[News] Late For Work 11/18: Breshad Perriman Just Made Things A Lot More Complicated This Offseason

[ineng1379]

All the moves in recent days suggest that we have laid down the sword.... fine, no worries. Just come back healthy next year and play like a Raven. At least I won't be having a heart attack at 59:01 marker every game.

There's only one request I have, please beat the hell out of Pittsburgh come December.

[ReginaldColeman1]

They need to shore up the defense and dump some contracts while limiting the dead money. Stop giving out four year contracts at market prices to average players. Draft guys for the long haul not the quick fix and dump. Synchronize the cap space and the talent to get the most of your investments. It's like the Front Office has a split personality. U got a GM who knows talent when he sees it, but a money management group that nixes things because they aren't able to calculate value only numbers. That inevitably ends up in overpaying for the Monroes and losing a young stud. I'm not suggesting McPhee would ever be a Suggs but imagine if u had someone like him entering his fourth year rookie contract and a guy with double digit years of experience and injuries to boot. And you put your marbles in the older legs with the vintage reputation. It doesn't end up pretty. Learn how to turn over your personnel so that u aren't left in a bind at the mercy of your competitors. Brandon Williams is a good example of doing it right to replace Haloti. Who's there for Suggs? Za'Darius? Brown? Seriously? For Canty? Urban? Waiting for Birk to practically clear out his locker before settling on Gradkowski? Yikes! Talk about u don't know what u got it's just not Perriman who hasn't been used.

[baru643]

The Ravens haven't been really good since their Super Bowl win. Yes they made a nice run last year, but they barely made it to the playoffs. Steve Bisciotti put Harbs on notice last year. Let's see how he handles "this" off-season. One more sub-par year and heads may roll....

 

I don't think getting rid of Harbs is the answer, who else is available that has a better track record than him?  The 49ers made the mistake off running of the other Harbaugh and they are much worse off because of it.  I think that this year’s train wreck of a season has a bunch of contributing factors (injuries, losing players to FA, lack of depth at key positions, 4th OC in 5 years, no big playmakers on offence, etc...) and cannot be attributed to just the HC.

 

I agree that we started on a bit of a downturn after the SB win, but we lost a lot of players to free agency because of that success.  I think the FO just needs to be better focused and prepared for the next draft and come off the money and sign some key FA if possibly. 

 

Looking forward to next year!  Go Ravens!

Edited November 18, 2015 by baru643

[cbrook1862]

Either select a wr within the first 2 rounds of the draft, or go get one through free agency, it's as simple as that

[riseNConquer81]

where's the complication?

Doesnt really matter what Perriman is or isnt. Smith senior isnt hanging around for any longer than another season IF that, and none of our other receivers are worth much. Whether Perriman is the second coming of Jerry Rice or Mark Clayton, we need 2 or 3 more receivers anyway, draft em. and a safety. Shouldnt be hard, we have a good tight end group and a million Running backs.

[RavensReck27]

Last year we had three great bargain F/A signings, Steve Smith, Justin Forsett, and Owen Daniels. This year we have who? Kendrick Lewis? Granted we didn't have too much cap room to work with, but we didn't get any offseason steals like we normally do this year, and that hurt us. Luckily, since our team is failing this season, most of our upcoming F/A won't be attracting market money. Upshaw has no sacks this season, so we will be able to keep our run blocking specialist OLB for a bargain contract. Flacco has had a lot of INT this year, a lot of it has to do with passing to one of the worst WR corps in the league, but his stats this year should keep his contract extension at a pretty fair price. That being said, other than a few bad decision throws I have been very impressed with what Flacco has done this season with what he has to work with. I think once we fix our WR corps this offseason he will light it up next season in his second year with Trestman. Osemele may still be hard to keep, but he is having a down year as far as PFF ratings go. I'm glad Urschel will be starting for the rest of the season at Center so he can get that experience incase he has to step into the LG starting spot next year if Osemele goes. Tucker has been clutch, but he has missed a fair amount of kicks as far as his standard goes. With the kicking woes around the league this year, I think the price of having a quality kicker will go up. I'm looking forward to rebuilding this offseason.

[RavensReck27]

Good thing I love the NFL draft so much and doing research on potential prospects for us. Now it will make it a lot more interesting since we will most likely have a top 10 pick this year. Oz, it's time to draft another franchise star.

[ravenstime]

We need to get some Veteran Players this off-season. We need to get a starting WR with experience, good experience. If we don't pay a good receiver to come here, we're in the same boat next year.

[purpledown]

the Ravens are in a tough position at WR, but if a guy like Treadwell from Ole Miss is there, take him. Also for a team not that far removed from a Super Bowl, this team gets no respect. The treatment of the refs involved proves that.

[NCMan]

If you read the article above, you clearly would see that his contract balloons to $28 Mill next year. And he is not a $20 Million dollar QB. He is good enough to win a SB with a great team, and coaching around him. 

If you read the article and understood the differences between salaries and cap numbers, you would not state that his contract balloons to $28 mill next year. It doesn't.

[EddiOK]

Doesn't seem too difficult. Assume Perriman is a bust. Assume SSS is done. Rebuild from the ground up with a combo of GOOD(!) drafts along with a FA or 2. It's not like the freezer's full of food now as it is. So if either of the first two don't turn out bad (Perriman actually plays, SSS comes back for a season), you now have depth where you only had crumbs before. This will definitely be Ozzie's legacy - either he gets it right and we're back in business, or he whiffs again, and he's easily one of the first firings after another dismal season.

[FloridalovesRavens]

The Ravens are playing "like a Raven" and getting personal fouls for their efforts. Oh and don't forget no penalties for opposing teams at just the right time. Is our team bad YES but we have not had one break go our way. You can say the team makes its own breaks but you can't win when you have not only the opposing team but the referees as well to deal with. Go Ravens.

[rmcjacket23]

If I were a betting man, and this is without knowing our final draft position...

 

Assuming SSS returns, they basically roll with SSS and Perriman next season, though they add a 2nd or 3rd round WR in and possibly pick up a cheaper veteran FA.

 

Then, first round pick and/or second round pick is used on BPA as either a pass rusher or in the secondary (corner/FS, doesn't matter much to me).

 

Will be interesting to see how things play out. If they are serious about moving Webb to FS, than corner becomes an obvious priority. If not, then FS in my mind is the biggest need on this team. FS and corner, to me, are the two areas where you can't really argue much that the production is low due to injuries, whereas at WR and pass rusher you arguably can.

[Grapple Raven]

Schmuck said in article:  "(Remember, the NFL is against all forms of gambling on its games. That's why just 15 of the 32 teams signed sponsorship deals with real-money fantasy company FanDuel last April.)" 

 

Just ask Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft who have a stake in FanDuel.  I am beginning to think this isn't the NFL, but more like the NKL...National Krafty League.  Just got three words for the Commissioner: conflict of interest? 

[rmcjacket23]

Schmuck said in article:  "(Remember, the NFL is against all forms of gambling on its games. That's why just 15 of the 32 teams signed sponsorship deals with real-money fantasy company FanDuel last April.)" 

 

Just ask Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft who have a stake in FanDuel.  I am beginning to think this isn't the NFL, but more like the NKL...National Krafty League.  Just got three words for the Commissioner: conflict of interest? 

Kind of don't really understand the conflict of interest argument though.

 

I mean we know that NFL players basically really can't play DFS (they can, but can't win more than $250 doing so), so there's no incentive for them to have any influence on the outcome.

 

Also ignores the fact that there's a good chance DFS won't be around too much longer anyway, and the fact that the large one's, coming into 2015, were not yet even profitable.

[Maryland]

I like just about everything I read under the "Time for Raven to Play Young Talent" heading. Might as well see what these guys got. At best, some of them flash talent; at worst, they get you closer to a top draft pick.

[Guest]

Doesn't seem too difficult. Assume Perriman is a bust. Assume SSS is done. Rebuild from the ground up with a combo of GOOD(!) drafts along with a FA or 2. It's not like the freezer's full of food now as it is. So if either of the first two don't turn out bad (Perriman actually plays, SSS comes back for a season), you now have depth where you only had crumbs before. This will definitely be Ozzie's legacy - either he gets it right and we're back in business, or he whiffs again, and he's easily one of the first firings after another dismal season.

 

Ozzie has a sidekick they've been grooming. He won't be fired, but its time for his to take all those vacations he's held back on. NOW!

Edited November 19, 2015 by Danny D

[BigUgly]

Ravens need to draft the best LT, OLB, CB, or WR available with the first 3 picks in the draft, and then fill in the remaining gaps through free agency. Given Ozzie's track record, signing a good WR via free agency is probably the best course of action.

Of course, that means Ozzie will draft 2 DTs in the first 3 rounds or, since he likes to draft counter to the strength of a draft (i.e. Mosley in the arguably the best WR draft ever), he will take 2 OGs.

[slowboater]

.......I agree that we started on a bit of a downturn after the SB win, but we lost a lot of players to free agency because of that success.  I think the FO just needs to be better focused and prepared for the next draft and come off the money and sign some key FA if possibly. 

 

Looking forward to next year!  Go Ravens!

Stating that the FO needs to be better focused sounds a little utopian. Of course they need to draft better. Money? Sure, they need to get out from underneath all the over priced contracts. That is exactly my point. The front office, Harbs and his coaching staff have made excuses for the last couple of years. This team isn't going to magically turn things around next year. There are too many holes. Plus, add that the Ravens still have to pay the rest of Pitta's, Webb's, Sugg's money and Joe's contract will be kicked down the road. I am not saying they can't complete, but they have many weaknesses that will be apparent for years to come. That blame doesn't just fall on Ozzie, but on the coaching staff too. I am not the one that put the notice out to Harbs..... Steve Bisciotti did!

[Crusader]

Anyone else notice short receivers are better than these tall ones? Ravens need to find their Steve Largent or younger Steve Smith.

[rmcjacket23]

Ravens need to draft the best LT, OLB, CB, or WR available with the first 3 picks in the draft, and then fill in the remaining gaps through free agency. Given Ozzie's track record, signing a good WR via free agency is probably the best course of action. Of course, that means Ozzie will draft 2 DTs in the first 3 rounds or, since he likes to draft counter to the strength of a draft (i.e. Mosley in the arguably the best WR draft ever), he will take 2 OGs.

1. LT won't be on that list. Monroe plays fine and they aren't cutting him.

 

2. The whole "he drafts to counter the strengths of the draft" concept is a myth and has been debunked already. The Mosley argument doesn't hold much weight, largely because the likely WRs available were Cooks and Benjamin, and there's no telling how well either would have done on this team. Cooks certainly didn't fit the mold of the type of receiver we were looking for, and Benjamin was incredibly raw and really wasn't even viewed as a first round player, which is why he lasted until late in the round. The studs of the draft were gone long before we picked.

 

Similarly, I, like many, knew that MLB was arguably one of our biggest positions of need. Ozzie himself told you this before the draft even began. We had Daryl Smith and nobody else.

 

Not hard to see that coming.

[jravens13]

Just so we are clear about what the current landscape of QBs in the NFL are:

 

In terms of AAV, there are nine QBs in the league who have an AAV of $20M a season. Given that any given week there's only 32 starting NFL QBs in this league (I'd argue there's less), that's roughly 30% of all QBs.

 

While I'd easily argue that there are precisely zero QBs in the NFL who can win a SB without a good core of players surrounding them and good coaching, at best, there's maybe two on this list... Rodgers and Brees.

 

If we to expand this amount of AAV down a bit (since to me there's practically no difference between a $17-18M QB and a $20M QB), you've basically accounted for most of the starting QB in the league that isn't on a rookie deal, since there are 16 QBs with an AAV of $17M or more.

 

Basically, if you want a QB capable of winning a SB with a good supporting cast around them, the lowest possible amount you can spend (save rookies) is $17-18M a year. 

 

In short, there really isn't many valid argument for him being underpaid at this point. Even when you compare him to his peers, you'll find things that he has that they don't, and thinks that they have that he doesn't. Its an argument that never gets anywhere.

If you need a stacked team, around Flacco to win a SB (which you do), I would argue that he is overpaid. He shouldn't be making over $20 Million a year. Ozzie always backloads contracts and it puts us in a worse situation down the road. Here we are in that worse situation with less talent, and less cap space to build our team for 2016. Teams always think the QB is the first part of the equation, but I would argue that it should be the last part of the equation. Look at how the Steelers won their Super Bowls. Even the Ravens. We had everything in place before we got the QB to get us over the top. QB might be the toughest position to play in the league, but they are undoubtably overrated unless they are Peyton, Brady, Rodgers, Brees in their prime. 

[Petteri Moilanen]

This!

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck-blog/bal-nfl-corrections-ring-hollow-for-ravens-20151117-story.html