Is Our Championship Window Closing?

[ROH522155]

It really grinds my gears when I hear experts say this. Every single year, they continue to tell us "The Ravens championship window is closing" blah blah blah....Apparently ours has been closing for some 5 or 6 years now at least...I believe that with the great people that run our organization, we will be in great shape for years to come. What do you guys think?

[berad]

[quote name='ravensorioleshoyas522155' timestamp='1295720387' post='621061']
[b]It really grinds my gears[/b] when I hear experts say this. Every single year, they continue to tell us "The Ravens championship window is closing" blah blah blah....Apparently ours has been closing for some 5 or 6 years now at least...I believe that with the great people that run our organization, we will be in great shape for years to come. What do you guys think?
[/quote]

Excellent phrase!

Anyways, this is just a talking point. Seems you've already come to that conclusion, though. Ours was closing back in 2006, too. Fact is, we have a great young nucleus for this team as well as some talented veterans and as long as we have a great scouting and personnel department, we won't ever be out of a championship hunt.

[DrMoonTooth]

[quote name='ravensorioleshoyas522155' timestamp='1295720387' post='621061']
It really grinds my gears when I hear experts say this. Every single year, they continue to tell us "The Ravens championship window is closing" blah blah blah....Apparently ours has been closing for some 5 or 6 years now at least...[b]I believe that with the great people that run our organization, we will be in great shape for years to come[/b]. What do you guys think?
[/quote]
That's exactly how I feel. We have a top-notch organization, so I don't think any windows are closing. I think what the analysts seem to forget is that the only remnant of our 2000-2001 Superbowl team is Ray Lewis. Yes, our defense is getting older, but I have complete faith that Ozzie Newsome, Steve Bisciotti, John Harbaugh, etc. will continue to keep this organization premier no matter who puts on the cleats for them.

[Ravenmore74]

We are a playoff team without a doubt. Next year we have to much talent along with a qualified, dedicated coaching staff to throw it all away...

[Milton145]

We have Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata (we will resign him without a doubt). Simple answer is no. We have young superstar talent to build off of for years to come.

[Jamal]

Well we have Flacco and Rice here for a long time, and the offense will be built around them for the next decade.

On defense we might have the best d-lineman in the NFL(whose only 26), and Suggs who has a lot of years left. These 2 guys will be the new big 2 after Reed and Ray-Ray retire.

With that being said, the draft is crucial, and we have one of the better drafters in the NFL.

Always easier to rebuild when you have a QB in place.

[PuRock]

I don't think so. We have a young core of guys on offense. Some young pieces on defense. This organization has the ability to consistently put a winning product onto the football field. So they give a great chance to win every year.

They also don't mortgage the future to bring in somebody big. Therefore we always have the ability to improve our team in the draft.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

The only reason they say our window is closing is that our two HOF'ers are closer to retirement than ever before, and our longest, most reliable fixture at WR is close as well. Aside of that, this team is exceptionally youthful and has a lot of potential as well.

[Bltravens]

I think we are in a very different position than alot of teams. We have a young up and coming offense that is still learning what it takes to excel at the NFL level with Rice, Flacco, Grubbs, Oher, Dickson, McClain, and then a veteran laden defense that already knows what it takes to win and it would be their window that is closing imo. The offensive players haven't reached their zenith yet as a group or as individual players and their window is just starting, the defense is full of veterans, remember Suggs is 27 but he's been in the league for 7 years, Ray is 35, Ed is 32, the only impact player we have that I would consider young is Ngata. We need to find some young impact players on defense to pair with Suggs/Ngata so that the defense after it declines when Ray/Ed leave can reach a new pinnacle when the offense is reaching its pinnacle. Or which would be even greater some young impact players on defense that can take some pressure off Ray/Ed so they don't have to worry about making every play all the time.

[cursona pirate]

we [font="Impact"][i][u][size="3"][color="#4b0082"]SHOULD[/color][/size][/u][/i][/font] be one of the top teams this decade

[purple.n.black]

We got Ozzie, a young talented QB and a great fan base. This organization might have a down year or two here and there, but that window will not be closed anywhere in the near future.

[BirdWatcher]

I think our front office has made a great effort to make sure we don't have "windows" any more. Their goal is to keep the team consistently competitive with a mix of veterans and young players.

[reediddy]

I think the media becomes too enamored with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. They have reason to, with all the great seasons Ray and Ed have given us. But it seems their retirement is hand-in-hand with our demise, in the eyes of the media. Like any great franchise, great HOF players have retired, and new players have stepped in and made their own legacy.

With the front office we have, with the drafting expertise we have, I'm confident that we will find the right players once our great ones retire. As a result, we will continue to be a contending team for years to come. Our offense will be very good for the next 5-6 years, if not more.

[gammaman]

During the end of season press conference, it was stated that Coach Harbaugh would be spending greater efforts in correcting the Ravens' offensive shortcomings.

If Cameron is so great, why is that necessary?

We have a new, and inexperienced, DC and he will certainly need assistance and guidance from the Coach Harbaugh.

We have suffered from a poor offense long enough in Baltimore. One would think that the management of this team would realize that the offensive line, with it's horrendous performance in 2010, falls under the purview of the OC and should have been strategically addressed. With the unprecedented, and non-reproducible level of skill-position talent that this team enjoyed this year, there are OCs in the league that would have gotten better performance, especially during 4th quarter crunch-time.

Alas, it appears that we are destined to another year, or perhaps more, of under-performing offense.

But, I'm used to it as a Ravens' fan.

[Romo Ravens]

If we keep losing to the Steelers there will never be a window.

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='Romo Ravens' timestamp='1295746903' post='621284']
If we keep losing to the Steelers there will never be a window.
[/quote]

This.

How long until my heart heals from the loss last week?

[Militant X 1]

we gotta get younger, more passionate (like Ray lewis), aggressive, and hungrier players on the squad that HATE to lose! and take pride in being the best!

[Malkavian Raven]

[font="Century Gothic"]Wait, wait, wait... there's actually a window where you get championships?

[/font][font="Century Gothic"]I hope it's a drive-thru... do they have a dollar menu?[/font]
[font="Century Gothic"]
[i]Malkavian Raven

PS: In all seriousness, analysts can talk all they want. Like Sugar says, "We'll do our talking on the field."[/i][/font]

[cubbies]

We wasted a lot these past years. We feel to execute, to put games away, we beat ourself in most of our elimination playoff games.

The leaders of this team, (ray, reed and mason) wasted a lot of chances to win something before retiring. Im not sure, if i was one of them, that i will like to comeback. Our defense is elite since 2000, but the offense feel to execute since that time also (dont catch the ball or bad...very bad play calling). It must be frustrating for these 3 to see great teams like that just not capable to play up to potential.

At some point, our defense will be less stellar, we take it for granted since 2000 that our defense will rank top 5. But someday (maybe next year), well need our *offense* to cover our defense FOR ONES. The way this *offense* is being *cameron called* these days, our best chance to win anything in the upcoming years is to rely on our defense and sp ONLY, regarless of our *offense*.

We are the worst clutch playoff contender offense in the history of nfl. We have wasted the most of our pro bowling defense for years. Our offense fumbles, use WRONG players (like housh) and ignoring GOOD players (like Mclain-dickson-pitta) and isnt able to CATCH BALLS for first down or 3-and-goal opportunity.

To answer the question: yes i feel that our championship window is closing fast!!! (i will sadly say that she's dead since we lost to steeler last week. (This offense will never get it, we made the same mistake in the steeler playoff game and texans game. This purple offense has not give anytime to his defence since Trent Dilfer era.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='PITCH52BLACK' timestamp='1295752689' post='621330']
we gotta get younger, more passionate (like Ray lewis), aggressive, and hungrier players on the squad that HATE to lose! and take pride in being the best!
[/quote]
Pretty sure EVERYONE on that team hates to lose and takes pride in being the best.....

[ravens_4life]

nope, our championship window isnt closing. we have been robbed to many times with flags etc... this team should have at least won 2-3 superbowls. sure it will be different once ray-ray and reed retire but we still have a superbowl caliber team. we just gotta fix minor things, nothing to big. once our offense gels we are going to be scary.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='cubbies' timestamp='1295754245' post='621345']
We wasted a lot these past years. We feel to execute, to put games away, we beat ourself in most of our elimination playoff games.

The leaders of this team, (ray, reed and mason) wasted a lot of chances to win something before retiring. Im not sure, if i was one of them, that i will like to comeback. Our defense is elite since 2000, but the offense feel to execute since that time also (dont catch the ball or bad...very bad play calling). It must be frustrating for these 3 to see great teams like that just not capable to play up to potential.

At some point, our defense will be less stellar, we take it for granted since 2000 that our defense will rank top 5. But someday (maybe next year), well need our *offense* to cover our defense FOR ONES. The way this *offense* is being *cameron called* these days, our best chance to win anything in the upcoming years is to rely on our defense and sp ONLY, regarless of our *offense*.

We are the worst clutch playoff contender offense in the history of nfl. We have wasted the most of our pro bowling defense for years. Our offense fumbles, use WRONG players (like housh) and ignoring GOOD players (like Mclain-dickson-pitta) and isnt able to CATCH BALLS for first down or 3-and-goal opportunity.

To answer the question: yes i feel that our championship window is closing fast!!! (i will sadly say that she's dead since we lost to steeler last week. (This offense will never get it, we made the same mistake in the steeler playoff game and texans game. This purple offense has not give anytime to his defence since Trent Dilfer era.
[/quote]
Where to begin:

Its fail, not feel...
The "Dilfer days" gave less offense
We're not the worst clutch offense "in the history of the NFL"
How are McClain, Dickson and Pitta better than Housh?

There's more, but Im done for now.....anyone else want to pick up where I left off?

[ravens_4life]

last week's loss t the steelers sucked. i was so mad i wanted to cry. we are not the only team with problems. to me it feels like we are the only team with problems according to espn etc.. our championship window is not closing. people are saying that why.. because lewis and reed may retire. if those 2 retire its not the end of the world. its not like were gonna 0-16. yes its a huge loss, but we always find a way.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1295756689' post='621371']
Pretty sure EVERYONE on that team hates to lose and takes pride in being the best.....
[/quote]

I'll agree that everyone hates to lose but we have to admit, some work at being the best they can be more than others.

[Steelpride]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1295761673' post='621436']
I'll agree that everyone hates to lose but we have to admit, some work at being the best they can be more than others.
[/quote]


Here is the difference between the Ravens and the Steelers.

Ravens say "We are not going to lose this game."
Steelers say "We are going to win this game."

There is a big difference in those two statements.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Steelpride' timestamp='1295791401' post='621540']
Here is the difference between the Ravens and the Steelers.

Ravens say "We are not going to lose this game."
Steelers say "We are going to win this game."

There is a big difference in those two statements.
[/quote]
We didn't ask, but thanks for the input ......

[Steelpride]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1295791500' post='621542']
We didn't ask, but thanks for the input ......
[/quote]

I am a Steelers fan, but that doesn't mean I don't respect the Ravens. I am just trying in the conversation with some input. I have watched the Ravens play the Steelers since the Ravens first came to Baltimore and listening and reading the pre game conferences from both teams, I always got the same feeling.

Sorry for intruding, I will not post anymore on this site.

HAGD and good luck in 2011 if there is a season.

[Irish Girl]

[quote name='ravensorioleshoyas522155' timestamp='1295720387' post='621061']
It really grinds my gears when I hear experts say this. Every single year, they continue to tell us "The Ravens championship window is closing" blah blah blah....Apparently ours has been closing for some 5 or 6 years now at least...I believe that with the great people that run our organization, we will be in great shape for years to come. What do you guys think?
[/quote]
If these people are "experts", then it would be obvious to them that our championship window is not closing. We've made it to the Championships, and next year (2011) we'll return better and prepared to make it again and win there. We [i]will[/i] be in great shape for years to come! Don't listen to those "experts".

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Steelpride' timestamp='1295791782' post='621544']
I am a Steelers fan, but that doesn't mean I don't respect the Ravens. I am just trying in the conversation with some input. I have watched the Ravens play the Steelers since the Ravens first came to Baltimore and listening and reading the pre game conferences from both teams, I always got the same feeling.

Sorry for intruding, I will not post anymore on this site.

HAGD and good luck in 2011 if there is a season.
[/quote]
That's all good and all, its just pouring salt in the very fresh wound with the condescending approach of some of your posts.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='Steelpride' timestamp='1295791401' post='621540']
Here is the difference between the Ravens and the Steelers.

Ravens say "We are not going to lose this game."
Steelers say "We are going to win this game."

There is a big difference in those two statements.
[/quote]

You make this sound like it is the players with that attitude which would be beyond ridiculous. It is the OC with that attitude which, now that our HC is to be more involved, I'm hoping they can slap out of him.