Casey Rabach Fails Physical

[izvoodoo]

just signed him
AlbertBreer Albert Breer
by duffstar
Ravens agree to terms with free agent OL Casey Rabach

Bargain bin back up. Tim Barnes is a good project for the future.

[berad]

Yup, confirmed on their facebook, too

http://www.facebook.com/baltimoreravens

[Irish Raven]

I'd still like an UDFA center around, even on the practice squad for the year

This is Birk's last year so they can be tutored and learn

[berad]

Definitely a back-up, don't see him being any better than Chester but we needed depth on the OL. Who knows if he even makes the team...

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

This was definitely a necessary signing, especially given the recent twitter reports that Birk's knee is more concerning than I thought.

[ed.s52]

Good to have depth on the Oline, although I'd still be supremely pissed if any of our O-line got hurt this year.

[BohBalmerOsbohs]

Sign ngata please

[FerrariFan87]

Jamison Hensley made a good point on Twitter... he's much better than Chester, so we upgraded there and saved tons of money.

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

Good depth and insurance behind Birk I suppose.

[POE]

John Clayton is reporting that the reason Rabach got signed is because Birk may need arthroscopic knee surgery..ouch that may not be good. Casey isn't upper echelon material but he will serve us well enough and get the job done so good signing imo.

[POE]

[quote name='POE' timestamp='1312309637' post='731962']
John Clayton is reporting that the reason Rabach got signed is because Birk may need arthroscopic knee surgery..ouch that may not be good. Casey isn't upper echelon material but he will serve us well enough and get the job done so good signing imo.
[/quote]
Clayton followed up his last tweet by saying this:

ClaytonESPN John Clayton
Birk's knee isn't considered to be too bad, but that's the issue that led to the Rabach signing.

Sounds like he better get his story straight..lol!

[Ravenskid2085]

I like this alot, gives us good depth.
I remember he was a stud when he played here before, obviously he's not the same player anymore, but still good to have him back.

[Ngata92NT]

Casey Rabach? THE Casey Rabach?!?! SUPER BOWL BABY WOOOOOOO


[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1312307764' post='731919']
This was definitely a necessary signing, especially given the recent twitter reports that Birk's knee is more concerning than I thought.
[/quote]

On a serious note, I agree that we needed to sign a cheap backup in case Birk went down. I remember Harbaugh saying that we were down to only 6 O-Linemen the other day due to cramps, fatigue and injury.

I still have hope that Barnes will become somehow take over for Birk and have a great season... a very, very faint hope. Maybe next season.

Also, Ngata's arms are inhuman. They're significantly bigger than a normal person's legs (referring to your sig).

[PeRK82]

I think if Rabach is up to par, then Birk might get the boot. Maybe later in the season since its so close to the beginning of the season.

We would free up alot of money if we did cut him, i think i remember him getting alot of money per a season. That money could go to a Pass Rusher.

[PeRK82]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1312295942' post='731760']
I dunno, they were talking like he could start for Birk who may not be able to go with a knee injury...

Still waiting for a back-up [b]RB, WR[/b], and OT!!
[/quote]


No need to wait for a back up RB and WR, we have Allen or the 3 others we have, and for WR, i think we are starting are Rookies, if not then we need to resign Mason. I dont see any other Vet WR coming in and making a diff. that Mason would. Mason already knows the system and can make a diff. instantly. Im actually starting to have faith in our Rookie WRers now.

Good thing the Stealers secondary isnt so good, we should be able to take advantage of them. Thats how other teams beat them last yr, Throwing the Ball.

[RayRiceRulez]

[quote name='PeRK82' timestamp='1312311451' post='732009']
I think if Rabach is up to par, then Birk might get the boot. Maybe later in the season since its so close to the beginning of the season.

We would free up alot of money if we did cut him, i think i remember him getting alot of money per a season. That money could go to a Pass Rusher.
[/quote]

With the lack of o-line depth we have, cutting him would be a huge mistake. We do need a pass rush, but o-line is just as, if not more, important, and we cannot afford to get rid of quality players, especially considering the lack of good OL in the market.

[PeRK82]

[quote name='RayRiceRulez' timestamp='1312312195' post='732022']
With the lack of o-line depth we have, cutting him would be a huge mistake. We do need a pass rush, but o-line is just as, if not more, important, and we cannot afford to get rid of quality players, especially considering the lack of good OL in the market.
[/quote]


Well we already have i think 2, atleast 1 rookie back up Center, not including Rabach . (that is a freak of nature, hes giant, the rookie center)

Also when were talking about O line arnt we referring to the Tackles not center that need improvement. Also i thought that was or is being addressed. I heard Reid is possibly going to start the way he is playing.

Im more worried about the LT (Oher), he was way more productive on the right side. And i think Gaither is still up in the air but he would go to the Right side anyways.

[PuRock]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1312300820' post='731835']
forgot about them. We signed Barnes didn't we? Not that I think he'd be an answer right now if we did..just want to know if I have any reason for hope for the future.
[/quote]

Barnes is a very bright prospect. There is a lot of hope for the future. But he's still a UDFA rookie. We need a guy that can go right now. Birk might have to get his knee scoped or something which could mean missed time.

Rabach is a cheap option who is a very smart player. He played great for us before (not saying he will be at that level) and is a good leader in the locker room. For the time being, he is probably the best 'fix' option there is.

[RayRiceRulez]

[quote name='PeRK82' timestamp='1312313054' post='732047']
Well we already have i think 2, atleast 1 rookie back up Center, not including Rabach . (that is a freak of nature, hes giant, the rookie center)

Also when were talking about O line arnt we referring to the Tackles not center that need improvement. Also i thought that was or is being addressed. I heard Reid is possibly going to start the way he is playing.

Im more worried about the LT (Oher), he was way more productive on the right side. And i think Gaither is still up in the air but he would go to the Right side anyways.
[/quote]

I would not feel at all comfortable with 2 UFAs as backups, in fact to me they are nothing more than practice fodder and if they are lucky, future practice squad members.

As for the Oline, i believe we only have one C/G backup at the moment, with projects as backups for tackles. I would feel pretty comfortable with Reid as a backup to whoever the RT is, but I'm not comfortable with him starting with (virtually) no one behind him on the depth chart.

And i like gaither coming back, and even starting on the left, assuming he is able/ the best person there. With him on the left and oher on the right, i would feel just fine with Reid there to backup for a couple of years. I just feel a little worried atm.

[PeRK82]

[quote name='RayRiceRulez' timestamp='1312313346' post='732053']
I would not feel at all comfortable with 2 UFAs as backups, in fact to me they are nothing more than practice fodder and if they are lucky, future practice squad members.

As for the Oline, i believe we only have one C/G backup at the moment, with projects as backups for tackles. I would feel pretty comfortable with Reid as a backup to whoever the RT is, but I'm not comfortable with him starting with (virtually) no one behind him on the depth chart.

And i like gaither coming back, [b]and even starting on the left[/b], assuming he is able/ the best person there. With him on the left and oher on the right, i would feel just fine with Reid there to backup for a couple of years. I just feel a little worried atm.
[/quote]


Yea as much as i would want and everyone would want Gaither to start on the Left, i dont see that happening. The Staff is just too stubborn, maybe they see something we dont, i dont know.

Maybe in Practice Oher looks good on the Left side because we dont have a good pass rusher on that side.

[T3hRaven]

Signing Rabach was a solid move to increase depth along the OL. We know Chester is worthless, I'd rather give this guy another shot on the team. With Birk's knee issues, it will be good to know we have a guy with starting experience as the backup instead of throwing one of our UDFA prospect centers under the bus.

[scrock]

So has anyone else read the article from Baltimore Sun? Says Birk may need surgery? Anyone have any thoughts, its good we signed Rabach but if he becomes the starter are we comfortable with a rookie C backing him up?

Actually the Sun reports ESPN has reported Birk may need surgery

[flynismo]

,[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1312313205' post='732049']<br />Barnes is a very bright prospect.  There is a lot of hope for the future.  But he's still a UDFA rookie.  We need a guy that can go right now.  Birk might have to get his knee scoped or something which could mean missed time.<br /><br />Rabach is a cheap option who is a very smart player.  He played great for us before (not saying he will be at that level) and is a good leader in the locker room.  For the time being, he is probably the best 'fix' option there is.<br />[/quote]

personally I've never seen Barnes play, so I dont really have an opinion on him; but from what I've read and heard others say, you are right, he sounds like a diamond in the rough. Hopefully a couple years from now we'll see what he can do.

Although I'm not a fan of the Rabach signing, it's not like we have any real alternatives to him who can come right in and at least have a chance of not completely sucking like an UDFA likely would.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='PeRK82' timestamp='1312314364' post='732075']
Yea as much as i would want and everyone would want Gaither to start on the Left, i dont see that happening. The Staff is just too stubborn, maybe they see something we dont, i dont know.

[b]Maybe in Practice Oher looks good on the Left side because we dont have a good pass rusher on that side.[/b]
[/quote]

In an 11-on-11 practice, Oher would be staring at Suggs on a typical down.

[JO_75]

Good signing, hopefully Birk's knee is going to be alright for the season opener against the Steelers, I would hate to see Birk start the season on the PUP list.

[Suggs Package]

I like the Rabach for Chester trade haha. Chester goes 5 years - 20 Mil, for Rabach's 2 year deal. Rabach is indeed older, but a short-term fix. Plus Chester is overpaid and is getting paid more than Birk now.

[Alexir]

If Birk's knee was serious we would of probably contacted Olin Kreutz. Birk should be back, we just need some depth and more camp bodies since Bartholomew and Barnes are getting man handled.

[scrock]

Birk had an MRI done today, wonder what it will show, he had to have knee drained once a week last year...maybe the same thing this year? idk, doesnt sounds promising

[Ravenseconbeast]

So we got a overpaid injured center, and a mediocre(cut) aged center. Great..as if we needed to kill ou cap space with useless players for 'depth'. We needed a playmaker. This is not a game changer.

[scrock]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1312321251' post='732278']
So we got a overpaid injured center, and a mediocre(cut) aged center. Great..as if we needed to kill ou cap space with useless players for 'depth'. We needed a playmaker. This is not a game changer.
[/quote]

No we needed depth on the OL

We want a playmaker at WR or a pass rusher...need over wants at this point