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Wednesday, January 31
Updated: February 1, 5:02 PM ET
 
Question of the Day: How do you beat the Ravens?

ESPN.com

KAPOLEI, Hawaii -- You can bet that NFL coaching staffs -- or at least the ones that have to face the Ravens next season -- are already breaking down game film to devise a way to beat Baltimore, particularly its impregnable defense. We asked some members of the AFC squad at the Pro Bowl how they would defeat the Ravens' D.

How do you beat the Ravens' defense?

Corey Dillon
"I don't know. They really don't have any weak point in their defense. Teams have tried to pass on them to exploit their secondary, but that's very strong. Teams try to run on them, but their front four and linebackers are too strong, so you can't do much of that. You've just got to pray and hope for a little bit of luck to beat them."
Jon Gruden
"It's going to take a lot of thought, obviously. It's going to take great execution and physical play no matter what you discover on film. They've got great defenders in Peter Boulware, who I call Peter Everywhere, and Ray Lewis and (Chris) McAlister and (Duane) Starks. They're a very talented defense no matter how you attack them. Through the air or on the ground, you have to understand that, but you have to really play an outstanding football game that's executed at a high level and make plays. If you can do that, you have a chance. If you don't do that, you're in for a long day, and they've proved that."
Lincoln Kennedy
"The heart of the defense has always been Ray Lewis. What they've been able to do through their scheme is find ways to keep blockers, individuals, off him and let him make the tackle. They've been doing it consistently for a couple of years now. Fortunately for them, they were able to put everything together this year and make the big game. I guess where you would start is to devise ways to get to him (Lewis). Maybe refrain from the original philosophy and do a little more counter action, something like that. I'm sure that coaches already have figured out how they're going to break it down and do it."
Jonathan Ogden
"They'll try to figure out a way to attack our defense a little better and try to contain what we do offensively, which is not turn the ball over. We play solid fundamental football on offense. So they'll work at that. It'll be like with the Rams last year and Denver the year before. That's just the way it is. People are going to try to find a way to get us, and we have to find a way not to let them get to us. We've got to try to find a way to stay on top."
Jimmy Smith
"Me being a receiver and the fact I had my career game against them the second week of the year, I say you have to throw it first. They've shown that you're not going to run the ball on them. You try to open the running game with the pass and throw it downfield. But that's also tough. Not many teams have been able to do that."
Rod Smith
"I don't know, man. I really don't because they have the best defense in the history of the game. This year, they got everything they deserved. They worked their butts off. Defense wins championships and that's why they won. Their offense played good, but their defense played great."




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