Tyler

In my head it comes down to the question of if you want to spend a roster spot on Rolando McClain with all the baggage or whether that spot goes to a UDFA player doing everything in his power to play i.e. Albert McClellan, Jameel McClain, Josh Bynes, etc.

You're absolutely right about that. My thing is potential, so I want to see how it plays out. Yes, Bynes, Jameel, Albert and guys of that caliber have had a crazy work ethic. And You have to respect the hell out of that.... But my point is, Rolando McClain is probably more talented than the 3 of those combined realistically. He was deemed by some to be the next Willis or Ray Caliber linebacker.... And I think from a god given talent standpoint he could have been. The problem with that is he has had a Titus Young like head at some points, and next to no work ethic. That's what differentiates him from our UDFA work horses that do everything they can to make it at this level. All I'm saying is the combination of his talent, with a good work ethic could be dangerous... but time will tell.

Mark My words, if the ravens make it back Into the playoffs next year, Steve Smith will have a bigger run than Q did. You need that clutch veteran in the playoffs, and Smith fits that bill.

So we have around 8.5-9 mil. yet to play with in FA.

Actually we have about 12 million in cap space left. Plenty of wiggle room.

Steve Smith would be the ideal signing for me for the following reasons:

1. He gives that sure set of veteran hands and chain moving ability that we desperately lacked last year, similar to what Q did for us.

2. Allows Ravens to address WR in the early rounds of the draft. With a class the deepest in years, there will be potential #1 caliber receivers in rounds 1-3ish, and signing smith to mentor and groom the young guy.

3. Veteran, proven veteran who knows how to play clutch football in the playoffs. 12 touchdowns in the playoffs, with the trips he's had. The Ravens were missing that last year.

The philosophy is one thing. The "Ravens" have a philosophy and a vision of how they want to play offense in the AFC North. Accusing a coach of just hiring his friends to keep control over something is completely different.

It doesn't matter who the new OC will be, we are not gonna turn into a 50 pass a game type team. The new OC no matter if it's Shanahan or Hostler will have to continue to have our offense be physical, down hill running and aggressive. My common sense tells me it's been that way even before Billick become HC, so tell me again how this is Harbs offense again? I didn't realize that when I was watching the 2004 Ravens it was the philosphy of some coach in philly that we were adopting. I'm glad you cleared that up for me.

Common sense tells me a philosophy and system is two different things. But maybe my sense isn't so common.

I'm sorry, but the whole "Ravens are going to run the ball and play good defense" is great and all, but the whole offensive SYSTEM is a bunch of crap. We all know it. The Air Coryell that has been installed in the Harbaugh era is garbage. Whether it is Cameron, Caldwell, Hostler, Castillo, or any one else as the "official" offensive coordinator. It frustrates a lot of us fans that in press conferences every year we here about how revamped the offense will be. Changes are never made to counter attack things that don't work in games. Don't believe me? Just watch about every game this season, win or loss. People are absolutely insane if they are to blind to see a failed system and a failure to adjust accordingly. Harbaugh is a comfortable coach. Unfortunately, as much as I love John more, Jim Harbaugh excels on that department more.

At some point this whole Harbs and friends thing goes from funny to down right sad. Please tell me one coach in the last 10 years that has been hired as a HC and didn't surround himself with other coaches heMs worked with and are familar with.

Did you ever think that Caldwell was promoted mid season with the hopes of actually winning this thing called the Super Bowl and it probably wouldn't have bee a smart idea to make wholesale changes with only 4 games left in a season? I mean if your goal is to win a Super Bowl, why force your players to learn a entirely new system

Lastly why would Harbs look to control the offense when he has absolutely no experience there, but allow the defensive coach to have full control? At least he spend some time as a DB coach.

LOL. You do realize that John Harbaugh is the HEAD coach right? I'm the biggest Harbaugh supporter in the world, but just because he isn't calling the plays doesn't mean he doesn't control the overall philosophy of the team and it's game plan. That's just common sense, bro! If an assistant doesn't fit your philosophy, you're not going to hire him! So what I'm saying is, whoever the offensive coordinator is, it's still John Harbaugh's Philosophy! Smh..... Wait and see until next season. Mark my words, no matter who the official OC is, the offense will look identical.... Vanilla and predictable.

Does it really even matter who this team picks as it's OC? In the end, in my opinion, it's still John Harbaugh's offense. The fact that When Jim Caldwell was promoted mid season, Harbaugh clearly stated that Caldwell would only add a few wrinkles to the playbook, but still keep the same overall gameplan, proves to me that it doesn't matter what name is listed as the official offensive coordinator, Harbaugh has a huge overall say. There's a reason Harbaugh loads his staff with guys that have worked with him in the past. Why do you think they didn't even request to interview Norv Turner? Simply because Turner wants to control the offense(as an OC should), and by promoting in house, you can still have control on the grand scheme of things. It's sickening that this offense will NEVER reach it's potential, and that's coming from a Harbaugh supporter like myself. The offense that we saw in the post season last year? Forget about it.

How are we deep at wide reciever? What have we seen from Doss besides a lot of dropped balls that proves he is a viable option? What have we seen from guys like streeter laquan and deonte besides some pre season flashes and a few regular season catches? I'm not saying this is 0-16 and the sky is falling, but they need to draft a guy who isn't a project or sign a second tier wideout in free agency.

What were you watching? Teams left Q singled up. It was Torrey commanding multiple attention. It happened more than once but I clearly remember multiple DBs following Torrey on a drag route on a key third down in the Super Bowl, freeing up Q for a long catch and run.

Don't get me wrong, Torrey was considered the number one guy, rightfully so. And he commanded double coverage at the beginning of the year. But I remember Nantz and other analysts talking about how when Boldin heated up, especially in the playoffs, teams were directing more attention to Q. Even if Torrey was taking Double coverage to open up Boldin, how is that going to be successful now with Torrey Taking on Two defenders and Flacco having no one other than a reliable 3rd receiver in Jones and a bunch of unproven guys who haven't seen the field? All I'm saying is they need a good number 2. Not a top dollar guy, but a potential late round draft pick on day 3 isn't going to cut it. You can get mid round linebackers to contribute early; see Ellerbe, McClain, even Bynes... But how many 4th round or later wide reciever has contributed to this team?

Torrey Smith is the #1 guy and was this year.

But Torrey was still inconsistent at times. Don't get me wrong, at this point, he is the most talented wide receiver over Q, but Q was Also taking double coverage over Torrey at the end of the year and into the playoffs.

Remember the D Mason and *Gulp* Mark Clayton days? That's what happens when you don't have a true proven number 1. I'm not banking on an unproven guy like streeter. Hopefully something can be worked out so that there is at least a little more certainty.

Haloti and Suggs need restructured if we are talking about too much money. 24 million dollars just between those 2.

I just want to know what consistency we have at wide receiver tho? We don't know what Torrey is capable of as a true #1 and JJ is too inconsistent to be a number 2... Nows when I say you trade up and grab a guy like cordarelle Patterson

So pissed right now... A 6th??? Now that Q is gone we had better be making a play for a reciever to fill his role.