Purple_ICE 81

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Posts posted by Purple_ICE 81

  1. Posted · Report post

    Agreed but I think the Bulls are a better squad than the Pacers right now. I wasn't confident facing them but with the series going back to DC 2-0, I'm really impressed. Unless Indy suddenly goes back to their old ways I'm not too scared to face them.

    Heat will be a challenge no doubt, I think they eventually go on to the reach finals, but like you said losing to the Thunder or Spurs... but the Wiz have held their own against them recently. I know the playoffs are different but it could be interesting if Ariza hits one of his random hot streaks against them.

    I've heard on TV from multiple media people saying the Wiz have the best backcourt of the future, and maybe even right now. I think this summer is definitely the time to pounce on some big name free agents. Melo makes the most sense to go after since he would fit here perfectly and he's from the area. Wall and him would flourish together. I really hope they can land him or at least attempt to sign him. I'd like to retain both Nene & Gortat but Monroe could make for a good addition as well. It's important to do good in these playoffs to help lure them. If we can make it to the Eastern finals, I think that would do it.

    Yea Im definitely more confident about facing the Pacers after their mid season collapse, they definitely dont have that grittiness to them they had last year. But a blind cobra is still a cobra none the less....the Pacers are still good and have what it takes they just have to play more as a team. i could see a 6 or 7 game battle in the next round.

     

    Bradley Beal and John Wall are both young and extremely talented players, signing Melo would give them the signature "big 3" combination that will make them a favorite to push for the #1 seed in the East. Definitely pleased with the future of the Wizards after such a long gap in between the Gilbert Arenas era haha

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  2. Posted · Report post

    Agreed 100% on the last part but why can't they get past the Pacers?

    I just think they lack that extra piece that will give them the push they need to beat the Pacers. They will definitely give them a good run for their money...but I just dont think they have the edge over the Pacers. I will still root for them but even if they do advance they wont win a championship. They dont have the elite firepower to go 7 games with the Heat...let alone 4.  

     

    If they had a Melo, or maybe a Rudy Gay, or Luol Deng (who are free agents this summer) on their squad right now combined with what they have they could easily push for the finals. They could definitely improve on Trevor Ariza at SF. The Wiz need to make a splash this summer and maybe look for a big signing or  trade because they are so close to being a juggernaut in the East...especially with the Heats big 3 all headed for free agency. 

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  3. Posted · Report post

    I haven't really been watching any of the playoffs but I'm pulling for the Heat!

     

    #Mili

    Heat will definitely be back in the Finals for the 4th straight year...the only team capable of beating them in the east is Indiana and they have lost a big step and continue to show signs of dismemberment and incompetence. The Pacers just dont have that swag or dominance they had last year, there defense has been terrible and they have generally been playing sloppy ball lately too.  

     

    I see the Spurs or Thunder coming in and beating the Heat in the Finals. I just think the Heat are gassed and wont be able to finish on top this year.

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  4. Posted · Report post

    Wizards doing good...but they are not going to get past the Pacers next round. They better hope the Hawks advance.

     

    Looking forward to the offseason....I dream every night about the Wiz signing Melo and threading themselves right behind the Heat and Pacers in the East.

     

    Melo...Wall...Beal...Nene.---> BEAST

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  5. Posted · Edited by Purple_ICE 81 · Report post

    Well I guess he hasn't been working out and exercising during his 1 year break period which is obviously concerning due to his failed conditioning test. I mean the conditioning test is definitely challenging for anyone who is in shape or not, but it would have been nice to see McClain give a little more effort and heart out there instead of giving up on it. Whether we sign him or not I will leave it up to Ozzie and company to make that decision. Personally I dont care...at this point im not sure what McClain has to offer as an ILB..when was the last time he played at a high level? 3 seasons ago? He may be done  and it looks to be heading that way. 

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  8. Posted · Edited by Purple_ICE 81 · Report post

    Well he is not a flashy signing...but Kubiak knows what he is looking for in centers I guess...looking for the specific type of athlete, and Zuttah ran a  4.9  40 yard dash. He has some starting experience which is also good, but he was part of a  Bucs o-line that wasn't good last year. And the fact that they wanted to improve on the position by adding Evan Dietrich Smith this offseason makes me wonder how good Zuttah really is.

     

    Im not sure if anything has been set in stone as far as the starting job goes...but I would assume there to be a competition in training camp. Maybe with the addition of a couple more cheap Kubiak choices we will find a quality starting center who will help boost the running game, although Im optimistic at this point it will be Zuttah.

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  10. Posted · Report post

    I have a question maybe some of you on here can answer. It's about Alex Mack.

    To franchise tag Mack would cost about $11.6M with the transition tag costing about $10.6M. That's a difference of $1M for a team that had over $40M in cap space. Why in the world did they place just the transition tag when it provides nothing as compensation and costs nearly the same. I have no answer, but I'm curious as to why they didn't just put the franchise tag.

    Because its cheaper...and even to a cap friendly team like the Browns cheaper is cheaper. With the transition tag the Browns have the right to first refusal and can match any offers other teams make within 5 days. It gives them the opportunity to gauge the market and see what Mack is truly worth. And it looks like a job well done by them as Mack hasn't garnered much interest. He will likely just sign his $10M deal and look to negotiate a long term deal with the Browns...who will have all the leverage.

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  11. Posted · Report post

    You know what's really getting on my nerves? People keep saying that because we signed a 35-yo WR named Steve Smith, suddenly we won't draft a WR in the first round. Do you guys even know how the Ravens work? I'm seriously frustrated by how often I've seen this notion thrown around that the Steve Smith signing eliminates us from drafting a WR. Let's actually see if this has merit: 

     

    2013: We needed a FS after losing Ed Reed. We signed Michael Huff to a rather decent deal. We had Ihedigbo to replace Pollard. The FO believed in him at SS, which is why he never lost the job. Huff was meant to be the successor to Ed Reed. Huff confirmed this in his presser. Not replacement but successor. Elam was drafted in the first round with our first pick. So, you're telling me signing Huff indicated we wouldn't draft Elam? Because that's clearly nonsense. Unconvinced? Let's explore further!

     

    2012: Ben Grubbs, Jarrett Johnson, Cory Redding lost. The biggest loss we had was Grubbs and Redding. What was our first pick? Upshaw to replace JJ. We didn't even a guard but we did draft one (KO) in the second. 

     

    Just because we sign a player doesn't mean we'll automatically avoid a position. It just means we don't have to reach on a player. Get it straight. I don't think taking Lee, Beckham Jr, Evans or Watkins would be reaches at #17 overall. I'm not even a big fan of Evans but I would take him if he was there. 

    We have bigger needs now...why spend a 1st or 2nd on a player who will probably be 4th or maybe 3rd on the depth chart? Steve Smith and Torrey are locked in as 1 and 2...and Marlon has done nothing but create big plays for us...although he can improve on some things and Im sure our coaching staff can't wait to see when that happens.

     

    We are not the Broncos...we wont be running 4/5 WR sets...most of the time we will probably be running 3 wide at the most.with 2 TEs...or 1 TE and a RB. We will continue to be a run heavy offense too.

     

    Although I could care less what we do in the draft and would still love to see Marqise, Odell, Robinson or one of the talented wideouts on our team...Ozzie just never really over indulges at the position during the draft.

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  12. Posted · Report post

     

     

    I think I can say with confidence that Steve Smith is the better receiver and always was.

     

    I agree with you here. Anquan Boldin was a great WR but lacked the elite 4.3 speed Smith had throughout his career. Steve Smith is a great route runner, has great hands and is extremely physical for his short stature. He plays like a mini Boldin. You watch some of the big plays Smith had throughout his career and a lot were of the Boldin variety...those physical jump balls or traffic collision catches.

     

    To me they are similar in alot of ways but Boldin's lack of speed is what makes Smith the better WR to me...and Smith is a slightly better route runner.

     

    But both were great WRs none the less.

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  14. Posted · Report post

    Getting his jersey, sorry Torrey, Jimmy & Daryl I know you guys were here first but he's always been one of my faves.

    Im having my old Mark Clayton 89 jersey fixed so it reads Smith on the back. Its just going to be a pain to un stitch Clayton and sow in Smith haha but Im going to make a day of it because I held on to my old Reebok Clayton jersey I spent 50 bucks on back in the day haha

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  15. Posted · Edited by Purple_ICE 81 · Report post

    "Ravens sign WR Steve Smith (3 years, $11M; $3.5M bonus): MILLEN BLOOD AND GUTS KIELBASA Grade 

    Ozzie Newsome is one of the top NFL general managers, but he's only human. He's made draft selections that haven't worked out, and he's signed some free agents who have disappointed. This looks to be Newsome's worst transaction ever. 

    It's mind-boggling that Steve Smith received a $3.5 million signing bonus and an $11 million deal. Smith doesn't deserve any sort of signing bonus based on the way he played last year, and to be honest, I was expecting him to sign a 1-year contract for the veteran minimum. 

    Smith is done. He has lost his elite speed. He failed to register more than 69 yards in a single game this past season. He's no longer a starting-caliber receiver. He's also a potential locker room distraction. This signing makes zero sense. The only possible reason for bringing Smith in is to energize the team and fan base following a mediocre 2013 campaign, and that doesn't even come close to justifying this sort of contract for a has-been."

     

    http://walterfootball.com/freeagents2014recap.php

     

    Well this signing could be another Michael Huff or another Derrick Mason.

    Most of the crap I hear about Steve Smith is ridiculous and terribly misleading. If people really took the time to analyze the Panther's passing game as a whole they would realize that the new OC they got last year changed the way they do things on offense.

     

    In Cam Newtons rookie and sophomore seasons he put up some pretty good numbers in the passing game (4,051, and 3869). And the main reason for that was none other than Steve Smith who played like an absolute superstar in those 2 seasons. Over the course of 2011 and 2012 he recorded 152 catches 2,568 yards and 9 TDs.  He also had 11 games where he had atleast 100 yards...5 of those games he had at least 150 yards. And he averaged almost 20 yards per catch.

     

    In 2013 Mike Shula was promoted from Qbs coach as Panthers new OC and as a result their passing game was limited a lot of the time because Shula wanted more high percentage throws instead of going deep all the time. Steve Smith was used as possession receiver instead of the deep threat he is used to being...although he still caught some 20, 30 and 40 yard catches...just not the 50 and 60 yarders he can normally put up. Its not because he took a drop off and from age 32 to 33 and magically lost speed and his skills declined...he obviously showed last year he can still be an effective and dangerous WR...its just the way the new OC used him thats all. Cam Newtons stats declined too...and the Panther's offense was still highly effective throughout the season.

     

    To me Steve Smith is old but is in extremely good shape with enough speed to stretch the field deep like he made a career of doing. He is a big upgrade over the past WRs we had including Anquan Boldin. Boldin was good but was limited by his speed, and Smith has just as much talent when it comes to running routes catching  and beating defenders as Boldin does. Boldin may be a physical freak and have Smith in that category...but you wont see a stronger harder working angry playing WR than 5'9" Smiff,,,he is a beast.

     

    I still believe  Smitty is a great WR in this league...and I know he is angry as hell and ready to prove to the world that he is too. He could easily put up 1000 yards next year...although I think it will be Torrey who gains the yards and Smith who gains the catches...he could push for 70-80 grabs.

     

    And for the money we spent...its really not that expensive. Great signing by Ozzie.

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  16. Posted · Report post

    This is great news! Now we have two Smiths at WR!

    How does Steve Smith compare to Boldin today?

    In 2013 under a new OC Steve Smith was under utilized and was rarely used as a deep threat. But was one of Cam Newtons favorite 3rd down targets.

     

    In 2011 and 2012 Smith was used THE RIGHT WAY and for that he put up 2 1000 seasons with over 10 games eclipsing 100 yards and 4 or 5 of them were 150+yds. A couple of years ago he was a beast of a WR...and I still think he has a ton left in the tank as well... to act as both a burner down the field and a possession receiver. 

     

    Boldin never had the speed or general talent that Smiff had. The only thing Boldin has as an advantage is youth and strength...but Smiff is extremely strong for a 5'9" WR. Id take Smith now over Boldin hands down.

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  19. Posted · Report post

    Why not? He's a fantastic KR and this team has always counted on very good ST players. If Marqise Lee falls to us, we need to pick him up imho, because he has the potential to be a true #1 WR:

     

    1. Lee

    2. Torrey

    3. Steve

    4. Marlon

    5. Jacoby

     

    If we end up drafting a Mike Evans, who is still a bit raw, the addition of Smith would give us the time to develop him as a player and ease him into a increasingly bigger role on offense, which would be another way this signing could help us.

     

    In the end we can't just sit on our hands and hope things go our way like last season. Torrey is not consistent enough to be Flacco's go to target and Marlon, while showing promise, still only had a 500 yrds season. Jacoby is great in making big plays, but lacks the hands to be counted on every down and we haven't seen anything from Mellette yet. There is alot of uncertainty with our WRs with or without Steve Smith on it.

    Barely any good red zone targets, close to no 3rd down targets, those are all results of the Ravens FO not making big moves to  improve our WR roster, because they "like the guys we have".

    As much of a Marqise Lee fan I am...I can't see him beating out Steve and Torrey for #1 duties if we were to draft him. He would likely be our WR3 sliding in and out of the slot with Steve.

     

    And I also doubt we spend anything higher than a 2nd on a WR should we sign Smitty...too many other needs. If we sign Smith which I hope we do I see us going 3rd or 4th round on a wideout.

     

    We will probably sign Smith to a 1 or 2 year deal...and by the time he hangs em up Marlon Brown will probably be very refined and ready to step in...thats my prediction. A lot of people worried about passing on a WR this year in the draft because Smitty will only be here so long...but I see Marlon Brown and Torrey as our long term options at WR, and you could throw Aaron Mellete in too.

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