Ravens Offensive Coordinator Marc Trestman started his press conference Thursday by jumping into the final drive of Monday's loss to Arizona, which has been a much-discussed topic this week.
That drive ended when quarterback Joe Flacco threw an interception in the end zone, sealing the 28-16 outcome. Flacco said after the game that the Ravens needed to simplify their approach on that drive, and Head Coach John Harbaugh explained that part of the problem was a breakdown in the headset communication between the sideline and the quarterback's helmet.
Trestman went into detail Thursday about what went wrong from his perspective.
He pointed to a play call from the 4-yard line with 18 seconds left on the clock. Flacco had just spiked the ball to stop the clock, and Trestman then tried to change personnel on the field to run a play he thought could go for a touchdown.
"I was a couple of ticks late, I think, getting it in," Trestman said. "We came out of the huddle, and it was just not what we would want it to be, quite frankly, and that starts with me. Flipping the personnel, I think, diminished the value of what was a really good drive up to that point.
"As I look back, I wish I would have just left the personnel in and got them in the huddle. I think that would have helped us dramatically."
The Ravens ran a short pass to Steve Smith Sr. on the next play, but an illegal shift wiped off the completion and backed the Ravens up to the 9-yard line. On the next play, Flacco's pass for tight end Crocket Gillmore ended up in the hands of Arizona safety Tony Jefferson.
"He had a blitz, he knew he had to get rid of the ball, he had a great matchup and we just didn't get it done; and we weren't able to live for another down," Trestman said. "That's how I see it."
The disappointing finish to the drive erased the fact that the Ravens drove 72 yards down the field in about 90 seconds to put themselves in position to tie the game. Flacco hit Gillmore and wide receiver Chris Givens for big completions on the drive before the drive hit a wall.
"Really good execution under a very hectic situation," Trestman said.
In terms of the breakdown in headset communication, Trestman said the radio signal went out twice and he couldn't get the play to Flacco. In those situations, Flacco improvised by making the calls himself.
"I thought Joe did a really good job of getting things done," Trestman said. "We didn't really lose much time in the transition because of Joe's ability to get us into a play and move the football."
"We were fortunate to get down to where we did," Flacco added. "And then, at the end of the day, you have to be able to overcome those things and put the ball in the end zone."
