What Teams Are Currently Still Better Than The Ravens? On paper

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

Head to head, today, on paper would you say can currently beat the Ravens? Why? AFC or NFC or DIVISION straight up, I dont care about venue. 

[ravensdan]

I don't know how anyone can honestly evaluate the Ravens right now. The whole offense depends on Flaccos recovery. He makes the rest of the average skill guys go. His mobility often makes up for Oline weakness. If he's playing at the top of his game they'll contend. If not they're 8-8 talent wise.

As to your question exactly. Literally every NFL team can beat any other. Might need to phrase it better. 

[757RavensFan]

NFC-W: SEA & AZ 

NFC-N: GB 

NFC-E: None

NFC-S: CAR 

AFC-W: KC & Possibly OAK this year

AFC-N: PIT (just b/c) CIN (they beat us FIVE straight)

AFC-E: NE

AFC-S: None

 

 

[Daft Classic]

10 hours ago, 757RavensFan said:

NFC-W: SEA & AZ 

NFC-N: GB, MIN (Defense, RB)

NFC-E: None

NFC-S: CAR 

AFC-W: KC & Possibly OAK this year, DEN (They are the champs)

AFC-N: PIT (just b/c) CIN (they beat us FIVE straight)

AFC-E: NE

AFC-S: None

 

What he said, plus a couple of IMO

[757RavensFan]

4 minutes ago, Daft Classic said:

What he said, plus a couple of IMO

DEN doesnt' have a QB. Well they have Sanchez, but!!

Edited June 22, 2016 by 757RavensFan

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

2 minutes ago, 757RavensFan said:

DEN doesnt' have a QB. Well they have Sanchez, but!!

they didnt have a qb last year when they beat us either.

And if we're talking RIGHT NOW, on paper, we dont have a QB either. Until Flacco is back on the field i really dont thikn you can count on him being himself.

Edited June 22, 2016 by BOLDnPurPnBlacK

[757RavensFan]

Just now, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

they didnt have a qb last year when they beat us either.

Granted Manning was very bad last year, but he's still Manning.

Bad Manning > Good Sanchez 

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

20 hours ago, 757RavensFan said:

NFC-W: SEA & AZ 

NFC-N: GB 

NFC-E: None

NFC-S: CAR 

AFC-W: KC & Possibly OAK this year

AFC-N: PIT (just b/c) CIN (they beat us FIVE straight)

AFC-E: NE

AFC-S: None

 

 

The way you said the Bungles beat us 5 STRAIGHT, gave me pause, I am unallowed to say how I really feel about that, none of them good 

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

Payback is what is in order to the wannabees this year

[JoeyFlex5]

As unproven or old as most of our players are, I can't say were better than anyone on paper. Way too many unknowns. Realistically I think we're middle of the pack right now and we still need pass rush and secondary/OL depth before we can even consider ourselves better than average on paper. 

 

Now of course, our unproven guys could pan out and play to their full potential, and we would surprise everyone including ourselves, but having so many unknowns play to their full potential is rare.

[usmccharles]

Considering this is a drastically different team than last year, still a lot of unknowns, I honestly cant say would we would beat and who we wouldn't.   Anything would be up for grabs imo

[ravensnj]

Anything can happen in football. We are returning a huge core of seasoned veteran players, the same Offense and Defense coaches and coordinators, and a nice influx of new rookie players. Our team age is about average to the younger side and we added Wallace to the Offense and Powers to the Defense. So, in a nutshell we look on paper better than last year, probably 3 pts better, in which we lost most of our games. I say we can beat anyone or play it till the wire. 

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

On ‎6‎/‎21‎/‎2016 at 5:25 PM, ravensdan said:

I don't know how anyone can honestly evaluate the Ravens right now. The whole offense depends on Flaccos recovery. He makes the rest of the average skill guys go. His mobility often makes up for Oline weakness. If he's playing at the top of his game they'll contend. If not they're 8-8 talent wise.

As to your question exactly. Literally every NFL team can beat any other. Might need to phrase it better. 

Good point a lot of uncertainty there. Not to mention all the other guys coming back from injuries.

[Guest]

We've lost so many core leaders and have let quasi core guys get away.  Add in the injury recovery situation and personnel changes to the equation and 8-8 becomes very optimistic.  Where does a 7-9 team fit into your question?....likely third best in the AFC North.

[Winchester]

20 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

As unproven or old as most of our players are, I can't say were better than anyone on paper. Way too many unknowns. Realistically I think we're middle of the pack right now and we still need pass rush and secondary/OL depth before we can even consider ourselves better than average on paper. 

 

Now of course, our unproven guys could pan out and play to their full potential, and we would surprise everyone including ourselves, but having so many unknowns play to their full potential is rare.

Dork you beat me to it!! lol But I will say for first time since 2005-2006,2009 I like the draft. An outside 2 great players from 2006 this should be ravens best draft ever. The rumors I hear about will henry may of been dragged through numerous avenues but I have heard so much then the articles some members posted popped up and it isn't coincidence. He must of really impressed more than one coach with  his raw explosion and power. And I believe the hype. He is going to be a phenom. I have watched 6 of his games since the draft and his raw strength and athleticism brings one player to mind. Bryant Young. Once Henry gets coached up and some refinement I'm sure some commentator is going to compare him to Young. Henry only needs to play with youngs ferocity and activity that will come with coaching and refinement. But in my opinion he is a total stud that fell through the cracks. Then there is Dixon that will be a major player on offense. And a mismatch catching the ball. 

The next tier we have Chris Moore and Kufusi. Chris Moore I already stated is a far better complete wr, tighter route runner than many teams realized til just before the draft. He definitely lit up draft boards and made scouts drool just b4 the draft!!  Problem is team's did not take a long hard look til just b4 the draft. And Mayock said teams are discovering Chris Moore's skills and he is heating up draft boards and will out perform many of the early round WRs drafted b4 him. Teams just did not have time spring him over players scouted longer and coveted longer. Kufusi is a little tougher. He is out of position for his skillset. He is not a 3-4 defensive end or interior player at all. His skillset screams edge rusher. HE is strong with very good burst and speed for a 285 lb player. And even better bend flexibility and athleticism. BUT he has played the interior and needs to reshape his body a little for the  edge rusher positions. Lose maybe 16-20 lbs of bad weight and tack on 10-13lbs of functional muscle without losing any athleticism. Ravens motivate players to get in their best shape better than any team I'm aware of. So ravens is likely his best landing spot cuz he needs a little reshaping for the switch to edge rusher. But if he gets in top edge rusher shape he is going to be a terrific player. He has all the tools. 

Then there is the raven early picks. Ron Stanley In my opinion is going to be a dominant left tackle once he gets stronger. He could very realistically compete for top left tackle in the league once he gets stronger. For a player needing more muscle maturity he generates good power through his hips legs, athleticism and activity. On one block of Bosa he was being pushed and nearly discarded. But he effortlessly changed position and stance twice on one play til he found the superior position to cut off Bosa and stand up his bullrush. It was impressive. And if he is stronger he is so athletic and natural feel to be really great. Then there is correa. He isn't an edge player but if he can adjust and mature to ilb and 4-3 olb which is his best position in my opinion he could be a very good and unique lb. So although the ravens on paper are not playoff contenders when considering unproven players. This is the deepest and best crop of players maybe ever. "IF" the young players mature and play to their potential ravens are contenders

[Winchester]

Should be aside from 2 great players 1996 draft

[OUravensfan]

On June 22, 2016 at 6:48 PM, OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL said:

The way you said the Bungles beat us 5 STRAIGHT, gave me pause, I am unallowed to say how I really feel about that, none of them good 

I'm still furious about the Steve Smith call and Dean Peas and our secondary blowing every late game lead

[redrum52]

Couldn't we say every team that finished with a better record than us?  These picks are unproven and there are a few key guys coming back from serious injury.

[rmcjacket23]

On 6/22/2016 at 8:43 AM, 757RavensFan said:

DEN doesnt' have a QB. Well they have Sanchez, but!!

True, but outside of QB, how many other positions on their team are they weaker than us at? 

Offensive line is probably the only area I'd go, and maybe special teams.

Position by position, they are easily better than us at every single level of defense, they easily are better at WR/pass catchers, and at best I'd say RB is a push, though I'd rather have CJ Anderson over any of the backs on our team.

Granted, they are gigantically weaker at QB, but position by position, Denver is a lot more talented on paper than us.

[ravefan52]

NFL.com thinks we'll be lucky to go 8-8, so according to them a lot of teams are.

This is the first year in awhile that I just don't think we're that good. I hope I'm wrong though.

[RavensDieHard21]

I realistically see this as a team that will go somewhere between 7-9 and 10-6, depending on many factors. Will the rookies have an immediate impact, particularly Stanley, KC, Young, and Henry. Can a few unproven players make the leap? Maybe Elam, Orr, Aiken, Maxx. HEALTH. and can a few vets find the fountain on youth one last time, hopefully SSS and Suggs both do 

[Ravenseconbeast]

13 hours ago, RavensDieHard21 said:

I realistically see this as a team that will go somewhere between 7-9 and 10-6, depending on many factors. Will the rookies have an immediate impact, particularly Stanley, KC, Young, and Henry. Can a few unproven players make the leap? Maybe Elam, Orr, Aiken, Maxx. HEALTH. and can a few vets find the fountain on youth one last time, hopefully SSS and Suggs both do 

I say you got it right on every note.

There are alot of variances of 'what ifs' on this team.  If we have get things rolling hot on late season and we are still on it, we can start creeping on games abd next thing you know, were in the thick of it in the playoffs

Edited July 2, 2016 by Ravenseconbeast

[Wisdom]

On paper and real time, the Bengals.  A team of which our "favorite son" Mr. Air ball Interception Flacco can not beat.  Is Dalton the better quarterback?  Hmm... something to think about.

[trevorsteadman]

I see this team between 7-9 and 11-5.. After how many losses there were by one score or less the law of averages should be on our favor this next season. Also, we may lack elite talent at certain positions like other teams but we have more depth in most positions than other teams. And a healthy team is one that can operate at a high level all season and possibly the post season. The 2012 Ravens didn't really have any superstars on that team. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were good but past their prime and still solid players. 

[Guest]

26 minutes ago, trevorsteadman said:

I see this team between 7-9 and 11-5.. After how many losses there were by one score or less the law of averages should be on our favor this next season. Also, we may lack elite talent at certain positions like other teams but we have more depth in most positions than other teams. And a healthy team is one that can operate at a high level all season and possibly the post season. The 2012 Ravens didn't really have any superstars on that team. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were good but past their prime and still solid players. 

We've got useful players, but there have been very few players drafted in the last years that we would pay to retain and some of those we did pay haven't panned out, a la, Ray Rice, Ladarius Webb, Denis Pitta, Eugene Monroe just to name a few.  Mosely comes to mind as a good pick, but lets be real...hes not a superstar. Rather he's a very useful ProBowler, but we have to be happy about that because that's as good as its come in a long time.

We have not been building a Playoff Caliber Core for years now.  We have useful players that have to be healthy to contribute and I put Jimmy Smith and Brandon Williams in that category and they are two of our better recent choices. However overall, we haven't drafted our way out of a wet paper bag in years and this year its gotten downright dire.  If this draft class doesn't come through in a big way we will find ourselves upon the precipice of the Cleveland Browns. It could get very anxious.

Hopefully we outperform expectations, but if we don't this has to be the year that corrective action is taken. The Baltimore Raven's can't be a soft spot on the schedule. That is unacceptable.