RavensFootballFan

Ok, good stop. Let's get a TD. 

That penalty against Urschel on passing play was bogus, I just rewind that play and Urschel clearly made that signal. In fact, he did the signal the whole way from the side line to the huddle, even pointedly did it several times in clear view of head referee. That was a very terrible call. Something is not right with the referees on that play. 

Maybe Tucker will break NFL record tonight if timing is right. 

I don't feel like we are going to lose tonight for some reason. It won't be pretty but we will win. Go Ravens! 

SSS is a true warrior in every sense of the word. He would fit in perfectly with the 300, "This is SPARTA!!!" 

Schareece Williams...

Jimmy Smith's buddy from high school? Wow. 

Desperate times calls for desperate moves, switch Flacco to WR and SSS to QB. Trade the defense's front 4 to cover and switch the back four to rush, at least make the game entertaining. Sigh. 

Who was covering T.Smith on that TD? Am not watching the game here (Not on TV down here). 

Keep mixing it up till the Ravens find the right pieces. Hopefully some of them will work out or bounce back for the better of the team.

Ross did a great job Sunday, leave the man on the roster, he earned it. Now punt/kick return is the least of our worries, let's focus on improving the defense's passing coverage and rushing. 

Bernard Pierce was on punt special teams. On this play, rather than tackle the returner, Pierce actually turned around and block the opponent while the returner ran right by him behind his back. This is what happens when your mind is not right because of concussions. How no one did not see that and take him aside for concussion protocol test is crazy. Here is the link - scroll down and see the gif video. http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2015/10/13/9518151/gus-bradley-links-bernard-pierces-concussion-symptoms-with-punt-coverage-mistake

I guess the goal for the rest of the year is keep opposing teams at an average of 29 points while Ravens average 30 pts a game. I am for any defensive player we get that does not let teams score more than 29 points a game. Welcome to Baltimore Shareece, hope things go well and if you get an interception or two, you'll be treated like a king. Good luck.

But in this case, the boss thinks you are doing a good job.

 

The people who might think he's not doing a very good job also are those who's opinions don't matter...

Never underestimate the power of the fans. Fans are the ones who pay big money to see games, spend money on over priced items with team logos. Ignore a sentiment long enough and fans will spend less money on the team and use it elsewhere. Granted, we fans are not as knowledgeable as the professionals but when the choir gets louder in numbers, they usually are right and it is foolish for a team to ignore a fan's majority sentiment that has been going on for a long time. 

In the real world, rarely do people have bosses who will put up with workers messing up week after week, let alone day to day or even hour to hour. How nice it must be to not do a good job and still get praised by your boss.

“The coaches are doing a good job”  "we’ve got just the men for the job right here.” BUT .... "We don’t need to coach harder, we need to coach better." "We’ve got to find a way to make the difference. It’s making plays, it’s calling plays that give guys a chance to make plays in critical situations to get you over the hump.”

So Harbs is saying we got the right coaches including Pees, however, the coaches need to coach better and calling plays to give guys a chance to shine .... huh? 

Isn't that what the preseason is for? Plus 5 games already played and we need to get better at coaching and calling plays? 

That's what Ravens fans have been saying for the past 5 weeks. 

Maybe they are holding off on changes till either bye week or after end of season. Maybe there is no one available to hire for now. What a confusing statement. I am not even going to try to figure out and mess up my mind anymore than it already is. lol 

Think you missed the whole "even" concept...

 

Flacco will get an extension. However, unlike some fans think, its probably unrealistic to think Flacco getting an extension is going to get us like $20M in cap space from it. Given that the minimum after paying him a salary and likely another bonus is in the $15M cap hit range, its realistic to think he will probably be in the $18-20M range in cap hit for 2016, which means he really only frees up about $10M in space.

 

That $10M in cap space created is likely gone the moment you sign Yanda and Tucker to extensions, and that assumes we don't sign somebody else to an extension.

 

So, at the end you're back to probably around $15M, before you cut players (which will happen but likely won't create a ton of space) and you sign draft picks. So yes, $30M would be great, except I don't see how you get anywhere near that number. $20M is probably on the ambitious end.

 

You're also significantly short-changing our areas where we need more players. The secondary needs a minimum of two players, a FS for sure and at least a corner. In all likelihood, possibly two corners.

 

You need a WR for sure, and possibly more than one. Given the lack of depth on the OLine at the tackle position, you could use another tackle as well. RB could potentially be an area in need of upgrade as well. And naturally, you need to add at least one pass rusher and likely a defensive end as well.

 

And that's before you start adding depth, which is arguably the greatest need.

 

It doesn't really matter whether you're losing your games by 6 points or 60. When you are 1-4, unless your QB is hurt, you've got a lot more than just one positional need.

Am not missing a thing. Stats don't lie. No team can have a top tier player at every position, if the Ravens add a #1 WR through signing which they could not afford to do this year or Perriman playing, defenses would all of a sudden start playing more honestly by wasting an extra player on #1 WR which makes lesser WRs more open. A top tier safety's ability to get interceptions would change a QB mentality to throw away from him which makes it easier for lesser defenders to cover one side. The Ravens are tied for 5th best in sacks, middle of the pack on defensive pressures/hurries but bottom on the rung of interceptions and forced fumbles. A little bit of top tier players spread evenly around the each section makes everyone else look good. We do not have a top tier experience player in the back of the defense or in WR. Add those two and the dynamics changes drastically in favor of the Ravens. You listed more positional changes than needed which is not necessary, especially with cap constraints. A top tier WR helps the QB, takes pressure off the offensive line to reduce amount of time before throws. A top tier safety makes cornerbacks jobs easier as well as defensive rushing with a precious second or two wasted by QB worrying where that safety is as well as makes it easier for lesser players to cover one side. How many times have the Ravens would have sacked a QB with one more precious second? How many passes would Joe add with a top #1 WR? Nothing major, just a second or two of improvements goes a long way and 2016 will be the year we will add more skilled/top tier players than 2015 because we DO have a lot more cap money to spend next year. 

Give the Browns credit, they earned this win the hard way. It wasn't pretty but they were not pushed around as usual, an improvement. The Browns are now a part of making the AFC North the toughest division to play in which can only help AFC North teams get better and more prepared for the playoffs. Better divisional opponents makes teams strive to get better. The Browns have tried for years to emulate the Ravens and slowly but surely they were catching up. Hats off to Pettine for making the Browns better than usual.

Don't care about whatever perceived "swing" there is, because that swing doesn't all of the sudden add $34M to our cap. We have $13M right now. It may go up, it may go down. If the FO is wise, Flacco's extension will keep his cap hit in at least the 

$18-20M range, because going lower than that just causes the same problem you're in now, and there's no getting out from under the deal's you've already made. Most likely, by the time you factor in at least two extensions for players such as Yanda and Tucker, you're basically close to even when it comes from those tradeoffs.

 

Once you factor in draft pick compensation AND the fact that our current cap number is only for 46 players under contract, whereas the real cap accounts for 51 players, you're probably at $10M or less in cap space right from the start.

 

While SSS is retiring, not all of his salary goes away. He counts about $1.2M against the cap regardless of whether he's retired or not, and he probably won't be alone.

 

Like I specifically said, without CONTEXT, these numbers mean nothing. We could have $30M in cap space, but if everybody else in the league is working with $50-60M, then $30M in cap space isn't a good thing. If we have $15M in cap space, and that's bottom third in the league, that's not great. Better than last year? OK, so what? It doesn't matter if there's 2 guys taking up $15M in dead money or 20 guys taking up $15M in dead money... its the same amount. We're going to have north of $10M in dead money for whatever quantity of players aren't playing for us. 

 

Some of those cuts will free up space, and some of them might free up very little. I don't suspect you're going to see some radical change in team philosophy where we go out and buy some FA WRs, corners, etc. We will probably still be shopping in the second tier of players just like we always have.

 

To me, this whole concept changes virtually nothing about our off-season strategy in terms of how we deal with the FA market.

All our loses are within six points or less. We don't need a major overhaul. We basically are one #1 WR and a couple/maybe a few spots mainly on defense from being Super Bowl contenders which we will be able to afford to get next year. We don't need $50-$60 million in cap money to turn around the team's fortune. $30 million is more than enough to get the players we need next year. We are at bottom third because we already have above average players in a lot of positions making good money, it is our biggest weaknesses that needs plugged in. A top #1 type WR (Spread the field) and a top #1 type safety (Forces QBs to throw to one side most times) would make a big difference this year and we will be able to afford to get those next year. When all is said and done, we are in better financial shape next year than this year. We will be even after Yanda and Tucker extensions? Even after Flacco restructure? Only two guards are paid at $8 million or more per year. Only one kicker is paid at $4 million range. Yanda is making over $6 million this year, what's another $2 million? That's hardly making the Ravens even for next year. 

Looks like someone is having a little bit of fun on Dean Pees' Wikipedia page. "On October 12th 2015 the Ravens fired him due to the inability to call 1 successful play in the 4th quarter vs the 1-3 Browns, like really Dean."

Oh man, that is funny! I just took a screen shot of that before it will be removed. lol 

In what fantasy world has it been proven that Ray and Ed were the real head coaches of this team? Let's look at the facts.

 

Ed Reed was drafted in 2002, so he and Ray played 6 years together before Harbaugh was hired in 2008.

 

In those 6 years, the Ravens won 0 playoff games, they failed to make the playoffs 4 times, and they had a losing record 3 times.

 

The lack of a qb was a major factor there, but the team still had a ton of talent, and they were wildly inconsistent, and never contended for a SB. Last year, without Lewis or Reed, the Ravens overcame a ton of adversity, beat the Steelers in the postseason for the first time in franchise history(destroyed them actually), and despite having 19 players on IR, almost beat the eventual SB champs. It's not like the Ravens have never had a 1-4 stretch with Lewis and Reed. We finished our SB season by going 1-4 in the last 5 games, and we had a 5-11 season.

Excellent post. I agree with you. 

Because there's no point in looking at the bright side of something that's incredibly likely to change.

 

All that's accomplished from looking at future dead money at this point is getting fans to think that we will all of the sudden going to have $50M to spend, which we won't even be remotely close to that.

 

If we want to be REALISTIC (not optimistic) about our 2016 cap situation:

 

The Ravens, as currently assembled, would have about $13M in cap space with 46 players under contract. That would rank us 24th out of 32 NFL teams. While our dead money situation right now seems like its great, keep in mind that 20 of the 32 NFL teams currently have less than $1M in dead money on their books for 2016, and all three of our division rivals fit in that category, including the 5-0 Bengals, who have the least amount of projected dead money in the league.

 

Additionally, just looking at our division rivals, the Bengals, who again are 5-0, are currently projected to have in excess of $30M in cap space.

 

Bottom line... its a pointless discussion to even look at the positives in regards to , because there really aren't any without context and the likelihood of it dramatically changing is so high that its not worth trying to sugarcoat.

I know 20 teams are under $1 million in cap space so far next year. What you are ignoring is we are currently under the cap by at least $13 million with players under contract next year, a swing of at least $34 million ($13 million by contract and $21 million in dead money gone next year). Cap space is expected to raise to at least $150 million next year and possibly upwards of $160 million. The Ravens currently are $136,975,365 under contract next year, including Flacco's $28,550,000 which we all know will be restructured. It also includes SSS $4.1 million next year and we know that will be wiped once he retires, throw in Flacco's restructured deal and we will have even more cap space. Also there will be players cut who will not count against the cap in 2016. Sure we have Yanda and Tucker's extension to deal with. My whole point being is that we will not be dealing with nearly $20 in dead money from two players (R.Rice and H.Ngata) like we did this year. You can twist it any way you want but the facts remain that the Ravens will be in far much better shape next year with signing above average players to plug holes than they were able to do this year. You can be pessimistic about next year all you want but I am going the other way based on numbers/cap space we will see after the 2015 season is over. Cap space will be far greater preseason 2016 than preseason 2015 and that is something to be optimistic about for next year. 

A bit premature though, since we know we are going to cut people. 

 

For example, I'd bet we strongly consider moving on from Webb, which brings $6M in dead money. The biggest elephant in the room is the $7.2M cap hit for Dennis Pitta, who is a player we may very well never get any production from ever again.

 

If that's the case, you went from peanuts to over $12M in dead money from just two players.

 

To put it simply... I'd expect our dead money cap impact next season to be north of $10M. Would not surprise me to see 10% of our cap spent on dead money in 2016.

I know players may be cut next year and could add to dead money, anyone knows that. Starting with the 2nd lowest cap space in 2016 is a very good start. Who's to say Webb will be cut next year? He has been doing decent this year. Who knows, maybe he will restructure again to stay with the Ravens next year. Could Pitta play next year? It's possible. Assuming both guys will be gone next year is a bit premature. How about waiting till season is over with and look on the bright side instead of already assuming gloom in dead money for 2016?

MichaelJ34, on 12 Oct 2015 - 09:55 AM, said:

who do we promote when we fire Pees later today?

The hot dog vendor

That's funny! Thanks for making my day a little brighter. 

The only good news this week for the Ravens and 49ers is one of them will get win #2 if not a tie breaker. We just have to hang in there till next year. Dead money plays a major role in whether teams gets above average players. Consider the top 8 teams with the highest amounts of dead money this year. Saints-$31,660,558 (1-4), Dolphins-$24,503,975 (1-3 Bye week 5), Bears-$23,494,322 (2-3), 49ers-$22,897,529 (1-4), Buccaneers-$22,283,311 (2-3), Ravens-$21,316,534 (1-4), Chiefs-$20,317,354 (1-4), Lions-$18,529,741 (0-5). The Bengals have the least amount of dead money at $1,432,294 and are 5-0 followed by Broncos-$2,884,840 (5-0). The more dead money there is, the less chances the teams can signed above average positional players to plug holes. 

We just have to hang in there till next year. The Ravens have 2nd least amount of dead money for the 2016 season at only $168,693 so far (The Bengals has the least amount of dead money in 2016 at $90,946). $21 million is a lot of money that cannot be used (15% of salary cap), it is the main reason the Ravens cannot sign top tier positional players this year. The Ravens hands are tied this year but starting next year, they will have a lot more freedom to fill out the roster with top tier positional players. We just have to ride out the storm till the sun shines next year. 

Here is the link for dead money info - http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/

The players/coaches are ticked off? What about the fans? Did any reporter ask Ravens fans how ticked off they are? Mind sets have changed from Super Bowl dreams to prepare for the worse but loyalty remains strong. Ticked off? Yes but we still love the team through thick and thin.