Raven'evermore

I am a solid Ravens fan, can't wait for Sunday however I think John's report above is a classic case of SPIN. Until we get a solid number 2 receiver and our starting offensive line healthy I am not so sure how well we will move the ball versus Denver in that Environment. After watching pre season I do not worry too much about our front 7 even without the Big shoes of Haloti but I am not sold on the Secondary. I see everything after Jimmy Smith questionable and fear Peyton will pick us apart like Brady did in the 2nd half of the playoffs last year. HOPE I AM WRONG!

 I'm also concerned about the secondary.  However I like a lot of other posters here believe it's more about how the secondary is used. Not to beat a dead horse, but I mean, why give up so much yardage before making a tackle?  Someone on the boards made a point about how (I believe it was K. Lewis) looked lost out there. Well maybe that's because he's never played under those circumstances.  I wouldn't be surprised if Pees is let go somewhere near or after the first half of the season if we're giving up too many points.  Wins or not.

Ravenevermore.... I agree with what you wrote and I will add to it. CONS: 1. The schedule is tough. 2. There are some key players with durability question marks (Jimmy Smith, L Webb, Timmy Jernigan, BPerriman) 3. Our DC has not yet made the most of the talent that he has. 4. Flaccos career has been marked with inconsistency. and 5. A ton of young players in key roles (all three TE's, Timmy, CJ, Perriman, Campanaro). PROS: 1. It don't matter how tough the schedule is... if we win the division. We are more talented then the Browns, More complete then the Sqeelers and have the leadership that the Bengals lack. (so regardless of how hard our schedule is... we are the best team in the division and simply need to win the division). 2. We do have some key players with Durability issues... but they also have a ton of talent and will contribute in a big way when they are healthy. when they are not we have added depth that leaves us more likely to overcome losing them for anytime (this season moreso then last and we went pretty far last year). (RMelvin and KArrington along with KLewis makes our DB more formidable- While CDavis, KLM and LGuy make our DL rotation and depth legitimate). 3. I don't think DPees has made the most of the talent that he has but we have still proven that we can win a super bowl with him). 4. Flacco has been inconsistent throughout but he has never had this many weapons and we will protect him this year. Joe has shown steady improvement over his entire career... I expect this year for him to take the big leap forward. and 5. We do have a lot of 1st and 2nd year players playing key roles but we have a ton of talent in those players and a ton of leadership to help bring them along. Yes we have Perriman but opposite him is a 37 year old HOF WR. Yes we have 3 young and raw TE's but we have a savy veteran in Pitta still around to help mentor them. We have a young DL with CDavis and TJernigan but veterans like Canty and BWilliams to mentor them. Suggs, Dumervil, Flacco, Forsett, Yanda, Will Hill - we have high character guys at every position to help maintain a winning culture and develop a winning expectation in all of these youngsters. We have a great mix and this year can be special.

 Steelcityraven,  I like the way you took the time to compile your list instead of taking the lazy way out (and on, and on...) like I did. 

 I hear the talk about how well we do or don't do in the beginning of the season, but don't forget; while some teams may fair well in the first part of the season they don't always have the stamina to last in the later part thus making it possible for other more durable and better teams to make a run. That also is a reality on the opposite end where teams do poorly first.  How many times did people count out the patriots in the beginning of a season only to see them come back and make the playoffs or better? 

 Cons:  1st round draft pick injured til maybe Oct.

             6 rookies who will no doubt be making rookie mistakes.

             As stated before, not many home games in first half of season.  And on, and on ,and on...

Pros:  First rate Coach and front office. 

          Superbowl winning MVP quarterback who knows how to points on the board.

          Offensive line intact from a year ago.

          We've been there before.  Maybe not this particular team, but the staff knows what it has to do.  And on, and on, and on...

Ideally, yes. But just because he's on the 53 doesn't guarantee him playing time. There's still 7 gameday inactives every week, and a 4th or 5th WR who doesn't contribute much on ST (I think he will, hence how he gets playing time) is a prime candidate for one of those gameday inactive spots. If he's not contributing on ST, he's not much different than an Arthur Brown right now.

 

He can grow into a role, particularly if some of the WRs in front of him struggle and he shows he can play ST well (I think both will happen), but I just don't see him having a major role for the first few weeks.

 I understand your point about inactives, but again I think his particular skill set will get him playing time even if it is somewhat sporadic. As far as STs are concerned, I just can't get past the feeling that sooner or later he's going to run back a punt and that will be the last we'll see him for sometime because of getting hurt again.  Then again, I'm not the coach.

He's got a ton to prove in both areas. If I were him, I'd be looking for any opportunity to get on the field by any way possible.

 

He's still no better than 3rd or 4th in our receiving core right now, and that's on an offense that notoriously rarely produces much production from a 3rd or 4th receiver consistently.

 

As long as he can hang onto the ball, I think he's a perfectly fine option for punt returns. 

 If he remains on the 53 and I believe he will, then he will be on the field.  Also I think it's not just a matter of depth, but where your particular skill set lies.  Camp is one of our better slot wrs and is I believe better at getting open except perhaps for SSS.  So because he has a better chance of helping keep a drive alive, I would rather keep him healthy even if he isn't being used on a consistent basis.  Again, JMO.

Ross is great choice in case Campy goes lame again

  I would prefer someone other than Campanero take PR/KR duties.  He is one of the best receivers we have and still has a chance for a very good career with us.  That is as long as he stays healthy.  It also isn't fair to him.  I mean, how often are you gonna let a guy get dog piled on when he already has a history of injuries.  We need him out in the field more as a receiver.  JMO.

All haven't played a regular season snap yet, hard to tell whether we did good or bad at this point.

  I agree.  I was just trying to put a bright spot on a previous post concerning hindsight about our picks, but I see you point. 

 I was sitting on the edge of my seat during the 6th round saying let it be Waller.  I'm ecstatic that he made the team, but am a bit concerned about his trouble getting jammed up at the line of scrimmage.  I imagine he's not going to be Flacco's first, second or even third look until he's able to figure out a way to break free, but if he does, I imagine those long strides going down the field pulling away from a dback while at the same time, Perriman is running down the opposite side.  Joe will be in quarterback heaven.

Looks like a lot of guys are getting a shot with another team.  Really hate to have wasted a 5th on Myers, but hindsight is 20/20.

 Carl Davis, Breshad Perriman, Zadarious Smith, Nick Boyle, Max Williams, Buck Allen and Darren Waller, all from the last draft and all of them on the 53 man roster.  I'd say that's pretty darn good. 



hmmm so they where filming our practices?

 

for all the praise and hype he got during practices , i rarely seen any translate to actuals games.

 

so yeah unless they filmed our practises their isn't really much to look at.

 

then again it would not surprise me one bit if they did lol

 Didn't you notice the large rhododendron behind the goal post?  You know the one with the lens.  That was Belichick

I love my Ravens but I don't think Robinson's hit was all that aggregious. It was very aggressive but it was a solid tackle with the intent of dislodging the ball. And, guess what, the ball was dislodged...although it wasn't officially a fumble because the ground caused it. If it was a Ravens defender who made that tackle, we'd be making him a fan-favorite right now and calling it hard-nosed, AFC North football.

 Have to disagree.  Whenever I see that play I have to cringe, not because it was a raven but because of the potential physical damage it may have caused to his spine.  I may not be a doctor but some things just aren't supposed to bend that way, especially with what seemed to be so much force behind it.  Even Aiken called it a dirty play.   

This "elite" talk is getting old. Nobody cares, anymore. It's not news. Montana could hoist Flacco on his shoulders and proclaim him King of the World and, still, nobody would care. His productivity and success is well-documented. His STATS are well-documented. There's nothing more to be said about it. Yawn.

   I couldn't care less about stats.  It's all about the jewelry.  "Let's go get a ___ ring!"  (Hey, my first post.  Yay me.)