QUOTE 1) Hmmmmm? That's interesting! There were three WRs taken right after our 78th pick by Pick 84. An offensive lineman was taken with pick 85. Wake up and smell the roses. The FO clearly has a bias for drafting defensive players, preferably from Alabama for some unknown reason. Oh, that's right, it is Oz's alma mater. Maybe the FO has plans to start Keenan Reynolds at QB and convert Joe Flacco to a TE! Its a novel idea and who knows? It might just work! Marty will just need to devise a new game plan. Have the newly revamped defense hold our opponents to zero points like the first time we won the SB and allowed only 165 points in 16 games and then bring in Tucker to kick the game-winning FGs from 80 yards 'cause we will never get to the red zone without an offensive line and some reliable WRs and TEs. I do agree with your belief that we can field a competitive team this year and contend in 2018. We are in a serious rebuilding mode, no doubt 'bout it.
QUOTE 2) Everything you have stated is true. We were a much different team when Jimmy Smith was on the field. That being said, the loss of one key player should not have caused the meltdown that occurred when he was absent from the lineup. So, I get it. The Ravens have just invested a bunch on a hunch --- that is, the notion that offense sells tickets but defense wins games. Also, defensive draft picks are more likely to become immediate impact players because defense is a streetcar named desire. What is bothersome is your last statement. It would be indefensible (no pun intended) to argue that next season's defense could be as elite as the defense was in our first SB year. Even with that elite defense, our offense had more weapons than this team currently has and it still had trouble scoring points. Playmakers like Jamaal Lewis, Jermaine Lewis, Shannon Sharpe and Brandon Stokely come to mind, just to name a few. Your post speaks volumes in what you do not say about this year's draft - a conspicuous absence of any early round offensive draft picks. So far, the strategy of the FO,as it relates to offense, has been addition by subtraction, unless you think that the acquisition of Danny Woodhead is a panacea for our offensive woes. Frankly, I don't. We need a dominant center, a right tackle, a dependable deep threat WR, a complementary WR to replace SSS and a chain-moving & blocking TE. And, for goodness sake, get rid of James Hurst in keeping with the addition by subtraction philosophy. Yep, we are in a rebuilding mode and it will take awhile for this team to return to its former shade of purple glory.