Poes Crows

Lets add some facts to your Oz Suppositions

He doesn't like Change... Not understanding that it's for the better.

What this fan cannot tolerate is inane "knee jerk" change which our G.M. has been resorting to of late. He has been among the worst G.M.'s in the League the last two years and even has our Owner on Alert.  When the emperor is standing naked, one can be a loyal subject and applaud, or one can call him on the charade. (I wanted to say something much more vividly critical but the censors would never have allowed it.)

 

1. To this day I still agree with the Boldin trade. It needed to be done. A 30+ something with not a lot of time left isn't worth $6 million a year. A franchise QB is.

 

Then you and Oz share common ground, but you're alone upon that hilltop surrounded by enraged Sioux.  The guy that sucked last year was Joe Flacco.  So it wasn't Flacco was it?  Oz and his sidekick are starting to sweat.

 

 

 

2. Dumerivil > Kruger

 

Was never critical of allowing Kruger to walk.  But Dumervil is also a liability.

    Smith(his play anyway) > Lewis from the SB run(who while I still love the guy was a shell of his former self)

Lewis played well when he came back. His Denver game was a Tour de Force.  His lack of quickness was exposed in the Championship, by a team with quickness.  But he has two rings and though Smith was a nice pickup, he can't plug a hole at the line to save his life and will never have two rings. Blasphemy and some call themselves Raven Fans.

    Elam > shell of himself Ed Reed who will probably be unemployed this season and should retire. If you watched him AT ALL he got burned a lot. I mean, he was cut for god's sake. 

Elam is one of the top reasons Oz has lost it.  For those that still don't see it, don't worry, the truth eventually overtakes everyone.

    Jimmy Smith >>>>>>>>>> Cary Williams

Never critical of Jimmy Smith, he is coming along. Cary Williams is vastly under appreciated by this board for some reason.  If Webb doesn't come back to form, and Graham isn't resigned we may rue his absence.

    James Ihedigbo was surprisingly > Pollard.

lol

    Monroe >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> McKinnie

Monroe is a liability and if he gets the undeserved big contract, (and this fan thinks he will), the Raven's continue to retreat down Little Round Top.  This will be the contract that makes the slope the most slippery.  Trying to lock up a left tackle that can't protect the general and a general who still can't figure out where to aim.

 

The only thing Ozzie messed up in was NOT FINDING A VIABLE REPLACEMENT FOR BOLDIN(Gino doesn't count seeing as he has a leigit chance to redeem himself). If the running game actually works, then this team is a playoff team.  

 

Oz is in his last year. Nothing he has done or is prepared to do can stave off the Lakota surrounding him.

 

3. Veldheer aint leaving Oakland, and (no offense), I would still rather have Monroe... I was freaking excited for him to come here cause HE'S THE ONE I WANTED.........

 

If your gonna Pay, pay for a difference maker.

That Daryl Smith signing last year was awful wasn't it?

Monroe will get a big deal...so deal with it.

Wait a minute.........even though D. Smith couldn't stuff the run he was a tremendous pickup at the cost.

That is not going to be the case with Monroe.

Monroe must go.............or be signed at Value with an eye to replacing him quickly in the draft.

I think at worse we tag Monroe.   We shelved 2 draft picks for Monroe.   If he doesn't want to get a deal w/ us, then its too bad on him.   

 

He'll have to play under the tag or get a reasonable deal w/ us.   

We get one of those picks back if we let him go to Free Agency........it would be the best move Oz has made in two years.

Ha. No.  

 

Bryant is over the hill...... Monroe graded out as a top 10 LT, one of the few good players on the line last year. 

Caw Caw Caw....

DO NOT OVERPAY MONROE!

 

 

I'm sure they would be more cap friendly, but you get what you pay for with these guys. They aren't as good as Monroe, so could we afford the risk? I'm not sure Collins escapes Miami or Cincy, and Valdheer is not going to get out of Oakland, so do we really want to try for one of the others? I hope not.

 

Veldheer is the guy this fan wants.  If you're gonna pay, pay there.

Monroe sucks. McKinnie is a Free Agent...........lace his contract with weight and performance incentives, get him back and go from there.

We are not going to be a much better team than last year. We can target the LT of the future in this draft or next year's draft. Would rather do that than let Oz try to score on a Receiver with the top pick.  Oz is clearly having trouble evaluating the passing game.

If you're gonna fix the whole OLine this year. Veldheer.

Hopefully they reach a deal with Monroe but if he hits the market will the team may go after LT Brandon Albert of Kansas City? He's older at 29 and may be cheaper but is he worth the difference in savings? 

 

LT ranking from January 2013 list Albert 13th and Monroe 8th among top tackles.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1444308-br-nfl-1000-top-35-left-tackles/page/29

 

A franchise tag will not be unreasonable for Monroe but will require more contract work next season. 

This "report" was "compiled" before the 2013 season.  It's dated. If they really are "evaluating" these players the ranking needs adjustment.  There are guys on the list that were despised and cut by their teams.  There's other guys that are clearly ranked far too low. 

Anyone that believes Monroe is top 8 could make these lists for Bleacher Report!

Torn between Mike Evans of A&M and the North Carolina Tight end.  Don't want anybody else. It's one of these two or bust.

Not sure what the fans are seeing in Monroe to have them bemoaning that he may not stay.  The fact that the Front Office hasn't wheeled out the cash filled wheelbarrow for Monroe is the soundest decision they've made recently. Now we hear the part about testing the Free Agent Market was been "withdrawn".  Well, he's a free agent and the Ravens Front Office would rather eat their own kids than part with their money. You saw what they did to Boldin last year and he was under contract! Retaining Monroe has to be an accommodation. The Jags drafted to replace this guy and right now the Raven's can't overpay.

WNST ‏@WNST
Matt Zenitz: "No discussions between Eugene Monroe and the #Ravens. Will test the free agent market."


Well, that's no good. He's a guy we should be prioritizing during our exclusive negotiating period. I fear if we let him test the open market, some team will offer him a deal that we can't afford to match. I'd like to think he wants to stay here, but I don't think that's something we can count on. Monroe is the most important FA we have. If we don't re-sign him, the whole scope of our offseason has to change.

Mod note: this has been retracted. Jump to page 2.

Monroe is certainly not the key to the kingdom.

Well, we still have the franchise tag. The number would be huge, but at least we can keep him off the market. It's not ideal, but it makes no sense to trade 2 picks for the guy then let him walk without a fight.

Brandon Albert is probably the best T on the market, so he may want to wait to see what he gets.

Now you're talking.  This guy or the Oakland Dutchman would be worth talking about.

If he goes, we get maybe a 3rd round comp pick, so it wouldnt be a waste of a 4th and 5th either way.

Yes, he's only a one pick loss. If we get a 3rd round you could argue we make out, but think its a 4th rounder

Interesting thread

All this fan can say is how relieved he is to have it both be Kubiak and have it not be Shanahan.  Wanted absolutely no part of that poor thinking latter.

Now, take warning, an offensive coordinator needs the right pieces. We didn't just become a 12-4 team on this alone.

Gotta like it like that!

Kubiak and Dennison............No Shanahan!!!!

Hopefully Kubiak will contribute in the Draft Analysis.  He needs some input and we've not hit any jackpots recently.

Didn't anticipate Kubiak being interested in an OC job, but he'd more than acceptable. 

The part that makes no sense is Shanahan coming along for the ride. 

Weird

Not sure that Jacoby is as valuable to the Team as Smith and Pitta, but I agree that he is an important piece moving forward. For all all of the knocks on his receiving skills he has been working hard to improve and I believe he would have contributed much more had he not gone down in game one. And it goes without saying that he his one of the most exciting players in the game today.

 

Dragonfly is a Raven through and through........He plays with passion and brings some heart to the squad. I hope we find a way to keep him.

If they don't resign him it will be consistent with their recent philosophy that they can "plug guys in".  It will be because they believe they can predict the year when skills diminish. 

His contribution would be huge if the Raven's could properly use the play action pass.  He can get behind people, especially when they stare into the backfield for too long. 

He really is our one receiver that has the moves to gain separation at the line of scrimmage or at any time.  Our other guys don't have that.

The Front Office gets credit for signing him. We don't win the Championship in 2012 without Jacoby Jones, but the belief here is that consistent with their recent errors the Front Office will say goodbye.

One could make an argument that he won 3 games for us this year.  That and his still palpable potential won't matter.  Because this fan wants this Front Office replaced, he'd be closer to it if they don't resign Jacoby Jones.

If the weather is really bad, Seattle has a chance.

If it's not, this ain't Centurylink field and that QB on the other sideline ain't Colin Kaepernick.

That Denver Defense is much better against the run than many think and if Marshawn Lynch doesn't get his 100 yards, it suddenly dicey for the Hawks.

Russell Wilson will make a play or two, but if it's not freezing, Peyton Manning is going to make a bunch more. Anyone watching his last three games has to have seen Russell Wilson really off form and making decisions that are accidents waiting to happen.

Decent weather and the Broncos by a bunch.

Really bad weather that affects Mannings grip on the ball and maybe it's a toss up.

I've been saying Pitta will leave for the past several days myself:  http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/topic/56980-news-late-for-work-110-franchising-dennis-pitta-may-cost-5-million-more-than-expected/?view=findpost&p=1743915

 

To be fair, I don't think Elam could've done enough on the other side of the ball to make up for the tragedy that was Baltimore's 2013 offense. Elam couldn't make Ray Rice tell the truth about his condition.  Elam couldn't create separation for Torrey Smith.  Torrey wasn't always double-teamed.  He frequently lost against single coverage late in the season and confirmed it by lashing out at fans over fantasy football.  I understand his frustration but it's not the fans fault his performance declined against good defenders.  Elam couldn't help the line create running holes or provide Joe better accuracy.  It would be nice to see Ozzie target tough receivers.  Speed is great but I'd rather have a WR or TE with an innate ability to win battles and make catches.  I'll trade a blazing 4-whatever dash for that any day.

 

Back to Pitta, he's gone.  It was nice to see him play for Baltimore.

Certainly agree with your point about the Offensive Line being Offensive.  Have to hope Osemele comes back to form. That's the Key.  Yanda started the season less than 100%. Gradkowski had a minor knee procedure after the season.  Oz has an investment in Monroe.  He forked over two valuable draft picks and even though he's not an difference maker type, Oz is gonna pay the money because he feels he doesn't have a better option. Oz is being Oz. Not the Oz of the last decade. The Oz of this Decade and that's what scares us.

Regarding Elam, we didn't need to go that route and it hurt the team. We had a better strong safety in place...and then we didn't. It's just the Modern Oz. 

I think our system had two main problems:

1) Some missing components during its time with us. Ranging from a missing deep threat pre-Torrey to a power running game to a consistent possession guy or two who could keep the chains moving and bring the defence closer to the LoS (thus freeing up room for the deep guy to blow the top off said defence).

2) Lack of a good play caller. Cam was awful and Caldwell could have done better, though we'll never know his potential.

 

The idea is that the draft and FA will get us some guys to fix the first problem, while a better OC would theoretically solve the second.

 

Basically this offseason has the FO at a crossroads. They can stick with the Coryell system and try to upgrade it (and almost certainly go with Norv or Chudzinski) or blow the whole thing up and rebuild a new system around Flacco (Shanahan, Kubiak). Upgrading our Coryell would be the easier route, and have less growing pains, but bringing in a new guy has all kinds of risk and long-term potential.

 

I also think that we need to decide on our longer-term identity quickly. Not so much for hiring someone before they get snapped up (although that too), but so we can get more out of our unseasonably long offseason this year. We'll need to decide on who to target during the offseason and that'll have all kinds of chain reactions.

The other factor is that Oz is officially under scrutiny.  His job may depend upon making the playoffs next year.

He'd only be a bust cuz of Shanahans stupidness. Pops that is.

Baltimore would be best served to distance itself from any Shanahans.  The two coaches made mistakes and now the name is jinxed.

Someone help me.  I believe Pitta will be re-signed but I have no confidence that Baltimore will do right by offensive players who consistently produce.  We saw what the F.O. did to Boldin, Mason AND Heap within the past few years.  Regarding Heap, He was a gamer, however since his waiver, I believe he has played about 2 games.  Unfortunately, he gave his body to Baltimore, but in that case it's hard to fault our faulty Front Office because he was used up.   Look at what they almost did to Leach fresh off a Super Bowl victory and he's one of the best catching fullbacks in the league.  They were "Gaming" Leach too. It was despicable. The fact is he wasn't used much because the running game foundered. Anyone remember the tragedy that was Le'Ron McClain?  Never saw a fullback tackle himself after a catch until that guy. Regarding Mason, he was consistent even when waived, but he was older too.  There's no comparison to the situation with Boldin.

 

I'm trying to find any evidence that can indicate the Ravens F.O. doesn't sabotage itself by being cheap.  I typically only see changes when the "bleeding" begins to get out of control (ex: Baltimore's 10-man offense until the signing of Monroe...is that an unfair assessment of the line?).  Kelichi wasn't at full-strength due to injury but I always thought McKinnie was the primary problem. Can't agree with you here. We did not improve once Monroe was Substituted for McKinnie.  Monroe had 7 sacks against in 10 games and 3 false starts.  We also gave up draft picks for him that we desperately need. Monroe really has trouble guarding the edge on a speed rush.  McKinnie started for Miami on a team that lost 3 starting linemen during the season, Pouncey, Martin and the guard, (can't remember his name.) That line was porous and McKinnie wasn't great but he was no worse than Monroe and that was the position here when the crazy transaction occurred.  The Front Office also blamed McKinnie. It wasn't Big Mac.

 

Back to Pitta, I'm confident he'll be re-signed but I'm not convinced Baltimore will do right by him in the long run.  I'm looking at their history of contract lifespans with proven receivers.  I hope the F.O. manages to find a way to abandon their usual shenanigans and actually keep proven receivers through their contracts!! The Front Office is saddled with several large longer term contracts with players that were not as productive last year. It's hard to believe that with a player coming off an injury they will open the bank vault.  When he did return he was not the panacea most here thought he would be.  Because I believe he was a gear of the machine and not the energy source the Front Office will probably sign him.  They just can't make the right decision now.  The missteps and the current pressure are unraveling them.

The belief here is that Oz is intent upon drafting an athletic Tight End in the 1st round.  Pitta is history. Goodbye Pitta, it was nice while it lasted.  But your home boy Joe, took all the funds needed to sign you.  Best of luck in your new city!

Now, the only problem is building up any confidence that Oz can actually pick that difference maker in the 1st round.  Last year's first round pick makes Raven fans shudder with fear.

Not only are there several great receivers in this year's draft, but there are not a bunch of teams that will be drafting before us that will likely take a receiver in the first couple rounds.

 

Having said that, I would very much like to keep Jacoby.  I don't know that he would be flooded with huge offers from other teams, and I do believe that he is enjoying playing in Baltimore.  I think we can keep him, but if we don't I do not believe it's a killer blow.  It hurts, but it doesn't terminate.

Thats interesting.

In case anyone has lost track, without Jacoby Jones it would be very easy to make a case that we lose the last 3 games we won.

At Detroit his late Kickoff Return and Clutch catch on the winning Field Goal Drive.  There were earlier great returns as well.

Vs Minnesota, Do the Raven's even get to the last winning series without his Kickoff Return for TD?  Maybe, Maybe not.

vs Pittsburgh, Jacoby's certain T.D. is cheated away from us by Tomlin, but the field goal becomes the difference in the game.

You have to hope our Front Office is tuned into what is making a difference, but considering

their recent record there is no guarantee of that.

Don't mess with the love.

Just watched a replay of the big game vs the Lions.  On 3rd and 15 Flacco threw a high bullet that only he can throw.  It was intended for Jacoby Jones, who had made himself open again.  It as high and sailing. It was coming with extreme velocity.  Jones went up and snagged it. It set the Ravens up for the Game winning field goal.  This was after an outstanding Kick Return by Jones as well.

Jacoby returned to the huddle with a determined sneer on his face.  He stalked his way quickly into the huddle. Flacco greeted Jones return with a head to head butt. It was respect, appreciation and love without a single word exchanged.

When this season is over, this front office better not tamper with this chemistry. They better have learned their lesson.

I agree actually. 

 

I would love for us to be able to retain Jacoby. I think he's a play maker for us both as a WR & on ST. We do have players that will be a higher priority though. Just have to see if they can get it done or if he wants more money than we're willing to invest.

He's worth a raise at a short term deal, say 3 years.

You know his hands have improved substantially. He hauled down that overthrown Flacco pass for the field possession that gave us the winning field goal.

He also gets open. Has anyone noticed when the ball goes to Jacoby more times than not he's clear. Why is that?

We are not wired like a lot of other teams. Flacco is not a 70% passer.  We throw downfield more than other teams. If we had a better running game that would be even more effective.

Corderelle Patterson and Deandre Hopkins disagree with your assessment that drafting a WR deep in the 1st isn't ready to start.

 

Hopkins has almost 800 yards receiving playing with Schaub and Keenum.

 

Patterson proved why he is dynamic last week and would be lighting it up if he didnt have cassell/ponder/freeman throwing to him.

 

How about keenan Allen in the third round? Jacoby is at best a 3rd receiver

With the Baltimore Ravens, it is not accurate to rank receivers 1,2,3,4.  It's a fallacy and just doesn't work with us.

We have possession receivers and big play receivers. We are not wired like Detroit, whose #1 is clear.  We are not wired like Chicago, whose number 1 and 2 are clear. (At least that they are in some order 1 and 2).

Every time we read in this forum, this guy or that guy is our number 1 or our number 3, or not capable of being a number 2, so he's expendable. We laugh with incredulity.  What is this a John Gruden best receiver forum?

Come on man enough with the rankings, its time wasted.

We better keep Jacoby.....the hell with Gino Shipley Juan Castillo and Michael Oher

wholelotofhaloti said it best.............Jacoby is a TD waiting to happen.

Also, this fan completely disagrees with those that don't think he's absolutely dynamic as a receiver. Will he lose a ball occasionally....yes..........but the big plays more than make up for it.

Despite his shortcomings, Dragonfly is a TD waiting to happen whenever he steps on the field.

That's clearly the most accurate statement I've read in this thread.

He is unquestionably a TD waiting to happen on a team that lacks offensive consistency.

He compliments Joe Flacco's skill set and if you watch him he really is our only receiver that can create instantaneous separation with his ethereal moves. He can literally disappear on a corner.

Does our Front Office appreciate what Jacoby Jones brings to the team? Probably not, they seem pig headed over those they haven't drafted. And pig headed on many they do draft.

Just like Boldin, great thinking.........

Boldin wasn't asking for a raise.

He was under contract, the Powers that Were didn't want to pay him what they'd agreed to.

They must have thought Joe was a Superman. We're playing better now, but they clearly misjudged more than was reasonable.