[News] Late For Work 10/13: Just As Offensive Excitement Ramps Up, Concerning Injuries Start To Snowball

[metalraven]

At one point in time the way to succeed in the NFL was to not sign free agents, let your free agents walk, gather as many draft picks as you can and use those draft picks wisely. That whole mentality hinges on taking the best advantage of those draft picks as you can. We haven't been doing that. Another thing is there are only 53 roster spots. It makes absolutely no sense to have 13 draft picks when only 6 or 7 will actually make the team, if that many. That means you passed up on free agent players to save a few picks that don't turn into quality players and you have to cut. Or the team didn't make trades and trade away those draft picks that would have been cut anyway so we get nothing for those slots. This draft was the first in awhile that we actually acquired a number of good players but even so, we still cut 5 or 6 of the draft picks that we valued so heavily. What sense does that make?

I say that because at this point there are alot of teams out there who are already out of it and looking to next year. We should consider doing a number of trades to strengthen the O-line and strengthen our secondary. Its going to cost a developmental player or two and a couple of those draft picks that Ozzie likes so much, but the strategy that worked for so long when we had a good core of players isn't working anymore because that core is gone. We are in rebuilding mode, even if no one else will admit it. If we want to turn that around into being a competitive team, we are going to have to do some dealing and pick up some other players. Dumpster diving for players that other teams have discarded isn't going to make a super bowl team. Sorry to tell you all that.

Definitely some valid points

[runcontrol]

  2 hours ago, steelcityraven said:

Hold on.... We have Zuttah at C.... we can play both Urschel and Jensen at G... (all three started games last year) We have Alex Lewis back and he actually is a T... We have Hurst who has started way too many games over the past 2 season (but can go) ... it sounds like Stanley will be a go). Ducasse is a quality back up if needed. (I would be shocked if both Yanda and Wagner missed- they are both some pretty tough dudes)....

Yes we are banged up and nicked up but I really do not believe that the OL is that bad. (in fact... I am going to say that I expect 3 of our 5 starters to play Sunday at minimum) the insurance policy is for two reasons:
1. Practice dummies
2. In case those bumps and nicks get worse through the game or through the season.
 

Jensen started either five or six last year.

Doubt Stanley is a go this week.  If he returned to practice, I would guess he's next week at the earliest, or maybe after the bye week.  I don't think we pick up another guard if Yanda was going to play.  Same with Wagner.....

Stanley practiced today, With Wagner and Yanda both unlikely to play I doubt they sit Stanley

[vinnystp]

Does anybody else miss Jermaine Lewis?

[Ravenous_Ravens]

Um.. is it just me or is anyone else concerned they used up their cap space mostly already? This is a scary thought going into next season when they will need to sign some players like BW. They have no one that can replace BW's level of play. In fact the way he replaced Ngata without much drop off was very telling of his level of play.

Better make sure they get their ROI or else the team is going to have a rough transition next season.

If the o-line is still banged up, figure to see Malett get the start or take a 50/50 shot of Flacco getting injured again.

[eze17]

At one point in time the way to succeed in the NFL was to not sign free agents, let your free agents walk, gather as many draft picks as you can and use those draft picks wisely. That whole mentality hinges on taking the best advantage of those draft picks as you can. We haven't been doing that. Another thing is there are only 53 roster spots. It makes absolutely no sense to have 13 draft picks when only 6 or 7 will actually make the team, if that many. That means you passed up on free agent players to save a few picks that don't turn into quality players and you have to cut. Or the team didn't make trades and trade away those draft picks that would have been cut anyway so we get nothing for those slots. This draft was the first in awhile that we actually acquired a number of good players but even so, we still cut 5 or 6 of the draft picks that we valued so heavily. What sense does that make?

I say that because at this point there are alot of teams out there who are already out of it and looking to next year. We should consider doing a number of trades to strengthen the O-line and strengthen our secondary. Its going to cost a developmental player or two and a couple of those draft picks that Ozzie likes so much, but the strategy that worked for so long when we had a good core of players isn't working anymore because that core is gone. We are in rebuilding mode, even if no one else will admit it. If we want to turn that around into being a competitive team, we are going to have to do some dealing and pick up some other players. Dumpster diving for players that other teams have discarded isn't going to make a super bowl team. Sorry to tell you all that.

Um, little thing called the salary cap kinda gets in the way of your plans...that and the fact that football is not like baseball, there is very little movement involving trades. In fact, with the exception of during the draft, almost no teams trade players. And if you do trade, you're talking about giving up relatively cheap draft picks for expensive veterans...leading back to the salary cap.

I can't argue with you about the Raven's recent draft woes...but to say we are in a rebuilding mode is nonsense. There are a lot of talented players on this team. It's getting them to play to the best of their ability that needs more work, and probably the main reason Trestman was fired (I never liked that the Raven's hired him, honestly. I figured it was more a FO move than a Harb's decision, possibly why the two seemed to lack chemistry).

Although you make some interesting (and valid) points, building a team through trades never has been or will be an option in the NFL. Likewise, any team that tries to build through agressive free agency always runs into the salary cap wall, and crashes and burns usually leaving them in a worse situation then when they started.

Like it or not, the only true way to build and keep a consistently competitive team is through good drafting and very liberable free agent spending. Not only do the Raven's follow this path, but teams like the Pats, Squeelers, Packers, Seahawks, ect. follow this plan. Another words, the teams that are consistently in the play-offs and win championships. Unfortunately, the Raven's last few drafts have not been up to par, which is leaving us slightly more vulnerable than is usually comfortable, and why we were more involved in the free agent market than normal. This year's draft seems to be leaning towards a better class, so I don't forsee us changing our policy any time soon.

[Edgar]

Albert McClellan shouldn't be a starter at any linebacker position.

[Cawtious]

1 hour ago, runcontrol said:

Stanley practiced today, With Wagner and Yanda both unlikely to play I doubt they sit Stanley

I hope that I am wrong, but it won't surprise me. 

[towens2921]

Looked down the comments and saw repeated instances of "This guy started X number of games last year..." We were 5-11 last year. We don't want those guys playing.

[huntrgathrr]

Wright and Dumervil don't mean squat for the defense to perform at a high level. Young is playing better than Wright and Powers can man the slot.
Judon exceeded all expectations and it would be hard for Dumervil to live up to Judon's performance. If Mosely is out that will hurt but Correia will get a chance to shine and McClellan can also play well next to Orr. Weddle can call the defenses and may be even better truth be told.
So i see the defense playing well and ho;ding the Giants to less than 20 points.
If the offense can't score 20 dang points then we don't deserve to win and should play the rest of the season just for high draft picks next year. FOR REAL.
Waller, Dixon and Moore should step up and lead this offense in scoring. With Morningway and Flacco, these 3 unused talents and TEs Gilmore and Pitta we should score every possession against the Giants. If Perriman doesn't have 7 catches for 100 plus yards and 2 TDs just cut him. He should be having a breakout year with a game at least one winning TD catch but he looks like a fool...dropping passes and failing to get his feet in bounds to win games. Any fan could be as unsuccessful as he has been given the chance.
Hopefully Morningway realizes that Waller is the truth....he can be the best receiver on the team and should be a TD machine, especially in the red zone. At 6'6" with 4.6 speed he is a mismatch nightmare. He is a bigger, stronger and faster Anquan Bolden. He and Flacco should be undefensible. Waller should be a TD machine with Joe flinging the ball where only he can catch it.
Anything less than a blowout win against the Giants will be the writing on the wall for the Ravens.

[huntrgathrr]

I also forgot to mention that West and Dixon should run like wild deer against this Giant team. We have excellent quality depth at the offensive line and i expect to see a good performance from the probable starting five....Zuttah, Urschel, Stanley Jensen and Hurst. With the proper play calling including screens, draws and roll outs they will be fine.

[mmcclend]

15 hours ago, steelcityraven said:

The injury that scares me that most this week is CJ... I am hoping he can go... He is (out of all of our injuries) the hardest to replace!

Yup, our best player this year by far.

[BigUgly]

Desperation move to shore up the Offensive Line, and one that will weaken an already shaky special teams with the loss of Carter. Couldn't have afforded to keep him, but certainly missing KO now.

[slowboater]

  21 hours ago, fusuymada said:

At one point in time the way to succeed in the NFL was to not sign free agents, let your free agents walk, gather as many draft picks as you can and use those draft picks wisely. That whole mentality hinges on taking the best advantage of those draft picks as you can. We haven't been doing that. Another thing is there are only 53 roster spots. It makes absolutely no sense to have 13 draft picks when only 6 or 7 will actually make the team, if that many. That means you passed up on free agent players to save a few picks that don't turn into quality players and you have to cut. Or the team didn't make trades and trade away those draft picks that would have been cut anyway so we get nothing for those slots. This draft was the first in awhile that we actually acquired a number of good players but even so, we still cut 5 or 6 of the draft picks that we valued so heavily. What sense does that make?

I say that because at this point there are alot of teams out there who are already out of it and looking to next year. We should consider doing a number of trades to strengthen the O-line and strengthen our secondary. Its going to cost a developmental player or two and a couple of those draft picks that Ozzie likes so much, but the strategy that worked for so long when we had a good core of players isn't working anymore because that core is gone. We are in rebuilding mode, even if no one else will admit it. If we want to turn that around into being a competitive team, we are going to have to do some dealing and pick up some other players. Dumpster diving for players that other teams have discarded isn't going to make a super bowl team. Sorry to tell you all that.

Um, little thing called the salary cap kinda gets in the way of your plans...that and the fact that football is not like baseball, there is very little movement involving trades. In fact, with the exception of during the draft, almost no teams trade players. And if you do trade, you're talking about giving up relatively cheap draft picks for expensive veterans...leading back to the salary cap.

I can't argue with you about the Raven's recent draft woes...but to say we are in a rebuilding mode is nonsense. There are a lot of talented players on this team. It's getting them to play to the best of their ability that needs more work, and probably the main reason Trestman was fired (I never liked that the Raven's hired him, honestly. I figured it was more a FO move than a Harb's decision, possibly why the two seemed to lack chemistry).

Although you make some interesting (and valid) points, building a team through trades never has been or will be an option in the NFL. Likewise, any team that tries to build through agressive free agency always runs into the salary cap wall, and crashes and burns usually leaving them in a worse situation then when they started.

Like it or not, the only true way to build and keep a consistently competitive team is through good drafting and very liberable free agent spending. Not only do the Raven's follow this path, but teams like the Pats, Squeelers, Packers, Seahawks, ect. follow this plan. Another words, the teams that are consistently in the play-offs and win championships. Unfortunately, the Raven's last few drafts have not been up to par, which is leaving us slightly more vulnerable than is usually comfortable, and why we were more involved in the free agent market than normal. This year's draft seems to be leaning towards a better class, so I don't forsee us changing our policy any time soon.

You say the Ravens are not in rebuilding mode. Is that you Harbs? The Ravens have little depth, as they are now dumpster diving just to have bodies. Many of the so called stars on this team are older. And as for the draft; what recent Ravens draftees do fans come out to see? Yes, they are in rebuilding mode and are not nearly done. If this team doesn't turn things around, more coaching changes are likely and more new faces will be on the squad next year.

[Rav'n Maniac]

I was hoping the football gods would cut us some slack in the injury department this year. Not happening! We continued to be damned. Quick, someone squish that injury bug before it bites again, PLEASE!

[eze17]

  20 hours ago, eze17 said:

  On 10/13/2016 at 10:16 AM, fusuymada said:

At one point in time the way to succeed in the NFL was to not sign free agents, let your free agents walk, gather as many draft picks as you can and use those draft picks wisely. That whole mentality hinges on taking the best advantage of those draft picks as you can. We haven't been doing that. Another thing is there are only 53 roster spots. It makes absolutely no sense to have 13 draft picks when only 6 or 7 will actually make the team, if that many. That means you passed up on free agent players to save a few picks that don't turn into quality players and you have to cut. Or the team didn't make trades and trade away those draft picks that would have been cut anyway so we get nothing for those slots. This draft was the first in awhile that we actually acquired a number of good players but even so, we still cut 5 or 6 of the draft picks that we valued so heavily. What sense does that make?

I say that because at this point there are alot of teams out there who are already out of it and looking to next year. We should consider doing a number of trades to strengthen the O-line and strengthen our secondary. Its going to cost a developmental player or two and a couple of those draft picks that Ozzie likes so much, but the strategy that worked for so long when we had a good core of players isn't working anymore because that core is gone. We are in rebuilding mode, even if no one else will admit it. If we want to turn that around into being a competitive team, we are going to have to do some dealing and pick up some other players. Dumpster diving for players that other teams have discarded isn't going to make a super bowl team. Sorry to tell you all that.

Um, little thing called the salary cap kinda gets in the way of your plans...that and the fact that football is not like baseball, there is very little movement involving trades. In fact, with the exception of during the draft, almost no teams trade players. And if you do trade, you're talking about giving up relatively cheap draft picks for expensive veterans...leading back to the salary cap.

I can't argue with you about the Raven's recent draft woes...but to say we are in a rebuilding mode is nonsense. There are a lot of talented players on this team. It's getting them to play to the best of their ability that needs more work, and probably the main reason Trestman was fired (I never liked that the Raven's hired him, honestly. I figured it was more a FO move than a Harb's decision, possibly why the two seemed to lack chemistry).

Although you make some interesting (and valid) points, building a team through trades never has been or will be an option in the NFL. Likewise, any team that tries to build through agressive free agency always runs into the salary cap wall, and crashes and burns usually leaving them in a worse situation then when they started.

Like it or not, the only true way to build and keep a consistently competitive team is through good drafting and very liberable free agent spending. Not only do the Raven's follow this path, but teams like the Pats, Squeelers, Packers, Seahawks, ect. follow this plan. Another words, the teams that are consistently in the play-offs and win championships. Unfortunately, the Raven's last few drafts have not been up to par, which is leaving us slightly more vulnerable than is usually comfortable, and why we were more involved in the free agent market than normal. This year's draft seems to be leaning towards a better class, so I don't forsee us changing our policy any time soon.

You say the Ravens are not in rebuilding mode. Is that you Harbs? The Ravens have little depth, as they are now dumpster diving just to have bodies. Many of the so called stars on this team are older. And as for the draft; what recent Ravens draftees do fans come out to see? Yes, they are in rebuilding mode and are not nearly done. If this team doesn't turn things around, more coaching changes are likely and more new faces will be on the squad next year.

Any team looking for help this time of year is dumpster diving...I agree that the O-line was fundamentally weak with little in the way of quality back ups ready to come in and take over starting positions. Hurst was terrible last year, and I didn't forsee him even making the team out of training camp. Jensen had played O.K. in the past, but seems to have regressed. Urschel seemed more of a back up to Zuttah then a substitute guard. If Ducasse was really good, he would have made the team out of training camp. And when you add in that we were starting two rookies, yeah, the Ravens should have bolstered their line better before the season started.

Now where else (other than safety, which is another discussion entirely) are we lacking quality depth? I think we're shored up fairly well at all the other positions. I still think the Raven's can match up with any team in the league, there are NO teams out there that I would say are playing great football right now. Just look at the records. To say that the Ravens will automatically lose to any team left on their schedule is just being pessimistic. NE, Squeelers, Bungles...none of them are really dominating the league and despite the Ravens issues, our defense can hang in there against anybody. If we can cure our offensive woes, we can make some noise. I know that's a big if right now, but I'm not giving up until they prove one way or another that they can't play with the so called big boys.

[eze17]

Desperation move to shore up the Offensive Line, and one that will weaken an already shaky special teams with the loss of Carter. Couldn't have afforded to keep him, but certainly missing KO now.

Um, did you ever think that Carter might have been one of the problems on special teams? I'm not sure if cutting him weakens our ST, considering he was pretty much on the field for all the ST miscues...not to mention that we have Waller, a very good ST player, back on the roster, so he's easily replaced.

[slowboater]

"....our defense can hang in there against anybody." The Ravens haven't played an upper echelon team yet. The one reasonable team was Oakland and look what happened and now OBJ just torched the secondary. I rest my case. Not enough playmakers, no depth and yes, the defense can't hang with the better teams.