Raven1995

  3 hours ago, bioLarzen said:

I may be in the majority, but I don't see Terrance West as a true #1 RB. He's a good one, a serviceable one, one who will bring you good average preformance - but not one which will elevate the offense. I strúongly believe that the fact that we haven't had a really good RB since Ray Rice has contributed to the dismal overall performance of the O in huge ways. Therefore I don't think that, until we get a guy who's at least as good asa Rice was, our O will be considerably better than it was in the recent years. Terrance West is not the talent level this O needs. And, judged by his first season, neither is Dixon - although it's too early to really put a grade on him. If Greg Roman won't be able to replicate the miracle Kubiak could do with Forsett, it's not gonna be a major upghrade over the past couple of seasons. And with that level of run game...I don't think we should expect a lot.

If we could get Kenneth Dixon though the season without injury, we would actually be able to see if he can be that #1 RB

 

Without Injury or failing a drug test.

  2 hours ago, fusuymada said:

Ancient strategies no longer address the existing NFL.

Last year our defense was great until the fourth quarter. Why would that be? Well, when the offense is only on the field 20 minutes out of 60 (because we cant get a first down), and our defense is running on about 50% energy, then they are going to get beat. Everyone says, we need defense because we got beat late in games. NO, we need offense so we can keep our defense off the field and fresh. I don't care if we draft 15 defensive players, you can only put 11 on the field at one time, when an offense goes no huddle and our defense can't sub, and our guys have already been out there for 35 minutes leading into the last 2 minutes of the game, they are not going to be able to cover even average wide receivers.

I don't believe until Ozzie and Eric go and we lose this affinity for everything defense and we actually GET some offensive weapons, we wont be more than an 8-8 team no matter how many defensive studs you have.

This is where myth doesn't meet reality....

Fun facts from the 2016 season:

1. Our TOP average for the season was 30:46. So while the 20 minutes things is cute, its horrendously wrong. Basically, the offense and the defense were on the field for roughly the same amount of time during the season... on average.

2. We had more first downs than our opponents (316 for Ravens, 294 for opponents)

3. We ran more offensive plays than our opponents (1,077 for Ravens, 993 for opponents)

All of this obviously ignores the fact that we've managed to win many games in several seasons without many offensive weapons. 2014 certainly comes to mind (which I know some fans treat like it was a decade ago).

Long list of teams with loads of offensive weapons that would absolutely kill to win 8 games every year, because they don't.

A little perspective goes a long way...

Totally agree. If you look at the Pittsburgh game from December, we had over a 9 minute advantage.

  7 minutes ago, Raven1995 said:

  51 minutes ago, RavensDE said:

Are people really that upset we didn't take a WR?

WR's generally take a year or two to adjust to the pros and are at high risk of not panning out compared to other positions. There was no offensive savior here. We had a great draft by all accounts. People give us B's because they feel we needed offensive talent, but say we got great value at every pick. If we are depending on our fresh out college pass catchers to save us we are not a top flight organization. If we are getting the best players we can out of the draft and patching short term holes in free agency we are setting the best course for long term success.

No, I don't think upset over Receivers, the top 3 were gone by the time the Ravens picked. Also, 3 Quarterbacks were taken and OJ Howard fell to us. A great TE (Sharpe, Heap) and Running Game is also what the Ravens were known for besides a Great Defense.

I mean that's great, but you also have a bunch of young TEs on the roster already, so do we just throw them away?

There's what we WERE known for, and there's what we are NOW known for. They don't have to be the same thing.

We didn't used to be a team that invested heavily in the QB position. Now we are, and so are all the consistent good teams in this league.

Times change. Teams change.

We have a bunch of Tight Ends that were on Injured Reserve last year, Ben Watson 37 in December, Williams and Gilmore. One who is more of a blocking tight end who has been suspended 2 times and one more will be out of the league. Pitta who is one of my favorites but he gets no YAC. Tight End is still very important in the NFL and its not one of the Ravens Strengths as so many people beleive.

Are people really that upset we didn't take a WR?

WR's generally take a year or two to adjust to the pros and are at high risk of not panning out compared to other positions. There was no offensive savior here. We had a great draft by all accounts. People give us B's because they feel we needed offensive talent, but say we got great value at every pick. If we are depending on our fresh out college pass catchers to save us we are not a top flight organization. If we are getting the best players we can out of the draft and patching short term holes in free agency we are setting the best course for long term success.

No, I don't think upset over Receivers, the top 3 were gone by the time the Ravens picked. Also, 3 Quarterbacks were taken and OJ Howard fell to us. A great TE (Sharpe, Heap) and Running Game is also what the Ravens were known for besides a Great Defense.

Does anyone know if Jon Toth has sigend with another team? He was one of the mid-to-late round Centers mocked to the Ravens in quite several mocks. I klnow he went undrafted - but I don't know if he's still available or ha been signed by another team as an UDRFA...

I saw where he is gonna sign with the 49ers

Not completely. Jimmy Smith and Michael Campanaro missed a lot of the season. If we can get those 2 back for 16 games each it will be worth. But we have to wait till the end of the Season to evaluate.

  On 4/8/2017 at 9:13 PM, Chuckx999 said:

Flacco's greedy contracts take up too much Cap Space!!! You got that right!!!

Also the draft has been to hit or miss. WHo's fault is that, Ozzie or scouts???

Team needs help everywhere, players. coaches, and front office!!!

With regard to Joe's "greedy contracts", remember that his Super Bowl-winning contract was back-loaded, and as such Flacco had the following "cap hits" during these seasons: 2013 -- $6.8M (5.32% of team cap, lower than Suggs $13M, Ngata $11.5M, and Yanda $7.45M); 2014 -- $14.8 mil (11.85% of cap; also on team - Ngata $14M, Yanda $8.45M, Suggs $7.8M, Webb $7.5M); 2015 -- $14,55M (10.30% of cap; also on team - Webb $9.25M, Monroe $7.7M, Dumervil $7.375M, Yanda $6.98M, Pitta $6.2M). Flacco's cap hit was supposed to be $28.55M in 2016, $31.15M in 2017, and $24.75M in 2018; with his restructured deal, the new cap hits are $22,55M in 2016 (also on team - Webb $9.5M, Suggs $7.45M, Dumervil $7.375M), $24.55M in 2017 (also on team - J. Smith $12.6M, Yanda 9.125M, Wallace $8M, and Suggs $6.95M), and $24.75M in 2018 (also $26.5M in 2019, $28.25M in 2020, and $24.25M in 2021).

Compare Flacco's cap hits to Matt Ryan, drafted #3 in the same 2008 draft: 2011 -- Ryan $13.25M cap hit (10.45% of team cap), Flacco $5.725M (4.81%); 2012 -- Ryan $13.5M hit (10.63%), Flacco $8M (6.03%); 2013 -- Ryan $9.6M hit (7.86%), Flacco $6.8M (5.32%); 2014 -- $17.5M hit (13.16%), Flacco $14.8M (11.85%); 2015 -- Ryan $19.5M hit (14.31%); 2016 -- Ryan $23.75M hit (15.3%), Flacco $22.55M (14.94%); 2017 -- Ryan $23.75M (13.96%), Flacco $24.55M (14.48%). [numbers courtesy of sportrac.com]

Flacco definitely needs to step up his game, but who has had more postseason success, he or Ryan? Before this year's trip to the Super Bowl (a legendary loss with a big 2nd half lead helped by someone taking a big sack...), the Falcons had missed the playoffs the previous three seasons and had gone 1-4 in the playoffs since 2008, this despite the presence of receivers Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez, and Roddy White...

Well said.

  13 hours ago, fluffy201 said:

Correa has the size, and if he can run with te's and add some speed in the middle that would be great. They really do need to find what position he is best suited for and stick with it rather than try him at various positions. Hopefully he comes into his own this year. I'll try to stay optimistic. He has the big tackles in front to let him roam free, and we really locked up the secondary, I am actually really impressed. One of the biggest weaknesses and now one of the biggest strengths. Still worried about the O line. Really like to see them get a tackle in the first and possibly the best center in the second. If they can build a dominate offensive line, the Ravens should be pretty good team next year.

What happened to your optimism?! If we draft like last year and address the Oline like we have addressed other positions this offseason then I'd say this team should be dangerous

I'm very optimistic. I just hope Ozzie goes for Quality over Quantity. I would like to see us Move up in the first round and get a play-maker on offense or defense.

  On 4/9/2017 at 0:37 PM, woolly61 said:

  On 4/9/2017 at 2:12 AM, law215 said:

Sounds like excuses or an attempt to justify. If it's a level playing field how are the Raiders and Chiefs stocking team with talent while still making the playoffs? How are the Steelers able to add quality receivers every draft? Maybe what they been doing since 1996 needs to change?

I don't think the Ravens are necessarily bad at drafting, I think other teams are doing a better job of drafting and developing. I also believe the FO lacks confidence in their ability to draft and coaches ability to develop. Why else would they resign Webb in a draft that's deep in secondary? Why sign Watson last year with 4 TEs already on the roster?

This makes me laugh...you might want to use two other teams as examples than the Raiders and the Chiefs. Granted the Raiders went 12-4 last year...but you do realize they missed the playoffs the previous 13 years! Of those 13 years, the Raiders lost 10 or more games 10 times, with two 8-8 seasons and a 7-9. The Chiefs? Well, they have been in the playoffs 3 of the last 4 seasons, but the Chiefs have won one (1!) playoff game since 1993 (the 2015 wild card game vs. the legendary Brian Hoyer-led Texans). In the 19 years since 1998 the Chiefs missed the playoffs 13 times, and 9 of those were with losing records.

You making my point. The Raider got their act together because they CHANGED drafting every fast player from the combine in the first round to getting a solid coach like Del Rio and evaluating talent. The Raiders are trending up.

They are doing a better job ' today' than the Ravens.

It is going to catch up to them to them soon. They are going to have to Pay Khalil Mack and Derek Carr after next year and then Amari Cooper. They Overpayed for Kelechi Osemele Last year so their Big Salary Cap will dwindle Quickly.

  On 4/8/2017 at 6:16 PM, whobilly said:

  On 4/8/2017 at 2:01 PM, CQ1 said:

"Other teams catching up"?.....Well its all about perspective. You can view it from the Eisenberg angle, and I'll view it from the CQ1 angle- or the ROFO angle (kudos from a member that said I should go root on a Royal Farm related team......that's a classic; for now I'll root on their chicken :)
Quite frankly, since Flacco's emergence into the league, the entire team chemistry has since quickly eroded. Until we can figure out all of the pieces- and, or weapons that are needed to seemingly nurture- or as I tend to see it, pacify him, from the fans point of view. As long as Joe continues to constantly check down, stare down and or stay in the pocket to long- other teams will continue to catch up. I cant wait to hear what the purple-fluff, excuses are going to be this year. Off to Rofo :)

Just curious. How did you feel about Joe when Lee Evans couldn't hang onto the ball in the endzone in the AFC Title Game against the Pats in 2011, when he lead them to great wins in the playoffs and the Ravens captured the ultimate prize, when the D could not hang onto a 14 point lead against the Pats in the playoffs, or when the D couldn't hang on vs the Steelers last year. Wow. That's what I call erosion. You must have loved Chris Redman, Elvis Grbak, and Kyle Boller.

Flacco played on some truly stacked teams. That's why he made the Playoffs 6 times and won a SB. We have overpaid for his talent and now we sit in a position where we can't always retain the guys we need to and we can't add the talent we need to on both sides of the ball in Free Agency. January Joe is a better QB, but don't forget who we lost since 2012. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Ray Rice, Haloti Ngata, Boldin, Birk, KO, Pollard, Ellerbe, Corey Graham, Pernell McPhee, (Pitta's not the same), (Suggs is no longer in his prime). We need cap space to reload and stack the Roster. Flacco's greedy contracts take up too much Cap Space.

The 2012 Defense was not stacked. They had the worst defense to win a Super in the last 7 years. If you're gonna blame someone for the contract you have to blame the front office not Flacco. If someone offered you 28.5 million a year are you going to say no?

  1 hour ago, usmccharles said:

  2 hours ago, BiggMack91 said:

hope we don't get mangold and we will live to regret not getting anything for TJ he was worth more than 25 spots in the 3rd so don't say we got a 3rd rounder for him because we didn't we took another loss just like zuttah

So you would rather have TJ for one more year then let him leave and get nothing? got it. 25 spots in a draft is a lot....

25 spots in a draft is a lot depending on where it happens. If we moved up 25 spots in the 7th round... not such a big deal.... that guy probably will still not make the team.

If we move up 25 spots in the 1st round.... that is giant. (even the 2nd) but the further back you get the less it mean.

with that said. We gave up a starter, a third round pick and a future third or fourth round pick to move up 25 spots in the middle of the draft. I feel like that was a lot for what we gained

If we moved up 25 spots and got a 4th rounder to cover the future comp pick.... I get it.

If we moved up 25 spots and even got a future 5th rounder now for a potential 3rd of 4th then...okay..

but to move up now... lose a player and a future player.... I don't feel like it was enough (and a 3rd or 4th rounder -should be a future player)

I think Ozzie is going for Quality over Quantity.

  56 minutes ago, drillem said:

I'd really like to see our team develop another qb along side Flacco for the future. Why fall off a cliff when Flacco retires. Get someone who can actually replace him if necessary both now, if he gets injured and in the future when he is out of football.

Too soon for that. For starters, somebody you draft will only be on a rookie deal for 4 years, and Joe is very likely to be here that long, so the guy we drafted would likely be a starter on another team after his contract ends as opposed to us. That's also assuming the guy you get is any good, which is very difficult to find these days and even worse when you're talking mid-to-late rounds.

Teams don't have to fall off a cliff when their long-term starters career ends. Guys like the Colts and Packers didn't fall off a cliff when Favre or Manning left. Have no idea what the QB situation will look like 4-5 years from now in the draft... could easily find a week 1 starter there.

The Packers Lucked out getting Rodgers and he had 3 years to sit on the bench behind Favre. The Colts did fall off a cliff in 2011 when Peyton Manning was injured, that's how they got the number one pick in the 2012 draft Andrew Luck.

I don't think Flacco is elite but I do believe if he had the weapons like Ryan, Big Ben, Luck, Carr, Dalton and those guys, we would be considering him as an elite QB. We need to do a better job at drafting receivers. We bring in a really good 1k receiver and a DB that's durable on defense, I think we can make a run in the playoffs.

It would take along time to mention all the Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame Receivers those Quarterbacks had to throw to in their "Prime". Its very easy for Joe None. Steve Smith should be in the Hall of Fame in 5 years but he was 35 when he got Here. Also, Anquan Bolden 30 and Derrick Mason 31 when they got here.

The best way to finish the game is to Run the ball which they gave up on. It tires the other defense and keeps ours fresh.

I said for four years while Pitta was out that we had a great talent in Juszczyk and we totally underutilized him. Aiken didn't make it on several teams and in his entire career he had one season where he had almost 1000 yard season and the best he can ever hope for is a 3rd or 4th receiver. Juszxzyk however, was another Danny Woodhead but better. He can run as well, is a better pass receiver, and he can also block when necessary which Woodhead can not do.

I am not a person to call for the coaches head, but the decisions to hire the OC's we have has been horrible except for the one where Ozzie told John he was hiring Kubiak and that was the best coach that Harbaugh ever hired but Harbaugh never hired him. I am seeing this team turn into a dumpster fire and if we don't have a playoff season this year, it is time to move on from Harbaugh as he has lost complete focus, or never had it, on what was important.

7 times in four Years how would you know he can run better? He had one great run in the Pittsburgh game and that is it. Woodhead has rushed 503 times for 2182.

  On 3/18/2017 at 1:21 PM, bigcatfrank1 said:

Since we are on the topic of Rookies, The Ravens drafted strong last year and had a great post draft. So the ability to use those players has arrived. Here is a list ofthe last year rookies not to lose sight of: All of them look to be returning for a strong second year-

Ronnie Stanley- so glad Oz listened to me #1..lol, wow what a player. Wowzer

Micheal Pierce DT/NT - last year speaks for itself! All Pro in the making, wow

Tavon Young CB- I think he is as much a starter as anyone on the team. Wow

Matthew Judon OLB- This kid should be the replacement for Doom, big shoes to fill, but man did he shine at times last year,

Alex Lewis G/T- now back on the O line, can play G or T, when teamed up with Yanda or Stanley will shut down one side. Exciting young and on the verge of Pro bowl play.

Chris Moore WR- Wide receivers seem to perform better in their second year, ie Aiken, Periman, Torrey Smith, etc. especially for the Ravens. This kid could be something very special.

Maurice Canady CB- Canady showed sparks of tremendous talent in coverage, when tackling, on special teams and when put in at certain packages he played position well. The speed of the game in the backfield is about as fast as it gets on two legs. Here is a young talent who looks to have the legs.

Kennith Dixon RB- boy I hope this suspension doesn't hurt his development, I believe Ken showed that he was ready for the NFL. I would like to see him in the #2 role behind even a stronger #1 Running back ( no disrespect to West, Unfortunately I just think West is a proven #2). plug- D Murray-

Willie Henry DT- As with Lewis lost early in the season, this guy is a Beast!

Bronson Kaufusi DE- "ditto" I can't wait to see this kid in action! a Beast!

Stephane Nembot OT - Played very well on second squad, shows signs of great potential. It is time needed on the field that will tell the tale.

Matt Skura C- Matt flew under the radar last year, getting his development and NFL level experience on the PS. He could be much more the player that anyone expects.

Correa Kamalei LB- KO, down the list for a reason. Here is a player who got in fights with multiple veterans during camp last year. Who do you think won out in that deal? In my opinion, He had the sad awakening of becoming an NFL "team player" and I would bet you it started in the locker room. Get your head on straight KO, hopefully all leave last year behind them. If he uses the raw talent that everyone saw in the draft, there is huge potential. Its time to become a Pro.

Keenan Reynolds WR/KR- What does this kid have to offer? There has to be something he can do to participate, I am eager to see.

Patrick Onwuasor ILB- didn't see a lot of action, what play time was seen appeared to be solid. The jury is still out if he can become a starter, but there is potential to work with.

I am not sure any team in the NFL will return with this kind of Rookie class (+15), not including a couple additions from the off season. So lets go Sophomores, go get what you came for and give the veterans a run for their money!











 

Well, it looks as if Ozzie drafted a bunch of All-Pro's last year. That was probably one of the most homerish posts I've ever seen. Lol. 

I thought it was pretty enlightening. Didn't pull any punches on Correa.

John Ross looks like more than just a deep threat.........making him a Raven would be super interesting. Especially if he returned kicks at all

I don't think the Ravens would go for a Receiver in the first round again so soon. They Don't want to end up like the Detroit Lions did and Draft WR's every year in the first round and then turn into a Joke.

Call me crazy but I wouldn't be too mad if Hurst played RT next year... he had some decent games at LT when Monroe was out and would benefit from having Yanda next to him.

This feels like another down year but we should have plenty of comp picks and a top half selection next year.

Crazy, but maybe like a fox.

How do the Browns continue to always have so many draft picks and so much salary cap space?

Its the 5th time since 2007 that they have had 2 number ones in one Draft. I Know they got the second one this year from Philadelphia in the Carson Wentz trade.

Is the Bengal's Cedric Perrman the same one we drafted in the 6th round in 2009?

Yes, he has 70 carries for 349 yards, 5 yard per carry average in his NFL Career, not bad.

  19 hours ago, BiggMack91 said:

if they cut webb,doom,watson,zuttah,wright and Arrington try to trade away Kendrick Lewis and renegotiate Mike Wallace contract we should be able to resign Williams an have some cap space to make moves in free agency

Bigg,

Expect that the Ravens will lose both Williams and Wagner. Looking at their history, the big ticket players more often than not (nearly always) find new homes. In recent years...Troy Smith, Bolden, Osemele, Ngata, J. Jones, Kruger, Dicksen, Scott, J. lewis...the list is long. This year you can add to it Williams and Wagner, and next year Jernigan until we can get out from under Flacco's contract. One can argue in many cases, the lackluster benefits to the teams that got these FAs; however, this is a cr@p shoot...one can never predict how a player will adapt to a new system i.e. Reed, J. Lewis, T. Smith, P. Kruger. The Ravens have seen this first hand.

But the writing is already on the wall; Wagner already rejected the Ravens first offer. I am not expecting that either of these will remain; especially with the Ravens cap space among the lowest in the NFL (of note...the Patriots have among the highest cap spaces available in the NFL...go figure!!!).

I think the biggest mistake is Aiken. He played remarkably well in 2015 when he was given the opportunity to play. This year, his time was severely limited as were his catches. But when you have a quarter back who measures his successes by how many times he throws to Pita, who can compete with that? Why is that Aiken's fault? In 2015. Aiken played with the same passion that we have seen in Steve Smith and it went unnoticed. His leaving the Ravens will come back to haunt us...I guarantee it.

I did like Aiken in 2015. I think they should cut Pitta. I like the guy and what he has overcome but he is too much of a Crutch for Flacco. Joe needs to come out of his comfort zone and strecth the field. He has done it before with Bolden, Torrey and Steve Smith, and with Jacoby Jones.

  3 hours ago, Chuckx999 said:

Hire Ed Reed to help, train, give our secondary a lot of attitude. I guess Harb's is just afraid he would be to strong to deal with.

WE NEED ED!!!! Let Harb's go. Anyone can coach a losing team.

Why? So we can be as "good" as Buffalo was last year?
No thanks.

Ed Reed was not the Secondary coach, he was basically an intern. Also, Greg Roman got fired by the Bills and we got him, you want to crap on that too?

The draft is a Crap shoot anyway you look at. If he is still their in the third round I'd say take him. As for Mckinnie, He did have that great run in the 2012 playoffs. As long as Banner performs that's all that counts.

  50 minutes ago, jravens1313 said:

Don't be surprised if we use a high pick on a TE. Right now we have a lot of guys that we can't rely with injuries. None of them have proven that they are top TE's although Pitta once was. This is also a strong class for the position.

I would be shocked because we don't need a TE we already have to many

I wouldn't. Watson is too old and coming back from an Achilles Injury. Gilmore is great when not Injured but he has had 3 serious injuries in the last 2 years. Maxx Williams is coming back from serious Knee injury and who knows how he will play. Pitta does not get separation or can block. Boyle can Block but gets suspended allot. If the TE from Alabama is their in the 1st round Ozzie will take him.

  17 hours ago, sami said:

In order for a "playmaker" to make plays, you have to give them the opportunity. Camp is a playmaker but they only use him for end arounds.

because he gets hurt. You're right though. He should be our Welker or Hogan. In the game where Joe threw 5 touchdowns in the first quarter against the Bucs (remember that game, haters?), I think camp had 2 TDs.

They need to use Camp more than 3 or 4 plays a game. The games he was in last year he was great. I'd keep him in the backfield to keep the defense honest and draw them to the line and open up plays for Wallace and Perriman.