Ravens being written off

[blackbird29]

Hey fellow Ravens fans. Sorry I haven't been around to chat. Its been a whirlwind here. Anyway to the task at hand. How many of you are hearing about the Ravens impending doom? I have been hearing it at work and everywhere else I turn. We lost so many players. The team is a shell of what they were. No Lewis, Reed, Ellerbe, Kruger, Pollard, Boldin, Birk, Leach and now this injury to Pitta. They dont have any receivers other than Smith.  No playoffs for the Birds. I even heard an 0-16 record thrown out there! Guess folks don't take into account the numerous signings like Dumervil, Canty, Spears, Huff, and our draft picks. Me personally I am excited for the season to start. I am gonna miss seeing Boldin and not sure about the WR situation but I don't get paid to worry about that. That's the front office's job. I am sure Ozzy has something in motion now. This team I think will be better. They are faster, younger and being under estimated. I had to get this out and vent. Getting sick of hearing about how the sky is falling and that the Ravens have to chance.

[usmccharles]

This isnt anything new.  When Ray and Ed left and all our other departures everyone basically said we stand no chance, which is what they said last year...im fine with it and used to it.  I for one would bet money that we have a better defense with the younger guys in with the more speed, offense is a little worrying especially with the loss of pitta.  Anyone who through out a winless season should not be allowed to talk football

[blackbird29]

This isnt anything new.  When Ray and Ed left and all our other departures everyone basically said we stand no chance, which is what they said last year...im fine with it and used to it.  I for one would bet money that we have a better defense with the younger guys in with the more speed, offense is a little worrying especially with the loss of pitta.  Anyone who through out a winless season should not be allowed to talk football

I agree 100% with you. It's just nerve wracking. I am sure the receivers will step up and there may even be a surprise WR signing by the time season starts. We don't work in the FO so we don't know. Ozzy doesn't get paid to do what he does just to sit on his butt. I am sure he is hard at work now. Just look at the Shiancoe signing. There is no off day. I got faith in the Ravens and I am really excited to see what the new look D will do

[Ravenseconbeast]

For the young untested players.   This is a ripe opportunity for them to make a name of themselves.

 

Ravens got everything you want working for them.   Solid O-line, solid QB, solid run game.   You hope one of them can surprise you and solve all the problem for us.   But i don't really see any names that really stands out.  It's not looking good.

[WeBleedPurple]

I enjoy it. Gives us fuel to fight and prove them all wrong, just as we had to least year.

[BallHawker]

Ray Lewis went out, Ravens are done.

Suggs went out, Ravens are done.

Webb went out, Ravens are done.

McKinnie ate too many burgers, Ravens are done.

Joe Flacco is their QB, Ravens are done.

 

Lol..

 

Hopefully Doss and Dickson will step up, but Joe + Caldwell will figure it out. Don't forget about Ray Rice and Pierce. Wouldn't be surprised to see Ray lined up at the slot and Pierce as the singleback.

[GrimCoconut]

This is every year.

 

Don't we always go through this? I feel like I always read this kind of stuff. It's commonplace. I'm not being rude. I'm just saying this shouldn't be surprising. Lol. I'm not being abrasive here. Just saying this isn't anything abnormal at all. We're always being written off, even when Ray was here. 

[ghost1986]

Vonta Leach anyone?

[Gorillaz MD]

Old news. Better to fly below the radar, though, right?

[K-Dog]

second verse same as the first.

 

I would not say we are the most hated team in the NFL, but we are under rated more often than not.

[PurpleReign92]

Its nurve racking to see Dumervil or one side and Suggs on the other and these guys just plucking off sacks 1 by 1 like they grow on trees.

[theblackdog]

My boss said to me this morning he was surprised I wasn't wearing all black clothing to work after what happened with Pitta.  I hold him I wasn't giving up on our chances.

[scrock]

Overcoming the losses of Ray and Ed for as much as they meant to the team would have been easy compared to replacing Boldin and now Pitta....I mean no disprespect to Ray and Ed but at this point in their careers they were both shells of their former selves, Ed would often miss tackles or not even attempt them, and Ray lost more than a step..I think the young guys will more than make up for the production lost by those two, maybe not the leadership aspect just yet...the harder part to overcome will be the lost production and chemistry from Boldin and now Pitta...that's the worrisome part now, Pitta was going to be huge for us this year but now he's gone.

 

I have faith in Ozzie though and if he watches training camp and we struggle in preseason games he'll go and get someone....Joe will be looked at to elevate the young guys but we've done this in the past and it didnt go so well, Joe elevated his play and he can make the throws, but if the WR or TE cant catch the ball it wont matter..see Lee Evans..

 

But its funny the media is like Joe has to earn the contract now and make the players around him better....yeah maybe, but the players around him need to be able to get open and catch the ball...Joe will deliver it but he cant do both, he cant go catch it too

[Runnin Raven]

Well the good news is the media has likely put a pretty large chip on everybody's shoulder. This team is definitely being written off.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

Silly people.  We're playing the Jets this year.  We're going to have at least 1 win.

 

:D

[ellicottraven]

What else is new? Let them keep doing what they do because if they don't we may actually not play well! I don't expect any positive remarks about my Ravens from anybody. All I know is I love my Ravens because they are mine! Also, the defense this year is going to be a defense that is going to be very scary! Just watch... we will have so may turnovers and 3 and outs, it is going to be 80 snaps on offense every game with 45 runs and 35 throws! Routinely expect, 500 yard games on offense and not allowing more than 300 yards on defense...

We will have the best yard differential in the entire league. That is the metric that counts just as much as the turn over differential in my view.

[H8ME]

Nothing new.  I think 'they' (media and nfl fans) love to hate the Ravens.  Yesterday on Comcast Sports Network Fred Smoot said without Ray Lewis the Ravens are done.  They don't have a leader.  He said the Ravens are like the Jackson 5.  Ray was Michael and Flacco is Tito.  He said the Ravens are going to end up drafting Davion Clowney.  Which basically says, they're gonna suck this year.  I like Fred Smoot because he's entertaining but like the rest of the ill informed media, he's wrong. 

 

Personally, the disrespect given to the Ravens doesn't bother me.  Love it when they're underestimated.  It makes the victories sweeter and these media clowns look stupid.

 

Taking my purple glasses off I really think the Ravens are going to shock alot of people this year. 

[callahan09]

Silly people.  We're playing the Jets this year.  We're going to have at least 1 win.

 

:D

The last time I can recall anybody around here talking like we were virtually guaranteed a win was that Monday Night Football game against the Jags 2 years ago.  And we got flat-out embarrassed.

[callahan09]

Nothing new.  I think 'they' (media and nfl fans) love to hate the Ravens.  Yesterday on Comcast Sports Network Fred Smoot said without Ray Lewis the Ravens are done.  They don't have a leader.  He said the Ravens are like the Jackson 5.  Ray was Michael and Flacco is Tito.  He said the Ravens are going to end up drafting Davion Clowney.  Which basically says, they're gonna suck this year.  I like Fred Smoot because he's entertaining but like the rest of the ill informed media, he's wrong. 

 

Personally, the disrespect given to the Ravens doesn't bother me.  Love it when they're underestimated.  It makes the victories sweeter and these media clowns look stupid.

 

Taking my purple glasses off I really think the Ravens are going to shock alot of people this year. 

He thinks we're going to get the #1 overall pick in the draft?  Yeah, I don't see that happening.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

The last time I can recall anybody around here talking like we were virtually guaranteed a win was that Monday Night Football game against the Jags 2 years ago.  And we got flat-out embarrassed.

 

T'was a joke, friend.

[cushrinada1986]

Hey fellow Ravens fans. Sorry I haven't been around to chat. Its been a whirlwind here. Anyway to the task at hand. How many of you are hearing about the Ravens impending doom? I have been hearing it at work and everywhere else I turn. We lost so many players. The team is a shell of what they were. No Lewis, Reed, Ellerbe, Kruger, Pollard, Boldin, Birk, Leach and now this injury to Pitta. They dont have any receivers other than Smith.  No playoffs for the Birds. I even heard an 0-16 record thrown out there! Guess folks don't take into account the numerous signings like Dumervil, Canty, Spears, Huff, and our draft picks. Me personally I am excited for the season to start. I am gonna miss seeing Boldin and not sure about the WR situation but I don't get paid to worry about that. That's the front office's job. I am sure Ozzy has something in motion now. This team I think will be better. They are faster, younger and being under estimated. I had to get this out and vent. Getting sick of hearing about how the sky is falling and that the Ravens have to chance.

 

Cant wait to see jamie dukes backpedal his comments when we steamroll denver in game 1.

[Corvus]

Was watching nfl live on espn yesterday and they led off talking about Pitta, Maclin of the Eagles, and Koppen of the Broncos and their season ending injuries. Schlereth a former o-lineman himself and company wrote off Koppen's injury as a speed bump on their way to the Super Bowl. They then proceeded to ask which was the most irreplacable player and Schlereth and Herm Edwards immediately said Pitta and Ed Werder said Maclin because "someone has to disagree." Pitta is one of my favorite guys on the team and his loss is a blow no doubt. But apart from on the field chemistry its a lot easier to replace a TE who didn't even start every game last year than it is a veteran center playing for the same QB that these morons call the "most cerebral" QB in history. Any other team and QB it probably wouldnt be as big of an issue losing your starting center, but when your QB expects you to see the same things he sees on the defense as soon as if not before he does, you have a problem if you're expecting a natural guard in Ramirez to pick up everything by the time the season starts. Just hilarious to me how any little thing the talking heads in general can hone it on with our team is going to be the undoing of this franchise. Keep jawing idiots, we'll see who is laughing after Haloti Ngata at nose tackle is collapsing the middle of Peyton's line every single dropback come September.

[AsianRice]

Overcoming the losses of Ray and Ed for as much as they meant to the team would have been easy compared to replacing Boldin and now Pitta....I mean no disprespect to Ray and Ed but at this point in their careers they were both shells of their former selves, Ed would often miss tackles or not even attempt them, and Ray lost more than a step..I think the young guys will more than make up for the production lost by those two, maybe not the leadership aspect just yet...the harder part to overcome will be the lost production and chemistry from Boldin and now Pitta...that's the worrisome part now, Pitta was going to be huge for us this year but now he's gone.

 

I have faith in Ozzie though and if he watches training camp and we struggle in preseason games he'll go and get someone....Joe will be looked at to elevate the young guys but we've done this in the past and it didnt go so well, Joe elevated his play and he can make the throws, but if the WR or TE cant catch the ball it wont matter..see Lee Evans..

 

But its funny the media is like Joe has to earn the contract now and make the players around him better....yeah maybe, but the players around him need to be able to get open and catch the ball...Joe will deliver it but he cant do both, he cant go catch it too

Brady's wife nods.....

[hardcore 49er]

I wouldn't  "write"  the ravens off... but I don't see a back to back SB wins .. I see you guys taking the division again but falling in the playoffs..

[Ravenseconbeast]

I wouldn't  "write"  the ravens off... but I don't see a back to back SB wins .. I see you guys taking the division again but falling in the playoffs..

 

still can't believe we gave you guys boldin for 6th rounder.    wish we waited just a little longer than sent him packing for 4th rounder instead...

[easternshore97]

T'was a joke, friend.

I thought that was quite clever my friend

 

But all jokes aside, Smokin Joe also happens to be 10-0 in his career against the brownies. I think just about each of those wins has been a grind out win. Not sure how many of which were wins of more than 7 points. I say that because while I know they are better, they have always been solid. Buffalo - we probably should have lost the last time we played them, but I still think that one is a guaranteed win. And yes I too believe the Jets aren't a threat, with or without Santonio

[easternshore97]

Hey fellow Ravens fans. Sorry I haven't been around to chat. Its been a whirlwind here. Anyway to the task at hand. How many of you are hearing about the Ravens impending doom? I have been hearing it at work and everywhere else I turn. We lost so many players. The team is a shell of what they were. No Lewis, Reed, Ellerbe, Kruger, Pollard, Boldin, Birk, Leach and now this injury to Pitta. They dont have any receivers other than Smith.  No playoffs for the Birds. I even heard an 0-16 record thrown out there! Guess folks don't take into account the numerous signings like Dumervil, Canty, Spears, Huff, and our draft picks. Me personally I am excited for the season to start. I am gonna miss seeing Boldin and not sure about the WR situation but I don't get paid to worry about that. That's the front office's job. I am sure Ozzy has something in motion now. This team I think will be better. They are faster, younger and being under estimated. I had to get this out and vent. Getting sick of hearing about how the sky is falling and that the Ravens have to chance.

Of course this team knows not of adversity...

 

Allay your concerns and just let the naysayers be naysayers. Heck they all but Ravens shouldn't get on the plane and go to Denver and be a visiting team in the Mile High altitude. Let the naysayers be naysayers...

[hawkprey]

I wouldn't  "write"  the ravens off... but I don't see a back to back SB wins .. I see you guys taking the division again but falling in the playoffs..

Thanks... kinda. You guys look playoff bound again. I mean, you didn't lose enough veteran leadership for my liking, but it's all good.

[easternshore97]

Schlereth a former o-lineman himself and company wrote off Koppen's injury as a speed bump on their way to the Super Bowl. They then proceeded to ask which was the most irreplacable player and Schlereth and Herm Edwards immediately said Pitta and Ed Werder said Maclin because "someone has to disagree."

That's about as absurd as absurd gets. Koppen was the 2nd team guy replacing the 1st team guy. And the only player that affects the odds in Vegas as much as the QB is....the center....? Is that correct?

[flaccopoe]

BAL's still better than the Steelers!  CIN's going to be tough, though.  BAL's D should be top-notch again anyway, what with all the youth and the players recovering from injuries accrued from the last season.