Ravenous_Ravens

I really want to see the team go all in on building the Oline this season. Everything we want to do on offense begins with our line.

There is only one pressing need on O-line: Center.

Zuttah looks to be nearing that the tipping point (soon-ish) and may be a possible cap casualty. Now keeping less than 2 Centers is insanity, so whether you like Urschel at C or not, I fully expect that a C is drafted this year. Since they just added new younger depth to the line last year with Stanley and Lewis. This year would make a lot of sense to go young at C.

If there is a truly remarkable talent available in the first round (likened to Stanley/potential pro-bowler/HoF), I'd take him. Otherwise it must be a CB/S. Ignoring the Elephant in the room a third straight year calls into question the decision making ability of the FO.

Not a long shot to draft a good C in the second or third round. Would not ignore the 4th round either, you can look to Alex Lewis as proof there is still good/great talent to be had when you know what to look for.

i like the swap; Roman for Castillo but losing Fraser hurts-

In fact.... I really dont know how we can retain dean pees with out LF. I think Pees improvement this season was mostly due to the addition of LF.... and even with him with had a collapse in the final quarter and maybe even final half of the year.

Would love to see us replace Pees (maybe keep the Bills / Ravens swap going and bring Rex back) or even his brother. IDK anyone other then DP... I dont think we can survive another year with him heading our D.

The D has under performed since he got here and we have not been able to close a single team out over the past 3 seasons.... In fact over the last three years nearly every loss we had saw the defense not be able to close a team out! How long can that continue? SMH

Horrible idea. Pees has had to deal with the post HOF era in Ravens history, plus the void it left and has done well considering there were many transitions going on. If they actually draft enough secondary players this season, then Pees will have a full house to play with. This was not the case the last couple seasons, where there were significant gaps he had to try and disguise. The only issue I saw with Pees D this season was the inability to sustain their success as the secondary wore down, down the stretch of the season. If your trying to say that is his fault, then there is nothing more to say. More quality CB/S would fix this issue in an instant and actually increase the pass rush simultaneously.

For those who read the article well, Roman was not swapped for Castillo. Roman was brought in, in addition to Castillo.

We need to trim the fat.
1. Webb is not earning his contract
2. Elvis has not earned his contract for 2 years
3. Sharece owes us money
4. Hurst owes flacco some money
5. Powers / Arrington/ Elam / have never earned their contract
6. Zuttah is beyond his ability to play to the level that we are playing him
7. McClellan is a high paid ST player
8. Talifero will never see the field again
(I could even throw Kamar in that list)

Thats ten players that need trimmed

Then there are probably a couple that has earned it but we will not be able to retain them
1. Brandon Williams
2. Rick Wagner
I would love to find a way to keep both but I just do not see it. Fortunately we found Pierce and Alex Lewis who could probably step right in

Then there are a few who are still under friendly contracts who we need to really develop and get more out of or they will be on the top list in a season or two.
1. KC
2. Perriman
3. Maxx
4. Cannady
5. CMoore
6. ZSmith
7. CDavis
8. Kafusi (but that may not be fair to list him yet)
9. Willie Henry
10. Camp * but he has to stay healthy to have a chance to develop him

Think of it this way... that is 20 plus players on the team that are not playing up to expectations and two that are that we will probably lose (along with SSS who retired)

I can add in that Joe is not playing up to his contact and that is 24 roster spots who under performed or who we will need to find replacements for.

Thats over half of the roster... We have a lot of work to do in the off- season if we really expect to right the ship.

I still think that Ozzie, Harbs and company are the right people for the job but they have their work cut out for them... believe that!

So your solution is to sign all the rookies to long term deals before their rookie contracts are up?

I fail to see not just your logic but any in this move. It would be very premature to do so and create more issues than it would solve.

Secondly, you have made an assumption that there are 24 or whatever number of better players just waiting for the Ravens to call up and give a job to, without any competition from other teams to attract that talent. Also that the Ravens have unlimited funds to go on a free-agent spending spree.

Yes Brandon Williams and Rick Wagner are priorities to resign but the Ravens won't be in a do or die situation to retain them. They generally give themselves options so not to be handcuffed into making certain decisions. Look at Michael Pierce and Alex Lewis, brought in last season. This doesn't mean BW and RW are gone for sure, but if they price themselves out, Ravens FO is not forced to paying highest price if they do not wish to. Options are always good to have, especially when negotiating. If I had to pick I keep BM and let Wagner go, based on overall impact as well as Wagner to Lewis is less of a drop off vs BW to Pierce.

Look the idea of adding another RB that has game-breaker status sounds nice, but it is far from a necessity. This team has talent up and down the roster. It is time to get the most out of it. Just saying, a RB like Leonard Fournette would be a nice addition, but even he lacks that break away speed. Then you have more backs than snaps too, not a great move. Good running attacks that break the big plays, mostly do it by wearing down the defense, not just blazing by them every play. T West and Dixon need to be utilized more. Period.

Juan Castillo needs to surrender control of the run game, that much is certain. He is great at teaching the pass protection and was really the big reason for his initial hiring, going from memory.

Not sure if Roman becomes the guy to fix the run game, but with his success in running the ball, it would be difficult to pass him up, if the Ravens are serious.

Just focus on filling the secondary will more younger talent, 2-3 CB's and 1-2 S. Not all drafted players will work out as expected. Time to put the same need for several years in a row, behind them.

WR is not a need at all either. Another nice item on the wish list at most. These young WR's on the team either need to be given a fair chance to develop and see snaps to do so or move on from them. Joe can definitely work on throwing his WR open and beating coverage with timing, something he used to do and disappeared of late. Someone gotta show Joe how to pump fake defenders out of their shoes and look off defenders. All misdirection basically hinges on the ability to keep a defense guessing so that means Joe also needs to learn to sell hi fakes much better. This will also open the PA and bootlegs. Sitting in shotgun too often does not benefit the offense.

  5 hours ago, sizzlingdoom said:

  6 hours ago, jsarrocohome@yahoo.com said:

  7 hours ago, stampedehero said:

In this years draft we should aim for the corners and lineman.   However, another 8-8 or 5-11 season can happen as we are a consistent 3 and out team.  

We need apass rusher first because if you can't get to the QB no corner can cover all day

WHats your thought on Solomon Thomas. I didn't really watched college this year, and have only studied a little so far. He looks pretty awesome though. I still think we need a CB first round. Esp with all the talent this year. I feel like there could be at least 2-5 future pro bowl cbs in the first round of this year. I've never really seen that before. And there is a bunch of talent elsewhere. In all honesty, at 16, I feel like we'll be getting a player that would go top 5 i a lot of drafts. Because of the overall talent in this draft. We still have to get the pick right though, obviously. I feel like we have to go corner for so many reasons. So far I really like Wilson, Tabor, Jones, Jamal Adams (saftey), and there's at least 3-4 other cbs people are talking about going in the first. I haven't looked much yet. Wilson looks like a remedy for Ravens football to me. Pair him with Jimmy Tavon and Weddle for years to come = secondary problems beyond solved, and probably the best in the league. Building the rest of the D around that would be fun imo

I haven't watched any college FB this year but will watch senior bowl mock drafts have us taking a pass rusher from Alabama with our first pick don't remember his name but sounds like a good player but I agree with you CB talent deep in this draft seems tobe good corners available in first 3 rounds

Just hope FO doesn't make the mistake of drafting CB late and miss out on top talent, thinking its a deep class. They have a deep need to upgrade the secondary talent period. Everyone knows the Ravens have a stout run game defense.

There is already pass rushers on this team. Give them another 0.2-0.3 seconds on average to get home and the difference in outcomes will be huge. Opposing QB's were not forced into holding the ball long enough to feel the pressure and negates the work of your pass rush and wears them down in the process.

Also Weedle and Webb was a good combo at Safety, but really now is the time to think forward and bring another young player in to learn the position from those vets. They did not groom up a safety before Reeds departure and look at the whole situation that created. It took several years to "fix" but they are again in a similar position. Elam is good for depth but needs to show more on the field to consider him a future starter.

  21 hours ago, purpledown said:

Not a Jimmy Smith fan, dont think he would have made a difference in the defense and its decline. That and he cant be counted on anyway,.

I don't like Jimmy Smith getting hurt either, but him missing the 2nd half of the Giants game, the jets game, Patriot's game and the 2nd Pittsburgh game showed he is a huge difference maker thanks to Ozzie not drafting a Quality DB in 6 years.

Umm, serious? Guess Tray Walker and Tavon Young were no good? Unfortunate incident made that number 1, but Young is a baller no doubt.

No excuses to not draft at least 2-3 CB's this next draft and finally fill this glaring need. It is a secondary deep draft from what I've heard as well, best take advantage of what is available.

Easy way to fix the hands issue. Only throw him quick hitch passes like bubble screens,etc until he literally masters catching the ball and watching into his hands. When he knows that is the only time he's getting the ball, he'll develop the right kind of focus to make it count. It also forces him to work on making someone miss after securing the ball to make any sort of play. All good habits to develop for making him a more reliable and dangerous deep threat.

So very disappointed Ravens did not let Tucker try a 70 yard FG in the last game!

If there was ever a good chance to just, you know give it a try with little repercussions, that was the game to do. I will be waiting to see them let him try a 70 yard FG next time they are in a lopsided game that is out of reach.

Great work Tucker, Mosley, Orr and Yanda.

  2 hours ago, The Mom Gene said:

  2 hours ago, BiggMack91 said:

  3 hours ago, Steve32 said:

  3 hours ago, BiggMack91 said:

he is average at best he got flacco hurried on numerous occasions he is no Ogden he is a consistent Oher and we all know how that turned out he is solid but I wish we would have gotten hargraves CB at 6 but I don't see stanley being a franchise LT hope we finally draft a good CB this year with 1st round pick

Glad Ozzie make the picks and not you!

so your happy with the bums that he picks I'm not can't wait for ozzie to be fired

Most of us are pretty happy with the guys Ozzie picks. We've had some great seasons. And really good guys... I mean afterall, Ozzie did pick Ogden, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, among many others like Chris McAlister, and got guys like Shannon Sharpe, Derrick Mason, Todd Heap... and the list goes on and on.... SMH... I'm just amazed at how people live their lives completely ticked off about everything and everybody now a days.

just like he drafted Kyle Boller,Mark Clayton,Chris Chester,Michael Oher,Sergio Kindle,Terrence Cody,Ed Dickson,Bernard Pierce,Matt Elam,Arthur Brown,DeRon Jenkins,Jay Graham,Patrick Johnson,Travis Taylor,Chris Redman,Musa Smith,Dwan Edwards,Denard Darling,Dan Cody,Adam Terry,David Pittman,Yamon Figurs,Tavares Gooden,Tom Zbikowski,Jah Reid and Terrence Brooks just to name a few yes he's picked some good guy but his hit to miss was 1-3 now he's like 1-5 an he's getting old this is a business first and foremost we have cut ties with lots of loved players an staff over the years an I think his time has come to walk away along with the so-called head coach John and his band of fools dean and marty so to me I don't know how some fans can see a problem for a period of time and still not want to fix it

If you are going to put forward stats, then how about you also take the time to get the stats of all the other teams, and then see where the Ravens stack up. Anyone can make a list of players/issues that didn't go there way. It does not constitute failure in and of itself. You conveniently left out all the players names that were, according to you "successful". IMHO this statement you brought forward is incomplete and lacking due diligence.

Flacco NEEDS to spend time with his WR this offseason. Perriman needs a lot of work as a young player and Joe needs to understand all his WR's habits and tendencies.

Flacco wanted weapons, and he has them in spades. More than anything he needs to learn to use them well. Flacco needs to teach his WR's that the ball is coming out on time every time and they need to be in position to make the catch. The lack of trust by Joe to sling that ball every time is what leads to INT's. The WR never knows for certain whether he is delivering the ball and it is a guessing game. Throw the ball every time and there are no excuses. Either the WR gets it done or not. Ball placement becomes critical, throwing to the lowest risk (away from defender) area of the field. which Joe needs to work on as well. Now is the time to sharpen those weapons so they are sharp when they are needed come 2017.

I'll trade the "perfect pass" type plays for effective passing plays any day. Throwing a WR open is just as much a part of a WR "getting open" as running the route. It takes both to beat defenders consistently.

Solution is simple from my perspective.

A) If Dummervil is still playing at an acceptable level (according to coaches, etc) then re-structure his contract for a few more years and low his cap hit next year. ensure it is a result driven contract so he maintains motivation.

B) Zuttah IMHO while still good, it nearing that tipping point. I let him walk and draft a replacement. That leaves them with a starter and backup between drafted C and Urschel (having playing experience). Depths is always good, especially at C.

C) Arrington & Lewis status depends on how many secondary players Ozzie WILL draft. My gut says he does pull the trigger and fill the back end with much needed new talent (3-4 players CB/S) and these guys become cap casualties.

Just B and C could save some significant cap space.

Also Joe's contract is not all guaranteed. Not sure why everyone likes to claim it is handicapping them when clearly, his visible play would suggest he is not making 100% of his contract. Yes it impacts the cap but handicap it? Look at this roster and up and down and prove how they don't have a lot of good value talent despite Joe's contract.

I will admit that I used to be a Castillo hater, especially in the year after the SB when we kept running #27 from the shotgun in the oh-so-predictable draw plays.

But if you're being honest, you have to admit that our offensive line has been pretty darn good, considering (a) all the injuries that have plagued them the last two seasons, and (b) the constant need to learn new blocking schemes with each new coordinator. The offensive line has to function as one body, with all five of them on the same page and being able to rely on each other. If a key piece is hurt (Wagner, Stanley, Yanda, Lewis - seriously, 4 out of 5 starters this year!) or if they have to learn a new scheme, their play will suffer!

Think about how great they played the last time we won a SB, where even McKinnie played well because the coaches benched him for several games to rest him up. Joe threw 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions, and nobody even got close to sacking him most of the time. It wasn't that Joe played better, it was the O line.

So I no longer blame Castillo, and don't think he should be fired.

Castillo's coaching strength is in teaching pass protection. His run schemes are more complicated than they need to be. IMHO this best serves his own interests, by making it more difficult to replace him by making himself the key to its success.

Case in point the zone run scheme (under Kubkiak led-offense) we saw first hand players able to play fast and less decisions to have to make, which reduces chances of making mistakes/errors. There was still shuffling along the offensive line, but you couldn't tell mostly because the drop off was minimal.

There's an acronym that seems fitting that comes to mind:
KISS "Keep It Stupid <-> Simple"

Nobody believes in this organization right now. Slowly eroding fan trust

I believe. I am also never satisfied, which drives me to become better than I was. Being tough on yourself to realize your potential is necessary to see growth. If you think otherwise you are fooling yourself.

Harbaugh's insistence on sticking with his guys reminds me of Billick sticking with Boller to the bitter end.

It's not the bitter end until Harbaugh's balding. This year was growing pains. The fact no one called these last few seasons a rebuild mode doesn't erase the fact there are growing pains to be expected.

Compared to last season, this season was much better overall. Yes there is room for improvement, but overall there is more to be content with that dissatisfied.

1. Address the CB need this offseason, no excuses.
2.Address the offense and get it locked before training camp opens, or it will be a repeat of last season going into a season just guessing what will happen.

  4 hours ago, EdTheMythicalOne said:

  4 hours ago, The Greek said:

i agree with you but harbs has stated he will stick with him. we can only hope it gets better

 

  5 hours ago, Grapple Raven said:

As for changes to the coaching staff, I may be in the minority here but:

The rushing stats since Castillo was brought in in his first full season in 2013-2014:

2013-0214:  30th in rushing yards, 30th in rushing yards per game, 32nd in rushing yards per attempt.

2015-2016:  26th in rushing yards and 26th in rushing yards per game, 24th in rushing yards per attempt.

2016-2017:  28th in rushing yards, 28th in rushing yards per game, 21st in rushing yards per attempt.

 

The one outlier was 2014-2015 when Kubiak was here with Dennison helping installing Kubiak's strategies with the offensive line:

2014-2015:  8th in rushing yards, 8th in rushing yards per game, 7th in rushing yards per attempt.

 

You have to ask the question is this why we aren't running the ball more?  Because we can't run it with any success?  We had lesser backs than probably what Castillo had in all those years, especially since Kubiak's year was without Ray Rice and he did much better.   What is Harbs seeing in those stats or is he blinded by loyalty?  Castillo might can coach fundamentals and technique, but he has no business being in charge of a run game, offensive line or whatever the hell title Harbs gives him to justify his job.  The common denominator in the stats above is Castillo.  This is beyond ridiculous.

These stats don't point to personnel so much as they do to coaching.  If Harbs is being honest about running the ball more, these stats just can not be ignored.  We need a fresh new face for an offensive line coach who is not Castillo.

I'd make the same case about Bobby Engram. The only talent we have from the WR's is the talent we import, not the talent we draft or develop. None of our outside receivers seem to be capable of getting open at all against zone coverage or press coverage. It is almost as if our guys run their pattern and if they're not open because the defense is playing zone, they just stop. "I'm not open so I guess the play is over. I'm not going to try to work back to my QB or anything."

So again what is the issue here? Are the plays the issue? Is the coaching the issue? Are the players the issue? All I know is this is the same problem I've seen with our receivers for years now and nothing changes at the WR coaching position.

Good point that the receiver don't work hard enough to get open. Look at other running backs in the league, when there's initial contact they stop. They don't keep their legs moving, they just collapse. The journeymen receivers don't seem motivated. Other receivers lay out to make catches, if the ball doesn't hit them in the hands, it's like oh well. Even when the ball hits them in the hands they don't catch the ball. We need a coach that can teach the receivers to work free. Watch the Steelers and Patriots, receivers who can get open. How does Julian Edelman get open so often, he's a tough guy.

Mostly it's timing and that knowing the ball is coming whether your are there or not. If you are not there it's your fault. If it's your fault too often, you don't get snaps or as many.

Kubiak's system was the same and was tied to footwork (3 step, 5 step or 7 step draw) so the ball always was coming at the right time. Defenders cannot defend the timing only try to disrupt it. Not a hard concept really, yet it seems too allusive to the Ravens offensive scheme. MARTY if you reading or hear about this fix it. I know you can.

  2 hours ago, metalraven said:

  3 hours ago, jsarrocohome@yahoo.com said:

  4 hours ago, Crusader said:

  7 hours ago, Maryland said:

Harbaugh's insistence on sticking with his guys reminds me of Billick sticking with Boller to the bitter end.

Both won two North Division Titles and one Superbowl.

not bad for 19 years between the two sarcastic

It actually isn't bad. Look at the Jets, Browns, Bills, Eagles, Redskins, Raiders, Chargers, Bengals (a case can be made), Rams, Jags, Titans, Lions, Vikings, Bears. Other than the Jags, the rest of this groups has been around a lot longer than the Ravens franchise. They have all had a revolving door of coaches and QBs. Hire, fire, hire, fire, bench, start, bench, start - repeat...and they have nothing to show for it. The Ravens on the other hand, are always in the mix. With very few exceptions, this team always has a legitimate shot. There's a reason for that. It's called continuity. The Ravens and other regularly successful franchise share that commonality.

I would rather look at what the patriots coaches have done love or hate BB he is a great coach he has a great QB and a bunch plug in guys nobodys ever heard of and win year after year

Good point. I'll also point out BB never reached the same level of success without Brady. Doesn't mean he couldn't but just that he never proved himself without a HoF QB. Winning a few games, when he's sitting due to suspension, does not count either. Great players elevate others around them.

I'm sure any coach's record would be much better with Brady as their QB, just as Harbaugh befitted from players like Lewis and Reed.

  6 hours ago, griffrb said:

I'm curious, when did Harbs have time to research coordinators? The season ended on Sunday. Must have been after the Steelers loss. Something isn't right with that response IMO. I initially thought Marty Ball would be a good fit, but when you look at his track record over time as an OC, what we got was who he is. Andy Reid ran the Eagles offense. Rick Dennison would have been a very interesting consideration. Would he consider a return as QB? Unlikely, unless he's not kept in Denver in some capacity. Oh well. Still a fan, but Harbs is a broken record, and I won't be paying any attention to them or the beat writers this off-season. Once the State of Ravens concludes..........

Harbaugh's full of it

Well, IF I WAS JOHN, I would have started looking around after firing Trestman earlier this season. I mean you would already have known this was something on your plate, whether you deal with it in a day or 6 months from now.

IMHO
Draft Round One - RT/C or CB (bolster line depending how things shake up or address the main issue going on several seasons)
Draft Round Two - CB
Draft Round Three - CB
..then whatever you like for flavor..

Some of these younger defensive players just need to be given ample opportunity to play and grow. Some, not all, only saw limited reps, which is fine for starting out. If they are as good as you say they are, they need to see an increase in snaps to get more experience and have the chance to contribute. Not even the best in the business make big plays every snap. It's high-risk/reward with younger players but they also get the element of surprise that players like Suggs and Dummervil are not given.

Fixing the secondary by adding more legitimate talent, at least another 2 CB's (rounds 1-4, pref 1-3) will go far to bolster the pass rush. Need at least one more big CB that is able to match up with bigger receivers who are physical. Secondary directly affects the window for pass rush to get home. The one hand washes the other.

No need for another RB unless you can strike gold. There is a great stable of RB/FB that were under utilized too often. Hopefully they can retain Juice and rediscover what the Ravens run game is supposed to look like.

Look Marty Morningweg was brought in to be a QB coach, something I think he excels at. As OC he did alright, given a mid-season rush to take over and do things his way (correct things).

I agree he should stay, but as the QB coach and not OC. Now there is a gap at QB coach, which is sorely needed. Flacco's mechanics seemed to regress this past season (overall).

An improvement in offense, over the lack luster offense Trestman implemented, is not saying a whole lot. Heck, I could have improved upon that.

How can sitting below .500 mark in offensive production be a good thing? This team has all kinds of playmakers, yet you rarely were reminded of that fact save for maybe one or two games this season.

Since John Harbaugh already made up his mind, who is he going to get for a QB coach, that is going to help Flacco correct his mechanics again? Don't tell me he doesn't need a lot of coaching and correcting. His fakes tend to fake himself out more than the defense and his anticipation disappears for stretches. He needs a drill sergeant type QB coach who is going to put a sense of urgency into every thing Joe does on the field.

If a good QB coach isn't to be found, then at the very least put some pressure on him to succeed, since the best play from Joe comes when he is under pressure to perform (playing for his future and contract). Look what happened when Ray Lewis tore him a strip. Whoa he got mad and actually played up to his potential. Ray's words may have seemed harsh, but they were true, and look what resulted. Joe doesn't get himself up so much as being challenged outright does. Talk to Ray and put him on contract to call, email or whatever Joe the day before a game and challenge him.

P.S. - Marty, you have one of the best FB's in the NFL, of which only a small handful of teams have a FB at all. Use the FB more. This is a team that used to pride itself on running the football down opponents throats even when they knew it was coming. Also, tell Juan Castillo his run blocking schemes are gone. They only served to regress the run game every year since being implemented. Go back to the zone stretch run blocking, it is simpler and allows for players to play faster with less to concern themselves with.

Would be good to keep him and also get him more involved. Basically keeping him should come down to how much they can use a FB within the offense. At $6 mil it would need to be more than they have used him.

The Ravens were pretty high on Skura and Broxton when they got them and Houston is a potential return man candidate. Wouldn't be surprised to see one or a couple of those names on the Ravens roster in 2017 depending on how the draft goes.

The draft has nothing to do with a player being good enough to be a starter. Either they can do it or they can't.

Problems with the Ravens

1. Harbs

Hire coordinators that are friends. Does not appear to have influence over play-calling or scheme. Can’t have a head coach that can not influence the game plan. The result is a revolving door of coordinators. Ravens hire former coaches because Harbs can’t teach young coordinators that would be on the staff for a long period of time.

Almost every week he talks about running the football, CBs having bad eyes/technique, being disciplined, vague clichés like ‘play winning football’.

Yet what you see on the field is Joe passing the too much, CB with the eyes in the backfield, stupid penalties, lack of urgency. I don’t think the players or coordinators listen to him or fear him.

You can’t pay everybody, so a coach must develop young players. Ravens rely on old guys to be starters way too much. That's why the can not sustain high level of play the last few season.

If the talent was that bad, they would not be in so many close games. It’s play calling and poor execution. That is the head coaches responsibility to control.

2. Joe Flacco
I have defended Flacco for years. Many fans stated his contract would handicap the Ravens and they were right.

Because of the contract, FO could not bring in or retain top talent. Flacco can not carry the offense. He needs a run game, o-line, and a receiver like Boldin that’s open even when he is covered. He needs an OC to call the plays and whisper in the head phones when to change the play. He need a QB coach to maintain his mechanics

After 9 years and $120 M, that’s one player with a lot of needs. A guy you paid to be a solution, but is often a problem. His pick yesterday was embarrassing.

3. OZ/DeCosta. Hortiz
The evaluation from scouts and drafting has been terrible for years. Even OZ stated that much. Ravens have need playmakers on both sides of the balls, yet that continue to draft DT,DE, and ILBs. Drafting receivers that can’t catch.

They need a new scouting department even if it means paying more to steal from another team.

#1 Your outta your mind. Its easy to say this person or whoever is the issue/problem, but what solution do you present as an improvement. Reality says many teams would be very happy to have Harbs for a coach. Every coach makes good and bad decisions for a myriad of reasons.

#2 Flacco did not have the best year. IMHO he was rushing to get back to the field. I know its hindsight now, but even when he first took to the field I was thinking, really? Why they did not play Mallett in the first few games to really let Joe get healthy and get his mechanics back is kinda crazy. I still do not think rushing him back helped out any.
Joe's contract has not handicapped the Ravens as you propose. Its easy to look at the total number he can earn. Try looking at what he actually does earn. Also, again who is a better QB upgrade available?

#3 This is just outright crazy. First your judging recent draft classes off of a season or two? I guess at the first sign of struggles you must think you have failed and flunked.. The Ravens do a great job at drafting many positions and generally draft well in ever round. There is no guarantee a drafted player realizes the potential you see in them, so many factors.

#4: The real issue you never even touched on.
The Ravens have been plucked of many good/great coaches/scouts over the last several years. Why, because they were successful. They have done a good job of trying to replace the losses but eventually you gotta deal with the fact everyone is a bit different and not necessarily at that same level and like players need a bit of development to hit their stride.

Most of these points would benefit from looking more closely at the details instead of surface scans.

Wasn't there a lot of hype about 2016 being Kamar Aiken's big year based upon last year's playing time? Now he can't even get on the field--- go figure...

This has more to do with the pecking order at WR. Aiken slid down the chart a bit with healthy players all back on the field and his targets were drastically reduced. It seems that it affected his ability to get into a rhythm at times. IMHO Aiken is a great WR2/3 but requires consistent targeting to keep him playing at this potential. If you let him cool off with no targets most of the day and then expect a big play from him I'd say it's 50/50 at best.

Ravens OC moving forward will need to do a better job at coming into games playing the first half more open and well rounded to see what plays are working well and what's not plus who is hot and how is not. That way in the second half of games they can throw out what's not working elaborate/exploit what is working and feed whoever is hot. This is something I just never feel we as fans ever get to see firsthand from the Ravens Offense. They seem more content to at most make wrinkle type changes as opposed to really switching gears.

Smart move and proves our back office guys are paying attention. Read my Humble scouting report on the guy before throwing him in as Trash heap material........
Mayle just finished his 2nd year in the NFL on the PS/ST, Cleveland drafted him in the 4th round in 2015 but he probably would have gone higher if he hadn't broken his thumb in the SR Bowl. Mayle didn't even start playing football until his senior year where he was a contender for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, an honor given to the most outstanding receiver in American college football. Tied w/ 7 TD's. He has speed and elusiveness and sounds a lot like Perriman without the knee issues.
A big muscular guy at 225lbs, his first love is Basketball and he's known for doing a pretty good impression of Lebron on the court. At only 6'-2", he is a bit short for the NBA so he was recruited into the football program. Mayle was in the last cuts when Cleveland made their final 53 in 2015. Dallas then swooped him up the next day for a few million. He did have a few dropped balls in practices so he was put on the PS, then waived, then back on the active roster to back on the PS again. They yo-yo'ed him around all of 2016. Neither Cleveland or Dallas ever really played him. He has 7 games, 1 with Cleveland and 6 with Dallas and only one target. Dallas only just cut him to make room for an offensive lineman they desperately need right now.
I think it's a very bright move and at the least, if he can't hang on to the ball, we just cut him. He's a rookie that has had NFL coaching for a couple years (Kinda like Perriman). At only 25 years old, 6'-2" with speed and jump ability, It's worth a shot with no risk.

Another low risk high reward move, potentially at least. Can't argue at trying to get better without risking the farm.

Would have been good to see Reynolds in game action to really judge his progress more accurately. Looking good in camp is good and all, but not an accurate measuring point.