Bernard Pollard, A Raven!

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='kagejb' timestamp='1312433840' post='734481']
Terrible how?
[/quote]


His considered a 'dirty player' Similar to William Gay, and Cortland Finnegan.

[Ngata92NT]

There's no reason to be disappointed in this signing for Zibby's sake. If Zibby has the ability and is healthy he will get a fair shot at starting. Even if Pollard takes the starting spot he's shaky in coverage so I could see him sharing a lot of snaps with Zibby.

Awesome video of Pollard: NFL Sound FX
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-films-sound-efx/09000d5d81b4e091/Sound-FX-Bernard-Pollard

Pollard is an absolute monster, led his team in tackles, had 2.5 sacks, 4 FF. While his coverage is mediocre at best Houston had a HORRIBLE defense which allowed him to be exposed more often. With a better pass rush and better play from the rest of the secondary he should be able to cover his deficiencies. Also, Zibby can always take over on certain passing downs.

Overall, I'm pleased with the signing. I hope we're not overpaying him. Texans fans must be kinda ticked that we're taking two of their toughest players.

[D_UP]

I like this move, I'm not sold on zibikowski. If pollard out plays zibs and gets job good, if pollard pushes zibs to play out skull and zibs gets job good. Win/Win

[xxhighriser]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1312433947' post='734484']
His considered a 'dirty player' Similar to William Gay, and Cortland Finnegan.
[/quote]
so ray lewis is a dirty player too? from the videos i saw it looks like this dude has fire and just loves hitting people. this is what the ravens are about, sounds like a perfect fit if you ask me

[20ReedsAll]

I don't at all know what I think of this signing. I definitely love his tenacity and the physicality he plays the game with. He's a great run stopper and hitter, but he's more than suspect in pass coverage. I don't know, we'll see how he does. Not bad to let him, Zibby, and Haruki fight it out I guess. I miss Landry lol, he was my boy.

[RavensNiners4Life]

I'm still confused. Why are we signing safeties when we need lineman and pass rushers?

[Yooniboy]

[quote name='RavensNiners4Life' timestamp='1312436919' post='734509']
I'm still confused. Why are we signing safeties when we need lineman and pass rushers?
[/quote]

True that bro.
we need osi
everyone is snatching every pass rusher available.

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='Yooniboy' timestamp='1312439730' post='734546']

we need osi
[/quote]

As far as I know, Osi is off the trading block so thats not even an option anymore.

[RavensNiners4Life]

[quote name='Yooniboy' timestamp='1312439730' post='734546']
True that bro.
we need osi
everyone is snatching every pass rusher available.
[/quote]

I wouldn't say Osi. People NEED to remember he played a 4-3 DE. That translated into out 3-4 OLB. Which requires him to play pass defense as well. The only real thing we can do to beef up our pass rush is to get another good OLB, or beast 3-4 DE. Our line is more important than our pass rush. I think Pagano is going to bring the exotic defense look back. Some very good blitzes and converages. In Kindle I trust

[Alexir]

Shame we didn't get Donte Whitner when we should of.

[gabefergy]

I can get behind this signing as long as we didnt overpay. Pollard is quality depth and he can certainly bring the big hit. Probably a slight downgrade from Landry, but I think we likely see him mostly in the box. Zibby is much better in coverage and will probably be on the field in all nickel and dime packages. More than anything he should provide a bit of an insurance policy in case we have an injury. Ed Reed has been known to take some nicks and Zibby has missed some time too.

[CapoRocky]

He has a high motor and hits hard.

[RavensNiners4Life]

This probably has pretty much nothing to do with Pollard being signed, unless he becomes our starter, but a fun fact for our fans. The 49ers radically changed their defense in 1994 by naming 6 new starters. They went on to win the Super Bowl. They also had a problem beating the Cowboys the years before and finally got over the hump in the NFC championship game. 17 years later, the Ravens radically change the look of their team and finally beat the Steelers and win the Super Bowl.

[Bullrush]

Decent pickup, he'll provide depth and could potentially start if Zib doesn't get healthy soon.

[BMOREHAWAII]

I read somewhere that Pollard was also used as an outside LB/blitzer? Correct me if im wrong, but maybe he can be opposite of Suggs and we can still have a Zbi/Naka/Silva safety battle spot.

[reediddy]

[quote name='RavensNiners4Life' timestamp='1312440163' post='734553']
I wouldn't say Osi. People NEED to remember he played a 4-3 DE. That translated into out 3-4 OLB. Which requires him to play pass defense as well. The only real thing we can do to beef up our pass rush is to get another good OLB, or beast 3-4 DE. Our line is more important than our pass rush. I think Pagano is going to bring the exotic defense look back. Some very good blitzes and converages. In Kindle I trust
[/quote]

Thank you for being one of the few Raven fans that remember we still have Kindle on the team and Osi is a 3-4 OLB which does not translate well (reason why Mario Williams may have a down year as well)

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='RavensNiners4Life' timestamp='1312436919' post='734509']
I'm still confused. Why are we signing safeties when we need lineman and pass rushers?
[/quote]

Because we lost a starting Safety and don't want to go into a season with only 3 Safeties.

Maybe because Ed Reed will never be 100% and the chances of him missing a couple games are high.

I don't understand why people are upset about adding a quality role player like this. It's guys like this that ultimately help your team get to the Super Bowl, it's the Stars that win the Super Bowl.

As far as needing limeman and a pass rusher. The Ravens are a real patient organization and fans would do themselves a great service to have the same approach.

The Ravens know about the lack of quality depth on the oline, they know about our pass rush concerns, but they aren't gonna go out and throw money at a guy, just to fill a need or satisfy us fans.

The Ravens could go out and give up a #1 for Osi and fill a need while making all Ravens fans happy, but were will that put us as a team? Unable to draft the way we want to because we don't have a #1 pick.

Like I've said over the course of this Free Agency period. Ozzie is like the Tourist, taking his time, making smart decisions. The signings we make won't be sexy, they won't make headlines on sport shows, but they'll be smart and impactful to our team.

[BMOREHAWAII]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1312446483' post='734585']


The Ravens could go out and give up a #1 for Osi and fill a need while making all Ravens fans happy, but were will that put us as a team? Unable to draft the way we want to because we don't have a #1 pick.

[/quote]
Exactly. A 1st wouldn't be worth giving up for an aging player coming off injuries instead of drafting youth who could be the next Terrell Suggs or Ray Lewis or Ed Reed.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='BMOREHAWAII' timestamp='1312444751' post='734580']
I read somewhere that Pollard was also used as an outside LB/blitzer? Correct me if im wrong, but maybe he can be opposite of Suggs and we can still have a Zbi/Naka/Silva safety battle spot.
[/quote]

No not a LB, but a blitzer. He'll walk up to the line and blitz. He does a really good job of it.

Pagano has said he will be sending more pressure from the secondary this year and this signing speaks to that.

Like someone else mentioned, he'll be more of an in the box type guy. Run support, knocking guys heads off on crossing patterns and blitzing.

He'll be a good addition for us, but he won't be an OLB.

[BMOREHAWAII]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1312446906' post='734588']
No not a LB, but a blitzer. He'll walk up to the line and blitz. He does a really good job of it.

Pagano has said he will be sending more pressure from the secondary this year and this signing speaks to that.

Like someone else mentioned, he'll be more of an in the box type guy. Run support, knocking guys heads off on crossing patterns and blitzing.

He'll be a good addition for us, but he won't be an OLB.
[/quote]
Wiki is a pretty credible source of info,for some reason it has him listed as Safety/OLB.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='BMOREHAWAII' timestamp='1312447663' post='734589']
Wiki is a pretty credible source of info, it has him listed as Safety/OLB.
[/quote]

I'm sure he's lined up at OLB at some point in the past.

What I'm saying is, he wouldn't be a OLB for the Ravens. He might line up at the LOS on a couple plays, but you wouldn't see a situation where he replaces JJ or Kindle at OLB.

He'll be a in the box Safety. Much like the Ravens used Nakamura last year, although Ruki did a lot more covering then Pollard will, but it's pretty much the same.

[BloodRaven]

Landry and Pollard are similar, but Pollard is a better run stopper and Dawan is better in coverage.

[ghost1986]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1312446483' post='734585']
Because we lost a starting Safety and don't want to go into a season with only 3 Safeties.

Maybe because Ed Reed will never be 100% and the chances of him missing a couple games are high.

I don't understand why people are upset about adding a quality role player like this. It's guys like this that ultimately help your team get to the Super Bowl, it's the Stars that win the Super Bowl.

As far as needing limeman and a pass rusher. The Ravens are a real patient organization and fans would do themselves a great service to have the same approach.

The Ravens know about the lack of quality depth on the oline, they know about our pass rush concerns, but they aren't gonna go out and throw money at a guy, just to fill a need or satisfy us fans.

The Ravens could go out and give up a #1 for Osi and fill a need while making all Ravens fans happy, but were will that put us as a team? Unable to draft the way we want to because we don't have a #1 pick.

Like I've said over the course of this Free Agency period. Ozzie is like the Tourist, taking his time, making smart decisions. The signings we make won't be sexy, they won't make headlines on sport shows, but they'll be smart and impactful to our team.
[/quote]

Don't forget me. At first I was wanting Osi, but that was when Kelly Gregg and Todd Heap went to different teams and I wasn't thinking straight. But yeah I'm excited about Kindle and also excited about the guy that took out Tom Brady's knee. Anybody else sense some crying if we meet with the Pats in the playoffs? I like this move. Lets get a Center or Malcom Floyd next.

[Kwothdaraven]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1312453606' post='734602']
Landry and Pollard are similar, but Pollard is a better run stopper and Dawan is better in coverage.
[/quote]

Dawan was better in coverage? That's not very reassuring of this move

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

I like the signing. I think Safety was one of our biggest areas of need. Our supposed starter in Zibby has a skin condition and is yet to practice and our other starter, however good Ed is, is getting more unreliable with injuries as he gets older. We needed depth that could maybe start if necessary and this guy brings that to the table. Not to mention he wants to "play like a Raven" and we've got ourselves a nice pickup.

[Gtown Purple]

I think this move is predicated on how we got exposed in the running game at times last year.

[baltravens]

Pollard signed a two-year agreement, and word on what his salary is for those two years?

[MsMarvel73]

As much as I'd like to see Zibby step up, having depth is never a bad thing.

Is this deal official? as in has the team announced it yet?

[harfordravenfan]

[quote name='Kwothdaraven' timestamp='1312454702' post='734608']
Dawan was better in coverage? That's not very reassuring of this move
[/quote]

Just what I was thinkin but I can see our DC getting a few sacks from Pollard. I just don't want to see our SS getting consistently beat in coverage, hope our CB's step up

[fistfullwales]

If Pollard is gonna start at SS Pagano will taylor the plays to his abilities, which are blitzing and not so much coverage, he'll have to get creative. I like the move, Pollard is a beast against the run...tackling machine.

Roto has already made it official, for what THATS worth.
http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3700/bernard-pollard