polynesian15

We should easily draft top 5, if not top 3. Do we really need that very first pick?

Aside from the fact that Brady just seems to click with whatever's at his disposal - the same can't really be said of Joe. Either way, kind of a moot point to be discussing a FA signing from a couple years back. Why don't we look ahead and see how we can battle proof this squad for next season - a few tweaks here and there and we should be right back in it.

Has anyone ever told you should be an NFL GM? You certainly have the ability to be one. Lafell is playing for the Pats (offense), which always seems to work tremendously well. You can't compare that situation to what he would have been able to do in Baltimore. (As fans) Let's just take this awful season right on the chin. The worse the record the better at this point imo. I imagine a lot of people are getting more and more frustrated by the day, especially Bisciotti. Thus I think this season will bring forth change that has been needed for some time - defensive coaching etc. On top of that we'll get to draft at the very top of the draft, which should be an exciting, novel experience. Rant over

I hear you, I'm also desperate to see him on the field... even if he's not ready and it means he'll snap ALL his *stuff* up. Toughen up kid, get that macho facade on!

2010/2011 playoffs, Ravens @ Steelers. My roommate at the time was a Steelers fan and he suggested we watch the game. Up until then football meant nothing to me, "too many stops" was one of my main arguments for disliking the sport. But I gave it a shot and for some reason I decided to root against my mate and the Steelers. He explained me basic rules, notable players etc., and I slowly started getting into the game. I remember Ray and Ed bouncing off the screen - passion, heart, presence sprinkled with great plays. That's when I got into football AND the Ravens, have followed them closely ever since. This season has been tough so far though, I'm beginning to realize how blessed we've been for the past 5+ years. I prefer a nasty, hard nosed, impenetrable defense any day over a touchdown circus. Let's get back to the roots this coming offseason. Go Ravens!

Good point, hadn't thought of that. Let's retool, regroup and strike back next year. This year I'll focus all my energy on rooting against the Pats.

Aiken is definitely on pace for some decent numbers if he can continue (to be "allowed") to contribute. I think he's a solid possesion guy who's shown that he can also make splash plays (Oakland + Cleveland games). And like you said, Gillmore can make things happen. Joe has targets, he just seems to get stuck on Smitty at times imo. You're right, Joe isn't Tom or Aaron. Hopefully he realizes the organization's need for cap room to be able to support him with a good supporting cast. Not being able to produce epic numbers with no name WR's is one thing, consistently throwing eye sore INTs like he's currently doing is unacceptable for a 120 million dollar man. Like Tru said, my comment was marinated in irony and served on a bed of sarcasm. I generally like Joe though, I was just venting in the aftershock of Sunday evening. Football is not much fun this season

Gillmore and Aiken have been solid when given a shot, Juice also seems to "capitalize" when he's involved. Joe heavily favors Smith and when he can't find him open he starts doubting himself and procrastinates. Not sure what happened with Joe during the Super Bowl run (possibly supporting cast which we can't afford with his current contract), but it's becoming obvious that it was sort of a fluke. He needs a good ground game and good receivers to avoid messing up. Thus the reason why I think he should be willing to take a cut. I like him but he's an enigma - plays special at times during January but absolutely tanks during the regular season...

Give Flacco a raise, he's very deservant of it.

As did it last year. I can't remember it ever being this bad, football is no fun when your squad is demolished 5 games into the season.

C'mon man, be real here. Oz has established himself plenty, that he won't get booted over 1 bad season - use common sense instead of this 'sensationalistic' garbage. Trestman should also be safe, the offense hasn't lost us any games imo except maybe against Denver. We're around the 10th mark in points and yards, and that's in the first year of yet another new offense - "without ANY playmakers" as all the haters like to point out. On top of that the O-line has been dissapointing - so offense is not too shabby all things considered. Pees however needs to go, imo we need a fresh approach on the defensive side. We should really focus on pass rush + secondary in the top of the draft/FA, along with a coaching revolution. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Well, the defense IS broken, so mix things up - try new things. Rant over, go Ravens.

To be fair, football is entertainment - part of a capitalistic business if you will. It's not like they're saving lives, ending war or addressing world hunger out there on the field. Let's keep it in perspective. The way they (defense especially) have been playing so far I'd say you can already bring buzz words such self respect, pride and integrity into question. They look flat and unmotivated out there, when they miss assignments etc. they don't cuss each other out - just hang their head and shrug their shoulders. More importantly it seems like there are never any defensive adjustments... Things look grim already, I (IMO) would like to at least get good draft position out of this abomination of a season thus far.

Like other have mentioned, Jimmy has been pretty dissapointing in this season thus far. Giving up big plays left and right (to rookies, though our awful FS has to shoulder some of that as well. Hopefully it's just a post-injury confidence thing that he'll get through, otherwise we've paid yet another massive contract to a bum CB *cough* Webb *sneeze*.

Sort of like how Elam has been mis-utilized for most of his time here. It seems Harbs/the FO isn't willing to admit the need for a coaching change, hopefully this is because the season is all but over at this point. If they finish with 4-5 wins and the defense keeps playing soft/giving up leads, I sincerely hope Pees and secondary coaches are let go.

Purely based on highlight tape (which is what it is), I see Zeke more as a Jack of all trades master of none where Henry might be a bit more of a bust/boom situation - but what a BOOM if everything works out for him.

True, but he might also have been grossly misused? His lack of tackling ability has been a head scratcher though.

I know Flacco played at a terrific level during the SB run, but I sincerely hope he takes a cut this offseason. It should be obvious to him by now that his huge hit is constricting this team somewhat, and hopefully he hates losing like they've been doing so far this season. That might be the impetus for him to take a cut, we'll see I guess.

True, this is a very sad situation. Maybe he'll reconsider coming back for the last year of his contract, if next season some way somehow looks more promising.

To me it looks like the defense is already doing just that. It's a sad day to be a Ravens fan, but hopefully it will spur (drastic) change for the better.

Aiken has produced at a good rate when targeted this year, if he continues he could end up with about 50 recs for 7-800 yards. Not exactly scrub numbers.

We need turnover on the defensive side of the ball, coaching as well as player personnel. New DC and a new secondary coach would probably be a good start. Cutting Webb seems about time, he's regressed and he can't stay healthy. Top 3 draft needs imo: Edge rush, CB/FS, O-line. Seek WR (Tate/Garcon perhaps) + additional rush/secondary through FA. I'm kinda regretting spending money on gamepass this year, gamedays are pretty depressing.

Good point, we've been living a lie which has been offset by legends such as 52 and 20. Church! He just sits in his box looking tired/unenthusiastic/uninspired/uninvolved etc. (many more un- words where that came from).

I feel like pass rush and (left) tackle are huge needs, after that we seriously need help in the secondary- likely a ball hawk safety who has a clue. We're severely lacking a defensive difference maker up front, and if Joe doesn't get more time to read through his options then it (almost) doesn't matter who he's throwing to. Things look pretty gloomy atm, I hope the FO finally feel the urgency to make drastic changes.

That may or may not be true, point is it would have to be on an empty practice field. 'Game speed' entails 'game conditions' and all that comes with that (defensive obstacles, mental pressure, catching the pass etc.) At this point Givens has more experience, and has proven his deep threat ability against great defenders such as Richard Sherman. I just want another WIN plz, go Ravens!

Imo the 40 yard dash is as much about technique as it is about speed, not to mention actual play speed on the field. Perriman ran 4.24 at his pro day, but it's obvious that number slows down when you involve routes, defensive opposition etc. Also, people here have brought Waller's ability to get off the line into question. The 40 yard dash timer starts as soon as the athlete moves. If you have shoddy technique and roll out of the gate, you easily lose some time on the field. I don't think it is representative at all of actual game speed. Having watched Givens' highlights, I definitely think he looks more quick/swift than Waller. Givens finishes the day with 4 rec/83 yards/1 TD - one can hope and pray right