Kyle Juszczyk

[757RavensFan]

With all of the depth at WR, RB and TE, do you honestly feel that KJ has a shot at making the team?

[rmw10]

I know I've beaten this horse to death, but since there's a thread about it now, I'll step in again.

I think he's likely to make the team, but not a 100% guarantee.  While he does carry value at his position and on ST, there are just a lot of guys vying for roster spots.  It's no indictment on Juice or his skill.  If he's gone, it would be purely out of not having enough roster spots.  I think he's still very likely to make the team, but I would hope he's at least on notice that it's no guarantee.

[January J]

Hard to say- I asked the same question for the mailbag..it will be interesting - personally I think he's too valuable to cut..he was very productive for us last year and durable so I say yes..but hard to say who will be the odd man out. Can't keep 4 tight ends- 4 rbs AND juice. The numbers just wouldn't work. I'm more interested to see what happens with Waller and campanaro. The battle between camp and Reynolds should be interesting, hard to keep two guys with the same skillset. But yeah we will find a way to keep juice. And as the off-season goes along injuries will unfortunately narrow things down.

[RavensFanMania]

2 minutes ago, rmw10 said:

I know I've beaten this horse to death, but since there's a thread about it now, I'll step in again.

I think he's likely to make the team, but not a 100% guarantee.  While he does carry value at his position and on ST, there are just a lot of guys vying for roster spots.  It's no indictment on Juice or his skill.  If he's gone, it would be purely out of not having enough roster spots.  I think he's still very likely to make the team, but I would hope he's at least on notice that it's no guarantee.

I'm totally with you that he is not a guarantee

[Kinda_Dante]

Yes, we have always liked to keep a fullback and he's definitely one of the top at the position.

[757RavensFan]

His stats from 2015:

Rushing: 2 attemps for 3 yds

Receiving: 41 catches, 321 yds, 4 TDs. 

[ludy51]

We ask this question every year and every year the answer is the same: yes.

[Tiznut]

2 hours ago, Kinda_Dante said:

Yes, we have always liked to keep a fullback and he's definitely one of the top at the position.

This. He's our fb who can also line up as a TE. He isn't getting cut. 

[Kinda_Dante]

Just now, Tiznut said:

This. He's our fb who can also line up as a TE. He isn't getting cut. 

Yup he adds diversity to our offense, our coaches love players who give us versatility.

[atomicfront]

We don't really have depth at Wide Receiver.  And even if we did Kyle isn't going anywhere.  Productive player at low salary why would they cut him?

[K-Dog]

He is a quality player.

There are lesser players that would be less detrimental to let go.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I think he stays too... as much as the league is becoming an up-tempo passing league, theres still a ton of value in being able to line up and run between the tackles with a big, strong lead blocker. The fact that hes as good as he is catching out of the backfield and with the ability to line up in the slot makes him versatile enough where it's not crippling to keep a FB on the roster.

But this year its going to be tough. Theres 6 RBs and 5 TEs with at least a little shot of making the team. Its far from guaranteed.

The real question becomes: who would you rather have... Juice or one of West/Taliaferro/Richardson; and Juice or Pitta/Waller? If you'd rather any combo of 1 of those RBs and 1 of the TEs then the answer is no, you dont keep Juice. If youd rather Juice over all those RBs or both TEs then you keep him.

[cobrajet]

Personally I am for keeping him. He is versatile, protecting Joe, opening holes, catching out of the backfield, and special teams. I think he is safe.

[JoeyFlex5]

The problem here is quantity vs quality. We have loaded up on bum running backs for so long that we are now sifting through a large trash heap. I think forsetts presence is actually counterproductive, because I believe Allen and dixon are the future for us, I think that is the 2back system we have wanted for a while now, but forsett will likely make the team as well, and that pushes a guy like juice out of picture. I'll take juice over Terrance west, talliaferro, Richardson, and honestly forsett, and as far as tight ends I'll take juice over Waller and Boyle and basically everyone except for maxx Crockett and Watson. 

 

Juice could be a very effective part of the offense, he can extend drives better than any back on the team, he has a feel for the safety net, he has good hands, he is very tough and pretty powerful as well. He is a great drive starter, and teams often overlook him and we often take advantage when they do. 

 

I hope juice is around for the long haul, I don't think he's been effectively implemented to the fullest yet, and I think overloading on average talent on offense has led to us raising questions about juice when there shouldn't be a question at all.

[rmw10]

I think the big thing to look at with Juice is not his receiving stats.  I'd be hard pressed to believe that they couldn't be replicated in some other way, either by one of the RBs out of the backfield or maybe flexing someone like Maxx into the backfield a bit more.  The receiving numbers are doable by someone else or some sort of committee.

What is the real kicker is the blocking out of the backfield.  I don't think any of our TEs currently fit that mold, and that's why I ultimately believe Juice will be safe come week 1.  It all depends on what they want to do out of the backfield, though.

[Italian Raven]

if we keep playing those bootlegs and ask him to run flats he's still a valuable option, especially in the red zone when teams tend to play man-coverage and blitz more often as he gains outside leverage. He's definitely a solid ST contributor. So he is the quintessential of 'versatility'.
From a market standpoint he has a small leverage. He's due to a decent 750k and, even though we did make cuts for few money in the past, I don't think this would be quite a reason here. Neither he had any serious injury to.
However, we might have Maxx lining up in different ways, even at FB on I-formation (given what he did at MinnU); thus I wouldn't really consider Juice unrepleacable.. we moved on from Trawick, a darn good ST tackler, and we ended up being more than fine.
Just like rmw I also think it's pretty unlikely to see him cut but, despite his versatility and relatively low cap number, the FB role is only marginal and the roster spot is far from being complacent.

[Winchester]

Juszczyk is a fan favorite but not special. From what I saw his blocking is good not dominant. He is not an electrifying athlete as a receiver. Now if ravens could find a special athlete that can run and catch like a receiving te yet block well out of the back then that would be a fullback to keep around. 

[Jacquouille]

I just don't understand. People want to get back to a dominant running game, yet hesitate to keep a top3 FB. 

[Ravensfan23]

 Trestman uses his RBs, TEs and HB far too much to cut Juice. He's not just a FB he's a weapon and you don't get rid of a weapon because of depth

[Tank 92]

There's no one else on the roster with his skill set and he has been durable.  Why would he not make the team?  

[GrimCoconut]

I'm pretty sure Juszczyk is going nowhere this year. I'm not sure if we re-sign him, but he will play here this year, in my opinion. 

[Kinda_Dante]

But he wasn't invited to the bachelorette viewing party at Pitta's house so...

[harfordravenfan]

1 hour ago, Kinda_Dante said:

But he wasn't invited to the bachelorette viewing party at Pitta's house so...

He looks more like a duck dynasty type guy lol

[Willbacker]

9 hours ago, 757RavensFan said:

His stats from 2015:

Rushing: 2 attemps for 3 yds

Receiving: 41 catches, 321 yds, 4 TDs. 

The blocking and being used to playing in the backfield is what will keep him here and 41 catches from a fullback is nothing to sneeze at plus he's contract friendly.

[trevorsteadman]

7 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

The problem here is quantity vs quality. We have loaded up on bum running backs for so long that we are now sifting through a large trash heap. I think forsetts presence is actually counterproductive, because I believe Allen and dixon are the future for us, I think that is the 2back system we have wanted for a while now, but forsett will likely make the team as well, and that pushes a guy like juice out of picture. I'll take juice over Terrance west, talliaferro, Richardson, and honestly forsett, and as far as tight ends I'll take juice over Waller and Boyle and basically everyone except for maxx Crockett and Watson. 

 

Juice could be a very effective part of the offense, he can extend drives better than any back on the team, he has a feel for the safety net, he has good hands, he is very tough and pretty powerful as well. He is a great drive starter, and teams often overlook him and we often take advantage when they do. 

 

I hope juice is around for the long haul, I don't think he's been effectively implemented to the fullest yet, and I think overloading on average talent on offense has led to us raising questions about juice when there shouldn't be a question at all.

I have felt the same way... When looking at this depth you have to think about the future. If there is little difference between a guy like Forsett who is costing us millions compared to someone like West who is getting near the veteran minimum are you going to go with the guy that has 2 years left in the league or a guy that can be on this team for 5 or 6. But that all depends on how different Trestman's offense is this year than last year. I think having two tight end sets and having Juice in the I-formation to throw in the backfield will open up so much. He is a young guy who is one of the best at his position and he grows every year.

[JoeyFlex5]

6 hours ago, Winchester said:

Juszczyk is a fan favorite but not special. From what I saw his blocking is good not dominant. He is not an electrifying athlete as a receiver. Now if ravens could find a special athlete that can run and catch like a receiving te yet block well out of the back then that would be a fullback to keep around. 

Because they come a dime a dozen right? 

 

Wrong. The closest thing to what you are referring to is juice. Delanie walker also fits the bill but hasn't been used heavily in that role since SF.

[January J]

What if it comes down to juice or pitta? Thats tough. Waller/ campanaro/ pitta are all questionable to me and I think juice is as safe as any of them personally.

[Tiznut]

7 minutes ago, January J said:

What if it comes down to juice or pitta? Thats tough. Waller/ campanaro/ pitta are all questionable to me and I think juice is as safe as any of them personally.

It shouldn't being that juice is our only fb.  Don't think we will make the jump to a fb less team and giving juice versatility on top of that he has value overall. If it's a situation that pitta is looking to being a roster cut it means he's potentially 4th on the TE depth chart and he would then deserve to be cut. 

[ALPHA]

10 minutes ago, January J said:

What if it comes down to juice or pitta? Thats tough. Waller/ campanaro/ pitta are all questionable to me and I think juice is as safe as any of them personally.

Pitta is a better player when healthy, but Pitta is also injury prone and easier to replace when you look at the depth chart.

[January J]

6 minutes ago, ALPHA said:

Phopefully better player when Thealth y, but Pitta is also injury prone and easier to replace when you look at the depth chart.

Thats What makes it such A tough call. Thankfully or Hopefully it doesnt Come down to that