[News] Late For Work 2/16: Ravens Will Draft This Star Cornerback, Says Mel Kiper

[bigcatfrank1]

Joe's salary and cap hit is an embarrassment. The second highest paid QB in the NFL....... A slightly above average starter that can be solid when given a lot of help. Yet he gets paid like the best at the position. Can you imagine what will happen if he doesn't come out and produce this season like a top 5 QB should......Could make for a very interesting offseason next year. We don't need Joe to restructure and push the money down the road, we need him to straight up take a pay cut in an effort to better that team.

If you get a chance visit www.pro-football-reference Joe Flacco. On the lower part of the page you find an interesting statistic reference called- Similar Players - NFL (QB) players whose career was of similar quality and shape per year the same career year.

Joe Flacco
year 2- Andy Dalton, Jim Kelly*, Ben Roethlisberger, Fran Tarkenton*, Joe Namath*, Matt Ryan, Jim Plunkett, Bernie Kosar,

Year 3- Jim Kelly, Andy Dalton, , Ben Roethlisberger, Fran Tarkenton*, Joe Namath*, Matt Ryan, Ken O Brian, John Elway

Year 4- Jim Kelly, Ben Rothlesberger, Fran Tarkenton*, Joe Namath*, Ken O Brian,Jim Plunkett, John Elway, Bernie Kosar,

Year 5- Jim Kelly, Ben Roethlisberger, Fran Tarkenton*, Joe Namath*, Eli Manning ,Arron Brooks, John Elway, Warren Moon, Drew Bledsoe

Year 6- John Elway, Jim Kelly, Ben Rothlesberger, Eli Manning*, Eli Manning, Doug Williams , Bernie Kosar, Arron Brooks

Year 7- John Elway, Jim Kelly, Ben Rothlesberger, Eli Manning*, Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe, Fran Tarkenton

Year 8- Eli Manning, Mark Brunnell, Ken O Brian, John Hadl, Drew Bledsoe, Bob Griese, Jim Everett, Steve Mc Nair

not too shabby of company...
even had a Tom Brady, Matt Ryan and a couple Arron Brooks very similar years.

obviously not in the "hurler" catagory. No Montana, Unitas, Young, Stauback, Marino, Favre or Fouts type years.

[Crusader]

  4 hours ago, The Beak said:

I think maybe Oz should make everyone leave the room except for Eric Decosta , and let ED pick the 1st round....

DeCosta has been doing the draft for several years now, including various draft picks that haven't panned out...

I guess Eric should be on stage at the State of the Ravens. I sure as heck would not want someone else take my heat for my decisions.

[Crusader]

That Statement has been made on these boards many many time including by myself. People just won't face it. It's easier to keep blaming Ozzie and Harbaugh.

You forgot Joe.

[FloridalovesRavens]

  4 hours ago, ByTheBay said:

  6 hours ago, rmcjacket23 said:

1. Fan pressure means nothing. Executives that listen to fan opinions end up sitting with the fans instead of being employed. Fans are just a bunch of blowhard talkers. They talk about how outraged they are about a team, yet they still go to games, watch games on TV, and buy merchandise. That's called being a hypocrite. 

If this were true there wouldn't be a need for a PR department. I can assure you someone from the ravens organization monitors these boards and reports fan sentiment back to a superior. All corporations and politicians have to keep their constituents happy otherwise they will suffer professionally. 

And not all fans are blowhards. For whatever reason, this past season was the one that made me lose all faith in Joe Flacco. It may have something to do with realizing he is going into his 10th season and I continue to hear what others need to do to make him successful. Anyway, I don't have season tickets but usually find a way to attend a few games each year, buy sunday ticket and buy merchandise when the mood strikes. Last season I did none of it. I also used to record 4 daytime games and the night game every sunday. I basically binge watched football for 10 hours every sunday and watched thursday and monday nights. Last season I barely made the effort to watch the Ravens play. I am not some fly by night fan. I was raised in MD, am 40 years old and have watched football so long I can remeber the colts games at memorial. It pains me to say but I am losing interest. I am still interested as is obvious by me being on this board and hopefully next season will be different. It's hard to be interested in a team where the team leader and qb dont seem to be too interested themselves. 

Please dont be too harsh on me for saying this. Most fans in my possition just fade away and you never hear why. I am just expressing my opinion. I want to stay a fan but it's getting harder. 

I will just express my opinion, You need to be more of a real football fan than just a Ravens fan or a TV fan. So it was an off year.

You seem to have some knowledge of the history and players. Let me try to put this in a different perspective.

You were young but you must remember Dan Marino. Dan had great stats and he even had a perfect season record, but never won a Super Bowl. He had some down years too. He was at one time the highest paid NFL player, he had his worst season the year following and actually lost faith in his team. He went on to write about it and realized that he can only change what was in his power to change.

There are many other QB's you can look at in NFL history, who have struggled as the " on-the field" leader type personalities.
But Joe still holds the NFL Playoff record for first 5 years of QB Carreer.
Joe has been in the playoffs 6 years (winning seasons as well) out of his 9 year career.
He has fought through an injury and many team injuries. I do not think you could find a more committed Raven than Joe Flacco.

I will stay a fan, sure its hard sometimes but having a team and history like the Ravens isn't one of them.
Try being a Saints fan, or Atlanta, or Titans, Jacksonville, Jets, Buffalo, even lately Vikings, Bears, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, are you really ready to trade for that?
Just voicing my opinion. Let it play out and see. If Joe fails, he is not the first one. The Ravens will get another QB in a couple of years.
But if I have any notion of Joe and the Ravens, you haven't seen the last of the playoffs.

I like this comment. Thank you for the positive instead of the negative.

[steelcityraven]

TBH.... the offense don't need a great many changes. We clearly have some needs but our biggest problem last year was consistency due to injuries on the OL and lack of explosive playmakers

OUR OFFENSIVE NEEDS:
1. Depth on the OL (in case they are not healthy again)

2. A RB who can make you miss in the open field

3. A WR who has the athletic ability to turn a 5 yard reception into a 25 yard gain

Not sure what we are going to do with Wags and Zuttah yet but I think our OL is in decent shape and a FA addition and a mid to late round draft pick could leave us in better shape next year then we were this year.

I think there is enough depth and talent at RB in this years draft class to add a play maker in the middle of the draft

I also think that a 2nd or 3rd round pick at WR could give us the coveted play maker that we are seeking to compliment Perriman and Wallace (assuming we re-sign Wallace).

In other words I believe that our offensive cupboard will be full by the time we hit training camp. It is the defensive side of the ball that worries me a little more!

[steelcityraven]

Defensively we have some needs

1. We need at least 1 CB and with Jimmy being a little fragile 2 is most realistic.

2. We need to replace Zach Orr

3. We need to relapse Webb

4. Add young dynamic pass rushers.

CBs are high priced but fortunately we are looking at a draft that seems to be rich in that position. So I think it is realistic to find out guy in the 1st or 2nd round... but that still leaves us at the bare minimum. We need more then 1 CB

I think a combination of Weddle and say Jebrill Peppers would leave us much more dangerous at S then Weddle and Webb and Peppers would come much much cheaper then Webb. Plus Peppers is not the only legit S prospect in this draft. (plus there are some quality FA Safeties out there this year)

I don't believe that KC will be that guy this year. I hope that I am wrong and I don't want to see us risk replacing him via the draft. Lets land a proven FA ILB to help CJ out and secure our front 7.

Pass rushers are a little more concerning. There are a couple in the draft but if we take a pass rusher we miss out on the top CBs (which is our biggest need). We could hope to re-sign Elvis and hope he regains form but that is a gamble. FA pass rushers do not come cheap but if we lose both Elvis and BW we should be able to add some help (Melvin Ingram)

We have some holes on this defense and It scares me a little bc I don't believe that Dean Pees scheme can make up for the lack of personal ... in fact I think he needs as much help as he can get....

Hope we commit to re-stocking the defense this year.

[erick2881]

we need our corners to make the qb hold the ball more which will help our pass rush sack and hit the qb more. qbs have been able to get the ball out too quick for any rusher to get in there and make them uncomfortable. I think cb will go long way and should be our 1st round pick. Unless "they" are off the board by time we get on the clock.

I see a good season ahead. Just let me talk smack to my Steeler friends and patriots family.

[Purple Hazard]

Whatever WR we will get I don't think it will be a speed WR. We have good speed at the WR position. We need someone with good hands who can make the hard catches.

[Swift 1]

3 hours ago, bigcatfrank1 said:

Romo got paid the #1 salary and he didn't even play! lol so whats your point Swift.
Joe's cap was re-negotiated his salary is constant his cap hit goes up. He knows that the Playoffs and a SB run is what the Ravens goal is and why the cap was structured the way it was. I expect to see the playoffs this year coming, i think Joe will come out swinging.

I think you need to look around the team a bit more. No one is more committed and Joe has already negotiated.
I also think he would be willing to do just about anything to make the team work better, but you better be prepared to hold every player accountable.

Big Cat I sure did not make my point I thought I was defending Joe . I actually pulled this post because others answered better than me..

[Chuckx999]

Mel Kiper past draft picks haven't been that great, so who cares who he likes. We have Ozzie and have to live with his picks and his picks the past 4-5 years they haven't been that great, so we are lucky to get 8 and 8 seasons.

Baltimore ranks last for continuity among teams with the same GM and head coach, what else is new. Maybe smart coaches and players don't want to come here "same GM and head coach".

[RavensDieHard21]

You do realize that the FO does in fact feel the pressure and so does Harbs and Bisciotti? No, there probably isn't much weight coming from fan blogs and forums, but from the fan base as a whole there sure is.

When the team's success starts to flatline, fans get groggy and that is where the money comes from. Not just season ticket holders, which is just the tip of the iceberg. 

The money the stadium makes is just a small proportion of what the team is worth and a fan base can quickly dissipate if it feels it's FO does not care to make the necessary changes to start playing games in January. 

[usmccharles]

1 hour ago, Chuckx999 said:

Mel Kiper past draft picks haven't been that great, so who cares who he likes. We have Ozzie and have to live with his picks and his picks the past 4-5 years they haven't been that great, so we are lucky to get 8 and 8 seasons.

Baltimore ranks last for continuity among teams with the same GM and head coach, what else is new. Maybe smart coaches and players don't want to come here "same GM and head coach".

I love when people just throw out stats or numbers with zero source.  Im sure bobsbackyardfootball.com is a real trusty site.  Sometimes i wish i was delusional like some people on here, it could be fun. 

[RavensDieHard21]

6 hours ago, ibleedpurpleandblack said:

I do see the need for the corner pick but I do not see Ozzie passing over a higher ranked pass rusher considering Suggs and Doom are on their last leg of their career (see what I did there)...

That is the thing, after Garrett, I think only Barnett would have a higher grade than Sidney Jones or Marshon Lattimore. 

[RavensDieHard21]

5 hours ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Who's job is it to determine who the best CB on the board is?

What if we don't think that player will be any good? Should we just take him anyway because he plays corner, even if we don't think he will be any good?

And the 2014 Ravens is a prime example of a good pass rush can help mask a very poor secondary.

Anyone who watches a lot of college games and tape, not highlights, can very well quickly decipher the tiers of CBs in this draft. Jones and Lattimore are together in the top-tier, any analyst would attest to this. If either one was available that should 100% be the pick unless a pick at another pressing area was available, such as Mike Williams, Jamal Adams, or even Derek Barnett. 

The 2014 example is good, but guess what?  Most of the regular season we had Suggs, McPhee, Doom, Ngata, Jernigan up front, then had Webb, Smith, Hill and the rest of the nameless secondary. They did great all year for the most part, but what happened when we faced the pats? They knew we could stop the run and we could rush the passer, so they completely abandoned the run and  utilized a quick passing game complimented by a few trick plays and bam. We got smoked because our corners could not cover! 

Each can compliment the other and coverage can break down, but I think CBS can help even more because after holding the ball 5-6 seconds because of coverage, rushers will get there and plays will break down. That is what happened in 15' with Denver v NE. Miller was a terror, but Brady had nowhere to go with the ball because tight man coverage made him hold that ball extra long so he took 20 hits that game. 

[Ravenous_Ravens]

Lost of people keep posting garbage non-sense about the Ravens needing to address every issue but the elephant in the room in the secondary. This is for two reasons: A) They don't want to see the Ravens succeed, so they put forth much bad advice in the form of many distracting thoughts, but never explain them or fully understand them themselves. They also know that Baltimore is dangerous already and that the weakness of the secondary is what gives their teams a chance to more easily match up. Together it pretty much implies that they know if we secure the secondary they will not but able to score much if at all. So do the right thing and address the secondary if you want to see the likes of Tom Brady's, etc squirm in their pants every time they face the Ravens. Just think how much good ol' Ed Reed bothered Brady, even when his prime days were behind him and then consider what a younger suitable ball hawking Raven would add that was missing.

[The Beak]

Oh I get the jest of what you are trying to say, I just believe you are taking these Fan boards way to seriously. These articles and comment sections are for the Fans to voice their opinion , and I think all fans know (we are an educated fan base) that the Ravens FO, nor the coaching staff is hanging out here trying to get info, so , enjoy the hyperbole that is fandom. And remember this is just a game, every team has good and bad years, but as a FAN you never stop supporting your team , no matter what... 

[Crusader]

There will always be two things constants with this team. The Raven's emblem and Fans. Everything else is subject to change.

[Crusader]

I still like Hooker over Jones but Hooker just had surgery so now I'm thing is this Perriman all over? If you watch Jones had good fortune with bad throws but he does stay with his guy. Nobody seems to get away. Hooker makes players look slow on the field.

[sizzlingdoom]

  13 hours ago, RaRaRavens said:

  14 hours ago, b93333 said:

Joe is the number 2 QB in terms of cap hit and number 24 in terms of QB rating and efficiency. Pretty much says it all. Since we are stuck with him for three more long years due to the dead money issues the question becomes how can the Ravens get him to play better. I am discouraged by the fact that the Ravens have decided that no QB coach is even going to be appointed. Sounds like they are satisfied with 24th ranked play out of their QB.

WOW. You had -1 votes when I got to your comment. Some people on these boards are seriously ridiculous. Literally everything in your post was FACTUALLY TRUE. Obviously some people just can't handle facts and the truth about this team.

You think it's a good idea to base your QB on 1 stat - Passer Rating? That's how you evaluate QBs in the NFL? Flacco was 19th in QBR, he was 7th in Passing Yards, 11th in Completion %, 11th in Yards per Game & 18th in TDs despite playing behind a patchwork o-line for 75% of the games, with a RB that averaged 48 yards a game, and the TE being the leading Reciever.

So, if you base your QB play on Passer Rating, Cam Newton is one of the WORST QBs in football (Ranked 28th). That's your FACTUAL STANCE? Cam has Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olson, Devin Funchess, Jonathan Stewart and still finishes 29th despite being the 8th QB in salary cap? The Panthers should take your advice and cut him ASAP! SMH.

Matt Ryan was the MVP, will have a cap number only 800k less than Flacco and has CHOKED in every meaningful game he's ever played in (including college) but you think he's the best QB in the league (highest passer rating)....Flacco is a solid QB that can win big games especially in the 4th quarter (game winning drives vs, JAX, OAK, NYG, PIT, WAS). $20 million+ is the going rate for that type of QB.....

Some people just twist the facts to justify their personal truths and agendas about this team.

LOL. The stats you just put up about Flacco...hahahahah! He was "7th in passing yards, 11th in completion%, yard per game and so" maybe because he threw the ball 672 times!!!! LOL talk about twisting the facts. wow. And the completion percentage, hmmmm, maybe that was helped by his numerous 3 yard passes, esp on 3&7. Pitta was only the leading receiver cuz that's the only place Joe ever looked. And we used to rbs and never ran the ball which covers your twisted "a rb with a 48 ypg average". Twisty Mctwistertin
Kelvin Benjamin wasn't the same this year coming off his ACL. Anyone that watched football this year knew that. He didn't even have 1,000 yards. Olsen is good, but he's not Kelce or Gronk. And did you really just list Funchess and Stewart as playmakers??? Might explain your Kenny Britt stance. AND CAM just won the MVP the year before and was arguably the best player in football.
Matt Ryan finally got an oline and an even average defense and then was the MVP of the league this year. It's not his fault the Falcons pulled a Harbaugh/Mor. and didn't just run the ball and kick a FG at the end of the game to win the SB and cap off one of the best season, regular and post by a qb ever. And you're right, Flacco finally woke up a little bit in the 4th quarter last year. Sometimes. Twist much?

[sizzlingdoom]

Just strictly about the article, since everyone's going off on everything else- that would be AMAZING if we draft Sidney Jones

[RaRaRavens]

12 hours ago, TheConquerorWorm said:

You think it's a good idea to base your QB on 1 stat - Passer Rating? That's how you evaluate QBs in the NFL? Flacco was 19th in QBR, he was 7th in Passing Yards, 11th in Completion %, 11th in Yards per Game & 18th in TDs despite playing behind a patchwork o-line for 75% of the games, with a RB that averaged 48 yards a game, and the TE being the leading Reciever.

So, if you base your QB play on Passer Rating, Cam Newton is one of the WORST QBs in football (Ranked 28th). That's your FACTUAL STANCE? Cam has Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olson, Devin Funchess, Jonathan Stewart and still finishes 29th despite being the 8th QB in salary cap? The Panthers should take your advice and cut him ASAP! SMH.

Matt Ryan was the MVP, will have a cap number only 800k less than Flacco and has CHOKED in every meaningful game he's ever played in (including college) but you think he's the best QB in the league (highest passer rating)....Flacco is a solid QB that can win big games especially in the 4th quarter (game winning drives vs, JAX, OAK, NYG, PIT, WAS). $20 million+ is the going rate for that type of QB.....

Some people just twist the facts to justify their personal truths and agendas about this team.

I wonder, what must Flacco do for you to stop making excuses for him?

Yes, all what you say about patchwork o-line, RB averaging 48 YPG, TE being the leading reciever is true. But Flacco is a seasoned vet and SECOND (!!!) highest paid QBs in the NFL. Experienced QBs who get paid as much as Flacco does should not need All-Pro O-line, RB averaging 150 YPG and elite starting WRs to play well, let alone play on average level. Flacco seems to need all that, and then some, just to play adequate football.

Seriously, you're ridiculous with your excuses for Flacco. He probably could intentionally hand the ball off to the other team on every play and you'd still find that it was somehow the center's, or whoever's, fault except Flacco.

Even Biscotti called out Flacco for his play. But I guess someone who has "played football on a professional level" like yourself knows better than the owner of the team, right?

[RaRaRavens]

13 hours ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Probably due to referencing QB rating, which isn't a valid statistic. 

It's very lopsided statistic, I mean high QBR does not mean good QB, but below average or flat out bad QBR shows pretty convincingly that a QB has serious shortcomings.

[sizzlingdoom]

  13 hours ago, TheConquerorWorm said:

You think it's a good idea to base your QB on 1 stat - Passer Rating? That's how you evaluate QBs in the NFL? Flacco was 19th in QBR, he was 7th in Passing Yards, 11th in Completion %, 11th in Yards per Game & 18th in TDs despite playing behind a patchwork o-line for 75% of the games, with a RB that averaged 48 yards a game, and the TE being the leading Reciever.

So, if you base your QB play on Passer Rating, Cam Newton is one of the WORST QBs in football (Ranked 28th). That's your FACTUAL STANCE? Cam has Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olson, Devin Funchess, Jonathan Stewart and still finishes 29th despite being the 8th QB in salary cap? The Panthers should take your advice and cut him ASAP! SMH.

Matt Ryan was the MVP, will have a cap number only 800k less than Flacco and has CHOKED in every meaningful game he's ever played in (including college) but you think he's the best QB in the league (highest passer rating)....Flacco is a solid QB that can win big games especially in the 4th quarter (game winning drives vs, JAX, OAK, NYG, PIT, WAS). $20 million+ is the going rate for that type of QB.....

Some people just twist the facts to justify their personal truths and agendas about this team.

I wonder, what must Flacco do for you to stop making excuses for him?

Yes, all what you say about patchwork o-line, RB averaging 48 YPG, TE being the leading reciever is true. But Flacco is a seasoned vet and SECOND (!!!) highest paid QBs in the NFL. Experienced QBs who get paid as much as Flacco does should not need All-Pro O-line, RB averaging 150 YPG and elite starting WRs to play well, let alone play on average level. Flacco seems to need all that, and then some, just to play adequate football.

Seriously, you're ridiculous with your excuses for Flacco. He probably could intentionally hand the ball off to the other team on every play and you'd still find that it was somehow the center's, or whoever's, fault except Flacco.

Even Biscotti called out Flacco for his play. But I guess someone who has "played football on a professional level" like yourself knows better than the owner of the team, right?

I know, it's truly hilarious and entertaining to me. We point out facts about where the Ravens have been slipping, and articles simultaneously come out days later stating the same thing. For weeks in a row now after the season. Even the owner himself saying the same things. Yet he takes it all personally, like he made the moves himself, and the claims aren't true. LOL. It's pretty funny

[sizzlingdoom]

Jones, Lattimore, Wilson, and Tabor. At least one of those guys will be available at 16

[bigcatfrank1]

  On 2/16/2017 at 3:32 PM, bigcatfrank1 said:

Romo got paid the #1 salary and he didn't even play! lol so whats your point Swift.
Joe's cap was re-negotiated his salary is constant his cap hit goes up. He knows that the Playoffs and a SB run is what the Ravens goal is and why the cap was structured the way it was. I expect to see the playoffs this year coming, i think Joe will come out swinging.

I think you need to look around the team a bit more. No one is more committed and Joe has already negotiated.
I also think he would be willing to do just about anything to make the team work better, but you better be prepared to hold every player accountable.

Big Cat I sure did not make my point I thought I was defending Joe . I actually pulled this post because others answered better than me..

ok, yeah I was confused by it. NP, of course Joe could blow it and play like crap. But I dont expect that, At least lets hope not.

[manofsteel]

Release JimiSmith (cb). Always hurt and can not tackle or keep up with hi defender!