PurpleCity5

Well then, wrong I am.

Judging by this drive I don't have a good feeling about KC defense.

Lol no way do the Steelers kick a FG there.

I like Kenny Britt and at $8M it's hard to say no, with that said I would have the expectation that he would start, wouldn't shock me if this team moved on from Mike Wallace because of it. Marvin Jones got $7M per year so Britt at $8M is fine with me. Not to mention he's a pretty damn good player, he played in an nightmare offense with an awful QB situation. He could do a lot here. Again though, I wonder what that would mean for Mike Wallace, I think the Ravens would relieve Wallace and go after a slot WR with Perriman being relied upon to step up either as #1 or #2.

I'm not a fan of overpaying Williams, if the time arrives where he prices himself out then yes, we should let him go, the Ravens are certainly in the right to let him go at +10M. I'll be honest here, I wasn't a fan of prioritizing Williams over Wagner at first, but after seeing what happened to our run D late in the season, and seeing the regress of Timmy Jernigan, I felt that the defensive line could be in trouble without Williams next season. However, if I can keep Williams at a good price but have to let Wagner go as a result, then I would do it. As far as Harrison's contract goes, that's the mark for the #1 run stopping NT in the league. I don't see any reason for Williams to surpass that by a high amount, the cap number will be going up, but I don't think that automatically means teams are going to just throw money at FAs. In Wagner's case, the 10M per year seems way too high, I would be shocked if he got that amount. The only way I see Wagner getting 10M or even above is if a team expects that he plays LT that next season or in the least sees him just as versatile. The highest paid RT is Lane Johnson but the Eagles paid him with the expectation that he'll move to LT. As far as the Ravens comparison between Alex Lewis and KO, I find that interesting because the Ravens didn't view KO as a LG exclusively, they viewed him as someone who can play all over the line, they just had someone who they signed long terms in Monroe, and Wagner who was holding it down at RT, beyond that the Ravens viewed KO as a potential option at LT and to a degree, it harmed them in the end because even the Oakland Raiders agreed to that. Of course you and I know this, but I think the Ravens comparison Lewis to KO could also speak to his versatility. We did see Lewis at LT, even if it wasn't pretty at least he played there. I think the Ravens not only think he's a really good LG, but they might feel that he's just as good at RT, that could convince them to grab a LG and have an even better line this year than last with C being the only spot they would have address via draft. You can do that, and in the process retain Brandon Williams if it comes at a good price.

Pats OL is going to be a problem next round reguardless who wins between PIT-KC. I'm really concerned that Pitt not only might go to the SB but might actually win it all, I like their chances against ATL and to a surprise Dallas.

Houston needs this drive. This game much closer than what I had imagined.

This Falcons offense is insane.

When referring to guard, I was referring to the LG and RG positions both. Runs up the middle are the most common runs in the NFL so obviously it order to run it up the middle successfully and have a bully run game you need to be physical and demanding in the guard position, in the Ravens case they need to be more physical and beef up LG and C. Either Alex Lewis beef's himself up or they find someone else to do the job. In a power/run gap scheme, Alex Lewis is going to have to control his man/gap and play with much better leverage and lower the shoulders, among other things he'll have to do. I certainly agree that Williams will cost more, but the Ravens have a hard earned tradition of stopping the run as a priority, never have the Ravens gave up 4.0YPC or above in the last 10 years. If it takes $8M-$9M to keep BW than I don't think they will pass on that. If a team massively overpays they probably won't bother. But let's also remind ourselves that BW is a run stopping specialist, not a pass rusher, all or most of the highest paid NT are players who can do both. Wagner to me is a guy that Ravens view as an upper level RT, but not elite in that manner. Wagner does a great job of holding his own and making blocks, but I think the Ravens want to be more physical down there and push teams back, I don't think that's Wagner's forte.

I don't see the Ravens keeping both guys, that's just my opinion of it, either its Williams or Wagner. As I've said it might not be too expensive to keep Wagner, but then again it could be, given the nature that it only takes one team to do it. I don't want to discount the importance of a RT, however, I think finding a LG who can play at a high level alongside Stanley/Yanda would be a great scenario for this team. Runs up the middle are the most common runs and teams who have a great inside presence at guard run the ball very well there. Of course the C position impacts it a ton and we're bound to make the adjustment there. My problem with people being so quick to dismiss Williams because of the potential price tag is the scenario's that can unfold. If I can recall Biscotti said that the defense became just as liable as the offense towards the end of the year. One of the reasons for that is the collapse of the run D. Look at the guys outside of BWill who got pushed back and manhandled, now imagine subtracting BWill from that scenario. That's one to be worried about. The Ravens front office and defense has always made it a priority to stop the run, it just doesn't seem to shock me that they'll try to continue to do that. As far as a $10M salary goes, that's possible but Damon Harrison is a very similar player to BWill and he got a 5YR $46M deal at $9M per year, which is a bit above the mark of what BWill would get. I think at $8M it's certainly worth it, but the guaranteed dollars matter plenty.

Lmao, Bills were talking about benching Taylor and you're saying he's outplaying Flacco? He's in a run 1st and run heavy offense at that which isn't demanding him to do too much. In his two seasons he's barely eclipsed 3000 Yards passing, in terms of passing attempts Buffalo is literally dead last in the league opposite of Baltimore who is #1. Taylor really isn't asked to do a whole lot, that's probably why Buffalo hasn't even committed to him, because they want to see more from him before giving him a really big deal.

Are you serious? Lol.

R.I.P David Modell, my thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends.

This sucks man. I was really hoping we would keep him.

That's of course under the assumption that we plan on keeping both of them. The presser is confusing because I had the impression that Wagner is staying and Williams is leaving but the reports said the complete opposite. It doesn't add up to me that they plan on keeping both. Either way, in the event that Wagner leaves and Williams stays I think that there couldn't be a better option at RT than Lewis. If both leave, then the team would have to do something via FA at the OL. Of course, what we also know is that sometimes you have to take what Biscotti says as a bit of a grain of salt because the Ravens are even throwing smokescreens at pressers. The Ravens view Wagner as a top RT, but I don't feel like they view him as an elite RT when his play has been up there with the best, I don't recall them putting him in that category. Will they be willing to pay him a $7-8M salary with BW on the block when the run D saw a complete collapse? I don't know, after thinking about it that's a very tough decision to make. Wagner's injuries could drop his value and make it very possible to keep both. If I can keep both guys at a relatively close price in terms of a salary per year basis, then I'm keeping BW and using Wagner's money to improve the LG and rely on Lewis to step up at RT. Of course that's just my opinion but many of the top OLs are superior in three places, LT, Guard, and Center. That's just how I feel, maybe the Ravens want to be great across the board all over the OL.

He did a great job with these guys in terms of their development. Never really felt anything towards Castillo, him leaving probably had more to do with the change in philosophy.

I think we'll make some signings, we won't make a splash unless we lose both Wagner and Williams to FA but I think we'll make some solid signings. I anticipate we add a Vet WR, LG, and maybe a pass rusher.

Maybe that's the case but Wagner is 50-50 at the moment, you don't really know the market value. Plenty of times the Ravens have said they've been in contact with FAs who ended up leaving but obviously that's what you have to do with guys you need to retain, you just can't have no contact with them what so ever. Given the reports and how our Run D collapsed, I think the Ravens will do everything in their power to keep Brandon Williams first as a priority, with Wagner coming after. Of course that doesn't mean they can't keep both but it would surprise me if they did. I'm under the assumption that Wagner is staying at the moment because of the confidence, but at this moment it wouldn't surprise me if they let him go, I can see them going after someone at LG and move Lewis to RT. I said this in another thread but many of the great OLs in the league aren't particularly strong at RT, they're more built up at LT, Guard and Center. When the Ravens talk about getting more physical with the change at OL, it just somewhat means to me that they have more in mind than making the change at C. The Ravens are talking about building a power block scheme with the addition of Roman and adding some maulers to this OL, I can't help but think that means they want to get more physical there. I think Alex Lewis can certainly play a physical role on the line going by his college tape but I'm not sure if its at LG due to the leverage. Of course this doesn't mean that Lewis can't change the way he plays but he'll have much more freedom to operate and less to improve at kicking out to RT. With that said, if they don't manage to keep Wagner or Williams, it would seriously surprise me if they didn't go hard after a upper level FA LG in the mold of Lang or Leary. They would have to make upgrades there and the tackle class at FA isn't all that strong.

I don't know about keeping Lewis at LG if they lose Wagner. I think they would go after a major upgrade at LG if they lose a top RT and shift Lewis to the right. I know that Steve and Co. mentioned Lewis as a LG but I would assume that's under the assumption that Wagner is at RT. I personally don't think beefing up the OL starts and ends with Zuttah. If you talking about a physical and demanding run game, then, I don't know if Lewis is a good fit in a gap/power screen given his footwork and leverage. We'll see how he improves over the off season but it's a question mark, at RT the feet will still be a problem but he could play with more leverage given the height.

This is a good move. Really need to run the ball better. Roman runs a gap/power scheme so it could mean that Zuttah's days are numbered here. Think we can all draw up a conclusion that Zuttah isn't a good fit for that type of system. I think that means Lewis kicks out to RT and we sign a LG and draft a C. I might be overreacting but it wouldn't surprise me if we pulled those moves.

I don't think the Ravens are prepared to pay $11M for BW. Snacks is a good comparison since they're very similar players, Snacks was/is a bit better against the run than Williams, we'll see what happens. Just because the Ravens made him a priority doesn't mean they'll keep him.

It wasn't worth it but hey, in the end it is what it is.

For sure, FA doesn't offer a great center so that's going to have to come via the draft. I think you're going to have a good couple of options at C with Pocic, Elfien and Toth. Trade could be an option as well, we did trade for Zuttah so we might do the same, but I think what the team is looking for is a mauler and a good player at C. All the great OLs have a great or elite center. Runs up the middle is the most common run so you need to have a physical and bulldozing C if you want to run a man/gap scheme which is the team's desire. I think Wagner leaving might be a bit justified. All the great OLs are proficient in three area's, LT, Guard, and C. RT is usually the weak spot for teams like Dallas, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Oakland. All those teams have a great OL but their weak link is RT. I think the Ravens are going after a LG and I think Ron Leary, TJ Lang, and Kevin Zietler could be guys they are looking at.

How accurate are they on a year to year basis? $11M is way too high and I doubt the Ravens will pay that price for a NT. The Ravens did say KO was a priority when they kept Yanda, but in the end they bowed down to the Market. I know if the same applies here but we all knew that KO was getting more than what the Ravens offered him. I really don't think that's what he's going to get, but if that's the case then I don't think the Ravens will be paying that price.

I think you're right, but ZBS fits more of the mold of guys like Zuttah, Wagner, Lewis and Stanley who aren't guys who play with the most leverage but athletic and well footed. Lewis is a guy who at 6'6 plays a bit high at times and struggles with leverage because of his height so it could explain why he had trouble run blocking but was pretty damn good as a pass blocker. We had injuries in 2014 with the left side that forced Hurst and Urschel in and we ran the ball pretty well, towards the end of the season we lost Monroe and Wagner to injuries and filled in Urschel and Hurst and ran the ball very well. I think what the Ravens need is another mauler, someone nasty if they want to run the power run scheme. I think Kubiak did a great job given the circumstances. Yanda did say that the Ravens mixed it up a bit, but I too was surprised at the disappearance of ZBS. I think the Ravens want to move in the direction of a gap/man block scheme. I think the team is going to demand more maulers so that's probably why they want to change the OL style, which could lead to letting go of Wagner.