Strengths / Weaknesses

[ClintLB8]

What do you guys think will be our major strengths and weaknesses this year? Defensive backfield? Defensive line? New wide receivers not being on the same page as the quarterback? Just wanted to get a new topic going..

[Ed_Reed20]

The o-line being the same for a second straight season is key. We can talk about the plethora of weapons and Joe's development but everything starts with the o-line. They're definitely a strength in my opinion.

A weakness for me is the defensive backfield. Webb, arguably the most complete CB on the roster will likely start the season the PUP list, Fabian is also coming off an ACL tear and the team doesn't appear it'll have it's HOF safety for maybe the first half of the year. Hamlin, Harris and Fisher are experienced guys but none of them are guys anyone would be fully comfortable starting.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='26 June 2010 - 09:01 PM' timestamp='1277600471' post='426903']
The o-line being the same for a second straight season is key. We can talk about the plethora of weapons and Joe's development but everything starts with the o-line. They're definitely a strength in my opinion.

A weakness for me is the defensive backfield. Webb, arguably the most complete CB on the roster will likely start the season the PUP list, Fabian is also coming off an ACL tear and the team doesn't appear it'll have it's HOF safety for maybe the first half of the year. Hamlin, Harris and Fisher are experienced guys but none of them are guys anyone would be fully comfortable starting.
[/quote]
Really can't add much to this aside from Flaccos next step on the rung to greatness....that's about it. He makes this vital step and it may be something we, as Ravens fans, have never seen before!

[berad]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='26 June 2010 - 09:01 PM' timestamp='1277600471' post='426903']
The o-line being the same for a second straight season is key. We can talk about the plethora of weapons and Joe's development but everything starts with the o-line. They're definitely a strength in my opinion.
[/quote]

I agree, our OL is a strength, the guys should mesh together as a unit even more effectively in 2010. That said, it's not [i]exactly[/i] the same - Oher and Gaither are switching sides. But, pending Gaither's situation, I expect good things from them.

My take: everyone knows that the defensive back field is a weakness, so I won't mention them. I'm not targeting a 'weakness', here, just an uncertainty; the biggest question mark on the offensive side, in my opinion - the tight end position.

We have our stalwart, Todd Heap, returning for another season but, behind him, we have no proven players. The two rookies we drafted, Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, along with the second-year guy, Davon Drew are his back-ups; there's not an NFL snap between them. The coaches and staff are high on all of them but I won't buy into it until I see them perform in a game.

That said, they could blow my socks off. But, until then, they're a question mark.

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='1/28/01' date='26 June 2010 - 09:14 PM' timestamp='1277601249' post='426908']
Really can't add much to this aside from Flaccos next step on the rung to greatness....that's about it. He makes this vital step and it may be something we, as Ravens fans, have never seen before!
[/quote]

Flacco + Zorn + Focus on quick decisions/quick release = Awesomesauce.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='berad' date='26 June 2010 - 09:16 PM' timestamp='1277601360' post='426910']
I agree, our OL is a strength, the guys should mesh together as a unit even more effectively in 2010. That said, it's not [i]exactly[/i] the same - Oher and Gaither are switching sides. But, pending Gaither's situation, I expect good things from them.

My take: everyone knows that the defensive back field is a weakness, so I won't mention them. I'm not targeting a 'weakness', here, just an uncertainty; the biggest question mark on the offensive side, in my opinion - the tight end position.

[b]We have our stalwart, Todd Heap, returning for another season but, behind him, we have no proven players. The two rookies we drafted, Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, along with the second-year guy, Davon Drew are his back-ups; there's not an NFL snap between them. The coaches and staff are high on all of them but I won't buy into it until I see them perform in a game.

That said, they could blow my socks off. But, until then, they're a question mark.[/b]
[/quote]

Good point. I'm hoping we'll see seam-busting routes and tackle-breaking catch and runs from Dickson and Pitta but both guys could struggle to get used to the NFL game.

[Ravenmore74]

[quote name='ClintLB8' date='26 June 2010 - 07:50 PM' timestamp='1277599830' post='426900']
What do you guys think will be our major strengths and weaknesses this year? Defensive backfield? Defensive line? New wide receivers not being on the same page as the quarterback? Just wanted to get a new topic going..
[/quote]
You break this up into 2 segments.
Defensively and offensively, I think our O-line is definitely our strong point offensively. Our D-line is the most experienced pro bowl caliber d-line in the league giving them the high point on Defense. Since our trenches are solid we should have a solid year!

[sandwich]

Offense:

Strength
O-Line:

I really don't see why oher and gaither can't both go to the Pro bowl This year. Grubbs and Yanda are right on the cusp. Nasty for a long time

Weakness
O-Line:

Little to NO proven depth. If someone gets hurt we could end up having Oneil Cousins. Thats not a good thing. Chester is a solid #6 man but after him its garbage time.

Strength
Running Game:

I don't see any team that has a better running game. Ray Rice is sick and has the ability and work ethic to get better. He's like LT meets Faulk. McClain has been All-Pro for the past 2 years. Alot of people are down on Willis but I think if Rice got hurt Willis could easily be a 25 even 30 carry a game back.

Recievers:

As much depth on paper as any team in the league. Boldin and Mason. Stallworth in the slot and Clayton on #4 cb's. This was a huge weakness last year that was finally fixed. Depth is amazing!

Weakness
Kicking:

Shayne Grahm, eh.... Im not a fan.

Depth at Cb:
This may become a strength towards the end of the year but for now with Webb and Washington still recovering it is what it is

[berad]

OL is a strength, [i]AND[/i] a weakness?

[ed.s52]

We don't really have any true weaknesses imo, maybe our DBs but that is pretty much it.

Reed, although he may be out, will either be replaced by Zibby who has proven to be a solid option or Hamlin, who will have to outperform Zibby if he wants to start. Landry is a great player and after those 3 Nakumura also looks talented.

CB-wise, Fox should do good and Harris should suffice as a #2. For nickel and dime pakages we have a vast amont of young potential and Chris Carr seems promising in the nickel. This is not mentioning the help they will get from our clearly upgraded pass rush.

Some are saying our O-Line depth may be an issue, but it really doesnt seem bad to me.

If Anybody gets hurt, Chester is a solid number 6 and Cousins should be able to do okay when we need him.

[Ravensfan23]

The Secondary seems to be the common weakness for most people in and out of Baltimore. However i don't think it's really a weakness, I just think it's the one area of the team that has the biggest ?. For most teams finishing a season #8 in passing defense would be a great season for them. A season where you faced some of the best QBs in the game. In 8 games last season the Ravens faced a QB that finished in the top 15 in passing yards. Rivers, Brady, Big Ben, Manning, Rodgers, Favre, Orten and Cutler. Not to mention we were banged up.

However for the Ravens finishing in the top 10 ranking is not good enough, thus everyone views the secondary as a weakness.

Now here's why i think we'll be more then ok in the secondary this season. In the first 7 weeks before our bye week, we face exactly one elite QB. I really don't look at the names of Sanchez, Palmer, Delohomme, Leftwich, Orton, and whoever the Bills choose at QB, and get nervous. Now Brady is a different story, but i think the Ravens proves they can handle him last season.

Looking at the names of the QBs we'll face in the first 7 games, I'm thinking the Ravens secondary can come out and take advantage of some young or poor decision making QBs, and really gain some momentum/swagger as an group. Then after the week 8 bye, guys like Reed, Washington and Webb should be fully healed and ready to get.

Then the Ravens should be able to build on that early momentum with 4 striaght games against young QBs, in Henne, Ryan, Moore/Clausen, and Freeman. After 11 games of the season this secondary should be fully healthy and starting to hit their full stride.

Next the Ravens will face tough tests in Ben, Schaub, and Brees, before finishing up the season with game vs Delhomme, and Palmer again.

Like i said before, I really don't look at that full list of QBs and get nervous. The secondary finished 8th last season after starting out as poorly as anyone could have imagined. But with the QBs we'll face in the first 11 games this season, i really think the secondary can and will start strong. We may even be lookin at those guys an strength.

[lowrider]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' date='28 June 2010 - 03:19 AM' timestamp='1277709566' post='427257']
The Secondary seems to be the common weakness for most people in and out of Baltimore. However i don't think it's really a weakness, I just think it's the one area of the team that has the biggest ?. For most teams finishing a season #8 in passing defense would be a great season for them. A season where you faced some of the best QBs in the game. In 8 games last season the Ravens faced a QB that finished in the top 15 in passing yards. Rivers, Brady, Big Ben, Manning, Rodgers, Favre, Orten and Cutler. Not to mention we were banged up.

However for the Ravens finishing in the top 10 ranking is not good enough, thus everyone views the secondary as a weakness.

Now here's why i think we'll be more then ok in the secondary this season. In the first 7 weeks before our bye week, we face exactly one elite QB. I really don't look at the names of Sanchez, Palmer, Delohomme, Leftwich, Orton, and whoever the Bills choose at QB, and get nervous. Now Brady is a different story, but i think the Ravens proves they can handle him last season.

Looking at the names of the QBs we'll face in the first 7 games, I'm thinking the Ravens secondary can come out and take advantage of some young or poor decision making QBs, and really gain some momentum/swagger as an group. Then after the week 8 bye, guys like Reed, Washington and Webb should be fully healed and ready to get.

Then the Ravens should be able to build on that early momentum with 4 striaght games against young QBs, in Henne, Ryan, Moore/Clausen, and Freeman. After 11 games of the season this secondary should be fully healthy and starting to hit their full stride.

Next the Ravens will face tough tests in Ben, Schaub, and Brees, before finishing up the season with game vs Delhomme, and Palmer again.

Like i said before, I really don't look at that full list of QBs and get nervous. The secondary finished 8th last season after starting out as poorly as anyone could have imagined. But with the QBs we'll face in the first 11 games this season, i really think the secondary can and will start strong. We may even be lookin at those guys an strength.
[/quote]
You make valid points there. I think the main reason why people point out the weakness in the secondary is because the rest of our team doesn't have any weaknesses like that. Look at every other position on our team, and there may be a little bit of a problem but in overall we are great shape. The only reason why cornerback is so bad in a lot of people's mind is because they compare the condition of cornerback with the condition of the rest of the positions on our team. But the scary part is. Every week our team is going to get better because corner will get healthier.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='lowrider' date='28 June 2010 - 08:50 AM' timestamp='1277729448' post='427273']
You make valid points there. I think the main reason why people point out the weakness in the secondary is because the rest of our team doesn't have any weaknesses like that. Look at every other position on our team, and there may be a little bit of a problem but in overall we are great shape. The only reason why cornerback is so bad in a lot of people's mind is because they compare the condition of cornerback with the condition of the rest of the positions on our team. [b]But the scary part is. Every week our team is going to get better because corner will get healthier.[/b]
[/quote]

Yes that is scary for opposing teams, especially when you consider that the Ravens were arguably one of the best pass defenses statistically in the AFC North and among AFC playoff teams.

[FlaccoFlicker]

In a way I would be inclined to still say our kicking may be our biggest weakness,don't get me wrong I think Billy did a great job last year,but I guess I still want to see if it is consistent.Our kickoffs need to be a little deeper also,but I do feel that kicking could be key for some of our games this year

[darklight1216]

Both lines look like they'll be a strong point. The linebackers and running backs leave little to be desired. I'd say that the biggest [i]potential[/i] weaknesses are the secondary and the quarterback.

[lowrider]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' date='28 June 2010 - 01:30 PM' timestamp='1277746226' post='427362']
Yes that is scary for opposing teams, especially when you consider that the Ravens were arguably one of the best pass defenses statistically in the AFC North and among AFC playoff teams.
[/quote]
And our pass defense got stronger. And our d line got better too. So I don't fully understand why people make our defense sound like it's so weak. It's funny, I almost feel like the number 3 defense is an off year for the Ravens.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='lowrider' date='28 June 2010 - 01:39 PM' timestamp='1277746746' post='427371']
And our pass defense got stronger. And our d line got better too. So I don't fully understand why people make our defense sound like it's so weak. It's funny, I almost feel like the number 3 defense is an off year for the Ravens.
[/quote]
I think that last year was a bit of an off year if for no other reason than the fact that 2 running backs eclipsed 100 yards three times against Baltimore. They were also among the league's worst in the beginning of the year (including an embarrassing 23rd rank in pass defense). Of course, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. (Remember that, offense.)

[lowrider]

[quote name='darklight1216' date='28 June 2010 - 01:45 PM' timestamp='1277747148' post='427374']
I think that last year was a bit of an off year if for no other reason than the fact that 2 running backs eclipsed 100 yards three times against Baltimore. They were also among the league's worst in the beginning of the year (including an embarrassing 23rd rank in pass defense). Of course, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. (Remember that, offense.)
[/quote]
True that. I'm a little brat when it comes to our defense. Our defense gives up a 100 yard rusher for the first time in a like 37 games and I'm like what is going on with our defense? We are terrible!! haha. Then when I rationally think about it, I think a lot of it was we were getting used to the new defensive coordinator and that was a major part of it. It's scary how good our defense was after week 6. If our defense gave up that many yards at the beginning of the year and still ended up with the number 3 defense, imagine if our defense doesn't start off slow...

And our offense can only get better. Imagine what it feels like to be Joe Flacco. Last year his favorite targets was Mason and Rice. Now Mason and Rice, you could argue, are his 3rd and 4th best targets. This is gonna be a fun year.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='lowrider' date='28 June 2010 - 01:39 PM' timestamp='1277746746' post='427371']
And our pass defense got stronger. And our d line got better too. So I don't fully understand why people make our defense sound like it's so weak. It's funny, I almost feel like the number 3 defense is an off year for the Ravens.
[/quote]

Yea I strongly believe that this defense will be one of the best we've seen in recent history in Baltimore. People need to really understand just how spoiled and lucky we are as a fan base.

I think everyone would agree that the Ravens need to improve their pass rush, and i think we have. However when you look at the stats from last season the Ravens had the same amount of sacks as the greatest defense ever created in the NYJ. Both teams had 32 sacks.

Everyone seems to feel we need to improve the secondary, even though we were 2nd in the AFC in INTs only behind Buffalo. Yes that means with 22 ints, we were better then the Jets, Bengals, Steelers, Pats, Chargers, and Indy at taking the ball away from opposing QBs.

What team had the 3rd lowest opponent passer rating(71.9) in the AFC, you guessed it, the Baltimore Ravens only trailing the Jets and Bills.

Now I don't want to make it seem like i'm not acknowledging the fact that we have a ? in the secondary, especially with the injury concern, but if a top 5 secondary in the AFC is our biggest weakness, then we are in pretty damn good shape.

I can't wait to see what guys like Cary Williams, KJ Gerard and Foxy will do in their second season with the Ravens. Not to mention Webb coming back, Washinton coming back, Reed coming back, Nakamura coming back. I just can't wait.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' date='28 June 2010 - 02:38 PM' timestamp='1277750283' post='427389']
Yea I strongly believe that this defense will be one of the best we've seen in recent history in Baltimore. People need to really understand just how spoiled and lucky we are as a fan base.

I think everyone would agree that the Ravens need to improve their pass rush, and i think we have. However when you look at the stats from last season the Ravens had the same amount of sacks as the greatest defense ever created in the NYJ. Both teams had 32 sacks.

Everyone seems to feel we need to improve the secondary, even though we were 2nd in the AFC in INTs only behind Buffalo. Yes that means with 22 ints, we were better then the Jets, Bengals, Steelers, Pats, Chargers, and Indy at taking the ball away from opposing QBs.

What team had the 3rd lowest opponent passer rating(71.9) in the AFC, you guessed it, the Baltimore Ravens only trailing the Jets and Bills.

Now I don't want to make it seem like i'm not acknowledging the fact that we have a ? in the secondary, especially with the injury concern, but if a top 5 secondary in the AFC is our biggest weakness, then we are in pretty damn good shape.

I can't wait to see what guys like Cary Williams, KJ Gerard and Foxy will do in their second season with the Ravens. Not to mention Webb coming back, Washinton coming back, Reed coming back, Nakamura coming back. I just can't wait.
[/quote]
this made me smile!