EdTheMythicalOne

Crockett Gilmore is going to come on like gangbusters. He has done a good job of lowering expectations for himself and the Ravens have done a nice job of flying him under the radar, but he was drafted in the third round. To put that into perspective Ed Dickson was drafted in the third round and Dennis Pitta was drafted in the fourth..in the same year mind you. If all they thought of him was that is was a big bodied blocking TE, they could have waited until the later rounds or sniffed around the UDFA list to bring in a big body TE. Gilmore is 6'7''...the tallest target Flacco will have. He's got very long arms and big hands. We was listed about 250lbs last season and supposedly is up to about 265-270lbs with added upper body strength. He lettered in Basketball, Wrestling, Track and Field, and Football in high school where he played WR, TE, and DE. He played both DE and TE in college. The guy is a beast. He accepts his role as a blocker and that means you can start him and not worry about him taking a play off because he thinks he's a WR. Now that he's the number 1 guy I can see him and Flacco hooking up quite a bit and I think he'll really shine in the redzone. I am really going to miss Dennis Pitta because he made some outstanding plays for this team. I really feel for him getting hurt like that and give him lots of credit for coming back from this once already. If he can come back again it will be nothing short of amazing but I really want him to do what is best for his long term health. I don't want to see him going down like that again.

They forgot to mention Steven Means who is built more like a 3-4 linebacker at 6'3'' 260lbs, but he's still listed as a DE. He is supposedly a good pass rusher based off what was said of him in camp. I don't think he's an every down player, but I could see him coming in on pass rushing situations and sharing snaps with whomever the main guy is. You'd have to think the Ravens would go with the veteran Canty. Tyson has been around for awhile and so far has only shown a flash. Time for some "Next Man Up." Who is gonna step up and claim that spot? Which ever guy claims that number two spot is in line for some pretty significant playing time. It would be nice to see Lewis-Moore stay healthy and display some of that talent we've been hearing about for the last few seasons.

You are welcome for the reply. I like the thought behind your idea because it would make gaining yards on short yardage run situations pretty tough. That might be a good goal line defense situation. Hill is better than Poillard in coverage but I don't think you want to exascerbate that with another safety that doesn't cover well. With Elam going down and Brooks being hurt as well, that leaves it up to Anthony Levine and Brynden Trawick. If memory serves, Levine was the one they slotted in to play cornerback for a bit and he actually wasn't too bad all things considered. Trawick's claim to fame so far is running into Jacoby Jones on a kick return and busting Jones' knee. I think they need another body in the mix just in case and I am sure they are looking.

Seems like the Raiders made that decision last season. And you seemd to forget that 2013 was a full season for him. The Ravens paid Bulger a nice sum of money to be a back up at the tail end of his career too. That just kinda goes with the territory. If you want a veteran QB to be your back up you have to pay them the going rate. What perspective do you want me to put them in? The guy totally tanked after playing two games in 2013. You want to blame his offense, but his back up put up better numbers than Schaub did. Then he was the 3rd string QB for one of the worst teams in the game of football. I'm just telling it like it is.

But it is worth noting that the Texans eventually benched him and his replacement produced better in that same offense, the Texans didn't bring Schaub back, and Schaub couldn't even win the 2nd string job for the Raiders. So while camp picks don't mean much, pre season picks won't mean a lot either because he won't be playing against starters and he won't be using real game day offense. Teams dumb down their offensive and defensive schemes in the pre season so they don't give anything away. Pretty much all I am hearing are excuses for the guy. He was a turnover machine in Houston...and with as terrible as Oakland was he couldn't win the starting or back up job. Think about that. All that being said, he's a Raven and if he plays I will be cheering him on and hoping for the best, but I won't be expecting different results from him. Let's just hope for another super healthy season for Flacco and then Matt Schaub won't matter.

Yeah, they let Tony McDaniel go and he's known more as a plugger/run stopper guy. Urban was supposed to be an end rusher & ruyn stopper. It is a shame the guy is hurt again for another season. He and Lewis-Moore have been bitten by the injury bug hard. They gave Moore several chances to show what he can do and I am sure Urban will get the same chance next season. Ultimately though, if you can't stay on the field you can't help your team. I hope we don't have to let these guys go because of that and then watch them become good players elsewhere. To answer another poster's question, why are people getting so upset, it is because of the potential these guys are supposed to have and the fact that I don't think anyone like to see any player go down with an injury. I don't care if I dislike the other team and don't really care for the player as a player, but I never want to see anybody go down with an injury.

I wasn't looking at the scoreboard. I was looking at statistics and while situations and all do matter, in the end numbers really don't lie. I think the results speak for themselves. If 2013 wasn't his fault then why did he finally get benched? Why did Houston let him go if he was so good, and why wasn't he starting for the Raiders? As for the ground game in 2013, sure TD production was down, but the team rushed for 1783 yards which was 20th in the league. It isn't like they had the absolute worst rushing attack in the game. So I think 2013 and 2014 say plenty. He wasn't even good enough to start for the Raiders, and wasn't good enough to be their 2nd stringer.

I've seen the posts about how this is a frivilous thing to bring up. Camp INT's don't really matter and it is nothing to be concerned about. If we weren't talking about Matt Schaub though, it might be that way. In 2013 he had his worst season in the NFL. When you look at the numbers he threw 10TD and 14 INT. That doesn't look so bad. The problem becomes how and when he threw those picks. He was eventually benched because he was LOSING his team games. He wasn't able to manage leads. He was turning over the ball repeatedly in crucial situations. Then I decided to look up his game log from 2013. He won his first two games, oddly enough, these were the only two games of the 10 he played in which he threw more TDs that INTs. In 8 following games he either threw the same amount of TDs as INTs or MORE INTs than TDs. 6 of his 10 TDs came in those first two games. 11 of his 14 INTS came after those two games. So in 8 games he then threw 4TDs and 11INTs. Think about that. Then he went to the Raiders where he couldn't beat out Derek Carr or Matt McGloin. He only attempted 10 passes and threw 2 interceptions. So yes, you really don't know what to make of him until you see him out on the field. Even then it will be pre season ball with backups and vanilla offenses being run against vanilla defenses. Thing is, he was out on the field the last two seasons and the results kind of tell you the story.

I guess Matt Schaub read this post. All kidding aside, as I posted before it isn't like this interception thing is just now happening in training camp. He had an absolutely horrible season in his last stint as the Texans starter and was buried on the Raiders depth chart after awhile....The RAIDERS. A caveat though, if any team loses a starting QB the caliber of Joe Flacco, they are usually going to be in deep trouble. Not every day you can replace a franchise QB.

Right now you have Pollard whom is pretty much a known quantity. Rupturing his Achilles tendon; despite how well he's recovered from it, didn't do him any favors. He's also been known to rub teams the wrong way a bit. The demand for him really isn't very high in the market and since we already have younger guys on the roster who could provide the same level of production I think it would be silly to go after him right now. You know roster cuts will be coming throughout the pre-season and I bet you dollars to donuts that Ozzie already has every team's bubble players highlighted that he's interested in and will see if they are cut. There's usually a guy or two Ozzie grabs like this. These younger guys might offer a bit more upside than Pollard. There is also the notion that he should be sharing time with Will Hill and not starting along side him. That would possibly be one of the worst pass coverage tandems in the league. I'm also not really feeling warm and fuzzy with the whole, "Coach and I will have to have a man to man talk first..." Pollard's price might be right, but I don't know if he's the right player.

They have Elam listed as the third SS even though he's on IR. Like I said, this is a pre-season depth chart that wasn't made by the coaching staff.

Hen, While I like the idea of have two, strong, physical safeties roaming around the secondary there are a couple of issues. Hill is shaky on coverage and Pollard never was good at it. In today's NFL you really can't get away with trying to hide anyone. If an opposing team sees that Hill and Pollard are both in the deep secondary they will check out of a run if that is what they have called and try something deep down the middle or to test those guys in coverage. We need to emlpoy the set up they have. SS is the run support hammer hitter, and the FS is like having a nickel back in the game for over the top help in coverage.

Let's hold the phone on congratulating people on making it as a starter. This is a PRE SEASON depth chart that isn't even being released by the coaching staff. I think we all know who most of the starters will be if they are healthy. There really are only a few roster spots that might be in question. With Matt Elam going down, SS is virtually a lock for Will Hill. I don't even think there is a competition for 1st TE; it will be Crockett Gilmore. I think the guy lining up on the other side of Steve Smith Sr. is also already determined if that guy is 100% healthy. He's a first round pick, you really think he's gonna sit on the bench behind some undrafted free agents from a couple seasons ago? This is a motivation ploy. The only things really up in the air are the order of the depth charts and the special teams returners.

The team that turns the ball over more is usually the team that loses. You don't necessarily have to do that with interceptions. Fumbles work just as well or I would even call strong defensive stands that are 3 and outs turnovers. If you keep the ball out of the other teams offensive hands, you got a great chance to win. I think the key for the defense is to eliminate the myriad mistakes that were made last year that allowed receivers to get wide open with nobody covering them at all. That's not something I've seen on Ravens defense since the early days when Vinny would put up 31 points and the Defense would give up 38. They don't have to be flashy, they just need to be solid. More turnovers wouldn't hurt, but I don't think that is what the focus really has to be.

It seems like every time I am reading something about Schaub it is that he's throwing interceptions and pick sixes. He's become known for throwing picks lately and I don't think that it magically cures itself just because he comes to Baltimore. Something's clearly happened to him. Either he just isn't making the same reads anymore, or he's lost a bit more zip on his arm that was already not exactly a Howitzer canon to begin with. If Flacco goes down, we're in trouble.

This is exactly why I made a post in another thread that I am always excited to see the pre season games. Sure the guys won't be going up against the best players in the league when they step on the field, but it gives us a chance to see what these guys can do in actual game situations. Practice is one thing, the game is another. In camp, you know the guy lining up against you pretty well. You know what he does well and what he doesn't do well. When you go up against another team you have to rely on tape or scouting reports. You don't know what he's got until you face him. I definitely don't really pay much attention to what guys are doing in practice. I mean, I am glad they are looking good as opposed to horrible.

I really do hope Webb and Smith can stay healthy all season long. He's absolutely right and I said the same thing earlier this season. If they are both on the field this year the secondary is going to be massively improved over last season when we had back up safeties trying to play corner. Add in Will Hill at SS with a year of the playbook under his belt and a rangy FS like Lewis and I think this secondary can be pretty solid. With a front 7 like we have, that's all we really need. Too many times last season our team was beaten deep on silly plays that should have never happened. I'm glad the team went out and addressed this area this off season with the additions of Lewis and Arrington.

I think it is always a bit concerning whenever any player misses significant time due to injury. We were originally told this was a knee bruise and nothing serious. Now it is a knee strain. Strains simply take time to heal. I've had two pretty bad ones in my life in my quad and my back and was told both times the best treatment is doing as little as possible with those areas until you heal properly, then you rehab. If you come back too soon you are likely to re-injure the same area and possible hurt it even worse. That being said, there is no rush to get Perriman back out there. Let him heal, he's got plenty of time. I am a bit concerned about Urschel and Myers having concusstions this early on in camp. Hope they are okay and team is just being cautious with them. It never hurts to be too careful when head injuries might be looming. Hope the guys all heal up soon and can get back out there safely.

It seems almost a given that Joe Flacco is going to have to renegotiate his deal. Most Qb's do this because they know their big contract eats up way too much cap space. It is so much of a given that this will happen that the players want their signing bonuses to be nice. They get a bit up front because they know they will have to shave off a bit at the back end. If the team shows a lot of promise and is pretty much a lock to be a contender in the next few years or so, a lot of NFL QB's will redo their numbers in order to keep a core of the team together. This may not be quite the same situation for a perrenial losing team that never shows any signs of life. Another thing going for the team is if Flacco truly wants to be a Raven for life. If that is the case, players know that they will have to redo deals here and there in order to make that happen. Suggs has done it a number of times, other players have as well but I just can't name them right now. I am sure good veteran players like Yanda would be willing to back end some more of his money as well if he is re-signed in a couple of years to help keep a contending team in order.

hen, maybe this is a personal goal of his. I am sure he has the goal of winning a super bowl as well. What player doesn't want to get a ring? I really hope he does keep himself hungry and shooting to improve. Then I hope that the Ravens can work some cap magic and get this guy along with Yanda under contract. I think Joe Flacco is smart enough to realize that his bread is buttered by having a great offensive line in front of him and will be willing to make a team-friendly concession on his contract as long as he knows where that money is going. Suggs has already re-worked his contract numerous times for this goal and others have in the past. Part of why Ngata is gone is because he wasn't willing to do that at all..or at least not as much as the Ravens had wanted. I understand an NFL player getting whatever they can when they can. They are never really guaranteed tomorrow.

Success can be a dual edged sword. The bad side of it is that now that you've got a reputation for being somebody that can influence or even dictate the outcome of a game, teams will game plan against you specifically. They will find out what you don't do well and then exploit that as much as possible. It has happened to some of the all time greats. Deion Sanders was the best cover corner to play the came in my era. Knock was he couldn't, or simply wouldn't tackle. Teams stopped throwing to his side of the field and started running at him all the time. Our own Ray Lewis got gameplanned against and teams starting sending interior line men specifically out to but a big body on him because he had trouble shedding their blocks. Then as he aged and lost that step that all players do, he became a bit of a liability in pass coverage. Hello tight end slants over the middle and forcing him into man coverage situations against a TE. Sounds like Mosely is everything we had hoped for and his approach will certainly help him. Hope he turns out to be another all time Raven great. We've had some very special guys roll through Baltimore and sometimes I just sit back and think of all of the players we've had here. Not just guys that were Baltimore heroes, but guys that were the BEST at what they do.

I don't know why, but I am always super excited for preseason football because that's when I get to see all of the younger players we drafted and some of the guys that were UDFA signings, and some of the guys we are taking chances on to see what they actually look like in real time. You hear all of the clips when the Ravens sign a player. Of course they are going to say how good that player is. It would really be something if they came out and said, "Yes, we signed Joe Schmo today. He really doesn't do anything well, he's not fast, he's not strong, and he looks lost out there on the field at times, but we needed somebody and he's pretty much the best of what is out there. I just hope he can play some football for us and not stink up the joint too bad." I think it is pretty much a given that Jernigan is for real. We got a teaser from him in the games he played while Ngata was suspended. I like Campanaro but I worry about his durability in this league. But I really want to get a look at guys like Brent Urban, Kapron Lewis-Moore, Zadarius Smith, Kyle Arrington, and Kendrick Lewis as well as the new receiving corps.

Disappointing news for sure because I really wanted to see an improved Matt Elam. This just goes to show you that a football career can never be certain so if you are going to go for it, you need to go at it with everything you've got. You never know when a serious injury will rob you of playing time and who knows how Elam will bounce back. If he struggles when he comes back from this injury he will be left with some nagging thoughts about whether he really gave it his all and if he could have been better. Saying that he needed to take himself "to the next level" tells me that he was sort of taking things for granted. That he was already good enough to be here. The NFL is a different monster than college ball. Of course, this could be a great thing for him. He could take it like a lot of other players do as a wake up call. Rehab that injury, bust his tail when he's healthy to stay in shape, and even though he can't step on a field and play, he can have his butt in the film room and his nose in the playbook. Get well soon Matt!

You have to remember teams let players go for a reason. Sometimes it is simply about the money. When Kansas City had Lewis, they had an unproductive player who struggled against the run and the pass and was hit by nagging injuries. When Houston got him they thought he would be depth but wound up starting and having a good season. Despite his reputation for being a ball hawk; which I think is more that he just has his nose around the ball in more of the ground game as evidenced by his 80 tackles last season, he still struggles in pass coverage. Houston simply wasn't willing to give him a big pay day on a gamble and they have other players waiting in the wings. The Ravens were in need and were willing to take that gamble that last season wasn't a fluke. Glad to hear he has great football IQ and he does have a penchant for creating fumbles, so that always helps. We could really use dependable players and a level of consistency that was completely missing in every facet of the secondary. You don't have to have a bunch of top tier talent as long as everyone is on the same page and can take care of their assignments. This is where I think Lewis will help the most. I am not expecting the second coming of Ed Reed here. But a solid, dependable, stable part of the secondary that will make most of the plays he's supposed to.

I expect Maxx Williams to be the #2 TE for the Ravens this year. He wasn't noted for being a good blocker but I can see him doing a bit of damage in twin TE packages. Blocking though is really more about how much you want it. "Juice's" ability to block was in question coming into the NFL and was thought to be a pass catching FB. In one off season he shed any doubts of just how strong of a lead blocker he can be. Brandon Williams is just a freak of nature. Glad to see that handstand of his wasn't just some hype/fluke thing and he really is as strong as advertised. Having him come on like he has made us all forget about Terrence Cody and will make us not miss Ngata too much. Curious to see how Karpon Lewis-Moore can do if healthy and same thing goes for former hockey player Brent Urban. Lewis-Moore has gotten lots of praise for being a stellar player with a lot of potential, but injuries have robbed him of any opportunity to contribute. Urban was praised as well after being drafted last year, but blew out his knee and also wasn't able to get on the field. If either of these guys can show up it would give us some awesome depth along the front line.