Over/Under rated Ravens of all time

[Purple Punishment]

I agree about his leadership and abilities as a player, but I do think that he got far and away too much credit for the Ravens success. After his retirement, every single analyst declares the Ravens all but dead, just because we are missing Lewis inspirational leadership.

Ray Lewis was a great Ravens player and leader, but a lot of people make him out to be greater than the Ravens franchise and that would make him overrated.

Look back at his carreer as whole, and Ray Lewis is a top 5 defensive player of all time, no argument there. Look back at the previous couple seasons and Ray Lewis wouldn't even be the 3rd best player on the Ravens defense.

 

 

 

I think, the main problem here is, that people draw the conclusion, that Ray Lewis = Baltimore Ravens. While he was a really important player in the Ravens history, it is still a bit disrespectfull to the players, that played alongside of him.

 

I agree, he was the heart and soul of the team. He was not the team though. Hell, when I think of the Ravens, for some reason the first name that comes to mind for me is always Peter Boulware.

[blitzking33]

Regardless of what they say, Ray has more credentials than any of these "analysts".

 

2x Superbowl Champ

1x Superbowl MVP

2x DPOY

1st ballot HOF

 

This guy J.J Territo needs to proof read his article. "Most Underrated, Overated of all time" yet, he talks about last year alone.

Come on Territo.. While Ray was overrated last season, he's definitely not one of the most overrated of all time.

[Neil]

See, for a guy who doesn't specifically follow a particular team, this is a hard question.  Could I tell you who the most overrated or underrated Dolphins are?  Probably not, because I never really cared about the Dolphins.  Because I'm a Ravens fan, I know that talking about JJ in terms of sack production is ridiculous.  He didn't show 'flashes', he sealed the outside like a brick wall, because that was his job.  I'm not 100% sure what the scheme is in San Diego, but JJ is a player that you can't really evaluate based solely on stats.  You need to watch the film.  And what's the point of piling on Dilfer?  It's not like anybody is saying that Dilfer was the greatest QB ever.  Everybody knows that he was a capable guy who was good at not costing his team the game.  He'd make some throws to put up some points, but he wasn't going to score 30 points a game.  The guy seems a little too hung up on completion percentage as a metric.  And how do you overrate Ray Lewis?  These seem to be career awards he's giving out, so how do you overrate the greatest MLB ever to play?  He's in the conversation for the greatest defensive player of all time.  The only way you could overrate him is if you thought he was God or something.

 

And as for the underrateds, Reed and Ozzie?  Really?  Have any of you ever watched a Ravens game in the last six or seven years where the announcers didn't gush over Reed as the greatest safety in the game?  They had a whole segment on Bill Belichick's A Football Life about how him and Brady had to gameplan for him, for heaven's sake.  The same with Newsome.

[display name]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000210489/article/baltimore-ravens-most-underrated-and-overrated-players-of-all-time

Wow. Just wow. This is unbelievable. 

[Clayton Bigsby]

If this is an "all-time" list then how can Ray Lewis possibly be overrated? If Ray Lewis is overrated just because of the past 5 years then name it the "Most over/under rated Ravens of the past 5 years." Get outta here.

 

Pitta overrated? NO ONE talks about Dennis Pitta at all on the national stage. If anything, I'd say Pitta is very underrated and is a good breakout candidate for this year.

[PurplePassion824]

If this is an "all-time" list then how can Ray Lewis possibly be overrated? If Ray Lewis is overrated just because of the past 5 years then name it the "Most over/under rated Ravens of the past 5 years." Get outta here.

 

Pitta overrated? NO ONE talks about Dennis Pitta at all on the national stage. If anything, I'd say Pitta is very underrated and is a good breakout candidate for this year.

Agreed.  I have almost never heard anyone from the media talk about Pitta.  The players know how good he is.  They seem to respect Pitta and even put him on the top 100.  I'm looking for a breakout year for him.

[RavensAllTheWay]

Pitta overrated is a joke.  The guy was top 10 among TEs in a lot of major receiving categories, but oh wait, the two TDs against Denver don't count because we were blown out and the game was out of reach, even though they were two great plays.  Almost no one talks about Pitta, yet he's overrated?  I guess they forgot that he went off in the playoffs also.

 

Also, Lewis being overrated is stupid.

[scrock]

Overrated - Adalius Thomas/Ed Hartwell/Bart Scott

Underrated - Boulware has always been one of my favorite players who has been a forgotten man

[plesiosaur]

 

 

 

Overrated: Bart Scott

 

Underrated: JJ

 

Which Wal Mart does Bart Scott work at these days?

[SeaHawk]

 

 

 

 

Which Wal Mart does Bart Scott work at these days?

 

 

Haha, even his buggy-boy performance is overrated!! He's always eating a cookie or tackling people that cast wary glances his way, but just because he's played in the NFL, everyone says he does a fine job. Overrated, I dare say

[Gordo52]

Kelly Gregg is another underrated Raven

[TDubbs]

Sorry Dameshek, but you are a complete Mook. In no way, can you ever call Ray Lewis the most overrated Raven ever, he IS the Raven. It just makes me laugh how someone who is paid to be an analyst, can say something like that, when it's well known he grew up a Steelers fan. Guys a joke. 

[Ravenseconbeast]

Underrated : Jarret Johnson
Overrated : Bart Scott

 

^

[TDubbs]

I hate the misconception, and the general feeling when people say Ray Lewis was 'waning' in his final 5 seasons. First off, players are extremely lucky to play 10 years at all, let alone what Ray did. Secondly, I watched every single one of his games in his last 5 years. He was not a liability, he was still dominating. It's also insane to expect him to be as fast as he was in year 1 to 17, and fault him for that. 

[Ed_Reed20]

Samari Rolle will always be underrated in my book, especially for his '06 and '08 seasons. Like any CB, he surrendered some big plays but he was mostly a quality player.  

[codizzle]

Guys it's Dameshek...

He grew up with a terrible towel attached to his hand and now it's the only thing inside his brain

[Neil]

Samari Rolle will always be underrated in my book, especially for his '06 and '08 seasons. Like any CB, he surrendered some big plays but he was mostly a quality player.  

Those were the glory days of the Ravens secondary in my book.  Reed, McAlister, Rolle and the rotating strong safety (Landry/Leonhard).  That defence was so stacked back then, it wasn't even funny.

[GrimCoconut]

Guys it's Dameshek...

He grew up with a terrible towel attached to his hand and now it's the only thing inside his brain

You mean he grew up with the towel wrapped around him as a diaper?

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

You mean he grew up with the towel wrapped around him as a diaper?

 

Good idea

[Grendelwulf21]

You mean he grew up with the towel wrapped around him as a diaper?

Very clever my friend!!

[K-Dog]

He doesnt know what the phrase "Of all time" means.

 

he is just seeking his fifteen minuets of fame.  He is a dork-a-sarus.

[jimmypowder]

Overrated : Ray Rice Blasphemous I know but Pierce is already pushing for more playing Time and he's gonna get it Underrated : Yanda

[arnie_uk]

Overrated : Ray Rice Blasphemous I know but Pierce is already pushing for more playing Time and he's gonna get it Underrated : Yanda

the one I didn't want to get in the argument about

[GrimCoconut]

the one I didn't want to get in the argument about

Yeah. Rice is overrated. He's a big piece of our team but he's not the offense. People sometimes act like he is. He's a very good player and a very big part of what we do but he's not the ignition of our offense.

[H8R]

Rice - Overrated
Rolle - Underrated.

[CARavensFan]

Yeah. Rice is overrated. He's a big piece of our team but he's not the offense. People sometimes act like he is. He's a very good player and a very big part of what we do but he's not the ignition of our offense.

 

I guess it would depend on the "rating" you are giving him, would it be overrating him to say he's in the Top 5 of the RBs in the league?

 

For a short time (09-10) I think you could make more of the argument that Rice was much key to our offense, we were a run-first team and Rice was the more dynamic playmaker to McGahee's steady pounding. Now the offense lives and dies on Joe, with Rice as just another, all be very dangerous, weapon at his disposal.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I understand naming Ray Lewis as over rated based on the criteria he listed. Not looking at the career in its entirety, and taking away his leadership... his play based soley on individual athletic impact was probably a bit over rated. The intangible stuff is what makes him rated that high, but if you're gonna throw that out you could make the argument I guess.

 

My problem is that after laying out that criteria, in the same breathe he calls Ed Reed under rated.

 

Both are great, hall of famers, who will go down as 2 of the best individuals at their respective positions in NFL history. BUT, if you're gonna make that argument against Ray, you absolutely HAVE TO make the same about Ed. His instincts and leadership skills were still there but the past couple years he physically deteriorated, his tackling diminished - losing all ability to play against the run or be a threat stepping up in the box. 

 

For his name and career he was continued to be thought of as one of the best, but his play didn't really merit him being the top safety in the league any more. You have to hold both to the same standard, or evaluate both on the entirety of their careers.

 

No consistency in the evaluation whatsoever.

[arnie_uk]

I guess it would depend on the "rating" you are giving him, would it be overrating him to say he's in the Top 5 of the RBs in the league?

For a short time (09-10) I think you could make more of the argument that Rice was much key to our offense, we were a run-first team and Rice was the more dynamic playmaker to McGahee's steady pounding. Now the offense lives and dies on Joe, with Rice as just another, all be very dangerous, weapon at his disposal.

I don't know if I have him in my 10 from a pure running standpoint. Receiving threat probably none better but he just isnt a great runner. Could be the scheme we use and hopefully no with more one back sets he can run better with more space.

TWo many little or no gains hindered us setting us up for multiple 3rd and longs

[CARavensFan]

I don't know if I have him in my 10 from a pure running standpoint. Receiving threat probably none better but he just isnt a great runner. Could be the scheme we use and hopefully no with more one back sets he can run better with more space.

TWo many little or no gains hindered us setting us up for multiple 3rd and longs

 

Well I can see you're argument based on Rice as a pure runner, though I'm thinking of the top RBs in the league as a complete player and the impact he can have in all phases.

 

Rice did have some bad runs, but I feel like more RBs will have those; the defense gets paid just like the offense. However, for every little to no gain runs he has, I feel like there is a play where a guy bounces off him or he scoots away when no things he should be able to or he pulls a Hey Diddle, Diddle move.

[arnie_uk]

Well I can see you're argument based on Rice as a pure runner, though I'm thinking of the top RBs in the league as a complete player and the impact he can have in all phases.

Rice did have some bad runs, but I feel like more RBs will have those; the defense gets paid just like the offense. However, for every little to no gain runs he has, I feel like there is a play where a guy bounces off him or he scoots away when no things he should be able to or he pulls a Hey Diddle, Diddle move.

one of the at worst missed tackles forced in the league actually.