baltimorefan328

I agree for the most part but if they traded up to get Waynes I couldnt be happier

Is there a reason the Ravens haven't attempted to re-sign Guy? I thought I remembered him playing fairly well when he had to fill in when Canty and Jernigan were hurt. I would also like to see deals for Miles and Gorrer at least for competition in camp but not sure if anyone has heard about any movement with any of those 3

We will be in a much better position cap wise I agree, but we'll have Joes cap hit, Yanda and KO as free agents, then Asa Jackson, Koch, Jimmy, Upshaw, Deangelo Tyson. Now I agree if we want to keep guys like Asa and Tyson they likely will come cheaper. However I am not sure what the market would be for a guy like Upshaw, KO and Yanda could cause issues, what to do with Jimmy is a question mark if he gets injured again this year. So yes I agree cap wise we'll be way better but in terms of actual free agents next year could be a lot of tough decisions to make

I'm not hating the idea of bringing Patterson in (see Ravens Vikings 2013), but after years of watching the Ravens, I think I am going to have to disagree with this at this point. The best route runners the Ravens have had since they had a quarterback who could get them the ball was probably Mason and Boldin and now steve smith, guys who were already great route runners or know how to fight for the ball. This was the exact same thing that was said about Torrey and he just never learned sharp routes, and how many times do we complain about the WRs not getting separation. I think with including Butler and Davis, the Ravens have a lot of competition already and need a speed guy like Patterson to round out the corps, but for once I just want the Ravens to draft a speed guy who isnt a route running or knowing how to fight for the ball project. I'm just simply not convinced the Ravens can take a raw talent WR and turn him into a great Route runner. Although I believe Engram is a great WRs coach and would love to see if he could make a difference

Remember, the Ravens still have Taliaferro and will likely draft another back. This was a nice pickup as Forsett can also run block and we will have more experience behind him.

I see that going either one of two ways: 1) he wants to come to the team he helped allow win a championship by helping them win another when he is actually on the team + I think fans would have no problem adopting him, or 2) he wouldn't dare show his face in this city in the fears he would never hear the end of the "Mile High Miracle"

Absolutely, it will definitely be tough. Also Aaron wilson reporting multiple teams interested in Levine so that could be another underrated loss, especially for Ravens special teams and a guy with playing experience

I agree in some respects, but this scares me as well. In reality, he could be another Webb waiting to happen where we give him big money and don't see him on the field...Jimmy has a history of constantly getting nicked up, culminating with the big one this year. Obviously when healthy he is worth top 10 money and the Ravens havent had a guy like him since McCalister. What I'd love to see happen is a Revis-esqe deal with the Bucs. He got 96 million over 6 years, none of it guaranteed. I'd be fine with paying Jimmy big #1 cornerback money, but It would be even better if we sign him initially to big money overall with nearly 0 guaranteed. If he shows he can stay healthy then slowly restructure to give him some more guaranteed. Im just tired of these recent contracts (Webb, Pitta, even Ngata to some extent) to guys who had an injury history or at least constantly getting nicked up and then costing us big time with dead money or large contracts that we cant cut when they arent on the field

This is sort of a general free agency question, but do you guys think Harbaugh coaching the pro bowl may help the Ravens at all? I mean just from the videos on the website it seems Harbaugh is having a ton of fun with some of the guys there so do you think this may help in the early recruitment of some free agents at the pro bowl who may think I could see myself playing for this guy. Obviously theres a ton of other factors that go into something like this but I'm interested to see if this has any affect, specifically on a guy like cobb who would be amazing in Trestman's crossing routes for YAC concept with how he is in the open field

I know Flacco has a great deep ball, but to be honest if Trestman brings an offense here that leads to more YAC I'd be just as happy. We could see Flaccos completion percentage go up even more and if he is able to create mismatches on 5 yard passes that lead to 25 yard gains im just as happy with that as a 25 yard throw downfield with no YAC. Definitely a wait and see approach and I am skeptical of Trestman but a shorter and quicker passing attack could in the end actually lead to more production in the grand scheme of things

Ridley said he'd come here as long as Pollard stays far, far away

What about Brandon Graham from the Eagles? He has suffered mainly from a lack of use and his labeled as a tweener type but he does have some good pass rushing potential and could be a nice piece as a spelling edge rusher for Doom and Suggs, especially if we lose McPhee. Hasn't had monster years so could come pretty cheap as well and hes only like 26

I also think it has a lot to do with the safety rotation finally being settled. We have Hill and Stewart in there mainly then Miles and now Elam has certain distinct packages. It's like when Pees said he wished Brooks could have focused on one position and gotten really good at one rather than continually being moved around, now that Elam doesn't have as many roles he seems to be able to hone in better and as mentioned above that's two really strong games in a row.

Rashaan is an exclusive rights free agent according to spotrack ( http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/baltimore-ravens/ ), a typically reliable source. Thus apparently if we offer him a 3 year contract at the vet minimum he either has to take that contract or leave the NFL entirely because we control his rights. Thus I'd say we pretty much have 100% control over him and I couldn't be happier about that

I agree with all the sentiment about the quarterbacks hes played and obviously better corners make better throws, but shouldn't we look at the wide receivers hes had to cover as well? I'm not really a good tape guy or anything so someone may have to help me out here, but he held up pretty well in jacksonville, and although they have a lot of rookie wide receivers and cecil shorts, their wide receiver core is not a bunch of slouches. Also in Houston wouldnt he have been covering either deandre hopkins or andre johnson? Obviously those are two tremendous wide receiver talents. Also the guy has 17 tackles but I saw a stat somewhere that says hes only given up 4 receptions, so this guy is obviously sticking his nose into more plays than just the ones targeting his receiver. I like the guy, he's brought a fire and excitement to the team, not calling him the next coming and we obviously need to see where he goes from here, but for now he's all we got and I'm more than happy to roll with him versus most of the other guys we've thrown out there this year

Agreed, only thing I have to say is if he turned to look at the ball rather than gunning for the wide receiver on that one screen he would still be running. Still made a good aggressive play by breaking up the pass but a pick 6 is oh so sweet. In general seemed like he played with a lot of confidence and was put in better position to succeed. It seems the passing rotation is now miles and hill at safety with levine and elam rotating...not sure about cason

You know what, at the game I was wondering the same thing and I actually couldnt locate cason on the field. Im may have just been missing him but I saw Elam (was wearing white sleeves couldnt miss him) in the slot a lot more than i saw Cason. Maybe someone else can back this up but I didn't really see much of Cason, then again I wasnt looking for him as much

Had to bring this thread back up after today. I was at the game today and tried to focus on some Rashaan to see if this guy was actually doing anything or if it was just pure excitement in comparison to what weve had this year. I've got to say I dont think hes the second coming of Jimmy, but he is absolutely more than just being better than what we've had. He made some legitimate breaks on wide receivers and was a willing tackler and attacked guys. I'm not saying im confident but he does seem to be a guy that the Ravens should look into resigning because he has promise. Seems like a hard worker and hasn't been as up and down, but more consistent, than what we've seen from many of the replacements. Also this is probably blasphemy at this point on these boards, but Elam actually played pretty well today. Still pisses me off how he celebrates like crazy after every tiny play he makes, but he was active and a sound tackler today for the most part from what I saw

I agree with your point the goal was definitely to run 2 TE sets like New England, and while im not saying dickson was the level of either of the NE guys, I think it was definitely an issue with the system. Cameron never utilized these guys and Caldwell either didnt have enough time to in the super bowl run or didn't have pitta last year or the O line to allow for 2 TE sets for both to be receivers. Also, to be fair, Hernandez was drafted one pick higher than Pitta so i wouldn't necessarily say they invested that much higher picks. But in the end, Id much rather have Pitta and Dickson (who, while he never got his hands together, I still think would have benefited from a better scheme like Kubiak's) instead of Gronk who had a few tremendous years but now is constantly hurt and we all know what happened to Hernandez. Both of those guys were taken off a lot of boards for injury/severe character concerns and we see once again Ozzie's research was spot on. I agree with you again in the end though that Kubiak needs two very good tight ends and his system can thrive here. That leads me to my question: has anyone heard anything on Furstenburg who had great hype last year or was it just that, pure hype? Can we expect this guy to actually fight for that 3rd tight end spot assuming we draft a guy? (hopefully the guy from Iowa)

any chance Ravens inquire into Vince Wilfork if Pats release him? Not saying they should just wondering if they inquire to get an idea of his asking price

To be honest, last year I saw Jones make some tremendous catches with just his hands, seemed he actually acted like a wide receiver in some spots last year. I cant recall the game but I believe it was a 4th down and the game was over if not converted and Flacco fired a rocket over the middle and Jones just plucked it out of midair making a tremendous hands catch. I think it is a great signing, and not advocating the Ravens end their receiver search there and still have a lot of work to do, but in spread sets with Flacco in the shotgun and in play actions Jones could still be a pretty decent receiving threat. Kubiak just needs to stay away from the Dante Stallworth move where he only puts Jones in on plays the Ravens go deep...don't need to give the defense any tips on what the plays going to be...

Ravens need a blocking tight end, I agree here I would much rather wait for that kid out of Iowa in the third. Word is he is a much better blocker than Amaro or Ebron and he is still a huge guy at 6 foot 6. Could be a great blocker and huge in the mid game along with pitta. I think that would be a much better pick to help the TE positon for the Ravens and we wouldnt have to address that position until the 3rd round. He is also a senior and apparently is very nfl ready

any chance ravens go after the Jets right tackle Austin Howard (just hit the open market) or is he too much money?/trying to fill that position in house?

The ravens obviously need the rangy free safety as Ozzie has said, but thoughts on taking a flyer on Roman Harper who just got cut by the saints if he is cheap? Very experienced, made the pro bowl a couple times, and while isnt great in deep coverage he can blitz, stuff the run, and cover tight ends decently. Older guy at 31 so may be willing to come in on a more rotational role? If he doesn't play special teams then there would be no point because Elam is obviously the guy, but just thinking if he says he'll come cheap to be on a perennial winner in a rotational role it wouldn't be a bad idea for some great veteran depth and to push Elam that little bit harder to really seize the starting job

Really hope the reports are true that were hiring Pariani as well. While we are shaking up the offensive staff in terms of the Ravens, that would be three coaches coming in who are obviously going to be on the same page as they worked together for the last however many years. If we coudn't get consistency in the Ravens staff, I love the move of bringing in consistency. It seemed last year there were so many offensive coaches preaching different things that there was no way the players could succeed to their full potential. With an offensive coordinator, QB coach, and TE coach who all will be preaching the same thing, (and even reports of us bringing in their running backs coach) the offensive philosophy should spread very quickly with few hiccups, at least in terms of not getting completely different messages based on which coach a player talks to. Obviously reservations always need to be held until we see results, but you can find very few things to complain about in terms of the Texans offense during Kubiaks tenure there, and I dont believe Kubiak has ever had a quarterback like Flacco to work with. Not making predictions, but I am very optimistic Kubiak can bring success to the Ravens offense