FlocksGottaFeed

I think our system had two main problems:

1) Some missing components during its time with us. Ranging from a missing deep threat pre-Torrey to a power running game to a consistent possession guy or two who could keep the chains moving and bring the defence closer to the LoS (thus freeing up room for the deep guy to blow the top off said defence).

2) Lack of a good play caller. Cam was awful and Caldwell could have done better, though we'll never know his potential.

 

The idea is that the draft and FA will get us some guys to fix the first problem, while a better OC would theoretically solve the second.

 

Basically this offseason has the FO at a crossroads. They can stick with the Coryell system and try to upgrade it (and almost certainly go with Norv or Chudzinski) or blow the whole thing up and rebuild a new system around Flacco (Shanahan, Kubiak). Upgrading our Coryell would be the easier route, and have less growing pains, but bringing in a new guy has all kinds of risk and long-term potential.

 

I also think that we need to decide on our longer-term identity quickly. Not so much for hiring someone before they get snapped up (although that too), but so we can get more out of our unseasonably long offseason this year. We'll need to decide on who to target during the offseason and that'll have all kinds of chain reactions.

Agreed. We need to act with some urgency and thatnew OC should have a big role and planning the draft.

My pick - Kirk Warner

OC - Kurt Warner

Most likely it's probably been said already, but again, my choice for OC is somebody who's capatible with Joe, yet strong enough to lead and take risk when necessary and commands enough player respect and support that they will themselves to do things never believed were possible...and succeed.

OC - Pursuit of a New Standard of Excellence.

I don't have any exact numbers but

Myth: Elam is a bust

Fact: you can't call a player that played decent(and out of position) a bust after his first year. Jimmy Smith alone debunks that myth.

Agreed. Many people did in fact say that Jimmy Smith was a bust during his 1st season.

http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/3596/how-jimmy-smith-turned-the-corner

And there are some that have said Elam is a bust, as well. You don't need exact numbers when stating a fact. A fact is just a fact.

More sad, related facts from today's Late For Work:

The Ravens defense set an “unwanted” team record by allowing 134 points in the fourth quarter, the most in team history. “It was strange to see the Ravens defense play solid for three quarters and fall apart when the team needed it the most,” Hensley wrote. “In the first three quarters, the Ravens had the sixth-best defense in the red zone (allowing touchdowns 48.4 percent of the time). In the fourth quarter, the Ravens had the fifth-worst defense inside the 20-yard line (66.7 percent).”  [ESPN]

True. That's a fact as sad as it is. I believe we find away to improve in this area in 2014 and we'll rank as a top 5 defense in all catergories.

Myth: The Patriots will surpass the Ravens as the team with the highest playoff winning percentage historically because of their 5 consecutive playoff appearances if they make it to the Super Bowl this season.

Fact: The only team that could have challenged our 'Best Playoff Winning Percentage in NFL History' this year would have been the Packers (currently 2nd) had they won out.

Myth: Because the Ravens finished at 8-8 this season it's impossible to make it back to Super Bowl for a long time.

Fact: The last (and only) year the Ravens went 8-8 in the 1999 we won the Super Bowl the very next year. This is still possible.

Myth: Flacco just needs help. he'll be 'elite' with a new OC, new lineman, new WRs, new QB coach.

Fact: Flacco is the 2nd worst starting QB in NFL. Flacco has the worst stats to payroll(20.3m 2013) ratio in NFL.

Look it up. Stats don't lie.

Myth: Flacco just needs help. he'll be 'elite' with a new OC, new lineman, new WRs, new QB coach.

Fact: Flacco is our franchise quarterback. As he has performed as our quarterback the Ravens have been able to set the highest postseason winning percentage over the past 5 years.

fact people dont even double check their own links they provide as evidence for their argument.

 

2nd paragraph , 1st line it says and i quote `` Castillo spent his first 16 NFL seasons coaching the Eagles' offense as offensive line coach (1998-2010``.

 

harbaugh was special teams coach btw lol.

Great sig! You probably got in a little late in the discussion, but links were posted to challenge the 'opinion' that Castillo was totally responsible for the offensive performance this season. The years as Eagles OL Coach and sack totals under Castillo during the years he coached the O-Line, but never stated anything good that he did there (read the profile).

I posted 2 different links that directly responded to a follow-up opinion nothing else:

1st http://www.baltimore...74-61921f736f8d (Allows fans to read again why he's here, not to rush to judgement and states that he was the OL Coach on the Eagles during those years.)

The point was: The 'Fact' that was originally posted was not a fact at all. and Casillo could not be held solely responsible for O-Line play this season (too many variables).

Then came OPINION, again (that keeps Myths alive - imo) The followup poster - raven -  wanted to prove that the fact that he was the Eagles Oline Coach during the years listed and did eventually accept that the original so-called 'Fact' about Castillo was in fact just a Myth.

I hope that helped. If you go back in read the thread, you'll see what I mean. This could be a great thread to use Facts as Myth killers, but when opinions shows-up supporting a myth they only perpetuate the myth.

Myth: Jaun Castillo is solely responsible for the Ravens Offense performing so horribly this season.

Fact: Jaun Castillo can not be held totally accountable for the offense's play this year, but holds some responsibility as the Ravens' Offensive Line Coach.

The original statement came from Wiki. The 2nd post is the official team page of the Eagles listing him as the O line coach. I checked the years you are claiming he did not function in that capacity and he is listed as the O line coach.

 

Total blame? Nah. You can't lay total blame at anyone's feet for anything but you are cherry picking facts. He was the officially listed O line coach for all 13 of those years and the sack and run game stats for those years are fact. Surely he had assistants and such, most usually do, but as the officially stated O line coach it stands to reason he had final say.

Sorry. My bad, I didn't see where you posted the "Official" roster link. That's cool. I'm just glad that you have now admitted that the 'Myth' itself is in fact just another myth. Agreed. It doesn't really matter how we got there, but the thread works. That's what's great! Good post.

 

The official Eagles staff roster lists him as the O line coach.

Offensive coaches

• Quarterbacks – Pat Shurmur
• Running Backs – Ted Williams
• Wide Receivers – David Culley
• Tight Ends – Tom Melvin
• Offensive Line – Juan Castillo
• Offensive Assistant/Quality Control – Bill Shuey

 

Fact: Wiki is not an official anything, dude. Even on Wiki it only states, "Castillo coached the offensive line for thirteen seasons, from 1998–2010. " It never confirms in what capacity. It never states O-Line Coach. I admit that that's just a getting overly technical and it really doesn't matted. The real fact is that Castillo is not to be the total blame for our offensive.

Fact: the run game we had was not in need of repair . allot of opinions floating around about why the run game collapsed and your correct it could have been for allot of reasons. Castillo's technique and changes being one.

Agreed, for the most part. Except for the statement '...that the run game was not in the need of repair." That statement is opinion. I ageed with that opinion when the scheme first got changed, but lately, I'm leaning towards the idea that if we master this we will have more success going into the future as a franchise. (Just an opinion - not fact) I still think this is one 'cool' thread. Myth or Fact?

Myth: The Ravens were consistantly picked in Vegas before the season to make the playoffs for the last 5 years.

Fact: The Ravens were never picked to win more than 8 games in the last 5 years.

Fact: We beat the odds during all of our last 5 playoff years and even this year (Vegas had us at less than 8 wins this season)

hmmm...I found different.

 

"Castillo coached the offensive line for thirteen seasons, from 1998–2010."

Not in the years indicated. According to league records . In those years Castillo is listed as 'Notable Assistant'.

Ref: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/2009.htm

Using this site you can go all the way back in history to a team's 1st game to the last game. Facts. Castillo was more known as technique 'Guru'. He is more accredited for making several linemen Pro Bowlers through precise technique and training regiments.

I disagree with this and there is allot of evidence to the contrary . we have used zone stretch plays in the past . Inside zone blocking is what the players failed to execute, Rice/Pierce up the middle loss of gain of 1 yard. the changes Juan made directly caused the run game and pass protection failures this year. this is not a myth

And this is not a fact. There are too many variables that 'could' have played a role in the run game collapse (Bad ZB audibles called on the line before the snap, bad play audibles and/or no QB audibles when we should have changed the play, better defensive reads, etc.).

Fact: Castillo last 5 years as the o-line coach he almost got the QB murderd with his crap.

2006 eagles gave up 28 sacks

2007 it was 49

2008 it was 23

2009 it was 38

2010 it was 49

Fact:

Castillo was not O-Line Coach in 2006, 2007 (John Harbargh), 2008 Doug Pederson, 2009 Doug Pederson, 2010 Doug Pederson

Fact: Under Castillo Philadelphia’s offense set franchise records in total points (439), total net yards (6,230), and yards per rush (5.4, the NFL’s top mark). With each of the team’s primary running backs averaging more than 5.0 yards per attempt, the Eagles became the first team in NFL history to average at least 4.0 yards per carry in all 16 regular season games, helping LT Jason Peters earn his second-straight Pro Bowl nod. Under Castillo, four linemen earned their firstcareer

Pro Bowl honors: Tra Thomas, Jermane Mayberry, Jon Runyan and Shawn Andrews.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/coaches/Juan-Castillo/71348012-38bb-4777-a474-61921f736f8d

 

 

This is still a board where discussion is supposed to flow, so I think it's okay if their is discussion or speculation. Moderator 3 hasn't said otherwise yet.

 

Just as I thought. Fact!

 

 

In all honesty, I think most of what people post as "fact and myth" is subjective and left up for debate/speculation. That's just part of sports as it is. 

I mean, I posted what I believe to be true, but someone may disagree.

 

Cool. I really, really get that, but you know how you really know when you hit on a myth and contest it with a fact? Very few will respond, because most don't want to deal with facts. Facts don't open doors to opinion. A fact is a fact. Some fans here have posted actually facts to rebuke the myths. That's was up. Others are just out there in another thread where opinion rules and everything in between. That's cool, not factual input. Let's try this:

Myth: The Ravens did not make the playoffs because of Joe Flacco, Harb, OL, Caldwell and Rice.

Fact: The Ravens didn't make the playoffs, because we did not have a record this year that was enough to qualifiy based on other teams records in the active year and established NFL standards for qualification.

Let's see who get's this.

I realize it's all subjective and I have no control over negotiations, but it's fun to speculate on

I get that, but 'fact' or 'myth' seems to be more direct and other threads seem to be more of the same 'speculation' with passion driven opinions (some not so thought-out). That's cool there, but there's nothing more than presenting 'myth' and 'fact' and a real, unchallengable format. That would be productive. Everything else is 'blah, blah, blah...'. I think we can do this thing if we keep it real. You know...?

Did not mean to neg you (not that it's important), but I do agree. People get really hyped over Dennis Pitta and I don't see why. His lack not blocking skills automatically drops his value by a fair amount, but his receiving is vastly overrated. He doesn't put up double digit touchdowns or taken over the game like some people make it seem. I wouldn't say he's a top ten tight end at all.

His 2012 numbers are misleading. People forget he scored two touchdowns and racked up a lot of yards in garbage time against the Denver Broncos, who shut him down when it mattered the most. Take that game away and we see that Pitta has almost under 500 yards and 5 touchdowns. Is that worthy of these ridiculous contracts of over $5 million that some people are talking about?

Factor in that he is coming off of a major hip injury and I think we could very well see a deal around 3 years, $10 million.

I think if he walks, he could easily be replaced and upgraded.

Great points here, but there's nothing that defines the 'fact' as it relates to 'must sign' or not. It's all opinion with supportive facts to argue an opinion, but completely subjective overall. For example: Must sign could just be the relationships that he has on the team. For the FO and Flacco that may be the 'fact' that they believe will help the team. See what I mean? It's all subjective. Good thought though. This is one cool thread.

Myth: The pros can predict the outcome of a Ravens season with complete accurancy.

Fact: It has never gone as predicted with complete accurancy.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1715392-baltimore-ravens-2013-schedule-win-loss-predictions-for-every-game

Myth/Fact?: We always have better seasons as the underdog.

Note: I think I'm on to something here, but...?

Note to Moderator: Great post, but I don't know how much 'fact' fans are capable of. "Passion faults 'facts' and inspires myths."

Good luck with this. I'll try to add more facts, but I must admit - I'm too passionate at times.

Great post without a doubt. It's got me thinking.

You're right, and I apologize for jumping down your throat.

 

We have the best FO in football, so I trust they make the right decisions to best set up the team to win. I'm looking at our cap situation over the next couple of years and find it difficult to fit Jones into the equation. Of course it all depends on what he is looking for in compensation, I just assume he isn't going to be willing to take a paycut, but maybe I am wrong in that assumption.

 

Jones has been a big part of our return game for the past 2 years, and I would hate to see him go. I'm just embracing the reality of the situation. If you take a look at our upcoming FAs, I see several players that I think are of higher importance than him. That doesnt necessarily mean they will be the ones resigned, because money is always the key.

Thanks. I get that and I believe Jacoby will work it out with the FO. imo - Jacoby wasn't even considered a strong 3-4 reciever a year ago and is now progressing as a 2-3 in this system (those slants MNF). I think based on that growth and potential to be in a stable organization/possible dynasty - he takes this upcoming negotiation as a bridge contract. I think he stays. I hope he stays.

Ever heard of the salary cap? Didnt think so.

I have to be careful on this forum. There may be minors here (or grown folks that act like minors). Don't profess to know anyone you don't. I'm very aware of salary cap and I'm glad that I don't have to make those decisions, but I'm equally thankful that many speculators don't make those decisions either. I don't know if you read my statement right (which was a hypothetical not directed at you), but it clearly asked the question: "If we do workout an agreement with Jacoby and he's still contributing will fans still call for his head?"

imo - You can't keep everyone and must rebuild for the future, but take care of the one's that embrance your culture first. There's cap available and the best front office in football to make those decisions. I'm not second guessing any players career and calling myself a fan. We sometimes forget...these players are people. While there here I'm going to support and appreciate that.

Don't Make This A Headline Next Year...

Jacoby Jones is back next year in Purple and Black. Unfortunately, although playing a major role in 2 Consecutive Super Bowl runs and adopting Baltimore as his 2nd hometown the fans are still asking for a trade for an unproven draft pick. Amazing.