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The Ravens are currently pretty sickening to watch. I have to think it's time to take stock as you said and see what is needed to turn the team around. In my estimation, they need a new LT (I think Stanley is gone), RT(Rosengarten is mediocre at best), LG, RG, and, if Linderbaum leaves, a new C. They don't need any additional skill players at this point. On defense, I'd say they need 2 pass rushers, and I don't mean injured guys trying to make a comeback or old retreads. And I don't mean guys having a great year from lower rated colleges. I think it's impossible to do all this in one off-season. They need at least 2. Interestingly, that's the time Lamar's contract will end unless he renegotiates. Take that for what it's worth, but it could very well mean we need a new franchise QB in 2028. Preferably, a pocket passer who's mobile and not a mobile passer who needs training as a pocket passer. So that's pretty much a major teardown and rebuild. Oh, and let's not forget, we need a new coaching staff. What we fans will need: some patience. This won't result in a sudden, major turnaround.

It is put up or shut up time for the Ravens. Oh, they are saying the right things simce their five game winning streak came to a crashing end at the hand of the dismal Bengals. The problem is, they have been saying the same things all season and the results are always the same. From the abismal play of the offensive line where on one play they open a gaping hole for Henry to run untouched for 20 yards, only for him to be tackled for a loss the very next play. Or maybe the time they give to Lamar who stands back there and threads a pass 20 yards down field between two defenders, only for him to be sacked on the very next play, as soon as he receives the snap. Well, it isn't just the line, Lamar has not been consistent either. He fails to secure the ball when fleeing the oncoming rush, leading to a sack fumble as he cannot seem to decide to take off and run, or throw the ball. But wait, the recievers are also a culprit in this inconsistent offense, to out it mildly. They fail to gain seperation in a timely manner and drop passes that are perfectly thrown. To make a long story short, the defense is also inconsistent, so which team takes the field against a hated division rival in a game that will likely lead to either the Ravens winning the division or the Steelers. So, who ya got?

That was a pathetic game on both sides. Neither team wanted to win.

Last chance at the OK Corral this week. You are so right about their inconsistency. You never know which version of the Ravens will show up. I have no clue about who will win this game. I do know that we will see the same mistakes being made as before but I am hoping there just won't be as many. If there are, the Steelers win ugly. It's either that or we win ugly. I'm hoping the negative press in Pitts regarding Lamar of late, gets under his skin and we eke out a victory. As you have said before though, is that what we should really want? This team needs a club-wide shakeup at the end of this season.

Let's consider our current problem. We have an injured QB with declining running skills but competent passing skills at worst. We have an O-line that could use a massive infusion of new talent. We have an aging RB who seems to have both lost a step and who is suffering from the O-line's inability to create holes. Our receivers are damned good. The D is already a work in progress with a good secondary but with limited talent at LB and D-line. Finally, our franchise QB is about to hit the last 2 years of his contract with a massive cap hit unless it's re-worked or he's traded or he realizes the effect that the 2 years big outlay keeps the team from improving and thus renegotiates his contract. I'd say the optimal solution is to get Lamar to stay here with a renegotiated deal/extension. The trick here is that he needs to be agreeable to that goal. If he is not, then we have to hope we can trade him. Whether he stays or goes we still need a lot of resources poured into the O-line and D-line pass rush. We won't be able to do that quickly if he stays unless he gets a new more cap friendly contract. No new contract means the team will just wilt away and die over the next 2 years. If Lamar stays with a more cap friendly contract, we can actively go about re-doing the O-line and D-line/pass rush and stay competitive for several more seasons. If he leaves we've got to find a new franchise QB and as Tsyl points out, that could be a long and frustrating task. And we still have to re-build the O-line and D-line/pass rush anyway. So the key to me is, does Lamar, and his Mom, really want to put us in cap hell and be a losing team for the next 2+ years? Or, does he sign up for lower cap hits and we can start grooving again sooner? The answer to that is all in Lamar and his Mom's hands.

That’s the issue now. These guys who barely play in college don’t get to show enough. Look at the kid in Indy.

I'm OK. Thanks for asking. Just been taking a break from dealing with how this team wins so ugh-ly for the last 5 games. I can only stand to read/talk about them so much because they look like they're a lost team. No emotion or energy from either the players or coaching staff. I can only blame Harbs but my better half says his wife is ill though I haven't been able to confirm that. I also think Lamar's banged up body coupled with the lousy O-line play makes the offense, well, offensive.