: 8

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:
I never said you have no buisness in the game. I just happen to think the AFC is very weak compared to the NFC right now as far as level of competition week in and week out, and i dont think you guys have had any experiance this season facing a team like this 49ers team. The niners on the other hand have had a very diverse schedule, and we play in a division with very good defenses throughout. Better than the ravens. The ravens defense is ageing, and without the big plays from flacco you would not be where you are this season. I feel this 49ers team is going to seriously exploit your defense. Further more we have played the whos who of top NFL offenses this season, and more often than not we came out on top. Your offense simple does not scare me.

Before I began my post, I'm not arguing. Just debating, so please don't take what I say personally.

1st of all, who on our defense besides Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are old? Suggs just turned 30. Ngata, Kruger, Arthur Jones, Ellerbee, Cary Williams, Pollard, and Jimmy Smith are all under 30 years old. We are an old defense by no means. Just more lazy reporting by the media that gets spewed as fact.
Secondly, if my mother had balls, she'd be my uncle. You can't take away the big plays from Flacco because they happened. If the Rams had a halfway decent team, you'd be 10-6.
3rd, It matters not who the 9ers or Ravens have played to this point. Especially considering that the Ravens hadn't played their starting defense together until the 1st playoff game and Kaepernick(sp) hadn't started until Smith got hurt.

Both teams can and have shut down the best offenses for multiple years. So thinking that your team will be impossible to stop is ridiculous. I'm sure both teams will have multiple stops of the other team tommorow.

For the record, I have the game ending at 27-24 Ravens. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if it ends up the other way around though.

[ Edited by dscola on Feb 2, 2013 at 4:42 PM ]

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:43 PM

#82

signman
Veteran
Posts: 52

Is Bill Levy the Ref because this is looking a lot like the Bettis send off in SB 40

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:50 PM

#83

SofaKing
Veteran
Posts: 27,442

Originally posted by signman:
Is Bill Levy the Ref because this is looking a lot like the Bettis send off in SB 40

Nope. Jerome Boger is. I think he refereed our game against GB.

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:57 PM

#84

RabidNiner
Veteran
Posts: 4,322

HaHa, these analyst are a joke, Shaun O'Hera and Willie Mcginest just switched from their Ravens pick earlier this week and jumped on the Niners train. Tom Jackson jumped off the Ravens bandwagon as well.

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:57 PM

#85

RabidNiner
Veteran
Posts: 4,322

double post

[ Edited by RabidNiner on Feb 2, 2013 at 4:57 PM ]

Feb 2, 2013 at 4:59 PM

#86

cNiner
Veteran
Posts: 6,440

We have been under estimated all year long, even my friends they say we are lucky. I answer are f**king kidding me we reached the Super Bowl & we are still lucky . All of these experts they like the bomb , flacci and his long throws , .we have a better D , and OL nugh said . Run they can't stop us , no way no how !

Feb 2, 2013 at 5:12 PM

#87

Niners99
Veteran
Posts: 44,279

Its been the trend of the Super Bowl week.

The 49ers are better. The statistics say so, the X's and O's say so, and the analysts/scouts agree that the 49ers should win.

But...Everyone picking the Ravens can only give reasons like "I want Ray to go out on top", "Theyre the team of destiny", and "Rep the east coast".

Ill tell you one thing, if the Ravens do win itll be the most annoying thing EVER. Nonstop Ray Lewis crying, "team of destiny" crap, and the team that everybody WANTED to win did it.

If we lose im shutting the TV off immediately, and not watching any ESPN until baseball season.

Feb 2, 2013 at 5:14 PM

#88

49erRider
Veteran
Posts: 7,508

Originally posted by TlSSER:

END THREAD.

I'm not saying most are picking the Ravens, I'm saying the reasoning given by those who are picking them are ridiculous and hold no weight whatsoever. So no, your little image doesn't end the thread.

Feb 2, 2013 at 5:18 PM

#89

TheTruth2013
Member
Posts: 19

Team of Destiny? No but the reasons for a Ravens victory is simple. Heathly for the first time all season the D and O line is playing like champions, the D holding Brady to 13 pts in their house! Stopping a hot Colts team and follow that with wins at denver and NE! Flacco playing on fire with tons of post season exp. Your QB is good (so Far) but has 10 games under his belt. Quite frankly everytime he takes off the odds of him having a long NFL life gets smaller. Just ask guys like RG3 if he would run against the Ravens again. I have nothing against the 49ers I like them , but the Ravens are on a run and I feel they are not going to stop. So 31-20 Ravens is my pick....TheTruth

Feb 2, 2013 at 5:25 PM

#90

RabidNiner
Veteran
Posts: 4,322

56-14 Niners. Ravens are b**ches and Ray will cry like one tomorrow. Flacco will fall back to the 46.0 QBR tomorrow and Kaep will run wild on these old s**ts, and the Smith brothers will show why this is the best Defense in the NFL. That's not taking into account that NFC is far better than the AFC and will make it 4 straight Super Bowls tomorrow.