Dear Ozzie,

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1288411346' post='523669']
I dont see him re-signing in KC specifically because Haley didnt play him last year at all. Unless he likes Romeo Crennell that much I think hes gone. I dont know if he'll be getting as much drive as Dansby got just because Dansby was doing it for longer and was in the spotlight with Arizona's two playoff runs. But with the cap back, and JO and McNair's deals off the table we should have room to make a stab at him. The athleticism he would bring to our front 7 and specifically our LB corps would be huge and immediately noticeable. Ray Lewis is arguably still our most athletic LB on our team.
[/quote]

Good point and you're right, he probably wouldn't be offered as much as Dansby due to the lack of exposure. Still, I'd love to see him in a LB stance alongside #52, even if just for a year or two.

I'd give the "most athletic LB" title to Gooden but he's never on the field though.


[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1288412177' post='523675']
Haley and Harbaugh are very similar coaches. They have dog houses and will put anyone in them. For some reason Haley put Johnson in his.
[/quote]

The players that have supposedly been in Harbaugh's "doghouse"(Demetrius, Barnes and McGahee) deserved it though. Haley is just crazy.

[Bltravens]

Ya I meant starting LB, sorry.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1288414865' post='523691']
Ya I meant starting LB, sorry.
[/quote]

Maybe. I'd say Ellerbe's the most athletic, followed by Suggs and then Ray.

[Alexir]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1288415154' post='523694']
Maybe. I'd say Ellerbe's the most athletic, followed by Suggs and then Ray.
[/quote]

Really no idea why McClain is out there. Guess Ellerbe is in the dog house still.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1288415972' post='523697']
Really no idea why McClain is out there. Guess Ellerbe is in the dog house still.
[/quote]

McClain has made some nice plays and Ellerbe has certainly whiffed on some tackles. It's one of those situations where both players have their moments but have their down moments as well which leads to more competition for snaps.

[flynismo]

,[quote name='yakraven' timestamp='1288413785' post='523684']<br />got to give points for consistency! so, you're satisfied w/ the O as long as Yanda .br />stays a Guard nd you don't see Birk staying around. Oh yeah and we're getting rid.br />of Gaither, Heap and Housh and so we'll have 20-22M to spend on some non-FA or UDFA.br />player (ie Draft?). .br />If Gaither leaves, than Yanda, who was a college Tackle will have to stay at Tackle;<br />if we shed Birk, then Chester must move from Guard to Center; why would we shed TJ.br />and Housh when they're both healthy and playing good ball.<br />Redding was a good member of the Seahawks who no one out here wanted to see leave and.br />he has played very well.<br />There may be LBs available in the offseason but they may not fit our team or available.br />coming out of College.<br />Cody is playing and will play more as he gets his NFL skill set together, everyone.br />agrees he will be ab awesome player.<br />You want tackles and LBs, there are still people on here that await an elite CB and S.<br />Right now, nearly our entire team is healthy or nearly healthy. By the time the end of.br />the season gets here, who knows what the state of the team will be; we may have a .br />totally unexpected need by then.<br />Also, lets wait until the end of the season gets here to really see if all this "panic"<br />is deserved. I mean, it couldalways be a moot point, we could have a lock out!  lol.br />[/quote]


Lay off the drugs. If you're going to babble randomly, at least stop putting your words in my mouth.
I did not say spend $20M on UDFA. In fact I said the exact opposite, I said to spend it on top notch talent that will be available in free agency.
Yes, I want top quality DT and LB. It doesn't take a genius to see we need that. And then you confirm the point of my original post by adding that other people here want an elite CB and Safety. In other words, we need better personnel at an awful lot of positions on defense, so I don't know why you are debating this with me when you see for yourself we have a problem arising.

Redding is playing great? Don't make me laugh. He's playing just like I thought he would...quietly, with very little impact.

I'm not even going to try to decipher the drivel that you posted about Yanda/Gaither/Chester/Birk, because it's probably no more intelligent than anything else you've said.

K, thanks, come back soon!
And JUST SAY NO!! Because drugs are bad.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1288415972' post='523697']<br />Really no idea why McClain is out there. Guess Ellerbe is in the dog house still.<br />[/quote]

Yeah, I really dont know why Ellerbe isn't on the field more, especially since we use our LB in coverage so often.

[steeldude]

This post is not only for flyinsmo but all football fans in general and not meant to start any great debate!

Even though I am a Steelers fan even I can see that you are off base with your observations. IMO it's not the players you guys have (you have great talent on this team) it's the fire that you guys play with. (or should I say lack of) Starting with Joe Flacco and stretching out from there I don't see desire. I see guys standing around pointing fingers and shrugging shoulders. I don't see the swagger. I do agree that your team is declining as a powerhouse in the AFC and I don't see you guys making the playoffs this year. I see mediocrity and it makes me kind of sad that this great franchise seems to be slipping into the middle of the pack and not leading the way!

[flynismo]

[quote name='steeldude' timestamp='1288419345' post='523705']&lt;br /&gt;This post is not only for flyinsmo but all football fans in general and not meant to start any great debate!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Even though I am a Steelers fan even I can see that you are off base with your observations. IMO it's not the players you guys have (you have great talent on this team) it's the fire that you guys play with. (or should I say lack of) Starting with Joe Flacco and stretching out from there I don't see desire. I see guys standing around pointing fingers and shrugging shoulders. I don't see the swagger. I do agree that your team is declining as a powerhouse in the AFC and I don't see you guys making the playoffs this year. I see mediocrity and it makes me kind of sad that this great franchise seems to be slipping into the middle of the pack and not leading the way!&lt;br /&gt;[/quote]

Stop getting your dope from yakraven.

#edit

I guess I'll give a semi-serious response. You cant sit there and tell me its not the players, and then say it's because the players play without fire. That's a contradicting statement. You're saying it is the players, but just for a different reason from what I am saying.
I'll agree that our defense as a whole doesn't seem to be as emotional as they normally are. Could be for many different reasons. All I know for sure are two things:

1. We need to make some replacements on the defensive side of the ball.
2. Pittsburgh will enter our house in December adorned in Goldenrod and Black. They will leave our house Black and Blue. See you in the playoffs.

[Moderator 2]

[quote name='steeldude' timestamp='1288419345' post='523705']
This post is not only for flyinsmo but all football fans in general and not meant to start any great debate!

Even though I am a Steelers fan even I can see that you are off base with your observations. IMO it's not the players you guys have (you have great talent on this team) it's the fire that you guys play with. (or should I say lack of) Starting with Joe Flacco and stretching out from there I don't see desire. I see guys standing around pointing fingers and shrugging shoulders. I don't see the swagger. I do agree that your team is declining as a powerhouse in the AFC and I don't see you guys making the playoffs this year. I see mediocrity and it makes me kind of sad that this great franchise seems to be slipping into the middle of the pack and not leading the way!
[/quote]

You still don't get it do you.4 of your last posts are calling the Ravens some form of ''awful or 'medicore' I am not seeing what you are constructively bringing to the conversation.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Moderator 2' timestamp='1288419638' post='523708']<br />You  still don't get it do you.4 of your last posts are calling the Ravens some form of ''awful or 'medicore' I am not seeing what you are constructively bringing to the conversation.<br />[/quote]


It's underhanded, subtle smack talk under the guise of critique and concern for our great franchise and his beloved rivals.
Don't pay any attention to him, I try not to.

[Moderator 2]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1288420199' post='523709']
It's underhanded, subtle smack talk under the guise of critique and concern for our great franchise and his beloved rivals.
Don't pay any attention to him, I try not to.
[/quote]

I agree, but it is growing very old and the the definition of trolling.

[steeldude]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1288420199' post='523709']
It's underhanded, subtle smack talk under the guise of critique and concern for our great franchise and his beloved rivals.
Don't pay any attention to him, I try not to.
[/quote]

My opinions are just that OPINIONS !!! I'm not trying to smack talk at all. Go to our website-we have Ravens fans posting on there all the time. We got issues too!

[Bltravens]

[quote name='steeldude' timestamp='1288419345' post='523705']
This post is not only for flyinsmo but all football fans in general and not meant to start any great debate!

Even though I am a Steelers fan even I can see that you are off base with your observations. IMO it's not the players you guys have (you have great talent on this team) it's the fire that you guys play with. (or should I say lack of) Starting with Joe Flacco and stretching out from there I don't see desire. I see guys standing around pointing fingers and shrugging shoulders. I don't see the swagger. I do agree that your team is declining as a powerhouse in the AFC and I don't see you guys making the playoffs this year. I see mediocrity and it makes me kind of sad that this great franchise seems to be slipping into the middle of the pack and not leading the way!
[/quote]
The same lack of fire that permeates from Eli Manning, a superbowl winner. Kurt Warner is as stoic as they come, rarely raising his voice. Flacco was fired up after he threw the TD winner, and was jacked up in the Buffalo game when he rallied a comeback on his arm. I havent seen one guy shrug their shoulders or point fingers yet this season, and I highly you doubt you watch many Ravens games.

This is also like your 9th post about our "mediocrity and our decline as a powerhouse in the AFC". Your becoming a nuisance on these boards, without any opinion on matters other than this same exact post you have written for the past 3 weeks. Frankly you need to turn the page.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='steeldude' timestamp='1288419345' post='523705']
This post is not only for flyinsmo but all football fans in general and not meant to start any great debate!

Even though I am a Steelers fan even I can see that you are off base with your observations. IMO it's not the players you guys have (you have great talent on this team) it's the fire that you guys play with. (or should I say lack of) Starting with Joe Flacco and stretching out from there I don't see desire. I see guys standing around pointing fingers and shrugging shoulders. I don't see the swagger. I do agree that your team is declining as a powerhouse in the AFC and I don't see you guys making the playoffs this year. I see mediocrity and it makes me kind of sad that this great franchise seems to be slipping into the middle of the pack and not leading the way!
[/quote]

Seriously dude, why are you on this forum? Declining as a powerhouse? Mediocrity? Slipping into the middle of the pack? You're entitled to your opinions but what evidence do you have to make those foolish claims?

To your point about the lack of fire, Joe seemed to be pretty excited when he tossed a game-winning TD pass against the Steelers.

You say you see "guys standing around pointing fingers and shrugging shoulders". Honestly, you're lying. When has that happened in a Ravens game this year? Please, I'd like to know.

No swagger? What, should players be dancing and flexing after every tackle? Please...

We get it, you're not a Ravens fans but don't come here talking nonsense and produce weak arguments as to why the team is on the way down despite putting together a 5-2 record.

[flynismo]

[quote name='steeldude' timestamp='1288420432' post='523712']<br />My opinions are just that OPINIONS !!! I'm not trying to smack talk at all. Go to our website-we have Ravens fans posting on there all the time. We got issues too!<br />[/quote]

Okay, very well then. I dont know you well enough to call you a liar, so I wont.
I will just say that your opinions sometimes have a ring of truth to them, even if it is a tough pill to swallow, but you taint them with your condescending remarks about our legitimacy. Case in point: you're telling us that a 5-2 team who is just entering the lighter part of the schedule, and is a half game away (or a Pittsburgh loss on Sunday) from regaining control of this division is going to miss the playoffs?
If it waddles like a troll, talks like a troll...then maybe...

[steeldude]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1288420817' post='523717']
Okay, very well then. I dont know you well enough to call you a liar, so I wont.
I will just say that your opinions sometimes have a ring of truth to them, even if it is a tough pill to swallow, but you taint them with your condescending remarks about our legitimacy. Case in point: you're telling us that a 5-2 team who is just entering the lighter part of the schedule, and is a half game away (or a Pittsburgh loss on Sunday) from regaining control of this division is going to miss the playoffs?
If it waddles like a troll, talks like a troll...then maybe...
[/quote]

Well I'm not sure I see the light of your schedule coming. You guys had one of the toughest schedules of any team. You have the fins, falcons,panthers,bucs and then us again. These are all going to bitterly contested games with every team except the panthers deep in the playoff hunt. I hope for the best for you guys. I want to come into M&T Bank stadium with the division on the line!

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='steeldude' timestamp='1288421212' post='523718']
Well I'm not sure I see the light of your schedule coming. You guys had one of the toughest schedules of any team. You have the fins, falcons,panthers,bucs and then us again. T[b]hese are all going to bitterly contested games with every team except the panthers deep in the playoff hunt.[/b] I hope for the best for you guys. I want to come into M&T Bank stadium with the division on the line!
[/quote]

You don't know how those game will turn out. Just because the Bucs are in the hunt for the play-offs doesn't mean they're a good team or that their game against the Ravens will be close. In the two games they've lost this year, they were absolutely destroyed. Just because the Bills took the Ravens to overtime doesn't mean the Ravens can no longer blow out an inferior team. Look at what the Browns did to the Saints last week. Did anyone see that coming?

[steeldude]

[quote name='steeldude' timestamp='1288421212' post='523718']
Well I'm not sure I see the light of your schedule coming. You guys had one of the toughest schedules of any team. You have the fins, falcons,panthers,bucs and then us again. These are all going to bitterly contested games with every team except the panthers deep in the playoff hunt. I hope for the best for you guys. I want to come into M&T Bank stadium with the division on the line!
[/quote]
By the way the Crab Cakes there at M&T Bank are outrageously good! and Haloti Ngata may just end up being the best Defensive lineman ever to play the game! Amazing!

[flynismo]

[quote name='steeldude' timestamp='1288421212' post='523718']<br />Well I'm not sure I see the light of your schedule coming. You guys had one of the toughest schedules of any team. You have the fins, falcons,panthers,bucs and then us again. These are all going to bitterly contested games with every team except the panthers deep in the playoff hunt. I hope for the best for you guys. I want to come into M&amp;T Bank stadium with the division on the line!<br />[/quote]

See, now we're talking like respectful rivals, not like trolls. It's not so hard to make a post about us without calling us mediocre, is it?

I'll respond in kind.

The Falcons game will be a tough one. But If you guys can beat them when they are at full strength and you are without Ben, I am confident we will do the same, especially with the return of Reed to our defense and possibly Stallworth on offense.

Other than that, I am not sweating those other games you mentioned. I think we are clearly better than them, and we simply don't lose to teams we are supposed to beat (although Buffalo came awefully close last week to making a liar of me).

Then of course, our rematch. Rest assured, I anticipate us being 8-3 at worst, but just as likely 9-2 when we square off again. Don't worry about us, we will be in the playoff picture when we meet again. I just hope you still are too, because you have some very tough games coming up.

[steeldude]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1288422125' post='523727']
See, now we're talking like respectful rivals, not like trolls. It's not so hard to make a post about us without calling us mediocre, is it?

I'll respond in kind.

The Falcons game will be a tough one. But If you guys can beat them when they are at full strength and you are without Ben, I am confident we will do the same, especially with the return of Reed to our defense and possibly Stallworth on offense.

Other than that, I am not sweating those other games you mentioned. I think we are clearly better than them, and we simply don't lose to teams we are supposed to beat (although Buffalo came awefully close last week to making a liar of me).

Then of course, our rematch. Rest assured, I anticipate us being 8-3 at worst, but just as likely 9-2 when we square off again. Don't worry about us, we will be in the playoff picture when we meet again. I just hope you still are too, because you have some very tough games coming up.
[/quote]

Well for what its worth-heres what is see. AFC east Pats and Jets-one team wins the division and one has the wild card. AFC South Miami should take that division. AFC Central the Colts and the titans take that division with the Titans as probably the wild card. That leaves the AFC north. With no wild cards available there Pittsburg or Baltimore one of those two teams will have to win the division outright! Strap in it's going to be a helluva ride!!!!

[XxSizzleXx]

Hopefully Jones can turn into the dominating force on the Ravens like he once was on the Orangemen.

[Moderator 2]

[quote name='steeldude' timestamp='1288422855' post='523733']
[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1288422125' post='523727']
See, now we're talking like respectful rivals, not like trolls. It's not so hard to make a post about us without calling us mediocre, is it?

I'll respond in kind.

The Falcons game will be a tough one. But If you guys can beat them when they are at full strength and you are without Ben, I am confident we will do the same, especially with the return of Reed to our defense and possibly Stallworth on offense.

Other than that, I am not sweating those other games you mentioned. I think we are clearly better than them, and we simply don't lose to teams we are supposed to beat (although Buffalo came awefully close last week to making a liar of me).

Then of course, our rematch. Rest assured, I anticipate us being 8-3 at worst, but just as likely 9-2 when we square off again. Don't worry about us, we will be in the playoff picture when we meet again. I just hope you still are too, because you have some very tough games coming up.
[/quote]

Well for what its worth-heres what is see. AFC east Pats and Jets-one team wins the division and one has the wild card. [b]AFC South Miam[/b]i should take that division. [b]AFC Central the Colts[/b] and the titans take that division with the Titans as probably the wild card. That leaves the AFC north. With no wild cards available there Pittsburg or Baltimore one of those two teams will have to win the division outright! Strap in it's going to be a helluva ride!!!!
[/quote]
Not to nitpick but Miami is in the AFC East with New England and the Jets . AFC South is Titians and Colts there is no Central.

[flynismo]

,[quote name='steeldude' timestamp='1288422855' post='523733']<br />[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1288422125' post='523727']<br />See, now we're talking like respectful rivals, not like trolls. It's not so hard to make a post about us without calling us mediocre, is it?<br /><br />I'll respond in kind.<br /><br />The Falcons game will be a tough one. But If you guys can beat them when they are at full strength and you are without Ben, I am confident we will do the same, especially with the return of Reed to our defense and possibly Stallworth on offense.<br /><br />Other than that, I am not sweating those other games you mentioned. I think we are clearly better than them, and we simply don't lose to teams we are supposed to beat (although Buffalo came awefully close last week to making a liar of me).<br /><br />Then of course, our rematch. Rest assured, I anticipate us being 8-3 at worst, but just as likely 9-2 when we square off again. Don't worry about us, we will be in the playoff picture when we meet again. I just hope you still are too, because you have some very tough games coming up.<br />[/quote<br /><br />  Well for what its worth-heres what is see. AFC east Pats and Jets-one team wins the division and one has the wild card. AFC South Miami should take that division. AFC Central the Colts and the titans take that division with the Titans as probably the wild card. That leaves the AFC north. With no wild cards available there Pittsburg or Baltimore one of those two teams will have to win the division outright! Strap in it's going to be a helluva ride!!!!<br />[/quote]
[/quote]


Miami is the east, with NE and NYJ.

We have the tiebreaker over the Jets, so they are SOL if we were fighting them for the sixth seed.

I think the pats win the east, with the jets getting the 6th seed, since Baltimore will have the 5th seed if we dont win the division.
If we do win the division, pitts will get the other wildcard spot.


So playoffs looks like it will be the usual suspects-
ravens-steelers-new england-indy-jets and whoever wins the west.,,,,

[steeldude]

[quote name='Moderator 2' timestamp='1288423479' post='523738']
Not to nitpick but Miami is in the AFC East with New England and the Jets . AFC South is Titians and Colts there is no Central.
[/quote]
oops your right just a little too much Sauvignon with tequila shooters! lalalala

[-Truth-]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1288380042' post='523465']
I dont mean to make it sound as if the two positions are identical, by definition they are two very different positions, as you already know (just out of curiosity, where did you play?).
For the benefit of anyone who doesn't know the difference and following this conversation, I'll throw out a very simplified definiton for them:
strong safeties main responsibilites are to handle assignments near the line of scrimmage, whether it be going after the RB or picking up a TE in coverage, etc.
Free safeties main responsibilities are almost exclusively coverage duties, whether it be a deep zone or whatever the case may be.
They both share one responsibility, which is to never let a play get behind them, so the ability to tackle is paramount, which is why not just any cornerback can convert to safety, even though free safety may just sound like a glorified cornerback.
Is that a fair, if simple, description?

The point being, it really isn't that big of a transition. Both safety positions require you to be able to play coverage. Both positions require you to be able to lay some wood when needed. The differences are in the nuances. Will Demps was better suited to tackle RB and larger recieving threats, so we moved Ed Reed from SS to Free Safety. Doesnt mean Demps couldnt play FS, he could've (and did), just means his skills made him a better fit for us at SS.

Which is kind of what I was getting at earlier. Teams use their SS in coverage a lot more than in the past (us in particular), when in the past, SS were basically another LB on the field.
It is a transition to make, so me saying the two are interchangeable is a bit of an exaggeration to make my point, but its not a huge transition. I mean if will demps can do it, surely a blue chip prospect can lol..
[/quote]
I played in High School in Montgomery County. And I agree with practically everything that was mentioned above. Although there are a few old school safeties, such as Adrian Wilson and LaRon Landry, the SS position is slowly sharing more similarities in terms of their responsibilities. But my question was more so directed at the need for a Safety, and Linebacker for that matter, in order to develop them. Fortunately for the Ravens, LB and S positions usually translate well during their Rookie years.

For example, out of the 4 LBs taken in the 1st round of the 2009 Draft, Brian Cushing, Clay Mathews and Brian Orakpo all made the Pro Bowl. Granted they are outside LBs, but James Laurinaitis, who was drafted directly after them, has become a cornerstone for his Defense. Of the 3 LBs drafted in the 2008 Draft, Jerod Mayo and Curtis Lofton became impact MLBs in their Defenses, and Keith Rivers could've enjoyed a well rounded Season if he wasn't setback by an injury. That's not even mentioning the only LBs in the 1st Round of the 2007 Draft, being Patrick Willis, Jon Beason and Lawrence Timmons. Now does that mean that the Ravens will surely draft a superstar LB and S in the next draft? No. But it's a great sign for the future talent to be able to perform early as has the current crop. We still have at least 2 more Drafts before this is the team's biggest priority.

[ravens world]

why do people thumbs down cause someone might say something negative ? Even if it is the truth i agree with poster an he really did not say nothing wrong about the team but he got 12 thumbs down i find that immature .

[1/28/01]

[quote name='ravens world' timestamp='1288831251' post='527088']
why do people thumbs down cause someone might say something negative ? Even if it is the truth i agree with poster an he really did not say nothing wrong about the team but he got 12 thumbs down i find that immature .
[/quote]
Not to be rude, but who care about the + - thing? Really, who cares??

[flynismo]

,[quote name='ravens  world' timestamp='1288831251' post='527088']<br />why do people thumbs down cause someone might say something negative ?  Even if it is  the truth i agree with poster an he really did not say nothing wrong about the team but he got 12 thumbs down i find that immature .<br />[/quote]

finally!
You are officially on my list of cool people of the day!,,,,,,,,,,,,

[flynismo]

,[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1288832534' post='527097']<br />Not to be rude, but who care about the + - thing?  Really, who cares??<br />[/quote]

I do sir! I was just gonna jump off a bridge, when my new buddy above rescued me from my world of torture and persecution!

Hey sent you a PM regarding that thing, let me know if you're interested.,,,,