[News] Eisenberg: It's Clear Ravens Will Roll Out A Whole Lot Of 'New' In 2016

[BR News]

The Ravens made significant changes this season with 32 new players on their 90-man roster.

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[whobilly]

I'm getting a good feel that we'll be playing a few games in January.

[Bruce_Almty]

8-8 until they (hopefully) prove themselves a more formidable team.

[JimmyBlack]

We will have a chance to go 3-1 to start the season. Surely, we will have a better chance of getting to 8-8 from there if we can stop the other teams from just driving down the field at will and scoring, which happened too often last season.

[jravens1313]

They were aggressive in the offseason, and they should have been after the 5-11 season. Last season was great because the injuries and poor performance gave Ozzie the chance to reevaluate some major weaknesses. The draft has me excited to see what everyone can do.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, whobilly said:

I'm getting a good feel that we'll be playing a few games in January.

Really...........what do you think about fortune cookies?

1 hour ago, jravens1313 said:

They were aggressive in the offseason, and they should have been after the 5-11 season. Last season was great because the injuries and poor performance gave Ozzie the chance to reevaluate some major weaknesses. The draft has me excited to see what everyone can do.

How did those weaknesses come about?

1 hour ago, JimmyBlack said:

We will have a chance to go 3-1 to start the season. Surely, we will have a better chance of getting to 8-8 from there if we can stop the other teams from just driving down the field at will and scoring, which happened too often last season.

Sure we could go 3-1 or 1-3 or anywhere in the field of possibilities. There were only 8 teams with worse point differentials than the Raven's. Granting Flacco's absence the last 5 games played a role. I think 2-2 down for the first four games would be fantastic.  But it still won't overcome the remaining tough schedule.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Every year there are changes I personally think the Ravens will be just fine if everyone can return to form after the injuries they suffered. I do like the additions Ozzie made to the team I think it added some key pieces into the mix Weddle on the back end directing traffic Wallace is a speedster who can streach the field and Watson is another big bodied TE who can catch the ball when needed.

[The Greek]

if we stay healthy then i see a successful season, younger players need to grow up quickly especially stanley and urschel. with frazier on the staff i expect the game planning and in game adjustments on defense to improve.

[alexbayrobin]

8-8 until they (hopefully) prove themselves a more formidable team.

16-0 until proven otherwise. we may go to the Superbowl Mr. Bruce.

[Raven'evermore]

A few games may be lost due to rookie mistakes, especially on the defensive side, but afterward I think we go on a tear and wind up 10 - 6, take the NFC north and make the playoffs. Then anything's possible

[Maryland]

Didn't even mention the new grass, haha. Players say grass is more forgiving than turf, so that might prevent a couple injuries right there.

Edited July 23, 2016 by Maryland

[20306cab]

  5 hours ago, Bruce_Almty said:

8-8 until they (hopefully) prove themselves a more formidable team.

16-0 until proven otherwise. we may go to the Superbowl Mr. Bruce.

8-8 is a stretch.

[The Greek]

hope trestman cuts the crap and makes maxx williams a focal point. 2nd rd pick spent on him so lets give him his shot

[Shaky End of the Quarter]

A few games may be lost due to rookie mistakes, especially on the defensive side, but afterward I think we go on a tear and wind up 10 - 6, take the NFC north and make the playoffs. Then anything's possible

10-6 might very well take the NFC North, the problem is we play in the AFC North. :-P

[harfordravenfan]

Perhaps I'm too optimistic but I'm expecting at least 10 wins this year.

[runcontrol]

We will have a chance to go 3-1 to start the season. Surely, we will have a better chance of getting to 8-8 from there if we can stop the other teams from just driving down the field at will and scoring, which happened too often last season.

Yeah, in the beginning of the season teams went up and down field, but towards the end of the season they were keeping most qbs to around 200yds, or less. An what should be an improved pass rush and a better safety will do wonders for any defense.

[dirtybird66]

people might not realize it,but with the offseason moves wev'e done ans the injured players coming back,wer'e actually better than the team we had at the start of last season,that many league sources said was a superbowl contender,don't you agree??

[dirtybird66]

luckally we have an owner that is willing to spend where we need it,not just spend money willie nilly,but on proven players we actually need. but i'd also like to add that they also bring in players that are great locker room guy's and are also intelligent,mabey thats why we don't go crazy in free agency on players that were problems on their previous team.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

Even the teams that win the Superbowls every year will sit down at the end of the season and try to identify areas where they can improve. Each off season every team in the NFL is trying to get better so if you sit there and think you can go back to war with the pieces you've already had that produced a horrible record and magically compete on the same level you are mistaken.

Injuries to the front line players exposed the main weakness of this team and that was quality depth. We were deep in some areas but woefully thin in others. Our secondary was bereft of talent. It was an area that was largely ignored because the Ravens thought that the guys would all just get healthy again and everything would work out fine. It has been addressed finally this off season.

The interior defensive line is deep, but our ends and edge rushers are suspect after the starters. Even now as the starters age the question creeps in how effective they can be now, especially since both are coming off of surgeries and Suggs is coming off another major Achilles injury. Has that area been improved? Kaufusi didn't strike me as the type to be an explosive rusher. Correa may or may not be that edge guy. I am hoping he can at least be a steady mainstay like Jarrett Johnson was. Za'Darius Smith showed some promise last season.

Our wide receiving corps left a lot to be desired and it has been restocked with some talent with the additions of Mike Wallace and the drafting of Chris Moore and Keenan Reynolds. Will it be enough?

We've had the luxury of having Joe Flacco take every snap under center for most of his career that the back up QB spot has been largely overlooked. We can't take that for granted any longer and last season gave us that lesson. Nothing against Ryan Mallett personally, but I hope we never see him on the field this season unless it is at the end of a blow out game with the Ravens up by 30.

The Ravens were getting old in a lot of positions and it was time to get some youth and speed into the mix. Thankfully with the way Bischotti and Ozzie have run this team we've never really had a "rebuilding phase." The team has always been very competitive over the years despite the turnover of the roster. This past off season might have very well been the first indicator that yes, the Ravens are in rebuild mode. The superstars of the past are all in their twilight years and now it is time for the new legacy of talent to play like Ravens.

[Ngataninch]

20 hours ago, Bruce_Almty said:

8-8 until they (hopefully) prove themselves a more formidable team.

Last time they went 5-11 they followed it up with an 11-5 season. You just can't predict one year's record based on the previous year's record, but if you want to try the trend suggests the Ravens follow-up losing seasons with winning seasons--they haven't had back-to-back losing seasons under Billick or Harbaugh. Draft position is designed to bring parity. Our draft picks in 2008 made a huge impact on the field. Our draft picks in 2006 made a huge impact in different ways. When you draft high you draft impact players.

Edited July 24, 2016 by Ngataninch

[GENE2407]

Offense is looking promising, but the secondary was awful last year (whenever the game or drive mattered). All the same faces return (plus Weddle but he can't cover WRs). I expect the same out of the secondary to keep us out of the playoffs.

[law215]

Whether the Ravens would like to acknowledge it or not, they are rebuilding. In 2008, a new coach, a new QB, and a new RB were added. They were rebuilding and went to the AFC Championship game in the same year. I'm excited to see what these new players can do. Who steps up? Rebuilding is not necessarily a bad thing. Whether the make the playoffs or not, they needed changes in the roster. I welcome the changes they made and let the best 53 make the team.

[Moderator 3]

1 hour ago, GENE2407 said:

Offense is looking promising, but the secondary was awful last year (whenever the game or drive mattered). All the same faces return (plus Weddle but he can't cover WRs). I expect the same out of the secondary to keep us out of the playoffs.

But they improved immensely as the season went on.  If they pick up where they left off, we'll be okay.

[cbrook1862]

  11 hours ago, GENE2407 said:

Offense is looking promising, but the secondary was awful last year (whenever the game or drive mattered). All the same faces return (plus Weddle but he can't cover WRs). I expect the same out of the secondary to keep us out of the playoffs.

But they improved immensely as the season went on.  If they pick up where they left off, we'll be okay.

I agree, i dont think that was just a fluke i bileve that we genuinely got better.

[cbrook1862]

Whether the Ravens would like to acknowledge it or not, they are rebuilding. In 2008, a new coach, a new QB, and a new RB were added. They were rebuilding and went to the AFC Championship game in the same year. I'm excited to see what these new players can do. Who steps up? Rebuilding is not necessarily a bad thing. Whether the make the playoffs or not, they needed changes in the roster. I welcome the changes they made and let the best 53 make the team.

Exactly, they have the same coaching staff, same FO, same qb, rb, and same scheme... sooooo they're not rebuilding, all that's hppened is players are coming back from injury and 3 new players were added. which is good, they were pretty busy this FA but that doesnt mean they rebuilt.

[stixfix69]

Consistent teams don't rebuild, they just reload, and find players to fit the system that has been a proven system over the years.....Not only do we lose solid players to FA, we have lost solid coaches, so it's a testament to the system, and coaches for continuing to find players that fit it....Next year we could lose a few more solid players, i just hope one of them isn't B.Will, extremely difficult to find a true NT...

[huntrgathrr]

This is nowhere near a rebuilding season. Same QB, RB, and only one or two new offensive lineman will start. One new veteran receiver and two new rookies (counting Perriman) should play so really about 70-80& of the offense is the same.
On defense only the 2 veteran additions in the secondary will be new as will the LB starting next to Mosely. So 70% of the defense is also the same.
The big factor that will the determine the use of "new" players is the condition in which the 18 players from IR return from their injuries. Specifically: Flacco, Steve Smith, Suggs, Dumervil, Gilmore, Jimmy Smith, and Urban. If these guys return and stay healthy the Ravens will probably win the AFC North. Of course a less desirable outcome could occur if we end up with 18 players on IR again this year.

[sizzlingdoom]

Offense is looking promising, but the secondary was awful last year (whenever the game or drive mattered). All the same faces return (plus Weddle but he can't cover WRs). I expect the same out of the secondary to keep us out of the playoffs.

Weddle doesn't line up 1 on 1 vs a WR. Thats not what safeties do. But they do help all the cbs and make the entire unit better if they are that good. And Weddle is that good. Same faces?? Powers is a very good and experience slot and outside corner. Will Davis is healthy and looked good last year for the short time he was. Wright played well after coming over. I LOVE the looks of this Tavon Young! I'd be surprised if he didn't have at least 3 picks and a TD this year. Webby moves out of corner which should help a bunch. Even if he doesn't play well at safety, Lewis or Brooks can fill in and at least be average. Who knows about Canady. But Jimmy wasn't healthy last year. If he can return to form that not only changes the secondary or defense, but that would change the entire team. We will be playing in January if Jimmy is healthy. Plus our front Seven should be completely revamped which helps the secondary as well. If Jimmy is back, Suggs is even 85-90%, and Pees doesn't screw stuff up, I fully expect to be a top 5 D

[January J]

Weddle will prevent many of them big splash plays that killed us last year when our safeties just kept getting burnt and caught snoozing. Hopefully Webb can add a few picks as well. Also excited about a healthier Jimmy without the screws in his foot.