[News] Late For Work 6/1: Offseason Power Rankings: Ravens Finally Get Some Respect

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

I don't think any of those teams are better than us, especially the Colts. They have a weak O-line, no run game, and their qb gives the ball away too much. Their defense is mediocre at best. After we outplayed the Patriots and barely lost, with 19 players on IR, the Colts got completely destroyed. Rankings at this point are obviously based on a lot of guessing, and you never know who is going to get injured and how the rookies will adjust to the NFL, but at this point, considering our roster and depth, as long as our early draft picks do what they are expected to do, we will have one of the best run games in the league, one of the most dangerous and explosive passing games in the league, and a great defense. Considering that we almost knocked off the SB champs last year with a mediocre receiving corps, a decimated secondary, and both our starting tackles out, I think there is a good case to be made for us to be ranked #1, not that it means anything.

 

 

The colts have Frank Gore at RB now and I doubt anyone will be willing to stack the box against them with Luck at QB and with all those WRs and TEs they have.Their run game will be way better than it was last year.Then on defense they'll be getting Robert Mathis back this year,they just signed Trent Cole and Arthur Jones will probably be healthy this year unlike last year.They're just better than us this year.

[RavensBaltimore]

The colts have Frank Gore at RB now and I doubt anyone will be willing to stack the box against them with Luck at QB and with all those WRs and TEs they have.Their run game will be way better than it was last year.Then on defense they'll be getting Robert Mathis back this year,they just signed Trent Cole and Arthur Jones will probably be healthy this year unlike last year.They're just better than us this year.

So a RB that's well into his 30's is going to single handedly save a horrible running game with a bad offensive line? Not buying it. Forsett was better than Gore last year, he's younger, and he has a much better O-line. Robert Mathis(another one well into his 30's) Trent Cole and a healthier Arthur Jones? Their front 7 is still inferior to ours, and we're getting Jimmy Smith, a healthier Lardarius Webb, and Kyle Arrington in our secondary. We came much closer to knocking off the SB champs than they did last year, and we improved more in the offseason, and our qb has proven that he can get it done in the biggest moments. Theirs has not. The only advantage the Colts have over us this year is an easier division. The Ravens are better in just about every aspect.

[RavenzOz]

In other news Baltimore are sitting at 25 to one to hoist the Lombardi, and 12 to one to win the AFC Championship ... That's value right there, get it while it's cheap, because as soon as preseason starts ...

[RavensBaltimore]

Not really sure what the basis for calling Luck a "turnover machine" is. Doesn't really hold up statistically.

 

For some added perspective:

 

Luck: 37.7 attempts per interception

Manning: 38.7 attempts per interception

Brees: 39.6 attempts per interception

Flacco: 41 attempts per interception

Roethlisberger: 36.1 attempts per interception

Not sure if those are career numbers, but they are definitely not last year's numbers. Luck had 16 ints, Manning had 15, and Roethlisberger had 9, and they all had a similar amount of attempts. Luck also had 4 more ints in 2 playoff games, and he fumbled 8 times in the regular season, so based on his most recent season, Luck is a turnover machine. He hasn't really played long enough to know if that was a fluke or not.

[stampedehero]

Is it just me, or is Flacco looking leaner and meaner than usual in the article photo?

His beard can create fear amoung  the fan base but his fu man chu doesn't.

[rmcjacket23]

Not sure if those are career numbers, but they are definitely not last year's numbers. Luck had 16 ints, Manning had 15, and Roethlisberger had 9, and they all had a similar amount of attempts. Luck also had 4 more ints in 2 playoff games, and he fumbled 8 times in the regular season, so based on his most recent season, Luck is a turnover machine. He hasn't really played long enough to know if that was a fluke or not.

Cool, but it seems incredibly short-sighted to call a QB or any player a "turnover machine" on one and only one season, particularly when you have a bigger sample widely available to you.

 

I don't know if its fluky or not, and neither do you, which is why labeling him as a "turnover machine" seems to be a pretty big mistake. He did 22 turnovers in the regular season last season, and he had 11 the year before.

 

Me personally, I don't really put too much stock into QB fumbles, because they can be incredibly fluky historically and even the best QBs are going to lose fumbles multiple times a year. I put career numbers out there, including playoffs, so that people can see how he actually compares to his peers, which would undoubtedly be favorably.

 

He's not in the class of a Brady/Rodgers when it comes to turnovers, because they are historically great at not turning the ball over, but he's certainly in the class with a lot of the better QBs in this league when it comes to turning the ball over.

 

In my assessment, based on actual data, if he's a "turnover machine", then a large amount of the QBs in this league are "turnover machines" as well, including some really, really, really good QBs.

[rmcjacket23]

@rmcjacket it not just a heck of it. Steve smith can play snaps I'm just saying that he has the most experiencing as a Wr so that we know what he capable of we just got to let our young recievers get the flow to the NFL. I want to see what Perriman can do, Maxx, Darren Waller with Joe. Steve can play reps that's cool one or 2 possessions then let the young guys do the rest like for the 3rd preseason game when they play like for 3 quarters. This game is meaningless any way don't y'all think.

Well, if its so important to get the young guys playing time, then it can't be that unimportant can it?

 

Perriman and Maxx probably won't have an issue getting playing time in the preseason, largely because they may be the starters coming out of camp anyway. Not really a fan of just giving Waller a bunch of snaps over SSS because the game is "meaningless", because every player, regardless of whether they're a rookie or a 15 year veteran, wants and needs reps in the preseason. If SSS is only playing a drive or two, he may not even catch the ball.

 

I think fans need to worry a lot less about playing time for rookies and young guys in the preseason. The coaching staff knows exactly what they're doing, and they aren't in the business of letting young guys play just so the fans get a chance to see them. They'll have several months of practice time to determine if somebody like Waller or others deserves to play with the starters in the preseason. If he's not out there, its likely because the coaching staff deems him unworthy to do so, and I'll be completely fine with that.

[bioLarzen]

I am just curious why are people down on Zuttah? Did I miss something?

 

I'm pretty sure nobody is actually down on him or his performance - just like nobody was down on Ngata. It's the numbers' game - and Ozzie's famous "80-20" rule in action.

[KingRaven(IA)]

The real question is Perriman's braided skullet going to catch on like Anthony Davis%u2019s unibrow???

[Cillmatic]

I think he's got it right. While I love to watch Raven's D, I have always believed O is the best D. This year I believe the Raven's have the O to prove my belief. I see a dominate short yardage O with a combination of Running and Short Passing to take the team down the field to keep us competitive, control field position, the clock, and set up several deep passes that give us a 14 point or more lead. Our D will be great as it always is. It's just the O is going to dominate the game.

Offense will win you a few games but you won't win against good teams when it matters, just look at the Colts and Broncos, they have good offenses but when it's time to go against a great defense or even another good offehse they get crushed and embarrassed.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

peter king picking the ravens anytime of the year is shocking.

I know. I wonder what the odds are in Vegas for Peter King dropping us down from #1 in his Power Ranknig even if we are up by 21 in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl. I'd have to pick that he would. The man never stays with us or picks us to win anything.

 

Amazing.

[January J]

LOL, yeah I'm not even remotely buying that. Just a massive overreaction there.

 

Most people think that the "transformation" of the Broncos from a pass team to a run team occurred in week 12, after they were buried by St Louis in a week 11 loss. For the next six regular season games, the Broncos went 5-1, averaged close to 150 rushing yards/game, averaged about 4.5 YPC, and still averaged over 30 PPG in that span. And that's all with a QB who allegedly can't throw. I'm not going to all of the sudden panic because their LT, who was terrible last season and was never a good run blocker, is out for the year.  Their defense arguably got better, and added a HC who has been running successfully on the entire league for about a decade now. If the gauge of "well that didn't work out for them" is based on the ONE loss they had to Indy in the playoffs, then sure, I guess they are terrible, but that seems a bit short-sighted to me.

 

Needless to say, I'm not concerned about Denver's ability to win double digit football games next season, which in the AFC, puts them well, well, well above average. 

 

If I'm a realistic Ravens fan, I'd be a bit more concerned with my own team is doing rather than pretending like you aren't afraid of a team who could beat us by 20 in the first game and it would literally surprise nobody. Despite what these fanboards suggest, there are certainly no shortage of question marks surrounding this team, particularly on offense. 

 

A bit early to be writing off other teams as overrated when you don't even know what you have with this team. 

1) pretending? i dont know about you, but i say what i mean and say what i feel, even if it isnt a popular opinion.

 

2)im not going to panic either, mainly bc i dont have faith invested in teams other than my own, but if you are going to "pretend" that losing one of their top lineman who protects a 38 year old mannings blind side isnt an issue at all then i think youve got another thing coming. sure they can replace him, but his loss will be felt. you talk as if you are a secret denver fan or somethin, nothing wrong with that, just let it be known. yes yes i know, you are just being "objective".

 

3) i think Kubiaks days as a successful head coach are long behind him. personally i think he was better off as a O.C, not because i wanted him to stay in baltimore, ( i actually am very pleased with trestman being our new cordinator and also happy that Kubiak landed his dreamjob- no bitterness here) but bc i think after his heart issues it is just alot less stressful. i think it was incredibly stupid of Elway to get rid of John Fox, who not only took them to the superbowl a year before, but has been overall very consistant at winning. i see why they made the move- to try and get them over that last hump- however i dont agree with it.

 

4)i think the loss of Julius Thomas is also being overlooked, he was an intricate cog in their offense, regardless of the stats.( he caught 12 tds in 2013 and 14').

 

5) obviously many people , including elway, are hanging on to the notion that a 38 year old peyton manning will get to go out on top and ride off into the sunset. mainly because it happened with elway. like i already stated, this rarely happens. indy was incredibly bold by replacing manning with luck. they took a huge gamble and it paid off.  manning still had a little something left in the tank at the time for one more strong push, but that was years ago. Denver threw everything they had in 2013 and came up short. Indys wise decision showed when luck just eliminated manning from the playoffs.

Peyton obviously showed signs of wearing down after week 11, they can say otherwise, but we all know thats why they started running the ball so heavily. their running game is decent, but its not going to carry them to the playoffs. their defense is good too, but not good enough. they will have to rely on mannings arm; And if last year is any sign, it is not going to hold up.

 

never said i was writing them off to have a successful season, i said i dont think they are superbowl contenders, and i definitely dont think they are better than the ravens at this point. obviously there are questions with our offense, no doubt there. we have some young guys that need to prove themselves and be groomed a bit. however i am sure all will be answered very early on. i have no doubt that joe will bring out the best in these guys, not to mention our offensive line is returning intact from last year- which will be the key to not only another strong season from forsett, but to running the entire offense. not only will we be extremely productive, but we are going to top last years numbers- no worries here. denver beating us by 20? lol i think that would be a huge surprise, and simply wont happen. Manning is going to take a beating by Suggs and company. this isnt 2013, Peyton is 2 years older, and Jimmy Smith is healthy and also more experienced. if that makes me an unrealistic ravens fan- then so be it. however i think the majority would disagree.

Edited June 3, 2015 by January J

[Fastfingers]

1) pretending? i dont know about you, but i say what i mean and say what i feel, even if it isnt a popular opinion.

 

2)im not going to panic either, mainly bc i dont have faith invested in teams other than my own, but if you are going to "pretend" that losing one of their top lineman who protects a 38 year old mannings blind side isnt an issue at all then i think youve got another thing coming. sure they can replace him, but his loss will be felt. you talk as if you are a secret denver fan or somethin, nothing wrong with that, just let it be known. yes yes i know, you are just being "objective".

 

3) i think Kubiaks days as a successful head coach are long behind him. personally i think he was better off as a O.C, not because i wanted him to stay in baltimore, ( i actually am very pleased with trestman being our new cordinator and also happy that Kubiak landed his dreamjob- no bitterness here) but bc i think after his heart issues it is just alot less stressful. i think it was incredibly stupid of Elway to get rid of John Fox, who not only took them to the superbowl a year before, but has been overall very consistant at winning. i see why they made the move- to try and get them over that last hump- however i dont agree with it.

 

4)i think the loss of Julius Thomas is also being overlooked, he was an intricate cog in their offense, regardless of the stats.( he caught 12 tds in 2013 and 14').

 

5) obviously many people , including elway, are hanging on to the notion that a 38 year old peyton manning will get to go out on top and ride off into the sunset. mainly because it happened with elway. like i already stated, this rarely happens. indy was incredibly bold by replacing manning with luck. they took a huge gamble and it paid off.  manning still had a little something left in the tank at the time for one more strong push, but that was years ago. Denver threw everything they had in 2013 and came up short. Indys wise decision showed when luck just eliminated manning from the playoffs.

Peyton obviously showed signs of wearing down after week 11, they can say otherwise, but we all know thats why they started running the ball so heavily. their running game is decent, but its not going to carry them to the playoffs. their defense is good too, but not good enough. they will have to rely on mannings arm; And if last year is any sign, it is not going to hold up.

 

never said i was writing them off to have a successful season, i said i dont think they are superbowl contenders, and i definitely dont think they are better than the ravens at this point. obviously there are questions with our offense, no doubt there. we have some young guys that need to prove themselves and be groomed a bit. however i am sure all will be answered very early on. i have no doubt that joe will bring out the best in these guys, not to mention our offensive line is returning intact from last year- which will be the key to not only another strong season from forsett, but to running the entire offense. not only will we be extremely productive, but we are going to top last years numbers- no worries here. denver beating us by 20? lol i think that would be a huge surprise, and simply wont happen. Manning is going to take a beating by Suggs and company. this isnt 2013, Peyton is 2 years older, and Jimmy Smith is healthy and also more experienced. if that makes me an unrealistic ravens fan- then so be it. however i think the majority would disagree.

I laugh about what the Broncos do in Denver. The draft, the coaching, the GM. The Ravens are their role model. They have admitted it. Kubiak learned as much as he could in his year as OC but he also gave us his best while he was here. We shoulda beat the Pats. Gary deserved to win that one.