[News] Late For Work 12/30: Future Of Ravens Wide Receiver Position

[BR News]

Impossible stat. Maxx sets record. Webb tapped Upshaw. Biggest upset. Ray Lewis and Peyton Manning.

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[SUGGStobeDUMED]

Since I'm sure its only a matter of time till Oz asks my opinion; I will save him the phone call.

WR:

SSS

Perriman

Aiken

Campanero

Waller

Mathews

Butler/Givens(maybe)

Edited December 30, 2015 by SUGGStobeDUMED

[TheRavengers]

Aiken definitely would make a good #2 or #3 wideout for next year, presuming Perriman is ready to go by then.

[fusuymada]

Sadly, the receiving corps is just good enough to get overlooked when the draft comes around but not quite good enough to be good. We need to move past SSS. Although he is well liked, I think that an Achilles rehab on top of being 70 years old puts the Ravens in a tough spot in keeping him. Same with Campanaro, trade him for draft picks, he can't stay healthy.  Move on. Receivers should be... FA #1, Perriman is #2, Aiken is a #3, Butler is a #3. We have a bunch of #3's behind them. The pass rush and cornerback positions will be the most heavily drafted positions for the Ravens. I think with our inability to draft receivers, we need to go out full strength in free agency and get a true #1 regardless of the cost. Fill the defense with draft picks and we should be good. If the O-Line comes back, running backs and tight ends we have, a #1 free agent receiver and our other receivers and Flacco and we are good on offense. When we lose to Cincy, we will get around a 6th or 7th pick which with being able to trade comp picks we should trade back into the late first round, get two first rounders and with those get a really, really good corner and a really good pass rusher.

Edited December 30, 2015 by fusuymada

[thieverycorporation]

I sure hope Harbaugh's enthusiasm about the numbers doesn't skew the fact that nobody on the receiving corps has scared anyone on NFL teams. Yeah you have numbers but does it warrant another year of mediocre play. Starting to rise from the ashes in a lost cause is never a jump off point. The team has been getting smoked yearly and needs a fresh set of eyes and ears. I like the article i just read about the methods the Steeler's utilize in evaluations of receiver talent. They call each other out during games and practices.They fine each other (players) for blown assignments, bad routes, missed plays and the like. I'd say it's paying dividends. That's saying a lot about an all-in oriented approach. They also use a grind that reflects the strengths and weaknesses they observe. But mostly they look for subtle differences that compliment each other. Not trail blazing speed all the time. Something I believe isn't the be all end all skill set. If you have great hands and savvy you can succeed in almost any system. We have all seen Mike Wallace use speed in Pittsburgh and fail with it in Miami. Strong case to look at the film a little differently and make better decisions going forward. Home run bombs look pretty on film but not those that are dropped and consistently contested which repeatedly fall to the ground. I've seen a few standout college players this year that would fit the bill and should be highly rated and considered. If you can't catch you can't play. If you can't get open you can't play. If you can't remember the play you can't play. If you can't practice, put time/concentration/self development into off season programs that help yourself and the team then your already behind the curve. Pride should go beyond the season via continuation not the off season. It can only help ! I do like the adjustments being made thru out the season. The willingness to see what we have. It has been duly noted that we are behind the divisional rivals in a critical area. Let's hope they get the right personnel that can turn the tide this off season.

Edited December 30, 2015 by thieverycorporation

[trevorsteadman]

Aiken would be good in the slot. We need faster guys on the outside. I swear every time I see Aiken cross the middle of the field he is running 3x faster than he is on the outside. Every Sunday I see a receiver fly by on the screen during a crossing route and wonder who has that speed and it is Aiken. Then I watch him the next couple plays and he has slowed down. I love his size and versatility, but hopefully Perriman bounces back fast. We have a lot of promising receivers but I wouldn't be surprised if we drafted a receiver high again. Even with our bad luck of receivers in the draft so far we only really have two proven guys in Aiken and Steve Smith and Smith may retire.. I love the potential for all our receivers but I guess the game of football is based off of production, and not potential.

[Ravens Raver]

That hit by Butler is great! It looks like KO stops to ask that downed Steeler, "Dude, are you OK? That was some hit!"

Edited December 30, 2015 by Ravens Raver

[salamander]

Have to agree that Aiken is 1 tough dude. He has gotten whacked in the head many times this season, a few times which made me cringe or gasp. Some of those hits deserved penalties and fines (yet the refs ignored some very dangerous blows he took). To his credit, Aiken just jumps up, shakes it off and continues to produce. Aiken has proven that he plays hard nosed football and deserves a spot next year for sure.

Edited December 30, 2015 by salamander

[Bob21043]

At this point, Matthews (and/or Dan Brown) looks like a better option than Marlon; he just hasn't seemed to progress. Camp too; he's great when he's on the field, trouble is he can't stay on the field.

[jravens13]

Kamar Aiken is a starting WR in this league. He is an excellent route runner who works his tail off to get open, plays physical, and makes contested catches. We just need speed opposite of him to back safeties out of the box. Perriman? And Jeremy Butler has been showing flashes of being an explosive WR. He is big bodied like Kamar, but he is much lankier than Aiken. His long arms create a larger catch radius, but he really benefits after the catch as he covers ground quickly. Both guys are not afraid to go over the middle and take hits. IMO Aiken should be starting next year and Butler should be in the slot or vice versa.

[salamander]

That awesome block by Butler, blasting #95 on to his backside makes me laugh every time I see it. Butler laid that dude out. KO must have been laughing his head off.

Edited December 30, 2015 by salamander

[thieverycorporation]

Sadly, the receiving corps is just good enough to get overlooked when the draft comes around but not quite good enough to be good. We need to move past SSS. Although he is well liked, I think that an Achilles rehab on top of being 70 years old puts the Ravens in a tough spot in keeping him. Same with Campanaro, trade him for draft picks, he can't stay healthy.  Move on. Receivers should be... FA #1, Perriman is #2, Aiken is a #3, Butler is a #3. We have a bunch of #3's behind them. The pass rush and cornerback positions will be the most heavily drafted positions for the Ravens. I think with our inability to draft receivers, we need to go out full strength in free agency and get a true #1 regardless of the cost. Fill the defense with draft picks and we should be good. If the O-Line comes back, running backs and tight ends we have, a #1 free agent receiver and our other receivers and Flacco and we are good on offense. When we lose to Cincy, we will get around a 6th or 7th pick which with being able to trade comp picks we should trade back into the late first round, get two first rounders and with those get a really, really good corner and a really good pass rusher.

We can't trade comp picks this year. It starts year after. But i concur with most of your post.

[jravens13]

So 9 of the top 10 Defenses will make the playoffs? See the recipe Ozzie and Harbaugh?

[jravens13]

And on the Butler pancake. That was just a simple "chip" block before he ran his out route. That's Raven football right there. Give him more reps.

[rmcjacket23]

So 9 of the top 10 Defenses will make the playoffs? See the recipe Ozzie and Harbaugh?

LOL, I don't think anybody has questioned the understanding of that recipe from this organization.

 

In fact, most knocked them in the past for having far too great a dedication to this understanding.

[budman]

In my opinion, Brown doesn't get offered a tender. If Campanaro wants to stay he must prove that he can stay healthy. Waller has shown flashes and has work to do but what he has shown is promising. Givens, I believe we keep along with Aiken and Butler. Still questionable and probably practice squad is Daniel Brown & Cam Worthy. We keep Clay because of return abilities (he did a pretty good job). Matthews most definitely stays.

Edited December 30, 2015 by budman

[JoshRaven7273]

I really like our WR corps WHEN THEIR HEALTHY except Marlon Brown, we need to develop the receivers we have and concentrate on drafting Some key defensive players and some Key Offensive players and maybe one WR. We have talent on this team.

[jravens13]

LOL, I don't think anybody has questioned the understanding of that recipe from this organization.

 

In fact, most knocked them in the past for having far too great a dedication to this understanding.

Please explain to me why we let McPhee walk and we have maybe 1 cover corner who looks overpaid? Or that we haven't drafted a CB in the 1st 3 rounds since 2011 (Jimmy Smith). OR that we haven't drafted a pass rusher in the 1st 3 rounds since 2010 (Sergio Kindle) (Kruger 2009)? OR that we just drafted an ILB with the 17th pick that is too big/slow to cover running backs and TE's? A total liability is passing situations unless he is blitzing. We need ballers all over the field. I haven't seen a "Great" Ravens defense since Chuck Pagano left for Indy. 

[gabrielgrissom]

I sure hope Harbaugh's enthusiasm about the numbers doesn't skew the fact that nobody on the receiving corps has scared anyone on NFL teams. Yeah you have numbers but does it warrant another year of mediocre play. Starting to rise from the ashes in a lost cause is never a jump off point. The team has been getting smoked yearly and needs a fresh set of eyes and ears. I like the article i just read about the methods the Steeler's utilize in evaluations of receiver talent. They call each other out during games and practices.They fine each other (players) for blown assignments, bad routes, missed plays and the like. I'd say it's paying dividends. That's saying a lot about an all-in oriented approach. They also use a grind that reflects the strengths and weaknesses they observe. But mostly they look for subtle differences that compliment each other. Not trail blazing speed all the time. Something I believe isn't the be all end all skill set. If you have great hands and savvy you can succeed in almost any system. We have all seen Mike Wallace use speed in Pittsburgh and fail with it in Miami. Strong case to look at the film a little differently and make better decisions going forward. Home run bombs look pretty on film but not those that are dropped and consistently contested which repeatedly fall to the ground. I've seen a few standout college players this year that would fit the bill and should be highly rated and considered. If you can't catch you can't play. If you can't get open you can't play. If you can't remember the play you can't play. If you can't practice, put time/concentration/self development into off season programs that help yourself and the team then your already behind the curve. Pride should go beyond the season via continuation not the off season. It can only help ! I do like the adjustments being made thru out the season. The willingness to see what we have. It has been duly noted that we are behind the divisional rivals in a critical area. Let's hope they get the right personnel that can turn the tide this off season.

I don't think you have to scare anyone in this league... After all we are playing with people the general viewers had no idea of who they were at the beginning. I mean our very own Chris Matthews I don't think was a feared target and he went off in the SB... I doubt a whole lot of successful dbs line up across a wide receiver scared or not confident in there abilities its just all about can you make the plays and they have

[gabrielgrissom]

Please explain to me why we let McPhee walk and we have maybe 1 cover corner who looks overpaid? Or that we haven't drafted a CB in the 1st 3 rounds since 2011 (Jimmy Smith). OR that we haven't drafted a pass rusher in the 1st 3 rounds since 2010 (Sergio Kindle) (Kruger 2009)? OR that we just drafted an ILB with the 17th pick that is too big/slow to cover running backs and TE's? A total liability is passing situations unless he is blitzing. We need ballers all over the field. I haven't seen a "Great" Ravens defense since Chuck Pagano left for Indy.

OK let's gets this straight about Pernell... It was not entirely about money... Pernell still would be a role player if he was here... Just like tyrod he wanted to get a chance to start. So if he would have came back here it would have taken the kitchen sink to bring him back appreciate a player like zadarius who has potential... And if you want a slow linebacker look at 51... I really love him and hes way quicker than I am but that's why we have 54 on the field a lot more I didn't see you complaining blast year with cj... Players just don't turn into bad players after one year

[gabrielgrissom]

Please explain to me why we let McPhee walk and we have maybe 1 cover corner who looks overpaid? Or that we haven't drafted a CB in the 1st 3 rounds since 2011 (Jimmy Smith). OR that we haven't drafted a pass rusher in the 1st 3 rounds since 2010 (Sergio Kindle) (Kruger 2009)? OR that we just drafted an ILB with the 17th pick that is too big/slow to cover running backs and TE's? A total liability is passing situations unless he is blitzing. We need ballers all over the field. I haven't seen a "Great" Ravens defense since Chuck Pagano left for Indy.

and to be frank with you I'm pretty sure he is not the only overpaid corner in the league... That was the general consensus coming out of free agency last year was that everyone was overpayed

[MiamiRaven55]

SSS just announced he's returning!!!!!

[Purple Hazard]

"They need more playmakers" I think I mentioned this like midway through the season. What has hurt us the most were big plays allowed by the defense and the lack of big plays on offense. No matter what, we need to draft a player who can step right in there and I don't really care if you go for offense or defense. If we draft around 8 a guy like Ramsey might be gone but we may get a top WR. Although we got a WR in the 1st round last year I wouldn't mind getting another one because we don't know about Perriman. Drafting another WR high should just be a win win situation.

About Maxx: I think he played pretty well this season. We didn't need him to do it all, because we had two other very good guys playing hard and Maxx is still very young. Let the kid develop.

About Upshaw: Don't know how much money he will command but if he doesn't wants an insane amount I think we should try to get him back. He might not be the best passrusher but he is a nice piece of the puzzle.

[ellicottraven]

Awesome!!! SSS returning to fulfill his final year contract with the Ravens! Our WR situation suddenly looking great. SSS, Perriman, Aiken, Campanaro, Butler, Chris Mathews amd Darren Waller. One of these last 3 won't make it to the final 53 but we are set.

[chuchu707]

jeremy butler shouldve been playing since week 1

[ksk316]

"Deep, but unsettled."

No! No! No! No!

Not this again. By deep you mean a bunch of 3rd and 4th string receivers. That's not deep. We'd like to see NFL caliber starting receiver competition in the off season for once. You can't fool us fans time and again.

[chuchu707]

SSS

Peeriman

Aiken

Butler

Givens

Chris Matthews for redzone

use givens and peeriman at the same time on deep sets

[Kwilliams84]

I think we should draft In the 1st round laquon Treadwell because periman is a question mark. Smith, Treadwell, aiken, butler, Matthews and periman if healthy would be nice offense to go with the tes gilmore, williams, boyle, fb kyle, rbs allen, west

[burnbigben]

Please explain to me why we let McPhee walk and we have maybe 1 cover corner who looks overpaid? Or that we haven't drafted a CB in the 1st 3 rounds since 2011 (Jimmy Smith). OR that we haven't drafted a pass rusher in the 1st 3 rounds since 2010 (Sergio Kindle) (Kruger 2009)? OR that we just drafted an ILB with the 17th pick that is too big/slow to cover running backs and TE's? A total liability is passing situations unless he is blitzing. We need ballers all over the field. I haven't seen a "Great" Ravens defense since Chuck Pagano left for Indy. 

 

I think if you look at our last 3 drafts those assets are going to start paying dividends.  2013 - Brandon Williams, Wagner, Juszcyzk, Jensen, Lewis-Moore all starting to contribute and I'm not quite ready to give up on Elam or Art Brown yet either.  2014 - Mosely, Jernigan, Brooks, Gillmore, Urschel, Urban all playing meaningful snaps with Taliaferro and Campanaro showing potential.  2015 - Max Williams, Carl Davis, Zadarrius Smith, Javorius Allen and Nick Boyle all look like good NFL players.  Now if Perriman and Tray Walker also produce last years class could be the cornerstone of our turnaround.

 

I've been pretty surprised with how terrible this year has went for us but I think we have plenty of talent here and with early picks in next years draft (the highest we've picked in my years watching is Suggs at 10) it could be a very quick turnaround. Just my 2 cents.

[rmcjacket23]

"Deep, but unsettled." No! No! No! No! Not this again. By deep you mean a bunch of 3rd and 4th string receivers. That's not deep. We'd like to see NFL caliber starting receiver competition in the off season for once. You can't fool us fans time and again.

Well, by definition, depth means a bunch of 3rd and 4 string receivers. There aren't any teams I know of that have #1 or #2 level WRs as depth.

 

Depth in this case means not a significant dropoff between our best receivers and our 3rd or 4th receivers. You could argue that's a good thing and a bad thing at the same time.