A Coming To Terms

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='Greatness' timestamp='1332552085' post='1032945']

Before we get wreckless, its a proven fact that I'm not the run of the mill 'Raven fans' I personally despise. I just said the Ravens blew a golden opportunity to win it all last year. While we've won games the last fours years, what has it amount to? Nothing. Maybe its a coincidence, maybe not, but when it counts the most we're always losing to these Top tier QB's sans Brees since we own his soul. (And Romo because he's a fraud. lol)

I didn't say it would be impossible. Nothing is especially since the Giants won it all again. I just said it would be tall hill to climb since last year was probably the easiest road you'd ever get to the Superbowl coming out of the AFC. I'm more worried about our Non-Clutchness and shotty Coaching staff more so than the talent on the field. The talent is here. It's just a really hard schedule on paper is all I'm saying. It's too early to access anything since we haven't even drafted yet. I just was going on based on today and the last game I saw of the Ravens. As of right now, it's a tough pill to swallow. Doesn't mean that doesn't change come September.
[/quote]

As far as top tier QBs beating us, I don't think Brady specifically ever does much to beat us - he has been terrible in a lot of games versus the Ravens. Same with Peyton. Roethlisberger stinks it up a lot, but somehow pulls a rabbit out of his hat. Rivers comes to mind as one guy who seems to really have our number - hopefully the growth of the young corners will help since SD's receivers seemed to just run right through them last year. As far as blowing it last year, I agree we did. But that doesn't mean our window is closed, or even closing. I think a general theme around here seems to be that when Ray and Ed are done, this team is done as contenders, and I've never understood that. From 02-07 when they were in their primes, we were almost NEVER contenders. We have a young corps of very, very talented players now - 2 talented young corners, a talented young running back, a talented young QB, at least 1 talented young receiver, a talented young guard, several talented young pass rushers, and a talented young ILB. With the draft will come an infusion of even more young talent.

The truth is we were never an elite team before 2008. We were always the team that was up one year, down the next. It was really like clockwork, 2007 was almost predictable in its horribleness given how good 2006 was. Now we have consistency, and a lot of it is because of young talent. I do not for the life of me understand where this idea comes from that the window has shut. And as far as the weakest the AFC has ever been, I would disagree. It will get weaker. Who are the elite QBs in the AFC - Brady (35), Manning (36), Rivers (30), Roethlisberger (30). Flacco is 27. A quarterback's prime is usually years 6-10 of his career. WRs and tight ends usually hit their prime in year 3-4. So Joe's prime will coincide with Torrey's, Tandon's, and the tight ends' primes. And by that time Brady and Manning with both be closer to 40 than 35. Ray Rice has maybe 4 years of HIS prime left, so he should still be good when the younger guys catch up. Defensively Sizzle and Ngata have a lot left in the tank, there are a ton of young players i.e. Kruger, McPhee, Jones, McClain, that are will also be in the peak of their career. Take out Ray, Ed, the stopgap McKinnie, Ayanbedejo, and Cundiff - the OLDEST player on this team is now Q, at 31. There are 26 players on this roster who are under the age of 27.