[News] The Competition 2016: Wide Receivers

[BR News]

The group has plenty of questions going into training camp, as there will be a battle for starting jobs and roster spots.

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[RavensBaltimore]

I don't like the idea of Smith and Aiken starting. We need speed on the field as much as possible. If Perriman is healthy, I think he starts. Otherwise, I think it should be Wallace's job to lose.

[stixfix69]

I just see a lot more 3 wide sets, with various combinations, we have a lot of talent at the WR position this year...Moore can also stretch the field, and if we have healthy TE's, it can be a very tough task's for defenses to defend the packages that we could throw in...

[ravens4life86]

My Ravens WRs 2016...Perriman(if 100%),Smith Sr, Wallace, Aiken, Moore,Reynolds..thats 6..if they want to go 7 deep Campanaro/Butler,Brown can battle for 1 spot

[757RavensFan]

I think we keep 7:  

SSS, Wallace, Aiken, Perriman, Moore, Reynolds, Butler 

[Steve32]

I think we keep 7:  

SSS, Wallace, Aiken, Perriman, Moore, Reynolds, Butler 

I agree we keep 7.
If Campanaro can manage to stay healthy, he beats out Butler.

[eze17]

I think we keep 7:  

SSS, Wallace, Aiken, Perriman, Moore, Reynolds, Butler 

I like your picks, but think we probably go with six. Butler should make it safely on the practice squad, so barring injuries I think you may see him there. Campanaro is the wild card. Yeah, he's been plagued by the injury bug but the Ravens seem really, really high on him. I worry about another team(Patriots?)scooping up Reynolds if we try putting him on the PS, and i'm hoping he can at least make the squad on special teams.Of course we need to get through camp and pre-season to see if SSS and Perriman are ready by season opener, and if they can go a full season. But I am impressed with Butler and hope to see him in a Ravens uniform this year.

[Crusader]

Lots and lots of "IF's"

[cbrook1862]

I don't like the idea of Smith and Aiken starting. We need speed on the field as much as possible. If Perriman is healthy, I think he starts. Otherwise, I think it should be Wallace's job to lose.

I see what you mean, but Aiken is a sure chain mover and reliable, and u already know what Smith can do. It's going to be interesting to see who the two starting wr's will be. Cants wait for training camp!

[cbrook1862]

SSS, Wallace, Perriman, Aiken, Moore, Campanaro, Butler. I think Reynolds either goes on the practice squad or beats out Clay for the return man position

[eze17]

SSS, Wallace, Perriman, Aiken, Moore, Campanaro, Butler. I think Reynolds either goes on the practice squad or beats out Clay for the return man position

No way we keep eight WR...

[sami]

I don't like the idea of Smith and Aiken starting. We need speed on the field as much as possible. If Perriman is healthy, I think he starts. Otherwise, I think it should be Wallace's job to lose.

there could be 2 or 3 starters depending what formation we start with. Who starts is really unimportant. Who finishes is.

[sami]

just my opinion but I really don't see Reynolds winning a spot on the 53 man roster. He's learning a new position and hes up against a lot of talent. Odds say he's stashed on practice squad until hes proven ready.

[RavensBaltimore]

  2 hours ago, RavensBaltimore said:

I don't like the idea of Smith and Aiken starting. We need speed on the field as much as possible. If Perriman is healthy, I think he starts. Otherwise, I think it should be Wallace's job to lose.

there could be 2 or 3 starters depending what formation we start with. Who starts is really unimportant. Who finishes is.

I think the "starting" WRs mostly refers to who will get most of the reps in 2 WR sets. In those situations, I think we should have someone with speed on the field as much as possible.

[757RavensFan]

41 minutes ago, cbrook1862 said:

SSS, Wallace, Perriman, Aiken, Moore, Campanaro, Butler. I think Reynolds either goes on the practice squad or beats out Clay for the return man position

If Clay doesn't make it as a WR, he's not making the team.  They're not keeping Clay just as a return man and that's it.  

[RavensBaltimore]

  2 hours ago, RavensBaltimore said:

I don't like the idea of Smith and Aiken starting. We need speed on the field as much as possible. If Perriman is healthy, I think he starts. Otherwise, I think it should be Wallace's job to lose.

I see what you mean, but Aiken is a sure chain mover and reliable, and u already know what Smith can do. It's going to be interesting to see who the two starting wr's will be. Cants wait for training camp!

One thing we know that Smith and Aiken won't do is back the defense up, which opens up the middle of the field and the run game.

Also, I don't know if Aiken is a sure chain mover. He was very inconsistent before SSS got hurt. I think his numbers after that were largely due to the high volume of targets he got after being the only WR left from the original roster.

I definitely agree that it will be interesting to see not only who gets the most reps at WR and TE, but how Trestman uses everyone. There will be all kinds of different combinations/formations/skillsets to work with.

[757RavensFan]

15 minutes ago, RavensBaltimore said:

One thing we know that Smith and Aiken won't do is back the defense up, which opens up the middle of the field and the run game.

Also, I don't know if Aiken is a sure chain mover. He was very inconsistent before SSS got hurt. I think his numbers after that were largely due to the high volume of targets he got after being the only WR left from the original roster.

I definitely agree that it will be interesting to see not only who gets the most reps at WR and TE, but how Trestman uses everyone. There will be all kinds of different combinations/formations/skillsets to work with.

I don't know if inconsistent is the right word.  Joe threw to SSS A LOT before he got hurt.  That's not a knock on Aiken.  SSS was Flacco's safety net.  You really can't blame that on Aiken. Think about it from Joe's perspective.  who are you going to throw it to more; a guy going to the HOF or a journeyman WR finally getting his chance as a starter.  

[ravensnj]

After serious injury, I don't see SSS playing until late October or early November. Why push it , with Wallace, Aiken and Moore ready and available? Stellar play by our Rb's and Te's will give us a well balanced offense. Reynolds to Practice squad, until Campanaro gets injured or is ineffective . Perriman...... just a wildcard.

[Drew P]

It will come down to attrition for the 6/7 spot...bottom line

[RavensBaltimore]

  36 minutes ago, RavensBaltimore said:

One thing we know that Smith and Aiken won't do is back the defense up, which opens up the middle of the field and the run game.

Also, I don't know if Aiken is a sure chain mover. He was very inconsistent before SSS got hurt. I think his numbers after that were largely due to the high volume of targets he got after being the only WR left from the original roster.

I definitely agree that it will be interesting to see not only who gets the most reps at WR and TE, but how Trestman uses everyone. There will be all kinds of different combinations/formations/skillsets to work with.

I don't know if inconsistent is the right word.  Joe threw to SSS A LOT before he got hurt.  That's not a knock on Aiken.  SSS was Flacco's safety net.  You really can't blame that on Aiken. Think about it from Joe's perspective.  who are you going to throw it to more; a guy going to the HOF or a journeyman WR finally getting his chance as a starter.  

I'm going to throw to whoever is open. According to Harbaugh, the plan going into last year was to cut back on Smith's reps, but it seemed they weren't able to do that because no one else was stepping up. Flacco has not had problems throwing to his 2nd WR before, whether it be Torrey, Mason, or even Marlon Brown in 2013.

[harfordravenfan]

1 hour ago, 757RavensFan said:

If Clay doesn't make it as a WR, he's not making the team.  They're not keeping Clay just as a return man and that's it.  

Reynolds will get every opportunity to win the return man position throughout training camp and preseason IMO

Clay just maybe the odd man out, just cause of the potential Reynolds has shown and the sheer number of wr's trying to make the team

[whobilly]

Let's be realistic. We have a VERY good WR in SSS providing he is able to come back fully from the injury, a few good ones (maybe) and a bunch of roster fillers you can find trying out for every other NFL team.

[Ravenseconbeast]

SSS, Aiken and maybe Wallace will be our notable starters.

But we really need someone out of the dark that blast off all the competition. A dark horse. Please tell me we will finally find our Antonio Brown from 5/6th round!

[cbrook1862]

I went to the barbershop a couple hours ago and guess who I seen... MICHAEL CAMPANARO! Someone was in my barbers chair when I arrived and after about 5 minutes, I went over to sit in one of the empty chairs across from him. I was on my phone for like 5 minutes and then realized who he was. I only said wassup to him, I didn't take a picture or ask anything about the team because I didn't want to seem corny because everyone else was cool about it like he was just another customer, but when he left me and my barber talked about him a little bit and he told me he said he was fully recovered and ready to go. I didn't hear them talk about football that much so that's all I really know. Just wanted to share that experience. If anyone wants to know, the barber shop is "supreme cuts" located in Elkridge MD. Also as a side note, when Ray Rice was on the team, he went to that shop(never met him tho), and another barber who works there named Nick is like Forsett's personal barber. There was even a feature story on him once or something like that. So cool because my dad owns that shop so ive been raised around there, and the fact that ravens players go there too is cool

[cbrook1862]

Let's be realistic. We have a VERY good WR in SSS providing he is able to come back fully from the injury, a few good ones (maybe) and a bunch of roster fillers you can find trying out for every other NFL team.

Aiken is slowly and quietly becoming a top 15 wr in the league, he had nearly a 1k yard receiving yard year last year playing with 4 qb's and didn't become the #1 target until smith went down, and Wallace is a great receiver who's last two teams rarely and improperly utilized him, and Perriman has a lot of potential, so I wouldn't call these players roster fillers, they are all really good players.

[cbrook1862]

  4 hours ago, cbrook1862 said:

  6 hours ago, RavensBaltimore said:

I don't like the idea of Smith and Aiken starting. We need speed on the field as much as possible. If Perriman is healthy, I think he starts. Otherwise, I think it should be Wallace's job to lose.

I see what you mean, but Aiken is a sure chain mover and reliable, and u already know what Smith can do. It's going to be interesting to see who the two starting wr's will be. Cants wait for training camp!

One thing we know that Smith and Aiken won't do is back the defense up, which opens up the middle of the field and the run game.

Also, I don't know if Aiken is a sure chain mover. He was very inconsistent before SSS got hurt. I think his numbers after that were largely due to the high volume of targets he got after being the only WR left from the original roster.

I definitely agree that it will be interesting to see not only who gets the most reps at WR and TE, but how Trestman uses everyone. There will be all kinds of different combinations/formations/skillsets to work with.

Have you ever seen Aiken drop a pass? When Joe targeted him even when SSS was healthy, he was almost always there and made the play, he couldn't have been inconsistent, he obviously maximized his opportunities, because had he been inconsistent he wouldn't have became joe's favorite target. If he was inconsistent as a #2 receiver he would've definitely been inconsistent as a #1.

[cbrook1862]

  4 hours ago, cbrook1862 said:

SSS, Wallace, Perriman, Aiken, Moore, Campanaro, Butler. I think Reynolds either goes on the practice squad or beats out Clay for the return man position

No way we keep eight WR...

I count 7, he said Reynolds is either returner or PS

[whobilly]

  1 hour ago, whobilly said:

Let's be realistic. We have a VERY good WR in SSS providing he is able to come back fully from the injury, a few good ones (maybe) and a bunch of roster fillers you can find trying out for every other NFL team.

Aiken is slowly and quietly becoming a top 15 wr in the league, he had nearly a 1k yard receiving yard year last year playing with 4 qb's and didn't become the #1 target until smith went down, and Wallace is a great receiver who's last two teams rarely and improperly utilized him, and Perriman has a lot of potential, so I wouldn't call these players roster fillers, they are all really good players.

The ones you mentioned are the few good ones I was referring to.All others are roster fillers.

[whobilly]

Let's be realistic. We have a VERY good WR in SSS providing he is able to come back fully from the injury, a few good ones (maybe) and a bunch of roster fillers you can find trying out for every other NFL team.

Just to make sure people don't get confused by my previous post.

[Ravenseconbeast]

  5 hours ago, eze17 said:

  5 hours ago, cbrook1862 said:

SSS, Wallace, Perriman, Aiken, Moore, Campanaro, Butler. I think Reynolds either goes on the practice squad or beats out Clay for the return man position

No way we keep eight WR...

I count 7, he said Reynolds is either returner or PS

Reynold got speed?