Our Defense

[codizzle]

[quote name='msufan' timestamp='1360110453' post='1346919']
suggs being back is what turned our D around.
[/quote]
Yes and he was nowhere near 100% is my point

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='ravensdan' timestamp='1360112616' post='1346975']
It is going to be iperative to shore up the defensive line depth. Ngata needs to limit his snaps a little more so he can be really fresh for the playoffs.I think it has to be time for suggs and ngata to take over as the leaders of this defense. If webb is fully recovered he can be a real difference maker. I think it is most important to draft real playmakers in the draft, regardless of position...also you wonder if omar brown could make an impact
[/quote]
Yeah, this is true. If McPhee can really develop more as a player he could back up Ngata, leaving Jones as the starting LDE. Then we can put Tyson at LDE backing up Jones. Then we draft a guy who can rotate in at DE as well, like Tyson this year.

I don't think some elite DE falls to us, so I can see the Ravens passing on the DE until the 3rd round or later. They seem to stay patient when a draft class has a lot of talented prospects after the elite prospects are gone. They did this with Jones and I can see it happen again.

I think we need some quality ILBs here. I see a big drop-off in talent after the top-3. Then an even greater drop-off after the 4 after them.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='ravensdan' timestamp='1360112616' post='1346975']
It is going to be iperative to shore up the defensive line depth. Ngata needs to limit his snaps a little more so he can be really fresh for the playoffs.I think it has to be time for suggs and ngata to take over as the leaders of this defense. If webb is fully recovered he can be a real difference maker. I think it is most important to draft real playmakers in the draft, regardless of position...also you wonder if omar brown could make an impact
[/quote]
Yeah, this is true. If McPhee can really develop more as a player he could back up Ngata, leaving Jones as the starting LDE. Then we can put Tyson at LDE backing up Jones. Then we draft a guy who can rotate in at DE as well, like Tyson this year.

I don't think some elite DE falls to us, so I can see the Ravens passing on the DE until the 3rd round or later. They seem to stay patient when a draft class has a lot of talented prospects after the elite prospects are gone. They did this with Jones and I can see it happen again.

I think we need some quality ILBs here. I see a big drop-off in talent after the top-3. Then an even greater drop-off after the 4 after them.

[K-Dog]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1360034078' post='1345825']
Couldn't of won it without him. Imagine if we didn't have him when we lost Webb & Smith. He started every game this year and made some crucial plays for us, and he also really stepped up in the playoffs. God forbid something happens again and we don't have the depth to survive it.
[/quote]

Hence the MIXED and CONFLICTED feelings.
Beginning of the season he was an embarrassment.
Later on big improvements. Still not stellar, but good enough at least.

[The Raven]

Our defense will be fine, if our players continue to progress as they should. We have a lot of youth. If they develop and reach their potential, we'll have a great defense next year

[Gordo52]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1360117097' post='1347116']
Hence the MIXED and CONFLICTED feelings.
Beginning of the season he was an embarrassment.
Later on big improvements. Still not stellar, but good enough at least.
[/quote]
I don't have any mixed or conflicted feelings about it. He was a key component part of our defense this year.

[Bltravens]

We need more athleticism up the middle of the defense IMO. Whether that's at NT, ILB, or safety. Our CBs are remarkably athletic and between Suggs and Upshaw I think Suggs is extremely athletic while Upshaw is smart and tough as nails.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1360122618' post='1347265']
We need more athleticism up the middle of the defense IMO. Whether that's at NT, ILB, or safety. Our CBs are remarkably athletic and between Suggs and Upshaw I think Suggs is extremely athletic while Upshaw is smart and tough as nails.
[/quote]

Yea, a NT who doesn't get pushed around and a fast athletic ILB would do marvels for the entire D. Who's the closest guy to Daryl Washington in the draft? I want a guy like him from the second round as well. Athletic with a nose for the ball. Great instincts.

Suggs, Upshaw & Ellerbe can be great in the run game. Then you have a guy similar to Daryl who can rush the QB with his instincts and speed and cover the new hybrid fast TEs.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1360123115' post='1347284']
Yea, a NT who doesn't get pushed around and a fast athletic ILB would do marvels for the entire D. Who's the closest guy to Daryl Washington in the draft? I want a guy like him from the second round as well. Athletic with a nose for the ball. Great instincts.

Suggs, Upshaw & Ellerbe can be great in the run game. Then you have a guy similar to Daryl who can rush the QB with his instincts and speed and cover the new hybrid fast TEs.
[/quote]
Kevin Minter or Arthur Brown are the two best in my opinion. Te'o, too. I like Te'o a lot, but I'm not sure he's as athletic as the other two.

[PuRock]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1360123716' post='1347296']
Kevin Minter or Arthur Brown are the two best in my opinion. Te'o, too. I like Te'o a lot, but I'm not sure he's as athletic as the other two.
[/quote]

Awesome. Thanks for the names! I'm not a big College football guy, so I always have a lot of homework to do between the end of the season and draft day.

[Larryterri]

Sadly I think this offseason will take a terrible toll on our D much like last season did, however our O is hot, and if they can keep the heat on, I think it can compensate. I think we will be much like NE, super hot offense, average D that can compete when the chips are down.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Larryterri' timestamp='1360124060' post='1347308']
[b]Sadly I think this offseason will take a terrible toll on our D much like last season did[/b], however our O is hot, and if they can keep the heat on, I think it can compensate. I think we will be much like NE, super hot offense, average D that can compete when the chips are down.
[/quote]

Possibly. But sometimes you'll be amazed what a few minor tweaks can do. A key cheap contributor or an emerging rookie.

I thought our O-line was going to be crap in 2008. Turned out it was one of the top 3 O lines this franchise ever had.

[wayne]

Our D will be fine IMO. With Suggs remerging after rushing back from a major injury where he was probably 85-90% healthy after coming back and with the return of Webb, our D should be better next season than we were this season. Also, with another year under Pees and with young players gaining experience, we will be just fine.

[Ravenseconbeast]

We need our key pieces back on defense.

Ellerbe, Kruger and possibly Reed (maybe not)

If we sign Flacco to a too big of a paycheck, we might lose them. I don't want that to happen

[TonyTone1192]

[quote name='Mr. Irrelevant' timestamp='1360030648' post='1345700']
Let's face it fellow Ravens fans... Our offense is LOADED

Elite QB+ Elite RB+ Future Star RB+ Solid TE+ Two Great WR+ Solid Oline= Potent offense that will keep us competitve for the next few years.

The offense alone, will get is to the playoffs. It is what happened this year under Cam Cameron.

Our Defense on the other hand is losing two key componets in

Ray Lewis
Paul Kruger/and or Ed Reed,

I have a feeling we are getting Reed back, veteran locker room, and he is the second best defensive player Bmore has ever had. Oz is making him a top priorety...

Now we have a top flight MLB in Ellerbe that Oz has made the top prioritey behind Joe. If he stays healthy, he may very well be the best MLB in the AFC/AFC North (homerism showing a bit, but I like him more than Mayo, and I never saw anything great in Johnson, that D makes him imho.

Ellerbe was balling this year and without a doubt will be back.


The rest of the defense is a huge question mark..

Suggs might never be the same player again.
Ngata is getting hurt too much.
Pollard is fine
Ladarius is the same case as Suggs.
Jimmy/Courtney/McPhee are too young to tell..

From the showing, we have a young defensive squad outside of maybe Suggs and Reed..... A potentially great secondary, and a solid LB corps.

The offense's playing alone will get us to the post season. We are too potent and are playing the weak defenses of
NE
Green Bay
Detroit
Viking D is getting old.
A fading Jets D
A Bad Buffalo D (Chan Gailey's fault, secondary is ok, but not great team otherwise)



We do on the other hand, face the defensive likes of
Texans
Pit twice
Cinci twice
and Chicago.


We all know Joe can tear through any Defense (see yesterday), but can the D keep those teams in check?

We are playing Tom Brady.
AP/Harvin
Rodgers, the best QB in the NFL
AJ Green Twice
Megatron (who we cannot stop period)
Andre Johnson/Foster
and Marshall and Forte combo.
Peyton Manning

We have a tough OFFENSIVE scheduel.

Do we have the talent to repeat? Probably, these guys have a chance on the big stage. They have won there, so some experience here.

The season will come down to whether or not we can play good on Defense.

IF Flacco and Rice stay healthy, we are making the post season. We have the best QB-RB-WR 123 punch in the entire NFL. We run an offense that is increadibly difficult to defend.

I trust Jimmy, and Webb, Pollard, and the return of Reed to allow the secondary to remain potent.


Ellerbe is only going to get better, and Suggs and Upshaw are good run Defenders. We are probably drafting a new ILB good vs the run. I think the run D will be fine (cept vs Vikings and Texans)

Do you think we will be able to hold it down on D? I think we need another season to get back to top 10, but when we do, look out, we are going to be a powerhouse in the NFL for the next 5 or 6 years. I trust Oz.


Repeat though, I doubt it, tho I do think we make the post season
[/quote]

There's no doubt in my mind that Webb when healthy is a top 5 CB and he will be back next season. After seeing this success and he not being apart of this (in the physical aspect) it will eat at him and he'll be back.

My only problem w/ our defense for next season is what's going to happen to our defensive line...
the game is won and lost in the trenches and if we can't pressure the QB (who ever the QB is) they'll pick us apart.