5sticks

I asked myself the same question earlier this week regarding accuracy of credibility of draft analysts and have come to the conclusion that it's all folly. Much like college football polling it's really designed to keep me engaged and "clicking". Bad NFL franchises panic, follow trends, do silly things, and spread false information or rumors to manipulate others for their own best interest...just like the rest of us do in real life. Thus, using pre-draft analysis and evaluation to predict the actual draft is pointless. Who am I kidding...I'll be clicking next year, too, because I love this stuff just like the rest of you! I like Mayock & Mel because I feel like they are giving me their own opinion vs. regurgitating team-speak. I think McShay is a joke.

It wouldn't hurt my feelings if CJH was gone, but he's not awful by any stretch, I just don't think he's good enough to make good into great. Joe is a taller version of Eli. We can win with him but as someone stated earlier, other things have to be in place. I believe The Ravens can succeed with CJH & JF @ QB if three things happen... 1. They are surrounded with excellent coordinators. I don't believe either of them are great, but the right coordinators can really elevate both. 2. I love Ozzie and his staff, but we should get MORE aggressive with our drafts. Value is great but we need studs! Frankly, if JS @ CB is our best, we should make it our mission to do better. 3. Mr. Biscotti should loosen up the purse strings (which is relevant for point #2 also). Improvement can come quickly with FA a la NY Giants this year. They got a pass rusher, a really good CB, et al. I don't like the Patriots, but those cats are ruthless when it comes to staying on top. Not making the playoffs might be a blessing because it will DEMAND changes.

This really sucks, but honestly, this team really isn't a playoff team and I think NOT making the post-season forces us (I hope) to make changes. It would be nice to change our philosophy regarding spending so that we could retain & recruit helpful FAs (McPhee, and Torrey come to mind). I also think that Joe has to have a really good/great team around him to be successful which includes a great OC. Joe is average. I think that's been proven and to expect him to be great is foolish. Hopefully, we can achieve some balance with his $$ so we can attract and keep playmakers. I feel like we've been trying to do things on the "cheap" and unless you're NE I'm not sure that works. Defensively, Ray and Ed aren't coming through that door so we should take a page out of the Giants handbook and go get a corner, a pass-rusher or two, etc. And I'm not sure Pees is the guy, either.

The problem is Flacco is average but paid like an elite, and therefore usually disappoints because we expect elite play based on his salary.

Dude...how funny is that?!!!

I just think our schemes are lacking in addition to Joe being so terribly inconsistent.

That INT is on Wallace. That said Brady is always throwing to open WRs and Flacco is always throwing into coverage. Brady is really good, but it's coaching that sets NE apart which is why Casell & Jimmy G were also successful..

I will always root for our guys and my hometown team. However, I've discovered it's much better to watch The Ravens if I expect Joe Flacco to underperform. That way I'm not nearly as disappointed with an L. Yes, it was stupid to call a fake FG, and I'm not convinced our OC is any good, but in the end a great, or very good QB wins that game as well as the one last week. Unfortunately we have a good QB who often plays badly. I ope we do better, but I just can't EXPECT that we will...Joe is just way too inconsistent.