[News] Eisenberg: Ozzie Newsome Cautious About 2016 Playoff Hopes

[BR News]

The Ravens general manager wasn’t overly optimistic about returning to the postseason, saying it could take until October to know whether key returning injured players can make an impact.

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[eze17]

The Raven's should be cautious about this upcoming season...to many question marks not only on the injury front, but we still have a few holes in our roster...can we draft the right guys to come in and start? How many will we start, and how many will be prospects? Yeah, we lost some close games last year,(including one that the NFL admitted we should have won!) but we also looked bad and got thumped more than a few times, and against teams we would have normally beat.

That being said, i'm optimistic we can win 9-10 games this season. The schedule is not overwhelming, we won't have to travel like we did last year, and I think last year was more a fluke than a permanent slide. But would 9-7 or even 10-6 get us into the play-offs?

[Space11jams]

The Raven's should be cautious about this upcoming season...to many question marks not only on the injury front, but we still have a few holes in our roster...can we draft the right guys to come in and start? How many will we start, and how many will be prospects? Yeah, we lost some close games last year,(including one that the NFL admitted we should have won!) but we also looked bad and got thumped more than a few times, and against teams we would have normally beat.

That being said, i'm optimistic we can win 9-10 games this season. The schedule is not overwhelming, we won't have to travel like we did last year, and I think last year was more a fluke than a permanent slide. But would 9-7 or even 10-6 get us into the play-offs?

Our biggest problem was pass rush and our ability to cover on def. With Suggs out, Doom was getting double/triple team. With no pass rush, that's easy pickings for any QB in the NFL. DB's can't cover for that long and that hurt us. We get Sizzle back along with drafting and developing pass rushers. Bring in some DB's and we're good to go. Honestly, I'm happy with offense at the moment. Maybe bring in a OT from the draft but our biggest need is play makers on the defense.

[stixfix69]

Well..this team has always had a attitude where they expect to make the playoffs, we are team that doesn't gut a team and start over, we have always reloaded, with the expectations to make the show, and if you're not in it to win it, then whats the point...So regardless of how cautious they say they are, this team won't expect anything less than making the dance....That's is the standard here....Last year was a exception....

[ellicottraven]

I think it is best to manage expectation this early in the off season. Who really knows the team we're going to field in September? Also, who knows how strong our opponents' teams are going to be? Every team is trying to improve and some will and some won't. Let's all just hope we will and our opponents don't!

[jsberryman]

With parity, injuries, officiating and only 16 games to work with, every NFL season is a crap shoot. Other than New England, (because of their stinky division) does anyone really feel comfortable picking division winners before the regular season is kicked off. The Ravens lost a game to Jacksonville because of the officials, fortunately we did not miss the playoffs by one game. With only 16 games, you lose a couple of close ones and your whole season ends up in jeopardy. One would have to believe that the Ravens will not have all the critical injuries and pray that Flacco is ready for action. Bengals, Steelers and Ravens could all compete for the division, you just cannot predict the NFL very easily.

[fusuymada]

If it takes 4 weeks to determine what type of team you have, I guess there was a lot of hand wringing after the first four games of 2015. After going 1-3 in preseason followed by 0-4 in the regular season, I'm sure Ozzie sat in a dark office staring blindly at the walls realizing what he had assembled in 2015.

Edited April 12, 2016 by fusuymada
grammer

[The Greek]

if the o-line plays like it did during kubiaks 1 season here than the offense will be fine. trestman has a season under his belt and im sure a better grasp of the personnel he has to work with aside from perriman/pitta. the key will be flaccos mindset regarding his knee. hopefully he does not rush his throws because he is worried about taking a hit and can pees get it done coaching the defense. i truly believe he will be on a shorter leash with harbs this season especially now that he has a coach who has def coord exp and head coaching exp. in frazier.

[usmccharles]

With the drastic changes and how close the AFC and our division is...every year is a close call.  So obviously with the turnover people need to have realistic expectations.  I  see 9-7 year but that might not be enough to get in the playoffs

[eze17]

With the drastic changes and how close the AFC and our division is...every year is a close call.  So obviously with the turnover people need to have realistic expectations.  I  see 9-7 year but that might not be enough to get in the playoffs

Agreed...I think 9-7 or 10-6 are optimistic results. Given the strength of our division making the play-offs is going to be a challenge. Hopefully the injury bug bites someone else this year, preferably Pitt or Cincy!

[usmccharles]

2 minutes ago, eze17 said:

Agreed...I think 9-7 or 10-6 are optimistic results. Given the strength of our division making the play-offs is going to be a challenge. Hopefully the injury bug bites someone else this year, preferably Pitt or Cincy!

Ill make a bold statement here...i think Cinci goes 8-8

[eze17]

  19 minutes ago, eze17 said:

Agreed...I think 9-7 or 10-6 are optimistic results. Given the strength of our division making the play-offs is going to be a challenge. Hopefully the injury bug bites someone else this year, preferably Pitt or Cincy!

Ill make a bold statement here...i think Cinci goes 8-8

Wow! that is bold, but it would make us getting to the playoffs a lot easier...are you basing it on Berfect and Jones melting down and destroying the team from within, or just don't like Cincy?

[ellicottraven]

  33 minutes ago, eze17 said:

Agreed...I think 9-7 or 10-6 are optimistic results. Given the strength of our division making the play-offs is going to be a challenge. Hopefully the injury bug bites someone else this year, preferably Pitt or Cincy!

Ill make a bold statement here...i think Cinci goes 8-8

Can you imagine anybody saying the Bungles going 8-8 is a bold statement because they're expected to do better? Typically 8-8 would qualify as being a very bold statement for Cincy just given they were a perennial losing team!

[usmccharles]

11 minutes ago, eze17 said:

Wow! that is bold, but it would make us getting to the playoffs a lot easier...are you basing it on Berfect and Jones melting down and destroying the team from within, or just don't like Cincy?

No one here likes Cincy.  Them losing their 2 and 3 WRs will force them to draft a WR who wont have immediate impact imo.  I think last year they just had everything go right for them..

Just now, ellicottraven said:

Can you imagine anybody saying the Bungles going 8-8 is a bold statement because they're expected to do better? Typically 8-8 would qualify as being a very bold statement for Cincy just given they were a perennial losing team!

My headache might be getting to me...but i dont really understand your statement

[ravenwildman]

If the Ravens can beat the "Kitty Cat Thug Gang" in Cincy and the Browns stay ....well the Browns.....I think the Ravens have the "those that shall not be named" dudes in Pitts number lately. Given the state our division, injured players returning or not I think the Ravens have a good (to very fair) chance of taking the division. Once in the tournament, the Ravens will do, what they do.

GO Ravens!

[eze17]

If the Ravens can beat the "Kitty Cat Thug Gang" in Cincy and the Browns stay ....well the Browns.....I think the Ravens have the "those that shall not be named" dudes in Pitts number lately. Given the state our division, injured players returning or not I think the Ravens have a good (to very fair) chance of taking the division. Once in the tournament, the Ravens will do, what they do.

GO Ravens!

I like your attitude anyways...the AFC north usually gets at least one wild card, but with DEN/OAK/KC in the west and NE/JETS/BILLS in the east, winning the division is the only sure way in. Rothelsburger is starting to get pretty gimpy lately, so maybe they falter without him...Cincy is good, but like to self destruct...I don't know. like I said, 9-7 or 10-6 is my prediction for us IF all goes well. I don't know if that's good enough. I really hope so, cause if we could get in, i'm positive we'd make some noise...

[b93333]

I think the key to this years Ravens can be summed up in two questions... Does Suggs come back healthy and motivated? and (2) do we put together a solid OL. If the answer to those is both yes we are looking good.

[ravens4life86]

What kind of Article is this? Sounds like something from liars luncheon.

Nobody is..tempering Playoff hopes 2016. If The Ravens miss the Playoffs its a FAILURE as a Organization, and Harbaugh is definitely on the hotseat if not gone. Especially since they are below .500 since SB.

Let me break it down...
Injuries. Key, Flacco by all reports is ahead of schedule and busting his butt will be ready by Camp..late July/August..even if he skips preseason..he is on point to start day 1. Sizzle, I have trust he is doing everything to get back day 1.
Perriman is the only question mark.. is sounds like he has degenerative knees..and Ravens are being quiet on that front.. if he misses another year. Thats officially a BUST. Ravens should draft a WR if they know something bout his knees they arent saying..top 2 rounds.. Doctson,Coleman,Thomas etc

Second and last..once a decade..Ravens get a top 10 pick and chance to draft HOF type franchise changing players..
Its on Ozzie,Decosta etc to pick the next Lewis,Reed,Ogden,Sizzle,Ngata..turn this franchise over this year to a new generation..

Rounds 1,2,3.. Miles,Jack,Ramsey,Bosa,Buckner,Spence etc
Then 4 picks in round 4..
They need to make it count this year

But to temper playoff expectations...thats funny

[law215]

This is one of the few articles that not bias. Two out of the last 3 years Ravens have missed the playoffs. Yes, the Ravens will be better, but such is the hope of every team in the offseason. Your 2 leaders on both side of the ball , Joe and Suggs, are coming off major injuries. Wr corp has questions marks. Will Perriman be healthy and a contributor, how much does Smith Sr. have left, can Campanero stay on the field, Can Aiken repeat last year numbers. They lost a key component of the o-line in KO. Lost their starting SS in Will Hill, ILB D. Smith. With those players they were 5-11 so I can understand toning down the playoff talk. Other teams have added players from free agency and managed to keep their core players. Let's fly under the radar like 2008 after a 5-11 2007 season and see what happens.

[jravens1313]

If the FO truly felt this way, why would you even sign Weddle, Wallace, and Watson? We would be better off letting our young guys struggle and carry the cap space over to 2017. This just sounds like an early excuse if things go wrong.

Any year that we are not in contention for the SB is a failure IMO. If this team isn't a contender the FO has failed our fanbase, and undermined our "Franchise QB" that they speak so highly of.

[ellicottraven]

7 hours ago, usmccharles said:

No one here likes Cincy.  Them losing their 2 and 3 WRs will force them to draft a WR who wont have immediate impact imo.  I think last year they just had everything go right for them..

My headache might be getting to me...but i dont really understand your statement

Let me rephrase for an aching head. Bold statement for the Bungles at 8-8? They were bottom feeders for the longest time. It would have been a bold statement if they actually got to 8-8 for the longest time. Now it is a bold statement because they're expected to win more? If your head still hurts, take an aspirin because I can't do any better.

[fluffy201]

If the FO truly felt this way, why would you even sign Weddle, Wallace, and Watson? We would be better off letting our young guys struggle and carry the cap space over to 2017. This just sounds like an early excuse if things go wrong.

Any year that we are not in contention for the SB is a failure IMO. If this team isn't a contender the FO has failed our fanbase, and undermined our "Franchise QB" that they speak so highly of.

Well, a lot of first and second round busts. In addition, I agree that salary cap space should have been saved. The Ravens are going with a win now approach forgetting the many holes that must be filled. We would have to kill this draft to even talk about playoffs and if we do well hopefully we can talk about 2017. I love the blind optimism by others, but still no secondary, offensive line is very very thin and overall no play makers. Hope I am wrong. And also, Harbough finally has his coachable team, Im sure we are all proud

[thecommish]

LOL.... boy did that sentiment change since the end of last season...when he said that, "We would limit this to one season" and that, "the post season is an expectation for the Ravens". I get what this stuff has to be said but boy does this bother me. - When we say that we may not get our best product until october... do the ticket holders get a discount until October? I understand that we may have some question marks bc of the vast amount of players who we have with injuries but Dont you simply re-affirm your company policy and hold the organization to a higher expectations (regardless of who is healthy and who is not- you simply cannot allow adversity to settle for less). I would have rather heard him say, "In Baltimore our expectation is to be in the post season every year- and while it may be bumpy early because of injuries.... our expectations have NOT changed" heck he said it... we lost a lot of close games last year (i think something like 8 or 9 by 8 points or less) if we would have won half of those... we could have been in the post season with a JV squad.... and now we get healthy and added some players.... heading into the draft....expectations should be Nothing less then the post season!

[J.O.14]

Playoffs? Playoffs? We're talking about playoffs? Let's just try to win a damn game.

Sorry I had to do it.

It's foolish to talk about this stuff now anyway. Last year should have put that to rest for Ravens fans. We were super bowl favorites, and we all know what happened.

[stixfix69]

We will make the dance this year....Off-season is when you weak the roster via FA, and the draft to in our case reload.....We so many guys coming back after season ending injuries, and in tweaking our roster we should be a force again....

[Crusader]

Looking at the Divisions Ravens play this year, Yea more like surprised if Ravens even have a winning season. Ravens have no O-line, No linebackers and no secondary that has played together consistently. Those Draft BUST (Now we can say it) and bad contracts killed the Ravens future for 3 to 4 years.

[EvilWayz]

Playoffs? Playoffs? We're talking about playoffs? Let's just try to win a damn game.

Sorry I had to do it.

It's foolish to talk about this stuff now anyway. Last year should have put that to rest for Ravens fans. We were super bowl favorites, and we all know what happened.

What's that old saying? Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

[EvilWayz]

I don't know what to think about this upcoming season. I do think Ozzie is right by not saying anything about what he thinks of playoffs this early. There is just no way to tell this early. Although, it seems that the moves we made looks good on paper, when it comes to performing on the field or gelling together as a cohesive unit, sometimes it just doesn't pan out. Then what happens people loose jobs, because of player performances or lack there of.

As far as the draft goes, I don't know what to think anymore. a lot of these top guys don't even make out of training camp before having a season ending injury. This really concerns me. All the hype before the draft, then after the draft you hear this guy tore his ACL or MCL or God knows what else and he's out for the season. Its very disappointing when you hear those things and now the spot you drafted to fill isn't even going to be there the entire season. I'm just sayin.

[rmcjacket23]

17 hours ago, ravens4life86 said:

What kind of Article is this? Sounds like something from liars luncheon.

Nobody is..tempering Playoff hopes 2016. If The Ravens miss the Playoffs its a FAILURE as a Organization, and Harbaugh is definitely on the hotseat if not gone. Especially since they are below .500 since SB.

Let me break it down...
Injuries. Key, Flacco by all reports is ahead of schedule and busting his butt will be ready by Camp..late July/August..even if he skips preseason..he is on point to start day 1. Sizzle, I have trust he is doing everything to get back day 1.
Perriman is the only question mark.. is sounds like he has degenerative knees..and Ravens are being quiet on that front.. if he misses another year. Thats officially a BUST. Ravens should draft a WR if they know something bout his knees they arent saying..top 2 rounds.. Doctson,Coleman,Thomas etc

Second and last..once a decade..Ravens get a top 10 pick and chance to draft HOF type franchise changing players..
Its on Ozzie,Decosta etc to pick the next Lewis,Reed,Ogden,Sizzle,Ngata..turn this franchise over this year to a new generation..

Rounds 1,2,3.. Miles,Jack,Ramsey,Bosa,Buckner,Spence etc
Then 4 picks in round 4..
They need to make it count this year

But to temper playoff expectations...thats funny

I mean, it really is a YOU problem for the expectations, because this team won 5 games last season. More importantly, it was a really poor team when it was largely fully healthy, which was for at least a third and close to half the season. Injuries weren't that big of an impact on the teams overall output.

This team has made some significant changes, but what exactly did you see from this team in the first 6-7 weeks of last season that gave you any indication whatsoever that they were a playoff team? And remember... that's a mostly healthy team. Injuries weren't really a factor during that stretch.

We won 5 games largely because of underachieving players and a lack of talent. We didn't only win 5 games because our QB tore his ACL in week 1 and missed the whole year... he played over half the season.

We are several upgrades at several positions away from being a competitive team. In general, that's just simply not achievable in a single offseason by any franchise in the league.

The key for 2016 is substantive growth. An 8-9 win season shouldn't be viewed as a failure from realistic fans. If it is by you, so be it... nobody can control your own expectations but yourself. But I can guarantee an 8-9 win season won't be costing any HCs, GMs, etc. their jobs, because the FO likely will have been happy with it.

Its easy to throw out expectations... requires no thought. Its difficult to set REASONABLE expectations, but those are the only one's that matter.

[Purple Dawg 96]

This team got Super Bowl written all over it the playoffs should not be an issue! Smh!