AFCN: Who is Winning the FO Chess Match?

[Sami84]

I'm curious to see if Urschel can be an upgrade over zuttah..zuttahs run blocking was good..but his pass protection not so much..he had KO and Yanda next to him so it kinda negates it..just wondering if urschel could run block as well. I know he's better in Pass protection

[FlocksGottaFeed]

It's Official:

The Baltimore Ravens had the BEST Offseason in the AFC North
and Arguably...

the Rest of the League!

 

Starting the offseason with very little cap space, heavy player free-agent movement and losses of talent at key positions, Ozzie and the crew were able to secure extra draft picks, extend current critical player contracts and address all their previous season personnel needs while strengthening their future financial prospects through (A+ rated) contract extensions, free agency and the draft. As a result, the Ravens elevated their league-wide team status in a majority of 'Power Rankings' and even increased their overall talent pool in the proccess.

 

Notable: Stealing Maxx from the Steelers and securing Perriman (ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. : “Wildcard Pick for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year” espn) during the draft and building one of the strongest/deepest DB and WR cores in Ravens History.

 

Also Notable:

                                    SB Nation        Kiper            CBS           Sports Illustrated       NFL.com

Ravens draft grade     B+                    A-                 A                B+                              A

Bengals draft grade    B-                     B+                B+              B+                              A+

Steelers draft grade    B+                    A-                 B-               B+                              B-

Browns draft grade     B                      B                   B-               B-                               B+

 

I'll restate: When determining which team's front office set the offseason grade, the priority and determining factor should always be where they started and where they end-up. The Ravens pulled-off a miracle like offseason, considering. I mean we've always been considered an 'elite' FO year after year, but...WOW! Ozzie and the crew just did the dawg thing (again). If you're a Ravens Fan and you're not excited about that or the potential for this upcoming 2015 season...check your pause...and Check mate!

 

GO Ravens!

[FlocksGottaFeed]

Top Tier: Ravens Roster Gets High Rankings

 

Just a little more to consider: There's been several reports from several sports outlets that have ranked the Ravens 'high' in many aspects on this off-season, but to add that our present roster tops the entire AFC and ranks amongst Seattle and Green Bay is truly high praise.

 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/13046017/seattle-seahawks-top-ranking-rosters-all-32-teams-nfl

 

I can't appreciate Ravens Front Office more for continually putting us in the position to become a part of the 'Top Tier' conversation.

 

In Oz I Trust.

[January J]

We're gonna be better this year.

. Yes ma'am!! Straight and to the point.

[TXRavensFan]

Was a bit surprised that Tedy Bruschi rated the Ravens Roster as the most talented in the NFL, over Seattle and Green Bay.

[DomMcRaven]

Was a bit surprised that Tedy Bruschi rated the Ravens Roster as the most talented in the NFL, over Seattle and Green Bay.

I could see why. We have a better offense than the Hawks and a better defense than the Pack.

[DomMcRaven]

Earlier on, as I was scrolling through my news feed, I came across an article posted by the NFL's Facebook page on the AFC Contender Rankings. They have us in the second tier (which seems right) along with the Bengals, Steelers, Chiefs, Dolphins, and Chargers. Along with the Broncos and Pats, they have the Colts in the top-tier. In this entire offseason, the Colts have been overrated as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. But then I realized who wrote that article. Since then, I couldn't take the article as seriously as I would like. 

Edited June 13, 2015 by DomMcRaven

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I think the playoffs go through Baltimore this year. Indy and Baltimore top 2 seeds as I think the Pats and Broncos take a step back.

I'm not surprised by all the praise were getting nationally. I truly believe we have the deepest, most well rounded team in the NFL. You can't point to a legitimate weakness on this team without bringing unknowns like injury into the conversation.

Our oline is among the tops in the league with 2 great backups. We have a deep and diverse RB group. Our WRs though young and unproven are immensely talented with the potential to explode. Joe is Joe. If Pitta can return to form we might have the best TE group in the nfL.

Our dline is going to be incredible with 2 emerging talents that will be considered among the tops at their position in Williams and Jernigan with great depth in Urban, Canty, Guy, Tyson, KLM and Bilukidi.

Our linebackers might be the best in the league even with McPhee gone.

Our top 3 corners if healthy are one of the best groups in the NFL with a few possible young gems developing like Melvin.

Safety is arguably our weakest group but Will Hill might be the best young strong safety in the league and Lewis could really be a huge improvement. If that's our biggest weakness - were in amazing shape!

This is quite possibly the most well rounded deep team I can remember us having... And aside from a couple aging key pieces (Suggs, doom, Daryl and SSS) we're incredibly young. This is a hungry, well coached team that arguably should have been in the Super Bowl last year and I think we're going to be much better this year while several top contenders have gotten older or lost a few key pieces.

Bring that Lombardi home boys!

[stampedehero]

When you consider all the angles, the accountants are the real masters of the cap space

[DomMcRaven]

I think the playoffs go through Baltimore this year. Indy and Baltimore top 2 seeds as I think the Pats and Broncos take a step back.

I'm not surprised by all the praise were getting nationally. I truly believe we have the deepest, most well rounded team in the NFL. You can't point to a legitimate weakness on this team without bringing unknowns like injury into the conversation.

Our oline is among the tops in the league with 2 great backups. We have a deep and diverse RB group. Our WRs though young and unproven are immensely talented with the potential to explode. Joe is Joe. If Pitta can return to form we might have the best TE group in the nfL.

Our dline is going to be incredible with 2 emerging talents that will be considered among the tops at their position in Williams and Jernigan with great depth in Urban, Canty, Guy, Tyson, KLM and Bilukidi.

Our linebackers might be the best in the league even with McPhee gone.

Our top 3 corners if healthy are one of the best groups in the NFL with a few possible young gems developing like Melvin.

Safety is arguably our weakest group but Will Hill might be the best young strong safety in the league and Lewis could really be a huge improvement. If that's our biggest weakness - were in amazing shape!

This is quite possibly the most well rounded deep team I can remember us having... And aside from a couple aging key pieces (Suggs, doom, Daryl and SSS) we're incredibly young. This is a hungry, well coached team that arguably should have been in the Super Bowl last year and I think we're going to be much better this year while several top contenders have gotten older or lost a few key pieces.

Bring that Lombardi home boys!

I'd probably say inside linebacker. Outside of Mosley and Daryl Smith, who's there? My biggest question with Mosley is how improved will his coverage be. With Daryl Smith, the question is how soon will Father Time catch up to him? Also, what if one goes down? Who steps up?

[ellicottraven]

Chess Match? I don't think it is a fair contest of front offices. On the one side you have Garry Kasparov (Ravens) and on the other side you have players who are not even Grandmasters competing. It isn't even a fair contest. The only front office that can compete with Kasparov will be Big Blue the IBM Super computer!!!

[January J]

I think the playoffs go through Baltimore this year. Indy and Baltimore top 2 seeds as I think the Pats and Broncos take a step back.

I'm not surprised by all the praise were getting nationally. I truly believe we have the deepest, most well rounded team in the NFL. You can't point to a legitimate weakness on this team without bringing unknowns like injury into the conversation.

Our oline is among the tops in the league with 2 great backups. We have a deep and diverse RB group. Our WRs though young and unproven are immensely talented with the potential to explode. Joe is Joe. If Pitta can return to form we might have the best TE group in the nfL.

Our dline is going to be incredible with 2 emerging talents that will be considered among the tops at their position in Williams and Jernigan with great depth in Urban, Canty, Guy, Tyson, KLM and Bilukidi.

Our linebackers might be the best in the league even with McPhee gone.

Our top 3 corners if healthy are one of the best groups in the NFL with a few possible young gems developing like Melvin.

Safety is arguably our weakest group but Will Hill might be the best young strong safety in the league and Lewis could really be a huge improvement. If that's our biggest weakness - were in amazing shape!

This is quite possibly the most well rounded deep team I can remember us having... And aside from a couple aging key pieces (Suggs, doom, Daryl and SSS) we're incredibly young. This is a hungry, well coached team that arguably should have been in the Super Bowl last year and I think we're going to be much better this year while several top contenders have gotten older or lost a few key pieces.

Bring that Lombardi home boys!

I agree with almost everything you said other than safety being our weakest position. I actually think kendrick and willl hill will be huge for us this year. Id also probably say linebacker is more of an unknown. But to be honest that position doesn't look bad either. Barring injury if say this is the most all around roster Atleast at this point in a long time. If we lock down the returner position with somebody reliable we will be set and good to go.

[ravensdan]

I agree with almost everything you said other than safety being our weakest position. I actually think kendrick and willl hill will be huge for us this year. Id also probably say linebacker is more of an unknown. But to be honest that position doesn't look bad either. Barring injury if say this is the most all around roster Atleast at this point in a long time. If we lock down the returner position with somebody reliable we will be set and good to go.

Linebacker? What?

Suggs, smith, Mosley, Doom? Is there a better linebacker core in the NFL?

Wide receiver is by far the biggest question mark. Only Steve Smith is proven and in his mid 30s.

[JoeyFlex5]

Linebacker? What?

Suggs, smith, Mosley, Doom? Is there a better linebacker core in the NFL?

Wide receiver is by far the biggest question mark. Only Steve Smith is proven and in his mid 30s.

3 of our 4 starters are at a dangerous age with lots of mileage, all 3 of them could fall off a cliff performance wise. i would still say our cb's are the biggest question mark considering how incredibly injury prone the group as a whole is, i understand the logic behind the LB corps concerns though

[January J]

Linebacker? What?

Suggs, smith, Mosley, Doom? Is there a better linebacker core in the NFL?

Wide receiver is by far the biggest question mark. Only Steve Smith is proven and in his mid 30s.

I actually meant to say inside linebacker. But even still- one injury to any of those guys and we may have a little trouble. Suggs and doom are definitely not over the hill but they aren't getting any younger either. However like I said also- that is if I HAD to pick one- our entire linebacker group is definitely nothing to sneeze at regardless. If cj mosely can continue to improve and upshaw can take that next step and put up some sacks we will be in good shape. Hears to hoping that zadarius turns out to be a hit as well. Edited June 14, 2015 by January J

[DomMcRaven]

I actually meant to say inside linebacker. But even still- one injury to any of those guys and we may have a little trouble. Suggs and doom are definitely not over the hill but they aren't getting any younger either. However like I said also- that is if I HAD to pick one- our entire linebacker group is definitely nothing to sneeze at regardless. If cj mosely can continue to improve and upshaw can take that next step and put up some sacks we will be in good shape. Hears to hoping that zadarius turns out to be a hit as well.

I'm surprised you didn't see my last post because I basically said the same thing about our inside linebackers.

[ravensdan]

I actually meant to say inside linebacker. But even still- one injury to any of those guys and we may have a little trouble. Suggs and doom are definitely not over the hill but they aren't getting any younger either. However like I said also- that is if I HAD to pick one- our entire linebacker group is definitely nothing to sneeze at regardless. If cj mosely can continue to improve and upshaw can take that next step and put up some sacks we will be in good shape. Hears to hoping that zadarius turns out to be a hit as well.

Upshaw, smith, McClellan, even brown. That's pretty good depth and I have confidence in this teams ability to find and develop linebackers. Some of these guys would fill the void.

My biggest concern is these wide receivers coming together. I would have liked a solid veteran at least as a back up plan

However there's no doubt this is at least a top 5 roster in the league.

[January J]

I'm surprised you didn't see my last post because I basically said the same thing about our inside linebackers.

lol damn that's wild -well it's def a valid concern. Would love to be wrong though.

[DomMcRaven]

lol damn that's wild -well it's def a valid concern. Would love to be wrong though.

Oh of course. I'd love to be wrong too. If our secondary gels and our young pass catchers develop, we'd be dangerous (barring significant injuries).

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I'd probably say inside linebacker. Outside of Mosley and Daryl Smith, who's there? My biggest question with Mosley is how improved will his coverage be. With Daryl Smith, the question is how soon will Father Time catch up to him? Also, what if one goes down? Who steps up?

McLellan who was a starter in 2012 and Arthur Brown a 2nd round pick. Just bc we haven't seen them play doesn't make them weak backups.

And the fact that we haven't seen them play is a testament to just how strong we are there. Daryl is arguably one of the most underrated players in the league, and CJ Mosley is.... Wel CJ Mosley.

I don't see how can you say ILB over safety when the safeties behind the starters... Elam, Levine, and Trawick are all terrible and we've seen them be terrible. And our starters at safety are worse than our starters at ILB.

So our starters at ILB are better than at safety. And we've seen McLellan play well, Orr has serious potential and Arthur Brown is an unknown.

Just don't see any argument for it.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I agree with almost everything you said other than safety being our weakest position. I actually think kendrick and willl hill will be huge for us this year. Id also probably say linebacker is more of an unknown. But to be honest that position doesn't look bad either. Barring injury if say this is the most all around roster Atleast at this point in a long time. If we lock down the returner position with somebody reliable we will be set and good to go.

Don't see a single argument for LB over safety. Yea Hill can be great and Lewis should be an upgrade but behind them it's pathetic.

At LB we have Suggs, Doom, Mosley and Smith. Our starters at safety can only HOPE to play at the level of any of those guys.

Upshaw is better than anyone behind the starters at safety. McLellan has been a starter, and we haven't seen Arthur yet.

We know Elam, Trawick and Levine don't bring much.

So if the argument for Lb being worse is depth can you please show me how the depth at safety is so much better to make up for how much better our starting LBers are.

Quite honestly our starting LBers are better than our starting safeties and so is the depth... So don't see any argument how our LB group is weaker than safety esp since Lewis is an unknown as well at this point.

[DomMcRaven]

McLellan who was a starter in 2012 and Arthur Brown a 2nd round pick. Just bc we haven't seen them play doesn't make them weak backups.

And the fact that we haven't seen them play is a testament to just how strong we are there. Daryl is arguably one of the most underrated players in the league, and CJ Mosley is.... Wel CJ Mosley.

I don't see how can you say ILB over safety when the safeties behind the starters... Elam, Levine, and Trawick are all terrible and we've seen them be terrible. And our starters at safety are worse than our starters at ILB.

So our starters at ILB are better than at safety. And we've seen McLellan play well, Orr has serious potential and Arthur Brown is an unknown.

Just don't see any argument for it.

Are we talking about overall depth for the future? Is it just year? Or is it just starters? Not to be a smart aleck or anything because you make valid points. I'm just asking.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Are we talking about overall depth for the future? Is it just year? Or is it just starters? Not to be a smart aleck or anything because you make valid points. I'm just asking.

 We're discussing weakest position group this year headed into the season.

[January J]

Don't see a single argument for LB over safety. Yea Hill can be great and Lewis should be an upgrade but behind them it's pathetic.

At LB we have Suggs, Doom, Mosley and Smith. Our starters at safety can only HOPE to play at the level of any of those guys.

Upshaw is better than anyone behind the starters at safety. McLellan has been a starter, and we haven't seen Arthur yet.

We know Elam, Trawick and Levine don't bring much.

So if the argument for Lb being worse is depth can you please show me how the depth at safety is so much better to make up for how much better our starting LBers are.

Quite honestly our starting LBers are better than our starting safeties and so is the depth... So don't see any argument how our LB group is weaker than safety esp since Lewis is an unknown as well at this point.

some ppl are worried about Suggs or doom losing a couple steps bc they are into their 30s. If one of them go down I don't think we would hit the panic button by any means but it would def be concerning. Will hill and kendrick are younger and are getting to the point where they will be reaching their prime. I also think Elam makes huge strides this year. However I understand your concerns as well and your argument definitely makes sense.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

some ppl are worried about Suggs or doom losing a couple steps bc they are into their 30s. If one of them go down I don't think we would hit the panic button by any means but it would def be concerning. Will hill and kendrick are younger and are getting to the point where they will be reaching their prime. I also think Elam makes huge strides this year. However I understand your concerns as well and your argument definitely makes sense.

Yea and don't get me wrong I don't think our safety group is weak, just weaker than others.

And of course injuries could change things.. You can make that same argument for safety. If Lewis or hill gets injured were weak. If hill gets in trouble he's gone for the year. So there's concern at safety too.

Plus if one of Suggs or doom goes down I'm more confident in Upsahw than I am in Elam, Trawick or Levine at this point.

[DomMcRaven]

 We're discussing weakest position group this year headed into the season.

Oh okay. Darn I wanted to make an argument too (albeit a weak one) because you said I couldn't. Oh well lol. I stand corrected.

[Bruce_Almty]

This from Bleacher Report today...."Manziel makes no progress against McCown." "The surprise here is not that Manziel is behind, the surprise is that he's behind to Josh McCown. The Browns practically custom-made Manziel the lowest bar possible, selecting one of the worst quarterbacks to get extensive playing time in modern NFL history." "If the bar to entry is only "being better than Josh McCown," and Manziel can't pass that test, it's a damning indictment of where he is as a quarterback prospect a year into his career."

I'm not a Browns fan by any stretch of the imagination, but Cleveland's epically futile search for even an average QB has been a disaster that one just can't help but laugh at and mock. Better luck next year.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

This from Bleacher Report today...."Manziel makes no progress against McCown." "The surprise here is not that Manziel is behind, the surprise is that he's behind to Josh McCown. The Browns practically custom-made Manziel the lowest bar possible, selecting one of the worst quarterbacks to get extensive playing time in modern NFL history." "If the bar to entry is only "being better than Josh McCown," and Manziel can't pass that test, it's a damning indictment of where he is as a quarterback prospect a year into his career."

I'm not a Browns fan by any stretch of the imagination, but Cleveland's epically futile search for even an average QB has been a disaster that one just can't help but laugh at and mock. Better luck next year.

Agreed. The Browns QB-Gate continues to be a head-scratcher. Now add Pyrer? What the...?

[FlocksGottaFeed]

It seems that the Browns, Steelers and Bengals

Insiders Give FA Lewis the Nod Over FA Arrington

 

Who will make the 'Biggest 2015 FA Impact for the Ravens'?

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/20477/afc-north-qa-which-of-the-ravens-free-agent-acquisitions-will-make-the-biggest-impact

 

Who'll be the most impactful 2015 FA for the rest of the AFC North? That's a tough one. I'll pick 2 per team. I guess given the same criteria for their new teams I'd go with:

• Browns - Pryer (Catching and 2 point conversions – not QB) or Dwayne Bowe
• Bengals - A.J. Hawk or Brandon Tate
• Steelers - Darrius Heyward-Bey or Doran Grant (He'll have to sink or swim in that secondary).

[ravensdan]

most impactful AFC north free agent signing forsett. Then maybe bennett for the bengals or Arrington here