[News] Late For Work 8/22: Nine Takeaways After Ravens' 2-0 Preseason Start

[BR News]

Johnson winning backup QB role seems unlikely. Starting defense’s slow starts are a growing concern. Butler deserves roster spot. Watson and Wallace don’t get a single target. Wright and Powers need to play better, as Davis continues to improve. Give credit to Matt Elam. How will Smith’s return affect Aiken? Moore impressed.

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[Ravensfansince03]

Darren Waller is far from the player I thought he would be. I don't understand how he can even make the 53-man roster with the way he has been playing. I really went from wanting to see this guy in action desperately, to now wanting to see somebody else like Daniel Brown take his spot.

[January J]

1 minute ago, Ravensfansince03 said:

Darren Waller is far from the player I thought he would be. I don't understand how he can even make the 53-man roster with the way he has been playing. I really went from wanting to see this guy in action desperately, to now wanting to see somebody else like Daniel Brown take his spot.

He hasn't been playing that bad? I mean he had that one gaffe but he rebounded nicely. Regardless we have an extra four and a half weeks to make a roster decision on him and although we hope nobody gets injured we know how things go. Will be interesting to see what they do with Boyle if everybody is healthy come week 10. Young up and comer that showed promise but also made 2 bonehead mistakes. If Watson, pitta, crock, maxx, and juice are all healthy what can you do? That's not even considering waller. He might end up a casualty to the numbers game unless he gets lucky. Which ironically involves us being unlucky.

[Ravens4 lifeTm]

I think we should let Johnson start one game, because he has done great but to be fair Mallett has gone up against other teams first string D. Where Johnson is going against 2nd and 3rd string guys. 

[The Mom Gene]

The statement that "Johnson has looked better in practices"... and he definitely looked better in the games... Isn't that how you judge who makes the team? I would think that OVERALL... that's how you judge. While some make the statement that Mallett played more live games, and did so well last season, keep in mind our W/L record last year. JMO

[budman]

4 minutes ago, The Mom Gene said:

The statement that "Johnson has looked better in practices"... and he definitely looked better in the games... Isn't that how you judge who makes the team? I would think that OVERALL... that's how you judge. While some make the statement that Mallett played more live games, and did so well last season, keep in mind our W/L record last year. JMO

People also need to keep in mind the success / lack of, that Johnson has had on his previous 7 teams. Oops. I mean 9 teams.

Edited August 22, 2016 by budman

[EdTheMythicalOne]

1) I agree that Mallett would have to do something really bad to lose the back up job, even though Johnson has looked as good as he has. I would say that Mallett is just as much of a risk as Johnson though because it isn't like Mallett has no baggage and he also has thrown 7TDs to 9INTs in his career.

2) The starting defense has been without the two main threats on the edge, but there are some things that concern me too. Individual battles on the LOS and in coverage. Defensive backs have looked pretty bad for the most part. No consistent pass rush from anybody save for Judon who is going against 2nd and 3rd stringers.

3) Butler will make it if the numbers work. Smith, Aiken, Wallace, Moore, Campanaro, and Perriman being on PUP is the saving grace for him for now.

4) Watson and Wallace not targeted...well maybe they were and they were covered? Not a concern to me considering they haven't played much so far.

5) The entire secondary needs to step it up a bit more. They are letting up way too many easy catches that are not contested.

6) Nope. Not going to give guy credit for making some plays that any other football player makes and nobody would think twice about. He made some tackles and on that suplex tackle he's lucky the refs didn't decide to call the new horsecollar rule against him. Think I am kidding? "The league approved a proposed rule change from the Competition Committee on Tuesday that will make it illegal when a “defender grabs the jersey at the name plate or above and pulls a runner toward the ground.” Check out where one of Elam's hands is.

7) Don't think the plan with Aiken changes at all with Steve Smith's return. Smith is the #1, Wallace #2 or #3, Aiken #3 or #2 depending on the play type called. Aiken is a nice piece to have, but I don't think he's a game changer. Glad we have him for depth in case somebody goes down.

8) Stanley has done well in pass protection, but not so much on the running game.

9) I am not sure how surprised you can be about a guy that everyone was raving about after we drafted him.

[whobilly]

We need more impact players. We have to many roster fillers. Unless we score 40+ points per game this could be a very average season which is what you get with a lot of average players.

[Purple Dawg 96]

This team is locked and loaded! QB is the only position suspect in my eyes! Mallet is the backup PERIOD! # THIS OUR YEAR BECAUSE WE THE BEST!

[trevorsteadman]

28 minutes ago, whobilly said:

We need more impact players. We have to many roster fillers. Unless we score 40+ points per game this could be a very average season which is what you get with a lot of average players.

What team in the NFL scores 40 points a game... Even the historic Broncos a couple years back didn't average that many.

[whobilly]

  35 minutes ago, whobilly said:

We need more impact players. We have to many roster fillers. Unless we score 40+ points per game this could be a very average season which is what you get with a lot of average players.

What team in the NFL scores 40 points a game... Even the historic Broncos a couple years back didn't average that many.

That was kinda my point. We are not going to.

[fusuymada]

We, as a team, have always failed to promote twos and threes during preseason allowing them to play against quality players to see who really is and who isn't an NFL player. Cary Williams played off the hook in preseason for two straight years and never got a shot at the ones to find out he was really good. Same with Kruger, or Ellerbe, the list could go on. This year it's Judon. Then when the baseball bat finally hits our coaches in the head and they have that revelation that "hey, this kid can play ball" there is only one year left on the contract, some foolish team over pays for them, and we never got to benefit from their talent. We need to learn how to identify and fast track our talent and cut loose on those who don't. I don't believe where you are drafted should matter after the draft. Can you play or not. Why Elam has been on the 53 (when healthy) and Butler has not is just dumbfounding to me.

[ZCSlugo]

We get everyone back and playing the way we know they can, everything will be just fine. Can't get too high for a 2-0 record in pre-season or too down on a defense that's not in mid-season form yet. The secondary is still figuring it out with two new safeties and the front 7's been playing without it's two best difference makers. Can't wait for the regular season, Go RAVENS!

[rmcjacket23]

The statement that "Johnson has looked better in practices"... and he definitely looked better in the games... Isn't that how you judge who makes the team? I would think that OVERALL... that's how you judge. While some make the statement that Mallett played more live games, and did so well last season, keep in mind our W/L record last year. JMO

Maybe. Depends on the players you are comparing.

Honestly, based on what I've seen and heard from reporters, Jimmy Smith looks like one of the worst corners on this team in camp. Should we cut him and keep somebody like Davis or Canady over him because they've outplayed him in the preseason?

Of course not, because training camp and the preseason is just a piece of the puzzle. Established veterans like that aren't realistically even competing for their spot... they've already earned it. The preseason/training camp comparison really only works when you're comparing two players who don't have good or relatively unknown track records in real games.

And obviously the W/L record is doubtful to factor in at all, because as is the case league-wide, NFL teams don't strictly judge QBs based on their W/L record... for obvious reasons.

Plus, if W/L record was actually a factor, it would obviously seem to favor Mallett over JJ. Josh is 0-5 lifetime as a starting QB in this league, while Mallett is 3-5 as a starter.

[hen826957]

We need more impact players. We have to many roster fillers. Unless we score 40+ points per game this could be a very average season which is what you get with a lot of average players.

I hate to say it but l agree with you. It's gonna be an average season. Maybe we will get like a 9-7 or 10-6 to squeeze a playoffs at most. Until John realizes to get rid of Dean Pees the defense won't get any better. If we had like the 2011 Ravens defense or even 2008 this team could be a 13-3 easily due to the easy schedule we have this year. The schedule is easy, but the Ravens will make it difficult than it already is due to lack of play on defense.

[FerrariFan87]

Not sure why there's concern about the D when Suggs and Doom weren't out there. That changes everything. I'm ecstatic that we're actually forcing turnovers!

 

Moore looked legit and I think he'll be making some big plays for us this season; Butler too.

[hen826957]

1 hour ago, Purple Dawg 96 said:

This team is locked and loaded! QB is the only position suspect in my eyes! Mallet is the backup PERIOD! # THIS OUR YEAR BECAUSE WE THE BEST!

Wow you're very confident about this year huh. I don't know about that. I'm not that confident this year we will be decent but not championship material. Hold your horses.

Edited August 22, 2016 by hen826957

[budman]

17 minutes ago, FerrariFan87 said:

Not sure why there's concern about the D when Suggs and Doom weren't out there. That changes everything. I'm ecstatic that we're actually forcing turnovers!

 

Moore looked legit and I think he'll be making some big plays for us this season; Butler too.

Perriman coming back probably hurts one of these guys. That's a shame both have looked decent so far and it would seem that with more reps, they would get only better. Some of those reps go away now.

[J.O.14]

Darren Waller is far from the player I thought he would be. I don't understand how he can even make the 53-man roster with the way he has been playing. I really went from wanting to see this guy in action desperately, to now wanting to see somebody else like Daniel Brown take his spot.

What has he been doing so bad that makes you post that? He had one mistake, which led to a pick, but everyone will drop a pass. I'm proud of the way he rebounded that game and our QBs continuously targeted him. Last game he gets his jaw messed up. Give the guy a chance. He is raw, but talented. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if he ends up on the IR with a surprise injury.....

[PurplenBlackFan2392]

This is JMO But I really feel like we need to just get rid of Perriman, I really feel like he will Become another Mark Clayton when he does play, IF he Ever Plays....Trying real hard not to call him a bust &/or Support him when for two years now he gets hurt & has yet to take the field....we just suck at drafting WRs in the draft...again JMO

[rossihunter2]

34 minutes ago, PurplenBlackFan2392 said:

This is JMO But I really feel like we need to just get rid of Perriman, I really feel like he will Become another Mark Clayton when he does play, IF he Ever Plays....Trying real hard not to call him a bust &/or Support him when for two years now he gets hurt & has yet to take the field....we just suck at drafting WRs in the draft...again JMO

you wanna let go of a first rounder that we only drafted last year? who by all accounts looked great in both offseasons before he got injured? you're not even curious to see if he can play at all - you just wanna get rid? Nobody said cut KLM or cut Urban and they were gone much longer than perriman. The team didnt even cut Elam after playing awfully his second year and then getting injured.

[RRRRRavens]

  3 hours ago, whobilly said:

We need more impact players. We have to many roster fillers. Unless we score 40+ points per game this could be a very average season which is what you get with a lot of average players.

I hate to say it but l agree with you. It's gonna be an average season. Maybe we will get like a 9-7 or 10-6 to squeeze a playoffs at most. Until John realizes to get rid of Dean Pees the defense won't get any better. If we had like the 2011 Ravens defense or even 2008 this team could be a 13-3 easily due to the easy schedule we have this year. The schedule is easy, but the Ravens will make it difficult than it already is due to lack of play on defense.

You guys could be right about our poor chances of success this season, especially considering some of our disappointing play on defense so fat. But there's the other side of the ball to consider - our opponents during the real season. We have one of the weakest set of opponents in our schedule, especially through week 11 except for the Steelers at M&T. Not saying it is likely but we could be 7-0 by the time our bye week comes up during week 8 since our opposition will supposedly be so weak themselves. Not exactly a compliment to our team, I guess. But hey, a win is a win.

[cbrook1862]

This defense is very reminiscent of the 2014 defense. We were like top 5 or 10 in red zone defense at least most the season, but the secondary would give up space. We tightened up in the playoffs when we played the steelers and then gave up two 14 point lead against the pats and lost in the division round. I would hate for something like that to happen again. I hope we can tweak things and get on board for wk1, BC if pees has our defense or at least the secondary looking like the last 3 seasons, he's done. And to ppl who don't know, harbaugh may have a voice but he don't decide who gets fired oz does

[Purple Dawg 96]

The only person that can make or break this team is the QB! "EVERY" position feeds off him and if he isn't as "RELENTLESS" like the entire team is than we won't get anywhere! Joe is our Ray Lewis now and he has to stop the quiet guy thing and take us there! Ray Lewis made players play better and so can Joe, he getting them fresh outta college or walk on with tons of potential he can mold and shape them and eat up teams because the Ravens organization is known for finding talent but the QB has to make this type of system work! Oh yeah we going to the Super Bowl for all you doubters down there! Smh! # WE THE BEST!

[Bat-mite]

  4 hours ago, FerrariFan87 said:

Not sure why there's concern about the D when Suggs and Doom weren't out there. That changes everything. I'm ecstatic that we're actually forcing turnovers!

 

Moore looked legit and I think he'll be making some big plays for us this season; Butler too.

Perriman coming back probably hurts one of these guys. That's a shame both have looked decent so far and it would seem that with more reps, they would get only better. Some of those reps go away now.

Here's what I want to know. Suggs tore his Achilles, and he's back. SSS totally ripped his Achilles and he's back. Flacco tore his ACL or MCL, and he's back. Forsett broke his arm and he's back.

But Perriman, with what was originally reported to be a knee strain before the preseason last year, is only just starting to return to the field for drills.

WHAT AREN'T THEY TELLING US? No knee injury has ever sidelined a guy this long, that I can remember. If Flacco is back, Perriman should have been back months ago.

[Purple Dawg 96]

Just don't spend any more money the Ravens are good with whom they have now! I'm comfortable with Joe or Ryan leading this squad and I see big things on the horizon! # WE THE BEST!

[FloridalovesRavens]

  4 hours ago, budman said:

  5 hours ago, FerrariFan87 said:

Not sure why there's concern about the D when Suggs and Doom weren't out there. That changes everything. I'm ecstatic that we're actually forcing turnovers!

 

Moore looked legit and I think he'll be making some big plays for us this season; Butler too.

Perriman coming back probably hurts one of these guys. That's a shame both have looked decent so far and it would seem that with more reps, they would get only better. Some of those reps go away now.

Here's what I want to know. Suggs tore his Achilles, and he's back. SSS totally ripped his Achilles and he's back. Flacco tore his ACL or MCL, and he's back. Forsett broke his arm and he's back.

But Perriman, with what was originally reported to be a knee strain before the preseason last year, is only just starting to return to the field for drills.

WHAT AREN'T THEY TELLING US? No knee injury has ever sidelined a guy this long, that I can remember. If Flacco is back, Perriman should have been back months ago.

Everyone is different. Some heal faster than others. He'll come back when ready. Give it a rest.

[FloridalovesRavens]

  5 hours ago, trevorsteadman said:

  6 hours ago, whobilly said:

We need more impact players. We have to many roster fillers. Unless we score 40+ points per game this could be a very average season which is what you get with a lot of average players.

What team in the NFL scores 40 points a game... Even the historic Broncos a couple years back didn't average that many.

That was kinda my point. We are not going to.

We don't need to score 40 points a game. We just need more points then our opponent. There are very few games played with that many points. Just one more point gets it done.

[PurplenBlackFan2392]

  3 hours ago, PurplenBlackFan2392 said:

This is JMO But I really feel like we need to just get rid of Perriman, I really feel like he will Become another Mark Clayton when he does play, IF he Ever Plays....Trying real hard not to call him a bust &/or Support him when for two years now he gets hurt & has yet to take the field....we just suck at drafting WRs in the draft...again JMO

you wanna let go of a first rounder that we only drafted last year? who by all accounts looked great in both offseasons before he got injured? you're not even curious to see if he can play at all - you just wanna get rid? Nobody said cut KLM or cut Urban and they were gone much longer than perriman. The team didnt even cut Elam after playing awfully his second year and then getting injured.

Anyone Can LOOK Great in Shorts & No Pads Lol

[rossihunter2]

1 hour ago, PurplenBlackFan2392 said:

Anyone Can LOOK Great in Shorts & No Pads Lol

Ok but what about the rest of it?