Halfway through the season, who are our top Offseason priorities?

[Wildabeast88]

Jimmy is under contract through next year but at a 6.5-7mil range on the 5th yr option I like McPhee but we constantly do this on D draft a guy he plays well we can't afford them they take big money elsewhere and suck the rest of their career. I would like to see him back because the versatility DE DT OLB. Tucker is a must the Ngata extension will happen. Torrey is a local guy he will return and not chase huge money elsewhere so he should be resigned at a reasonable price. The Forsett decision is interesting I would like to see him back but not big money good production but more important good guy good pr which is good after last offseason but as Kubiak has shown most any RB can go for 1000 yards. I think Canty Koch and Jacoby go our WR rotation is stacked and Jacoby is now behind Brown and Aiken and Camp can return kicks. After next year is when Flacco probably gets the extension year 3 is 20mil then year 4 is 28mil I think and after year 3 most guaranteed money is paid out. I don't think he does it this year unless he sees he isn't getting crushed in the media and does it for the flexibility. He biggest question is Pitta if he retires I believe we would come to an injury settlement that may relieve some cap space but that is the biggest question mark I think. I say keep D Smith still playing at a high level but I would like to see Arthur Brown on the field some but Daryl yet some OLB in Jacksonville so he has versatility too.

[Defence_Is_Salvation]

In this order:

 

1. McPhee

2. Torrey

3. Hill

4. Extend Jimmy asap.

 

McPhee is the engine that makes our pass rush go. Suggs and Doom have played well, but it's fairly easy for an offense to eliminate edge rushers if there isn't a strong interior rush. There are several techniques and protection schemes teams can use to neutralize or at least limit edge rushers. When you have interior pass rushers, you make it harder for offenses to do that. Inside pass rushers make the whole defense better.

 

Torrey has not played up to the standard I expect, but he has made plays for us this season, even though a few of those were forcing opposing defenses into committing DPI. Considering Smitty is aging and the rest of our WR core is young/unproven, Torrey is a must sign to me, unless he asks for too much.

 

Hill is a difference maker in the secondary and can play both FS and SS. Depending on how these next nine games go, Hill could get a nice deal.

 

And of course, Jimmy is fantastic. Lock him up ASAP.

 

In regards to Hill, how would you feel if there was growth from Brooks? Do you believe we will continue deploying more 3 safety sets? I'd love to keep Hill, Brooks and Elam; I think we haven't even begun to tap into the potential impact they could have on the field but I'll defer to your judgement as "The Raven". Elam can't be in coverage as much but the fact he's solid against the run means he can play a hybrid role in the box. 

[BSHU_Miami]

Well the extension talks will be easier for Joe after he wins another Super Bowl this year

[JoeyFlex5]

Ellerbe averaged 50 defensive snaps a game as a starter for the Ravens in 2012. That's not "limited to coverage".

 

That's basically a 3 down linebacker.

he played that much out of necessity, taking snaps doesnt mean youre excelling with quality play. 

[The Raven]

In regards to Hill, how would you feel if there was growth from Brooks? Do you believe we will continue deploying more 3 safety sets? I'd love to keep Hill, Brooks and Elam; I think we haven't even begun to tap into the potential impact they could have on the field but I'll defer to your judgement as "The Raven". Elam can't be in coverage as much but the fact he's solid against the run means he can play a hybrid role in the box. 

 

I do think Hill is a must keep. 

 

Hill's spot on the roster has less to do with Brooks and more to do with Elam. Hill may make a better SS than FS. I like Brooks at FS and Hill at SS. So, I say re-sign 

Hill long term (if this performance continues). Then, play Elam as the number three safety. If Elam improves, trade him. If he doesn't, just let him go or keep him at a cheap cost.

 

Honestly, keeping Hill over Elam doesn't hurt us no matter what.

[rmw10]

I do think Hill is a must keep. 

 

Hill's spot on the roster has less to do with Brooks and more to do with Elam. Hill may make a better SS than FS. I like Brooks at FS and Hill at SS. So, I say re-sign 

Hill long term (if this performance continues). Then, play Elam as the number three safety. If Elam improves, trade him. If he doesn't, just let him go or keep him at a cheap cost.

 

Honestly, keeping Hill over Elam doesn't hurt us no matter what.

 

Having Hill and Brooks back there starting would be a dream come true.  Both are more than capable of playing both SS and FS, and that really makes it tough for an offense to diagnose who's doing what.  Stewart and Elam have been abused because they only play the run well.  Having 2 guys that can cover and come downhill and play the run has so much value, so hopefully Hill stays on the straight path and we can get him locked up.

[redlobster]

I think its obvious that tight end will be a huge off season priority

[Ravenslifer]

My list of priorities (which I define as areas to spend a top 100 pick on) would be: 

 

1) young receiving help - Joe has a go-to guy in Smith Sr., and that's making all the difference right now - we need to find a guy that can replace Steve in the near future, and this is a great draft for WR help (TE not so much); we also have absolutely no clue how Dennis will recover from his latest injury until we see him on the field.

 

2) secondary help - Jimmy could be a FA, and Webb is injured a lot - this could be a draft where we spend a top 100 pick on a CB.

 

Of course resigning our FAs is critical, so in that order I'd say Jimmy, McPhee, Torrey, Hill.

[Static]

Rumors are that Lynch will be available. I would be okay with giving him 4.5mil and adding another head to the monster.

[1/28/01]

Rumors are that Lynch will be available. I would be okay with giving him 4.5mil and adding another head to the monster.

Pass! He'll be 29 next year and as you can see, anyone can run behind a competent oline.

[Static]

Pass! He'll be 29 next year and as you can see, anyone can run behind a competent oline.

 

Justin Forsett is 29 this year. What is your point? Lynch can run

[1/28/01]

Justin Forsett is 29 this year. What is your point? Lynch can run

You proved my point. A journey man who is 29 is running great behind our line. You dont need to sign a big name with a big dollar figure attached to him. My point was and is obvious.

[BmoreBird22]

I wouldn't mind getting Forsett back on a short contract. The reason 30 is so deadly is because of the wear and tear backs have by that point. Forsett hasn't gotten too much work to have that happen

[Static]

Forsett is 4th in rushing yards and to call him a product of O-line and system is disrespectful. Forsett is playing his heart out. If you think he isn't getting a payday either you are mistaken. 

[Ravenslifer]

Justin Forsett is 29 this year. What is your point? Lynch can run

 

You might get Lynch on the cheap because he's a 30 year old RB, so I could see it, but we have Taliaferro and the draft coming up.  Depending on the price, it might be cheaper to look for a rookie, and my belief is that Gary Kubiak has an exact blueprint of the kinds of RBs that will excel in his system, Forsett being the perfect example, since Gary knew what he brought from his time in Houston.  So you could get a rookie that would be as good as Lynch would be in the system and only have to pay him a rookie salary.

[1/28/01]

Forsett is 4th in rushing yards and to call him a product of O-line and system is disrespectful. Forsett is playing his heart out. If you think he isn't getting a payday either you are mistaken.

Yeah, sorry. He's produced like this his whole career.

[jdynamite]

I think that the value of Kubiaks "system" is over stated and the RB's are under appreciated I have yet to see Pierce (or LT) hit the home run the way Forsett has. Without that guy this year the Ravens would not have that dynamic that was missing last year. Its still football there is nothing innovative to what scheme the O line is employing this year its still not about the X's and O's but about the Jims and the Joes...

 

I don't want to under-sale, devalue or put down Forsett in any way, he has played great as I stated in my previous posts, but I'm not one of those people that want to sign him to a long term year based on half of season of production, he is a 29 year old journeymen having a career year to this point, now for me to want to give him a 3-4 year deal you would have to convince that he will have a 3 year period similar to Priest Holmes with the Chiefs at ages 28-30.  

 

When you say "home run" I'm assuming you mean long runs so Forsett has 7 runs of 20+ yards on 87 carries, LT has 3 runs of 20+ yards on 47 carries ( LT is a rookie from small school learning the system and when to hit the hole, Forsett was brought here because he knew the system already.)

 

Kubiak system may be overblown at times but the fact remains Denver, Houston and even in washington plenty of 1,000 yard rushers were produce with the system, O.Gary, M.Anderson,T.Bell,T.Davis,C.Portis, D.Williams, S.Slaton, A.Foster, A.Morris( who hasn't run the same this year yet) the O-line has played wonderfully this year even with rookie backup at times, no way it can be attributed to Forsett over Rice.

[Ravenslifer]

Yeah, sorry. He's produced like this his whole career.

 

Actually he did... when he was in Houston with Gary as Foster's backup.  He also had a high average as the third back in Seattle a number of years ago, behind a great o-line.  (in case you can't tell, this is a slightly sarcastic post agreeing with your point)

[ravensdan]

Forsett is 4th in rushing yards and to call him a product of O-line and system is disrespectful. Forsett is playing his heart out. If you think he isn't getting a payday either you are mistaken.

What? No one wants to give the top tier running backs long contracts with big guaranteed money. No one is giving one to forsett. Look at the value of running backs on draft day and hiw long they sit in free agency this past year. If someone actually gives forsett a big pay day we can bring in another guy. I think Ingram will get the most money in free agency thus year. Not from the saints.

[Neil]

The answer is safety.

[Static]

DC , CB, WR, TE , and Flacco STILL needs to get it together.

[52520Andrew]

CB, CB depth guy, WR, TE, RB, future OLB, DE depth(depending on FA), P(depending on what happens with Koch)

[ravensdfan]

CB, CB depth guy, WR, TE, RB, future OLB, DE depth(depending on FA), P(depending on what happens with Koch)

 

WR, WR, WR. TE. lol

 

Sorry but it's time to understand there's an offense on the field too.

 

Yes, we need a CB but we can get one in FA like we've done to the offense the past 10 years or so.

[52520Andrew]

WR, WR, WR. TE. lol

Sorry but it's time to understand there's an offense on the field too.

Yes, we need a CB but we can get one in FA like we've done to the offense the past 10 years or so.

I agree that WR and TE are needs but there are needs on the defense as well. I don't care how we fill them, they are still things we should consider right now. I also don't think we get 3 WR, 2 is possible but some of the young talent is starting to develop there so I think that combined with SS is going to limit us there. We definitely need a future #1 and probably a future #2 too but Camp and Aiken are showing some potential and I could see us rolling with them(not as starters but complimentary guys). TE really depends on Pitta but a good receiving TE in the draft is something to consider, especially if a guy we like is available.

[ravensdfan]

I agree that WR and TE are needs but there are needs on the defense as well. I don't care how we fill them, they are still things we should consider right now. I also don't think we get 3 WR, 2 is possible but some of the young talent is starting to develop there so I think that combined with SS is going to limit us there. We definitely need a future #1 and probably a future #2 too but Camp and Aiken are showing some potential and I could see us rolling with them(not as starters but complimentary guys). TE really depends on Pitta but a good receiving TE in the draft is something to consider, especially if a guy we like is available.

 

Yeah I was pretty much kidding in that respect. Just making the point that we need those things as priorities in the draft. The patchwork quilt is not working. You can't ask your QB to be consistent when there is no constitency around him at all.

[Maryland]

I love talking about the draft, even when we're winning. We could be 8-0 right now and I'd still love talking about the draft because it's the perfect merger of college football scouting (I like CFB almost as much as NFL), following team needs, following team wins/losses, and pure speculation about who will enter the draft/who will not. 

 

 

Having said that, It's hard to rank needs with value. Although TE is a huge need, there aren't any really good talents at TE in this draft. And RB may not be our biggest need, but the value of getting a guy like Todd Gurley (unlikely as that may be) or Melvin Gordon may be too good to pass up in the first round (I'd put Gordon in the 20-32 overall pick range). 

 

I guess if I had to rank it on pure need: TE > WR > CB > RB (and that's before any possibly salary cuts to Yanda/Ngata/Webb/Jacoby/Canty/Koch. If I'm missing any possibly cap casualties, let me know, I want a good list)

 

If I had to rank need by round: 

WR: Round 1: White, Strong, or Cooper. Round 2: Diggs, Green

CB: Round 1: Trae Waynes. Round 2: PJ Williams, Marcus Peters, Ikpre-Olomu (really think he's overhyped)

RB: Round 1: Gurley, White. Round 2: Abdullah, Ajayi

TE: Round 1: (no first round TE talent). Round 2: Nick O'Leary, Funchess (really bad year for TE talent)

[1/28/01]

Whatever is on this years off season list to help Flacco with his consistency issues. I can take down games, but not the standard Flacco down game. Those are just horrible.

[3-4ravdef509]

Cornerback and receiver

[52520Andrew]

Yeah I was pretty much kidding in that respect. Just making the point that we need those things as priorities in the draft. The patchwork quilt is not working. You can't ask your QB to be consistent when there is no constitency around him at all.

 

Figured lol but just in case you were serious there. I will say one thing about WR though, vet FAs are the only thing that seem to actually work with us. We will see on our homegrown guys in Camp and Aiken but SS is our only consistent threat right now. Throw in Mason and Boldin and those are our top 3 guys under Flacco so far. I think we did well with Torrey but he doesn't fit in our system now so I think we will find someone who will either through FA or the draft but it is something that needs to be filled for sure. With Ozzie's track record in the draft though compared to his FA track record at the position, I am fine continuing to get stop gaps lol although hopefully we get a guy early next year and with our new WRs coach, we can get them developed. I like a couple of guys who could be in our range this year but I think it will come down to BPA for us so we will see if we hit it or not.

[Tank 92]

Cornerback and receiver

 

 

and TE, in that order.