sflegend89

People underestimate how a year long layoff can affect a college player transitioning to the NFL, patience is deserved given his situation. Also nobody has looked good under Trestman, let's see how Breshad get's on when offense is actually clicking.

Look at the spectacular catch he made against Buffalo and the move he put on Norman (A top 10 CB) to get to the ball. I see talent and potential, I just don't see confidence and precision. Those are things he can hopefully develop, tbe good news is he already has some major intangibles that can't be coached. I think Breshad will be a late bloomer but well worth the wait.

12 hours ago, RavensPunkXVX said:

Honestly, I've lost confidence.  A good team beats Oakland and Washington. The Ravens aren't a good team. We need more of a run first approach and Trestman is just not into that. Shotgun snap after shotgun snap. Is play action not a thing anymore?

Agreed, even when we were 3-0 I foresaw a reality check coming based on how we performed against meh competition.

Right now we're a mid tier team, we play up or down to our competition but aren't a legit contender among the NFL's elite teams. On paper we are but the product on the field says otherwise and coaching is a big part of that, especially on offense.

I would say Stanley is on par, if not exceeding expectations as a rookie despite dealing with this injury. Dixon has flashed and just needs time to re-adjust being a rookie coming off a long lay off and all. Coreia is a little disappointing considering how high he was drafted but I think we knew he was going to be a bit of a project.  Tavon Young looks to be a good nickel long term. Judon has exceeded my expections as a small school guy. Alex Lewis holding his own, could end up being a steal to get a starting guard that late.

While this class isn't setting the world on fire there are certainly some solid players in the bunch. We're talking about potentially getting a starting LT, LG, RB, Nickel, OLB from the same draft, will be interesting to look back on this class in a few years.

Leadership: 9/10

Team Discipline: 7/10

Football IQ: 6.5/10

Ability To Make Players Better: 5/10

Executive Decision Making: 5/10 

Don't think Harbs has it in him to fire Trestman even though there hasn't been so much as a glimmer of potential since he took over the job. No chance it happens this early in the season unless it comes from the higher ups.

Biggest win diffetential under Trestman is 6 points, jarring stat.

1 hour ago, flynismo said:

I have officially heard it all now. Seriously dude, this is scraping the bottom of the barrel here...even the Flacco trolls wouldn't go that far.

Look it's the NFL, everybody wants to win, everybody is a competitor or they wouldn't be there. Flacco is absolutely a competitor, I'm just saying in the context of the NFL he's not as fiery or as cutthroat as guys like Brady, Ben, Brees, Wilson that are OBSESSIVE winners.

2 hours ago, Mad Puppy said:

Joe is Average Joe.

Personally I would prefer more fire during the game.I think the rest of the team lack a killer instinct as a result.

I was all aboard when Flacco had the best playoff and Superbowl run ever. But in all honesty he is not top 10 in the league, He really needs a good team around him. That just isn't present on this team. Inability to keep good players past their rookie contract is really showing at this point.

Agreed, Flacco doesn't have the fire in his belly this year. Looks so non chalant about crippling incompletions and miscues. We know he's not a vocal leader but at the very least show some emotion on the field. The whole offense seems to suffer off getting no emotional fire from their default leader. 

As much as I hate Brady the guy is a competitor in the truest sense of the word, Flacco doesn't want to win bad enough. Even Derek Carr has out competed him in back to back years. Not accusing Joe of a lack of effort but he doesn't go above and beyond to win by any means necessary. Haven't seen that killer instinct in him since the 2012 post season.

2 hours ago, jazz1988 said:

 

Did you not see him run and get the first down today? He doesn't run often but  he usually  average 30+ rushing attempts per year. 

He still isn't mobile enough to be effective with our current OL/scheme. Look at how much better a guy his size like Ben is at escaping the pocket and extending plays. It seems like since the ACL Flacco is helpless against the slightest bit of pressure. He looks like he's stuck in the mud trying to manuever the pocket this season.

42 minutes ago, jazz1988 said:

 

I don't like the idea of Marc Trestman being fired because it yet again gives Flacco a new offensive coordinator . I rather have Joe Flacco and  MarcTrestman just talk about how they want the offense to be like going further and get on the same page. 

You don't think they've already done this after these anemic performances? I have news, they aren't figuring out anything new at this point. 

What you see is what you get with Trestman's offense. While it's possible to make minor improvements there will be no major change. There's no magic overnight solution here, Trestman is firmly on the hot seat. 

6 minutes ago, Ravenseconbeast said:

After close to a decade we are still talking about 'progress' with Joe.   

How do you carry a +120mill contract that can't be better than bottom of the worst '5' QB in the league?  

It was a mistake to give him the fat contract after SB, and it was a mistake to give him the #2 fat contract.   

Send him out of Ravens organization.  We are perfectly fine grooming a QB with time.  

Flacco is what he is, and he certaintly is hurting this team b/c he isn't holding his weight with the cap we got to build this team.

At the time it was the right move. Look at the deals guys like Tannehill got, any competent QB is getting a fat contract in today's market. Let alone one coming off a prolific postseason and SB MVP.

I'm not happy with Joe's performance since the contract either but that's not on Ozzie/Eric/Hortiz. They made the right move with tbe cards they were dealt. Blame Flacco and the coaching for dropping the ball and underperforming.

Brady

Ben

Rodgers

Brees

Wilson

Newton

Palmer

Carr

Ryan

Luck

Time to fire Trestman while this season still has life. He's had weeks and weeks to make adjustments and get on track and it's still the same anemic offense every Sunday.

What's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over & over and expecting different results? Trestman has shown us what he can bring to the table and it's not up to scratch. I don't think he's necesarily a bad OC he just flat out is a bad fit.

I think I'm done holding out hope that Flacco will become a dominant QB like a Brady or Big Ben (Albeit they both have much better coaching and help). But I'm still thankful to have him and he's still an upper mid tier QB capable of winning a SB with the right players around him. More than most teams can say about their QB.

So far this season the confidence just isn't there, the precision just isn't there, the pocket awareness and ability to extend plays has gone M.I.A.

The turnover at OC has really hurt Joe's progress as well, no continuity in scheme or coaching for him these last 8 years is a travesty. 

Should be 5-0. Snatched defeat from the clutches of victory for 2 straight weeks. Fire Trestman, 10 points with the talent we have on offense is an absolute joke. You give this unit to a McDaniels or Kubiak they're putting up 25+ points a game no problem. 

This is the most talent we've likely ever had on that side of the ball and the product on the field is laughable.

Obviously the refs blew the PI on Aiken but the fact that we needed a call to go our way to potentially beat Washington is on us.

Should've never came down to that last possession. Offense handed the defense the game on a silver platter and they choked, as Dean Pees 4th quarter defenses always seem to against any good team. 

Still disappointing not to get the FG for the win. Raiders defense has been a joke all year and of course we manage to make them into the heroes of the game. Flacco still not quite himself and the offense is still finding it's identity.

We're much better than last year but an upper mid-tier team at best right now. Not in the same class as DEN, NE, CIN, PIT, MIN, PHI. 

After watching full games from teams like the Eagles and Pats it's clear as day that their playbooks have evolved for the 2016 NFL and we're still running concepts from 10 years ago.

I'm talking about things like crafty misdirection screens, fake tosses to a pass, off tackle zone runs from shotgun. Unusual formations with RB motions creating confusing coverage alignments. Plays and formations that display creativity and keep a defense on their heels.

Our playbook is all vanilla formations and straight forward run, pass, playaction concepts. It becomes so easy for a defense to react when the looks they get are so limited. Never do we get into a defenders imagination and get them thinking with any unique tactics. Yet how many times do we see a huge play come from causing confusion or an over reaction from a team with a modernized offensive playbook. We rely on guys making a play 1 on 1 to move the ball and so many other offenses can do that as well as move the bell with superior strategy.

3-0 is great but the offense is massively underperforming when you look at the talent we have at our disposal. Trestman's offense is archaeic and we shouldn't let these wins overshadow this glaring flaw. We're playing checkers on offense while the elite teams are playing chess.

With so many guys learning on the fly and in the early stages of building chemistry (especially on offense), starting 3-0 is a really nice head start on the rest of the AFC for a playoff spot.

All we need to do is get in. Just grinding out a 9-7 or 10-6 record is very attainable. In the Flacco era we've always been a big stage type of team, we struggle with consistency in the regular season but usually put up a hell of a fight in postseason play. Just get in baby!

Even at 3-0 we aren't playing anywhere near our potential. Specifically the offense, with tbe weapons we have in the passing game we should be roasting and toasting teams through the air.

15 minutes ago, Militant X 1 said:

Not oversimplifying anything just keeping it simple Elli!  Here's what I mean; the Ravens are at home against these Bills.  They barely put up 13 points against them offensively and yet, the Jets go into Buffalo (on the road and on Thursday night) and their offense puts up 30 pts on them so far.  Now, which team is the better out of the Ravens and Jets to you?

Week-by-week, team-to-team football math doesn't really work. By that same logic you could say our defense allowed far less yds and points so we have a better defense. It's different game plans, match ups, and overall circumstances having made adjustments from week 1.

Week 1 games are typically pretty cagey, penalty filled, and sloppy. Plus our full offensive unit (Flacco, SSS, Perriman, Pitta) didn't play a single snap together in the preseason, not to mention it was Joe's first real game since the ACL.

We have so many weapons it's hard to imagine the offense not having a big year. Browns/Jags games are a perfect opportunity to let loose on offense and really figure out our identity on that side of the ball.

2 hours ago, allblackraven said:

We better do something to sort out the middle of the O line before the Jets game. Otherwise, Wilkerson , McLendon and Williams will eat Zuttah for appetiser, then Flacco for main course. They sacked Dalton for combined 6 times and Bengals O line isn't bad.

Good example of how to deal with this is the Pats, they don't have a particularly good OL so they utilize quick hits and timing routes to slow down a strong pass rush. Worked for them all of last year until the AFCC.

Flacco HAS to get the ball out quicker. Not sure if it was game rust or just super tight coverage but far too often his internal clock to get the ball out wasn't registering. The messy pocket certainly didn't help his cause. If we can get the chains moving through the air there will be so much more room in the running game.

The NFL used to be run to set up the pass but it seems the roles have reversed in the current day game.

I think Wallace will be our leading WR this year. SSS will probably have the most receptions but Wallace is going to be Joe's home run hitter this year and rack up the most yds and TD's.

If Perriman starts getting comfortable, look out! That catch he made is something we haven't seen here, maybe ever. Boldin made some great snags for us but he doesn't have height/speed combination of Perriman. Crazy potential in that kid, super excited to see how he develops.

15 hours ago, Filmstudy said:

He did not play on defense, but he did play on special teams (16 snaps), and had decent rush on at least 1 punt.

BTW, my notes on the defense are up now on RSR if you're interested:

http://russellstreetreport.com/2016/09/12/filmstudy/ravens-defense-was-taylor-made/

 

If it makes you feel any better Myles Jack didn't play a snap on defense either. Pretty surprising considering he was supposed to be a top 10 pick. The huge knock on him was longevity, he was hyped as a pro-bowl caliber talent though. Was shocked to hear he didn't get a single snap on defense.

None of the 2nd round defenders really did much week 1 (Dodd, Spence, Jack, Correa, ect.). 

The fact that we were rusty on offense, had some overly conservative playcalling, committed avoidable penalties, and  that this was Flacco's first real game back from the ACL... and we still beat a respectable Bills team is exciting.

We can play so much better, I can't wait to see the offense actually clicking. So many weapons in the passing game this year. Perriman made a big time catch today, we might have finally hit a premiere wr in the draft.

Let me preface this by saying we no doubt have an elite front office. They get so many things right that the fans are completely off base about. Heck it already seems like many fans were dead wrong on Stanley and he was a great pick for example. Far more often then not they get it right even when the fan base isn't on board.

But there are instances in which the fans do get it right and front office overthinks something or is a little too smart for their own good. Things like passing on Keenan Allen and Stefon Diggs come to mind, in 2013 we put all our eggs in the Doss/D.Thompson basket "we like our guys" decision despite heavy criticism from the fanbase.

It's certainly too early to tell with Correa... but if we could go back in time and take Myles Jack or Noah Spence I have a hard time believing we wouldn't, let me just put it that way. It does feel a bit like Arthur Brown already (difference being the fans loved that pick at the time). Hope I'm wrong, hope I'm dead wrong. Just haven't gotten a good vibe off that pick thus far.

The 4 mil isn't Hester's base salary, it's the max he can earn by reaching all incentives in the contract. While we don't know what those incentives are I would imagine they are both playing time and production related. If he can achieve every incentive laid out for him he's worth it. If not his compensation will more or less reflect his contribution.

I'm all for an incentive laden contract for a vet on a 1 yr deal. Hester wants to cash out as his career winds down and having financial incentives is going to keep him locked in on delivering on the field. Remember, with the kickoff rule change returners are more valuable than they've been in the last few seasons. 

We're either getting the ball at the 25 or putting the ball in the hands of the most prolific kick returner in NFL history, sounds good to me.