[News] Now Ravens Have To Find A Way To Fill Steve Smith's Void

[BR News]

Baltimore's playmaking wide receiver played in his last game, and the Ravens will now be looking for someone to help not only offset the loss, but make the offense even better.

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[whobilly]

Have to grin about Chris Collingsworth's comment last night. "He runs about a 4.8 forty but finds a way and has the tenacity to come up with the ball". Anquan Boldin. "Only" 67 catches and 8 TD's this season. So he's "Only" averaged about 70 catches a year since we basically let him go for next to nothing. Stop with the Campanarro, Moore, and several other WR's that are simply roster fillers. Mike Wallace could be our only legit WR heading into the 2017 season. If Perriman has 35-40 catches that pick would have been nice if he was picked in the 4th or 5th round.

[TheRavengers]

I just want this team to finally rid itself of the WR handicap that's plagued it basically the whole franchise.

[OzzieBisciotti]

Even if we draft a good receiver, which is highly unlikely do to our draft history, Oz won't every pay that receiver a big second contract (e.g. Torrey Smith). Also, he told Anquan he didn't think he was worth his contract and asked him to take a pay cut- rightfully so, Anquan said, "No," and look where we've been since he and even Torrey left. Like our CB position, we've just had a bunch of scrubs revolving in and out of the team. Perriman who? Exactly..

[iluvpurple]

First of all, there is NO way we will be able to fill the void left by Steve Sr, however, I trust that Ozzie and Coach Harbaugh will bring in another proven WR veteran for a great price if needed, but I still want to see the continuing development of Perriman, they just need to use him more in games next season 😊🏈

[bioLarzen]

And it's not just him. Aiken is all but officially gone, Brandon Williams will, by all likelihood, be gone too - and I'm not sure we can keep both Rick Wagner and Juszczyk...

Edited January 2 by bioLarzen

[TheConquerorWorm]

Have to grin about Chris Collingsworth's comment last night. "He runs about a 4.8 forty but finds a way and has the tenacity to come up with the ball". Anquan Boldin. "Only" 67 catches and 8 TD's this season. So he's "Only" averaged about 70 catches a year since we basically let him go for next to nothing. Stop with the Campanarro, Moore, and several other WR's that are simply roster fillers. Mike Wallace could be our only legit WR heading into the 2017 season. If Perriman has 35-40 catches that pick would have been nice if he was picked in the 4th or 5th round.

Hindsight is 20/20. At the time, the Ravens had Torrey Smith who looked like he was emerging into a legit #1. They had Pitta who was easily morphing into a 80 catch TE. We had a ton of free agents that year - Joe Flacco, Paul Kruger, Danny Ellerbe, Cary Williams, Morgan Cox, James Ihedigbo, Ed Reed, Art Jones, etc. and the following year - Dennis Pitta, Michael Oher, Eugene Monroe, Daryl Smith, Corey Graham. We knew that some of those would have to go, but almost all would have to go if we kept Boldin. Boldin was one of highest paid WR in the league. Given that he was, at best, the 3rd or 4th option on offense, the Ravens asked him to take a pay cut from his $8 million per year, he declined, so they traded him. Had they not traded him, they couldn't have signed Dumerville or more importantly, SSS who's averaged 70 catches at half the price. Mike Wallace caught 70 balls this year - is he worth $12 million per year (as one of the highest paid WR)? That's the question the Ravens faced at the time with Boldin.

[bioLarzen]

2 minutes ago, TheConquerorWorm said:

Hindsight is 20/20. 

Yep - and it's only slightly relevant here, but I cannot help chuckling when I recall a guy who, upon hearing that KO signed with trhe Raiders last off season, said here that it's a shame KO chose money over success (as if earning a lot with your job wasn't a success on its own merit...) - but, he said "I'd like to see KO's face at the end of the season as we go into the playoffs and the Raiders flop again."

Well, LOL

[sami]

its not our receivers, its the stupid routes they run and they way they are taught to run them. Put that on the coaches, not the receivers. It would also help if we had a QB that could hit in them in stride instead of underthrowing, over throwing or hanging the ball in the air for so long.

[Johnny-U]

its not our receivers, its the stupid routes they run and they way they are taught to run them. Put that on the coaches, not the receivers. It would also help if we had a QB that could hit in them in stride instead of underthrowing, over throwing or hanging the ball in the air for so long.

Concur regarding "stupid" routes. Also wonder why we tried so few deep balls to Perriman - he has speed, why not use it? (recall that Torey Smith's primary attribute was getting PI calls...)

[Johnny-U]

I just want this team to finally rid itself of the WR handicap that's plagued it basically the whole franchise.

AGREE! Need two or three things;
(1) better routes,
(2) better playcalling, and
(3) a receiver who will ATTACK THE BALL rather than wait for it to get to him. I noticed this as a sharp contrast to receivers on Payton Manning's teams and the Ravens. Manning's receivers always attacked the ball, getting to it before the defender.

[RavenMike]

46 minutes ago, OzzieBisciotti said:

Even if we draft a good receiver, which is highly unlikely do to our draft history, Oz won't every pay that receiver a big second contract (e.g. Torrey Smith). Also, he told Anquan he didn't think he was worth his contract and asked him to take a pay cut- rightfully so, Anquan said, "No," and look where we've been since he and even Torrey left. Like our CB position, we've just had a bunch of scrubs revolving in and out of the team. Perriman who? Exactly..

I agree.  I truly believe we would have had another SB if we had brought AB back after the superbowl 2012.  Talk about play like a raven - he personifies it.  Caldwell was obviously smart enough to bring him in to Detroit.  Stafford loves the guy across the middle.

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

  22 minutes ago, sami said:

its not our receivers, its the stupid routes they run and they way they are taught to run them. Put that on the coaches, not the receivers. It would also help if we had a QB that could hit in them in stride instead of underthrowing, over throwing or hanging the ball in the air for so long.

Concur regarding "stupid" routes. Also wonder why we tried so few deep balls to Perriman - he has speed, why not use it? (recall that Torey Smith's primary attribute was getting PI calls...)

Its because our coaches are stupid perriman was basically a rookie and needed more time on the field we should have had perriman and Wallace on the outside and moore in the slot when we got behind lot of speed but maybe that only makes sense to me god knows the coaches couldn't figure it out

[RavenMike]

Frustrated by the poor draft picks lately.  I think Ozzie needs to retire.  The game is changing and Ozzie continues with the defense first approach.

 

[ravens4life86]

Going into next season Im assuming Wallace&Perriman are your Wr 1&2.

So the obvious answer is via draft 1st 3 rnds take a wr, Corey Davis,Mike Williams, Dede Westbrook, Amarah Darboh, Juju Smith Schuster, etc

Or via F/A Marshall, Jeffrey,Boldin etc

[ravensnj]

38 minutes ago, sami said:

its not our receivers, its the stupid routes they run and they way they are taught to run them. Put that on the coaches, not the receivers. It would also help if we had a QB that could hit in them in stride instead of underthrowing, over throwing or hanging the ball in the air for so long.

Our receivers are bad, the entire league and it's fans know that. But, you are spot on with our Qb play

[ravensnj]

29 minutes ago, Johnny-U said:

AGREE! Need two or three things;
(1) better routes,
(2) better playcalling, and
(3) a receiver who will ATTACK THE BALL rather than wait for it to get to him. I noticed this as a sharp contrast to receivers on Payton Manning's teams and the Ravens. Manning's receivers always attacked the ball, getting to it before the defender.

You are preaching to the choir. AAA response.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

Steve Smith was good when he was here, but we've had other older receivers at the tail ends of their careers put up better numbers than Smith did and be bigger impacts. Bolden, Mason come to mind. He would have been a good complimentary piece of the puzzle but not as the main focus. How do you replace him? I dunno, but actually drafting premium talent or signing it in the free agent market? Really?

[gtalk12]

23 minutes ago, RavenMike said:

I agree.  I truly believe we would have had another SB if we had brought AB back after the superbowl 2012.  Talk about play like a raven - he personifies it.  Caldwell was obviously smart enough to bring him in to Detroit.  Stafford loves the guy across the middle.

yea ask Megatron

[mybuddymac]

They can fill the void at WR by drafting a star interior lineman in the first round to continue improving our run game, and help protect Joe. It's clear cut that Joe is not/nor ever will be a Drew Brees type of player, and by that I mean posting consecutive 5000 yard campaigns. So why not build on his strengths? The year he won the super bowl was his best post season (and arguably the best QB post season ever played) and why? He had solid protection up front and a solid running game. So lets take a page from the Dallas play book and draft big hulking interior lineman and a Viable number one running back and quit with this "Stable of running backs" approach. The passing game will be more efficient this way and will not cause concern for not having "The guy" at WR. Just my two cents.

[picke]

Frustrated by the poor draft picks lately.  I think Ozzie needs to retire.  The game is changing and Ozzie continues with the defense first approach.

 

I agree. Ozzie focuses on defense and the offense staggers. Ineffective and inconsistent offense puts the defense on the field too much. Besides, even though Ozzie focuses on defense, JH doesn't always follow up with good choices at either OC or DC positions. We are malfunctioning from the top down.

[Ravensfansince03]

I wish I could be an adviser to Steve Biscotii/Ozzie. I swear I would get this organization back on the right track. I know a lot of you will read what I said and say "yeah, so could every other fan" with sarcasm. But I really would be able to get this team back on track. I see things that many people do not see. Swear if Ozzie/Biscotti would just give me one chance, I wouldn't even ask for pay, just want to prove to them that I can help them make the right decisions on coaches/players. Our personnel is obviously filled with guys who THINK they know what they are doing, I can instill that necessary spark needed to get this team back on track.

[mybuddymac]

Frustrated by the poor draft picks lately.  I think Ozzie needs to retire.  The game is changing and Ozzie continues with the defense first approach.

 

I'm all for the continued Defense approach so long as we're hitting on the picks. The Broncos won the super bowl last year in spite of Peyton's terrible play, that defense harassed Cam. I still believe the keys to success is great defensive play, great up front blocking with a solid running game, and above average quarterback play.

[crazyboutravens]

Going into next season Im assuming Wallace&Perriman are your Wr 1&2.

So the obvious answer is via draft 1st 3 rnds take a wr, Corey Davis,Mike Williams, Dede Westbrook, Amarah Darboh, Juju Smith Schuster, etc

Or via F/A Marshall, Jeffrey,Boldin etc

Please not Marshall. He sucks.

[RavenMike]

  2 hours ago, RavenMike said:

Frustrated by the poor draft picks lately.  I think Ozzie needs to retire.  The game is changing and Ozzie continues with the defense first approach.

 

I'm all for the continued Defense approach so long as we're hitting on the picks. The Broncos won the super bowl last year in spite of Peyton's terrible play, that defense harassed Cam. I still believe the keys to success is great defensive play, great up front blocking with a solid running game, and above average quarterback play.

I hear you on needing a strong Defense, but the Patriots always seem to have a good Defense because teams are always playing from behind. But then again, they have Brady and we have Flacco. May the Defense should remain the priority!

[RavenMike]

  2 hours ago, RavenMike said:

I agree.  I truly believe we would have had another SB if we had brought AB back after the superbowl 2012.  Talk about play like a raven - he personifies it.  Caldwell was obviously smart enough to bring him in to Detroit.  Stafford loves the guy across the middle.

yea ask Megatron

Not sure what you mean... I'm pointing out that we are now looking for another slot receiver to replace Steve Smith Sr. when we could have kept AB and we would have had him for 4 additional years by simply honoring the man's contract. Don't get me wrong, I love our Ravens, but getting sick and tired of the revolving door when we have a lot of talent that we let get away.

[Ugly Ball]

  3 hours ago, sami said:

its not our receivers, its the stupid routes they run and they way they are taught to run them. Put that on the coaches, not the receivers. It would also help if we had a QB that could hit in them in stride instead of underthrowing, over throwing or hanging the ball in the air for so long.

Our receivers are bad, the entire league and it's fans know that. But, you are spot on with our Qb play

I watched a video of Joe's highlights from 2012 season. More than half of his throws came off his back foot ! Maybe because he is able to throw down field with little effort, Joe doesn't feel he needs to use good mechanics when throwing. He has looked no different up to this season. With maybe the exception of when Kubiak was here. Maybe If we get some good position coaches (QB & Receiver) things would be better for our receivers.

We don't seem to get the ball to our younger guys either.
A lot of other teams have their rookies out on the field in their first year, to succeed or not. When ours aren't getting balls thrown to them they are not going to get any better.

[Crusader]

  On Monday, January 02, 2017 at 6:08 PM, gtalk12 said:

  On Monday, January 02, 2017 at 5:44 PM, RavenMike said:

I agree.  I truly believe we would have had another SB if we had brought AB back after the superbowl 2012.  Talk about play like a raven - he personifies it.  Caldwell was obviously smart enough to bring him in to Detroit.  Stafford loves the guy across the middle.

yea ask Megatron

Not sure what you mean... I'm pointing out that we are now looking for another slot receiver to replace Steve Smith Sr. when we could have kept AB and we would have had him for 4 additional years by simply honoring the man's contract. Don't get me wrong, I love our Ravens, but getting sick and tired of the revolving door when we have a lot of talent that we let get away.

Talent killer is called Joe's contract. Looking back 8 years from now, fans will be saying we should never gave him that deal.

[Ravens_Flock]

With all due respect to Mr. Smith, we should have been focusing on building up our own young WR corp, instead of bringing in aging veterans like Smith and Wallace, etc. We should have been drafting better offensive talent over the years, which Ozzie does not have a great eye for. We should have kept Boldin and Torrey Smith, because those guys were proven producers on the field here. In fact Torrey Smith is the only drafted WR the Ravens have ever properly used or developed. They mismanaged guys like Clayton, who should have spent his career in the slot, or Marlon Brown, who should have been a starter outside the entire time.

That's been a consistent theme, certainly since Harbaugh's been here, of playing players out of position and not playing to their strengths. While he had injury issues for a couple of years, Demetrius Williams could have been useful to us in 2009, as a starter on the outside opposite Mason, with Clayton in the slot, and Heap at TE. THAT combination could have gotten us somewhere. Instead, we didn't even play Williams and had Clayton on the outside, with old man Houshmanzadeh (who never should have been a Raven) in the slot. Ridiculous.

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

Start by replacing marty