[News] Late For Work 6/12: Tedy Bruschi: Ravens, Not Patriots, Have NFL's Top Roster

[BR News]

New nickname for “Flip Switch” Flacco. Would Ravens sign Evan Mathis? 5 under-the-radar Ravens.

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[757RavensFan]

When a patriot FINALLY gives us props, yeah we must be pretty good.

[reed20fence]

There's some really serious jinxing goinz on right now.

Here we go Ravens Nation -- what are your chosen methods of conjuring good luck or warding off bad vibes?

I'll spend the rest of the offseason spitting to my right and throwing salt over my left shoulder before every meal for the Ravens good health and prosperity.

Edited June 12, 2015 by reed20fence

[757RavensFan]

19-0

[ozrave]

To me, there's a big difference this year. Coaches talk about competition, improving everyone present and giving everyone a role. As if, and this could be real, those that don't make the roster make other NFL rosters.

I like the confidence and the structure a lot. It's a good sign, and I expect we'll walk into more games confidently expecting to win them.

[raven410]

All this praise the Ravens are getting from these "Analysts", but as soon as we lose 1 game they will all write us off. If Will Hill can post those types of projected stats, I'd be VERY happy.

[mettro79]

Initially I enjoyed the respect the media was finally giving us for having a great team. I am really excited about our roster this year and enjoyed the fact that the media was finally jumping on board; but now things are getting crazy. Everyone seems to be jumping on the Raven pre-season bandwagon and I'm not digging it. It seems more like a jinx than anything. We tend to do better when being doubted underdogs and I'm kinda wishing those days come back.

[PolishRifle]

All this praise the Ravens are getting from these "Analysts", but as soon as we lose 1 game they will all write us off. If Will Hill can post those types of projected stats, I'd be VERY happy.

 

To be fair, Bruschi knows what he's actually talking about, so the "analysts" moniker is a bit  unfair.

[Dorota]

"And play him where? Left bench? #Osemele #Yanda" - this time Ryan Mink hit the nail on the head. So funny, so true. I can't help but hope, that we will keep both Osmele and Yanda, though I think it unlikely.

[Godfather A]

That does nothing to change a rigorous opening schedule. After 5 games, we can have the discussion again. Wins over three division opponents and Oakland would set us up great for the rest of the season. Stumbling early against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh would bode poorly. The game is not played on paper.

[reed20fence]

These same clowns that're raising our prospects so high will be the ones tearing us down as paper champions during the season. Don't buy a word of it. Just play like a Raven.

[fusuymada]

I think with the idea of signing Mathis the mentality is that next year we will lose either KO or Yanda. I don't think anyone believes we will be able to afford to get both under contract. The missing piece is we still have Uerschel who already seems ready to start in the NFL and may become another pro bowl bookend to either Yanda or KO, depending on who we sign. Now some people say that Zuttah may be on the way out and Uerschel could be center which puts us back to being a guard short next year. However, in a salary cap league, you cant spend money this year because you may need someone next year. Works in baseball, not in football.

[bostonraven]

"In recent memory, I haven%u2019t seen a world champion with this much turnaround" - How about the 2012 Ravens, Tedy?

[salamander]

Wrongly presumed Bruschi was too much of a Pats homer to ever have spoken this highly of their Ravens rival. Feels a little uncomfortable to be getting love from the media but I am pleasantly surprised at Bruschi's personal top ranking. At least I will pay attention when ex-Pat Bruschi comments from now on. LOL

Edited June 12, 2015 by salamander

[stixfix69]

There comes a time and point where a team like ours can't be ignored, we are always in the playoff hunt, and haven't been 1 and done in the last 6 we have played in....But i still prefer the Villain treatment, because it makes it so much sweeter when we make the critics look like fools....

[trevorsteadman]

"In recent memory, I haven’t seen a world champion with this much turnaround" - How about the 2012 Ravens, Tedy?

You just agreed with him. How welll did the 2013 Ravens do? Exactly the point. Outside of the 2013 and 2014 Seahawks which Super Bowl champion came back the next year to another Super bowl in recent memory? It doesn't happen much anymore because by the time a team gels and comes together contracts expire and everyone always wants the best deal they can get on the market. The Seahawks avoided that by having two talented drafts in a row so all their starters were very relatively young. 

[rmcjacket23]

I think with the idea of signing Mathis the mentality is that next year we will lose either KO or Yanda. I don't think anyone believes we will be able to afford to get both under contract. The missing piece is we still have Uerschel who already seems ready to start in the NFL and may become another pro bowl bookend to either Yanda or KO, depending on who we sign. Now some people say that Zuttah may be on the way out and Uerschel could be center which puts us back to being a guard short next year. However, in a salary cap league, you cant spend money this year because you may need someone next year. Works in baseball, not in football.

And I'd agree, except you'd be signing Mathis this season, having no intention of playing him, and then starting him next season at 34-35 years old?

 

No thanks.

 

There's also the other easy answer... why would Mathis agree to sign with a team where he realistically knows that he isn't in the running to start? As much as fans like to pretend that every player's #1 priority is to play on a SB contender, I have a suspicision that Mathis, who is coming off an All-Pro type season, isn't interested in riding the pine on any team at this stage in his career.

 

There's plenty of really good teams that could insert him as the best Olineman on their roster right now. Colts, Patriots, Seahawks, amongst others come to mind.

 

I'd be shocked if he signed here, just like I'd be shocked if the Ravens actively pursued him.

[drillem]

"In recent memory, I haven’t seen a world champion with this much turnaround" - How about the 2012 Ravens, Tedy?

Well if they are doing a Ravens move at least they learned from the best.

[Sami84]

And I'd agree, except you'd be signing Mathis this season, having no intention of playing him, and then starting him next season at 34-35 years old?

 

No thanks.

 

There's also the other easy answer... why would Mathis agree to sign with a team where he realistically knows that he isn't in the running to start? As much as fans like to pretend that every player's #1 priority is to play on a SB contender, I have a suspicision that Mathis, who is coming off an All-Pro type season, isn't interested in riding the pine on any team at this stage in his career.

 

There's plenty of really good teams that could insert him as the best Olineman on their roster right now. Colts, Patriots, Seahawks, amongst others come to mind.

 

I'd be shocked if he signed here, just like I'd be shocked if the Ravens actively pursued him.

 

You guys are going to maul me for this but why not mathis at center? He has the right tools to dominate anywhere in the center of the line

 

can you imagine KO MATHIS YANDA

 

Mathis is the best guard in football..yes Yanda is the only guy that comes close ( take into account last year mathis was out for most of the year and when he came back in just 9 games he was a clearcut 2nd in PFF and likely at the rate he was on would have been above Yanda had he played all the games)

[Crusader]

Don't mean crap if Ravens don't do anything with it and this puts a lot of pressure on coaches.

[alexbayrobin]

I love O. J. Brigance. He should be an example to all of us.

[metalraven]

This may be the year Flacco puts up ridiculous numbers; which would be nice. However, big numbers don't win super bowls, winning does. Obvious statement of the year. As long as we win, I really don't care about Flaccos numbers. Keep the turnovers low and just win.

[January J]

Would be nice to have him to rotate with k.o or yanda to keep them fresh down the stretch. Or incase one of them goes down with an injury. That would be in a perfect world- reality is it's extremely unlikely he will become a raven. If this was 2016- maybe. But like jacket said- even then he will be 33-34 years old.

[trevorsteadman]

You guys are going to maul me for this but why not mathis at center? He has the right tools to dominate anywhere in the center of the line

 

can you imagine KO MATHIS YANDA

 

Mathis is the best guard in football..yes Yanda is the only guy that comes close ( take into account last year mathis was out for most of the year and when he came back in just 9 games he was a clearcut 2nd in PFF and likely at the rate he was on would have been above Yanda had he played all the games)

The Ravens offensive line was ranked 2nd in the league last year even after the injuries to KO and Wagner. The Ravens already have two solid back ups. Why waste more cap space on a player when your other option already on your roster in Zuttah has been very solid for us. I think it would be better for the Ravens to invest into a linebacker, veteran defensive lineman, or another cornerback. 

[GO_Ravens]

I just gained even more respect for Tedy Brushi because he is a realist. Everybody can see the talent we have on this roster.

[GO_Ravens]

We don't need another guard if we need anything I would say add another veteran NT or DT someone that can clog the middle.

[roamingcharges]

Why are we scared of being hyped? New England gets it all the time and it is parlayed into prime time home games. Okay so we are going to be good; so what we have the best roster. We will still show up, beat up on a good majority of the teams on our schedule, make the playoffs and take a swipe at that trophy. Ravens fans poke your chest out and stop apologizing for having a well run organization!

Edited June 12, 2015 by roamingcharges

[sami]

personally I don't like the nickname "lightswitch" for Joe Flacco. That sounds like he is trying only part of the time.

[rmcjacket23]

You guys are going to maul me for this but why not mathis at center? He has the right tools to dominate anywhere in the center of the line

can you imagine KO MATHIS YANDA

Mathis is the best guard in football..yes Yanda is the only guy that comes close ( take into account last year mathis was out for most of the year and when he came back in just 9 games he was a clearcut 2nd in PFF and likely at the rate he was on would have been above Yanda had he played all the games)

I think some people greatly, greatly, greatly underestimate how difficult a position change is in the NFL, particularly for somebody who's spent at least a decade at one position.

There's also the likely possibility that Mathis just doesn't want to play center. Why would he?

[terpmaniac]

Man, all this early praise. I must be in an alternate universe or something. I mean Pricso picks us number 1 and now this...what the heck is going on?