varaven45

While we continue to discuss the merits of Joe's experience in the Pro Bowl, I am wondering more about another matter- his backup(s) and mentor. Since it sounds like Troy Smith could move on, we might be left with John Beck as his backup. I am wondering, with 1 potentially backup and no current mentor/coach (now that Hue is gone), might the team consider an experienced QB who could double as the mentor and backup. The team is obviously looking at Zorn or Saunders as QB coach but how cool would it be to find a Trent Dilfer type (2010 version) to double as the backup and coach. The Cowboys have John Kitna, who will probably never sniff the field, but is a heckuva backup should Romo go down. Who do we have ? Joe is young, spry and talented but has a penchant for getting banged up. Wouldnt a mentor/backup with more experience than Beck make sense ?

I guess the "CMac possibly returning" conversations are likewise gone ?

Points well taken. To each his (or her) own, huh ?

Dee, With all due respect, attitude and humility arent mutually exclusive. You can have both. I just got tired of listening to Bart's occasional rants, only to have stuck his foot in his mouth later. Johnny Unitas played with a shut up and play "attitude" but still maintained a certain humility. I know old school is gone (with a few excpetions). But I still appreciate the coach and player who produces and wins w/o all the fanfare and self gratitude. Hopefully, Harbaugh will continue to cultivate that attitude.

After the 2nd half smackdown from Peyton and the Colts, Rex and Bart Scott sure were quiet in the postgame. I know the Rex and Scott supporters will argue, but I still say you are better off shutting up/playing the game. There is something to said for humility in sports. I know Rex and Bart wont change - its their mindset and they feed off it - but they still got a little lesson yesterday.

The lineup is getting better. I see the team scratching out 70 wins this year. If we can get a legit SP and hitter in 2011, maybe we get to .500. We have a huge mountain to climb to compete with the Yanks/Bosox. Still, we are going in the right direction (unless Angelos gets in the way again).

Max, It might be that the pump fake would allow our WRs to get open, get seperation.

Hey Max, Do you think Cam and Flacco watched Sanchez pump fake and maybe, just maybe, a light went on. I would love to see Joe add a pump fake to his game next season. Sure hadnt seen it yet.

Max, Very well done sir ! You touched on it all. As the team moves ahead, I wonder whether, by selecting Harbs over Rex, we may have passed the baton for "the best D for years to come" on to Rex. I am not saying that is such a bad thing (although I admit it felt damn great to have that 2000 D which was the best I ever saw), because the balanced approach that I beleive we are seeking may be in our best long term interest. Time will tell, huh ? If we do indeed go that route we had better damn be sure we get Flacco some big time weapons and now. I am concerned that Joe is on the cusp of going either way - either an elite guy or just your average Joe. I cant wait for the offseason. In the meantime, thanks for the great piece and all you do on this board. Go Ravens !!!

Cleetz, Not to mention that Harper is a Hokie... he's got to be good ! All kidding aside, its time for all these young guns to step up. They alone, however, wont be enough. We still need to draft or acquire a deep threat, a big strong possession guy, and a slot guy. If we do that, then we will have given Joe some weapons to complement his current arsenal of Rice, Heap, McGahee, Mason. Then we will be looking at a real O. Until then, its just talk and speculation. It should be am interesting off-season.

Cleetz, I agree with you. Tejada is a good pickup. If nothing else, he can still hit and could always be a DH and platoon with Scott (L). We shall see if Miggy can play 3rd.

Sorry Spear ! I would understand but for selfish reasons, I dont want to subject Joe to any more injury. We need the young man for the long haul, you understand.

Cleetz, Im with you. Let Flacco rest, heal and get ready for next year. Put a lid on this year. Who cares about the Pro Bowl ? Its popularity is approaching the NBA All Star Game. Id rather see Joe work on strength and training - maybe he could get some work on his guns during the off season.

We are equally weak at WR and in the secondary. The key is obviously FA. If we pick up a legit WR (e.g. Marshall)in FA then we should go CB (Robinson) or S (Mays) with our first pick. If we dont pick up a decent WR in FA, we have got to pick up a WR (the cat from Illinois ?) or the TE from Oklahoma. Either way, through FA or the draft, we have to address our receiving corps and secondary in a BIG WAY. If Mason and Reed return another year, that mitigates the urgency but in no way solves a problem that should have been addressed 2 yrs ago. After these 2 concerns are addressed, we need to fortify our pass rushing folks (either from within (unlikely) or through draft). Ideally this guy would be an interior lineman as opposed to a LB. In our later rounds, it would be nice to select another WR, another secondary player, a center (for Birk to groom) and a PK (in case Cundiff or Stover dont return). My two cents.

But the Raiders ? Why would anyone subject themselves to such pain; is he a masochist ? Oh well... By now he was woken up !

I doubt Mays is around at 25 but one never knows. If we go receiver, Golden or Benn would be interesting. Regardless, we have to pick up a FA WR playmaker to rebuild our WR corps (regardless of Mason's plans).

Max, Exactly. Plus, he pirated 3 defensive players - Scott, Leonard and Douglas-all Jet starters- from our team. And he was fortunate to already had Revis - arguably the best CB in the NFL. Regardless of the Jets fate this postseason, Ryan and Sanchez will really be scrutinized in their sophomore years - sound familiar ? And in the Big Apple. Time will tell.

Agreed. If these guys stay healthy, our OL should remain strong for years. My only hope is they improve a little on the pass protection. Of course, if Joe gets some dang receivers, maybe these guys are just fine. Just sayin.

Agreed. the basic foundation is in place but this team had got to make signficant improvements in both pass offense and defense. This team's success in 20101 will be largely predicated on the improvement in those areas. Go Ozzie !!!!

This may be a good thing in that Ozzie and Co may finally go out and get a playmaker. Of course, having mason around as a mentor or a 2nd or 3rd wouldnt hurt.

Nothing that we havent already heard as nauseum, but Carter chimed in on Ravens- * Our D is not the best anymore - its now the Jets * Our team is no longer built around D but Flacco * Amazed our team accomplishjed as much w/o a playmaker * We are just 1-2 playmaker WRs from being an elite team Cant argue with him. My reactions: * Our D is only missing a bonafide tandem at CB, perhaps S (if Reed retires) * Our D is still a strength, its just more balanced now - strong D , strong O * Equally amazed by our success w/o playmaker * Ozzie - get the playmaker - I dont care : Vincent jackson, Miles Austin, just get em ! This needs to be a productive offseason - more so than in the past.

We have two major holes that cannot be masked two years in a row: pass offense and pass defense. Our team cannot consistently complete with the elite teams until we have a pair of legit, stout, sound tackling/defending, reliable CBs and a trio of playmaking, game changing WRs who can get separation, YAC, and outcompete the defending secondary for the ball. Until then, this team will remain in the 8, 9, 10 win program.

Yep. We owned NE last week, we were Indy's bitches yesterday.

Anyone catch the big time missed PI against Gary Brackett in 3rd Q. He was all freakin over Rice, grabbing his helmet, and clearly interfering with the catch. Rice never had a chance and the announcers - Dumbledorf and Gumball - could only show their man crush on Brackett. That was a potentially huge play that would have kept the drive going and perhaps might have gotten us back in the game. I just get tired of this crap. Anyone catch this ?

We failed to punch em in the mouth after the 87 yd opening drive.