huntrgathrr

If Gilmore and Williams are healthy we will be fine. Once Pitta returns, hopefully soon, we will be in very good shape. I expect all of these guys to be ready by week one.
Waller will be a welcome return. I think he can be a game changer regardless of whether you call him a WR or TE. Daniel Brown may even be a decent player. that can take some reps.
We don't really know whether Watson's loss will affect the team to any great degree but it is unfortunate.
I'm surprised they didn't release Boyle despite how well he was playing. Getting suspended for 10 games is just so dang stupid I can't believe Harbaugh even wants him around.
The truth is that TE was the position with the best quality depth on the team. I'm not sure how much Watson would have played if everyone is healthy.

I wonder if they will let him play safety next to Weddle or corner next to Smith? It's gonna be hard to keep him on the bench while either Webb or Davis plays. It would be nice if some of the other guys like Elam, Webb, Wright or Powers stepped up their games the way Levine has. We need some quality depth in the secondary and all I see are liabilities after the starting 4. Maybe Brooks or Young will be the answer.

Check this out...we have a better offensive line than Pittsburgh, We have a faster trio of running backs than Pittsburgh. We have 4 TEs that are better than any of the Steeler TEs. And we have a group of 5 receivers ( Perriman, Smith, Aiken, Wallace and TBD-Waller, Butler, Moore) that will embarrass the Steeler secondary.
Add this scenario to the fact that we have a far superior defense to Pittsburgh, especially in the secondary.
This bodes well for us to go 2-0 against them and make it 6-1 over the last 3 years. That makes me smile.

Does any body care what Joe accomplishes in preseason? He's a 7 year vet. The only thing that matters in preseason is that none of our best players get hurt. Play the scrubs.
In case no one noticed, this is an unbelievable offense. The line is top 5 and maybe top 2....Lewis and Stanley are monsters to go with Wagner and Yanda. Great draft by Ozzie.
When we put Perriman, Wallace, Smith, Gilmore and Pitta on the field the mismatches will be everywhere. Flacco should be in heaven. The speed of our backs with Forsett, Dixon and West is scary. This has the look of a top 5 offense and should put 30-40 points up a game. The quality of our backups is incredible. Aiken, Moore, Butler , Wiliams, Watson, Allen and Waller will perform at a high level. Plus having Hurshel, Jensen and Hurst gives us a really deep line. If Perriman stays healthy this is a lethal offense.
Our defense should be top 10. If Pees takes of the gloves and lets them play aggressive man to man then we will be a really tough team to beat.

Pees is a professional at getting the least out of his defense. He is very effective at suppressing individual talent in the name of the "bend but don't break" philosophy. Aggressive man to man is a concept he has only read about and obviously fears.
But Dean...how about this? Make the big red zone stand at the opponents 20 yard line instead of our own!!!!!! ATTACK....relentlessly and do not fear the outcome.
Granted. due to injuries he has had to play less aggressively in the past few years. But great defenses are identified by their aggression. Like Ray Lewis said before the 2002 SB, "if our offense doesn't let them score then they can't win". That defense outscored many of their opponents.
If Pees can't develop schemes to attack the offense then maybe he should retire. He has a multitude of talent and should make the effort.
The Ravens deserve a defense which makes an effort to attack and destroy opposing offenses. The passive "bend but don't break" philosophy is total crap. Send everybody all the time. Never fear the outcome. Go for broke....usually this results in an offensive miscue. Putting relentless pressure on an offense eventually takes a toll....turnovers specifically.
The reason we don't get turnovers is the lack of pressure. Make the offense react to us, not us to them. If you are not sending 7 men after the QB then you are letting them run their offense. Never allow them a chance to breathe.
Go for broke.....get a turnover or big loss. If this plan fails and they score...so what...we have a great offense.

Whoops..did I forget to mention Aiken? Yep. That's just proof how deep and talented we are at WR. If Flacco doesn't hit 5k yards I'll kiss my sister.....and that would be really horrible. This is the greatest opportunity that Trestman has ever had to shine. If he just stays out of the freaking way they will set records and he'll be considered a genius. The fact is, the talent level is so high he can only screw it up. Let Joe wing it..no defense can run with Wallace and Perriman and that leaves Smith on the slot corner...MISMATCH. Throw in Pitta and Gilmore and there is no defense in the league that can match up. I mean it is fgn ugly....then run the ball once they pull everybody into coverage,
We have never had an offense like this in the entire history of the Ravens. If Joe or John or Marc screws it up I may never watch football again.

Now that Lewis has gotten the chance to play you can forget it. At 6'6 and 315 he will be our starting LG for years to come. He is a beast. I really think it will be a toss up as to whether the left or right side of our line is better. Yanda and Wagner are proven but I think Lewis and Stanley will perform equally as well. Regardless. this is a monster offensive line. They will be the key to a record setting Raven offense.
Don't tell anybody but when we put Gilmore, Pitta, Perrriman, Smith and Wallace on the field together it may be the best overall group of receivers in the NFL. Moore, Waller and Butler are exceedingly good backups. Flacco has never had it so good. They will pass first and set up the run for an incredible group of fast scat backs in Forsett, West and Dixon.
This offense should push 40 a game. With an above average defense the Ravens could be very tough to beat.
This Raven's team is deep and talented. If Harbaugh is half the coach he is given credit for being, they should soundly beat a lot of other teams. IMO, if they finish worse than 11-5 and don't win the division then there is something terribly wrong. IMO, they are the class of the AFC and should easily return to the Super Bowl.

If Perriman takes the field week one the Ravens should be 14 point favorites. He is going to shock the NFL. His 4.2 speed won't be wasted with Joe's big arm. Put him on the field with Wallace and add in Steve Smith, not to mention Gilmore and Pitta, and this may be the very best receiver group in the NFL. Flacco should complete 70% of his passes. These guys should just wear out a secondary.
Perriman adds elite talent that will leave every one wondering why they didn't know the Ravens will be scoring 40 points a game.
The reason Perriman's talent will be overwhelming is that we have a rock solid offensive line and a QB that can make all the throws.

And for the record. Perriman was a fantastic draft pick except for the fact that he had congenital weaknesses in his knees that was well hidden from everyone, including Ozzie. His lack of injury in college along with his production caused everyone to assume he was healthy. It almost seems like fraud to me that he was discovered to have congenital weakness in the structure of his knees. I can't figure out how he made it through college with such an impressive career. The whole thing is really weird. Plus his NFL pedigree indicated he was as tough as nails, like his dad.
Hopefully we can get a few games out of him. His speed can really hamstring a defense. They have to double cover him or it's suicide. That opens up holes every where and should make Flacco very effective in picking on the defensive weaknesses.
I hope he lasts until the first Steeler game. He will fly past their corners like they are standing still. They think A.B. is the real deal but when they see this guy fly it will be like culture shock. Talk about playing off the ball!! They will need to play prevent every time he is on the field.
The Ravens have never had a receiver like this before. Hopefully he gets on the field and shows the difference he can make. Ozzie did right...he took Perriman cause he is a true game changer. Let's hope he stays healthy fo0r at least a little while.

Look, speed kills and this gut is a merchant of death. No corner in the league can cover him. And Flacco has the guns to cash it in. Just his presence will change a defensive game plan and open up a lot of underneath routes for Aiken, Wallace and Smith.
Problem is that he is a china doll. Intrinsic weakness in the structure of his knees cannot be overcome in the long run. Hopefully we'll get lucky and he'll last a few games.
Now that he is healthy and can run they should put him on the shelf until week one. Chemistry is overrated. When Flacco sees him on the outside in single coverage with a single safety it's Katy bar the door. Force defenses to double team him deep and they are weakened across the board. If they try and single cover him then make them pay.
He shouldn't be allowed to do anything in the preseason that could cause an injury. Just not worth an injury which could erase the potential impact he will have in the regular season.

It seems clear that this guy is too fragile for the NFL. What is the chance that he lasts for the preseason much less an entire NFL game. I don't think he has the heart or the durability that his dad had. Might as well chalk this one up as an L. Talk about a china doll!!!
Focus on Aiken, Wallace and Chris Moore. But IMO, the player that can be better than all three of these guys is Darren Waller. You can't teach his size or speed. He has the biggest upside of any receiver the Ravens have had in recent history. I also like then heart and effort I am seeing from Butler.
With our TEs, Flacco should have all he needs to generate an effective passing game. As long as the offensive line plays up to their potential we should have a pretty good offense

This whole injury thing seems to be like a big smoke screen and as a part of the audience I really don't what the heck is happening. But to have these guys just barely being ready to play means we shouldn't count on them. IMO, the only ones recovering that are essential are Flacco, Brooks, Gilmore, Zuttah, Forsett and Wagner. I like the odds of these guys playing well all year without further injury.
I think it's safe to assume none of the rest will finish the season. They are too old and their age limits their ability to heal well. Smith, Suggs, and Dumervil appear to be just too fragile to endure another NFL season. They were great players that will not likely return to form or last long if they do.

Also, if he doesn't come back soon then we won't cut Boyle. Boyle is actually a beast and is very underrated.

If Pitta didn't have bad luck he would have none at all. Fortunately no one was counting on him. Watson, Gilmore and Williams should be more than enough at the TE position.
If Dennis recovers and comes back to contribute then that's just a bonus. I think he is close to the best we have talent wise but it's close between him and Gilmore.

Absolutely no loss whatsoever. He was just not NFL material and should have been cut last year. I don't think he had the smarts to play safety in the NFL and was too small to play LB.
Brooks on the other hand has a chance to be a really good safety. It doesn't appear that his injury slowed him down. The guy is so fast that he can make up for some mental errors. I look for him to be a big contributor as the season progresses. Also, I think Levine will be an important contributor. He has more potential than I realized and may be coming into his own. But Will Davis is the surprise. He is playing like a legitimate starting corner. Our secondary is stronger than most of the other NFL teams.
But unless Pees lets these guys play aggressive man to man then they will only be average as a unit. Take the gloves off and forget the bend but don't break philosophy. It gives the offenses too much. Don't give them anything....make them earn it. It will also create more pressure and hence turnovers. There is nothing to gain from a soft defense that makes a big red zone stand. Make that stand on the opponents 20 yard line, not ours..

Anything we get out of Dumervil and Suggs this year is a bonus, I don't expect either of them to be the impact players they once were. I respect them and give them credit for trying but the odds are against them. Injuries to LBs at their age usually render them less than able to be a dominant player. Even Ray was barely average in physical ability due to injuries but he compensated with experience and incredible energy.
So I expect the Ravens to trot out Mosely and Orr in the middle and Smith, Correa and McClellan on the outside. Judon will also fill in. This is a drop off in ability from the last 10 years. This will ensure that they play 4 defensive lineman a lot of the time. Williams, Jernigan, Guy and Urban should do nicely. The backups are well above average as well.
The secondary better come together. With Webb and Weddle as safeties, the corners better play tight man to man (that being Smith and Davis). If Dean Pees keeps playing off the ball and using a "bend not break" philosophy he needs to be fired. Aggressive man to man as a general rule is where this defense has a chance to excel.
But there are a lot of guys that really need to step up and play to their potential. Forget about Arthur Brown and Carl Davis.....might as well cut both of them. The guys that can perform at this level but have yet to stand out are Brooks, Levine and Urban.
If they come through we should be alright. I have been pleasantly surprised with the preseason play of McClellan and Orr. If they just play better than average then this defense will be ok even without Suggs and Dumervil.

Another great acquisition. Weddle and Powers will really strengthen the secondary. If Webb adapts well at safety this could end up being one of the better secondaries in the league. I believe Brooks will have a breakout season and be a big contributor. On paper this is certainly the best secondary we have had in quite a while. If Suggs and Dumervil play up to form this should be a really good defense.

I don't care what people are predicting for the Ravens this season. This is a really deep and talented team. I don't think we have ever had such high quality back ups. A lot of players are going to get on the field without a drop off in performance. If we stay relatively healthy this team has a chance to have a great year.

Wallace finally has a strong arm QB

Look, it should be obvious to every one that last year was a fluke. Putting 18 players on IR affected the team in every possible way and ended up being the difference in a lot of very close games. That many on IR affects the team in a lot of ways but most importantly is it destroys quality depth. That means the better players are more exhausted at the end of the game which is when close games are won and lost. It also puts a lot of less talented players on the field for longer periods of time. IMO that is what happened in a nutshell. Maybe it's an oversimplification but it's what I saw.
This year totally depends on the healthy return of about 9-10 starters: Flacco, Suggs, Dumervil, Gilmore, Zuttah, Steve Smith, Jimmy Smith, Perriman, Wagner and Forsett. It also will depend on the play of veteran and rookie additions like Powers, Weddle, Wallace, Correa, Stanley, Moore, Dixon, Kaufusi and Watson.
From what I've heard and read it looks like everyone is expected back without residual loss of ability due to the injuries. The only real question mark right now is Perriman and we don't even know what we lost due to his injuries.
If all goes well (no significant injury problem) I guarantee this team wins the AFC North (the Steelers have absolutely no secondary and we are 4-1 against them the last 2 seasons) and goes deep in the playoffs.

This is nowhere near a rebuilding season. Same QB, RB, and only one or two new offensive lineman will start. One new veteran receiver and two new rookies (counting Perriman) should play so really about 70-80& of the offense is the same.
On defense only the 2 veteran additions in the secondary will be new as will the LB starting next to Mosely. So 70% of the defense is also the same.
The big factor that will the determine the use of "new" players is the condition in which the 18 players from IR return from their injuries. Specifically: Flacco, Steve Smith, Suggs, Dumervil, Gilmore, Jimmy Smith, and Urban. If these guys return and stay healthy the Ravens will probably win the AFC North. Of course a less desirable outcome could occur if we end up with 18 players on IR again this year.

The LB group is clearly the weakest position group on the team and is potentially the Achilles Heel of the defense. There are just too many question marks. Letting Upshaw and Smith go may prove to be a real blunder.
First, it remains to be seen if Suggs and/or Dumervil will return healthy and can play at their pre-injury levels. The failure of one or both would be devastating.
Secondly, can Z.Smith continue to progress and set the edge for a full season playing 3 downs?
Thirdly, is Correa NFL ready and will Judon make the grade at this level? Only time will tell.
Finally, who will play next to Mosely? I'm not sold on either Orr or Brown, both of whom would have to show tremendous improvement to reach Daryl Smith's level of play.
In addition to these questions there is a serious lack of quality depth. We may end up with several less than average linebackers on the field.
The good news is that the DL and the Secondary look very strong. It might be smart to play more of a 4-3 than a 3-4 type defense given the overall quality and depth of the DL. This would help a thin LB group.
I would love to see Suggs, Dumervil and Mosley on the field performing at their prior levels. This would give the Ravens a very strong defense (probably one of the top 5 in the NFL) and make them a very difficult team to beat. It's just that this requires some good fortune on the injury front which has been sorely lacking the last 2 years.

If Stanley pans out as an immediate starter then this will be a very strong offensive line. Lots of quality depth as well as versatility. Should be better than last year even with the loss of K.O. Bodes well for the offense as we are really loaded at the skill positions.

9-7 might be good enough for playoffs; 6-2 first half of season and 3-5 second half of season, not bad as the Ravens are still rebuilding. Likely 3rd place finish unless DBs step up their game? A better D coming in 2017-18. Pitt and Cinn are the teams to watch as they have made key personnel changes. Pitt has the best chance to run the table, but never count Cinn out. One of these head coaches will be fired after this season, if their team fails to go deep into the playoffs.

I couldn't disagree more.
Pittsburgh has no defense to speak of with probably the worst secondary in the league. They haven't won a playoff game in 6 years unless you count Cincy's forfeit last year. Then they were soundly beaten in the next round. They have done very little to improve the team and had another terrible draft with no significant FA signings. They are 1-4 against the Ravens over the last 2 years.
Ravens are getting back 18 players off of IR and added Weddle, Powers, Wallace and Watson...all should make an impact. Additionally Dixon and Moore have a good chance to see significant PT. They also drafted 2 or 3 potential starters in Stanley, Correa and Kaufusi. The WR/TE group is the most talented in Raven history. On paper they look like the most talented and deepest team in the division.
Cincy looks pretty much the same but after last year's collapse (again) that might not be such a good thing. Their defense may not be as good as it was last year.
A lot hinges on the injury report but I like the Ravens chances to go 11-5 and win the division.

I don't believe they have any intention of switching Waller to TE. He's a lock to make the final 53 as a WR however. At 6'6 and with 4.4 speed why move him to TE?? This suspension is unfortunate for him and the Ravens. This guy has the potential to be a TD machine in the NFL and is going no where, suspension or not.