[News] Ravens Evaluating Free-Agent Pass Rushers

[BR News]

Head Coach John Harbaugh said Baltimore will rely more heavily on rookie Za’Darius Smith.

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[cobrajet]

John Abraham is 37 years old, Lord have mercy!

[Nexttime]

Antwan Barnes?

[rmcjacket23]

Lets evaluate internally first. Give it at least a few weeks before we make a desperation veteran signing who probably won't do much anyway.

[Hardhitters]

Can Freeney be our James Harrison???

[bioLarzen]

ZaDarius Smith might be my favourite rookie this season - but I'm afraid it would be a bit too much for him to have to step up so soon... The pre-season showed clearly that he has huge potential upsides and a lot of talent - but also that he is still rather raw and needs to learn a lot...

[CQ1]

"forged" by a slow increasing heat- or burnt; let's not get burnt

[bioLarzen]

Antwan Barnes?

 

That knee inury in 2013 was brutal - and he wasn't really his best self after that. He had a grand total of 4 sacks in his last 3 seasons, none of which came last season (where he only played 5 games due to another injury.)

 

I'm sure Ozzie and his staff will do the search with due diligence, so if he's a legit option, he will be taken into consideration.

Edited September 15, 2015 by bioLarzen

[Hardhitters]

I think we need Freeney to help with experience and reps, Dumervil & Upshaw, Freeney & Smith. Upshaw is a monster who benefits from sharing with Dumervil and vice versa, we can give Smith that same veteran rotation with Freeney.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Hardhitters

[TheSim]

Let's be real: Suggs is irreplaceable over there. His rare combination of skill at both pass rushing and run defending, as well as his leadership, are matched by few players at that position (or any position, for that matter). The good news is, that defense looked exceptional yesterday, so they will hopefully be able to fill in for him well enough that it doesn't become a glaring skill gap, like it was last year at the CB position.

 

I'm gonna miss him though, he's been my favorite player for about 10 years now. I know this hurts him. In the season opener in 2012, I was crazy enough to spend my savings on some mid-field tickets in the 2nd row, above the home locker room entrance. At half-time Sizz was walking through with the guys (he was recovering from his first achilles tear at that time) and he just seemed miserable. Part of it was definitely that the team wasn't doing great, but the other part was that I could tell he was really upset that he wasn't out there. I yelled out, "Hey Sizz! Ball So Hard!" (because I had to), he looked up and did like a half-smile and said "Ball So Hard" back, but you could just see he wasn't himself.

 

Anyway, yesterday's news felt like a punch to the ol' breadbasket for me, so I can't imagine what it was like for him. Here's hoping he comes back next year and puts on another dominant performance as one of the Raven's (and NFL's) all-time greats.

Edited September 15, 2015 by TheSim

[bioLarzen]

It's kind of hard to believe Harbaugh is genuinely "so excited" about ZaDarius Smith and believes in his immediate impact potential just a day after he didn't put him on the active list...

[bioLarzen]

Let's be real: Suggs is irreplaceable over there.

 

Seems obvious. Thats why I still say that the question is not whether and with whom we can "replace" him, but whether and how Pees can adjust the D to minimalize the adverse effects of Sizzle's loss. I like Pees much better than most Ravens-fans, so I'm confident he will find a way to make Sizzle's absence hurt as little as possible... For it's gonna hurt us, no doubt about that. But I beleive Pees can do what can possibly be done.

[bioLarzen]

I think we need Freeney to help with experience and reps, Dumervil & Upshaw, Freeney & Smith. Upshaw is a monster who benefits from sharing with Dumervil and vice versa, we can give Smith that same veteran rotation with Freeney.

 

If - and that's a big if - we end up bringing in a veteran replacement, I guess it's gonna be whoever is in the best form and shape - both physically and health-wise. All of the guys mentioned are vested veterans who have proven time and again that they know how to rush the passer. Also, probably all of them would come for the veteran minimum, so even the cap hit wouldn't be a deciding factor.

Edited September 15, 2015 by bioLarzen

[cobrajet]

Let's be real: Suggs is irreplaceable over there. His rare combination of skill at both pass rushing and run defending, as well as his leadership, are matched by few players at that position (or any position, for that matter). The good news is, that defense looked exceptional yesterday, so they will hopefully be able to fill in for him well enough that it doesn't become a glaring skill gap, like it was last year at the CB position.

 

I'm gonna miss him though, he's been my favorite player for about 10 years now. I know this hurts him. In the season opener in 2012, I was crazy enough to spend my savings on some mid-field tickets in the 2nd row, above the home locker room entrance. At half-time Sizz was walking through with the guys (he was recovering from his first achilles tear at that time) and he just seemed miserable. Part of it was definitely that the team wasn't doing great, but the other part was that I could tell he was really upset that he wasn't out there. I yelled out, "Hey Sizz! Ball So Hard!" (because I had to), he looked up and did like a half-smile and said "Ball So Hard" back, but you could just see he wasn't himself.

 

Anyway, yesterday's news felt like a punch to the ol' breadbasket for me, so I can't imagine what it was like for him. Here's hoping he comes back next year and puts on another dominant performance as one of the Raven's (and NFL's) all-time greats.

Great post Sim!

[bioLarzen]

Guys... just hit me: we have JJ in-house!!!

[The Negotiator]

D is fine we need some wideouts!!!!

[SmashMouth7]

Let me be mean for a second: I'm mad at you Suggs, you came to camp out of shape, you didn't bull rush and smash Manning then you have the nerve to get yourself injured before doing one single sack dance, damn you sizzle, get well big homie come back in great shape.

[stixfix69]

D played great, the O-Line failed us, i truly believe we need to move Urschel to LG and move KO to LT....

[Minionhunter]

Didn't Crockett play that position in college? I'm not suggesting anything crazy but I thought I remembered that for some reason. I would rather see them bring in Randy Moss for a workout while Perriman is recovering. Even if he wasn't himself he would still make other defenses freak out and game plan for him. Plus he could mentor Perriman and our qb and locker room is strong enough to handel him.

[Bandit666]

Time for Z. Smith to step up. I think he can do it.

[Crusader]

"KZ's Take: Smith stands out on tape when you watch him at Kentucky. He is going to help the Ravens right away. He gets his hands on the quarterback a lot. He also sets the edge and has good mobility. This is another pick I love." Ken Zalis All we can do is hope.

[HayintheBarn]

I'd like to see them look at trades as well, especially as it gets closer to the trade deadline if it's still an issue.

[Zeus]

D is fine we need some wideouts!!!!

Finally someone with wisdom. Great post

[ravens4life86]

Exactly. Look I dont mind if they are looking at Freeney, or Abraham... But FACT is we need a legit WR. They should have signed James Jones who returned to GB on 1 yr deal and is already balling out. But Hakeem Nicks, and some others.. We need a vet goid WR

[ravens4life86]

Bottom line is thats why we lost in Denver. O line held up well with being under so much pressure. But Trestmen and Harbs playcalling was atrocious, they didnt use TEs Gilmore, Mad Maxx until late in the game when it was to late. Our best offensive receiving weapons other then Smith sr who was blanketed by Talib. Secondly, snd most important historically Ravens refuse to go uptempo unless they are forced to score. That bothers fans most.

1) that was successful, when Joe marched down field, it tires and limits pass rush ability, and gets pass game in rhthym.

2) Open up the playbook. You cant beat your head into a wall attempting to rush for 60 minutes, and getting your QB killed.

When will the Ravens coaches and organization learn, you can still be Smashmouth and run a lot of uptempo offense and score 35 a game. Look at the squeelers and cheatriots

[JoeyFlex5]

freeney or abraham...

i would love to see either one of them in a very part time role. sadly i think the defense needs a reshuffling, as upshaw is clearly gonna see a much larger snap count, and you cant have a OLB lacking pass rush threat playing over the LT, it just isnt practical, i think keeping upshaw where he is at at ROLB, and a rotation at LOLB is the key here, with pass rushers occupying the primary pass rush spots, and keeping upshaw where he will play best.

[jravens13]

It's really Upshaw that will play more. And Zadarius will be used as a pass rusher.

[BallsohardRavens1]

I would have liked to see them spread it out earlier and run some quick routes with Joe Flacco in the shotgun to get the offense in rhythm. This was a defensive game though. I think if we would of just tried to be a little more conservative with that third down play when Joe threw the pick we would have been in a great position to win. Our defense was playing good football till the broncos last drive in which they still didn't get a touchdown on. Disappointing loss we were right there but I predict us to bounce back in a major way against the Raiders. Just happy football is back.

[cbrook1862]

Everyone was saying how deep and talented we were at wide out, then wk1 comes, Joe doesn't even have time to blink let alone complete a pass, and now everyones saying how bad we need receivers. Let the offense and line get in rhythm, protect Joe and watch this Offense br stout. Hard to judge the offense when your QB can barely get the ball out quick enough.

[Ravensfansince03]

Dean Pees needs to get this defense in mode to stuff the run this week. With Terrell Suggs out that is the first thing the raiders will want to attack, whatever side Suggs isn't on.