[News] Eisenberg: Rebound Year Rests Upon Ozzie Newsome's Problem-Solving Ability

[BR News]

If you trust that Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens can identify and fix what went wrong last season, then you are expecting a big bounce back in 2016.

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[ellicottraven]

In my mind, the only path to a great season and playoff appearance is going 4-0 in the first quarter of the season. Can we do that? Perhaps but there simply are too many unknowns to be certain.

[The Greek]

a lot of ? going into the game and early part of the season for that matter. can the rookies on the left side protect flacco and open up running lanes. can the def. apply pressure to the qb. can the secondary improve and will pees run ryans d or mattisons d. the story will unfold

[The Greek]

if these early draft pics do not pan out than the finger will have to be pointed to the fo

[stixfix69]

Aside from Stanley, i think the picks from the 4th and 5th round will be the ones who showcase their talent, and that has been Oz's real MO, finding gems in the later rounds.....He has found players in the mid rounds for years, and i really think that is where the genius is, top two picks are always under the microscope, but unless you're picking top 10, it is a gamble, but people expect those late round 1st and 2nd picks to be top 10 type players, and they just don't always pan out that way, for most teams picking at the bottom of each round....

[Peej]

Lots of questions to be sure. However, I saw good things individually in the preseason as well as a brief glimpse of the chemistry between Flacco and his speed receivers. We'll find out more on Sunday.

[objective view]

I am a true Ravens fan however I do not respond to hype or get over emotional about the season just because it;s new. I try to objectively look at the team, it's players and it's pre season performance all be it pre season to try and objectively evaluate where we might be..

We had a lot of tough luck last year with the injury bug, lost a lot of close games, but I do not see where we made enough changes to become contenders again.

We lost D. Smith in the middle, are returning the same corners, not safety but corners, Weddle can only do soo much and I am not a L. Webb fan as far as his cover skills go. D line is really weaker without Canty and I think the bills will run on us fairly easily. If we over react to the run, look out for the Bills passing game.

On offense, we lost a stud in Osemele and to be perfectly candid I do not see all the upgrade in Rb;s the boys on here are talking about but if the holes aren't there, there is not where to run, period and Joe will be under constant pressure.

Like everyone, I worry about Pitta's ability to stay healthy, Mike Wallace should be a nice addition if Joe has time to find him. Steve Smith will hopefully be Steve Smith and Akin has become a valid receiver.

If the O Line does not self destruct the offense should be ok but, I think we will see the same result out of the defense this year as last, maybe worse and it's not Pee's, it the caliber of player on D. We are really weak at middle linebacker imo.

Just my most objective point of view....

[January J]

I trust Ozzie and harbaugh to the fullest. We don't stay down for long, and we have several backup plans in place if things get shaky. Bring on the season..Im cautious bc of the debacle last year.. But I'm optimistic BC of this staffs overall track record and the talent on this team. If we get the running game going- Flacco will be able to effectively run the play action with both of our deep threats Wallace and perriman. Not to mention Moore if he's active. And if those guys consistently get open and burn the dbs- the guys underneath/over the middle such as the tight ends and SSS will just eat all day long and Flacco will just keep feeding them. This could be a consistent theme throughout the year if all the pieces are utilized properly and If our key weapons stay healthy. If we make it through the first two games 2-0 and then Dixon and doom return- well let's just say our opponents are going to be quite reluctant to face Baltimore. If the defense can even halfway return to its old physical ways where we made plays/ created turnovers and just straight up instilled fear in offenses- there is absolutely no reason why we can't make a DEEP playoff run. Ozzie and Harbs  both know what they are doing and they won't allow a repeat of last year. 

[b93333]

That real problem is that several weak drafts have left the team without the usual depth. This year's draft (except for the 2nd and 3rd rounds) looks better. You can't build a team without help from the draft.

[terpmaniac]

I am happy to not be opening up against those damn Denver Broncos in freaking Denver! I will take Buffalo every time. This is a winnable game. On the road I would worry(we tend to have road issues)but at home, first game, with all the new changes, new offensive weapons and a healthier team, I feel confident about tomorrow and the season as a whole.

[fusuymada]

As crazy as it sounds, the Ravens are victims of their own success. I saw an article that said the original Ravens Super Bowl team had like 6 future head coaches and 4 future GMs on staff. Not to mention the scouts like Savage and Jeremiah that were tapped by other teams to fill roles. The same has been true throughout the Harbaugh era, in the organization, from top to bottom. Success attracts the attention of other teams who want to lure that talent away. I think that the revolving door of scouts, coaches, etc... created a void of consistency during draft periods. In addition, people who stood on the table and argued on behalf of a lot of these draft busts are now gone themselves. This is the first year we have had the same OC on staff for two straight years since Cameron left. Subsequently, not only is the offense better suited to be successful by having Trestman in subsequent years, did you also notice the draft seemed to be better as well. Granted, the draft position and other factors figure into that, but it only makes sense that a 5-11 season goes a long way to building consistency because other teams aren't looking at the Ravens saying we want some of their people. Proof is in the pudding. Every year for as many years as I can remember someone wanted to offer Eric DeCosta a GM job, last year after a losing season, I didn't see any articles regarding him turning down offers like we usually do. Unfortunately when we win the Super Bowl next year Trestman will get HC offers, DeCosta will be back to his annual GM offers, Ozzie will be "In Ozzie We Trust"again and our offices will be scoured by other teams  for talent looking for the next NFL Guru.

Edited September 10, 2016 by fusuymada
Understanding

[Tenacious Faulker]

I'm always optimistic about the Ravens...at least in the Flacco-Harbaugh era. They haven;t gone back-to-back losing seasons since the 1990's. They always seem to be rebuilding for several seasons, not just the one ahead of them. They make good personnel decisions and treat players and staff with respect, not like another number. They are always evolving.

As for where they are now, it looks like they have cultivated the right players and rounded out their roster with journeymen. It's very New England-like without that impersonal feel of Belichick. They're offense is not star studded. Steve Smith is probably the flashiest player, but he's in his last season. Wallace was on a fast track to elite receiver and is now a middling deep threat. We don;t know what we have with Perriman yet. The rest of the corps is not setting the league in fire. Our running backs are not elite, but all are highly capable and versatile. Tightends? Pitta will be lucky to play, Gilmore looks solid if he can stay healthy. Williams could be a stud but is still developing. O-line is not sexy at all though we have Stanley and Yanda who are about as rockstar as linemen get.

Even Joe Flacco is not a flashy player. He can make all the throws, but has never made gaudy stats his thing. But this year more than others he will carry the offense on his back with a cast of aging, recovering, upcoming, and middling cast around him. This is what they've expected of the elites - Rogers, Brady, Manning, and Brees - to make receivers better, not the tother way around.

[Purple Dawg 96]

I trust Ozzie and harbaugh to the fullest. We don't stay down for long, and we have several backup plans in place if things get shaky. Bring on the season..Im cautious bc of the debacle last year.. But I'm optimistic BC of this staffs overall track record and the talent on this team. If we get the running game going- Flacco will be able to effectively run the play action with both of our deep threats Wallace and perriman. Not to mention Moore if he's active. And if those guys consistently get open and burn the dbs- the guys underneath/over the middle such as the tight ends and SSS will just eat all day long and Flacco will just keep feeding them. This could be a consistent theme throughout the year if all the pieces are utilized properly and If our key weapons stay healthy. If we make it through the first two games 2-0 and then Dixon and doom return- well let's just say our opponents are going to be quite reluctant to face Baltimore. If the defense can even halfway return to its old physical ways where we made plays/ created turnovers and just straight up instilled fear in offenses- there is absolutely no reason why we can't make a DEEP playoff run. Ozzie and Harbs  both know what they are doing and they won't allow a repeat of last year. 

EXACTLY!
WE THE BEST!

[purpledown]

This team stays healthy they can be in it and make the playoffs. There is plenty of talent , but injuries will destroy them , just like last year.

[Crusader]

That real problem is that several weak drafts have left the team without the usual depth. This year's draft (except for the 2nd and 3rd rounds) looks better. You can't build a team without help from the draft.

Finally someone sees the big picture

[Crusader]

Its going to take sometime for these guys to get on the same page. I don't see it happening this year but you never know.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

The WW2 (Weddle/Webb) = 2D2B are going to be special.

[ellicottraven]

I trust Ozzie and harbaugh to the fullest. We don't stay down for long, and we have several backup plans in place if things get shaky. Bring on the season..Im cautious bc of the debacle last year.. But I'm optimistic BC of this staffs overall track record and the talent on this team. If we get the running game going- Flacco will be able to effectively run the play action with both of our deep threats Wallace and perriman. Not to mention Moore if he's active. And if those guys consistently get open and burn the dbs- the guys underneath/over the middle such as the tight ends and SSS will just eat all day long and Flacco will just keep feeding them. This could be a consistent theme throughout the year if all the pieces are utilized properly and If our key weapons stay healthy. If we make it through the first two games 2-0 and then Dixon and doom return- well let's just say our opponents are going to be quite reluctant to face Baltimore. If the defense can even halfway return to its old physical ways where we made plays/ created turnovers and just straight up instilled fear in offenses- there is absolutely no reason why we can't make a DEEP playoff run. Ozzie and Harbs  both know what they are doing and they won't allow a repeat of last year. 

You are presenting an overly optimistic view of the season. I'm not one to say this isn't happening because it very well can, but the flip side needs to be considered as well and that ain't pretty. You are correct about one thing though. Should we win the first 2 games and with authority, it will instill a ton of confidence in our young bucks and make the veterans believers as well. The return of Doom and Dixon will add pep to the team for sure, but winning the first 2 games is key. If they do and go on a run, there is no reason to believe we won't be division champions. However, we need to address the monkey on our backs - Cincinnati. We need to figure out a way to beat them this year. Both times if possible. If we do, I think we can even go on to win the SB.

[FloridalovesRavens]

I don't think the first couple games of this season are going to make or break us. It's a combination of 16 games of wins and losses. Bottom line is to win more then lose more and imo we have the talent to do just that. No one can predict that from the first couple games. Go Ravens!

[outkast1]

I trust in the Oz,but not the Peas !

[OzzieBisciotti]

I don't have a lot of conifdence in Ozzie or Dacosta based upon his last 5 years of work with the draft- just saying..

[stixfix69]

I trust Oz, and will take him over any GM any day of the week....His track record speaks for itself, we are a team that doesn;t rebuild, but reload, that is why it is rare that we miss the playoffs....So many teams would blame 22 IR'd players to a bad season, no excuses here, they just go out and draft, and trade for players to make sure we are not caught in that position....And Bam....It's been a long time since i have seen a draft, where the players drafted in the 4th, and 5th could have a huge impact on this years team....Dixon, Lewis, Henry,Moore,and Young, and then Judon from the 5th...And then Stanley who so many "who might not admit it now, weren;t happy" as they wanted Bosa or Tunsil...well Bosa not playing today, Tunsil starting at Guard not LT, and Stanley already picked as top rook LT.....So how many teams 4th rounders do you think will have the impact our 4th and 5th rounder will have this year??