Ravens sign TE Dallas Clark

[HoldingCall]

Hold on here! I can't figure out the TE and WR Depth Chart.

[CorvusCorax]

There are a lot of reasons for Clark being brought in that have been touched upon.

 

• Dickson's injury may be more serious and may be moved to IR
• More competition in TEs and Receiving core in general. 
• Shiancoe isn't panning out what the Ravens thought he would be
• Because Caldwell suggested it
• All of the Above

[Sami84]

 

There are a lot of reasons for Clark being brought in that have been touched upon.

 

• Dickson's injury may be more serious and may be moved to IR
• More competition in TEs and Receiving core in general. 
• Shiancoe isn't panning out what the Ravens thought he would be
• Because Caldwell suggested it
• All of the Above

 

I think

 

point 1

Dicksons injury is what it is. Its not that bad but its inconvenient

 

Point 2

nah

 

Point 3

Probably

 

Point 4

Yup

[Militant X 1]

Stokely and Clark. 

 

Boom!! 

 

~Mili

[ghost1986]

I heard about this after the practice today. Just got better and better.

[GrimCoconut]

I think the notion that just because we signed a free agent veteran after a bunch of guys didn't look that great in their first preseason game and that these guys are expected to automatically have jobs is a bit out there, honestly. Everyone competes on this team. I would be shocked if Clark doesn't make it, but he has to compete against the other guys. I don't think he's being given a job by virtue of his name alone. If Furstenburg is better he'll get the job. I doubt he will. 

I don't think Furstenburg is a guy we have to stash on IR or put on the active 53 to keep. I think we could stash him on the PS and still have him, honestly. 

 

I don't see this signing as being indicative of Dickson's poor recovery or an injury that may be more serious. It could be. I think this is more indicative of the fact that we need guys to play the slot and move the chains. Dallas Clark provides that. I don't see Visanthe or Clark competing against each other. If anything, Bajema needs to compete against Visanthe. Right now, this is how I see it: 

 

1. Ed Dickson

2. Dallas Clark

3. Visanthe Shiancoe. 

4. Kyle Juszczyk (possibly listed here)

[beanfigger]

Big Mac.

Big Mac plus EITHER Leach or Clark. So, two.

[sflegend89]

I don't agree with the people saying Shiancoe already isn't playing up to what the Ravens thought they were getting and that's why we also got Clark. I think we knew exactly what we were getting in Shiancoe and he wasn't intended to be a big splash signing, just a proven veteran who's being given a chance to contribute and earn a spot now that we have a hole at TE this year.

 

Signing Clark has much more to do with adding proven competition to the TE position as a whole and giving added insurance in case Dickson is out longer then expected or if we have to deal with additional injuries at TE as the season goes along.. and much like Shiancoe he's just being given a chance to compete and the best player will be out there at TE week 1 regardless of if it's Shiancoe, Clark, or Billy frickin Bajema for all the coaches care, the best player is gonna play. At this stage in Shiancoe's career and after not catching a pass with the Pats in 2012 I don't think Ozzie had higher expectations of him, like I said just proven vets getting a chance to compete for a job at a position that could use all the competition it can get.

[T3hRaven]

In Clark's defense, his QBs the past two season were Josh Freeman and Curtis freaking Painter.  His numbers are not indicative of any potential ability.  I'm not saying he can produce still, I'm just saying we can't judge him on his numbers.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Right now, this is how I see it: 

1. Ed Dickson - he's #1 no matter how long he's sidelined; his playing time will increase with each game throughout the season if healthy

2. Dallas Clark - just like yourself, I love this signing, absolutely love it! he's our passing TE, slot WR - name it! bet Caldwell looked at Joe's frustration over the last few practices and thought this is the best way to help him

3. Visanthe Shiancoe - he'll be our blocking TE; same role as Ed had last year

4. Kyle Juszczyk (possibly listed here) - offensive weapon Ravens style

5. I don't think Furstenburg is a guy we have to stash on IR or put on the active 53 to keep. I think we could stash him on the PS and still have him, honestly. - I agree with your assumption that practice squad it's a safe place for him; long-term project that won't sway teams to take him up on an active roster

6. If anything, Bajema needs to compete against Visanthe. - he's the odd man out right now; we need to cut somebody to make room for Clark and his name might be called upon

 

I've edited your post a little bit just to express my thoughts by complementing yours (basically, i'm too lazy to write a full post myself lol)

[ratedr]

Dickson is more injured than they're letting on.

[funky141]

In Clark's defense, his QBs the past two season were Josh Freeman and Curtis freaking Painter.  His numbers are not indicative of any potential ability.  I'm not saying he can produce still, I'm just saying we can't judge him on his numbers.

Very True

[SeaHawk]

VS may very well have been signed not only because of his experience in the league, but also because of the fact that he lives like an hour away from the Ravens. Maybe they brought him in to camp and preseason to see what he had left and see if he could push the younger guys to play harder. All I know is, even before Pitta was injured, they were talking about bringing in VS (actually the day before Pitta got hurt, VS was at a practice and talking with Ozzie about joining the team). Think of it like this... we usually bring in local talent to see what they have, and to see if they contribute to the team in any way possible. Just a theory.

[jdynamite]

The Clark signing is cool, maybe he will work his way into a role or possibly start as some have already proclaimed but Shiancoe didn't look bad, and the team had the option of signing Clark when they signed Shiancoe.

Right now, I think it's more about raising the competition level and having insurance, Clark knows Caldwell, is a reliable pass catching TE, has split out wide a lot during his career...

I was thinking either Clark or McMichael would be ok

[cobrajet]

I'd be ok with this. You can never have too many weapons but I'm confident in the group we have now.

 

Oh well.

 

I'd rather have him over Lloyd lol.

Me too!

[SecretAgentMan]

Me too!

I do like that he provides leadership too. I would like to have him and Stokley go out with another ring lol

[beanfigger]

Dickson is more injured than they're letting on.

Is this news you're breaking or just a guess?

[SecretAgentMan]

Is this news you're breaking or just a guess?

A guess. It's what I guess anyway

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

A guess. It's what I guess anyway

i don't know, Ed failed to comment if he'll definitely be ready week 1 so...

[SecretAgentMan]

i don't know, Ed failed to comment if he'll definitely be ready week 1 so...

No jinxing anything lol.
No pissing off the injury fairy. It will mess you up lol

[ratedr]

Is this news you're breaking or just a guess?

A guess.

[flaccopoe]

Is this news you're breaking or just a guess?

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000229115/article/ed-dickson-could-be-out-for-baltimore-ravens-opener

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

All this does is bring the floor for our passing games success up. It doesn't push our ceiling any higher... Torrey, Jacoby, DT/TD and Dickson are our ceiling. If they all play well we can have a very good passing game. If they were all we had and it didn't pan out, our floor would be pretty low to where we could potentially be awful.

 

Both Stokely and Clark just bring a consistency in that if the young guys fail we can still have a decent passing attack. You know what you can count on them for, theyre not gonna surprise you either way.

 

But you can bet the young guys are still going to get every opportunity to win the job.

[5aiah]

All this does is bring the floor for our passing games success up. It doesn't push our ceiling any higher... Torrey, Jacoby, DT/TD and Dickson are our ceiling. If they all play well we can have a very good passing game. If they were all we had and it didn't pan out, our floor would be pretty low to where we could potentially be awful.

 

Both Stokely and Clark just bring a consistency in that if the young guys fail we can still have a decent passing attack. You know what you can count on them for, theyre not gonna surprise you either way.

 

But you can bet the young guys are still going to get every opportunity to win the job.

Those two being signed can definitely be seen as a sign that the young guys are not as good yet as Ozzie and co. had hoped but I agree they will still get plenty opportunities to win the job no matter who is brought in. I'm glad you brought up the terms floor and ceiling of the passing attack because that is the concept I have been discussing this whole time when it comes to the young guys in terms of being exceptionally explosive and yet frustratingly inconsistent and fragile at the same time. Like some others have noted, relying on these guys alone puts the Ravens in rebuild/experiment mode, not reload. Signing Clark and Stokely after figuring out where the WRs are at so far, keeps us in Reload.   

[funky141]

Look for Shiancoe to be released soon.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dallas-clark-baltimore-ravens-means-154500878.html

[CARavensFan]

Look for Shiancoe to be released soon.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dallas-clark-baltimore-ravens-means-154500878.html

 

Did you know that anyone can write an article for Yahoo! I've even signed up to do it myself, just haven't done anything yet. Is there another, more reputable, sour that the Clark signing means VS is being cut?

[MrPlankton]

Look for Shiancoe to be released soon.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dallas-clark-baltimore-ravens-means-154500878.html

 

I don't see how this means Shiancoe will be released, it just means they're disappointed in his production.

[Free Agent]

Makes sense if Shiancoe is released later on in the preseason. I highly doubt we'd keep both Shiancoe and Clark, once Dickson comes back from his injury.

[blackbird29]

I really doubt Shiancoe stays if we sign Clark. They probably didn't like what they saw in the first preseason game.

I agree. I don't see them keeping him either. Clark has been signed and Dickson will probably return soon after the season starts.

[RRRRRavens]

[font='times new roman']I was wondering if Kyle Juszczyk would be a future prospect for TE if his tryout at fullback doesn’t work out. What do people think of him as a TE?[/font]