What exactly we're missing

[Cillmatic]

After the game I found myself contemplating, what do the top teams have that we don't? The answer is "Impact Players". look at the Bengals, Broncos, Cowboys, Lions, packers, Cardinals and Steelers, they all have two things in common, they're the top teams in the league and they all have top teir level WR's. The top teams in this league either have great QB's or really good recievers. Our offense nowadays can't get ANYTHING going against above average teams. I think it's because we don't have a clear cut great reciever. I'm tired of Ozzie never beefing up our offense. We have to options, draft a new QB or beef up the Offense so Joe is forced to play good. In conclusion, the two biggest spots in football are QB and WR, we don't have any recievers right now and our QB's play level changes from bad to decent when he plays plays above average teams outside of the playoffs. We have no continuity on offense and that KILLS teams. And our secondary woes ain't helping.

QB,WR,FS,CB

[Gordo52]

Very interesting.

[Willbacker]

Yep. We need some of those.

[SeaHawk]

Very interesting.

 

Yeah Gordo, I believe this is interesting. I hope Ozzie gets the memo that we need a real franchise QB instead of Joe Flacco...

[jazz1988]

Actually they all have a better secondary than us  and better depth as well. History has proven time and time again you don't really need a top tier receiver to make it to the playoffs or super  bowl.

[TDubbs]

We really do need to find a legit #1 WR to move forward. Temporary fixes like Mason, Boldin and Smith Sr have been great for us. But if we had a guy like Dez, DT or Aj Green this offense would really find its base, and Flacco could build chemistry with a guy for the long term. 

[Torreysmithforthewin]

Gosh I'd do almost anything for the Romo-Murray-Bryant trio

[gabefergy]

I think a standout WR is the biggest hole on the team right now if everyone was healthy.

Without Jimmy, the awful secondary has been exposed.

[Gordo52]

Yeah Gordo, I believe this is interesting. I hope Ozzie gets the memo that we need a real franchise QB instead of Joe Flacco...

Can't tell if you're joking lol

Let it be noted I posted that before the OP added any substance to their post.

[JO_75]

Yep. We need some of those.

 

If we miss the playoffs, trade up for Amari Cooper, problem solved.

[Petteri Moilanen]

WR, CB

I strongly vote for these.

[GrimCoconut]

I think a standout WR is the biggest hole on the team right now if everyone was healthy.

Without Jimmy, the awful secondary has been exposed.

I agree. I think if we had Jimmy and Asa healthy with Webb, our secondary wouldn't be that bad. Injuries have just taken a toll. 

[redlobster]

If we miss the playoffs, trade up for Amari Cooper, problem solved.

That doesn't solve the lack of cb problem

[GrimCoconut]

That doesn't solve the lack of cb problem

We need depth. Our starting secondary isn't awful. It's Smith, Webb and Jackson. That's really not a bad secondary. It's been a perfect storm with injuries mounting up, however. We need another CB for sure, but I'm not sure we can't get them in the 2nd or 3rd. I'm not saying CB isn't a need. I think it absolutely is because there's no guarantee Webb or Jackson returns in 2016, but that's two years away.  

[redlobster]

We need depth. Our starting secondary isn't awful. It's Smith, Webb and Jackson. That's really not a bad secondary. It's been a perfect storm with injuries mounting up, however. We need another CB for sure, but I'm not sure we can't get them in the 2nd or 3rd. I'm not saying CB isn't a need. I think it absolutely is because there's no guarantee Webb or Jackson returns in 2016, but that's two years away.

Well if were trading up in the first to get cooper the 2nd round pick will more than likely be gone. Webb is toast and asa doesn't have enough to prove he is anything more than a 3/4 corner

[Valid1]

I agree. If were healthy this team could easily have 3 more wins. The loss of Pitta is crippling to an offense that relies heavily on pass catching TEs, especially with out top end talent at WR. A healthy Smith, Webb, and Jackson with Franks and Brown as back ups is not pretty decent for CB corp. The defensive line could be a totally different animal if constant injuries including losing two promising rotational DEs to season ending injury before the season started. 

 

You can't account for injury, just the way the game works. 

[Valid1]

Well if were trading up in the first to get cooper the 2nd round pick will more than likely be gone. Webb is toast and asa doesn't have enough to prove he is anything more than a 3/4 corner

 

Yeah, because the Ravens have a long history of trading up in the 1st

[JO_75]

We really do need to find a legit #1 WR to move forward. Temporary fixes like Mason, Boldin and Smith Sr have been great for us. But if we had a guy like Dez, DT or Aj Green this offense would really find its base, and Flacco could build chemistry with a guy for the long term. 

 

I was just about to say, Romo has Dez, Dalton has Green, Matty Ice has Julio Jones, Panthers got Cam Kelvin Benjamin, Flacco just gets band aids instead of a long term solution.

[ravensdan]

I agree. I think if we had Jimmy and Asa healthy with Webb, our secondary wouldn't be that bad. Injuries have just taken a toll.

When you have injuries to the top players at your thinnest position you get losses like this and can look really bad in a hurry. Look at the difference in the eagles oline for example. I'm hoping our DBs are at full strength after the bye for the saints game. Could be ideal timing. At full strength makes this the best D in the AFC.

[gabefergy]

When you have injuries to the top players at your thinnest position you get losses like this and can look really bad in a hurry. Look at the difference in the eagles oline for example. I'm hoping our DBs are at full strength after the bye for the saints game. Could be ideal timing. At full strength makes this the best D in the AFC.

I was hoping that we would be able to scheme around missing Jimmy, but at some point it becomes too much burden on players who aren't very good. Our safeties got exposed once again. Elam played mostly slot corner and not very well. Stewart was slow to react in zone coverage once again. Franks is a below average player and Webb just had a terrible game, even though I think he was on the wrong end of a couple penalties or non-penalties.

 

It's alarming that one player makes such a big difference, but when he is as good as Jimmy is and when the depth behind him is so poor it adds up.

[PoeDinkum]

Team Identity. Consistent Execution. Insightful Coaching.

 

The Ravens brand of football I have been spoiled by are vested players, creative defensive schemes, and players executing at a high level. This has been missing against quality opponents.

[ravensdan]

I was hoping that we would be able to scheme around missing Jimmy, but at some point it becomes too much burden on players who aren't very good. Our safeties got exposed once again. Elam played mostly slot corner and not very well. Stewart was slow to react in zone coverage once again. Franks is a below average player and Webb just had a terrible game, even though I think he was on the wrong end of a couple penalties or non-penalties.

It's alarming that one player makes such a big difference, but when he is as good as Jimmy is and when the depth behind him is so poor it adds up.

I am very interested to see how Webb can improve the rest of the year. If he can start to regain his form.

[CalvinSmoke]

we've invested a lot into our core, but neglected the skills positions a little bit.

[ravensdfan]

Actually they all have a better secondary than us  and better depth as well. History has proven time and time again you don't really need a top tier receiver to make it to the playoffs or super  bowl.

 

You can do without one top tier receiver as long as your group is above sub par in timing routes, route running in general, fighting for contested catches and gaining some separation. Outside of Smith Sr. that isn't the case with our group. It is too expensive to fill out your receiving corps with above below average talent through FA. You have to start drafting higher than the 6th & 7th round.

[jazz1988]

You can do without one top tier receiver as long as your group is above sub par in timing routes, route running in general, fighting for contested catches and gaining some separation. Outside of Smith Sr. that isn't the case with our group. It is too expensive to fill out your receiving corps with above below average talent through FA. You have to start drafting higher than the 6th & 7th round.

 

In the west coast offense route running and timing routes are alot more important which is something I understand if that's what you getting at.  On yesterday Flacco was obviously getting alot of pressure in his face and it was too the point where you could obviously tell it threw him off his game. there were moments where receivers were open but I think Joe was  more worried about where the pressure was coming from.

 

Torrey Smth has his issue and the same for our other receivers but this is totally ridiculous for them to be playing this average. I really don't understand it at all 

 

 

 

I t

[ravensdfan]

In the west coast offense route running and timing routes are alot more important which is something I understand if that's what you getting at.  On yesterday Flacco was obviously getting alot of pressure in his face and it was too the point where you could obviously tell it threw him off his game. there were moments where receivers were open but I think Joe was  more worried about where the pressure was coming from.

 

Torrey Smth has his issue and the same for our other receivers but this is totally ridiculous for them to be playing this average. I really don't understand it at all 

 

 

 

I t

 

Exactly. Kubiak's scheme is reliant on crisp routes and precise timing routes. When you face pressure like we did, there's nothing to be done when you don't have the receivers to get that done. You can't do the quick releases when you only have 2 guys capable of getting it done. They'll just take them away every time.

[Cillmatic]

I was just about to say, Romo has Dez, Dalton has Green, Matty Ice has Julio Jones, Panthers got Cam Kelvin Benjamin, Flacco just gets band aids

Best post of the day

[sflegend89]

In 2013 I said all offseason "we need wr's" people batted me away and pointed to doss and deonte. All 2014 offseason I said "we need to beef up the secondary, we have no depth". People batted me away and pointed to Chykie and Asa (Asa was actually decent). Bottom line I'm sick of having to say "told you so" about glaring holes on this team, I really am.

[Tru11]

I was just about to say, Romo has Dez, Dalton has Green, Matty Ice has Julio Jones, Panthers got Cam Kelvin Benjamin, Flacco just gets band aids instead of a long term solution.

 

Lol and just how many wins do those QBs and stud wrs have in the play offs ?

[Tru11]

After the game I found myself contemplating, what do the top teams have that we don't? The answer is "Impact Players". look at the Bengals, Broncos, Cowboys, Lions, packers, Cardinals and Steelers, they all have two things in common, they're the top teams in the league and they all have top teir level WR's. The top teams in this league either have great QB's or really good recievers. Our offense nowadays can't get ANYTHING going against above average teams. I think it's because we don't have a clear cut great reciever. I'm tired of Ozzie never beefing up our offense. We have to options, draft a new QB or beef up the Offense so Joe is forced to play good. In conclusion, the two biggest spots in football are QB and WR, we don't have any recievers right now and our QB's play level changes from bad to decent when he plays plays above average teams outside of the playoffs. We have no continuity on offense and that KILLS teams. And our secondary woes ain't helping.

QB,WR,FS,CB

 

 

bengals got a great defense and running game and AJ hasent played much at all this season.

Cowboys have been riding murray, he is the best RB right now and is on a record setting pace.

Lions have the #1 defense in points allowed and megatron hasent played much at all.

Packers have arguabally the best QB in the bizz

Broncos have top to down a stacked team and has peyton manning.

Cards are riding ellington and that defense.

Steelers are a different team at home and big ben bell and brown make up for alot on offense.

 

 

Saying these teams are doing well just because they have a stud WR is very shortsighted.

especially if you name teams where the stud wrs rarely played lol.

 

also are you implying that with a stud WR flacco will magicially turn into manning or rodgers????