Nfl.com: Who Makes The Playoffs?

[reediddy]

Weren't the Ravens supposed to be the bottom-feeders of the AFC North last year? Weren't the CLEVELAND BROWNS supposed to be the AFC North champions??? Wasn't Joe Flacco supposed to be a D-2 bust???? Isn't Ray Lewis too old???

This is all the bs questions that these experts spit out every year, wait til the season starts and watch our beast o-line, best in the league, pave the way for the best 3-headed rushing attack in the NFL, and protect Flacco so he can surpass 3,000 yards next season easy

[neepo13]

[quote name='justifythegame' post='192859' date='May 15 2009, 02:47 PM']so the bengals... a team that doesn't even have a gm, scouts, etc and one of the worst if not the worst team in the nfl, is going to make the playoffs as opposed to the team [b]that is going to be healthy for the first time in 2 years[/b], and went to the afc championship despite a quarter of the roster being on IR or playing injured...

why waste time listening to these idiots, they dont have any credibility[/quote]

Dont speak to soon. It will be just our luck, that the first day of training camp every starter of our OL and DL, goes down with injuries that will keep them out most of the season. Stuff like that always happens to us. Please dont tempt fate.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='reediddy' post='192975' date='May 15 2009, 06:11 PM']wait til the season starts and watch our beast o-line, best in the league, pave the way for the best 3-headed rushing attack in the NFL, and protect Flacco so he can surpass 3,000 yards next season easy[/quote]
With all due respect, I believe an argument could be made for the Giants or the Falcons as having the best offensive line in the league. And had Derrick Ward not left, the argument could also be made that the Giants had the best three-headed rushing attack in the NFL. But you're entitled to your opinion.

[neepo13]

[quote name='lowrider' post='192903' date='May 15 2009, 03:54 PM']Well i wouldnt say that Bengals are that bad off. [b] Remember they did make the playoffs a few years back.[/b] The raiders have the worst gm and they are the worst team. Bengals are down there but if Carson Palmer stays healthy they have a good team. Assuming he stays healthy. But do i think the bengals can beat the ravens. No, not at all. TJ hoseajfidafihdajnvdosjadah was always the one that tore us up. And the ravens are better than last year[/quote]

The Raiders, Rams, and Chiefs made the playoffs a few years ago to, that doesnt mean they are going to win their division or be any better then they were last year.

[lowrider]

[quote name='neepo13' post='192992' date='May 15 2009, 07:12 PM']The Raiders, Rams, and Chiefs made the playoffs a few years ago to, that doesnt mean they are going to win their division or be any better then they were last year.[/quote]
Raiders and Rams are different. They went into rebuilding mode. Chiefs actually might have a decent team this year with Cassel and they have a couple young players that could be pretty good. But you cant compare the Bengals to those teams. All those teams went into rebuilding mode. The bengals have talent. Carson Palmer when healthy is one of the elite QBs in the league.

[rastaman831226]

For the sake of argument...repeat, for the sake of argument, I can see how the "experts" could possibly see the Ravens not making the playoffs based on the following:

(A). Questiion marks concerning loss and replacement for C Brown, FB Neal, ILB Scott, and most importantly the loss of Rex Ryan as DC.

1. Athletic bulldozing 320 pound Jason Brown is the new prototype for NFL centers, big and strong enough to handle NT's one on one, yet athletic and quick enough to block down into the second level of defense. Brown, along with Ben Grubbs and Chris Chester formed one of the best interior young lines in the NFL last year. How C Matt Birk, at 32 years of age and 2 years removed from all-pro status, will fare against the steady diet of NT's in the AFC is a great unknown.
2. Lorenzo Neal's blocking behind the interior wall of Brown, Grubbs, and Chester was crucial to the success of the Ravens running game last season. The absence of both Brown and Neal would understandably give pause to some "experts" about the ability of the Ravens to get it going on the ground. Also factor in the Lorenzo Neal Curse, wherever Neal has been dropped by a team, the running game soon crumbles in his wake
3. Media talking heads are convinced we're doomed without Bart Scott...........................................................................
.....................duh?
4. The loss of Rex Ryan, the master of his father's 46 defense probably rings big with most experts. Ryan's 46 was an ever evolving complicated defense and though Mattison, Ryan's replacement, may be a good DC, he's had only one year to absorb a playbook Ryan has been twisting and tweaking over a lifetime. Mattison's ability to utilize the Ryan 46 is another unknown.

(. Factor in the dreaded sophmore jinx for both Harbaugh and Flacco and yes...for the sake of argument, I can see how some reputed experts might doubt the Ravens chances of making the playoffs.
.

[lowrider]

Out of losing Jamie Sharper, Adalius Thomas, and Bart Scott. Bart Scott is by far the worst of the three. And our defense didnt miss a step without Sharper and Thomas. I dont even miss Scott. I didnt even think he was that good. He did two things that made me happy. One, kill big ben on that one hit, you all know what i'm talking about. Lit him up. Two, he threw that penatly flag into the stands against the Patriots. That was hilarious. I laughed so hard after that. Scott was more talk than anything else. I cant wait till Gooden and McClain show how much we dont miss him this year.

McClain will miss Neal but i still think that McClain will get his carries. We just need a good blocking fullback. Hopefully Jason Cook will fill that void.

Jason Brown is the loss we will need to fill the most. He was good. The best lineman we had last year. Imagine if we had Brown. Gaithers, Grubbs, Brown, Yanda, Oher. Youngest and best o line in the nfl for years. But Birk will fill in nicely. I actually like that we have Birk because he is a veteran and he is a pro bowler. Also centers dont age as quickly as other positions. Birk still has it.

We have lost Nolan Smith and Marvin Lewis and our defense was fine the other years. Sometimes the talent of our defense makes our defensive coordinators look better than what they really are. I'm hoping that the loss of Rex doesnt hurt us. Emphasis on hoping

[rastaman831226]

All well said and good, nonetheless, there're still question marks concerning the core of Ravens football- running game and defense. Can a 32 year old 309 pound NFC Birk hold the middle of the line against the 340 to 360 pound AFC behemoths as well as Jason Brown did last year? At first glance, definitely not. Can a rookie Cook be a better lead block than the super FB Neal? At first glance, definitely not. Can a DC Mattison manipulate Ryan's 46 as well as the master himself? At first glance, definitely not. Much will be made of these question marks by the "experts" predicting the Ravens future fortunes, however what they miss in analyzing the Ravens is the versatility of the players and the coaches' ability to adapt. Based on last year's style of play, I can see how the "experts" might exclude the Ravens from the playoffs.

[Fred Sanford]

Who here can say they [i]know[/i] Greg Mattison won't be as good or better than Rex Ryan? That's not a loss the Ravens have to deal with, they named their DC, it's over.

Ryan's good but he's no Dick LeBeau or Jim Johnson, he put our D in position to lose in plenty of fourth quarter drives over the years. Not to badmouth him, I hope the Jets do well when not at our expense.

I think a new uniform and fresh start might do wonders for Birk. Let's hope.

Even if he's not physically at the same level as Brown, don't discount how important a smart center can be in line calls, especially since Flacco has already shown a "field general ability" with play calls at the line, and Cam's creativity. Olin Kreutz is only 6'2", 292, Jeff Saturday is smallish. Birk's 6'4", 309, so that's a lil' something.

[rastaman831226]

[quote name='Fred Sanford' post='193586' date='May 17 2009, 11:53 PM']Who here can say they [i]know[/i] Greg Mattison won't be as good or better than Rex Ryan? That's not a loss the Ravens have to deal with, they named their DC, it's over.

Ryan's good but he's no Dick LeBeau or Jim Johnson, he put our D in position to lose in plenty of fourth quarter drives over the years. Not to badmouth him, I hope the Jets do well when not at our expense.

I think a new uniform and fresh start might do wonders for Birk. Let's hope.

Even if he's not physically at the same level as Brown, don't discount how important a smart center can be in line calls, especially since Flacco has already shown a "field general ability" with play calls at the line, and Cam's creativity. Olin Kreutz is only 6'2", 292, Jeff Saturday is smallish. Birk's 6'4", 309, so that's a lil' something.[/quote]


Remember, this is for argument sake. The question is not about Rex Ryan, the coach, but Rex Ryan's system of defense, the 46. Of which Rex Ryan is the undisputed master of, and the system the Ravens' defense runs so incredibly well. Talking heads will understandibly question Mattison's experience with this system because he's had but one year of experience under Rex Ryan's wing. And as for Birk, he's not Kreutz or Saturday, he's Birk in the Ravens system where the backs run between the tackles and guards. If the Ravens running game is designed to function as it did last season, Birk is not well suited for the job nor an upgrade over Jason Brown.

[lowrider]

[quote name='rastaman831226' post='193668' date='May 18 2009, 03:08 PM']Remember, this is for argument sake. The question is not about Rex Ryan, the coach, but Rex Ryan's system of defense, the 46. Of which Rex Ryan is the undisputed master of, and the system the Ravens' defense runs so incredibly well. Talking heads will understandibly question Mattison's experience with this system because he's had but one year of experience under Rex Ryan's wing. And as for Birk, he's not Kreutz or Saturday, he's Birk in the Ravens system where the backs run between the tackles and guards. If the Ravens running game is designed to function as it did last season, Birk is not well suited for the job nor an upgrade over Jason Brown.[/quote]
Birk ran the ball a lot in with peterson. And Peterson puts up amazing numbers; partly because how great he is; partly because of his line. And Birk will rush block a lot in Baltimore. You could argue that Saturday and Birk are pretty close in talent. Birk was in the pro bowl 6 times in a row before last year. He might have lost a half a step but i think his experience on a very unexperience line and unexperienced quarterback is more important than that half of a step.

[rastaman831226]

[quote name='lowrider' post='193669' date='May 18 2009, 02:17 PM']Birk ran the ball a lot in with peterson. And Peterson puts up amazing numbers; partly because how great he is; partly because of his line. And Birk will rush block a lot in Baltimore. You could argue that Saturday and Birk are pretty close in talent. Birk was in the pro bowl 6 times in a row before last year. He might have lost a half a step but i think his experience on a very unexperience line and unexperienced quarterback is more important than that half of a step.[/quote]


Make no mistake about it, Birk is an NFC center who, in his salad days, made his rep primarily against NFC 4/3 defenses. Meaning he rarely had to face big nose tackles breathing in his face game after game as he will see against 3/4 AFC defenses this coming season. Birk is not..repeat not the big bulldozing 334 pound center Jason Brown was and unless Cam Cameron changes the blocking scheme to zone blocking or abandons the run first philosophy that worked so well with Jason Brown at center with Lorenzo Neal as lead blocker, the acquisition of Birk and his usefullness to the offense has to be questioned.

[WACKO4FLACC0]

[quote name='darklight1216' post='190978' date='May 8 2009, 04:50 PM'][url="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d8102c114/Who-s-in-Who-s-out"]http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-tota...-s-in-Who-s-out[/url]

I kind of, okay I absolutely expected them snub us, but come on: the Bengals?[/quote]
They had to pick us I mean look at where we were the year before that 5-11... he has to pick 6.... I think this was a stupid topic to talk about.