Has Our Window Closed?

[ratedr]

Let's think about it. The AFC was down this year...waaaaay down. The Colts were a mess, the Steelers were out, and the Pats just weren't that good.

Next year, the Colts will have Manning back, the Steelers and Texans will be healthy, and the Pats will probably be better. Not to mention teams like the Bengals, Titans, and Jets who are often in the mix.

I just feel like we blew our best shot for years to come. I don't get terribly emotional in real life over sports but I actually had a few tears fall seeing the look on Ray's face after Cundiff shanked that FG.

Thoughts?

[K-Dog]

my thought is there is a thread EXACTLY like this one a few lengths down.

Really same title and every thing.

[T3hRaven]

I was a bit pessimistic in my evaluation of the team earlier in the week. The window for the Ravens is far from closed, regardless of what happens with Lewis and Reed. There are a lot of things going for us, notably the fact that we do have a QB we can build a team around. That is something B-more has never had, and when you can get a solid offense built that's going to give your team a chance to win. On the defensive end, the inevitable changing of the guard is going to eventually come. That's not necessarily a bad thing though, we're still going to have Suggs and Ngata for a while. If we can lock up Webb and if Smith continues to improve (he was very good today) that's a solid duo in the secondary. We won't have the ballhawk on the back, but with two effective corners paired with Ngata and Suggs can be the basis for a very good defense.

On top of that is the Front Office, who generally seems to be able to bring someone in to fill this teams needs. We have one more year at least before I'd worry about the Ravens transitioning into a rebuilding phase, if they have one at all.

[Purple Nurple]

Did this thread re start? What the hey hey?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1327286175' post='966752']
Let's think about it. The AFC was down this year...waaaaay down. The Colts were a mess, the Steelers were out, and the Pats just weren't that good.

[b]Next year, the Colts will have Manning back[/b], the Steelers and Texans will be healthy, and the Pats will probably be better. Not to mention teams like the Bengals, Titans, and Jets who are often in the mix.

I just feel like we blew our best shot for years to come. I don't get terribly emotional in real life over sports but I actually had a few tears fall seeing the look on Ray's face after Cundiff shanked that FG.

Thoughts?
[/quote]

You know that how?

The window is far from closed. Anyone who think it is closing or already shut is seriously underestimating the players already on the team and what this front office can do.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Purple Nurple' timestamp='1327286514' post='966791']
Did this thread re start? What the hey hey?
[/quote]
Yeah, I am tipsy and way confused!!!

[Scotty410bmore]

i think the window's closed...u got a stonger Pittsburgh team, GB, New Orleans, HOU, NE, SD, and the return of Peyton Manning next year...this was the last chance for our older guys to get in the Super Bowl...life is too short to look WAY ahead to next season....what about the opportunity we just lost today??? just a tragedy[i]..<deleted>[/i]

[tsizzle95]

we have a ton of young players who really stepped up this season and will only grow. no our window has not closed. i expect another playoff run next year

[The Raven]

First, we already have a bajillion topics like this.

Second, no, our window is still getting wider. Ray's and Reed's may be closing, but the Ravens' is getting wider.

[Greatness]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1327286672' post='966814']

You know that how?

The window is far from closed. [b]Anyone who think it is closing or already shut is seriously underestimating the players already on the team and what this front office can do.[/b]
[/quote]

Heh, I'm looking at the schedule. 9-7 or 10-6 just on the look alone. Nevermind the fact we have no one who can catch the ball.

[Kwothdaraven]

[quote name='Scotty410bmore' timestamp='1327286708' post='966820']
i think the window's closed...u got a stonger Pittsburgh team, GB, New Orleans, HOU, NE, SD, and the return of Peyton Manning next year...this was the last chance for our older guys to get in the Super Bowl...life is too short to look WAY ahead to next season....what about the opportunity we just lost today??? just a tragedy[i]..<deleted>[/i] [/quote]
stronger pittsburgh? how? they werent good this year and will only be older on defense are in bad cap position. gb, NO are in the nfc. We should have beat NE today, and san diego never gets past 9 wins. so what are you talking about? the only team you listed thats a real threat are the texans.

[Kwothdaraven]

[quote name='Greatness' timestamp='1327286800' post='966831']

Heh, I'm looking at the schedule. 9-7 or 10-6 just on the look alone. Nevermind the fact we have no one who can catch the ball.
[/quote]

9-7? the ravens had the hardest schedule in the league this year and went 12-4. no reason to expect any worse than 11-5

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Greatness' timestamp='1327286800' post='966831']
Heh, I'm looking at the schedule. 9-7 or 10-6 just on the look alone. Nevermind the fact we have no one who can catch the ball.
[/quote]

Heh, because schedule predictions in January are usually spot on. [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[The Raven]

[quote name='Scotty410bmore' timestamp='1327286708' post='966820']
i think the window's closed...u got a [b]stonger Pittsburgh team[/b], GB, New Orleans, HOU, NE, SD, and the return of Peyton Manning next year...this was the last chance for our older guys to get in the Super Bowl...life is too short to look WAY ahead to next season....what about the opportunity we just lost today??? just a tragedy..Billy Cundiff go kill yourself lol im not joking
[/quote]

LOL Aren't they like 22 million over the cap with only 44 players signed or something like that?

Our window is still getting wider, don't be a nay-sayer.

[TXRaven]

Only time will tell depends on what happens in the off season. Today was a heart breaker for sure.

[Crabcakes&Football]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1327286175' post='966752']
Let's think about it. The AFC was down this year...waaaaay down. The Colts were a mess, the Steelers were out, and the Pats just weren't that good.

Next year, the Colts will have Manning back, the Steelers and Texans will be healthy, and the Pats will probably be better. Not to mention teams like the Bengals, Titans, and Jets who are often in the mix.

I just feel like we blew our best shot for years to come. I don't get terribly emotional in real life over sports but I actually had a few tears fall seeing the look on Ray's face after Cundiff shanked that FG.

Thoughts?
[/quote]

We beat the Steelers when they were healthy, the Texans when they were mostly healthy, were close as we could be to beating the Pats who only lost 3 games this year. Less competition or not, this team was good enough, it would have been good enough the year prior. You can never consider our window closed so long as we are so adept at finding talent. Who saw Lardarius Webb coming this year? Cary Williams? Torrey Smith? Dennis Pitta? None of those guys were starters last year. We definitely have the talent to continue competing for superbowls. Especially if we continue to add to it.

[chesapeakeaviator]

Nah, not in the NFL, not with our front office. How many guys who are MAJOR contributors right now are young or around a while? Most of them... I'm so impressed of course with our legends, who showed up when it counts, but the bulk of the plays are being made now by guys that will definitely be back next year.

If we fix the OC situation, the OL, fix the SPECIAL TEAMS (in every aspect except punter), and start having guys who can play ILB effectively, then no, we could be right back in this position. Who is going to be better? 88-year-old Peyton Manning on a team that is absolutely void of effective starters at almost every single other position? The Steelers, who are in for some offseason struggles as well? If we can correct those things, we will be a FORCE in the NFL.

Look at that defensive play on Brady's bomb. Who was that? Ed Reed? No, Bernie Pollard making a ridiculous effort and a sweet pick by rookie Jimmy Smith. Who was that who baited Brady into the throw and then came down with yet another great INT? Lardarius Webb.

I'll shed a tear at Ray and Ed's retirement, but our window is far from closed. If the Bungles, picked by some to be the WORST team in the entire NFL this year can make the playoffs, there's NO REASON that our organization can't take what's coming in, tweak it, and have us ready to go.

Baltimore, your QB just went toe to toe with Tom Brady and was proven the better man.

[H8R]

Heck no. Not even close. We've reloaded nicely.

[Ravenslifer]

Next year's schedule is harder? If we get an AFC East and South opponent that are not the same old Patriots Colts nonsense, we're in luck. We play NFC East, maybe the most disfunctional conference there is - Romo chokes, Vick chokes, Eli until this year and his Superbowl run choked, and the Redskins have no quarterback. We do have the Chargers, but we get the Denver Tebows, KC, and Oakland. We have a great chance next year.

[Fricknmaniac]

[quote name='Kwothdaraven' timestamp='1327286989' post='966851']

9-7? the ravens had the hardest schedule in the league this year and went 12-4. no reason to expect any  worse than 11-5

[/quote]Actually the Ravens came into the season with the 2nd easiest schedule in the league and ended up with the 23rd easiest schedule.

But regardless, this team is going to be much improved next year as all of the rookies this year (Jimmy Smith, Torrey Smith, Jah Reid, and Pernell McPhee) all get a full training camp.

Even though we have the 4th hardest schedule projected in 2012, that's more because we play two divisions where none of the 1st through 3rd teams had a losing record. As a matter of fact we only have 4 games against 10 win teams next year (Steelers x2, Patriots, Texans).
So there's a lot of reason to be optimistic about next year.

[ratedr]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1327287360' post='966890']
Next year's schedule is harder? If we get an AFC East and South opponent that are not the same old Patriots Colts nonsense, we're in luck. We play NFC East, maybe the most disfunctional conference there is - Romo chokes, Vick chokes, Eli until this year and his Superbowl run choked, and the Redskins have no quarterback. We do have the Chargers, but we get the Denver Tebows, KC, and Oakland. We have a great chance next year.
[/quote]Houston @Houston is a loss to me. We also get NE.

I wouldn't sleep on KC either. I think they could.be formidable when healthy. Same with SD.

[sharkh20]

It is closed if we don't get rid of Cam.

[eandb17]

Lardarius Webb is the new Ed Reed
T-Sizzle is the new Ray Lewis
Joe Flacco could become an elite QB
Torrey Smith is a beast.

No, our window is not closed.

[Greatness]

[quote name='Kwothdaraven' timestamp='1327286989' post='966851']

9-7? the ravens had the hardest schedule in the league this year and went 12-4. no reason to expect any worse than 11-5
[/quote]

Ravens had the hardest schedule in the league this year? That's a bunch of garbage.


[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1327286997' post='966854']

Heh, because schedule predictions in January are usually spot on. [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif[/img]
[/quote]

Doesn't matter if predictions in January are 'spot on' if things like that continues to happen. And again, based on the [b]look[/b] of the 2012 schedule, it will not be as easy as this year. The last time we had a schedule like this, we went 9-7 and that was in 2009 scratching and clawing into the playoffs. I understand you just need to get there give yourself a chance, when stuff like that happens... your 9-7 10-6 predictions come out in early January.

[codizzle]

[quote name='eandb17' timestamp='1327289669' post='967118']
Lardarius Webb is the new Ed Reed
T-Sizzle is the new Ray Lewis
Joe Flacco could become an elite QB
Torrey Smith is a beast.

No, our window is not closed.
[/quote]
Whoa calm down with that sir... Sizzle isn't ray and Webb isn't Reed

Now carry on

[Guest RBates]

[quote name='eandb17' timestamp='1327289669' post='967118']
Lardarius Webb is the new Ed Reed
T-Sizzle is the new Ray Lewis
Joe Flacco could become an elite QB
Torrey Smith is a beast.

No, our window is not closed.
[/quote]
Lmao...... and here it is. Dont forget Jimmy smith. Pernell Mcphee, Haloti, Beastin

[Alexir]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1327286175' post='966752']
Let's think about it. The AFC was down this year...waaaaay down. The Colts were a mess, the Steelers were out, and the Pats just weren't that good.

Next year, the Colts will have Manning back, the Steelers and Texans will be healthy, and the Pats will probably be better. Not to mention teams like the Bengals, Titans, and Jets who are often in the mix.

I just feel like we blew our best shot for years to come. I don't get terribly emotional in real life over sports but I actually had a few tears fall seeing the look on Ray's face after Cundiff shanked that FG.

Thoughts?
[/quote]
We did blow it. I think Ray will be back next year, I think Ed retires, and I think Hue comes back as our offensive coordinator.

It's a shame Ed doesn't get to go out on top.

This game sucked. We out played them, if our run game got going earlier, we would of won this one.

[wayne]

Our window hasn't closed, it's just been open and we keep sticking our feet out of it about to climb out and we find a reason to climb back in.

[Alexir]

Window is wide open but we did squander our best shot at a title with the Colts and Steelers a non factor in the playoffs. Cam will be fired tomorrow, and we will hire Hue and all will be right in the world

[SuRihtanil]

Who knows... we could go undeated next season or we could finish with 4 wins... no one knows really. I think we will be a wildcard next year atleast.