[News] Eisenberg: Strong Ravens, Tough Schedule Butt Heads

[Raven'evermore]

Ravenevermore.... I agree with what you wrote and I will add to it. CONS: 1. The schedule is tough. 2. There are some key players with durability question marks (Jimmy Smith, L Webb, Timmy Jernigan, BPerriman) 3. Our DC has not yet made the most of the talent that he has. 4. Flaccos career has been marked with inconsistency. and 5. A ton of young players in key roles (all three TE's, Timmy, CJ, Perriman, Campanaro). PROS: 1. It don't matter how tough the schedule is... if we win the division. We are more talented then the Browns, More complete then the Sqeelers and have the leadership that the Bengals lack. (so regardless of how hard our schedule is... we are the best team in the division and simply need to win the division). 2. We do have some key players with Durability issues... but they also have a ton of talent and will contribute in a big way when they are healthy. when they are not we have added depth that leaves us more likely to overcome losing them for anytime (this season moreso then last and we went pretty far last year). (RMelvin and KArrington along with KLewis makes our DB more formidable- While CDavis, KLM and LGuy make our DL rotation and depth legitimate). 3. I don't think DPees has made the most of the talent that he has but we have still proven that we can win a super bowl with him). 4. Flacco has been inconsistent throughout but he has never had this many weapons and we will protect him this year. Joe has shown steady improvement over his entire career... I expect this year for him to take the big leap forward. and 5. We do have a lot of 1st and 2nd year players playing key roles but we have a ton of talent in those players and a ton of leadership to help bring them along. Yes we have Perriman but opposite him is a 37 year old HOF WR. Yes we have 3 young and raw TE's but we have a savy veteran in Pitta still around to help mentor them. We have a young DL with CDavis and TJernigan but veterans like Canty and BWilliams to mentor them. Suggs, Dumervil, Flacco, Forsett, Yanda, Will Hill - we have high character guys at every position to help maintain a winning culture and develop a winning expectation in all of these youngsters. We have a great mix and this year can be special.

 Steelcityraven,  I like the way you took the time to compile your list instead of taking the lazy way out (and on, and on...) like I did. 

[Raven'evermore]

I am a solid Ravens fan, can't wait for Sunday however I think John's report above is a classic case of SPIN. Until we get a solid number 2 receiver and our starting offensive line healthy I am not so sure how well we will move the ball versus Denver in that Environment. After watching pre season I do not worry too much about our front 7 even without the Big shoes of Haloti but I am not sold on the Secondary. I see everything after Jimmy Smith questionable and fear Peyton will pick us apart like Brady did in the 2nd half of the playoffs last year. HOPE I AM WRONG!

 I'm also concerned about the secondary.  However I like a lot of other posters here believe it's more about how the secondary is used. Not to beat a dead horse, but I mean, why give up so much yardage before making a tackle?  Someone on the boards made a point about how (I believe it was K. Lewis) looked lost out there. Well maybe that's because he's never played under those circumstances.  I wouldn't be surprised if Pees is let go somewhere near or after the first half of the season if we're giving up too many points.  Wins or not.

[NCMan]

Heck, I'll be happy if we don't give up 7 TD's to Denver again. Hope we keep it respectable and get outta town w/no more injuries.

[ravensnj]

Peyton isn't leaving the pocket. Pressure up the middle all night long and we walk away with a win.

[Ravens8383]

See a lot of fans mad that the Ravens have not gone out and got a vet WR. I'm not gonna sit here and say that I wouldn't love them to sign on too but but then I remember what Brown did 2 years ago and I think he steps up big time this year.

[bioLarzen]

I'm getting furious at Ozzie. He is doing nothing and not trying to get a solid veteran wr until perriman comes back.We are going to be bad this year and he is going to ruin our team. This is a team that wants to win their division but they don't look like they want to by their actions or lack there of!

 

Yeah... that's exactly why Ozzie gets zero respect in the NFL, in the organization and the Ravens-fandom... Oh, wait...

[jrubin80]

I'm not saying Ozzie isn't the man. He is, he's a great GM. I'm just saying with this Perriman situation he isn't

doing enough to make up for it until he gets back.

[bioLarzen]

See a lot of fans mad that the Ravens have not gone out and got a vet WR. I'm not gonna sit here and say that I wouldn't love them to sign on too but but then I remember what Brown did 2 years ago and I think he steps up big time this year.

 

Well, if there was no veteran WR on the street worth getting... and there was not. I myself though we would see a vet at least given a good look. But who? All there is are unproven youngsters and vets who are done. Neither would be an improvement on what we already got.

 

What intrigues me is, that Ozzie, Harbaugh and Trestman apparently liked Magee enough to put him on the roster instead of trying to get a vet like Pierre Thomas, Montee Ball or Jonas Grey. I'm quite sure we could have snatched any of them (I can hardly imagine Jonas Grey opting for the Dolphins' PS over the backup spot on the Ravens roster...). OK, that's a good cap-space saving move, but also a huge vote of confidence in a guy basically nobody thought of before the beginning of the pre-season... Not even as a PS candidate, let alone to make the 53-man roster... (well, there's no guarantee he'll still be there by Sunday, but at least he got there...)

[bioLarzen]

I'm not saying Ozzie isn't the man. He is, he's a great GM.

 

Then why don't you trust his decision? You don't have a hundredth of the info he has, yet you think you're in a position to quesion his decision? On what basis? What you saw in the pre-season games? The camp reports? What you only read quick reports of, while Ozzie saw them?

 

Real life NFL isn't Madden. Even Ozzie isn't an almighty god who wil lget done everything and gets any player he wants - because the rules won't let him do that.

Edited September 9, 2015 by bioLarzen

[jrubin80]

Remember in 2013 when they only had Torrey and a bunch of bum wry like tan don doss. Flacco had nobody to throw to. We went 8-8. I DO NOT WANT THAT TO EVER HAPPEN AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all

[jrubin80]

That is my point. Only SSS, aiken and brown are nothing but role players. Camp and Perriman need to get healthy ASAP_because those are the only guys!!!

[jrubin80]

No Mr BioLarzen. They have no speed and that hurts the run game because the safety can help stack the box .Teams can double SSS, and the other wrs with the exception of Camp who is hurt every 5 minutes and Perriman who isn't back yet, our wrs stink

[CQ1]

If I were to fret or be directing my focus, I'd be finding away to put Manning on his back / side. Heat first, to stop him from picking our secondary apart !

[Darkraven23]

Ozzie knows what he's doing its been that way for years the ravens offense has been ascending since 2011 when we finished 12-4 since then we have gone 12-4 10-6 8-8 10-6 again and the point is our offense has to have consistency you can't all blame the wrs for example ppl bashing ed dickson here were the same ones supporting him then once he gets a thigh injury and has a bad season ppl make up lame excuses about losing confidence when all he needed was to get healthy as we saw in carolina next for all of u down on doss he proved his worth when he was brought back he was the best returner since jacoby that we ever had and when he needed to step up he did and that was admirable even when we let him go and now the criticism about the wideouts we have now are even more rediculous sss is a veteran that has burnt more young corners and vet's deep than any other in the leauge marlon before sss was here came on strong especially in the redzone and if he continues like in the alanta game he will be fine and finally it wasnt to long ago we were calling him a younger anquan boldin because of his big catches and moving the chain on 3rd down

so u guys should be ashamed and i only wish ur loyality in proven commodities were bigger than faith in an unproven guy like perriman or even camp to some degree and i like em both

[Joey Flac]

Hopefully Jeremy Ross can take on a little Jacoby Jones role and give us some exiting returns and a few deep ball attempts a game. Perriman and Williams will contribute but I just wanna know if they will be on the field at this point. The defense will be improved with Carl Davis replacing Ngata at DT with Brandon Williams next to him and a committee of Timmy Jernigan, Chris Canty, Lawrence Guy and Kapron Lewis-Moore at ends. I like our secondary with a lot of battle tested guys returning like Melvin, Levine and Hill being given a reward.

We have to have the best linebacker core in the NFL with Suggs, Dumervil, Upshaw, Mosley and Smith....

[hen826957]

If we somehow beat Denver I can see the Ravens to start 3-0 to start the season. I believe we could beat the Raiders at Oakland and the Bengals at home the next two games.

[Maryland]

I like our chances at Denver. Hopefully we heavily attack the left side of their O-line (they have two first-year starters at LT and C). Plus Mathis only arrived there a week ago. Peyton can't throw deep anymore, so those safeties can creep up a bit. Should go better than last time

Edited September 9, 2015 by Maryland

[Purpleghost23]

Third last year kinda relativy for your analysis this year...10-6,that game against the bengal should have been a win for us...and we kinda screw that gamd against the texans...so we could have been an 12-4 team....this is year we need to focus and i think we could there....lets start reading kubiack mind like the texans did with us...Go Ravens

[Arch Mage]

I would rather be playing Denver after P Manning has worn himself out! Instead we are going up against our former coach who has had weeks to prepare for the season opener.

Last season's success was a bit of a surprise to me, without our starting running back and all the injuries, so I hope I am pleasantly surprised again this year!

Go Ravens!

[Bat-mite]

I think that there is a real advantage to opening the season with an away game against a tough team like Denver. The expectation is sort of that we will lose. We're five point underdogs. So if we lose, it is not demoralizing. But if we win! If we win, that gives us tremendous confidence and energy going into the next several away games.

[January J]

I think that there is a real advantage to opening the season with an away game against a tough team like Denver. The expectation is sort of that we will lose. We're five point underdogs. So if we lose, it is not demoralizing. But if we win! If we win, that gives us tremendous confidence and energy going into the next several away games.

exactly - coming out with a win will set the tone for the entire season. A few other people said it also but having this tough of a schedule will have us battle tested come playoff time. I think too many people are still stuck in 2013 thinkin we are automatically going to lose in Denver. This is a new year and a new team. Either that or they are putting wayyy too much stock into the preseason. Yes Denver is good, but we are better. It goes without saying but We just have to execute , and keep the mistakes/ turnovers to a minimum. I see no reason why we can't start the season 4-0. Definitely won't be easy starting the season out west and having so many games on the road , but if anybody can do it it's us.

[January J]

Alexander A. Pyles ‏@aapyles 1h1 hour ago

"Analysis of roster data shows Ravens are among slowest and heaviest teams in the NFL."

Speed wins but so does talent. Ravens are not old-slow but just don't have many burners.

The Ravens to me look like a 5-3 and 5-3 club with a real possibility of squeezing out 1 more win .... even tho analysts think they are slow.

Been Waiting All Day for Sunday Afternoon.

did you sing that last line in your Carrie underwood voice?

[RAVENSNAYSHUN]

It's time to put 7 up on Denver like they did us last time. Payback's a... Let's start this season off right and build on it each game. Right now I'm wishing Wednesday was the new Sunday...can't wait!

Edited September 9, 2015 by RAVENSNAYSHUN

[Bruce_Almty]

did you sing that last line in your Carrie underwood voice?

I like Faith Hill's version better.