Cam Cameron's Play Calling Continues to Set Joe Flacco and Company Back

As the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers renew their rivalry for the first time this season in Pittsburgh, disappointment is what the team, the ownership, and the city of Baltimore are feeling up to this point.

With a record of 5-5, the Ravens have won just two of their last seven games due to a lack of consistency.

First, it was the offense lighting up the board with the points, coming out of the gates as one of the best in the league. At that time, the defense was not up to form, showing signs of aging as they were near the bottom in passing defense.

In the second half of the season, a shift has occurred for the purple and black. While the defense has been one of the best in the past month, the offense has failed to score 20 or more points in the past three games.

With the playoff race getting tighter, the Ravens must find a way to score the necessary touchdowns instead of the field goals. However, where must the debating start? Obviously Mark Clayton needs to step up as the second receiver, along with Todd Heap, who has been quiet as of late.

These questions need to be put to the test by offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who has done no good for this offense in the past month.

Look, the offense was made out to be one of the best in the league after the first weeks, where the defense was nowhere near the league's best. Inconsistency has been a great deal of concern throughout the season, especially in a few of the games where the offense has let the team down.

Yet who seemed to be a good manager of the offense, Cameron has taken a great deal of heat for the disappointments, and he deserves all of the blame. What was one of the top rushing attacks in the league last season has turned more into an offense dedicated to the pass.

All I can ask is, why? Other then Derrick Mason and Ray Rice, no receiver has stepped up his game where passing can be the best priority. When the offense actually runs the ball, sooner or later Rice breaks out for a rush of 10-plus yards, wearing out the defense.

Well, the plan was brought into action Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts and cost them a win that would have helped them greatly after the struggles from many teams within the AFC.

Baltimore was in range of new kicker Billy Cundiff, who made four field goals (46, 44, 38, 36) but missed a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter.

In a third and long situation, the best option was to run the ball. Rice broke out for some key big runs on the drive, and gaining a few extra yards would have set up a nice opportunity for Cundiff to redeem himself. Le'Ron McClain could have also been used as a fresh back on third and long, with possibly having a huge chunk of yards to possibly get a first down.

But Cameron decided to give Joe Flacco the shot of making the smart play on this particular down. The result: a short pass to Rice, who was covered by three defenders, resulting in an interception.

Wow! Even though Flacco is making good strides as a young quarterback, with no clear receiver open, Joe had to force a pass he didn't want to make, and a turnover cost the Ravens a possible win.

Defenses are beginning to predict the Ravens' offense. They know the ball in the air is either a deep pass to Mason or short drop to Rice.

Because of this, the offense is continuing to suffer, and Cameron is getting farther away from the running game every time.

In some of the media stations throughout the Maryland area, some writers have called for Cameron to get fired. Yes, it is his only second year, but the offense is going in an opposite direction because of the calls he is making.

Yet I assure you he will return next season. With John Harbaugh as head coach, his good friend Cam will be running the offense once again.

Now don't take anything personal here. I think Harbaugh is a likeable coach who is a great motivator and always has a positive attitude.

He won't take it to the next level, though, if he cannot have the top of the line coordinator who can make something out of his offense.

Joe Flacco is the franchise quarterback for the Ravens and continues to grow into one. Certainly general manager Ozzie Newsome will get a receiver either in the draft or free agency after failing to do so last season.

However, whether Cam realizes or not, he is beginning to feel the pressure of not executing on offense, which shall continue throughout this season and the future that 2010 brings.

So a message to Cam Cameron: Utilize the running game, don't put the full load on Flacco, and success can happen.

If not, in a few years you will be out of a job once again, this time with not many places to turn.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com. He is also a writer for the Baltimore Ravens on fanhuddle.com.