[News] Late For Work 1/24: Ravens Entering One Of Most Crucial Offseasons In Team History

[sizzlingdoom]

Isn't every draft crucial for the Ravens, or have I missed something?

I think they're referencing how we've been going downhill for years, and if we keep up with these ways we might fall off a cliff. Hoping we turn things around with a fury instead

[RaRaRavens]

1 hour ago, Rav'n Maniac said:

Isn't every draft crucial for the Ravens, or have I missed something?

Sure they are. But the more you miss on early round draft picks, and the more you fail to resign the few true playmakers you somehow manage to find, the more crucial each and every draft gets.

[steelcityraven]

This offseason is crucial. We have at risk...missing the playoffs for three straight years. That is not within the expectations that we have created and for a team and organization that prides itself on being a top notch organization, a three year drought would be cause for whole scale changes

If John is to keep his job... we cannot miss the playoffs three straight years. I am a big advocate of Harbs and think he is a great coach but someone would need to be accountable if we were to miss the playoffs again!

Unfortunately... I think that with Dean Pees as our DC we will struggle to close any team out again and we will be winning and losing gams by a TD or less in 2017. That makes things very difficult to not drop a crucial game or two. We need to get Dean some help ASAP or it could mean John is gone- and I don't want to see that happen

(help with adding some key components to that defense and help with adding an assistant coach like a leslie frazier who was the biggest factor in the turnaround of our defense - Now that LF is gone... I am worried)

[nevermorebmore]

I'm not saying anything new here, but a team that consistently ranks ahead of the pack in compensatory picks is extremely vulnerable to draft busts. Volume of picks does not always translate to playmakers, only an increased probability for finding them.

The team has been sliding toward this sort of trouble since the Kindle/Cody draft. I know there was the Super Bowl in there since then, but that draft started to set the dominos in motion for where the team is now. The Elam/Brown draft compounded the issue. Perriman might add to it. We have to keep in mind that every time there has been a miss in the top two/three rounds, the FO has to reach for free agents, commanding cap space the team needs to retain its own playmakers and key pieces. KO walking was a great example, as was Ben Grubbs. Imagine if we could have kept either of them while constantly developing and dealing with injured linemen. Add in Flacco's mega contract (which I see as a necessity), the dead money from Ray Rice over the years, and the injuries to playmakers and we're suddenly looking at a 'crucial' offseason.

[ravens4life86]

This offseason will decide the futures of a lot of people.
I will say so far I like the coaching hires which seem to indicate getting back to Ravens DNA Smashmouth run game & Defense.

But,
Between Draft and Free Agency Ozzie has to beef up the Oline, Pass Rush,Cbs,Ilbr, Wr

Pass Rush,Cbs, likely coming from early picks in draft

Oline mid to late round picks and maybe a trade or Free Agent pick up
Wr free agency, mid to late round pick
Ilbr draft

[ravensnj]

On 1/24/2017 at 11:13 AM, RavensDieHard21 said:

Ramczyk is a great player but he had a hip injury. As we all know that is risky business. Ozzie will avoid any questionable injuries like the plague this year. 

If Wagner leaves, Robinson would be the exact opposite of Wagners skill set . He would be a punishing run blocker with average pass protection skills. He does have immense potential though.  

Upon further review, Robinson had recent drug and gun charges. Both counts were dropped, however, questions lie.

[ravensnj]

On 1/24/2017 at 0:17 PM, jravens1313 said:

Maxx Williams was hurt all year. Hard to say he is a miss when he showed a lot of promise as a Rookie. Karl Davis is mainly a run stuffer. Perriman shows a lot of promise as a big play WR. I think he dominates fade routes/jump balls, and has the speed to take any play to the house. How we use him in year three will be the telling sign. All year I saw a coaching staff that had no clue how to utilize their roster to get the most out of each players skillset. That is the biggest problem IMO. 

Williams hasn't shown much at all. Injuries have derailed his first 2 seasons. He's real young (22) which is a plus.  But, I just don't see him as a top tier TE. I assume blocking will be his forte 

Edited January 25 by ravensnj

[#Nevermore]

We need to draft better period. We will have a first second and two third round picks. Also next year, with Williams and Wagner leaving we may get another third rounder for one of them. We need to use the capital to go up in the draft and sign some playmakers. We have to pull the trigger at some point. Instead of building our team with 30 something year olds, we need to draft and develop our players. We need to supplement our young roster with veterans, not rely on them solely. We have to be bold and get the impact players.

[#Nevermore]

In the attention paid to Donnell Pumphrey I think we see one of the Ravens current problems. Awhile ago they hired a numbers guy (statistician) to help them find value. This has resulted in them taking players who set NCAA records, regardless of having the physical characteristics necessary in today's NFL. Pumphrey is 5'9" and 190 lbs. No amount of "motor" is going to make him able to succeed long term for the team. Unless somehow he was sick, which prevented him from adding muscle, and he is now cured. Heart and motivation are necessary, but they are not sufficient.

They are looking for a 3rd down back that can break a long run...obviously they are not looking for an every-down back.

[GENE2407]

Aging, rotting roster filled with high-priced vets past their primes. No top shelf talent to speak of. Let's see if we can break the streak of 7 bad drafts.

[VermontRaven]

21 minutes ago, GENE2407 said:

Aging, rotting roster filled with high-priced vets past their primes. No top shelf talent to speak of. Let's see if we can break the streak of 7 bad drafts.

I think this is a bit harsh.  Have we had some big misses? (Elam, Brown, etc) YES....MOST experts say we had an EXCELLENT draft last year.  Stanley, Young, Dixon, Lewis, and Judon were all key contributors.  Jury is still out on guys like Correa, Kaufusi, Moore, Henry, etc. 

[RicknRoll]

I look at teams like and I hate to say it but New England, Seattle, even the dreaded Squeelers who always seem to maintain top notch rosters. Yet every year I hear how great Ozzie is. And when I bring that up I'm looked at as a bad guy.
Hey Ozzie? Hire me as your assistant. You not doing so good buddy! Even our coaching staff is suspect. I hate to say it but our front office is not doing so good. Don't get me wrong, I still bleed Purple, it's just painful.

[Swift 1]

On 1/25/2017 at 3:43 AM, RaRaRavens said:

This is SO true. I've been downvoted to oblivion for saying that Flacco needs to step up, our drafting has not been good past couple of years etc. Good thing I didn't receive any death threats.

Then 2 days later Biscotti says the exact same things and everybody is like "I completely agree with Mr.B, what an insightful opinions he has.". LMAO. 

But it's refreshing to see that there are still some people left on these boards who are capable of independent thinking and who can see beyond the naive feel-good optimism that is as far away from truth as we are from finding a no 1 WR. 

Some people left? You and your 'independent thinkers' dominate these boards about three to one , I really think you are all Mike Preston writing under assumed names. 

Edited January 30 by Swift 1