[News] Steve Bisciotti: 'Pitchforks Are Out,' But Firing Is A Bad Business Model

[sizzlingdoom]

  6 hours ago, YorkCountyRaven said:

  8 hours ago, verified said:

Welp, guess that means more of the same. Trash draft picks (bust, and loading up on positions were already deep at just to stick with the "best player available strategy"), one trick ponys at WR (Deep ball or bust), and injury prone starters at every position. I see why people bangwagon so much, being a fan of a losing team sucks, But aw well go ravens blah blah

I believe in this team and organization. Sorry if you all don't. I love my ravens and the fans... But after this past season reading some of the comments and hearing how angry and unfaithful the fans can be? I'm not sure how good our fan base is. Win OR Lose. I'm a ravens fan.

So as a die hard fans of the Ravens we can't express our opinions , The fan base has to adhere to your standards of acceptance?
Not me , I Love the Ravens but I believe Harbaugh and staff have brought staleness to this team, too much buddy system, people need to be held accountable, Definition of insanity... well you know!

Thank you. Well said

[sizzlingdoom]

I watched the entire presser very closely. Bisciotti is caught between a rock and a hard place and John Harbaugh and Flacco put him in that position. Now the quandary he's in is that he obviously cannot do anything about Flacco other than to give him all the help he can get him both via personal quarterback coaching, a coordinator that has his ears and every other tool that he can procure including stud WRs, TEs and RB and an O-line that will protect him more than any line protects any other QB in the league.

Now, not all that is in his control because he's affected by the salary cap like every other team. But, he can get him all the coaching help to assist Flacco with his mechanics, confidence, accuracy, etc. that are designed to make him a productive QB. Also, that doesn't count against a salary cap. It was clear when he used the 'pitchfork are out' analogy that this year is the final chance for Harbaugh. I think Marty is staying back not because John's loyal to him but more because Flacco wants him! That was clear in an exchange with Bisciotti.

Also, Flacco cannot take this job for granted because Bisciotti is the kind of guy that is analytical and if he sees diminishing returns with Flacco, especially if Flacco's poor play results in another 8-8 or worse year, then suddenly it affects the big picture - brand value and therefore valuation of the team itself. Steve is too smart to allow that to happen. So, I believe Flacco is under scrutiny too in a sense. Both Harbaugh and Flacco need to figure it out this year to become winners and productive. Otherwise we might see a new dawn in Baltimore.

Really Bisciotti is taking the most optimal route of retaining Harbaugh due to extraneous circumstances. Mostly because he has no good options out there right now! Who is he going to replace him with when 7 other teams have a good head start in their hunt for a HC? Remember not too many options out there that are better than Harbaugh. You could make an argument that Harbaugh is better than any option out there with the exception of perhaps a Kyle Shanahan who is already being courted by Denver!

Not too many options out there that are better than Harbaugh????? I don't see how there could be many options out there worse than Harbaugh. Did you watch this season???? I've never seen a worse coached season by a head coach. Not even close really. In any sport. And I've been watching sports my whole life. Just about every single phase too. What are you gonna tell me next? There aren't any better options out there at CB than Wright? LOL

[Ravens_Flock]

"Firing is a bad business model".

Tell that to Brian Billick, who, IMO, was a far better head coach than John Harbaugh could ever hope to be, who was the coach who took this team from pack of losers to a Super Bowl champion in two years' time, and created the roster and culture of success (for the most part) that Harbaugh was lucky enough to inherit.

Billick, by the way, got fired for a 5-11 season, one year removed from a team that posted a franchise best 13-3 record and the ONLY franchise #1 ranked defense. Not to mention its second AFC North title. Yes, 2005 was an ugly mess of a year, but quite frankly, Billick was never given the offensive pieces nor stability to work with, that Harbaugh once had. In all honesty, I've never felt that Joe Flacco was THAT much better than Kyle Boller, in fact if Boller had enjoyed a better o-line, better weapons around him, and more than one fully healthy season in his career with us, we might well have seen him do just as well as Flacco has, at his best.

The 2002 Ravens team overperformed in spite losing so many important SB team players. The 2004 Ravens had literally no wide receivers of note, Jamal missed 4 games on suspension, and Todd Heap missed 10 games with injury, yet we still fought, and still just barely missed the playoffs. 2005 was a mess, in part because Boller got hurt right away, and Wright was downright awful. Not to mention many other key injuries. I still feel like Boller's late-season play in back-to-back games against Green Bay and Minnesota, were signs of progression from him. And if they had bothered sticking with him one more season, with less injuries and more pass protection, I think he certainly could have done an equitable if not superior job to what McNair offered. In fact, Boller's two games he played in relief effort showed that he was still playing at a reasonably higher level. You certainly couldn't have done much worse than the complete dud of a performance that McNair put in in the playoffs. That defense was on fire, but McNair played with zero life or fire, and threw 2 costly red zone INTs. Ed Reed was freakin' Superman in that game, notching 2 official INTs and a 3rd where he landed out of bounds. He arguably could have even had a 4th, but he and Ray Lewis both went for the ball and ran into each other.

Regardless, while John Harbaugh did provide 5 straight playoff seasons, I also again think that he inherited a good team from Billick. But one thing Billick never did, was turn in two straight non-winning seasons. 2007 was a disaster, for sure, but that was a combination of a rash of injuries, and continuing to rely on a broken down McNair who simply didn't have anything left in the tank. If they had gone with Boller from the start, or actually bothered giving Troy Smith a chance to develop, who knows. The point being, I have no reason to believe that the 2008 Ravens, with Billick at the helm, wouldn't have still been successful and made the playoffs. And whether that's true or not, Steve has given John Harbaugh a hell of a lot more leeway. Our offense has never improved ALL That much from the Billick days, while the tradition of consistently great defense he helped build, has largely evaporated under Harbaugh's watch.

So...yeah. I would say that at the very least, forcing Harbaugh to make some staff changes, would have been appropriate. Instead, with 3 playoff misses in 4 years, and Joe Flacco playing fairly badly in all but one of those years, what we get is a bunch of excuses, and pie in the sky notions that "oh trust us, this same exact crew could be great next year!"

[sizzlingdoom]

Coach Harbaugh and company are getting another chance to rectify the problems from the 2016 as they move forward. Are there better head. coaches out there? In reality I don't really care who the head coach is or will be....I just want the Ravens to win and return to the playoffs. In Ozzie We Trust. Go Ravens!

In Ozzie We trust. There's a phrase I haven't seen in about a decade. And for good reason. Don't mean to be a bitter fan but it's kinda hard after this season. Such a painful season, and not cuz we weren't good enough either. That would be one thing. But it's another when we don't address the same re-occuring that we have every single year. We desperately need CB help, so what do we do? Count on a guy that was just cut by 2 teams and can't even make the worst team in the NFL-Wright-49ers. We count on him to cover Antonio Brown?????LOL WOW. Then Harbaugh and his staff have the worst coaching season in HIstory. At least Ravens history. And I can type for about an hour on how. And our drafting has been garbage for the past 7 years. And Harbaugh no doubt has a influence on that with his awesome "high character and high football IQ guys". Yeah that sounds like Raven football. Puke. Ravens football is just sad right now and we need changes at the top to rectify that.
We don't run the ball. Period.
We can't close teams out with our D
We have the most dangerous weapon in the league yet we don't use him-tuck
We have zero idea about how to execute offense in the NFL
Time Management is as bad as it get
Terrible penalty discipline
Incredible personel decisions- Wright, Elam
ZERO halftime adjustments

This list goes on. I'm with you. All I want is for the Ravens to win. I don't care how. Just hard being "rah rah" right now as the most important part of our team is in shambles and has no clue- all the coaching

[sizzlingdoom]

Harbaugh is garbage and the ravens will be garbage/mediocre while he's at the helm. You're bumming me out to say the least Steve. It would be one thing if Harbaugh was inept, but he had 2 great coordinators.....But they are as bad as him. A trio of terrible coaches.....hmmmmmm. Sweet. I know the truth hurts people. And don't give me that "was he garbage when he won us a superbowl?" We all know Ray, Ed, Ngata, and Q won us that superbowl.

[sizzlingdoom]

And to all of you chastising us fans that are speaking our minds.....What do you want us to say?
"Good try team. Get em next year. We were so close. Darn. Maybe next time...????"
SORRY. maybe if this was the first year of this non sense, that would make sense. But now, we're missing the playoffs more often than we make them. That doesn't sound like the Ravens to me. Not running the ball and not finishing teams with our D doesn't sound like the Ravens. Counting on starting defenders that can't even make the worst team in the league(Wright), o yeah, that's Raven football. It'd be one thing if we added and played a player like that on our offense, but the RAVENS DEFENSE??? Same old story every year now for years with the same old crap coming out of Harbaugh's mouth. Says what needs to be said, but does nothing about it.
ALL of us here love the Ravens and are very passionate about them. Some of us are just very upset about the way things have been run in the organization for years now. And we're not afraid to talk about. We all have the same intention and hope. Winning. Something we used to do a lot of

[BigUgly]

Firing may not be a good business model, but when your HC has convinced you to to hire one of the largest, most highly compensated coaching staffs in the league and you aren't getting results, you may consider adjusting the staff especially where particular units have underperformed (O-Line, WR).

[RaRaRavens]

17 minutes ago, sizzlingdoom said:

And to all of you chastising us fans that are speaking our minds.....What do you want us to say?
"Good try team. Get em next year. We were so close. Darn. Maybe next time...????"
SORRY. maybe if this was the first year of this non sense, that would make sense. But now, we're missing the playoffs more often than we make them. That doesn't sound like the Ravens to me. Not running the ball and not finishing teams with our D doesn't sound like the Ravens. Counting on starting defenders that can't even make the worst team in the league(Wright), o yeah, that's Raven football. It'd be one thing if we added and played a player like that on our offense, but the RAVENS DEFENSE??? Same old story every year now for years with the same old crap coming out of Harbaugh's mouth. Says what needs to be said, but does nothing about it.
ALL of us here love the Ravens and are very passionate about them. Some of us are just very upset about the way things have been run in the organization for years now. And we're not afraid to talk about. We all have the same intention and hope. Winning. Something we used to do a lot of

I agree with most of your posts 100%! It's so refreshing and supportive to read that at least someone thinks the same about the current situation of our team. Unfortunately you'll get downvoted to oblivion for your critical point of view by naive, shortsighted fans living in their pink little bubble.

 

I don't even know what to bring out in your comments, but this time one thing in particular stuck with me and I think is the root of all the problems for us - this team has derailed from the Ravens Way. This is for the most part the doing of Harbaugh. Him and his "high character and high football IQ guys" like you said it. This is all great, but without talent these guys won't be enough for a playoff caliber team. 

 

For the past 5 years now FO has played it safe by drafting those high character and football IQ guys. Now the result is that we have bunch of average or maybe slightly above average good guys on this team who LITERALLY NOONE is afraid to play against. About 10 years ago most teams any players were still AFRAID the entire week before they had to play against the Ravens. Now, there is absolutely nothing dangerous or frightening about playing us - not talent wise, nor character wise. Even when the Ravens of old would lose, they would make you hurt along the way. Now our guys pretty much roll over dead when things are starting to go badly or some player personally starts imposing their will on them.

 

I know, times and rules have changed and I'm knot saying to punch someone's teeth in, but run someone on over with a purpose at least, if it seems they are feeling to comfortable against us. Instead, we have "high character and high football IQ guys", safe guys. If Harbs has a choice between a very talented guy who might have some character concerns and a "high character guy" with slightly above average skills, there isn't even a question in his mind. And this is how we get stuck with roster of talentless players.

 

So go back to the Ravens Way. Draft explosive, dangerously talented guys, even when they might have some character risks. Draft players who play intimidatingly, even when there's a risk they might pick up some flags. Draft players who play and compete with passion and fire until the bitter end and then some, even when they don't rank at the top tier of football IQ. Suggs would have never drafted and opposed fear into QBs if we had considered "character concerns" when drafting him. Or does anyone question about the decision to sign Smith Sr., even though he might cause a stir and rub some people the wrong way? NO!

 

Until we start taking some risks by drafting talented players and competitive players, we will be pretty much the punching bag of the league. And that's mainly the doing of HC Harbaugh in the recent years.

 

tl;dr

 

Sick and tired of Harbaugh and the FO drafting a safe team of "high character and high football IQ guys" with no dangerous talent or explosive competitiveness. If they don't start taking some risks, we are not going anywhere.

[DENNYK]

All of this  and now they want to raise ticket prices too. Why not? How is that for a business model? Want to see a better team effort next season then you'll need to get behind another team. Until the decision is made to clean out the inept coaching staff nothing is going to change.

[sizzlingdoom]

  49 minutes ago, sizzlingdoom said:

And to all of you chastising us fans that are speaking our minds.....What do you want us to say?
"Good try team. Get em next year. We were so close. Darn. Maybe next time...????"
SORRY. maybe if this was the first year of this non sense, that would make sense. But now, we're missing the playoffs more often than we make them. That doesn't sound like the Ravens to me. Not running the ball and not finishing teams with our D doesn't sound like the Ravens. Counting on starting defenders that can't even make the worst team in the league(Wright), o yeah, that's Raven football. It'd be one thing if we added and played a player like that on our offense, but the RAVENS DEFENSE??? Same old story every year now for years with the same old crap coming out of Harbaugh's mouth. Says what needs to be said, but does nothing about it.
ALL of us here love the Ravens and are very passionate about them. Some of us are just very upset about the way things have been run in the organization for years now. And we're not afraid to talk about. We all have the same intention and hope. Winning. Something we used to do a lot of

I agree with most of your posts 100%! It's so refreshing and supportive to read that at least someone thinks the same about the current situation of our team. Unfortunately you'll get downvoted to oblivion for your critical point of view by naive, shortsighted fans living in their pink little bubble.

 

I don't even know what to bring out in your comments, but this time one thing in particular stuck with me and I think is the root of all the problems for us - this team has derailed from the Ravens Way. This is for the most part the doing of Harbaugh. Him and his "high character and high football IQ guys" like you said it. This is all great, but without talent these guys won't be enough for a playoff caliber team. 

 

For the past 5 years now FO has played it safe by drafting those high character and football IQ guys. Now the result is that we have bunch of average or maybe slightly above average good guys on this team who LITERALLY NOONE is afraid to play against. About 10 years ago most teams any players were still AFRAID the entire week before they had to play against the Ravens. Now, there is absolutely nothing dangerous or frightening about playing us - not talent wise, nor character wise. Even when the Ravens of old would lose, they would make you hurt along the way. Now our guys pretty much roll over dead when things are starting to go badly or some player personally starts imposing their will on them.

 

I know, times and rules have changed and I'm knot saying to punch someone's teeth in, but run someone on over with a purpose at least, if it seems they are feeling to comfortable against us. Instead, we have "high character and high football IQ guys", safe guys. If Harbs has a choice between a very talented guy who might have some character concerns and a "high character guy" with slightly above average skills, there isn't even a question in his mind. And this is how we get stuck with roster of talentless players.

 

So go back to the Ravens Way. Draft explosive, dangerously talented guys, even when they might have some character risks. Draft players who play intimidatingly, even when there's a risk they might pick up some flags. Draft players who play and compete with passion and fire until the bitter end and then some, even when they don't rank at the top tier of football IQ. Suggs would have never drafted and opposed fear into QBs if we had considered "character concerns" when drafting him. Or does anyone question about the decision to sign Smith Sr., even though he might cause a stir and rub some people the wrong way? NO!

 

Until we start taking some risks by drafting talented players and competitive players, we will be pretty much the punching bag of the league. And that's mainly the doing of HC Harbaugh in the recent years.

 

tl;dr

 

Sick and tired of Harbaugh and the FO drafting a safe team of "high character and high football IQ guys" with no dangerous talent or explosive competitiveness. If they don't start taking some risks, we are not going anywhere.

RIght on. you nailed it. We need more guys like SSS and Q on offense, and more guys like Pollard on D. Special teams should be littered with these type of players. We need to draft talented bad boys, not mathematicians. And if we have serious needs in the offseason, we probably shouldn't fill them with players that aren't good enough to play anywhere else. The type of team that we want and used to be, is what attracted me to the Ravens in the first place from afar. It's brutal how much they've gotten away from that, players....and staff now

[Neal Could Block the SUN!!]

Harbaugh wants the easy to coach, no resistance type players. I'm amazed that Sizzle minds his P's & Q's and hasn't fired off a Bernard Pollard type of approach. Harbaugh would not be able to coach a Suh, Icnogito, or Sherman type of character. These are the type of players that have character questions but can change a game. No, they are not the best players in the NFL, nor are they the best examples, just off the top of my head players that are loud and strong in personality. The type that Harbaugh shies away from. Quite obvious that Ed and Ray were running this team and Harbaugh got to reap the results. Pollard called it out and was released. Don't even bring up Pollard's drop off in performance during the run to SB47, the man had 3-4 broken ribs and was still trying to lay the hay.

Bottom line, time to move on from Harbaugh and bring back the fiery players that can't stand losing and strike fear in opposing teams.

[GENE2407]

I don't think anyone puts this on Biscotti, but changes needed to be made, starting at Offen Coord. There is NO reason in the world to bring that guy back, he was awful. 25 years of what? Has the guy ever ran a proficient offense? Has he ever taken a team to a championship? And the guy insisting on bringing him back is Harbaugh......who should now live and die with the guy. If he has to go at any point in 2017, Harbaugh should go with him.

[sizzlingdoom]

Harbaugh....making the ravens softer and less competent year after year.

[good_n_purple]

  19 minutes ago, RaRaRavens said:

  1 hour ago, sizzlingdoom said:

And to all of you chastising us fans that are speaking our minds.....What do you want us to say?
"Good try team. Get em next year. We were so close. Darn. Maybe next time...????"
SORRY. maybe if this was the first year of this non sense, that would make sense. But now, we're missing the playoffs more often than we make them. That doesn't sound like the Ravens to me. Not running the ball and not finishing teams with our D doesn't sound like the Ravens. Counting on starting defenders that can't even make the worst team in the league(Wright), o yeah, that's Raven football. It'd be one thing if we added and played a player like that on our offense, but the RAVENS DEFENSE??? Same old story every year now for years with the same old crap coming out of Harbaugh's mouth. Says what needs to be said, but does nothing about it.
ALL of us here love the Ravens and are very passionate about them. Some of us are just very upset about the way things have been run in the organization for years now. And we're not afraid to talk about. We all have the same intention and hope. Winning. Something we used to do a lot of

I agree with most of your posts 100%! It's so refreshing and supportive to read that at least someone thinks the same about the current situation of our team. Unfortunately you'll get downvoted to oblivion for your critical point of view by naive, shortsighted fans living in their pink little bubble.

 

I don't even know what to bring out in your comments, but this time one thing in particular stuck with me and I think is the root of all the problems for us - this team has derailed from the Ravens Way. This is for the most part the doing of Harbaugh. Him and his "high character and high football IQ guys" like you said it. This is all great, but without talent these guys won't be enough for a playoff caliber team. 

 

For the past 5 years now FO has played it safe by drafting those high character and football IQ guys. Now the result is that we have bunch of average or maybe slightly above average good guys on this team who LITERALLY NOONE is afraid to play against. About 10 years ago most teams any players were still AFRAID the entire week before they had to play against the Ravens. Now, there is absolutely nothing dangerous or frightening about playing us - not talent wise, nor character wise. Even when the Ravens of old would lose, they would make you hurt along the way. Now our guys pretty much roll over dead when things are starting to go badly or some player personally starts imposing their will on them.

 

I know, times and rules have changed and I'm knot saying to punch someone's teeth in, but run someone on over with a purpose at least, if it seems they are feeling to comfortable against us. Instead, we have "high character and high football IQ guys", safe guys. If Harbs has a choice between a very talented guy who might have some character concerns and a "high character guy" with slightly above average skills, there isn't even a question in his mind. And this is how we get stuck with roster of talentless players.

 

So go back to the Ravens Way. Draft explosive, dangerously talented guys, even when they might have some character risks. Draft players who play intimidatingly, even when there's a risk they might pick up some flags. Draft players who play and compete with passion and fire until the bitter end and then some, even when they don't rank at the top tier of football IQ. Suggs would have never drafted and opposed fear into QBs if we had considered "character concerns" when drafting him. Or does anyone question about the decision to sign Smith Sr., even though he might cause a stir and rub some people the wrong way? NO!

 

Until we start taking some risks by drafting talented players and competitive players, we will be pretty much the punching bag of the league. And that's mainly the doing of HC Harbaugh in the recent years.

 

tl;dr

 

Sick and tired of Harbaugh and the FO drafting a safe team of "high character and high football IQ guys" with no dangerous talent or explosive competitiveness. If they don't start taking some risks, we are not going anywhere.

RIght on. you nailed it. We need more guys like SSS and Q on offense, and more guys like Pollard on D. Special teams should be littered with these type of players. We need to draft talented bad boys, not mathematicians. And if we have serious needs in the offseason, we probably shouldn't fill them with players that aren't good enough to play anywhere else. The type of team that we want and used to be, is what attracted me to the Ravens in the first place from afar. It's brutal how much they've gotten away from that, players....and staff now

Good assessment! The players are the critical ingredient in this goulash, and right now the team is without guys who are "pissed off for greatness" . Playmakers! We need playmakers, not choirboys & nerds. I agree that Harbaugh has homogenized the draft process via his "vision" of the players he wants to coach. That being said there is also something fundamentally wrong with the management and coaching of this team. Coordinators aside, when "easily correctable" problems show up week after week its a sure sign of bad coaching.

[sizzlingdoom]

Wade Phillips for the D, Norv for the O, and Pagano as head coach....just a thought

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

Then, Steve, how do you propose to fix the recurring year after year problems? Especially protecting leads late in games? This is problem #1 imho

[budman]

11 hours ago, iluvpurple said:

You said exactly what I am feeling, thank you 👍🏈

In reality, I think most of us feel that way. There are always going to be hate mongers on here that think they know it all as to what should be done. I agree with Bisciotti's assessment that firing people  all the time is not a good way to run a business. If some on these boards had their way every coach would have fired even in 2012 Superbowl win. Changes will be made and I believe that the balanced offence will happen. I trust in our owner and believe that all personnel gets that he will give all the tools and support needed to be successful and that he can only be so patient. Some self proclaimed fans want to pay every player and not lose them, that is impossible. They want everybody fired after a down season and as our owner stated, that is just not how we do things here. We are not the Cleveland Browns, we are the RAVENS! Fans (if they truly are) need to have faith and hold on because this ship will sail.

[sizzlingdoom]

  11 hours ago, iluvpurple said:

You said exactly what I am feeling, thank you 👍🏈

In reality, I think most of us feel that way. There are always going to be hate mongers on here that think they know it all as to what should be done. I agree with Bisciotti's assessment that firing people  all the time is not a good way to run a business. If some on these boards had their way every coach would have fired even in 2012 Superbowl win. Changes will be made and I believe that the balanced offence will happen. I trust in our owner and believe that all personnel gets that he will give all the tools and support needed to be successful and that he can only be so patient. Some self proclaimed fans want to pay every player and not lose them, that is impossible. They want everybody fired after a down season and as our owner stated, that is just not how we do things here. We are not the Cleveland Browns, we are the RAVENS! Fans (if they truly are) need to have faith and hold on because this ship will sail.

A down season. No playoffs in 3 of last 4 years. That is not one down season. And nobody is talking about paying players and keeping everyone. We just want this terribly inept coaching staff gone. And when harbaugh was succeeding, it's pretty obvious he was on Ray and Ed's back, and the others he inherited. Check out our drafts since Harbaugh has come on board. Atrocious. I know he doesn't make the pick but he obviously has a huge influence. But they are high character and high iq players... :( And have you watched Harbaugh's coaching and "leadership" over the past several years. And the wonderful way he addresses team needs. And makes adjustments. I was literally baffled and embarrassed watching him "lead" the Ravens this year. The decisions he made, and didn't make. I've never seen anything like it. But yeah, let's keep trying the same thing over and over, makes sense right? :((((

[nextgen_RavensFan]

I love his honesty and business model approach but with that said. Was it a smart move to just pay out millions after the high of a Super Bowl win to a no more then average QB ? That was NOT good business sense in any way shape or form. It was a very bad decision for the entire team from the top down..

[sizzlingdoom]

  47 minutes ago, sizzlingdoom said:

  1 hour ago, RaRaRavens said:

  1 hour ago, sizzlingdoom said:

And to all of you chastising us fans that are speaking our minds.....What do you want us to say?
"Good try team. Get em next year. We were so close. Darn. Maybe next time...????"
SORRY. maybe if this was the first year of this non sense, that would make sense. But now, we're missing the playoffs more often than we make them. That doesn't sound like the Ravens to me. Not running the ball and not finishing teams with our D doesn't sound like the Ravens. Counting on starting defenders that can't even make the worst team in the league(Wright), o yeah, that's Raven football. It'd be one thing if we added and played a player like that on our offense, but the RAVENS DEFENSE??? Same old story every year now for years with the same old crap coming out of Harbaugh's mouth. Says what needs to be said, but does nothing about it.
ALL of us here love the Ravens and are very passionate about them. Some of us are just very upset about the way things have been run in the organization for years now. And we're not afraid to talk about. We all have the same intention and hope. Winning. Something we used to do a lot of

I agree with most of your posts 100%! It's so refreshing and supportive to read that at least someone thinks the same about the current situation of our team. Unfortunately you'll get downvoted to oblivion for your critical point of view by naive, shortsighted fans living in their pink little bubble.

 

I don't even know what to bring out in your comments, but this time one thing in particular stuck with me and I think is the root of all the problems for us - this team has derailed from the Ravens Way. This is for the most part the doing of Harbaugh. Him and his "high character and high football IQ guys" like you said it. This is all great, but without talent these guys won't be enough for a playoff caliber team. 

 

For the past 5 years now FO has played it safe by drafting those high character and football IQ guys. Now the result is that we have bunch of average or maybe slightly above average good guys on this team who LITERALLY NOONE is afraid to play against. About 10 years ago most teams any players were still AFRAID the entire week before they had to play against the Ravens. Now, there is absolutely nothing dangerous or frightening about playing us - not talent wise, nor character wise. Even when the Ravens of old would lose, they would make you hurt along the way. Now our guys pretty much roll over dead when things are starting to go badly or some player personally starts imposing their will on them.

 

I know, times and rules have changed and I'm knot saying to punch someone's teeth in, but run someone on over with a purpose at least, if it seems they are feeling to comfortable against us. Instead, we have "high character and high football IQ guys", safe guys. If Harbs has a choice between a very talented guy who might have some character concerns and a "high character guy" with slightly above average skills, there isn't even a question in his mind. And this is how we get stuck with roster of talentless players.

 

So go back to the Ravens Way. Draft explosive, dangerously talented guys, even when they might have some character risks. Draft players who play intimidatingly, even when there's a risk they might pick up some flags. Draft players who play and compete with passion and fire until the bitter end and then some, even when they don't rank at the top tier of football IQ. Suggs would have never drafted and opposed fear into QBs if we had considered "character concerns" when drafting him. Or does anyone question about the decision to sign Smith Sr., even though he might cause a stir and rub some people the wrong way? NO!

 

Until we start taking some risks by drafting talented players and competitive players, we will be pretty much the punching bag of the league. And that's mainly the doing of HC Harbaugh in the recent years.

 

tl;dr

 

Sick and tired of Harbaugh and the FO drafting a safe team of "high character and high football IQ guys" with no dangerous talent or explosive competitiveness. If they don't start taking some risks, we are not going anywhere.

RIght on. you nailed it. We need more guys like SSS and Q on offense, and more guys like Pollard on D. Special teams should be littered with these type of players. We need to draft talented bad boys, not mathematicians. And if we have serious needs in the offseason, we probably shouldn't fill them with players that aren't good enough to play anywhere else. The type of team that we want and used to be, is what attracted me to the Ravens in the first place from afar. It's brutal how much they've gotten away from that, players....and staff now

Good assessment! The players are the critical ingredient in this goulash, and right now the team is without guys who are "pissed off for greatness" . Playmakers! We need playmakers, not choirboys & nerds. I agree that Harbaugh has homogenized the draft process via his "vision" of the players he wants to coach. That being said there is also something fundamentally wrong with the management and coaching of this team. Coordinators aside, when "easily correctable" problems show up week after week its a sure sign of bad coaching.

exactly. I was on the haters' cases for the first few weeks of the season cuz I was sure these STUPID mistakes and decisions couldn't possibly happen for more than a couple weeks. Yet they happened every single week of the entire season. Except one game-Miami. It's really hard to understand how that's even possible. Then all of the same coaches are brought back. EVEN MORE baffling

[The Greek]

it was nice to hear that bisciotti has noticed the crappy qb play, poor drafting in the early rnds and avg. coaching and has made them all accountable moving forward. i am going to support all the decisions that have been made thus far and see how it all plays out next season and if we miss the playoffs im sure steve will make the right moves. go ravens!!

[sizzlingdoom]

Harbaugh is killing this Organization in the draft, offseason, and on gameday. But Steve is giving his friend one more year. Maybe we'll start to turn things around in 2018. I'm hoping it's 2017 instead, but there's zero reason to have faith in Harbaugh and the staff. Hope is all

[Crusader]

  11 hours ago, ellicottraven said:

I watched the entire presser very closely. Bisciotti is caught between a rock and a hard place and John Harbaugh and Flacco put him in that position. Now the quandary he's in is that he obviously cannot do anything about Flacco other than to give him all the help he can get him both via personal quarterback coaching, a coordinator that has his ears and every other tool that he can procure including stud WRs, TEs and RB and an O-line that will protect him more than any line protects any other QB in the league.

Now, not all that is in his control because he's affected by the salary cap like every other team. But, he can get him all the coaching help to assist Flacco with his mechanics, confidence, accuracy, etc. that are designed to make him a productive QB. Also, that doesn't count against a salary cap. It was clear when he used the 'pitchfork are out' analogy that this year is the final chance for Harbaugh. I think Marty is staying back not because John's loyal to him but more because Flacco wants him! That was clear in an exchange with Bisciotti.

Also, Flacco cannot take this job for granted because Bisciotti is the kind of guy that is analytical and if he sees diminishing returns with Flacco, especially if Flacco's poor play results in another 8-8 or worse year, then suddenly it affects the big picture - brand value and therefore valuation of the team itself. Steve is too smart to allow that to happen. So, I believe Flacco is under scrutiny too in a sense. Both Harbaugh and Flacco need to figure it out this year to become winners and productive. Otherwise we might see a new dawn in Baltimore.

Really Bisciotti is taking the most optimal route of retaining Harbaugh due to extraneous circumstances. Mostly because he has no good options out there right now! Who is he going to replace him with when 7 other teams have a good head start in their hunt for a HC? Remember not too many options out there that are better than Harbaugh. You could make an argument that Harbaugh is better than any option out there with the exception of perhaps a Kyle Shanahan who is already being courted by Denver!

Not too many options out there that are better than Harbaugh????? I don't see how there could be many options out there worse than Harbaugh. Did you watch this season???? I've never seen a worse coached season by a head coach. Not even close really. In any sport. And I've been watching sports my whole life. Just about every single phase too. What are you gonna tell me next? There aren't any better options out there at CB than Wright? LOL

Right on Doom. You can not live in fear of the unknown. When my boss give me crap I say "I was looking for a job when I found this one"

[RavenManiac#7]

I've always thought that Mr. Bisciotti is the best owner of a sports team that I've seen, and I still do. We are very lucky that he is the owner of the Ravens. But, that doesn't mean that he's incapable of making a mistake. I know that a lot of people will think I'm really full of myself for saying this kind of stuff, but let me at least Try to dispel that thought by stating, emphatically, here that I believe that he is Much more intelligent than I am. That does not change my mind about thinking that he is making a mistake about this though. But, it's His team, not the fans' team. He has Every right to make ALL the decisions. As successful as he is in running the business that made him a billionaire, though, that doesn't mean that Every entity should be run the Exact same way in order for it to be the most successful as it can be. A football team, with it's particular situation within a league that has it's own unique rules to follow, along with a CBA with the Players' Union (which can be vastly different than, say, a more typical workers union, if applicable) may have a better chance for success being run differently than a company in a different business setting. And, I have to wonder if he sees Harbaugh's obvious shortcomings as an NFL HC. All I hear is praise for Harbs from him. No mention at all about his glaring weaknesses. Well, realistically, I guess he doesn't want to air out those things in public, but I sure hope that he addresses them with him at the big meeting. And then, that he holds him accountable for improvement in those areas, just like Harbaugh would, or should, be doing with his players. I Still hope that I am proved entirely wrong in thinking that Harbaugh should be fired. I would Much rather me be dead wrong than for the Ravens to continue to be a mediocre team at best. I truly want to eat crow on this one.

[thieverycorporation]

I think things will shake out very early in the off season. Either there will be marked improvement or more the same. It will start with FA and progress into the draft. Cuts should begin in earnest. If Webb/Dumerville/ Zuttah are retained it will show that Ozzie is to stubborn to change the error of his ways. Bad contracts, aging non performing players, oft-injured players, and under achievers need to get jettisoned first and foremost. If that is not the protocol being discussed during the visit to Florida then the only people being hoodwinked will be themselves. No longer can Ozzie be solely entrusted to right the ships path. I'd even ask him to step down if continues to use the broken formula he's used to draft and retain players. The youth movement has been in full effect for years and teams are taking a different approach by not handcuffing themselves to weighty contracts. They gauge the likeliness of the player not fulfilling the latter stages of the contract and offer more up front money for less years. Not strung along into the hyper belt. Or they have youth or there side which makes the contract palatable. Every year this team is broke during free agency periods and forced to beg a player to extend the pain. Not a winning improvement plan IMO. I understand wanting to get a player a ring but It's business and they have epically failed in the last few years to change anything meaningful. The fans have been on point with there criticisms of the front offices MO. I hope they turn it around and the next month will show us if they really are capable of such under this regime. I'm not holding my breathe because when I see how they draft they kill my soul.lol

[Crusader]

I guess Steve never watch "The Apprentice".

[sizzlingdoom]

"pitch forks out" HAHAHAHA. I wish. wish they were out years ago

[Drew P]

Hold that thought for a year from now

[OriolesMagicPlease]

12 hours ago, The Beak said:

So as a die hard fans of the Ravens we can't express our opinions , The fan base has to adhere to your standards of acceptance?
Not me , I Love the Ravens but I believe Harbaugh and staff have brought staleness to this team, too much buddy system, people need to be held accountable, Definition of insanity... well you know!

All fans should express their opinions. But there is a difference between being frustrated and totally giving up on your team. Being a passionate fan can be really painful, but turning your back on the team in the bad times means you really weren't a real fan to begin with.

[Ravenshine]

Jimmy Smith's injury was huge in effecting our defense giving up scores.

I'm glad Biscoitti takes a thoughtful approach to the team, the cohesiveness of the overall group and how important it is to build a culture of teamwork. Sure we are all frustrated, but this year saw positives along with negatives, the baby is in the bath water so being careful about what/whom you toss out is the correct approach.