CB Asa Jackson is back

[Ravenatic20]

According to Aaron Wilson and BaltimoreRavens.com:

 

Ravens are expected to activate Asa Jackson today from injured reserve-designated to return, per a source, likely to play extensively Sunday

 

https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/status/541277374118387712

 

Maybe this is the spark this team needs?

[757RavensFan]

Hopefully he can make a difference to the much depleted secondary!

[BirdWatcher]

Official: http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Asa-Jackson-Activated-Expected-To-Play/c5af4ee7-7c2d-455f-aad4-44a828d8294b

[52520Andrew]

According to Aaron Wilson and BaltimoreRavens.com:

Ravens are expected to activate Asa Jackson today from injured reserve-designated to return, per a source, likely to play extensively Sunday

https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/status/541277374118387712

Maybe this is the spark this team needs?

Winner!!!!

Hopefully he can make a difference, we need him

[GrimCoconut]

Jacobs is hurt?

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Finally some help for the secondary. Hope he's up too full speed, no pun, or Wallace is going to run wild. Good news when we need some , go Ravens!

[rmw10]

Jacobs is hurt?

Yeah they ruled him out for the game on Sunday prior to putting him on IR, so it's definitely something legitimate. Not sure how serious though.

[GrimCoconut]

Yeah they ruled him out for the game on Sunday prior to putting him on IR, so it's definitely something legitimate. Not sure how serious though.

Huh. I'm just surprised. I didn't know he was even injured.

[cobrajet]

If Asa is healed and ready to go he is going to help improve this secondary. The guy can play.

[Ravenatic20]

Huh. I'm just surprised. I didn't know he was even injured.

The Ravens probably told him (in Ozzie Newsome's voice):  "Asa is coming back, we can either put you on IR and you get paid and you keep quiet, or we can cut your butt and you take your chances, but lets be honest, no one will pick you up."  I would have done the same thing.

[Gordo52]

Super Bowl

[JoeyFlex5]

not to be a downer, but hes been out and hurt all season, and even before that he showed a few upsides, but has never shown anything to make us think he is a fulltime starter and the secondarys savior. im taking this news with a grain of salt because we have no clue what we will get from him. 

 

bring on the negs.

[rmw10]

not to be a downer, but hes been out and hurt all season, and even before that he showed a few upsides, but has never shown anything to make us think he is a fulltime starter and the secondarys savior. im taking this news with a grain of salt because we have no clue what we will get from him.

bring on the negs.

We're not asking him to be the savior. We're asking him to come out and play some halfway adequate football, which would be a big upgrade over what we're throwing out there now.

[hawkprey]

Yes! If Asa is anything but horrible, he would be a big upgrade. With Webb playing like poo, I think he's the 2nd best CB we've had all year. Now sure, it's not saying much, but it's something. Ajax is playing for his career right now.

[Mt. Crushmore]

At least a reinforcement.  Slight upgrade.

 

Huh. I'm just surprised. I didn't know he was even injured.

 

Yeah, I had just seen he was ruled out as well.  I bet its minor, but since it is week 14 it doesn't matter.

[RaineV1]

Asa isn't really anything special, but he is an above average corner and someone that generally isn't going to be picked on by a quarterback. That is a giant upgrade over the most of the guys the Ravens have been fielding recently.

[Wildabeast88]

not to be a downer, but hes been out and hurt all season, and even before that he showed a few upsides, but has never shown anything to make us think he is a fulltime starter and the secondarys savior. im taking this news with a grain of salt because we have no clue what we will get from him. 

 

bring on the negs.

he has definitely shown flashes in the preseason and the 1st few weeks he is certainly an improvement on where we have been. He has shown playmaking ability which is something we have been lacking so far this season

[Wildabeast88]

We're not asking him to be the savior. We're asking him to come out and play some halfway adequate football, which would be a big upgrade over what we're throwing out there now.

amen to that brother that's all we need right now an above average CB not asking for an all pro option just an upgrade someone who can check Mike Wallace

[JoeyFlex5]

We're not asking him to be the savior. We're asking him to come out and play some halfway adequate football, which would be a big upgrade over what we're throwing out there now.

oh dont get me wrong, im excited about his return, but im gonna temper those expectations because a few preseason flashes is no reason to EXPECT him to be an immediate upgrade, i am certainly hopeful and i will have faith in him for now, but for all we know he could be every bit as bad as what we have now, we just dont know yet.

[rmw10]

oh dont get me wrong, im excited about his return, but im gonna temper those expectations because a few preseason flashes is no reason to EXPECT him to be an immediate upgrade, i am certainly hopeful and i will have faith in him for now, but for all we know he could be every bit as bad as what we have now, we just dont know yet.

He played earlier in the season and was halfway decent. I don't think there's much question that he's an upgrade over our current personnel.

[JoeyFlex5]

He played earlier in the season and was halfway decent. I don't think there's much question that he's an upgrade over our current personnel.

but earlier in the season before the injury and before having to miss so much time. players in that situation either go into a funk before they knock off the rust and play up to their potential, or they come out on fire and light it up because theyre pumped to get back into football, it happens often with long injuries, lets hope its the latter of the two.

[rmw10]

but earlier in the season before the injury and before having to miss so much time. players in that situation either go into a funk before they knock off the rust and play up to their potential, or they come out on fire and light it up because theyre pumped to get back into football, it happens often with long injuries, lets hope its the latter of the two.

That's an awfully big generalization.

[K-Dog]

Maybe this is the spark this team needs?

 

This team needs a lot more than a spark at this point in time.

I hear ya though.

 

Right now I will take what ever help we can get in the secondary, no matter how big or small.

[gabefergy]

I think this means Elam will barely see the field, so it could be very important.

[1/28/01]

He better play his Asa off!

[The Mom Gene]

He better play his Asa off!

Good one...  but now, you know better than that.... now, go 

[PurpleCity5]

Asa Jackson has actually shown good play, he doesn't get picked on consistently and is a quality player. It would've been better if Jimmy Smith, Asa, and Webb were together, along with Hill at Safety. Oh boy. This would be a much better secondary, especially with the rust Webb was shaking off, now it's coming back with the job he's being asked to do, being a #1 CB, which is hard for him after working back from injuries. Webb can handle it, as seen in 2011 when he had a break out year. 

 

I hate injuries! ;( 

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

This is very good news and great timing. He may not light the world on fire but he's a solid starter... i think he'd be much better as our #3 with him and jimmy on the outside allowing webb to slide in the slot, but we've got to make do with what we have at this point. He's a definite upgrade over Gorrer and Levine and i honestly think he was playing better before his injury then Webb has played this season, so he may be an upgrade over everyone on the roster.

 

While he's not going to light the world on fire, his return will have a positive domino effect on the secondary. He can match up with most teams #2 receiver well, or at least much better than Levine or Gorrer could. Gorrer and Levine now have much more manageable assignments in having to defend lesser receivers. Most importantly it will hopefully keep Elam off the field and away from playing man against slot receivers.

 

So, I agree that Asa isnt a great player by any means, but because of how it effects the depth chart our guys will have much better and more manageable match ups so we wont be so over-matched talent wise. I honestly think this is going to have a HUGE impact on the play of our secondary as a whole.

 

On top of that, we don't face one QB that scares me in our final 4 games, so with any improvement in the secondary it's reasonable to expect the team to go 3-1 at least down the stretch and feasible to go 4-0. And with San Diego and the rest of the 7-5 teams having very difficult schedules i think 3-1 guarantees us a playoff spot as long as the loss isnt against Miami, and 4-0 will guarantee it and possibly take the division.

 

Something else ive been thinking about is with the loss of Ngata, Jernigan will play a lot more and he brings more of a pass rush up the middle than Ngata which could have a positive impact on the secondary in forcing QBs out of the pocket, extending plays and forcing throws on the run. Glass 3/4 full!