HoldingCall

They will need multiple reliable receivers, a solid run game and perhaps at least a top 8 defense. It complicated because you need just about every part of the game to work well consistently for that to happen. But it can happen!

Who goes and who stays? I'd like to see them make it work with Gilmore, Boyle, Waller and Williams.

I am just waiting for the offense and defense to show up during the same game. Last season looked almost planned.

Cool! But nothing real to brag about if players fail to achieve elsewhere. Simply put, higher ability athletes adapt better than lower ability athletes. Also, quality of athletes in the surrounding environment of the player impacts their production. Many other factors too! Not just timing!

The arena league may be a good place to stay active for former NFL players who are still healthy but due to age, have fallen below NFL ability level. Familiar names on a smaller field could do a lot to bring attention to that league, for those who care. Call it, marketing! Congrats Jacoby!

5 hours ago, RavensDieHard21 said:

We obviously wouldn't have been able to pay both, but we would at least have been able to stabilize at least one of the essential groups. 

Would we have had enough money for Weddle? Well, if Ozzie wanted him bad enough then yes. We could have made moves to move on from Webb or we would have realized that signing an ancient TE like Watson who had bloated stats from being in the saints offense was a luxury rather than a need, etc.

I get what you're saying but there are a lot of people that just assume that Ozzie consistently makes the right decisions, but we have seen recently that he has had a lot of gaffs and we have found ourselves as a 8-8 franchise now. 

Almost 15 percent of cap dollars was dead money in 2015. Some will say it was just bad luck but it's the choices. Example: I wasn't the only one to smh at the Watson signing this past off season and there have been too many of those moments. Some due to the amount paid to certain players. Face it, choices put the team in need of a cap fix and that has to be corrected at some point. There is enough money to go around when you spend it wisely. 

If nothing else, it took away from his ability to practice and train. Additionally, those wanting to 'can Suggs' need to understand that an Achilles injury is even worst.

Is John on the hot seat? I don't believe he is nor should be. I think Joe Flacco may be more on that seat. At this point, there is nothing much the FO can do about it. Think how Joe out manuvered them on his contract then hasn't delivered the expected results. John didn't take credit for Flacco's hot playoff run nor his huge contract. He shouldn't be blamed for Joe's return to who he was before the streak. 

I am not saying the present state of not going to the playoffs is Joe's fault. After all, they missed playoffs by just 9 seconds (so close). But I am saying that the team isn't what it is suppose to be and Joe's play has a something to do with it. 

I am neither surprised nor disappointed. He deserves an off-season to get it together. However, he's capable of getting canned during the season just like the previous.

58 minutes ago, Glen1024 said:

Excuse makers will continue to make excuses, QB play has been poor these last couple years no way around that. Regression in Flacco play is obvious to all with eyes, I say the quality of coaching has dropped others the talent at receiver. Whatever the issue bottom line is the ravens aren't receiving the return on investment from a lot of players flacco on down. And as the QB you touch the ball every play, you get the lion share of glory in wins, get lion share when it comes to pay, well you damn well be ready to take the heat after a year like this.

That's telling it like it is!

Time for the OC to do what best with players available rather than attempt to make them into something they've never been. In other words, it should be easier for the OC to change his approach than to change the team to fit what he is used too. Lets hope so!

10 hours ago, allblackraven said:

I hope I'm wrong but I think Pitta stays, due to dead money amount and Juice gets paid elsewhere.

We need to do everything we can to keep Rick Wagner.

I think Juice will be smart to stay. There is probably no other team that will seek to use him the way the Ravens do. I think Aiken should also stay. He is mostly reliable and adds experience along with Wallace. I believe Camp stays and shares duties with someone (maybe Chris Moore). Wallace won't be the only one with notable experience so they may keep Aiken around or bring in an older reciever. The team will likely draft a WR. 

The Ravens should be careful not to attempt overhauls in areas where they are well off. But some areas will be unavoidable due to external offers from other teams or the present number of bodies, like TE. I think the team may keep those who were on the field this season in addition to Max Williams.  Pitta probably stays through next season. The team would likely trade him if they got an offer but I don't think that happens but one of the other TE may be offered up for trade.

12 hours ago, Gruntled Ravens Fan said:

If we are able to draft a good OLB this year then we he can become a good 3rd-down pass rusher for us.

This is much better than saying he needs to go which make little sense.

Offensive needs:

1. Run blocking Center! Most runs by far went away from the center probably for a reason. The team is 30th in run attempts per game and 28th in totals rushing yds.
2. Future QB! Accept it or not, 20 TD to 16 ints is not acceptable regardless of reason, especially while leading the league in passing attempts. Besides, it's likely to take a few seasons to find that quality replacement. 
3. G: A top level LG guard and/or RT (if Wagner leaves)to help re-establish a respectable run game (assuming Yanda goes back to his usual spot on the right).
Defense:

4. Edge rusher/run container! (Do I need to explain?)
5. CB capable of pressing from the line.
 

Good: Dixon, West.

Bad: Offensive on field decisions and/or play calling! Defensive CB distance from WRs before the snap! LB play against both pass and run! Pass rush!

Ugly: QB accuracy down field and away from center of field. WRs participation was nearly absent in the passing game. OL and backfield pass protection!

1 hour ago, BigMike said:

I now a professional team like the Ravens would do this, but....

 

I would love to see the team make it the Steve Smith show. Pass it to him on 90% of the passing plays. On the running plays, line Steve up in the backfield and hand it off to him. On defense, line Steve up at corner. I know it would never happen, but it would make a meaningless game just a bit more interesting....

Meaningless game? There is never a meaningless game, some players are playing for their careers. Perhaps coaches too! 

On 12/29/2016 at 4:39 PM, ravensnj said:

I kinda like to see if Mallet can make something happen with our offense. This would be an indication if Joe is regressing or not fully recovered physically and mentally for the starting Qb job. He has been awful all year. 

Hard to get a clear assessment on a player that appears in one game all season. That said, I think we may see him the second half (so only half a game).

Are they wasting money to bring him in at this time?

2 hours ago, Gtown Purple said:

I'd rather have a better draft position to be honest.

Unfortunately, a better draft position doesn't guarantee the team will make the right choice and draft better players from that position.

Of course, winning this game is important. I can't image a true athlete thinking any other way. In fact, I can see the team taking it out on the Bengals and beating them badly.

Hey, all game matter! There is risk of injury in every game, that's why players get the game checks. They are on the team to win so why get the next game off after losing? Shouldn't they have a few extra wins during the season to earn the final game off?

14 minutes ago, Rav'n Maniac said:

I would find this funny.

Since the game means absolutely nothing and we can gain draft position by losing, why bother even showing up. Might as well call it a season and just stay home. We'd be really screwing the Bengals with a forfeit and a lower draft position that would totally stick in their craw. 

Actually, many thought Joe lacked fire during the season because those game weren't as important. As it stands now, those early games cost the team in the end. I fully expect Joe to play at least an entire half.

I fully expect the Ravens will play to win this game while using the best players. Exceptions maybe those with injuries like Suggs and Yanda. 

51 minutes ago, The Raven said:

Jeff Zrebiec just tweeted that both Suggs and Jernigan failed to record a stat yesterday -- not even a tackle. I think I found the problem.

Hey! You win some, you lose some. Both players you listed are good players. Just give the Steelers credit for working to neutralize them. 

18 hours ago, FlocksGottaFeed said:

The Ugly: Those earlier losses that we should have won (at the very least) two or three of them.

The Bad: We just got beat. There's really no one or unit that cost us this one. We just got beaten on Christmas Day by a great play.

The Good: It was one of the "Great Games of the Season and Our Rivalry" - nobody can argue that.

The Reason for the Season: We've come back from one of the worst seasons ever, but we still have a little more of a way to go to get back to that top 8 team that wins Super Bowls. That said, I believe we're on an upward trajectory and shouldn't ever look back. That's the only Christmas Gift that I wanted to see (upward trajectory) when the 2016 schedule was announced.

Still Ravens for Life. 

Yelp! That's the way I see it too. The team is getting close but they are not their yet. Good post!