Front Office Fail

[tctony]

1) Tons of money tied up in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, who don't produce anywhere near what they are paid. Ed Reed is constantly out of position and can't tackle his way out of a paper bag.

2) Let arguably our best OL go in Grubbs. We had a great inside run game last year, can't run our way out of a paper bag this year. Our OL is putrid, Yanda is the only bright spot.

3) Let an entire side of our defense walk in JJ and Redding.

4) No depth on defense, because all the money is tied up in Ray and Ed. The defense is putrid with Vanilla Pees. Injuries blahblahblah, but what happened to the mantra of next man up? We can't afford it because of ridiculous contracts. Ngata is included as well, he has either underperformed since being paid OR the other team doesn't have to worry about blocking anybody else.

5) No impact players drafted or signed on defense lately other than Pollard.

6) Kept Cam Cameron around 2 or 3 years too long. Replaced Pagano with Vanilla Pees. Harbaugh has no idea how to manage time, challenges or time outs.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='tctony' timestamp='1355690899' post='1264516']
1) Tons of money tied up in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, who don't produce anywhere near what they are paid. Ed Reed is constantly out of position and can't tackle his way out of a paper bag.

2) Let arguably our best OL go in Grubbs. We had a great inside run game last year, can't run our way out of a paper bag this year. Our OL is putrid, Yanda is the only bright spot.

3) Let an entire side of our defense walk in JJ and Redding.

4) No depth on defense, because all the money is tied up in Ray and Ed. The defense is putrid with Vanilla Pees. Injuries blahblahblah, but what happened to the mantra of next man up? We can't afford it because of ridiculous contracts. Ngata is included as well, he has either underperformed since being paid OR the other team doesn't have to worry about blocking anybody else.

5) No impact players drafted or signed on defense lately other than Pollard.

6) Kept Cam Cameron around 2 or 3 years too long. Replaced Pagano with Vanilla Pees. Harbaugh has no idea how to manage time, challenges or time outs.
[/quote]

Please explain to me how we could have kept Grubbs, Johnson, and Redding with the cap situation? After all, you've stated multiple times about the money situation.

[tctony]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' timestamp='1355691079' post='1264544']
Please explain to me how we could have kept Grubbs, Johnson, and Redding with the cap situation? After all, you've stated multiple times about the money situation.
[/quote]

Why is the cap situation so dire? Where is all the money tied up that we can't keep our true impact players? Ray and Ed are grossly overpaid. Ray Rice is potentially overpaid.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='tctony' timestamp='1355691176' post='1264557']
Why is the cap situation so dire? Where is all the money tied up that we can't keep our true impact players? Ray and Ed are grossly overpaid. Ray Rice is potentially overpaid.
[/quote]

We were what... like top 5 in least amount of cap space, around $8 million if I recall correctly. How were we supposed to retain Grubbs, Johnson, and Redding? Rice is no where near overpaid. 4th and 29, bro. Hell, he'd be a better quarterback than Joe at this point in time.

[T3hRaven]

I'm right there with you, these are things I've lamented this season. Anytime Ozzie is called into question though you can expect some backlash around these parts.

[tctony]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' timestamp='1355691315' post='1264567']
We were what... like top 5 in least amount of cap space, around $8 million if I recall correctly. How were we supposed to retain Grubbs, Johnson, and Redding? Rice is no where near overpaid. 4th and 29, bro. Hell, he'd be a better quarterback than Joe at this point in time.
[/quote]

Bullcow. The majority of RR's runs are 2 or 3 yards. He gets 1-4 good runs a game. I love me some RR, because of his explosiveness, but he is a tad overpaid. Pierce is just as good, if not better, at [b]running[/b] the ball. RR is of course deadly out of the backfield in the passing game. (Ties in with the point about keeping Cam and his awful system for so long).

I'm asking you: WHY are we constantly in such dire cap situation? Who is getting paid so much that we can't afford to keep our impact guys, and why aren't they producing?

[T3hRaven]

[quote name='tctony' timestamp='1355691522' post='1264595']
Bullcow. The majority of RR's runs are 2 or 3 yards. He gets 1-4 good runs a game. I love me some RR, because of his explosiveness, but he is a tad overpaid. Pierce is just as good, if not better, at [b]running[/b] the ball. RR is of course deadly out of the backfield in the passing game. (Ties in with the point about keeping Cam and his awful system for so long).
[/quote]

Which is why I made the argument that it would have been better to keep Grubbs. A good OL keeps Flacco off his butt and opens up holes for a 'lesser' running back, for those who have a better opinion of Rice than I do, to produce as much if not more than the current expensive stable.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='tctony' timestamp='1355691522' post='1264595']
Bullcow. The majority of RR's runs are 2 or 3 yards. He gets 1-4 good runs a game. I love me some RR, because of his explosiveness, but he is a tad overpaid. Pierce is just as good, if not better, at [b]running[/b] the ball. RR is of course deadly out of the backfield in the passing game. (Ties in with the point about keeping Cam and his awful system for so long).

I'm asking you: WHY are we constantly in such dire cap situation? Who is getting paid so much that we can't afford to keep our impact guys, and why aren't they producing?
[/quote]

We were not constantly in a "dire cap situation". You're getting stuck now with cap space towards the end of contracts, which were made when players you keep calling "overpaid" were pivotal players in this defense (no matter what you say, Reed [b]still[/b] is). It's not like they've ignored it either, we've seen restructures to clear some space to bring guys in.

Ozzie does immensely more good than he does bad, so if you want to nitpick over something like this, do go ahead. I'll take Ozzie and the rest of the Ravens front office over 95% of the league's.

[ravefan52]

Ozzie NEEDS to get a star this draft

[ravefan52]

I guess one good thing with the cap situation is Flacco wont get his big money

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='ravefan52' timestamp='1355692232' post='1264677']
I guess one good thing with the cap situation is Flacco wont get his big money
[/quote]

Exactly. Joe has done an amazing job "earning" that big paycheck on his contract year. Thank god we didn't plop down a huge check for him early this season.

[tctony]

This is [b]NOT [/b]a Flacco thread.

Flacco hasn't had a great year, maybe not even a good year, but he has to fight against his own coaching staff, offensive line and and WRs, in addition to his own inconsistency. Flacco is not the problem with this team.

No Flacco discusion plox. There are plenty of threads for that.

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' timestamp='1355692377' post='1264687']
Exactly. Joe has done an amazing job "earning" that big paycheck on his contract year. Thank god we didn't plop down a huge check for him early this season.
[/quote]

I say Flacco's contract $ is now around 8-10m. If anyone thinks we can do better with less than what we have now after we pay flaccid. You are truly delusional.

[frank21054]

[quote name='ravefan52' timestamp='1355692092' post='1264663']
Ozzie NEEDS to get a star this draft
[/quote]

Need one star and many other starters. We need a lot on the defensive side and then we need offensive line help.

[kassaiscool]

Two names Kemo and Cody. Both are below average at stopping the run, and teams just double haloti all day long. Those two don't get any pressure we all know that and really didn't expect any from DT's as big as they are, but they also can't hold their ground.

I wouldn't say to much about Ozzie although he makes some mistakes this team is potentially gonna go to the playoffs 5 years in a row with subpar coaching that says a lot about the talent.

The biggest problem with the ravens is they go deep into the playoffs a lot, but come away with nothing which also jacks up the draft positioning. Year in and Year out we draft late 20's, but also we don't get any further than the afc championship game.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='tctony' timestamp='1355692485' post='1264694']
This is [b]NOT [/b]a Flacco thread.

Flacco hasn't had a great year, maybe not even a good year, but he has to fight against his own coaching staff, offensive line and and WRs, in addition to his own inconsistency. Flacco is not the problem with this team.

No Flacco discusion plox. There are plenty of threads for that.
[/quote]

You're discussing fails of the front office, I'd say Flacco fits into that.

[tctony]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' timestamp='1355692646' post='1264722']
You're discussing fails of the front office, I'd say Flacco fits into that.
[/quote]

I don't see how. If anything, he is underpaid for what he has already provided for us. He doesn't have a fat contract. Flacco may not be back here next year, but what better QB are we going to get given our terrible cap situation (THANKS OZ!!) and low draft position?

[T3hRaven]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' timestamp='1355691898' post='1264632']
We were not constantly in a "dire cap situation". You're getting stuck now with cap space towards the end of contracts, which were made when players you keep calling "overpaid" were pivotal players in this defense (no matter what you say, Reed [b]still[/b] is). It's not like they've ignored it either, we've seen restructures to clear some space to bring guys in.
[/quote]

That's a valid argument for Reed not being overpaid, but Lewis signed that contract a few years ago when his decline was beginning. The only reason he was re-resigned was because everyone else realized he wasn't worth the money. He got a new contract because of the false belief that players mean more to a team than their play on the field.

I just don't see how anyone who has watched the games this season can't realize that Reed has been a liability and his cheating has been a major problem in the secondary.

[ravefan52]

[quote name='kassaiscool' timestamp='1355692641' post='1264719']
Two names Kemo and Cody. Both are below average at stopping the run, and teams just double haloti all day long. Those two don't get any pressure we all know that and really didn't expect any from DT's as big as they are, but they also can't hold their ground.

[/quote]
Cody is definitely one of the most disappointing players this season

[tctony]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1355692761' post='1264736']
I just don't see how anyone who has watched the games this season can't realize that Reed has been a liability and his cheating has been a major problem in the secondary.
[/quote]

Yes. One interception every 4 or 5 games doesn't make up for the countless times he is out of position and leaves other guys in the secondary out on a limb. Add in the fact that he can't tackle at all...and you have a detriment on the defense. Reed is a shell of his former self - yet he still gets paid like the old Reed.

[reediddy]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1355692761' post='1264736']
That's a valid argument for Reed not being overpaid, but Lewis signed that contract a few years ago when his decline was beginning. The only reason he was re-resigned was because everyone else realized he wasn't worth the money. He got a new contract because of the false belief that players mean more to a team than their play on the field.

I just don't see how anyone who has watched the games this season can't realize that Reed has been a liability and his cheating has been a major problem in the secondary.
[/quote]

That Decker touchdown was a microcosm of his (Ed's) play this year.

As far as defensive leadership, I agree, eventually the torch has to be passed. There's no point in retaining RL as a player given his decline. If he wants to be involved in coaching to an extent, I'd be all for that and I'm sure he would contribute in that respect. As a player, however, both he and Ed are expendable to this point, sad as it is to say. Get our younger guys in there to make the transition more seamless

[T3hRaven]

[quote name='tctony' timestamp='1355692900' post='1264753']
Yes. One interception every 4 or 5 games doesn't make up for the countless times he is out of position and leaves other guys in the secondary out on a limb. Add in the fact that he can't tackle at all...and you have a detriment on the defense. Reed is a shell of his former self - yet he still gets paid like the old Reed.
[/quote]

He signed that contract in 2006, which if I remember right was before his big nerve injury. I think, with the guaranteed money he'd still be a massive cap hit if he was cut before this year, and we didn't have a replacement anyway. Ozzie is just laying in the bed that he made through sentimentality and conservatism.

If you aren't getting better in this league, you're getting worse, and I think that's something that can be said about this FO and this team. Say what you will about Belichick, he understands when it's time to let veteran players go.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1355692761' post='1264736']
That's a valid argument for Reed not being overpaid, but Lewis signed that contract a few years ago when his decline was beginning. The only reason he was re-resigned was because everyone else realized he wasn't worth the money. He got a new contract because of the false belief that players mean more to a team than their play on the field.

I just don't see how anyone who has watched the games this season can't realize that Reed has been a liability and his cheating has been a major problem in the secondary.
[/quote]

Reed's played the same style his entire career, he's ALWAYS been a gambler. Sometimes it's paid off, sometimes it's backfired. Remember his love of lateral passes off picks? When it comes to Ed, he's going to do everything he can to make a big play and extend those big plays, by his 11th season it shouldn't be a surprise. With all of that said, I'd take Reed and all of his "issues" every single time.

As for Ray, he's one of the few players whose presence is as important to a team as his performance. Would I pay a ton of money for it? No, not at all. But the man knows football, and he knows defense. Ray's issue, in my opinion, was he lost too much weight trying to regain lost speed, and in the end lost some of the punch behind his tackles. If he had kept his playing weight, I honestly think he'd be having a much better season, barring the injury.

[reediddy]

[quote name='tctony' timestamp='1355691522' post='1264595']
Bullcow. The majority of RR's runs are 2 or 3 yards. He gets 1-4 good runs a game. I love me some RR, because of his explosiveness, but he is a tad overpaid. Pierce is just as good, if not better, at [b]running[/b] the ball. RR is of course deadly out of the backfield in the passing game. (Ties in with the point about keeping Cam and his awful system for so long).

I'm asking you: WHY are we constantly in such dire cap situation? Who is getting paid so much that we can't afford to keep our impact guys, and why aren't they producing?
[/quote]

In terms of a pure RB, I'd agree that Pierce is the better pure runner. But RR is a better all-purpose back, without question. I love both, but I might be on the same page with u on this...I've speculated before that we could trade RR to an RB-needy team for a group of good, starting quality players. Of course, it was shot down quite fast, not because of homerism but because of the direction this league is headed in terms of pass-first, run-second.

[reediddy]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1355693099' post='1264779']
He signed that contract in 2006, which if I remember right was before his big nerve injury. I think, with the guaranteed money he'd still be a massive cap hit if he was cut before this year, and we didn't have a replacement anyway. Ozzie is just laying in the bed that he made through sentimentality and conservatism.

If you aren't getting better in this league, you're getting worse, and I think that's something that can be said about this FO and this team. Say what you will about Belichick, he understands when it's time to let veteran players go.
[/quote]

agreed. Belichick doesn't care about history. What can you do for me this year. Are there better players I can put in? If so, tough luck buddy. That's how it has to be. I love how the NFL is referred to a business so often, yet these moves aren't made more often.

[T3hRaven]

[quote name='reediddy' timestamp='1355693215' post='1264799']
In terms of a pure RB, I'd agree that Pierce is the better pure runner. But RR is a better all-purpose back, without question. I love both, but I might be on the same page with u on this...I've speculated before that we could trade RR to an RB-needy team for a group of good, starting quality players. Of course, it was shot down quite fast, not because of homerism but because of the direction this league is headed in terms of pass-first, run-second.
[/quote]

Trading Ray Rice for some assets, particularly along the OL, is the single best move this team could make this off-season. You're not going to get shot down on that idea by me.

The sad thing is, even if Ray Lewis is cut that horrid contract is going to be hurting this team until 2016. Ozzie signed an ancient player to a 7-year deal in 2009, how stupid do you get? He carries a $1.9 million hit next year no matter what happens, and I believe he carries a $650,000 hit in 2014 and 2015.

[kassaiscool]

[quote name='ravefan52' timestamp='1355692818' post='1264741']
Cody is definitely one of the most disappointing players this season
[/quote]

Its funny, because I noticed it some last year. If teams get the running game going they are usually trampling Cody. He was a second round pick, ozzie messed up on that one right there lol.

[T3hRaven]

[quote name='reediddy' timestamp='1355693294' post='1264811']
agreed. Belichick doesn't care about history. What can you do for me this year. Are there better players I can put in? If so, tough luck buddy. That's how it has to be. I love how the NFL is referred to a business so often, yet these moves aren't made more often.
[/quote]

It's not just that. He knows you can't have your cake and eat it to in this league. Belichick has built that team with a vision, he brings players into a system. The Pats are the one team in the league that I'd say is built correctly. They pay their OL and they pay their QB, which is what you do if you want to win. Welker won't be there next year, but the team will continue on like nothing happened.

[T3hRaven]

[quote name='kassaiscool' timestamp='1355693456' post='1264826']
Its funny, because I noticed it some last year. If teams get the running game going they are usually trampling Cody. He was a second round pick, ozzie messed up on that one right there lol.
[/quote]

The last draft pick that Ozzie hit on was Webb. He's had a rough couple of years and we've not noticed because those players never hit the field. Those conservative 'depth' drafts are coming back to bite this team in the [profanity deleted].

[reediddy]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1355693423' post='1264821']
Trading Ray Rice for some assets, particularly along the OL, is the single best move this team could make this off-season. You're not going to get shot down on that idea by me.

The sad thing is, even if Ray Lewis is cut that horrid contract is going to be hurting this team until 2016. Ozzie signed an ancient player to a 7-year deal in 2009, how stupid do you get? He carries a $1.9 million hit next year no matter what happens, and I believe he carries a $650,000 hit in 2014 and 2015.
[/quote]

I'm shocked that you agree but I'm glad you do. Think about it; trade RR for a starting OG and starting DE/CB. We'll still be strong at RB with Pierce (reminds me of Foster and could honestly develop), and then upgrade at two positions of dire need.

There seems to be too much favoritism here. No sense of urgency when one underperforms. In NE, someone like Mike Oher would be LONG gone, for example. It really hurts us in the long run; if the object of evaluating these players is to put out the single best collection of offense, defense and special teams every Sunday, there's no reason for many of these players to be in uniform