You build around Flacco & New Team Identity

[funky141]

Raven's nations is going through a crisis and many want to jump ship. Relax, you have your franchise QB and you build around him. The offense is the future with Rice, Smith, Pitta and the key guy Flacco.
I went through it with the Peyton years, it is what it is.

The Ravens are now a OFFENSIVE team...

[CalvinSmoke]

It's so crazy to imagine but yessir. I think your right.

[dhstandard]

If you are going to overpay anybody (which Flacco isn't) you overpay the Franchise quarterback. I love how people bash the Flacco deal while their teams spend 8 million per season for a 2nd string player.

Our offense hasn't really gotten much worse. Our O-line should be better and all were missing is a LT. Our defense needed to start over. Even if we signed everybody back we would just be paying extra money for the 17th ranked defense.

I'm just more upset that we have to let guys go but it was necessary. Killed me to see that Boldin (who doesn't bs) was upset about being traded.

[Yatagarasu]

But you don't overpay the Mark Sanchezes, the Matt Cassels, or the Ryan Fitzpatricks.

At least Flacco delivered us a championship. So we know how big Flacco's potential, which is a Hall of Fame multiple Super Bowl winning QB. But, we also know what his floor, which is a Super Bowl MVP.

[Yatagarasu]

I say we invest in a LT or more protection, while getting Flacco more toys to work around with.

Also a solid defense won't hurt either.

Good thing our special team is set up for next year.

[wademan2636]

it's time for flacco to start playing like a superstar. if he doesn't, he's a waste of every dollar we paid him. in order for us to win games, he has to have a career year.

[funky141]

A left tackle is out there and I'm willing to bet Ozzie will draft heavy on the defensive side.

[Free Agent]

Kinda strange that we traded away Boldin, in that case. Still, if we can add a WR in first few round of the draft who can start for us, I could definitely get behind an offensive identity.

[K-Dog]

Old Ravens = " You cant score on us. We get a score we win. "

New Ravens = " You cant out score us "

[PolishRifle]

This thread will end really well. But I do agree.

[melvinmelon123]

[quote name='Free Agent' timestamp='1363307164' post='1397228']
Kinda strange that we traded away Boldin, in that case. Still, if we can add a WR in first few round of the draft who can start for us, I could definitely get behind an offensive identity.
[/quote]

We are getting younger, and it could be that Caldwell doesn't feel Boldin is the correct type of player for our offense going forward. We may be looking for more speed.

[Free Agent]

[quote name='melvinmelon123' timestamp='1363307717' post='1397248']
We are getting younger, and [b]it could be that Caldwell doesn't feel Boldin is the correct type of player for our offense going forward[/b]. We may be looking for more speed.
[/quote]

I really don't think that was the case. Surehanded, physical WRs are always the correct type of player for any offense, there aren't enough of them.

The trade was because of Boldin's $6 million salary, which I personally think he was worth.

[Yatagarasu]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1363307494' post='1397239']
Old Ravens = " You cant score on us. We get a score we win. "

New Ravens = " You cant out score us "
[/quote]

New Ravens: Don't let us hang around in the 4th quarter.

I say we weren't the best team last year, but we were the most clutch team since we clawed and fought ourselves out of holes to win last minute.

[GrimCoconut]

I agree with you and yet also very much disagree with you.

You say "build around Flacco" and I answer with a resounding "YES". We are no longer the defensive team as we were, but what we have now is different. We are building this team with one idea: around Joe. That permeates throughout the entire team, even the defense.

We are still a defensive team, though. It sounds nice to make a definitive statement that we are not about defense, but we are. What we are doing is changing with the offense to complement it not counter it. We are getting faster on defense to combat the offense's no-huddle, quick-paced speed. To have older, and also slower players who don't have the speed or endurance to keep up with the offense would be a detriment and not a benefit going forward.

That is why I believe we are making these moves: to make our defense complement our offense, not making our weaknesses more obvious. That was the problem, I feel, this year. We lacked the speed on defense to match the speed on offense. I think we are moving in that direction now.

[Ravenslifer]

We've been building around Flacco for several years now, just hasn't totally worked out. In 2009 we thought we were drafting his blindside protector for the next decade, and at this point it looks like that's not the case. In 2010 we traded to finally get him a top weapon in Q, plus we thought we were getting bargains in Housh and Donte, and unfortunately all three were badly misused in Cam's offense (plus Donte was injured the entire season) and probably never amounted to what they could have been had they been running routes that played to their strengths. That year we also brought in Ed and Dennis. 2011 we brought in Torrey, and this past year we brought in Jacoby. The biggest things that became clear this season is that we need a long term solution at left tackle in addition to the fact that this offense works best in the style that Jim is going to install to a greater degree next year.

[funky141]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1363308717' post='1397296']
I agree with you and yet also very much disagree with you.

You say "build around Flacco" and I answer with a resounding "YES". We are no longer the defensive team as we were, but what we have now is different. We are building this team with one idea: around Joe. That permeates throughout the entire team, even the defense.

We are still a defensive team, though. It sounds nice to make a definitive statement that we are not about defense, but we are. What we are doing is changing with the offense to complement it not counter it. We are getting faster on defense to combat the offense's no-huddle, quick-paced speed. To have older, and also slower players who don't have the speed or endurance to keep up with the offense would be a detriment and not a benefit going forward.

That is why I believe we are making these moves: to make our defense complement our offense, not making our weaknesses more obvious. That was the problem, I feel, this year. We lacked the speed on defense to match the speed on offense. I think we are moving in that direction now.
[/quote]
You just wrote about the Indy defense when Peyton was there to a T. Build the defense to fit the offense(Flacco). Let Flacco put points on the board then let the defense fly to the ball. Caldwell was there when Manning would get a lead then let a younger Freeney and Gary Brackett rush to the QB. Its all the same, build the team to fit Flacco. Your not paying him all that money to run the football.

[mgridda]

Flacco is a very confident guy. He has a quiet, "no-brainer" type of confidence. I bet he feels like if the Ravens would have just given him control of the offense he would have exploded a long time ago. And I bet he feels like he doesn't need Anquan to be elite. I think he also gets to prove that.

I bet a big smile spreads across his face when he thinks about Matt Ryan with Roddy White and Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez and how he'll play even better with just Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss and Pitta or something. I do believe we need to keep him upright though. LT is a huge need. Hopefully we fill it through FA, or trade up.

Flacco believes in himself. I just hope they start going to work from now and he links up with Reed/LaQuan/Streeter/Smith/Doss in the off-season. Peyton Manning did that quite a bit. Working off the clock w/ your receivers to build rapport.

[Greatness]

[quote name='wademan2636' timestamp='1363306577' post='1397211']
it's time for flacco to start playing like a superstar. if he doesn't, he's a waste of every dollar we paid him. in order for us to win games, he has to have a career year.
[/quote]

This is a joke, right? Right?!

[wademan2636]

[quote name='Greatness' timestamp='1363315214' post='1397563']
This is a joke, right? Right?!
[/quote]

he hasn't had a great regular season yet. and now, he doesnt have boldin, who was a big part of why flacco was so good in the postseason. and with the defensive overhaul, the whole team rests on his shoulders right now. 22 tds and a 59% completion percentage gets you nowhere if you dont have a good defense. flacco has yet to have a monster regular season, and now that he has this contract, its about time for him to throw 30 tds and finally have his first 4000 yard season.

a 4 game postseason run was nice and everything, but we wont even make it back there if he doesnt step it up in the regular season.

[berad]

[quote name='wademan2636' timestamp='1363315678' post='1397573']
he hasn't had a great regular season yet. and now, he doesnt have boldin, who was a big part of why flacco was so good in the postseason. and with the defensive overhaul, the whole team rests on his shoulders right now. [b] 22 tds and a 59% completion percentage gets you nowhere if you dont have a good defense.[/b] flacco has yet to have a monster regular season, and now that he has this contract, its about time for him to throw 30 tds and finally have his first 4000 yard season.

a 4 game postseason run was nice and everything, but we wont even make it back there if he doesnt step it up in the regular season.
[/quote]

We didn't exactly have a good D this season. I agree Flacco and the offense need to step up, especially with the D in flux, but we won games with an average defensive unit last year.

[flynismo]

[quote name='wademan2636' timestamp='1363315678' post='1397573']
he hasn't had a great regular season yet. and now, he doesnt have boldin, who was a big part of why flacco was so good in the postseason. and with the defensive overhaul, the whole team rests on his shoulders right now. 22 tds and a 59% completion percentage gets you nowhere if you dont have a good defense. flacco has yet to have a monster regular season, and now that he has this contract, its about time for him to throw 30 tds and finally have his first 4000 yard season.

a 4 game postseason run was nice and everything, but we wont even make it back there if he doesnt step it up in the regular season.
[/quote]

Oh, you're one of THOSE guys (guys who think the stat line indicates how good you are or how you led us to victory)....
Do you even realize that most of those monster stat guys put up a good bit of their production in garbage time when they are getting blown out, or trying to dig their way out of a hole?

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1363315899' post='1397582']


We didn't exactly have a good D this season. I agree Flacco and the offense need to step up, especially with the D in flux, but we won games with an average defensive unit last year.
[/quote]
You have a solid OL the QB can make the throws, WRs get open, RBs find holes, etc. The offense is on the field more, their offense & by virtue your defense is on the field less. Thus, if you have a defense that can stop the run and stop it really well, with play-makers who can get those turnovers, with fast players who can get to the QB you can win. That was the Colts' formula with Manning. It worked very well.

It's one I see we adopt.

[melvinmelon123]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1363316420' post='1397604']
You have a solid OL the QB can make the throws, WRs get open, RBs find holes, etc. The offense is on the field more, their offense & by virtue your defense is on the field less. Thus, if you have a defense that can stop the run and stop it really well, with play-makers who can get those turnovers, with fast players who can get to the QB you can win. That was the Colts' formula with Manning. It worked very well.

It's one I see we adopt.
[/quote]

And the big difference between us and them. is that Flacco doesn't choke in the playoffs. He does the best when the pressure is the biggest.

[mgridda]

If people want to see gaudy regular season statistics from Joe Flacco, all they need to do is separate games where he was running the no-huddle offense and .games where he wasn't. Then, to project that for a 16 game season. You'd see some pretty damn big numbers.

The complication is, due to the Flacco-Cameron power struggle there weren't just entire games where Flacco ran nothing but the no-huddle, but rather portions of games where he did, then portions of games where they were following Cameron's tempo and play-selection.

Flacco ran the no-huddle all the time in Delaware. He never huddled. I wish someone could isolate Flacco's no-huddle stats over the years.

[Gashman]

What is it?

Are we catering to the wine and cheese crowd now?

Boldin and Pollard defined what playing like a Raven meant. Although not original Ravens, these guys helped define what our City is all about, a reflection of our team.We are a blue collar town. We appreciate the hard work that is necessary to gain a single yard, and also a goal line stand.

If these guys are not replaced with players that are tough hard nosed players, then we are going backwards, and thus losing our identity. When you find guys like this, it hurts to let them go, especially when there is still plenty of tread left on the tires. These moves are head scratchers for me.

[mgridda]

BP and Q were very physical guys, yes. They played with a ravenous hunger and tenacity for the football and trained hard.

However, so does Ray Rice, Vonta Leach, Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta, KO, Gradkowski, Yanda, Oher, McPhee, Ngata, Arthur Jones Jr, Upshaw, Suggs, Bynes and Webb.

We'll get more through the draft. We always do.

[wademan2636]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1363316028' post='1397587']
Oh, you're one of THOSE guys (guys who think the stat line indicates how good you are or how you led us to victory)....
Do you even realize that most of those monster stat guys put up a good bit of their production in garbage time when they are getting blown out, or trying to dig their way out of a hole?
[/quote]

its not stats. flacco only started playing like a superstar when the playoffs started. he was good during the season, but if we didnt win the super bowl, he wouldn't have gotten that big a contract, due to his regular season play. the only reason he got that huge contract was because we won the superbowl. he is not as good as peyton manning, tom brady, drew brees, or aaron rodgers. however, he is getting paid more than those guys. its about time he starts playing like them, or he's not worth this kind of money. if he doesn't, super bowl or not, he's not worth the money we paid for him.

[TonyTone1192]

[quote name='Gashman' timestamp='1363319031' post='1397718']
What is it?

Are we catering to the wine and cheese crowd now?

Boldin and Pollard defined what playing like a Raven meant. Although not original Ravens, these guys helped define what our City is all about, a reflection of our team.We are a blue collar town. We appreciate the hard work that is necessary to gain a single yard, and also a goal line stand.

If these guys are not replaced with players that are tough hard nosed players, then we are going backwards, and thus losing our identity. When you find guys like this, it hurts to let them go, especially when there is still plenty of tread left on the tires. These moves are head scratchers for me.
[/quote]

Yes they both were the definition of "play like a raven" but according to sources Pollard was a headache in the locker room and Boldin was too expensive to keep. Ozzie has a plan, if he didn't think that we could win w/out them they wouldn't have been let go, but IMO everyone that we've lost(besies Ray) is replaceable.

I believe the identity of our team is still hard nose football, but we are moving into a more balanced direction. Instead of being known for a great defense we are trying to be recognized as a great all around team.

[Yatagarasu]

The league knows who we are.

We are the defending Super Bowl Champions.

[ravens_4life]

this whole thing sucks. we lost a lot of players and i dont understand why. its going to be preseason football all year. i seriously doubt we make the playoffs next year.