Anyone missing Heap?

[Hjulmann]

So, I saw this post http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000069155/article/alfred-morris-brian-hartline-lead-nfls-earlyseason-surprises?module=HP11_content_stream
on NFL's website, which is basically an analysis of the breakout players this far in the season, where Gil Brandt has been mentioning Dennis Pitta as one of the breakout players. He was showing some of his star ability late last season, especially in the playoffs. This made me think, has he been THE replacement for Heap, and is it true what Gil Brandt says, are we better on TE than we were when Heap was here?
No disrespect to Heap, but I have to say, I really don't miss him all that much, and my personal opinion is that Pitta has been an incredible addition.

[The Raven]

I miss him for sentimental reasons, but that's it. Glad we moved on. Pitta is a beast.

[Gordo52]

^ Same. I miss the HEEAAAPPP the most. He was on the decline, now we got a nice 2 punch combo of Pitta & Dickson, which I would take over Heap any day. Oh plus Bajema.

[T3hRaven]

Don't miss Heap at all. Good player, not a great one, and we got better at the position for cheaper.

[baltravens]

I don't miss Heap at all because I am reminded of how often he got injured.

[The King]

I miss Heap, but I'll admit that we're getting better production for our money with Pitta and Dickson. They're cheaper, younger, and healthier. Heap stands as one of my all time favorite players and a childhood hero of mine, but Pitta has been a breakout player for us this year. Both have developed into effective blockers in addition to their skills as receivers.

[Tank 92]

I'll always miss Heap. He is a guy you want on your Team.

[K-Dog]

Like every one else I miss him for stentmental reasons.

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP

That always sounded so sweet.
He was great, no question about it but I agree we have a better offense now.

[BMORElegacy]

Heap was a pro bowl player before injuries caught up with him. He was one of the top blocking TEs in the league.

But if you're referring to the Heap we cut prior to last year, no I don't miss him. He was injured more than he was healthy and we have rising stars in Pitta and Dickson.

[gabefergy]

I really miss his blocking prowess, but he was always prone to the injury which kept him from becoming more than a good player.

[mdrsharon]

Still respect Heap, and he made lots of clutch catches for us. But it is a business and you and be sentimental all you want, there are times to move on, and the new guys are looking pretty good so far.
Heap came to Art Modell's funeral, that says a lot for him - he will always be a Raven!

[HaX]

flacco and pitta are really good buds they have good chemistry so I'm pretty stoked w/ pitta

[Bltravens]

If we're talking Heap in his prime then everyone here should miss Heap, he was a better TE in his prime than Pitta is now. Pitta doesn't run much up the seam stuff or deeper over the middle. Heap ran routes all over the field and was a savvy route runner with above average hands. Even on the downswing of his career he absolutely ate up Eric Berry in the 2010 divisional playoff game against the Chiefs.

I don't know how many young dudes are in this thread, but for about 5 years Heap and Jamal Lewis were literally the only players on the team that could score points. And Heap took an absolute licking trying to make plays for Kyle Boller. If Heap had Flacco throwing to him his whole career Heap would still be playing at a high level.

If we're talking about the here and now, then obviously the FO made the right decision to go with young legs.

[Purple Punishment]

[quote name='baltravens' timestamp='1349306760' post='1176570']
I don't miss Heap at all because I am reminded of how often he got injured.
[/quote]

Maybe because he was blocking 300lb defensive linemen on every down as his time here came to a close?

I dont miss him. Pitta is the new Heap

[admartian]

I miss Heap. For a time, he was our only offense (when Jamal started to decline) and carried our QBs along with DMase imo.

Plus I'll always respect the letter he wrote to Ravens fans when he left.

Dude is class and should def be in the Ravens ROH.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Great player, and a big part of Ravens history. He is missed, but his career is done. Hope we can see him again years later as a ROH or something of that sort

[RavensPunkXVX]

I love Heap. Of course, I watched a lot of him and D Mase and they were just workhorses. But, referring to last year or whatever yeah, definitely don't miss him in terms of production. Definitely glad we got Pitta. Heap in his prime was top notch, no doubt.

[FerrariFan87]

I'm just concerned about Ed Dickson being a no-show through 4 weeks... where'd he go?

[GrimCoconut]

Yes, I miss Heap. If Arizona cut him I would hope the Ravens would entertain the thought of bringing him back here as the third TE. I really liked the way he played. Perhaps with him back as a 3rd TE rarely seeing the field it would help keep him healthy, lol.

[redrum52]

I can't believe what I'm seeing. How disrespectful *Stephen A Smith voice. The man was a warrior and though oft injured for a while was our only vertical offense. He never feared going over the middle and sacrificed his body for the betterment of the team. Don't forget what division he played in. Its no walk in the park being a TE in the AFC North especially before all the rule changes. Let's also not get into the qbs that left him out to dry with some terribly thrown balls. I'm definitely a fan of Pitta but there is no reason throw dirt on HEEEAAAAPP'S name.

[RavensPunkXVX]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1349322155' post='1176700']
I can't believe what I'm seeing. How disrespectful *Stephen A Smith voice. The man was a warrior and though oft injured for a while was our only vertical offense. He never feared going over the middle and sacrificed his body for the betterment of the team. Don't forget what division he played in. Its no walk in the park being a TE in the AFC North especially before all the rule changes. Let's also not get into the qbs that left him out to dry with some terribly thrown balls. I'm definitely a fan of Pitta but there is no reason throw dirt on HEEEAAAAPP'S name.
[/quote]

I agree 100%. I view Heap as I do Mason. Those two guys stick out to me as RAVENS. They always fought injured and often times, they WERE the offense.

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='Purple Punishment' timestamp='1349318672' post='1176671']
Maybe because he was blocking 300lb defensive linemen on every down as his time here came to a close?

I dont miss him. [b]Pitta is the new Heap[/b]
[/quote]
He's Mormon and everything! lol

[The Raven]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1349322155' post='1176700']
I can't believe what I'm seeing. How disrespectful *Stephen A Smith voice. The man was a warrior and though oft injured for a while was our only vertical offense. He never feared going over the middle and sacrificed his body for the betterment of the team. Don't forget what division he played in. Its no walk in the park being a TE in the AFC North especially before all the rule changes. Let's also not get into the qbs that left him out to dry with some terribly thrown balls. I'm definitely a fan of Pitta but there is no reason throw dirt on HEEEAAAAPP'S name.
[/quote]

So by saying that we don't miss him is disrespecting him? I have all the respect in the world for him, but Pitta is the better tight end at this point and there isn't much you can say to argue differently. There is no reason to miss Heap right now for anything other than sentimental reason. Nobody threw any dirt on Heap's name. We all love him.

[codizzle]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1349312572' post='1176643']
If we're talking Heap in his prime then everyone here should miss Heap, he was a better TE in his prime than Pitta is now. Pitta doesn't run much up the seam stuff or deeper over the middle. Heap ran routes all over the field and was a savvy route runner with above average hands. Even on the downswing of his career he absolutely ate up Eric Berry in the 2010 divisional playoff game against the Chiefs.

I don't know how many young dudes are in this thread, but for about 5 years Heap and Jamal Lewis were literally the only players on the team that could score points. And Heap took an absolute licking trying to make plays for Kyle Boller. If Heap had Flacco throwing to him his whole career Heap would still be playing at a high level.

If we're talking about the here and now, then obviously the FO made the right decision to go with young legs.
[/quote]
This x1000..
One of the toughest players I've ever watched..

Still remember the Joey Porter incident. I've never jumped outta my seat faster

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1349322155' post='1176700']
I can't believe what I'm seeing. How disrespectful *Stephen A Smith voice. The man was a warrior and though oft injured for a while was our only vertical offense. He never feared going over the middle and sacrificed his body for the betterment of the team. Don't forget what division he played in. Its no walk in the park being a TE in the AFC North especially before all the rule changes. Let's also not get into the qbs that left him out to dry with some terribly thrown balls. I'm definitely a fan of Pitta but there is no reason throw dirt on HEEEAAAAPP'S name.
[/quote]Bravo dear sir! Bravo!

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1349322394' post='1176704']
This x1000..
One of the toughest players I've ever watched..

[b]Still remember the Joey Porter incident. I've never jumped outta my seat faster[/b]
[/quote]Enlighten those of use with a foggier memory.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1349322488' post='1176706']
Enlighten those of use with a foggier memory.
[/quote]
Porter cheap-shotted Heap after i believe some sort of illegal procedure penalty? Anyways Heap was dealing with an ankle injury if i remember and Porter just leveled him for no reason other than being a dirty player.

[codizzle]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1349322488' post='1176706']
Enlighten those of use with a foggier memory.
[/quote]
I can message you a link to a story.. Don't see a video of it

[codizzle]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1349322488' post='1176706']
Enlighten those of use with a foggier memory.
[/quote]
Heap got hurt on a play when the ravens were on a 2 minute drive in 2nd Q( hurt his ankle pretty bad).. They had to line up to spike th ball... Obvious play...
It was obvious to everyone Heap was hurt.. He was limping really bad

Heap lined up just so Boller could hike it and spike..well porter decked heap as soon as the ball was hiked and it sent Heap falling back.. Heap didn't return to the game

[rlh445]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1349312572' post='1176643']
If we're talking Heap in his prime then everyone here should miss Heap, he was a better TE in his prime than Pitta is now. Pitta doesn't run much up the seam stuff or deeper over the middle. Heap ran routes all over the field and was a savvy route runner with above average hands. Even on the downswing of his career he absolutely ate up Eric Berry in the 2010 divisional playoff game against the Chiefs.

I don't know how many young dudes are in this thread, but for about 5 years Heap and Jamal Lewis were literally the only players on the team that could score points. And Heap took an absolute licking trying to make plays for Kyle Boller. If Heap had Flacco throwing to him his whole career Heap would still be playing at a high level.

If we're talking about the here and now, then obviously the FO made the right decision to go with young legs.
[/quote]

Yea uh, I agree with this guy. For people in this thread who seem to be inexplicably brushing off Heap's major contributions to this team I say: get learned, son. Heap single-handedly kept us in a billion games. The REASON he had all those injuries people seem to keep bringing up is because he was constantly moving the chains by hustling up the middle and getting blasted and keeping the catch anyway. He ran every route, caught pretty much every pass and took a lot of punishment for it because he constantly caught the balls nobody else did, and that's not even going into his top blocking skills. Gimme a break guys, I'd take Heap in his prime again over Pitta AND Dickson any day and it's not even close.