[News] Late For Work 10/23: Do Ravens Have More Injuries Than Other NFL Teams?

[balfan23]

Ray says we need to start over and the article disagrees, claiming we do have the cornerstones of the franchise going forward in place. What I think Ray is talking about is true leadership and not just talent.

 

The guys listed (Yanda, Flacco, Williams, Smith, Mosely) ... all have talent and are all guys you can win with. But where is the leadership? Guys like Ray, Reed and Suggs all possess much more than talent, they commanded the respect and undivided attention of their teammates. The current "cornerstone" players are all quiet "lead by example" type players.

 

Who is the guy on this team now who is going to tell the defense in the 4th quarter when we're gripping to a lead and the opponent is trying to mount a game winning drive that "we are NOT going to let this happen"?

 

I fear the answer is no one.

[Ravenshine]

What's up with NFL.com? Every week, after week, no articles on Ravens. Other teams regardless of record, get stories. We don't get hardly anything. Then today an article of trading SSS to Carolina. So, when we do get an article, it's negative about our team in one way or another. So, what's up with NFL.com?

[WNC-Raven]

the d line is fine. It's actually probably the strongpoint of the entire team. We also have peices in place in every position you listed. Get a pass rusher and a corner or safety via the draft and sign a upper tier receiver in FA and we will be right back in the mix with Suggs returning next year.

The Dline has no depth. For a team like the Ravens who are constantly rotating guys in and out of the Dline depth is critical.

[budman]

What's up with NFL.com? Every week, after week, no articles on Ravens. Other teams regardless of record, get stories. We don't get hardly anything. Then today an article of trading SSS to Carolina. So, when we do get an article, it's negative about our team in one way or another. So, what's up with NFL.com?

That's the Norm around here. We are all used to it.

[Ravensfansince03]

Ray Lewis is absolutely right. And Sarah, I would like to agree with what you are saying about Jimmy Smith, Mosley, & B.Williams being the foundation for this defense. But thus far, this defense sucks, so if you want to believe that these guys are the foundation then you are fine with this team being mediocre at best.

 

Jimmy Smith is very good and is a staple for this defense and he should remain a Raven, but he's not a leader. Brandon Williams is a 2nd string caliber player at best. Yes he is very strong but it is obvious that without help he gets stood up at the line. Mosley is still playing with a cast. 

 

Outside of Mosley, none of our recent acquisitions on defense were meant to be the foundation players, they were set pieces added around the foundation we already had with Smith & Webb, Suggs, Ngata, Mcphee, etc.

 

I think the last offseason Ozzie & company tried to build this offense so strong that we wouldn't need to rely on defense, and it backfired.  

 

In conclusion, get back to building this DEFENSE

Edited October 23, 2015 by Ravensfansince03

[iluvpurple]

It's both the offense and defense. IF the offense would score at the beginning of games and more times in the red zone the entire game we would at least have 4-5 wins even though the defense has given up points and has not been able to get off the field. We have failed on both sides of the ball at crucial times each game. It will change, but not quickly.

While I would normally completely agree with this statement any other season, I was also thinking that even if the offense put up 40-50 pts per game, would that still be enough to win? The defense is so un-trustworthy this season, so what you are basically saying is the offense must carry the team....... They are currently scoring enough points to win these games, but after all is said and done, the defense gives up more points.

But yes, I will still agree that the offense should go out and finish better in the red-zone, and somehow start pounding in more TD's than they have been.

[balfan23]

So ... I don't know that we need to "start over", but we do need to find that guy who not only brings talent but takes the team by the scruff of the neck and kicks them in the butt when it is needed. The trick is ... where do we go to get that? They don't grow on trees. 

 

That could be available in the draft, if we have a high enough pick - but the evaluation needs to go beyond talent. We need a guy who's got that leader quality that he can back it up with his play on the field. 

[bburnham89]

If it's Salary Cap issues or any other mony problems, I suggest you ask or get with Mcjacket on it. No joke, the man has got it covered and is quite accurate with it.

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot/doofus, what or who is Mcjacket?  I have no idea what you're referencing, haha.

[steelraven]

If they have a cornerstone like Sarah says, then how come they don't have an identity? Every week the question is asked, what's the identity of the Ravens? So that right there lets me know that those players that she named aren't cornerstones. In the past when you looked at the Ravens you thought of a rough and tough defense and a run it down your throat type team. Now I don't know what to think of this team. So Ray Lewis is right, there will never be another Ray Lewis but the Ravens better find an identity before they end up like the Cleveland Browns.

[budman]

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot/doofus, what or who is Mcjacket?  I have no idea what you're referencing, haha.

Sorry. My bad. He is a fellow Raven blogger on here. He is quite the info-monger (in a good way). Look him up in the directory.

[Ravenshine]

That's the Norm around here. We are all used to it.

I'll never get used to it. This team deserves more respect, nothing I can do lol. But I'll never be used to it. I guess we will have to win 5 more SB before they even mention us in a positive light.

[bioLarzen]

"Is it OK to disagree with an icon?"

 

In this case, Sarah, no.

 

For the simple reason that he is right.

[budman]

Ray Lewis is absolutely right. And Sarah, I would like to agree with what you are saying about Jimmy Smith, Mosley, & B.Williams being the foundation for this defense. But thus far, this defense sucks, so if you want to believe that these guys are the foundation then you are fine with this team being mediocre at best.

 

Jimmy Smith is very good and is a staple for this defense and he should remain a Raven, but he's not a leader. Brandon Williams is a 2nd string caliber player at best. Yes he is very strong but it is obvious that without help he gets stood up at the line. Mosley is still playing with a cast. 

 

Outside of Mosley, none of our recent acquisitions on defense were meant to be the foundation players, they were set pieces added around the foundation we already had with Smith & Webb, Suggs, Ngata, Mcphee, etc.

 

I think the last offseason Ozzie & company tried to build this offense so strong that we wouldn't need to rely on defense, and it backfired.  

 

In conclusion, get back to building this DEFENSE

Have to kind of disagree. Williams and Jernigan, etc were brought in because the front office knew that we could not pay Mcphee and Ngata not restructuring was forcing our hand to add depth to the D-line then, instead of other areas that we needed help. Front office knew that we couldn't lose those guys and more without having anyone to take their place.

[bioLarzen]

If it's Salary Cap issues or any other mony problems, I suggest you ask or get with Mcjacket on it. No joke, the man has got it covered and is quite accurate with it.

 

A rather comprehensive summary of the Ravens' current cap outlook for 2016:

 

http://russellstreetreport.com/2015/10/22/baltimore-ravens-salary-cap/ravens-2016-salary-cap-preview/

 

A concise summary: it doesn't look too bright. Almost surely no big splashes in free agency next off season either...

[budman]

A rather comprehensive summary of the Ravens' current cap outlook for 2016:

 

http://russellstreetreport.com/2015/10/22/baltimore-ravens-salary-cap/ravens-2016-salary-cap-preview/

 

A concise summary: it doesn't look too bright. Almost surely no big splashes in free agency next off season either...

Oh yeah. Bio is pretty good at it too!!

[RavensVAfan]

If they have a cornerstone like Sarah says, then how come they don't have an identity? Every week the question is asked, what's the identity of the Ravens? So that right there lets me know that those players that she named aren't cornerstones. In the past when you looked at the Ravens you thought of a rough and tough defense and a run it down your throat type team. Now I don't know what to think of this team. So Ray Lewis is right, there will never be another Ray Lewis but the Ravens better find an identity before they end up like the Cleveland Browns.

This is a good point and a valid question.  What was the Ravens identity last year?  Killer run defense and sack monsters.  Consistent offense.  You can argue losing Suggs, Ngata, and McPhee erased that identity on defense but what about the offense?  How did it go from priding itself in efficiency, to one that has no life?  Its a coaching issue again.

[OzzieBisciotti]

If we're the 14th ranked team in injuries, and not in the top 3, this only means two things: 1) the team isn't being coached well, and/ or 2) our foundation of players aren't very good because Oz has drafted badly/ picked up meaningless FA over the past five years.

I don't think Harbs doesn't become a bad coach over night, so I believe it's the latter of the two above.

Also, I would not say CJ Mosely is a cornerstone player just yet until he gets much better in pass coverage (plus, he's only been in the league for 1 year)- he plays like "Swiss cheese Elam" when it comes to pass coverage. Heck, he might as well play corner back because he'll fit the way our current corners play today (at least he won't be injured all the time like Webb and Jimmy).

[ravenwildman]

I think the biggest difference between the Ravens and the other "beat up" teams is the 2-3rd string or backups are not as good as they are on other teams. This was apparent in preseason and it reared it's ugly head as injuries required people to step up. Injuries aside....many of the "big plays" that were game changers happened to the starters, not to back ups. With all the talent on defense.....the Ravens defense should not be getting owned like it is. GO RAVENS!

[jravens13]

The Ravens have been sleepwalking on their opening drives this season, ranking as the slowest-starting offense in the league,%u201D wrote Hensley. %u201CBaltimore has more punts (five) than first downs (three) on its first drives of games, and the Ravens are one of two teams (the Houston Texans are the other) not to score a point the first time they touch the ball.

Flacco is just too busy filming commercials. This team is frustrating!!!

[RavensBaltimore]

Ray Lewis must be forgetting that when he and Ed Reed were the cornerstones of this team, they had 6 consecutive seasons where they failed to win a playoff game. They failed to even make the playoffs 4 out of those 6 years, and half of those 6 years resulted in losing seasons. Was anyone saying we didn't have any cornerstones then? Sometimes it's the supporting cast causing the problems, not the cornerstones. You don't "start from scratch" from one bad start, especially when not one team, including a couple of undefeated ones, has beaten you by more than 6.

[DMH_in_WA]

The problem I have with stuff like this is it's a report based on an article that takes nothing else into consideration but the number of missed starts a team has. It doesn't look at the positions lost or the players involved. But even more than that, the ESPN article confusingly ignores Campanaro, Elam, Taliaferro, Will Davis, Pitta, Urban and others when they calculated the games missed. The Ravens are above the Packers at #1 just in season ending games missed. So using that to compare teams and their wins-losses doesn't make much sense to me.

You can look at just the position injuries they have and see why the "#14" Ravens are struggling with their injuries more than the more banged up "#1" Packers. Especially considering most of the Ravens loses are coming down to the defense holding teams late.

Loss to Injury by Position (using ProFootball Reference since they correctly assign Pitta and Urban to the injuries):

Packers:

1x Tight End - 1x Defensive End - 2x Linebacker - 3x Wide Receiver - 2x Safety

Ravens:

4x Tight End - 1x Defensive End - 1x Linebacker - 4x Wide Receiver - 3x Safety - 3x Corner Back - 1x Running Back - 1x Defensive Tackle - 1x Offensive Tackle

Wanna know who is doing the math at ESPN.

Edited October 23, 2015 by DMH_in_WA

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I honestly think we have some key pieces to build around on this team but it's the depth at certain positions and the lack of talent at other positions on this team that really needs to be addressed I.M.H.O. For example the defensive backfield needs to be retooled and depth added and the WR position needs a total overhaul once SSS leaves.

[thecommish]

how did Suggs miss 15 starts this season???? when are are in week 7 ??????

[llxxGrimxxll]

i'm kind of hoping arizona with the power offense puts up an NFL record on our defense.. maybe we can finally get some people fired then

[dayday]

Ray Lewis retired and forgot his franchise that he cared so much for. I am still pro Ray Lewis but he know his former team is struggling why not come in to talk to the young players? I know he doesn't owe the team anything after he gave his all for all those years but it would be nice to see him being around the team. Every time he talk about the Ravens it always seems like he is almost trashing us. We don't need to rebuild the whole team, we need to rebuild some areas ( WR, Secondary ) especially. If he was around the team more he would know exactly what we need imo.

Edited October 23, 2015 by dayday

[baltimore1975]

You all can bash Ray all you want to BUT team hasn't been the same since he retired. Sometimes you truly don't understand GREATNESS until it's gone. I agree with Ray. Just remember the more NEGS you give me the more you are agreeing with me

[ravenpic]

Ray is cool to say what he feels as we haven't looked close to what we should as a team. I want to make the best out of what looks to be an off year. That may turn out to be next years draft. High picks every round. I don't like losing, but the Colts did it to get Andrew Luck. We got Mosley thanks to finishing 8-8. This is how you build a team in today's NFL. By hook or by crook. Get that good draft we need so badly. Harbaugh stays no matter how many we win or lose. Same for Flacco.

[whobilly]

The Cardinals losing in Pittsburgh will simply fire them up that much more. Face it, we can't beat this team and we are going to get embarrassed. Hope I'm dead wrong but..... AZ 41 Balt 17

[TheRavengers]

Don't know if I would start over as a whole Ray, but the truth is the team just isn't good this year and probably some of the pieces that would help are currently on IR.

[Mad Scientist Too]

how did Suggs miss 15 starts this season???? when are are in week 7 ??????

There are 16 games in a season. Sluggs played and was injured game #1. Suggs was placed on IR meaning he would not return in the 2015 season. 16-1=15. At the end of the season Suggs will have missed 15 games.