Why You Shouldn'T Worry About The Wide Reciever Problem.

[J-man]

Here are some reasons why you shouldn't worry about the recent retiring of Derrick Mason:
1. Ozzie Newsome is our GM

2. Mark Clayton had a breakout season with Joe Flacco

3. Harbaugh is in fact optimistic about Mason's return

4. There were 8 receivers taken in the first two rounds. Teams, during training camp, will cut some proven veterans to make room for these highly invested prospects. Look at Philly for example. They have Deshawn Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Reggie Brown, and Hank Baskett. They just drafted Jermeny Maclin in the first round of the draft, leading to a good possibility that one of those 5 veterans will be cut. I'm not saying it's going to happen but a good chance on one of those 8 teams it will.

5. We are a run first team only going to the pass in a 2nd and long or 3rd down situation

6. Ray Rice is an outstanding receiver out of the backfield

7. Todd Heap? LJ Smith? Hello? And rookie Davon Drew is primarily a pass catcher.

Anything else you want to add

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='J-man' date='28 July 2009 - 01:08 AM' timestamp='1248757719' post='210767']
2. Mark Clayton had a breakout season with Joe Flacco
[/quote]
If by "breakout season" you mean versatility, then yes, Clayton showed plenty of it while Flacco was under center, scoring TDs off reverse handoffs and providing the occasional highlight reel play every couple of weeks.

But if by "breakout season" you mean productivity, that'd be incorrect, as his most productive season was with Steve McNair at QB in 2006.

And in the NFL, productivity usually counts most.

[ravens world]

[quote name='J-man' date='28 July 2009 - 01:08 AM' timestamp='1248757719' post='210767']
Here are some reasons why you shouldn't worry about the recent retiring of Derrick Mason:
1. Ozzie Newsome is our GM

2. Mark Clayton had a breakout season with Joe Flacco

3. Harbaugh is in fact optimistic about Mason's return

4. There were 8 receivers taken in the first two rounds. Teams, during training camp, will cut some proven veterans to make room for these highly invested prospects. Look at Philly for example. They have Deshawn Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Reggie Brown, and Hank Baskett. They just drafted Jermeny Maclin in the first round of the draft, leading to a good possibility that one of those 5 veterans will be cut. I'm not saying it's going to happen but a good chance on one of those 8 teams it will.

5. We are a run first team only going to the pass in a 2nd and long or 3rd down situation

6. Ray Rice is an outstanding receiver out of the backfield

7. Todd Heap? LJ Smith? Hello? And rookie Davon Drew is primarily a pass catcher.

Anything else you want to add
[/quote]


1. so
2. no not really
3. ok
4. maybe
5. so
6. ok
7. yea but we still need recievers

[52Kia Kaha92]

Justin Harper is the answer

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='52Kia Kaha92' date='28 July 2009 - 07:08 PM' timestamp='1248761313' post='210782']
Justin Harper is the answer
[/quote]
You think so? I know nothing about the guy.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Ed_Reed_Pick_Six' date='28 July 2009 - 02:23 AM' timestamp='1248762191' post='210783']
You think so? I know nothing about the guy.
[/quote]
Harper was a former teammate of Eddie Royal (now with the Denver Broncos) at Virginia Tech. Together, along with up-and-coming WR Josh Morgan of the 49ers, they were the most productive receiving trio in the ACC.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='28 July 2009 - 07:32 PM' timestamp='1248762749' post='210786']
Harper was a former teammate of Eddie Royal (now with the Denver Broncos) at Virginia Tech. Together, along with up-and-coming WR Josh Morgan of the 49ers, they were the most productive receiving trio in the ACC.
[/quote]
Ah k cool, thanks. So he has a lot of potential upside in other words?

[rlh445]

[quote name='J-man' date='28 July 2009 - 01:08 AM' timestamp='1248757719' post='210767']
Here are some reasons why you shouldn't worry about the recent retiring of Derrick Mason:
1. Ozzie Newsome is our GM
[b]
No comment, as there is no use trying to dissuade most Oz fans from their rampant fandom. Suffice to say, I disagree.[/b]

2. Mark Clayton had a breakout season with Joe Flacco

[b]Franchise already addressed this one for me, but I will add that if a few circus catches equal a breakout season, then let's bring back Randy Hymes. He was good for a few of those.[/b]

3. Harbaugh is in fact optimistic about Mason's return
[b]
....which means absolutely nothing until Mason himself says he is returning. Until then, that is useless information.[/b]

4. There were 8 receivers taken in the first two rounds. Teams, during training camp, will cut some proven veterans to make room for these highly invested prospects. Look at Philly for example. They have Deshawn Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Reggie Brown, and Hank Baskett. They just drafted Jermeny Maclin in the first round of the draft, leading to a good possibility that one of those 5 veterans will be cut. I'm not saying it's going to happen but a good chance on one of those 8 teams it will.
[b]
I would take any of those guys at this point. So I have no complaints with this one.[/b]

5. We are a run first team only going to the pass in a 2nd and long or 3rd down situation
[b]
Right, because Joe didn't go for first down passes a lot last year to keep defenses guessing. They didn't usually pan out, but then that just goes to prove the opposite of your post title.[/b]

6. Ray Rice is an outstanding receiver out of the backfield

[b]He is? He seems like a capable pass catching back, but he alone cannot match what a regular NFL WR is supposed to produce. A band-aid is not the answer.[/b]

7. Todd Heap? LJ Smith? Hello? And rookie Davon Drew is primarily a pass catcher.

[b]I have high hopes for them both. Will Heap come back, at least in part, to his form in '06? Who can say? Will L.J. be healthy all season? See first answer. Either way, not exactly the fail safe the Ravens should solely be looking at.[/b]


[/quote]

Enjoyed the post. Would love to see more reasons.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

Cmon, do we really need all this negativity?

[rlh445]

[quote name='Ed_Reed_Pick_Six' date='28 July 2009 - 03:00 AM' timestamp='1248764416' post='210794']
Cmon, do we really need all this negativity?
[/quote]


Dude (or dudette) it is not negativity..it is looking at the situation realistically. Are any of the points negative for negativity's sake? No, they are just the opposite of 'everything is fine, nothing to see here'. They are neither inflammatory nor false, and at least merit as much conversation as anything else. Negativity is not the purpose of my posts, only the offering of different views that happen to conflict with the majority.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='rlh445' date='28 July 2009 - 08:13 PM' timestamp='1248765215' post='210797']
Dude (or dudette) it is not negativity..it is looking at the situation realistically. Are any of the points negative for negativity's sake? No, they are just the opposite of 'everything is fine, nothing to see here'. They are neither inflammatory nor false, and at least merit as much conversation as anything else. Negativity is not the purpose of my posts, only the offering of different views that happen to conflict with the majority.
[/quote]
Lol, it does say my gender on my basic info here that I'm male I wasn't really referring to you, you have explained your points. Some people, mainly in other threads to be fair, have just said we are useless at receiver and thats it. But lets continue this discussion in that other thread.

[rlh445]

[quote name='Ed_Reed_Pick_Six' date='28 July 2009 - 03:26 AM' timestamp='1248765999' post='210800']
Lol, it does say my gender on my basic info here that I'm male I wasn't really referring to you, you have explained your points. Some people, mainly in other threads to be fair, have just said we are useless at receiver and thats it. But lets continue this discussion in that other thread.
[/quote]

Heh, sorry, once I get thoughts in my head I have to type them immediately or lose them, and there are some nice ladies here with good minds for football so I thought I would cover my bases! Which thread is that, as there are 23403928402 receiver threads?

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='rlh445' date='28 July 2009 - 08:28 PM' timestamp='1248766133' post='210801']
Heh, sorry, once I get thoughts in my head I have to type them immediately or lose them, and there are some nice ladies here with good minds for football so I thought I would cover my bases! Which thread is that, as there are 23403928402 receiver threads?
[/quote]
Lol, ummm... where was the other recent one we were talking in?

[Tighthead420]

I say we make a WR board so all the WR crazies out there can post away all day. If anyone makes a WR topic outside of that board, then they immediately get booted from the forums. That way we won't have 9847523098759234593247 WR discussions.

[J-man]

#1 is supposed to mean Ozzie will work some magic either this year or next year. I guess since I'm a Ozzie fan, I have hope that he will.

[TSizzle00]

The Steelers O-line are suposed to "magically" start gelling right and Ben is suposed to take less sacks right?

The Bengals draft picks and FA acquisitions are suposed to "magically" gell and become a top ten D right?

So why cant the Ravens WR's "magically" start gelling and step it up now that Flacco is more experianced? Everyone seems to have the "magic" on their side lol

It works both ways..

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Ed_Reed_Pick_Six' date='28 July 2009 - 02:36 AM' timestamp='1248763018' post='210788']
Ah k cool, thanks. So he has a lot of potential upside in other words?
[/quote]
If he's anything like Eddie Royal was last season as a rookie for the Broncos, or even like Josh Morgan as an intermittent deep threat for the 49ers, then yes, there's [i]a lot[/i] of potential upside.

And by the numbers: Eddie Royal in 15 games, 102 touches (91 receiving, 11 rushing) for 1089 yards from scrimmage (980 receiving, 109 rushing) and 5 receiving TDs. That's as a rookie. And that's even with Brandon Marshall on the other side of the field, getting [i]his[/i] 104 catches for 1,265 yards.

[Corvus]

Here's the bottom line. How many of our receivers (excluding Mase) saw significant action on the field last year. Mark Clayton is the only one. Williams' year was cut short again and the team finally started putting Marcus Smith into games some towards the end of the year. Kelley Washington was mainly a special teamer in New England, but is experienced at the position from his squirrel dancing days in Cincy. But of the rest, who actually saw the field? Harper? Wheelright? Riley or the other Williams?

Great receivers just don't show up out of the blue. They need on the field experience to really assess what kind of receiver they are gonna be in this league. When the Broncos picked Brandon Marshall on the second day of the draft, they didn't know what they had. When the Dolphins grabbed Wes Welker as an undrafted rookie, did they know he would become a pass catching machine? The 49ers probably didn't expect Josh Morgan to become a decent starter in his second year after being a 6th round pick, but he has become that for them. These guys were able to get on the field and were given time to show what they could do, and its the same story throughout the league.

The point is, the more our younger receivers are given chances on an actual game field and not on the sideline or in practice, the more the coaches will learn about them and the more the receivers will learn about themselves and their abilities. It only helps and who knows, these kids could all be busts or they could be some of the next big things.

So yes, the Mason situation is troubling, but even if he does ultimately retire, I'm with Flacco, who knows that Mase's abscence just gives all of the young guys a chance to step up in camp and try to make something of themselves there, and trust me, they are all itching to do just that.

[Ed_Reed20]

I agree with the previous posts. The young receivers won't show what they can do unless they're given an opportunity. Training camp, pre-season and even some of the early weeks this season will be perfect opportunities for guys to make an impact.

[TheRavenouseD2008]

[quote name='TSizzle00' date='28 July 2009 - 09:27 AM' timestamp='1248787630' post='210832']
The Steelers O-line are suposed to "magically" start gelling right and Ben is suposed to take less sacks right?

The Bengals draft picks and FA acquisitions are suposed to "magically" gell and become a top ten D right?

So why cant the Ravens WR's "magically" start gelling and step it up now that Flacco is more experianced? Everyone seems to have the "magic" on their side lol

It works both ways..
[/quote]


true but unlike ben we dont have to look out for old ladies with our WRs j/k

[J-man]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='28 July 2009 - 10:09 AM' timestamp='1248790170' post='210843']
And by the numbers: Eddie Royal in 15 games, 102 touches (91 receiving, 11 rushing) for 1089 yards from scrimmage (980 receiving, 109 rushing) and 5 receiving TDs. That's as a rookie. And that's even with Brandon Marshall on the other side of the field, getting [i]his[/i] 104 catches for 1,265 yards.
[/quote]

Yea but they had Cutler, chances of those numbers again...low

[Skaught]

I have a solution:

Our three QBs and all of our receivers line up side by side on the goal line, facing the field. Our defense stands spread throughout the field. Each QB launches a ball straight out as far as they can. The first three receivers to run through the defense and pick up a ball get the #1, 2, and 3 spots.

Imagine American Gladiators... but with Lewis and Suggs as the gladiators.

Problem solved.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='J-man' date='28 July 2009 - 11:20 AM' timestamp='1248794459' post='210871']
Yea but they had Cutler, chances of those numbers again...low
[/quote]
True, but you also have to keep in mind, WRs are notorious for having limited success in their rookie season. Other than the QB position, WR has the second-highest failure rate in the NFL, particularly among rookies. Even though the WR is dependent on the QB to make throws, WRs still need to process the game and learn the nuances of route-running and learn to take harder hits than in college, etc. In some systems, the WR has to be almost as cerebral on offense as the QB and Center.

So for Eddie Royal to have had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, even with someone on the other side of the field getting more touches, is pretty impressive, given how rookie WRs usually struggle.

[Marc2k6]

[quote name='J-man' date='28 July 2009 - 01:08 AM' timestamp='1248757719' post='210767']


2. Mark Clayton had a breakout season with Joe Flacco


[/quote]

I not really concerned with our situation at the WR position. I'm actually excited to see who will step up this season. As far as M. Clayton, let me first say that I am not a rocket scientist people, please believe me. M. Clayton last season had 41 receptions for 695 yards with 3 TD's. He also had 6 rushes for 81 yards and a TD. I'm not sure this is what you would call a break out season. I'm not saying that this year will not be one for Clayton because it maybe. I think he is good enough to do it but last season was not a break out season.

[Wacko4Zacko]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='28 July 2009 - 02:32 AM' timestamp='1248762749' post='210786']
Harper was a former teammate of Eddie Royal (now with the Denver Broncos) at Virginia Tech. Together, along with up-and-coming WR Josh Morgan of the 49ers, they were the most productive receiving trio in the ACC.
[/quote]

He is a rookie too, so there plenty of youth and talent in him. So where is he on our depth chart? Is he our 5th reciever?

[TSizzle00]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='28 July 2009 - 10:09 AM' timestamp='1248790170' post='210843']
If he's anything like Eddie Royal was last season as a rookie for the Broncos, or even like Josh Morgan as an intermittent deep threat for the 49ers, then yes, there's [i]a lot[/i] of potential upside.

And by the numbers: Eddie Royal in 15 games, 102 touches (91 receiving, 11 rushing) for 1089 yards from scrimmage (980 receiving, 109 rushing) and 5 receiving TDs. That's as a rookie. And that's even with Brandon Marshall on the other side of the field, getting [i]his[/i] 104 catches for 1,265 yards.
[/quote]

Cutler had to throw the ball alot becuase of a lack of a running game. I think they had 7 RB's on IR, that would cripple our offense.

[bossman419]

[quote name='Wacko4Zacko' date='28 July 2009 - 12:28 PM' timestamp='1248798501' post='210905']
He is a rookie too, so there plenty of youth and talent in him. So where is he on our depth chart? Is he our 5th reciever?
[/quote]
If we don't sign anyone else, I think the 4th WR spot is wide open. Based only on what we've seen, you would have to think that the top 3 WR's are:

Clayton
Williams
Washington

From that list we still have:

Wheelwright
M. Smith
Riley
I. Williams
Harper
Figurs

The most proven player on that list is Figurs and we all know he sucks. Hopefully the Eagles cut one of thier good wide outs so we can pick 'em up.

[reediddy]

As you can see by my avatar and sig, I'm a firm believer of the potential of Mark Clayton having a great season next year and proving everyone wrong since he will potentially have a full training camp as the #1 receiver (given Mason doesn't come back) and the rapport he develops will Flacco will translate into big games. I think the same situation occurs with Marcus Smith who I believe will be the #3 receiver. BELIEVE!!!

[Geno the booter]

No worries now because we signed 5-7WR Jayson Foster.

To make room for Mr. Foster we cut WR Isaiah Williams (Maryland) and waived Lou Saucedo. I thought both of these guys had a lot of potential. I'm surprised the cut Williams though. Wow... what are your takes

[reediddy]

Clueless as to why we are signing these guys...SOLVE the problem!! Don't just band-aid it