FlocksGottaFeed

I know am in the minority, but I still believe that we are the SB caliber team that everybody thought we were before this 2015 season began. The only thing is...This is not the right season. This season is a freakish, abnormality of historic proportions. 2016 will prove this. We're only 2-3 players, a cultural shift and an off-season away from those early 2015 predictions.

I would be okay if we drafted even lower. That would mean that we somehow won the majority of the 2nd-half of this season. I still don't care if we miss-out on getting 'high' draft picks (that has never assured Superbowls for us). We've done it no matter how late we've drafted in the 1st round. For example... Ray Lewis NFL draft‎: ‎1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26 - Ed Reed NFL draft‎: ‎2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26 - Trent Dilfer NFL draft‎: ‎1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 (however: took 6 years before becoming Raven F.A. Joe Flacco NFL draft‎: ‎2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18 GO Ravens!

Will anybody be watching this Monday Night? Some are saying loudly...No. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-schmuck-column-1129-20151128-column.html For me...I wouldn't miss it for the world. That will be my team on that field. I want those reporters to eat crow and be forced report on Tuesday that, "If you missed that game last night...you've missed a great one - one of the best team performances in awhile. Despite all the injuries, close-games, etc. the Ravens came-out to play and they proved again that they will never go quietly into the night. Every team left on their schedule had better recognize that." GO Ravens!!! Get it done.

Although this season so far has been an absolute ? this game is critical to the franchise. We've got to get this one no matter how many injuries, questionable calls, poor decisions, etc we've had. GO Ravens!!! String it together...literally.

We (as a fanbase) might seem as though we are entering a dark era if you're refering to doubt and panic, but the franchise isn't. Not yet. This season has just been one of the 'freaky-ish' seasons for any team in NFL history. That happened. The core of the team is sound enough that several insiders picked us to make it to the Super Bowl 50. That saids something.

So you're saying that if we end this season and next season with losing records that "Speculation/perceptions from fans and players can't lead to firings...never once?" Really?

Agreed! That 'Play like a Raven!-thing' just came-out again and I like that! I like that!!!

Good point. Saw that and I thought it was really interesting and funny at the same time.They had to be thinking... "Who is the face of their (Ravens) franchise, now?" Then some ad genious chimed in, "Let's go with Johnny Football!! That's sexy!!! The Ravens don't have a marquis name.". Of course this was before Johnny got benched again. Now they're saying, "Let's go with Johnny Football anyway!! That's sexy!!! The Ravens don't have a marquis name or an explainable hook." True, our season thust far defies explaination, but the Browns season thust far (as they see it) seems familiar. At least, that's the only (lazy) narrative that NFL Insiders are talking about this week.

A win is a win is a WIN! The thing is...I would like to see us run-the-table this season. Why not? What better way to honor all the players who left it all on the field and fell to injury? There is no better way. I don't care if we win every game that we 'so-called' should have, could have lost. We've already lost enough games that we 'should have, could have won' all ready including the last playoff game we played. I don't care if we miss-out of getting 'high' draft picks (that has never assured Superbowls for us). For example... Ray Lewis NFL draft‎: ‎1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26 - Ed Reed NFL draft‎: ‎2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26 - Trent Dilfer NFL draft‎: ‎1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 (however: took 6 years before becoming Raven F.A.Joe Flacco NFL draft‎: ‎2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18Well played. Just win baby! I like that! I like that!GO Ravens!

Ed Reed inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor. The Ravens Outlast the Rams in a Baltimore Win. It can happen. It will happen.

It is really about perception. Those injury points will definitely to be considered when the questions of 'Trust' come-up (If there are 2 consecutive losing seasons). Not only with the fan-base (just read this forum) and the players (possible free agents, current players, etc.). I said that it would most possibly be unwarranted, but 'perception/speculation' would likely rule the day. Harb's handling of the Perriman injury reporting was not stellar and led fans to question the player, not the injury. Harb may a judgment call (after the medical team cleared Steve) that put him back on the field with "pins in his back". The 'perception' is not that medical staffs put him at risk - it would be (especially for players). "Really!!!? They put this pre-retirement veteran back out there with pins in his back? Now his season and career is over?" Flacco vs Tyrod: The Eye Test. Even though Flacco was cleared to play after that injury that would have sidelined 99% of the league for the season, he never played up to his ability for quite some time afterwards. The injury had an extremely noticeable (obvious) affect on his game. Add in - Now that we know that Tyrod (from recent game play) was in fact capable of performing at a good level to win some games - Joe could have healed more to be absolutely certain we did not risk the franchise. None the points made aren't open to speculation if a losing season follows this season and every point will be discussed (as they have been in forum) over and over again. As I've said, "Speculation alone can lead to firings in this leave." whether it's unwarranted or not. He's not on the 'hot seat' right now, but he does have some work to do with perception in the eyes of the players and fans to turn this ship around.

Harb on the hot seat? No. If this season continues the same as it started? No. Will he be on the hot seat next season? Strong, strong maybe. Unless changes aren't made to change the player and fanbase 'trust' meter...it could be next coach up in 2017 even though it wouldn't be totally warranted. Since the last Super Bowl: Trust Factors Leaving Perriman out to hang on his injuryAllowing SSS back on the field with his injuriesThe approval to allow Flacco to play on 1 leg now knowing that Tyrod Taylor was more than able to play on this level as a fill-in if given the opportunity.When asked "Who is face of your franchise now?" once Ray retired He responds, "Who do you think the face of the franchise was?" Reporter responds like anybody on the planet would, "Ray Lewis..." Harb responds, "...If that's what you believe."The Ray Rice episode (Although he did all the right things for the most part)The so-called 'Player Revolt' The list could go on but...it's all subjective. Subjective can get you fired in this league after 2 bad seasons. There will most likely be a scenario/narrative (He's lost the lockroom because the players don't trust him.) referencing some of things above.

We're only 2-3 players and a cultural reboot or shift away. No need to blow-up this team right, now.

I agree with K-Dog. What I think really doesn't matter (not enough information to work with). That said, if any coach on an NFL team that has lost as many games as we have (although close losses) thinks they are doing 'enough' - that coach shouldn't coach on any level. I'm glad that none of our coaches seem to think that way.

Ageed. Finding and/or cultivating leadership is never easy, but neccessary. I don't think it's sometime you look for. I think it's an organic thing that just happens and every form of it is unique. That said, inorder for it to happen the enviroment must be right for it. Once, potential leaders were released after our last SB and the rebuild began, statements like, "I enjoy the quiet practices and lockerroom..." (supported by the organization) can only discourage potential vocal leaders to emerge. It was a cultural shift that I feel at the time seemed experiental at best and/or a lack of a 'true' appreciation for what that kind of leadership brings. I'm not sure, but the results since show a lack of collective discipline, execution, focus, passion and purpose. Vocal, passionate leadership - Maybe it's needed and should be encouraged.

Good question - The answer for every championship team that you've named is 'yes'. They all had 'Vocal Leaders' who challenged excellence from their teammates on the field and off (including the Patriots, Packers and Rams). By vocal that doesn't necessarily mean 'loud' and rarely means getting loud. Most of the time it's going the extra yard to personally mentor a teammate individually or in units when it's required. Even Ray had bible study at his home with his teammates. Vocal Leaders: Championships don't ever happen without them and every championship coach will testify to that point when being honest. P.S. - IMO None of the players you named above I find to be 'loud' in a football culture. They're just champions.

I like.

Very familiar with the article which pointed-out (by name) players that were allegedly hostile and confrontational by an un-named player as reported by Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports. Always thought that was interesting that the 2 players (Pollard and Reed were leaders) that were reported to be the confrontational (by name) when "several players" (unnamed) took similiar positions. Also, Harb later said that, "...it embodied everything that you should have on a team..." yet no measures were taken to cultivate and/or acquire that type of leadership going into the future after their departure. I'm not faulting Harb. I think he's a great coach and even a better person, but when he made the honest statement after that SB season that he enjoyed the 'quiet' practices (referring to the passionate vocal leadership that led to that SB) it seemed not to encourage and/or cultivate the player leadership style that gave him his 'greatest' success as a coach. This new approach seems experimental. I don't fault the attempt, but... Maybe we can win without it, but I still can't remember a championship team that has. Can anybody name one?

True. Yet, if the league would take actions to (for example) create a farm-league (B-League), recruit a professional class of young refs with competitive wages/contracts/union and train them (4 years) through this farm system, maybe these types of amateur game making errors could be minimized. I think it 'screwing up another game...' is more significant to the sports bottom line than whether the team has a winning record or not. Just ask Vegas, fans and NFL historians. The integrity of the game is in question as a multi-billion profit margin grows.

The NFL makes that decision. It is solely responsible for the product - not part-time workers.

And with this officiating some still think that the NFL is putting a great product on the field. Unbelievable. Can't blame the officials. They aren't given any 'realistic' guidance, training or professional standards to comply with. Completely inconsistant, subjective, revolving judgement calls that change week-to-week. It's amateur posing as exceptable at best.

"They led because they didn't make excuses - they made plays when plays needed to made and challenged others to that same commitment to excellence." Posted earlier - Vocal Leadership If you read my previous post and/or the most recent post you would have most likely concluded that what is being talked about is 'a culture of vocal leadership development' - not unfounded speculation about Pollard (that's troll bait). Suggs and SSS didn't play (you have to be on the field to inspire teammates); however, with both Harb has publicly admitted that he prefered if that 'vocal' leadership aspect was 'a little-less' or more toned-down. What are young players to think? Harb said that he liked "...the quiet practices..." addressing past vocal leadership. For the future, it's more about rethinking whether to cultivate 'vocal and performance based leadership' or to not promote team leaders that have historically help to produce championships. Name a championship team that hasn't had those type of leaders? imo - Teams striving towards excellence seek that. The Jags even seemed to have more in development. That's not why we lost, but that maybe part of the reason we didn't show (penalties, misassignments, turnovers, blown opportunities, etc.)

Agreed. However for a few more seasons, Pollard and Boldin could have filled that role (Boldin more so). Many in the lockerroom felt that way although they couldn't speak. What has been very obvious this season is the lack of that kind of leadership passion (SSS exception). The Jags seemed like they had more players being encouraged to take-on that kind of leadership. It may not save their season, but it may cultivate the next leader. Just saying.

We're not talking about anyone who would 'bad' talk a coach. That's not a leader. Leaders don't distract they promote responsibility and focus. That takes passion on the field and in the lockerroom. We've had several leaders who fit that bill - although all may not be HOF caliber. They led because they didn't make excuses - they made plays when plays needed to made and challenged others to that same commitment to excellence. imo - D. Smith is an excellent LB for the Ravens and was just as good for the Jags, but he's never been that vocal, direct leader type. That doesn't make him ineffective. Every great player doesn't fit in that role. That said, it's rare, but only on 'good-fair-bad' teams. How many championship teams have there been that haven't had vocal leaders that passionately demanded excellence from their teammates? It's not that rare when it comes to champions. True. There aren't alot of Rays and Eds, but when you say that you "...like the quiet practices and lockerroom." in direct response to potential vocal and passionate leaders - you're not cultivating those who may elevate to that culture of leadership. With the Jags behind us and on to next up - it's time to rethink if the peace and quiet inspires champions. ps - Only used the DSmith comparison because of the Jag connection.

Melt the clock. That type of mind-set rarely gets it done.