sibelius

I love that Young has stepped right into the slot. Hoping against hope we finally hit on a another player at CB in the draft. I'm still skeptical about Jimmy, I think he still doesn't trust his instincts enough, especially early in games. I hope it's just rust.

Very happy with the McCown development. I'm expecting the interior pass rush to go nuts and I want to see an OLB not named Suggs get on the board early and often.

We have bonafide play makers on both sides of the ball. It's a beautiful thing. All they need to do is settle down and we're going to see some good things this season if we can stay healthy.

Agree. Shame the troll. Relentlessly.

Very encouraged by what I saw today. Obviously a ton of rust to shake off but that was to be expected. Incredibly pleased with the defensive effort, especially from the down linemen. They should get better every week as ZDS and Judon continue to improve (And we get Dumervil back). McClellan is clearly at his ceiling but he's a decent stopgap for the first half of the season. Say what you want about the offense, but this is exactly the type of game the Ravens lost over the past two seasons because they couldn't run out the clock. We ran the ball when it mattered most and they knew were going to run. I think the timing and playcalling issues will be resolved in the coming weeks but the physicality and will to win that you can't teach is already there. Very excited to watch this team evolve. P.S. -- Shout out to Judon for the textbook Quarterback hit on Tyrod. That's the kind of play a rookie can easily mess up and end up with a roughing call. Like this kid more every day. Doesn't hurt I was born in Detroit and have multiple relatives that passed through the doors of Grand Valley State.

720 lb squat! 720!!!!!!!!!

Great point about Steve. I'll it take a step further and say in Carolina he was always needed, until he wasn't. In Baltimore he's wanted. He has brothers that value him for who he is and that's a whole different game. He's playing for something he believes in, something bigger than himself and even bigger than glory or recognition. That's powerful.

I see the Browns giving the Steelers fits this year and ultimately being the difference in pushing the Ravens over the top.

Man I would love to watch a game with you some time. Or play a game of poker lol.

538 is great, stats are flawed. We have a significant number of unknowns which inevitably skew analytics toward the negative. And as any Ravens fan knows, predictions mean nothing.

Great call. I think spy on mobile QBs is what Levine is made for no doubt. Correa should develop into that role as well. On offense, it's a tough call but I'm actually going to go with Perriman. He's an unknown at this point so he's not going to get the respect early on especially with Sr. and Wallace also on the field. Perriman vs. a nickel CB is an OC's dream.

if he gets one sack start thinking Junior Seau 2.0

If Doom is the difference between us winning or losing any game this year we're already screwed. This year is about being multiple. Doom is a piece but he's far from a lynchpin.

Not at all. It's based on a sample of about 10-15 of your recent posts. A couple years ago you were far more optimistic but I get being jaded after last season. And even more so, being jaded about the Pees era since even when his system works it doesn't dominate like the Ravens of old. That aside, personally I have faith in the organization and I like the moves we've made. I do agree that it remains to be seen, but I choose to anticipate the best rather than hedging my bets with low expectations. Just a personal preference but I've found, as a fan that has no impact on the outcome of games, that being optimistic is more fun than a "show me" attitude. I just don't think the team "owes" me anything. If they're great, amazing. If not, changes will be made. I can only control myself and I like feeling good about the team.

To be fair...you're saying, "if they play well they're good, and if they don't they're not good." Not exactly a prediction...

Totally agree. It's easy to be shortsighted about our moves but the front office has so much more to consider. Outsiders have the benefit of hindsight which is a poor method of judging decision-making in all walks of life. I agree with your assessment. If any two of the three between KC, Moore and Judon, pan out the 2nd round move was a home run. If all 3 excel then I think the keyboard GMs should do the right thing and ban themselves.

Couldn't agree more. I think over the past few years we've been looking at the team at this moment and hoping that guys over perform (particularly in the secondary and at the RB position). 13/14 we got that to a degree and made some noise, in '15 those players all played to expectation or below it which we couldn't overcome combined with injuries. This year I think, across the board, we need guys to play to expectation to contend and a couple overachievers (i.e. a consistent year from Joe, a guy like Dixon or West becoming a star, someone at the CB2 position with a knack or turnovers, etc.) and puts us over the top. Definitely safe to be optimistic about either scenario.

Couldn't agree more. I think this is the plan exactly.

Pretty sure we won two...in something like 17 years of existence. Not worth getting into it though the whining is just a cry for attention. I would love to see a Corey Graham-like signing. Someone to really push Wright. I think Young supplants Powers and Elam does the same to Lewis when he comes back so I'm not too worried about those spots, but a quality CB2 or someone to force Wright to become that would be invaluable. I think we could definitely contend as it stands now, but solidifying that corner could make this team a nightmare for opponents on both sides of the ball.

Excited to see Correa continue to develop. From what I saw, you've got a guy with tools that understands the philosophy of the defense, just needs coaching on technique and game reps to put it together. He'll have ample opportunity and I'm pumped to see him there. Could see him turning into a Clay Matthews-type player for us by year 3.

They both went to desperate, garbage teams...so yes exactly. Edit: And in Butler's case he's going to TB's practice squad...which we can still sign him from if we're activating to 53. Can't fault the kid for wanting some time in the sun after getting his dreams crushed.

Wait...Forsett and Butler aren't on the Pats dominating the league? But...how?

temper tantrum, activate.

I dunno man. First, if you weren't following the team, how can you comment on what the team/culture was like pre-Harbaugh? You realize that Harbaugh took at a team that went 5-11 the year before(2007), added a rookie QB, a rookie RB and a couple vets at key positions and went 12-4/to the AFC Championship? You also realize that very same article about Ed not talking to Harbs ended with Ed admitting to Harbs after the SB that he understands where he was coming from? You don't just win a Super Bowl with an "accumulation of talent." Did you see Ed Reed play in Houston and in New York? He was god awful. He wanted to get paid one more time so he used his name to get a check. No shame in that but if you really think the Ravens should be in the business of holding onto guys until they want to leave rather than when their useful life is over, I can't see how you're actually interested in winning. Ed's relationship with Rex was a "contributing factor?" Rex Ryan is a woeful head coach but he's a defensive genius. Any young defensive coach would want to work for him or Belichick. Is that an indictment of the Ravens and Harbaugh? Not even close, in fact it has nothing to do with this organization at all. If anything you're claiming is true, why is Steve Smith on this team? He's exactly the type of player you claim Harbaugh's "character" cannot tolerate. If you don't like Harbaugh just say it plainly. The rest of these statements are erroneous at best.

So you don't think Ed having a deep relationship with Rex Ryan, under whom he made his name, has anything to do with him wanting to start his coaching career in Buffalo?