Offseason Plan

[tolucaraven]

Easy. Start with who i never want to see in Ravens colors...
Send Oher, shipley, Cody, bynes, ihegibo packing....gino to the pine. Demand Ray Rice to get in shape and drop his 15 lbs of flab (not a secret anymore) is a good beginning.

[flynismo]

Been a great six year run since the Harbaugh era begun, but it is time to tear it apart and start over.

When I look at this team, I see some great young talent to reload another mini-dynasty around, but the team overall is crippled by some poor play from big dollar players.

We have Flacco, Pierce, Torrey, Marlon, Pitta on offense, and Art, Jimmy, Webb and Upshaw on defense as the guys that I think are the core of a team that we can build around for the next five years.

I do realize that certain contracts are hard/impossible to get rid of or even work around (Ngata, Rice and Suggs)...and therein lies the challenge. How do we go about revamping a team that is so limited in it's options due to declining veterans eating up a mammoth portion of cap space?
Our needs are many....an entirely new OL, a guy to replace Ngata, a long term solution for Canty's DE spot, a couple LB, and a S.
That is much more than can be solved in one off-season of good drafting and shrewd FA pickups.

I don't have any answers....just the observation that we may be in for another year or two of 8 and 9 win seasons before we get this ship back on track.

Brace yourself, Raven Nation

[Gordo52]

OK.



Right after we win this Super Bowl in Feb

[ratedr]

Art Jones is as good as gone dude.

[flynismo]

Art Jones is as good as gone dude.

If we have to choose between him and Monroe to get a decent contract, its a pretty easy decision to make. But I do not see Jones getting more than something in the $5M year range

[flynismo]

OK.



Right after we win this Super Bowl in Feb

Going to be hard to do if we don't make the playoffs, which is a very real possibility. But sounds good to me.

[Jokerraven]

OK.



Right after we win this Super Bowl in Feb

yep rebuilding can start after the superbowl.having said that I agree with op, we need an entire new oline if Jensen and wagner can't contribute lose them stop keeping people around who do nothing but ride pine. and draft a first round wideout not 4th and to ir for 5 years .

I think we are being homers now lol

[gabefergy]

Didn't expect this from you Fly. I think we are really just a couple pieces short of being an elite team. We need more firepower on offense and more consistent play from the OL.

[Gordo52]

If we have to choose between him and Monroe to get a decent contract, its a pretty easy decision to make. But I do not see Jones getting more than something in the $5M year range

I can see one of these teams over paying for him.... Packers,Patriots,Jets,Colts.

He's already gone in my mind. I'm gonna miss him.

[kassaiscool]

Been a great six year run since the Harbaugh era begun, but it is time to tear it apart and start over.

When I look at this team, I see some great young talent to reload another mini-dynasty around, but the team overall is crippled by some poor play from big dollar players.

We have Flacco, Pierce, Torrey, Marlon, Pitta on offense, and Art, Jimmy, Webb and Upshaw on defense as the guys that I think are the core of a team that we can build around for the next five years.

I do realize that certain contracts are hard/impossible to get rid of or even work around (Ngata, Rice and Suggs)...and therein lies the challenge. How do we go about revamping a team that is so limited in it's options due to declining veterans eating up a mammoth portion of cap space?
Our needs are many....an entirely new OL, a guy to replace Ngata, a long term solution for Canty's DE spot, a couple LB, and a S.
That is much more than can be solved in one off-season of good drafting and shrewd FA pickups.

I don't have any answers....just the observation that we may be in for another year or two of 8 and 9 win seasons before we get this ship back on track.

Brace yourself, Raven Nation

 

You do realize the defense is ranked 9th and rated highly in many important aspects of the game? The offense on the other hand is ranked 30th the worst since like 2004. This season is lost based on the back of this offense. Like I have been saying this team needs to attack the skills position in the draft. I think an oline of Monroe, KO, Gino if he gets stronger, Yanda, and serviceable right tackle or draftee would be a solid o-line for next year. Unfortunately I think the defense is gonna take a step back next year.

[redrum52]

I think the main problem with this team is coaching. The offense shouldn't be this bad with the players we have, I don't care what people say. I think scheme wise, the coaches are lazy or aren't l preparing the team properly. Poor execution , lack of time management and just ineptness in down and distance understanding shows a lot. The defense for the most part, was a group that seemed to discipline itself cause of the pieces and leaders in place. With that gone, the "clutchness" seems to have vanished as well with both sides seem to be lacking in intensity and toughness. In game adjustments rarely seem to be made and it doesn't look like the team ever goes into a game with a plan besides test them out early and hope it starts working later. I don't think it will take as long as you think, the draft just needs to be utilized and smart moves made during FA. The offense puts up a td early intstead of a fg or the defense holds here or there and the win loss column is different.

I do put most of the blame of this season on offense though. Let me be very clear about that.

[redravenfan]

its hard but I agree if we cut these players or trade them can't we lose there cap hit? it may take a couple years but I will be here win or lose . ozzie can work magic (except for wr;s) but I trust him to get us there.

[ratedr]

I think the main problem with this team is coaching. The offense shouldn't be this bad with the players we have, I don't care what people say. I think scheme wise, the coaches are lazy or aren't l preparing the team properly. Poor execution , lack of time management and just ineptness in down and distance understanding shows a lot. The defense for the most part, was a group that seemed to discipline itself cause of the pieces and leaders in place. With that gone, the "clutchness" seems to have vanished as well with both sides seem to be lacking in intensity and toughness. In game adjustments rarely seem to be made and it doesn't look like the team ever goes into a game with a plan besides test them out early and hope it starts working later. I don't think it will take as long as you think, the draft just needs to be utilized and smart moves made during FA. The offense puts up a td early intstead of a fg or the defense holds here or there and the win loss column is different.

I agree, and it all stems from the lack of a running game. Coaching and personnel are both bad and combined it's just a disaster.

[redravenfan]

I think the main problem with this team is coaching. The offense shouldn't be this bad with the players we have, I don't care what people say. I think scheme wise, the coaches are lazy or aren't l preparing the team properly. Poor execution , lack of time management and just ineptness in down and distance understanding shows a lot. The defense for the most part, was a group that seemed to discipline itself cause of the pieces and leaders in place. With that gone, the "clutchness" seems to have vanished as well with both sides seem to be lacking in intensity and toughness. In game adjustments rarely seem to be made and it doesn't look like the team ever goes into a game with a plan besides test them out early and hope it starts working later. I don't think it will take as long as you think, the draft just needs to be utilized and smart moves made during FA. The offense puts up a td early intstead of a fg or the defense holds here or there and the win loss column is different.

I think Castillo destined this team to lose and john allowed it . they did not make scheme corrections in a timely fashion and they still insist on running ray rice up the middle for no gain I bet well over a hundred times . I agree time for new coaches and for john to leave his buddies at home.

[ravensdfan]

I don't know. I'd like to see what happens with some real coordinators in here for once.

 

Defense I think will be alright. They have improved over time but man, there are still a lot of miscommunication issues.

 

Offense - what good is it to draft a first round WR when we almost never plug n play? He'll wind up being used in his 4th year and then hit FA and be gone.

 

I want to see what some of our young guys can do now. Not three years from now so I can watch them walk out the door the following season.

 

Get Omar Brown in there and let's see what he's got.

Juice, Melette (sp?),

 

We'll need to draft a TE to complement Pitta.

 

I just don't know that the draft is going to help us at all because we rarely give them playing time.

[redravenfan]

yep rebuilding can start after the superbowl.having said that I agree with op, we need an entire new oline if Jensen and wagner can't contribute lose them stop keeping people around who do nothing but ride pine. and draft a first round wideout not 4th and to ir for 5 years .

I think we are being homers now lol

being a homer is not a good thing being realistic like op makes more sense and isn't foolhardy .

[flynismo]

Didn't expect this from you Fly. I think we are really just a couple pieces short of being an elite team. We need more firepower on offense and more consistent play from the OL.

Not trying to be a negative Nancy, god knows I flaunt my homerism....and why not! We love this team.

But really....

I cannot look at this team and think we just need to get a WR and a C or OG and we are set. We get dominated in nearly all aspects of the game. The worst run game in modern NFL history. An OL that is likely to give up an absurd 50 sacks. Way too many drops from WR. And I haven't even gotten to the defense yet...we have a lot to do, and not much flexibility.

[Gordo52]

Going to be hard to do if we don't make the playoffs, which is a very real possibility. But sounds good to me.

We got this man, this is who we are. We never make it easy, this is all typical Ravens.

I hate that we have to rely on other teams but that's just the way it is. I'm just getting the same feelings as last year. I'm not as confident but I still think we're destined to repeat.

[redravenfan]

I don't know. I'd like to see what happens with some real coordinators in here for once.
 
Defense I think will be alright. They have improved over time but man, there are still a lot of miscommunication issues.
 
Offense - what good is it to draft a first round WR when we almost never plug n play? He'll wind up being used in his 4th year and then hit FA and be gone.
 
I want to see what some of our young guys can do now. Not three years from now so I can watch them walk out the door the following season.
 
Get Omar Brown in there and let's see what he's got.
Juice, Melette (sp?),
 
We'll need to draft a TE to complement Pitta.
 
I just don't know that the draft is going to help us at all because we rarely give them playing time.

all valid points .

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

As much as I want a beefed up wr corp,I think we should dedicate this off season to the oline.Flacco and Rice are our 2 highest paid offensive players.You can't have $160M worth of talent getting banged,beat up and injured to the point that one of them starts considering early retirement.We should show the same level of urgency to our oline in 14 that we showed to our front seven this year.Maybe we can sign a low risk high reward guy like Kenny Britt for the passing game(which should be priority #2).Like Phil Simms said earlier,people blitz us so much this year because they know they can get home vs our line and they don't fear our wrs beating them.We need to fix that.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Coaching and defense is the only thing that has kept this team in contention this season.

The complete inept offense that flacco has led this season is the reason why we are stinking. Can that dud first and bring in a fresh QB. Can Gino dudkowski along with him too. Then we can talk.

[flynismo]

You do realize the defense is ranked 9th and rated highly in many important aspects of the game? The offense on the other hand is ranked 30th the worst since like 2004. This season is lost based on the back of this offense. Like I have been saying this team needs to attack the skills position in the draft. I think an oline of Monroe, KO, Gino if he gets stronger, Yanda, and serviceable right tackle or draftee would be a solid o-line for next year. Unfortunately I think the defense is gonna take a step back next year.

I do realize the defense has had some good performances, primarily against weak competition, but don't let stats mislead anyone into thinking it has been good enough.
But at any rate, with Ngata and Suggs nearing the end of the road, and huge contracts, it isn't looking too good long term. The sooner we can offload that money, the sooner we can put that money to better use.

[runamuk]

I know it looks bad but think about this team in the past . we will get it together. I think they thought this was in the bag and played accordingly . I do agree the oline needs to be a priority let oher walk try Jensen and wagner if they aren't the answer then move on . we need a safety we do not have the answer for that elam plays better close to the line of scrimmage. I agree with ravensd why draft more wideouts when we don't use the ones we have , and ozzie sucks at that anyway but a genius otherwise. we also need a running back ....and I hate that I even typed that.

[redrum52]

Coaching and defense is the only thing that has kept this team in contention this season.

The complete inept offense that flacco has led this season is the reason why we are stinking. Can that dud first and bring in a fresh QB. Can Gino dudkowski along with him too. Then we can talk.

I'll agree on the defense, but you really think the coaching has been good?

[Gordo52]

being a homer is not a good thing being realistic like op makes more sense and isn't foolhardy .

I'm an optimistic Ravens fan. I can also see things realistically though. But where's the fun in that? Good vibes help the hard times go by.

I am a homer. And I couldn't be more proud to be one of the best franchise ever. ;)

[runamuk]

its hard but I agree if we cut these players or trade them can't we lose there cap hit? it may take a couple years but I will be here win or lose . ozzie can work magic (except for wr;s) but I trust him to get us there.

we still owe bonus money and its not a couple hundred thousand all three players are huge cap hits even traded we eat the bonus money . none of the three op mentioned are playing well or close to earning that salary

[runamuk]

I'm an optimistic Ravens fan. I can also see things realistically though. But where's the fun in that? Good vibes help the hard times go by.

I am a homer. And I couldn't be more proud to be one of the best franchise ever. ;)

double for me I was still cheering the team on when they dropped 30 on us .

[redrum52]

I do realize the defense has had some good performances, primarily against weak competition, but don't let stats mislead anyone into thinking it has been good enough.
But at any rate, with Ngata and Suggs nearing the end of the road, and huge contracts, it isn't looking too good long term. The sooner we can offload that money, the sooner we can put that money to better use.

The offense hasn't done too well against bottom of the barrel talent. I wouldn't call the Patriots a "lockdown" defense.

[runamuk]

I'll agree on the defense, but you really think the coaching has been good?

offensively no it hasn't too many cooks in the kitchen and not one can call plays that suit our personnel worth a damn .

[Jillester]

The problems with coaching is that Harbs has his say and choices of underlings.  Rarely does the FO get involved with the HC's appointments of staff.  John is stubborn and does not see the forest because of the trees.  How does coaching change when Harbs is at the helm?