Sit Derrick Mason

[Ravnet]

I honestly believe that Mase should be given the week off. With a pretty pathetic Jacksonville team coming into town, Mason should be allowed to rehab this entire week and only begin to prepare after this Sunday.

Although it's a bit presumptuous to assume we're going to make the playoffs, I think benching Derrick is a risk we need to take. I do not want to go on the road in the first round and have Flacco throwing to an injured Mason.

Without Derrick, our offense quickly becomes an extremely weak unit. Although we may not rack up the points against the Jaguars without him, Clayton, Heap and McClain need to step up for the post season anyways.

I don't want to prepare this week and then have to go through the gameday rituals; rather, I'm hoping Mason gets rule out early this week so that he can rehabilitate his separated shoulder as much as possible.

Although a guy like Ray Rice needs to play so as to get back into speed, I have no doubt that Mason can come back full speed even with a week off.

So what are your thoughts? Should Mason be put in against the Jaguars, or is the smart move to let him rest?

[RavenManiac73]

Sorry, but your suggestion makes very little sense. He will not recover from a dislocated shoulder in one week. It is an injury that will require surgery eventually and 6-8 weeks of rehab after that. Also what good does it do to ret him if we don't make the playoffs by losing the game against Jacksonville without him. Mason will be the first player on the team to argue against your suggestion.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Ravnet' post='111050' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:01 PM']Without Derrick, our offense quickly becomes an extremely weak unit. Although we may not rack up the points against the Jaguars without him, Clayton, Heap and McClain need to step up for the post season anyways.[/quote]

I agree, especially on this point. No one can argue against Mason's production this season and how much he has contributed to the aerial attack as Flacco's go-to guy and safety blanket.

But, Mason won't be around forever; so Flacco needs to start learning to play without him around, even if Mason [i]does[/i] return healthy next season.

And besides, most teams know to focus in on Mason and constantly pressure Flacco if they want to stop the passing attack. Therefore, the ground attack needs to rise back up to its dominant level of play from mid-season, and the other receivers need to step up and make plays to keep the opposing defense honest.

Flacco has risen to the challenge before and has grown up when he's needed to. He needs to do it again, just as he did last night against the Cowboys, if we expect to do something in the playoffs. And his offensive teammates need to raise the bar and step up once again if they don't want to put everything on their rookie leader in the huddle.

[SickBoy]

I understand your point, I've had the same thought in my head but the game against Jax is a playoff game for us too. I hope he heals really fast. D. Williams could really help us right now, I wish he were healthy.

[ravensfan2430]

agreed... i was thinking about this once the game was over as well. plus it will be nice to see clayton running the same routes mason was running. i think clayton would fit in just fine as the #1 (for this game).

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='RavenManiac73' post='111054' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:07 PM']Sorry, but your suggestion makes very little sense. He will not recover from a dislocated shoulder in one week. It is an injury that will require surgery eventually and 6-8 weeks of rehab after that. Also what good does it do to ret him if we don't make the playoffs by losing the game against Jacksonville without him. Mason will be the first player on the team to argue against your suggestion.[/quote]

Though I agree that he won't fully recover from the dislocated shoulder with one week's rest, that's not the point of this thread.

Think about it: would you rather risk Mason further damaging the shoulder by playing NOW, or would you rather let him rest and risk it LATER when there's much more on the line?

This offense has to be about more than just Flacco dumping the ball off to Mason. And Coach Harbaugh needs to force Mason to sit, because we could risk losing him for longer than just this week if he doesn't ease up on the injury.

[Ravnet]

[quote name='RavenManiac73' post='111054' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:07 PM']Sorry, but your suggestion makes very little sense. He will not recover from a dislocated shoulder in one week. It is an injury that will require surgery eventually and 6-8 weeks of rehab after that. Also what good does it do to ret him if we don't make the playoffs by losing the game against Jacksonville without him. Mason will be the first player on the team to argue against your suggestion.[/quote]

As Franchise has already noted, the other guys on this team need to step up anyways; Clayton/Heap are more than capable of filling in, and other guys like Smith have been on this team long enough that they can do something against an inept Jacksonville team at home.

Although his injury is quite certainly not going to heal in one week's time, it will undoubtedly improve. Putting Derrick through a week of practice is taxing enough on his shoulder, and putting him in the game is just a cruel joke. Joe looks for Mase on almost every read - by putting Derrick in, you are essentially guaranteeing a few big hits on the guy.

After the game, Mason revealed that he could barely lift his arm, and it pained him to even run. By playing Derrick against the Jaguars, you are risking an injury that could knock him out for the post season. Even if Mase just does survive this game, we need him as healthy as possible when we have to go on the road against quality defenses.

[ravensgirlx88]

I agree that MASON should sit out. He's a tropper and deserves a week off,However, this is a VERY important game. YES the JAGS have nothing to play for, but this can sometimes be worse then if they DO. the Jaguars will bring the house. I think we need to do the same.

[theFRANCHISE]

Even though I don't proclaim to be a head coach, I wouldn't cater to the fans by putting Mason in the game.

However...as a concession, if I [i]were[/i] Coach Harbaugh in this situation, I'd choose NOT to deactivate Mason, and would still keep him dressed on the bench, but would ONLY put him in if there was an injury.

There. Good compromise, right?

[Ravnet]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='111086' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:49 PM']Even though I don't proclaim to be a head coach, I wouldn't cater to the fans by putting Mason in the game.

However...as a concession, if I [i]were[/i] Coach Harbaugh in this situation, I'd choose NOT to deactivate Mason, but I'd still keep him dressed on the bench and would ONLY put him in if there was an injury.

There. Good compromise, right? [/quote]

Eh, not really. Mason getting all dressed up means that he went through some practice and had to perform all of his pregame rituals. Stretching, running, and hitting does not bode well for a dislocated shoulder.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Ravnet' post='111089' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:51 PM']Eh, not really. Mason getting all dressed up means that he went through some practice and had to perform all of his pregame rituals. Stretching, running, and hitting does not bode well for a dislocated shoulder.[/quote]

Hey, I tried, right?

[SackinU]

Coach should not force Mason to sit, Mason is a man and is capable of making a decision on his own. He is a competitor and will play if he can, and will sit if he cannot. If he were a young buck who has not proved himself, I would feel differently, but he is an older guy who can make the best decision for himself...

[Ravnet]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='111093' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:53 PM']Hey, I tried, right? [/quote]

Yeah, I understand where you're coming from, it's just that he should either get a full week off or nothing at all. If you don't play a guy during practice, yet keep him on the active roster, then he is never fully able to shut it down.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='SackinU' post='111096' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:56 PM']Coach should not force Mason to sit, Mason is a man and is capable of making a decision on his own. He is a competitor and will play if he can, and will sit if he cannot. If he were a young buck who has not proved himself, I would feel differently, but he is an older guy who can make the best decision for himself...[/quote]

Well, Billick didn't force McNair to sit last season when [i]he[/i] was injured, and we all saw what happened with [i]that[/i]...

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Ravnet' post='111097' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:56 PM']Yeah, I understand where you're coming from, it's just that he should either get a full week off or nothing at all. If you don't play a guy during practice, yet keep him on the active roster, then he is never fully able to shut it down.[/quote]

I think, in order to meet the compromise I came up with, Coach Harbaugh should bend his rule of benching players who don't practice, and allow Mason to get dressed without practicing. I mean, the man pretty much earned it by playing with one arm, and even though I believe in consistency, there's certain times where you just have to let things ride.

Besides, stretching shouldn't do his shoulder [i]too much[/i] harm. (except in the case of Samari Rolle last season...)
.
.
.
...now that I think about it, never mind.

[Ravnet]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='111101' date='Dec 21 2008, 10:01 PM']I think, in order to meet the compromise I came up with, Coach Harbaugh should bend his rule of benching players who don't practice, and allow Mason to get dressed without practicing. I mean, the man pretty much earned it by playing with one arm, and even though I believe in consistency, there's certain times where you just have to let things ride.

Besides, stretching shouldn't do his shoulder [i]too much[/i] harm. (except in the case of Samari Rolle last season...)
.
.
.
...now that I think about it, never mind. [/quote]

A full week off will do much more than half assing a rehab job.

[Ravnet]

[quote name='SackinU' post='111096' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:56 PM']Coach should not force Mason to sit, Mason is a man and is capable of making a decision on his own. He is a competitor and will play if he can, and will sit if he cannot. If he were a young buck who has not proved himself, I would feel differently, but he is an older guy who can make the best decision for himself...[/quote]

There is a reason coaches have the final say and not the players...

This decision is up to Harbaugh, not Mason.

[K-Dog]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='111058' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:09 PM']Though I agree that he won't fully recover from the dislocated shoulder with one week's rest, that's not the point of this thread.

Think about it: would you rather risk Mason further damaging the shoulder by playing NOW, or would you rather let him rest and risk it LATER when there's much more on the line?

This offense has to be about more than just Flacco dumping the ball off to Mason. And Coach Harbaugh needs to force Mason to sit, because we could risk losing him for longer than just this week if he doesn't ease up on the injury.[/quote]

Sounds right to me.

[Ryan561]

I think I have an easy solution. Get a conformable lead quickly using mason, and then take him out of the game...

[ravens27]

[quote name='Ryan561' post='111121' date='Dec 21 2008, 10:25 PM']I think I have an easy solution. Get a conformable lead quickly using mason, and then take him out of the game...[/quote]

That is what I would do. If we have a big lead toward the end, I would start taking out some of the starters for the playoffs.

[b]GO RAVENS[/b]

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='Ravnet' post='111050' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:01 PM']I honestly believe that Mase should be given the week off. With a pretty pathetic Jacksonville team coming into town, Mason should be allowed to rehab this entire week and only begin to prepare after this Sunday.

Although it's a bit presumptuous to assume we're going to make the playoffs, I think benching Derrick is a risk we need to take. I do not want to go on the road in the first round and have Flacco throwing to an injured Mason.

Without Derrick, our offense quickly becomes an extremely weak unit. Although we may not rack up the points against the Jaguars without him, Clayton, Heap and McClain need to step up for the post season anyways.

I don't want to prepare this week and then have to go through the gameday rituals; rather, I'm hoping Mason gets rule out early this week so that he can rehabilitate his separated shoulder as much as possible.

Although a guy like Ray Rice needs to play so as to get back into speed, I have no doubt that Mason can come back full speed even with a week off.

So what are your thoughts? Should Mason be put in against the Jaguars, or is the smart move to let him rest?[/quote]

I'm hoping we won't need him, but his presence on the field is vital to draw coverage away from our other guys.... If we pound the rock like we did the last two runs against Dallas, it won't much matter.... I would rather us rest Rice and have him completely fresh for the Dolphins, Jets, or Pats

[Ravnet]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' post='111145' date='Dec 21 2008, 10:55 PM']I'm hoping we won't need him, but his presence on the field is vital to draw coverage away from our other guys.... If we pound the rock like we did the last two runs against Dallas, it won't much matter.... I would rather us rest Rice and have him completely fresh for the Dolphins, Jets, or Pats[/quote]

A rookie like Rice needs time to get back into the thick of things, whereas a guy like Mason will be ready regardless.

[Ravnet]

[quote name='Ryan561' post='111121' date='Dec 21 2008, 10:25 PM']I think I have an easy solution. Get a conformable lead quickly using mason, and then take him out of the game...[/quote]

He'd still be taking big hits. He'd still have to warm up. He'd still have to practice. It's an unnecessary strain on his shoulder.

[Ryan561]

Its football, and he is a football player. We don't have to use him, but just having him on the field would help us...

[neepo13]

I would rest him if this game wasnt so important but it is to important to be cocky and rest our best wr in our biggest game of the year to date because of our oppanents record. Mason said he wants to play and he's going to play because we need him to play. I think he should take it easy through out practice but Mason will play Sunday. I dont even think Harbaugh would be able to keep him out of this game if he wanted to.

[neepo13]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='111058' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:09 PM']Though I agree that he won't fully recover from the dislocated shoulder with one week's rest, that's not the point of this thread.

Think about it: would you rather risk Mason further damaging the shoulder by playing NOW, or would you rather let him rest and [b]risk it LATER when there's much more on the line?[/b]
This offense has to be about more than just Flacco dumping the ball off to Mason. And Coach Harbaugh needs to force Mason to sit, because we could risk losing him for longer than just this week if he doesn't ease up on the injury.[/quote]

The problem with that logic is that if we dont win NOW, there is a very big chance that we wont have to worry about risking it later when there is much more on the line. If we had already clenched a playoff spot it would be a different story but we havent. We need every great player we have on the field Sunday to assure that we win. I dont care if we are playing a below .500 team. Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. Just ask Jerry Jones.

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='ravensgirlx88' post='111079' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:36 PM']I agree that MASON should sit out. He's a tropper and deserves a week off,However, this is a VERY important game. YES the JAGS have nothing to play for, but this can sometimes be worse then if they DO. the Jaguars will bring the house. I think we need to do the same.[/quote]

I think he ought to sit if he's really that banged-up - but that's a decision the coaching staff and Mason will make. The Ravens are four well-played quarters from 11-5 and the playoffs with a rookie coach, rookie QB and the 4th hardest strength of schedule in the league this year... I think those things will play a factor as well.

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='Ravnet' post='111152' date='Dec 21 2008, 11:01 PM']He'd still be taking big hits. He'd still have to warm up. He'd still have to practice. It's an unnecessary strain on his shoulder.[/quote]

Mason and the coaches will make that determination.

[Raven-D]

He already is not really practicing most of the time. After his initial injury he didn't step on the field for a single moment of practice in the week leading up to the next game. I'm sure the same thing will happen here and he and coach harbaugh will make the determination at game time. That's the nice thing about a seasoned veteran like Mason, missing even a full week of practice is not the end of the world.

[flynismo]

[quote name='ravensfan2430' post='111057' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:08 PM']i think clayton would fit in just fine as the #1 (for this game).[/quote]

definitely...if we run the ball 50 times.
Clayton can't even handle the #2 position