Window Closed? I Don't Think So

[Crabcakes&Football]

I hear a lot how this is the Ravens last chance to win a Superbowl. I disagree. Even if Ed and Ray retire after this season. Now don't get me wrong, I love both those guys and they are the greatest at their positions. But to think that is all this team has going for it is crazy. Nobody stepped up more today than our young players. Lardarius Webb made a big play on an interception, Jimmy smith huge INT, Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta all keeping the chains rolling. Laquan Williams big play on ST. And last but not least Joe Flacco outplayed the best QB in the game today. And aside from Joe, nobody saw any of those guys coming at the beginning.

Meanwhile we only got one sack, the offensive line struggled with pass pro and run blocking all night and they ran the ball with success. We did not compete in this game because our hall of famers bailed us out. And this team showed that Lewis or not, we have something here. We will still have a worthy team that, with a few new pieces, can very well take us to the same place next season. With all our flaws, all our misgivings we came inches away from stamping a ticket to the Super bowl. And what is perceived as the strongest area of our team is not what got us that close. So much we can improve til next year. An offense that can finally maximize the production of it's more mature talent. ST that compliments the other 2 sides of the ball. The construction of a better O-line.

Now I really would like to see Ed and Ray saddle up for one more ride, but even if they don't, it is in my opinion that we have the potential to put an even better team out there next year.

[T3hRaven]

I think Ray and Ed soldier on for one more season after that loss. The FO needs to stop putting off getting Ray's replacement though, I think he can be more effective with a young gun learning and taking a lot of the burden off him at his age.

[jdynamite]

I posted this during the regular season on a why does ESPN constantly call us older.
The ravens as a team only have 5 r 6 players over 30. Ayenbadejo, Lewis, Reed, Birk, Redding , mckinnie. I believe. So this is a very young team overall. With young players in many key positions set to improve. Secondary can only get better with jimmy smith, C.Williams , Webb looks like he is on verge of becoming a star at CB. Hopefully we can draft one of the 3 ILB. Burfict, Kuechlz, or Hightower.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='jdynamite' timestamp='1327280459' post='966044']
I posted this during the regular season on a [b]why does ESPN constantly call us older.[/b]
The ravens as a team only have 5 r 6 players over 30. Ayenbadejo, Lewis, Reed, Birk, Redding , mckinnie. I believe. So this is a very young team overall. With young players in many key positions set to improve. Secondary can only get better with jimmy smith, C.Williams , Webb looks like he is on verge of becoming a star at CB. Hopefully we can draft one of the 3 ILB. Burfict, Kuechlz, or Hightower.
[/quote]

Every time they say this, they refer to Ray and Ed. There's a ridiculous notion I believe is out there that once they retire this team will fall flat on it's face and take a decade to recover. The FO is waaay too good for that.

[funky141]

Not closed but adustments need made

[Sizzle]

This game was an epic fail, next year all the teams will start from scratch.

[Ed_Reed20]

Frankly, the better Joe gets, the wider window becomes. And I'd say he's a long way from plateauing.

[Jay D83]

IMO the window is not only closed, but slammed shut and locked for the time being. I'll be surprised if we make it to the playoffs honestly. We've had a 4 year string of PO appearances and I guess it has to end at[i] some [/i]point. This was the time. We blew it.

[vonbonds]

The window isn't closed by any means. I think Ray isn't half the player he once was so a dominant inside LB is on the wish list for the draft/FA as well as doing more with the offensive line. If the Ravens want to be a run first team then they need to control the line of scrimmage when it counts...as in the playoffs.

[Kwothdaraven]

Ravens have the best young trio of corners in the league, a young qb who showed he has the ability to lead a last minute drive to take his team to the superbowl, the best young rb in the league, a great up and coming wr. All they need is one more reciever, a olineman, and Burfict.

I really hope they draft burfict, or even alshon jeffries

[UD Ravens Fan]

[quote name='Kwothdaraven' timestamp='1327282116' post='966243']
Ravens have the best young trio of corners in the league, a young qb who showed he has the ability to lead a last minute drive to take his team to the superbowl, the best young rb in the league, a great up and coming wr. All they need is one more reciever, a olineman, and Burfict.

I really hope they draft burfict, or even alshon jeffries
[/quote]

Gotta hope Ray Rice recovers form after a disappointing post season. Also, wonder about Suggs psyche. Sorry, but both underperformed after the real season started.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Hell NO window are not closed. If you listened to 105.7 the fan, Ed Reed & Ray Lewis both stated they will COME BACK next year even before this AFC championshiop. I will be the first one to admit Flacco needs to improve and I feel he has shown me he can.

We will come back from this stronger and SMARTER. No one will stop us from Superbowl. We should have won this game (In OT, i would've guranteed you we would have won).

Meanwhile, i will be rooting for NFC giants/9ers to beat these cheatriots out of misery.

[Clutch Ravens]

If Joe plays all of next season like he did today, then we're taking it all next year.

Joe Flacco was ELITE today.

[Fricknmaniac]

Notice how the analysts are always careful how they word their statements when it comes to talking about the window closing.

They don't say the window is closing for the Ravens, they say the window is closing for Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Because despite their pronouncements to the contrary, the Ravens defense isn't getting long in the tooth.

The entire team has been getting younger every year. And even after Lewis and Reed leave, whenever that might be, the Ravens window for a championship is going to be wide open.

I'm going balls to the wall right now, Ravens offense, top 10 next year. Book it, done.

[CapoRocky]

Game over. Let's talk about the draft in a few weeks.

[SuRihtanil]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1327278647' post='965762']
I think Ray and Ed soldier on for one more season after that loss. The FO needs to stop putting off getting Ray's replacement though, I think he can be more effective with a young gun learning and taking a lot of the burden off him at his age.
[/quote]

Yeah they need to put it off because we have two inside linebackers in for almost every single play... our team was better when we had Bart Scott to help Ray stop the run and rush the passer.

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='Jay D83' timestamp='1327281931' post='966216']
IMO the window is not only closed, but slammed shut and locked for the time being. I'll be surprised if we make it to the playoffs honestly. We've had a 4 year string of PO appearances and I guess it has to end at[i] some [/i]point. This was the time. We blew it.
[/quote]
This is way over the top. We have tons of talent on this team. I'm pissed right now but I can still see hope.

[jaqule999]

I don't anticipate seeing us lose anyone that is too important to the team. If we have a solid draft and sign the right coaches in the off season we will be another real threat to win the super bowl. If Flacco plays like he did today more consistently we will be an even bigger threat offensively.

We have Gurode who can step in for Birk
Kindle could possibly take JJ's spot if he's gone.
In certain positions we have young guys really stepping up- cb, wr, d-line
Its time to pick an OT, LB, and WR in the draft

[Jay D83]

[quote name='Purple Nurple' timestamp='1327282712' post='966304']
This is way over the top. We have tons of talent on this team. I'm pissed right now but I can still see hope.
[/quote]

You can NEVER count the Steelers out (we all know that) and the Bengals already have a good team and have stock piled a zillion draft picks - I just don't see how we fit. The offense will probably look different (again) and the D is not exactly giving me the warm and fuzzes right about now.

[Raving_Heathen]

I truly feel that as long as Cam Cameron is the OC, the Ravens will never get to, let alone win, a SB.

[K-Dog]

closing, but not closed.

I just hope and pray Ed and Ray hang around for one more.

In my gut I think Ray will, but not Ed. How he heals up this off season will be the tell tale.

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='Jay D83' timestamp='1327282830' post='966326']


You can NEVER count the Steelers out (we all know that) and the Bengals already have a good team and have stock piled a zillion draft picks - I just don't see how we fit. The offense will probably look different (again) and the D is not exactly giving me the warm and fuzzes right about now.
[/quote]
Thank you. You have effectively out negatived me. I'm so gd mad at this situation right now but you've forced me to be pseudo positive. Go ravens. We have more hope than you think.

[savits721]

[quote name='Clutch Ravens' timestamp='1327282483' post='966282']
If Joe plays all of next season like he did today, then we're taking it all next year.

[b]Joe Flacco was ELITE today.[/b]
[/quote]
He did not win. His team is not in the Super Bowl. He is not elite - yet, at least.

As for the window, I think it's closed, and it kills me to say it. Our O-Line played like absolute garbage the past two weeks, and we are losing a huge component of that in Matt Birk. I'm not sure what Boldin's status is, but I honestly thought it was only a three year deal. Ozzie always does well at keeping us competitive, but when we have to beat Pittsburgh again and worry about a growing threat in Cincy, I believe the window is closed. This year was probably our easiest road to a Super Bowl win, and we choked.

[Crazed Bengal]

It sucks to lose a game as big as this one the way the Ravens lost but the Ravens proved to the football world that they truly are a great team this year. I would have loved for the Ravens to win this game, but it wasn't to be. You all had a great season and you finished it in the AFC Championship game, you swept the AFC North, which is the toughest in the entire league, and you went out there today and played a great game. Just one bad play ended it all, but those things happen. It would have been better if it happened during the regular season though.

Congratz on a fantastic season but watch out next year because the Bengals are almost there with you, lol.

[Raving_Heathen]

[quote name='Jay D83' timestamp='1327282830' post='966326']

You can NEVER count the Steelers out (we all know that) and the Bengals already have a good team and have stock piled a zillion draft picks - I just don't see how we fit. The offense will probably look different (again) and the D is not exactly giving me the warm and fuzzes right about now.
[/quote]

I think it all depends on Flacco, in my opinion. He's shown he can hang with the upper-tier QBs (Roethlisberger, Favre, and now Brady); he just needs to be more consistent. And I think a big part of that is getting an OC in here who calls plays to this team's strengths, and focusing on receivers not dropping passes that hit them in the numbers. If anyone doesn't think Flacco has the capability of becoming an elite QB within the next year or two with the right coaches in here, I have two words for you: Alex Smith.

[RavenousBG]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1327278647' post='965762']
I think Ray and Ed soldier on for one more season after that loss. The FO needs to stop putting off getting Ray's replacement though, I think he can be more effective with a young gun learning and taking a lot of the burden off him at his age.
[/quote]

I really hope to se 52 and 20 next year. But the big thing is that you are right we need Ray's replacement. If he does retire, over a season we will see the defense take a step back. His knowledge will be sorely missed if he retires and while I like McClain, I think the other inside LBs are backups, stopgaps, not frontline guys. So I think we have to get the potential replacement in.
Is the window closing? I think the picture is changing, I think our run of GREAT defense may change to just good defense. Unless we are lucky enough to get a truly dominant player (HOF type) in the middle to replace Ray or Ed in the next couple of years. Even if Jimmy Smith becomes great along with Webb, the strength of a great defense is in the middle.

But I don't think the window has closed.

[Raven43hike]

Window is not closed very proud of this team with the exception of Evans and cundiff

[RavenousBG]

[quote name='UD Ravens Fan' timestamp='1327282373' post='966272']

Gotta hope Ray Rice recovers form after a disappointing post season. Also, wonder about Suggs psyche. Sorry, but both underperformed after the real season started.
[/quote]

Suggs never had a chance, Brady gets rid of the ball to quickly. As far as Rice, you have to put some of that on the Oline, I saw the Pats interior manhandling our Oline in the first half, no holes. I think Birk has to be replaced, I think he just got old. We need a young strong at the point of attack Center. Birk is more cerebral and takes good angles but strength on strength he gets stood up pushed back and that has hurt Ray in the last two games. But the Oline as a whole has not been dominant these playoffs. Joe is constantly dodging passrushers and good running lanes are few and far between.

[scrock]

The window on teams with good QBs rarely close and its never for long...good QB play is key

[JO_75]

They only say the window is closing because of how close Ray is from retiring and how old Ed is. Ray could probably play at this level of play into his forties if he wanted to. The window is just opening for this team. We are a team with solid young players who are going to be playing for this team for the next decade. Flacco, Rice, Smith, Pitta, Webb, Cody, Ngata, McPhee, hell Suggs isn't even 30 yet. The window is just opening for this team and now we have to focus on getting better, making sure we keep key free agents, have a great Draft and prepare for another try next season in order to get to New Orleans in 2013.