Thoughts on next year's WR corps

[BMORElegacy]

WHAT IF at the end of the season Ozzie cuts Anquan Boldin and chooses to sign Jacoby Jones to a contract extension while finally giving Tandon Doss his opportunity in the slot.

Jacoby is coming up HUGE for us and gives our passing game a dynamic that was lacking with Q lining up outside. He's big and fast. Something we've been desperately searching for and with Torrey on the other side defenses can't double both of them. It seemed like all game against the Patriots it was either Torrey or Jacoby making a big play down field.

Anquan is due a pretty hefty salary next season and it wouldn't be surprising to see Oz cut him to save cap space. I love Quan but after seeing how ruthless the FO was with cutting Heap and Mason I see this as a realistic possibility.

I noticed that Tandon was getting some reps tonight and I'm feeling that his time is coming. Obviously I would like it if we could keep Anquan past this season but the money just isn't available to keep everybody and Jacoby is really establishing his value to the team early this season.

At this point I'd choose Jacoby over Anquan if I had to choose. We have possession guys on the roster behind Anquan but lack a player behind Jacoby with regards to skill sets.

What are you thoughts on the future of the reviving corps? Whichever way we go I'm excited about the bright outlook of our passing game.

[killaflacco]

no

[redrum52]

I think he ends up taking Boldins spot. Don't know if it's next year or the year after. They might ask him to take a cut though. I think Boldin has a course games where he goes off.

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1348469745' post='1164909']
[b]I think he ends up taking Boldins spot[/b]. Don't know if it's next year or the year after. They might ask him to take a cut though. I think Boldin has a course games where he goes off.
[/quote]Jacoby or Tandon? I just have a feeling that the FO will want to retain jacoby after this season when they weigh things like age, depth, and salary.

Jacoby only signed a one year deal so the decision will be made at the end of this season.

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='killaflacco' timestamp='1348469594' post='1164908']
no
[/quote]care to elaborate?

[redrum52]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1348470112' post='1164913']
Jacoby or Tandon? I just have a feeling that the FO will want to retain jacoby after this season when they weigh things like age, depth, and salary.

Jacoby only signed a one year deal so the decision will be made at the end of this season.
[/quote]

Tandon and I think Jacoby was signed for two years.

[Greatness]

I'll be surprised if Boldin is a Raven next year.

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='Greatness' timestamp='1348471421' post='1164929']
I'll be surprised if Boldin is a Raven next year.
[/quote]Sadly I don't see it either. I have a black Bloldin jersey and everything but I just don't see it making much business sense..

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1348471404' post='1164928']
Tandon and I think Jacoby was signed for two years.
[/quote]You're right. He was signed for 2 years. If that's the case then they might still go for the extension depending how the rest of the season plays out.

[CalvinSmoke]

If Boldin takes a pay cut then mabye...

[HaX]

I can't see Q going anywhere else, this is his style of football

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='HaX' timestamp='1348472942' post='1164950']
I can't see Q going anywhere else, this is his style of football
[/quote]

Physical football is his forte but with where his skill-set is now, the team can get his production from other, cheaper players. Doss will still have two seasons on his contract next year, Thompson has long-term upside and there's always the draft.

This may very well be Q's last year, sadly.

[Guest Moderator 6]

Boldin is the reason Jones is getting the success he has. If Boldin isn't taking a double team with him or taking the best CB with him in passing routes, then Jones will be taking them. Boldin is still a good, clutch receiver. He's a possession receiver whereas Jones is a deep, go up and get it receiver.

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='Moderator 6' timestamp='1348483524' post='1165002']
Boldin is the reason Jones is getting the success he has. If Boldin isn't taking a double team with him or taking the best CB with him in passing routes, then Jones will be taking them. Boldin is still a good, clutch receiver. He's a possession receiver whereas Jones is a deep, go up and get it receiver.
[/quote]I have to disagree. Torrey has been matched up with the opposing teams best corner with safety help over top. Teams are scared to death of Torrey's speed and have gone to great lengths to stop him. BB was doubling Torrey for a majority of the game last night and he was still making plays. The speed Torrey brings stretches out the secondaries and opens it up underneath for the slot receivers like Boldin and the tight ends.

I have to think that Boldin benefits more from Torrey than Torrey benefits from Boldin. And that comes back to my main point. We have guys like Doss on the roster with sure hands that can run in the slot. But we don't have another proven big bodied deep threat like Jacoby to play opposite Torrey. If we want to open up the intermediate passing game we need to have legitimate deep threats on the outside and that translates to retaining Jacoby long term even if it is at the expense of cutting Q.

[Tiz]

Will worry about it in February
It's a long season and the play of both throw week 3 doesn't always dictate the totality of their roles through the whole season

[Guest Moderator 6]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1348484525' post='1165010']
I have to disagree. Torrey has been matched up with the opposing teams best corner with safety help over top. Teams are scared to death of Torrey's speed and have gone to great lengths to stop him. BB was doubling Torrey for a majority of the game last night and he was still making plays. The speed Torrey brings stretches out the secondaries and opens it up underneath for the slot receivers like Boldin and the tight ends.

I have to think that Boldin benefits more from Torrey than Torrey benefits from Boldin. And that comes back to my main point. We have guys like Doss on the roster with sure hands that can run in the slot. But we don't have another proven big bodied deep threat like Jacoby to play opposite Torrey. If we want to open up the intermediate passing game we need to have legitimate deep threats on the outside and that translates to retaining Jacoby long term even if it is at the expense of cutting Q.
[/quote]
That's fair. Tandon Doss has potential but I don't want to let Boldin loose and put and unproven Doss in his place. Even if Boldin is the #2 or #3 on the depth chart, he's still better than anyone we could replace him with.

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='Tiz' timestamp='1348484950' post='1165013']
Will worry about it in February
It's a long season and the play of both throw week 3 doesn't always dictate the totality of their roles through the whole season
[/quote]I totally agree. It's just refreshing to see the 3rd WR making a significant impact early in the season after watching the likes of Housh and Evans be invisible for the majority of their tenures here. If current trends hold true I think it would be irresponsible to cut ties with a player like Jacoby.

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='Moderator 6' timestamp='1348485124' post='1165015']
That's fair. Tandon Doss has potential but I don't want to let Boldin loose and put and unproven Doss in his place. Even if Boldin is the #2 or #3 on the depth chart, he's still better than anyone we could replace him with.
[/quote]Of course he is. I rock a Boldin jersey on game day. It just comes down to a very difficult personnel dilemma. Cap space is extremely tight every year and Q could be a likely cap casualty. It has nothing to do with talent, production, or ability and everything to do with cap space.

[cursona pirate]

[quote name='Moderator 6' timestamp='1348483524' post='1165002']
Boldin is the reason Jones is getting the success he has. If Boldin isn't taking a double team with him or taking the best CB with him i
n passing routes, then Jones will be taking them. Boldin is still a good, clutch receiver. He's a possession receiver whereas Jones is a deep, go up and get it receiver.
[/quote]
i agree! Also i have not seen enough from Doss to see him relace Boldin. Cmon its Boldin! Pro bowler?

[ThePurpleWall]

can we talk about this next year.

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='cursona pirate' timestamp='1348488094' post='1165042']
i agree! Also i have not seen enough from Doss to see him relace Boldin. Cmon its Boldin! Pro bowler?
[/quote]I'm not saying he isn't a great player. I'm just saying he's an expensive player. We cut Mason before knowing how good Torrey was going to be and we cut Heap (still stings) before we had complete confidence in Dickson and Pitta. When it comes down to the brass tacks and the cap space disappears Boldin could very easily be on the chopping block.

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='ThePurpleWall' timestamp='1348488196' post='1165044']
can we talk about this next year.
[/quote]But I like playing armchair GM

[display name]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1348465624' post='1164832']
WHAT IF at the end of the season Ozzie cuts Anquan Boldin and chooses to sign Jacoby Jones to a contract extension while finally giving Tandon Doss his opportunity in the slot.

Jacoby is coming up HUGE for us and gives our passing game a dynamic that was lacking with Q lining up outside. He's big and fast. Something we've been desperately searching for and with Torrey on the other side defenses can't double both of them. It seemed like all game against the Patriots it was either Torrey or Jacoby making a big play down field.

Anquan is due a pretty hefty salary next season and it wouldn't be surprising to see Oz cut him to save cap space. I love Quan but after seeing how ruthless the FO was with cutting Heap and Mason I see this as a realistic possibility.

I noticed that Tandon was getting some reps tonight and I'm feeling that his time is coming. Obviously I would like it if we could keep Anquan past this season but the money just isn't available to keep everybody and Jacoby is really establishing his value to the team early this season.

At this point I'd choose Jacoby over Anquan if I had to choose. We have possession guys on the roster behind Anquan but lack a player behind Jacoby with regards to skill sets.

What are you thoughts on the future of the reviving corps? Whichever way we go I'm excited about the bright outlook of our passing game.
[/quote]
Jacoby had a great game but I don't see the reason to take Boldin out. He's tough and sure handed, and we should be happy with him.
I too think this thread is about 4 months premature.

[display name]

[quote name='Moderator 6' timestamp='1348483524' post='1165002']
Boldin is the reason Jones is getting the success he has. If Boldin isn't taking a double team with him or taking the best CB with him in passing routes, then Jones will be taking them. Boldin is still a good, clutch receiver. He's a possession receiver whereas Jones is a deep, go up and get it receiver.
[/quote]
Exactly and we need both kinds.
I could see Q taking a pay cut.

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='display name' timestamp='1348489148' post='1165064']
Jacoby had a great game but I don't see the reason to take Boldin out. He's tough and sure handed, and we should be happy with him.
I too think this thread is about 4 months premature.
[/quote]I am happy with him. VERY happy with him. It has nothing to do with his production on the field. It's when you look at the numbers and business side of the game that it gets tough.

[Bazooka Joe]

No more WR changes! This same corp, plusses Tommy Streeter, will we back in 2013. The one that may not is LQW. Interesting that he hasn't been activated. LQW always does well in camps but in games, he's just too inconsistent.

So, I see our corp as Boldin, Smith, Jones, Thompson, Doss, Streeter.

[jdynamite]

Well, projecting to next year can be tricky, we're only 3 games into the season Jacoby Jones has really been a pleasant surprise for me because I live in Lake Charles, LA which means before I bought DirecTV, my cable games almost always included Houston Texas, New Orleans Saints, or Dallas Cowboys, so I've seen plenty of Jones' potential for good and bad plays....

I'm not predicting Boldin to be cut or released next season, although Tandon Doss is beginning to see playing time and we have other young talent like D.Thompson that has really impressed me.. I think Boldin could have a role similar to what Hines Ward had in Pittsburgh the last 3 years as Wallace, Brown, and Sanders were developing and Hines role began to diminish more each year but he was still a reliable target for them that did all the little things.... Because Boldin does more than just catch balls, he helps set the tone in the run game with his blocking, he is a vocal leader and he along with Leach gives the offense that toughness.....

[AsianRice]

Jacopy just dropped the punt and my heart almost fell out when it was our last possession of the night. We should have put Webb out there for fair catch.

Jacoby can burn any top #1CB like Asomuga? twice for TDs.

We need Boldin to retire as a Raven if he can take abit of paycut.

Next year our priorty of drafting is pass rush, CB, and WR...

[jdynamite]

I disagree with replacing Boldin with Jones right now, because although Jones has played very well, some of his success comes because teams choose to double Torrey over the top, or roll coverage over to Boldin or even have a safety spy on Rice out the backfield, and that leaves Jones with mostly favorable single coverage...

Boldin is rarely used correctly, meaning in a similar fashion to his Cardinals days, where he went in motion a lot & lined up in the slot often to give him extra space ( how the Patriots use Welker and Giants use Cruz on most plays ) lining a WR in the slots gives them more space to work with, because defender can't use the out of bounds against them.. The Lions ( Calvin Johnson )and Cardinals ( Fitzgerald ) have began to do this more often to avoid double and triple teams..

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='jdynamite' timestamp='1348500260' post='1165351']
Well, projecting to next year can be tricky, we're only 3 games into the season Jacoby Jones has really been a pleasant surprise for me because I live in Lake Charles, LA which means before I bought DirecTV, my cable games almost always included Houston Texas, New Orleans Saints, or Dallas Cowboys, so I've seen plenty of Jones' potential for good and bad plays....

I'm not predicting Boldin to be cut or released next season, although Tandon Doss is beginning to see playing time and we have other young talent like D.Thompson that has really impressed me.. I think Boldin could have a role similar to what Hines Ward had in Pittsburgh the last 3 years as Wallace, Brown, and Sanders were developing and Hines role began to diminish more each year but he was still a reliable target for them that did all the little things.... Because Boldin does more than just catch balls, he helps set the tone in the run game with his blocking, he is a vocal leader and he along with Leach gives the offense that toughness.....
[/quote]If he's willing to take a pay cut to stay on the squad then by all means keep him. But he still has some years in the tank and might still be looking for a payday like McGahee did when he departed us at the beginning of last year. It isn't about a drop off in production or anything like that. I LOVE the way Boldin plays the game. I love his toughness and gritty style. Just like McGahee, he was brought in when we had a huge need at a position and now he is being paid too much. If we can keep Boldin without sacrificing in other parts of the roster then keep him. I just don't see it realistically happening with our always tight salary cap.