J.O.14

LaRon McClain on twitter: "If I can get back to that place.... Where it all started... God willing"

 

Say what?

I seen this as well....I think he may be returning.....

I agree. The only FA we may lose that would hurt is Daryl Smith - but you can always replace a LB easier than almost any other position. That said, I hope we can retain Smith, because he's a proven commodity and that's always dear. But, should he decide to walk, that won't break the team, because there are gonna be available LB's out there - provided we don't already have his potential successor in the house...

 

But, once again, let's hope we won't have to replace him in the first place.

I agree, the only concern I have about losing Smith is his veteran presence in the locker room and his intelligence on the field. Guy was a really smart player. We can find someone who brings the same physical aspects to the field, I just don't know about the smarts aspect. Keeping Smith would be a luxury though. For some reason, if Rolando McClain does come back, I really hope our FO gives him a shot. I think, in the right place, the guy can be what everyone thought he would be.

IDK.... We havent upgraded from the 8-8 team we were last season yet We Kept Monroe... Good step but not an upgrade from this past season. We signed Pitta... again great but still no upgrade. We re-signed Jacoby...same deal. We have lost Art Jones, Ihedigbo , Corey Graham and McClain at this point I am sure we have a game plan to replace Ihedigbo and upgrade at some of those places.... but as of right now we are certainly behind last season... and falling. Curious to see how Ozzie works his magic?

We have retained guys that will make us better than an 8-8 football team. Especially if Pitta comes back 100%. Out of the guys we have lost, Art Jones is the only one that hurts a good bit. Graham hurts a little, but we an easily find a replacement. We are going to bring another receiver in, don't worry about that. The only position we NEED to upgrade right now is center. The rest we can get in the draft. Now defense, we need a FS, ad hopefully resign D. Smith. We will be fine, we are 2 days into Free Agency. We aren't falling anywhere.

I wouldn't mind us having Steve Smith, but the fact that he will be 35 is what I don't like. I would almost rather invest in a long term solution. But Smith should come cheap, since Carolina owes him 3 million this year.

I think Steve Smith would be a great pickup. Then draft another receiver in the draft to let Steve mentor. I think Steve Smith can give us a good 2 or eve 3 years maybe.

I like that we are retaining a lot of our players. If we bring back D.Smith that will be awesome. I want to see us start improving though. We need a center. If we sign a center and bring back D. Smith, that will be a great offseason already.

This is a very good deal for our football team. We didn't overspend, finally have a quality LT for the future, and have money left to spend.....I think we are just getting started. If we can retain Daryl Smith, our offseason would already be very good.

The typical case of "who should we believe": another source said McClain's return is not imminent at best...

 

I guess the real situation is that he said he's thinking about returning - without mentioning any special time frame. We don't yet know how deep his desire to return is, we don't know how much his mind has cleared, we don't know how much he's in shape... Surely, we could use a healthy McClain... but I guess we should just wait and see before starting to hope.

Rolando tweeted a little bit ago that he is coming back. The Ravens have to first choice to bring him back.

I think this is a great hire, his track record speaks for itself. If Houston had a QB who wasn't a turnover machine, they could have won a superbowl by now, especially in 2011. Hopefully Shanahan and Dennison come along, would be nice for Dennison to take over OL coaching.

Everyone is going to be surprised if he says Jim Hostler is the OC though.....

I agee but if Ravens  offense does not  improve within the first 4 games and Ravens have Jim as the OC I could see this team implode at least with the fans and media.. If the Ravens then have to overhall even more with 2015 season  and all that traveling out West.. not good. Ravens can't go another 8-8 next year. Brown have a QB but the big duumy don't know how to slide They won three game with Brian Hoyer.

I think the offense will improve, but we also have a lot of moves to make personnel wise with players to improve. I think we will bring in some guys to really make this offense improve, but im not expecting our offense ot be a top 5 offense right away. And to your point about 2015, a lot can change in a year. So if we struggle this upcoming year doesn't mean we will in 2015, no matter who we play. I agree about Biscotti not putting up with a bad season though, he will make some changed if we don't improve a little. Hoyer was playing good, but he also didn't really play a good team during his 3 game stint. He does have talent though.

I know I get grief for this, but next season we play 4 team with new coaches and if  this team struggles with those teams, forget about it because the 2015 season we play the NFC West and the AFC West. Check out those teams and tell me what you think  our record could be.

Whos to say those teams with new coaches won't be any good? We went 11-5 and to the AFC championship game with a new coach. San Fran did the same. Just because they have a new coach doesn't mean anything. And to be honest, if the Browns can get a decent QB and a running back, they could be in contention for the division.

... and you know this... how?

 

bio

I wonder the same thing about a lot of these posts, especially when people say we are going to be screwed if we hire Hostler. How do they know this? Do they know how he coaches or seen him at practice? He had one year in San Fran in wwhich he had Dilfer as his QB and his receiving core was terrible. It just annoys me when people bash someone that they know ABOSLUTELY nothing about. I'm not saying we should hire him, because I don't care really. But I just can't stand when people bash that move if it were to happen. I think both are good candidates, but if someone wants to explain why Hostler is so bad, please inform me?

OK. First, you're right, it looks like there was no interest in Turner or Kubiak. That's fine. They're the ones getting the big bucks and I am just a huge fan, which pretty much addresses my accessibility to the team's practices and my chance to see Hostler in action. I can only go by what I see on the field of play. But please let me clarify something for you. I am not hating on Hostler, nor do I want to bash him. I was, and am, just trying to throw my opinion out there as to who I think the best candidate for our OC job is. I'm not basing my opinion that Kyle Shanahan is a better option than Jim Hostler on any bad feelings or negative knowledge I have on him. I just would prefer seeing Shanahan in the position because of his more extensive experience as an OC, and despite the Skins' lack of success this season, he has been successful otherwise. And I do not blame him for the Skins lack of success this past season. And my last point, I Will admit that I'm not Harbaugh's biggest fan and just don't think I can attribute our 5 year playoff run to him. I believe the bulk of the credit for that success should probably go more to other people. To me, again, just a lowly fan, Harbaugh has made a great deal of questionable decisions. Hey, man, I'm just a RavenManiac that loves my team and enjoys sharing my lowly fan's opinions on here. No harm to Anyone ever intended. Peace, brother.

I wasn't trying to bash you or anything, I have just seen a lot of people complain about Hostler, and nobody gives any reason for it. I'm a die hard fan as well and respect your opinion, but I wouldn't say hiring Hostler would be a mistake yet. Give him a chance if he gets the job. Harbaugh has made some questionable decisions, but he has also been a pretty good coach. Sorry if it came across that I was bashing you, your post just caught my attention and I wanted to state my opinion on it.

I can't speak for other, but my concerns are the poor route running and inconsistent hands of many of the Ravens receivers. Torrey was project 1st or 2nd round and Marlon Brown was rate 2nd or 3rd round so to me they had talent. The other receiver historically never developed. So why promote a guy that was not that good as a position coach? Secondly, I prefer someone outside to bring creativity to the offense. If he had ideas, he has been keeping them to himself.

I don't think drops have been a problem for us to much here recently, but poor route running may be a problem, or the fact that we just don't have that great of talent. Torrey isn't a dominate number 1 imo. He needs someone else who can really help him out. Marlon went from an undrafted FA to a starter, who got better as the season went on, so I guess coaching had nothing to do with that? Jacoby actually improved his hands if you ask me, and looked like a more polished receiver in his time here with the Ravens. So apparently he is a good position coach, and it isn't like he has a ton to work with. But I do agree with the creativity part, I would like to see that. Our offense is boring.

Looks like another Har Boo Boo is about to happen. We never even talked to Norv Turner. Mistake! We never even talked to Kubiak. Maybe a mistake. Kyle Shanahan is the best candidate left standing at this point. But who appears to be the front runner for the job? Hostler! Another mistake! When are you going to stop it, Harbaugh? Answer, probably never.

Apparently they didn't want Norv Turner, or Gary Kubiak. I wouldn't mind Kyle Shanahan, but why do people hate on Hostler? Please tell me what you know about him that makes him such a "bad candidate"? I'm sure you have watched this guy in practice and see how he coaches. He had one season in SF where his QB was Dilfer and his WR's were terrible. Derrick Mason gave the guy a lot of praise. I think he knows more about him than you and I both, or any other fan for that matter. He would actually be a good candidate imo, he is already accustomed to our players, knows there strengths and weaknesses, and if we get a QB coach, that will be even more help to him. But I just don't understand why people bash someone, when in reality, they know absolutely nothing about the guy. Now im not saying we hire him, because I could really care less who we hire. I will support it either way and probably complain when things go wrong.