[News] Late For Work 10/28: Eight Bye Week Thoughts On Steve Bisciotti, Ozzie Newsome And More

[BR News]

Best and worst organizational decisions this year. Derrick Mason: John Harbaugh has not lost locker room. Kendrick Lewis another example of a safety not working out. Lardarius Webb living up to contract? Bright young stars: Tavon Young, Alex Lewis. Don't expect any trades.

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[Fastynart]

If the roster is "undermanned", it is no one's fault but Ozzie Newsome. His terrible drafting over the last 6 years have left the Ravens bereft of talent.
Zrebiec is right about the best and worst. The Ravens knew what they had to fix but didn't do it.
I like Mason but he is full of baloney. John Harbaugh didn't win anything. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed did. Once they were gone, all we read was about how this was "Harbaugh's Team". Well we haven't heard that lately. How is that working out?
Weddle and Webb "entrenched"? Seriously? Why would anyone on this awful pass defense be "entrenched? If they are, they are because no one else has the talent to unentrench them. Elam stinks. He has proven he can't play in the NFL.
Sadly, Webb is downright terrible. He is a good guy who tries his best, but injuries have slowed him to the point where he is a liability.
Ok, Young & Lewis have done ok (for fourth rounders) but where are the guys taken ahead of them? Just like every year since 2010, draft picks one through three are mediocre or gone into obscurity where they belong. Ozzie Newsome's inability to draft winners in the first few rounds have killed the Ravens.

[Crusader]

If the roster is "undermanned", it is no one's fault but Ozzie Newsome. His terrible drafting over the last 6 years have left the Ravens bereft of talent.
Zrebiec is right about the best and worst. The Ravens knew what they had to fix but didn't do it.
I like Mason but he is full of baloney. John Harbaugh didn't win anything. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed did. Once they were gone, all we read was about how this was "Harbaugh's Team". Well we haven't heard that lately. How is that working out?
Weddle and Webb "entrenched"? Seriously? Why would anyone on this awful pass defense be "entrenched? If they are, they are because no one else has the talent to unentrench them. Elam stinks. He has proven he can't play in the NFL.
Sadly, Webb is downright terrible. He is a good guy who tries his best, but injuries have slowed him to the point where he is a liability.
Ok, Young & Lewis have done ok (for fourth rounders) but where are the guys taken ahead of them? Just like every year since 2010, draft picks one through three are mediocre or gone into obscurity where they belong. Ozzie Newsome's inability to draft winners in the first few rounds have killed the Ravens.

It's nice to read something that I been thinking and saying from someone else. I would also throw in the bad contacts that have put the Ravens in Salary Cap Hell for years to come. Looking back in Ravens history the Ravens should have Dilfer'ed Joe after the Super bowl and used the money on the O-line. It worked for Trent & Jamal.

[b93333]

  34 minutes ago, Fastynart said:

If the roster is "undermanned", it is no one's fault but Ozzie Newsome. His terrible drafting over the last 6 years have left the Ravens bereft of talent.
Zrebiec is right about the best and worst. The Ravens knew what they had to fix but didn't do it.
I like Mason but he is full of baloney. John Harbaugh didn't win anything. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed did. Once they were gone, all we read was about how this was "Harbaugh's Team". Well we haven't heard that lately. How is that working out?
Weddle and Webb "entrenched"? Seriously? Why would anyone on this awful pass defense be "entrenched? If they are, they are because no one else has the talent to unentrench them. Elam stinks. He has proven he can't play in the NFL.
Sadly, Webb is downright terrible. He is a good guy who tries his best, but injuries have slowed him to the point where he is a liability.
Ok, Young & Lewis have done ok (for fourth rounders) but where are the guys taken ahead of them? Just like every year since 2010, draft picks one through three are mediocre or gone into obscurity where they belong. Ozzie Newsome's inability to draft winners in the first few rounds have killed the Ravens.

It's nice to read something that I been thinking and saying from someone else. I would also throw in the bad contacts that have put the Ravens in Salary Cap Hell for years to come. Looking back in Ravens history the Ravens should have Dilfer'ed Joe after the Super bowl and used the money on the O-line. It worked for Trent & Jamal.

Just maybe we might be better off in "salary cap hell"... that is to rid ourselves of overpaid and under performing players and take a shot on some young, hungry newcomers?

[law215]

“Does he see more failure from the coaching staff or the effects of an undermanned roster as the primary reason for Baltimore’s struggles?”

Unfortunately I believe Steve needs to realize it's both.

Front Office fault

At the last draft Harbs described sitting back and watching OZ and DeCosta work their magic. That's leads me to believe Harbs a very little say in who get picked.

FO has never supplies the Ravens with talent at Wr position. OZ method is to rely on short-term old vets.

The offensive line has been a mess and he failed to retain guys like Grubbs, KO, Jason Brown.

At the same time he over paid Webb, J Smith, and gives Wright a contract (smh) If either of them were worth the money, the secondary would not be in the shape it is now. Weddle represents OZ continue approach of stop gap solutions instead of drafting and retaining young talent.

The team after 6th overall pick and 11 picks in total still lack a consistent pass rusher, depth on the o-line, and play makers. That has nothing to do with Harbs.

Harbs fault

Harbs has failed as well. This team lacks discipline and toughness.

Every week he says the team needs to play smart , run the ball effectively, and be disciplined. Yet, every week we see the exact opposite. He explains what went wrong like its the players or coordinators fault.

Why can he tell Trestman or Marty to call more run plays?
He seems dependent on the coordinators instead of them following his lead.

Young players on John's watch never hit the field. Most don't seems to grow. Brown, Elam, Doss, and yes even Joe.

Joe still acts like he can't read a defense, call his own plays so he can stop blaming the OC, his fundamentals are not consistent.

So what does John bring to the team if he can oversee the development of his QB?

Steve needs to add a new perspective to the draft, scouting, and contracts. He also should start looking for a new head coach that can help develop players, revive the physical style of play that works in the AFC North, and adds expertise to the offense or defense.

[VermontRaven]

17 minutes ago, Crusader said:

It's nice to read something that I been thinking and saying from someone else. I would also throw in the bad contacts that have put the Ravens in Salary Cap Hell for years to come. Looking back in Ravens history the Ravens should have Dilfer'ed Joe after the Super bowl and used the money on the O-line. It worked for Trent & Jamal.

I think the Ravens do have some bad contracts, but Flacco is not one of them.  Look at what other QBs are being paid...Dalton, Newton, Osweiler, etc.  The market value for QBs is crazy high, and most teams have to pay it if they want a chance to be successful.  The contracts that are hurting us right now are ones to Doom, Webb, etc.

[Drew P]

Put Levine at Safety the Webb thing failed. The guy has no place in the NFL he looks frail and can hardly get out of his own way.

[btfan2]

My God please don't trade Aiken. He and Joe are great together. Why would anyone even consider trading him??

[eze17]

Hater's gonna hate...send em' to the moon...

[steelcityraven]

Kamar is the # 4 and possibly the # 5 WR in our lineup and with Campanaro ready to come back- the best thing that Kamar can do for us is provide trat bait to help us in an area of need. 1. SSS 2. Wallace 3. Perriman 4. CMoore and now with Camp ready to return that moves Kamar well down the lineup and that is not even considering that Waller can play both WR and TE. I know they mentioned keeping Kamar incase SSS retires next season but why cant we take another WR in the middle of the draft to replace him (it would be cheaper and he would have a better chance then being our #4 or $ 5 WR).

I really don't think too many teams are very interested in KAMAR...our WR corps is disappointing so far and Kamar is 4th or 5th in BMORE... that don't have me believing that teams are beating down our door trying to get him...

but if a team like the Bills or Jets or Chargers think they can help them make a run... I say take him and let us get something we can use for him bc being 5th in the line up or worse... we are not going to be much out of him with him here?

[steelcityraven]

Put Levine at Safety the Webb thing failed. The guy has no place in the NFL he looks frail and can hardly get out of his own way.

I think Huff looked much better at S then Webby did. The problem with webb is his $9 million plus contract. If he can at least contribute on ST we can get something for that money... but wow? SMH he is clearly not the answer at S...

His pursuit angels are horrible. He looks timid too often and I have seen him look lost more then I have seen him confidently make plays this season.

[Bat-mite]

Hater's gonna hate...send em' to the moon...

These forums exist so that fans can discuss their opinions. Silly to say that someone with an opinion different than yours is a "hater." No one here hates the Ravens. Those people post to the Pittsburgh Steelers forums.

[steelcityraven]

We need to let these young players lose a little more. That is something that Harbs never does but it is time to let the likes of:

1. Tavon
2. Dixon
3. Judon
4. ZSmith
5. KC
6. ALewis
7. Stanley (although that was the play with those two all along)
8. Waller
9. Campanaro
10. CMoore
11. Perriman
12. Huff

There is a dozen players that we need to get more involved. Stanley -Lewis and Tavon have already been showing that they can help this team.

C Moore and Campanaro can add to the weapons that we are missing on offense but they can only do that if they are on the field and getting reps.

Perriman needs be force fed a little. As does Dixon

Waller is a mismatch and needs to be utilized. I know that means that Joes friend Pitta may get less reps but Waller is the type of athlete that this offense is missing.

Judon and ZSmith are showing that they can play. that is not saying that they should surpass Suggs or Dum but they should be getting a healthy rotation. KC should also be working in that rotation. He can play all 4 LB positions and ST... he is athletic and has a high motor and we could take advantage of that in situations all while letting him get his feet wet and developing.

Finally... Huff will be an upgrade over Webb and much cheaper moving forward. He is more athletic and makes us more versatile in our defensive backfield.

That is a dozen players (nearly a quarter of our line up) that we need to get more out of and who could add some spark for us on both sides of the ball..

I hope to see a lot more of them over the second half of the season.

[Moderator 3]

1 minute ago, steelcityraven said:

We need to let these young players lose a little more. That is something that Harbs never does but it is time to let the likes of:

I'd really rather we let them win instead.

[steelcityraven]

I struggle with the comment that we shouldn't expect trades bc we don't look like a super bowl contender. We have not been healthy.

We have been without SSS, Suggs, Dumervil, Stanley, CJ, Yanda and more.
When we were healthy we were 3-0

since the injuries we have been 0-4 but those are some giant injuries. IN fact for the most part those are our top guys.

Our guys are now expected to be back after the bye... we should be at full strength or close to it and we are only one game out of 1st place in the division.

The sqeelers are banged up... the Bengals look bad and we can still control our own destiny.

A win vs Pittsburgh and a healthy unit moving forward could go a long way to righting the ship. A little help (even for depth better then Hurst or help at S ) and we could legitimately make a run.

Once you get into the playoffs... its all about who is peaking at that time!
Yea... I have an issue with that statement.

[CQ1]

9 thoughts:
I've pitched my Maalox for smelling salts. Oops- purple smelling salts. ETA will be prior to the Pittsburgh game.

[OriolesMagicPlease]

44 minutes ago, Bat-mite said:

These forums exist so that fans can discuss their opinions. Silly to say that someone with an opinion different than yours is a "hater." No one here hates the Ravens. Those people post to the Pittsburgh Steelers forums.

Sure everyone has a right to their opinion. However, there is definitely hate. Losing brings out the worst in people.

With the division shaping up the way it is, it is too soon to give up.

[CQ1]

  47 minutes ago, eze17 said:

Hater's gonna hate...send em' to the moon...

These forums exist so that fans can discuss their opinions. Silly to say that someone with an opinion different than yours is a "hater." No one here hates the Ravens. Those people post to the Pittsburgh Steelers forums.

Yes. I love the Ravens.....however, as a product (a major one, at that)it /they are not playing as good as they should be with the talent they have, etc. As a fan I am very dissatisfied, given there putrid offense- especially with an excessively overpaid qb that is not (imo) doing his best to win (internal politics, perhaps?)

[TheConquerorWorm]

My God please don't trade Aiken. He and Joe are great together. Why would anyone even consider trading him??

Because he's a Free Agent next year and he's gonna wanna get paid based on his season last year. The Ravens aren't paying him Torrey Smith $$ (and shouldn't) so he's gonna walk anyway.

[respecttheRaven]

1 minute ago, OriolesMagicPlease said:

Sure everyone has a right to their opinion. However, there is definitely hate. Losing brings out the worst in people.

With the division shaping up the way it is, it is too soon to give up.

Agreed!! Way to soon to bring out the "brown baggers"!!! Yes, that is correct.....I drink the purple kool-aid, and lot's of it!! That's just me I guess. Hopefully, the bye will give some time to heal, and adjust. Get some crucial guy's back and make a go at it!! All it not lost!! Let's go Ravens!!!! 

[outkast1]

Hello Sarah ? Matt Judon is doing one heck of job and Micheal Pierce has played better than our number 2 and 3 drafted players.No mention of them HuH?

[outkast1]

  1 hour ago, Bat-mite said:

  1 hour ago, eze17 said:

Hater's gonna hate...send em' to the moon...

These forums exist so that fans can discuss their opinions. Silly to say that someone with an opinion different than yours is a "hater." No one here hates the Ravens. Those people post to the Pittsburgh Steelers forums.

Yes. I love the Ravens.....however, as a product (a major one, at that)it /they are not playing as good as they should be with the talent they have, etc. As a fan I am very dissatisfied, given there putrid offense- especially with an excessively overpaid qb that is not (imo) doing his best to win (internal politics, perhaps?)

Sloppy Joe got his money, he will never be a leader on any team .Maybe that's why he ended up at Delaware State.The Blue Hen that lays eggs !

[TheConquerorWorm]

If the roster is "undermanned", it is no one's fault but Ozzie Newsome. His terrible drafting over the last 6 years have left the Ravens bereft of talent.
Zrebiec is right about the best and worst. The Ravens knew what they had to fix but didn't do it.
I like Mason but he is full of baloney. John Harbaugh didn't win anything. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed did. Once they were gone, all we read was about how this was "Harbaugh's Team". Well we haven't heard that lately. How is that working out?
Weddle and Webb "entrenched"? Seriously? Why would anyone on this awful pass defense be "entrenched? If they are, they are because no one else has the talent to unentrench them. Elam stinks. He has proven he can't play in the NFL.
Sadly, Webb is downright terrible. He is a good guy who tries his best, but injuries have slowed him to the point where he is a liability.
Ok, Young & Lewis have done ok (for fourth rounders) but where are the guys taken ahead of them? Just like every year since 2010, draft picks one through three are mediocre or gone into obscurity where they belong. Ozzie Newsome's inability to draft winners in the first few rounds have killed the Ravens.

More Troll drivel again......

If according to your theory, Ray & Ed won the Super Bowl, then why didn't they win it during their prime years? You know, those prime years where we also had Suggs, NGata, McAlister, Bart Scott, Jarrett Johnson in their prime years? How do you explain that? You can't. Even that team went 5-11. Because it doesn't fit your BS theory, that's why.

And it doesn't fit your BS theory that Ozzie can't draft - Mosley, KO, BWill, Torrey, Jimmy, Wagner, Jernigan, Tavon, Tyrod Taylor, Pernell McPhee, Urshel. Not to mention the Undrafted FA that OZZIE BROUGHT IN - Justin Tucker (ever heard of him?), Orr, Aiken, etc.

Nope, none of that matters because it doesn't support your acrimonious agenda towards Ozzie & Harbs. Troll on, sir.....

[outkast1]

  2 hours ago, Fastynart said:

If the roster is "undermanned", it is no one's fault but Ozzie Newsome. His terrible drafting over the last 6 years have left the Ravens bereft of talent.
Zrebiec is right about the best and worst. The Ravens knew what they had to fix but didn't do it.
I like Mason but he is full of baloney. John Harbaugh didn't win anything. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed did. Once they were gone, all we read was about how this was "Harbaugh's Team". Well we haven't heard that lately. How is that working out?
Weddle and Webb "entrenched"? Seriously? Why would anyone on this awful pass defense be "entrenched? If they are, they are because no one else has the talent to unentrench them. Elam stinks. He has proven he can't play in the NFL.
Sadly, Webb is downright terrible. He is a good guy who tries his best, but injuries have slowed him to the point where he is a liability.
Ok, Young & Lewis have done ok (for fourth rounders) but where are the guys taken ahead of them? Just like every year since 2010, draft picks one through three are mediocre or gone into obscurity where they belong. Ozzie Newsome's inability to draft winners in the first few rounds have killed the Ravens.

More Troll drivel again......

If according to your theory, Ray & Ed won the Super Bowl, then why didn't they win it during their prime years? You know, those prime years where we also had Suggs, NGata, McAlister, Bart Scott, Jarrett Johnson in their prime years? How do you explain that? You can't. Even that team went 5-11. Because it doesn't fit your BS theory, that's why.

And it doesn't fit your BS theory that Ozzie can't draft - Mosley, KO, BWill, Torrey, Jimmy, Wagner, Jernigan, Tavon, Tyrod Taylor, Pernell McPhee, Urshel. Not to mention the Undrafted FA that OZZIE BROUGHT IN - Justin Tucker (ever heard of him?), Orr, Aiken, etc.

Nope, none of that matters because it doesn't support your acrimonious agenda towards Ozzie & Harbs. Troll on, sir.....

Good points,but he had to be talking about Brian Billick and not John.

[Raven1995]

  2 hours ago, Fastynart said:

If the roster is "undermanned", it is no one's fault but Ozzie Newsome. His terrible drafting over the last 6 years have left the Ravens bereft of talent.
Zrebiec is right about the best and worst. The Ravens knew what they had to fix but didn't do it.
I like Mason but he is full of baloney. John Harbaugh didn't win anything. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed did. Once they were gone, all we read was about how this was "Harbaugh's Team". Well we haven't heard that lately. How is that working out?
Weddle and Webb "entrenched"? Seriously? Why would anyone on this awful pass defense be "entrenched? If they are, they are because no one else has the talent to unentrench them. Elam stinks. He has proven he can't play in the NFL.
Sadly, Webb is downright terrible. He is a good guy who tries his best, but injuries have slowed him to the point where he is a liability.
Ok, Young & Lewis have done ok (for fourth rounders) but where are the guys taken ahead of them? Just like every year since 2010, draft picks one through three are mediocre or gone into obscurity where they belong. Ozzie Newsome's inability to draft winners in the first few rounds have killed the Ravens.

It's nice to read something that I been thinking and saying from someone else. I would also throw in the bad contacts that have put the Ravens in Salary Cap Hell for years to come. Looking back in Ravens history the Ravens should have Dilfer'ed Joe after the Super bowl and used the money on the O-line. It worked for Trent & Jamal.

Also, they Shouldn't of signed Pitta and RIce. Pitta, Rice, Flacco and Webb's Salary the Last 5 years is Astronomical ( Wasteful) when compared to their Output. Add in Haloti Ngata's and its awful. Ozzie has missed on Draft Picks but Also on the Players he has signed.

[eze17]

  1 hour ago, eze17 said:

Hater's gonna hate...send em' to the moon...

These forums exist so that fans can discuss their opinions. Silly to say that someone with an opinion different than yours is a "hater." No one here hates the Ravens. Those people post to the Pittsburgh Steelers forums.

wow...are you really that naive? I personally know a Squeelers fan who logs on here to stir people up...In case you've never noticed, there are people called "trolls" out there on the internet..

And in any case, when I hear so called "fans" on this site spewing unbridled anger at players and coaches, and offering no solution other than "fire everybody in the front office and on the coaching staff, then cut 90% of the players, then rebuild the entire franchise for the next ten years or so", yeah, then my opinion is that those people are haters with no realistic approach on how to solve a problem other than run their mouth about it and have no constructive viewpoint in my opinion. Which I'm wondering why you feel that I should not be able to express my opinion for some reason.

So i'll say it again...
Hater's gonna hate...send em' to the moon...
Just my opinion...

[sami]

“Does he see more failure from the coaching staff or the effects of an undermanned roster as the primary reason for Baltimore’s struggles?”

Unfortunately I believe Steve needs to realize it's both.

Front Office fault

At the last draft Harbs described sitting back and watching OZ and DeCosta work their magic. That's leads me to believe Harbs a very little say in who get picked.

FO has never supplies the Ravens with talent at Wr position. OZ method is to rely on short-term old vets.

The offensive line has been a mess and he failed to retain guys like Grubbs, KO, Jason Brown.

At the same time he over paid Webb, J Smith, and gives Wright a contract (smh) If either of them were worth the money, the secondary would not be in the shape it is now. Weddle represents OZ continue approach of stop gap solutions instead of drafting and retaining young talent.

The team after 6th overall pick and 11 picks in total still lack a consistent pass rusher, depth on the o-line, and play makers. That has nothing to do with Harbs.

Harbs fault

Harbs has failed as well. This team lacks discipline and toughness.

Every week he says the team needs to play smart , run the ball effectively, and be disciplined. Yet, every week we see the exact opposite. He explains what went wrong like its the players or coordinators fault.

Why can he tell Trestman or Marty to call more run plays?
He seems dependent on the coordinators instead of them following his lead.

Young players on John's watch never hit the field. Most don't seems to grow. Brown, Elam, Doss, and yes even Joe.

Joe still acts like he can't read a defense, call his own plays so he can stop blaming the OC, his fundamentals are not consistent.

So what does John bring to the team if he can oversee the development of his QB?

Steve needs to add a new perspective to the draft, scouting, and contracts. He also should start looking for a new head coach that can help develop players, revive the physical style of play that works in the AFC North, and adds expertise to the offense or defense.

you sound like you read the "Cleveland Browns Way To A Great Team" manual.

[sami]

My God please don't trade Aiken. He and Joe are great together. Why would anyone even consider trading him??

I agree. The only thing Aiken lacks is more passes his way.

[sami]

  1 hour ago, eze17 said:

Hater's gonna hate...send em' to the moon...

These forums exist so that fans can discuss their opinions. Silly to say that someone with an opinion different than yours is a "hater." No one here hates the Ravens. Those people post to the Pittsburgh Steelers forums.

ya could have fooled me.

[robbie29]

The cornerstone of this franchise's success thru 2012 was always defense. The key to that defense's success drafting great players. For many years we were able to retain R. Lewis, Reed, Suggs, and Ngata- and the defense was stellar. Since 2012, that All Pro talent has been nowhere near replaced thru the draft. Moreover, in the rare event we draft great players now, we can't keep them past their rookie contract because most of the team's money is locked into guys who are either average, past their prime, and/or injury prone. So many things need to be fixed, from the top down. i.e. We need to draft like we did 1996-2008, we need to fix the atrocious injury problems, the roster needs some players with fiery, in-your-face personalities, etc. etc...I'm not sure how (or IF) all of that can be fixed, but IMO a major overhaul is needed.