RB Beanie Wells tears achilies trying out for us, we sign RB Bernard Scott instead

[blackbird29]

Not sure if this on any other posts but according to NFL.com the Ravens are trying out Beanie Wells. Interesting.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000268416/article/beanie-wells-reportedly-tries-out-for-baltimore-ravens

[jimjim5]

They are trying to correct their roster mistakes. Good move at trying.

[flynismo]

Wonder if the health of our two backs are even worse than we thought. Rice is obviously playing hurt, and Pierce is always dinged up

[flynismo]

I also wonder if this means that the coaches for some reason believe the backs, not the OL is responsible for the disaster we call a run game

[Guest Im An Ozzie Newsome Guy]

Aaron Wilson Tweeted that the Ravens are not expected to sign Beanie Wells, after all. He did mention, however, that the team is still seeking some RB depth, between now and after the bye week.

 

My take is this: I'm pretty sure the team realizes that it is not Rice's or Pierce's fault that the running game has struggled, this season. However, to have someone else (who is more "talented" than, say, Shaun Draughn) help take the load off of them would probably be beneficial, at this point. But, then again, the pool of free agent running-backs aren't very impressive to begin with.

 

That said, why not just give Vonta Leach the football? After all, Leach has been unable to be used efficiently as blocker with the lack of running-blocking from the offensive line, so far. So, why not let Leach be this team's version of Mike Alstott or (a later in his career) Jerome Bettis? He's the complete opposite of what Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce are and, while it may have been by accident (i.e. The Ravens didn't plan on giving Leach the football on a carry.), Leach did a nice job moving-the-chains against the Steelers. Vonta Leach is type-of guy you want to run up-the-middle with and fight for those tough yards; not someone small and agile, like Pierce or Rice.

 

Speaking of which, the Ravens could use a power HB, next season. Is someone like that available in the draft? I know I'm getting ahead of myself; but, someone like that would do wonders for both Rice and Pierce, as a big running-back can take lots of carries and drain the clock.

[jimjim5]

The problem with Wells is that he does not fix the ST issues. He's not a contributor.

[T3hRaven]

I also wonder if this means that the coaches for some reason believe the backs, not the OL is responsible for the disaster we call a run game

It's not all on the OL. I think Rice has a hard time finding the hole at times, and he is getting tackled by the turf monster at a ridiculously high rate. The OL sucks, but whether it's injury or otherwise Rice has sucked just as much. Cosell postulated that he might be losing his balance like Tomlinson did at the end of his career. I hope for our cap situation the next few years that it's just an injury. Rice's terrible contract definitely limits what the team can do.

[blackbird29]

No one knows but the FO. Could be just another wake up call from management?

[Purple Punishment]

I also wonder if this means that the coaches for some reason believe the backs, not the OL is responsible for the disaster we call a run game

Of course cause just like with Cam Cameron, it wasn't the fault of scheming and coaching. Harbs protecting Castillo here

[Stephenjr]

Aaron Wilson Tweeted that the Ravens are not expected to sign Beanie Wells, after all. He did mention, however, that the team is still seeking some RB depth, between now and after the bye week.

 

My take is this: I'm pretty sure the team realizes that it is not Rice's or Pierce's fault that the running game has struggled, this season. However, to have someone else (who is more "talented" than, say, Shaun Draughn) help take the load off of them would probably be beneficial, at this point. But, then again, the pool of free agent running-backs aren't very impressive to begin with.

 

That said, why not just give Vonta Leach the football? After all, Leach has been unable to be used efficiently as blocker with the lack of running-blocking from the offensive line, so far. So, why not let Leach be this team's version of Mike Alstott or (a later in his career) Jerome Bettis? He's the complete opposite of what Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce are and, while it may have been by accident (i.e. The Ravens didn't plan on giving Leach the football on a carry.), Leach did a nice job moving-the-chains against the Steelers. Vonta Leach is type-of guy you want to run up-the-middle with and fight for those tough yards; not someone small and agile, like Pierce or Rice.

 

Speaking of which, the Ravens could use a power HB, next season. Is someone like that available in the draft? I know I'm getting ahead of myself; but, someone like that would do wonders for both Rice and Pierce, as a big running-back can take lots of carries and drain the clock.

I love what your saying. We also should bring back Ant. Allen. He is a decent RB, and a beast on ST!

[blackbird29]

I love what your saying. We also should bring back Ant. Allen. He is a decent RB, and a beast on ST!

Is he available?

[Guest Im An Ozzie Newsome Guy]

Is he available?

 

Yep! Ever since the Ravens cut Anthony Allen, no team has picked him up.

 

And, honestly, at this point, Baltimore might as well bring him back. No other free agent RB will do that much, at this point. Plus, Allen was unappreciated as a special teams player. This team needs a guy like him.

[blackbird29]

Yep! Ever since the Ravens cut Anthony Allen, no team has picked him up.

 

And, honestly, at this point, Baltimore might as well bring him back. No other free agent RB will do that much, at this point. Plus, Allen was unappreciated as a special teams player. This team needs a guy like him.

I agree. He knows the system pretty well. I wouldn't have an issue with it.

[AsianRice]

I agree. He knows the system pretty well. I wouldn't have an issue with it.

but he has butter hands......

[jimjim5]

Aaron Wilson Tweeted that the Ravens are not expected to sign Beanie Wells, after all. He did mention, however, that the team is still seeking some RB depth, between now and after the bye week.

 

My take is this: I'm pretty sure the team realizes that it is not Rice's or Pierce's fault that the running game has struggled, this season. However, to have someone else (who is more "talented" than, say, Shaun Draughn) help take the load off of them would probably be beneficial, at this point. But, then again, the pool of free agent running-backs aren't very impressive to begin with.

 

That said, why not just give Vonta Leach the football? After all, Leach has been unable to be used efficiently as blocker with the lack of running-blocking from the offensive line, so far. So, why not let Leach be this team's version of Mike Alstott or (a later in his career) Jerome Bettis? He's the complete opposite of what Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce are and, while it may have been by accident (i.e. The Ravens didn't plan on giving Leach the football on a carry.), Leach did a nice job moving-the-chains against the Steelers. Vonta Leach is type-of guy you want to run up-the-middle with and fight for those tough yards; not someone small and agile, like Pierce or Rice.

 

Speaking of which, the Ravens could use a power HB, next season. Is someone like that available in the draft? I know I'm getting ahead of myself; but, someone like that would do wonders for both Rice and Pierce, as a big running-back can take lots of carries and drain the clock.

 Leach is not fast to or through the hole, Alsott was.

 

Alsott also had lateral quickness (as a fullback) and lateral moves. He was a fullback that ran like a nimble RB.

[Guest Im An Ozzie Newsome Guy]

 Leach is not fast to or through the hole, Alsott was.

 

Yeah, I agree. I think the (later in his career) Jerome Bettis comparison was a better one, especially during his last 2-or-3 years.

 

But, it's just the idea of using Leach as a power RB that is something I like. I'm not asking for Vonta Leach to be used every drive. Rather, whenever the team needs that short yardage or needs to run down the clock, I think giving Leach the football has its benefits. At least he has the size to make-up for a run up-the-middle, when he can plow for positive yards, where as Rice or Pierce try to react (too much) to a collapsing o-line.

[berad]

I thought the reason they were only going with two pure RBs and two FBs was that Juice could spell as a 3rd RB and handle the couple of carries that come with it.

 

I guess he's not there yet which is disappointing because he has the body type of a big runner and is seemingly healthy.

[jimjim5]

Yeah, I agree. I think the (later in his career) Jerome Bettis comparison was a better one, especially during his last 2-or-3 years.

 

But, it's just the idea of using Leach as a power RB that is something I like. I'm not asking for Vonta Leach to be used every drive. Rather, whenever the team needs that short yardage or needs to run down the clock, I think giving Leach the football has its benefits. At least he has the size to make-up for a run up-the-middle, when he can plow for positive yards, where as Rice or Pierce try to react (too much) to a collapsing o-line.

 

Ain't going to work with this line right now. Also, I think you are discounting the importance of quickness thorough the hole in today's NFL. Vonta is a good option if we line up in I-formation and we allow him to run off of dives, counters, and mis-direction. But when was the last time you have witnessed a team run in the I-formation? (the Ravens actually tried this in the GB game) The occasional time that you do, you pretty much tip the play as a run. (which they did,and the runs didn't work)

 

Also, to compare Leach to Bettis at anytime in Bettis' career  just doesn't match up right. Bettis was a special, huge guy.

[Guest Im An Ozzie Newsome Guy]

Ain't going to work with this line right now. Also, I think you are discounting the importance of quickness thorough the hole in today's NFL. Vonta is a good option if we line up in I-formation and we allow him to run off of dives, counters, and mis-direction. But when was the last time you have witnessed a team run in the I-formation? (the Ravens actually tried this in the GB game) The occasional time that you do, you pretty much tip the play as a run. (which they did,and the runs didn't work)

 

Also, to compare Leach to Bettis at anytime in Bettis' career  just doesn't match up right. Bettis was a special, huge guy.

 

To be fair, it didn't help that the Ravens made Ricky Wagner line-up as a tight end when the team was in the I-Form against the Packers. The idea had no chance of panning-out, in that case.

 

However, unless I'm mistaken, didn't Flacco hand the football off to Leach when the offense was in the shotgun, on Sunday? If I'm correct, for Leach to have runs of 4 and 6 yards, it seems more impressive than it actually was. Something, ideally, has to be "working" for a big guy like Vonta Leach, on a delay hand-off and running through a less-than-stellar offensive-line, to be able to move the football pretty decently on the ground. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the Ravens were actually running the no-huddle, during that drive...

[jimjim5]

To be fair, it didn't help that the Ravens made Ricky Wagner line-up as a tight end when the team was in the I-Form against the Packers. The idea had no chance of panning-out, in that case.

 

However, unless I'm mistaken, didn't Flacco hand the football off to Leach when the offense was in the shotgun, on Sunday? If I'm correct, for Leach to have runs of 4 and 6 yards, it seems more impressive than it actually was. Something, ideally, has to be "working" for a big guy like Vonta Leach, on a delay hand-off and running through a less-than-stellar offensive-line, to be able to move the football pretty decently on the ground. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the Ravens were actually running the no-huddle, during that drive...

 

I think you are correct. Also, they passed to him in shotgun too, so he was being used as a dual threat. :D  He had them guessing!

 

I do think the Ravens do and have always used Leach properly. I think using him any more or less might diminish his return. I just think the O-line must improve.

[The Raven]

Of course cause just like with Cam Cameron, it wasn't the fault of scheming and coaching. Harbs protecting Castillo here

 

Harbaugh and various players came out and publically announced a change in the run blocking schemes. He may not have put Castillo's name out there, but he's hardly protecting Castillo.

[redrum52]

There is no way the team is this desperate...

[The Raven]

Also, I like the idea of giving Leach or preferably Juice the football. Leach carried the ball a few times against Pittsburgh and had more relative success than Pierce or Rice. Leach looked like he could read the blocks of the line better and knew where to go. Maybe Rice and Pierce don't have the good vision that they are so often praised for. Leach is also slow as dirt, so the blocks had more time to develop. Maybe Rice and Pierce are too impatient sometimes. 

[Bltravens]

Also, I like the idea of giving Leach or preferably Juice the football. Leach carried the ball a few times against Pittsburgh and had more relative success than Pierce or Rice. Leach looked like he could read the blocks of the line better and knew where to go. Maybe Rice and Pierce don't have the good vision that they are so often praised for. Leach is also slow as dirt, so the blocks had more time to develop. Maybe Rice and Pierce are too impatient sometimes. 

Rice is beyond impatient, it drives me bonkers.  He so often will just plunge ahead into Yanda's back for no gain or 1 yard it astounding.  Then you watch Bell for the Steelers and it seemed like it took him 2 seconds of doing nothing to find a hole then hit it for big gains.  I don't know about Pierce but Pierce strikes me as a guy who needs the wrinkle to open up quick so he can hit it because of his lack of top end speed or acceleration.

 

Watching Leach get 4 ypc in his 2 or 3 tries with the same blocking schemes made me sad.

[izvoodoo]

Rice is beyond impatient, it drives me bonkers.  He so often will just plunge ahead into Yanda's back for no gain or 1 yard it astounding.  Then you watch Bell for the Steelers and it seemed like it took him 2 seconds of doing nothing to find a hole then hit it for big gains.  I don't know about Pierce but Pierce strikes me as a guy who needs the wrinkle to open up quick so he can hit it because of his lack of top end speed or acceleration.

 

Watching Leach get 4 ypc in his 2 or 3 tries with the same blocking schemes made me sad.

If you want a RB without flaws you're not going to find it.  Also Pierce last year made a TON of stuff happen after contact on broken blocking plays.  

But we need to block better.  I hope KOs back turns around soon.

[flynismo]

Harbaugh and various players came out and publically announced a change in the run blocking schemes. He may not have put Castillo's name out there, but he's hardly protecting Castillo.

Such a homer. Clearly it is a cover-up.

[jimjim5]

There is no way the team is this desperate...

 

They signed Stokely and Clark this year.

 

Just sayin'.......

[Gordo52]

I thought this was weird. Can he even contribute on special teams? I doubt he can.

Wonder what the Oz is thinking.

[Stephenjr]

Is he available?

Not sure, but there was an article a few days ago about him maybe returning, so my guess would be yes.

[jazz1988]

I thought this was weird. Can he even contribute on special teams? I doubt he can.

Wonder what the Oz is thinking.

 

I think its just a try out nothing more or less. teams do this just about every year and if  rice or pierce for some  reason have to miss a few games / place on  i.r due to  a injury Beanie Wells or Bernard Scott may be the running backs the ravens  sign from the free agent market. The ravens still currently need to add depth to the running back position  and in my, opinon Anthony Allen is the most logical answer or even Damien Berry.