varaven45

Before the season, we all knew that, without a legit pass rusher and given our woeful pair of CBs and and a chronically dinged up Ed Reed, our secondary would get worked all season. Beginning with KC's backup Brodie Croyle in the opener, and concluding with Charlie Frye yesterday, our secondary has been woeful and worked all season long. The only exceptions were against Denver's Kyle Orton, Chicago (Cutler) and Detroit (Culpeper). Otherwise, no surprises here. Yes, we have 1 more game but the FO had better wake up and retool D with 4 key playmakers - a pass rushing DE, another LB to eventually take over for Ray, a SHUTDOWN CORNER, and a safety to take over for Reed. The D has largely been ingnored the past few drafts.

Yep, aside from the cheating the only chance we have is the Pats have a meltdown, Brady throws 3-4 picks (no phantom flags thrown (?)), or Maroney (or whomever) fumbles the ball 3-4 times. The image of the league, after the alleged "laydowns" by the Colts, cannot afford to allow a Raven - Colt matchup. That would be another setback. I hate to say it but is another "Us vs the World" scenario.

Crav, The league and Goodell will not let the outcome of this game result in anything other than a Colts - Pats game in Round 2. If for some crazy reason, the Ravens make it a close game - and thats a big if - the refs will flag our guys on 1 or 2 game changing, questionable plays - pass interference call, interception, fumble, illegal block, late hit on Brady, you name it - until the Pats have it sewed up. You saw it earlier this season. Get ready for it again !

Problem with Joe's slowness ? No problem. Juice em up with a couple of Red Bulls before each game !

Crav, No problem with the Run D - it was stout. Its the pass D - its beat up and cant cover my Grandma. The Bears rolled over for us - dont know what happened vs Minny. They are a division rival.

Crav, all true and good but nothing like the Bears and Lions to help pad the old D stats, huh ? Also, Ben pretty much ran up and down the field against our sieve like pass D. That weakness needs to become the focus of our offseason efforts- either through FA or draft. Still got to have that PASS RUSHER and another stout CB plus a future replacement for Ed Reed. But give our D its due- in spite of the makeshift secondary, it has managed to hang in there.

Crav, Hate to say it-but there is no way KC beats the Bengals in Cincy. KC is atrocious! Bengals go 10-6. We need to focus on thr Steeler game and win out !

With the frightening prospect and angst of bringing in Ivy for CB, I am wondering if/when Reed returns, we could switch Zib to CB and fill Webb's position. How would a secondary with Reed, Landry, Foxworth and Zib perform. Zib is obviously physical (and might line up well w/ Hines Ward this weekend) but is speed might be a major problem and he could be worked big time in deep coverage against most WRs (including Holmes). Dont shoot me.....just wondering. Thoughts ?

For those statistician buffs, did you know we are ranked as follows(according to NFL.com): Defense 4th in Total D 7th in Run D 6th in Pass D These are absolutely mind boggling stats given our patchwork secondary and our beat up/evolving LB corps and aging DL (sans Ngata) Of course, games against Detroit and Chicago will pad your stats, huh ? We'll drop significantly after Steeelers game and improve after Oakland and hopefully end up in top ten. I guess, this is what most expected after losses of Rex, Leonard and Scott. If we get a pass rusher, 1-2 CBS and a future Ray Ray "type" (not that this is possible), our D should improve on this next year. Offense 13th Total O 9th Run O 13th Pass 0 This is interesting, given the "down year" our D was expected to have and our O was supposed to take a step forward. Our lack of a consistent pass game, and absence of a deep threat and/or physical playmaker WR has got to be addressed this offseason, through hook or crook. Even if we get 1 playmaker, that would be huge for the O. Joe needs more toys.....now. At the end of the day, wins are what count and stats (while cute) dont matter. Still, it is interesting to see the rankings and trends.

If its not, I am driving to the Castle and trying out. If we sign Ivy, then our management is bunch of masochists. Me, I couldnt watch and bear the pain.

I say sign Cmac and throw a designated driver into the deal. Anything is an improvement over our mighty mites - Carr, Walker and Foxworth. Reed: get better and back into lineup.

8-8 and playoffs ? Playoffs !!!? Playoffs !!!? If we end up 8-8, we dont want or deserve to be in the playoffs. We want/need to win out !!

Not ready to concede to Pittsburgh yet but.......... We better hope Rice, Flacco and company have huge games. They need to have huge a game, control (or attempt to) the clock, and keep Jen off the field. I really believe our best chance of making playoffs is that we win our last game (which wil be a very, very tough game against a dangerous Raider team) and hope the teams in the 7-7 scrum lose one more. If we get in, it'll be by the skin of our teeth, eh ?

Wow! Its looking like Foxworth, Walker (yipes!), Zibby and Landry in the secondary. Even though he is not a CB, we better have Reed back in the secondary, if for no other reason than for leadership and experience. If not, then ?..... Lets see Big Jen went off for 500 yds against the then No 1 ranked D In Green Bay. With our mighty mite secondary and no pash rush, he should do that and then some. Bazooka Joe needs to go off "BIG TIME".

Jtiger: I obviously did not know Henry but he was a heck of a player. What a tragedy for he and his family, esp since he had begun to turn his life around. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Bengal organization. May he rest in peace VARAVEN

Dont buy the record crap, Cutler meltdown, etc. They are an NFL team that can beat the snot out of any team in the NFL. We had better play them as if they were the 85 Bears. In fact, we ned to play that way every Sunday from here and out. Its that simple. Kick but Sunday !!!!

Getting a little greedy arent you, Crav ? Two weeks ago- after the Packer beatdown - you were gloom and doom and talking playoffs !!!! ? (al la Jim Mora). We have been a .500 team most of the year. How about we go 1 team/week at a time ?

Got to win out and go 10-6. Not saying we are doing it but thats what we have to do. Anything less, we dont want to be in it.

After witnessing a seemingly superior, defending SP champ team with playoff hopes lose to a lowly, hopeless, unmotivated, untalented, demoralized, Mangenious coached team, it only underscores how a team that plays with purpose and sense of urgency can be victorious. Lets see which team plays with a sense of purpose and urgency on Sunday. That team will be your winner. How will we play ? BTW- Wouldnt it nice to scarf up Josh Cribbs as our KO returner? Isnt he a FA ? Just wondering/wishing.

TCleetz, Thanks. Didnt know that about Cundif - my bad. Our red zone eff. is woeful.

Does anyone know our red zone efficiency this year. In particular, I am interested in our scoring success rate (FG vs TDs vs picks) in 1st and goal situations. It has be among the lowest in the league but was curious. Also, did Harbaugh every give an explanation about the 2 "bone headed" squib kicks on Monday night (second half) that 'gave' the momentum back to the Packers after we amazingly fought back into the game. If not Harbaugh, I would hope that coach is in the dog house or out looking for a job. Any thoughts ?

So much of any NFL teams' success is related to the league's and fans perception/expectation of a team. Last year everyone thought we would stink and everyone prepared for us accordingly. We surprised everyone and overachieved. This year, in the wake of a AFC Championship appearance but without the addition of key replacements/additions at WR, CB and LB, many (Crav) had us a 14-2, 13-3, or whatever. It wasnt going to happen. Not with our schedule and lack of WRs and CBs. As far as moving forward, Crav is right - we have 8-9 weaknesses: WR (2), TE, DE, DL, S, CB (2). The key is how many of these do we effectively replace. If we do half of these effectively (which would be huge), perhaps we add 2-3 wins to the 2010 campaign. Maybe we go 10-6 or 11-5 next year. If we dont add/improve, we stay in the 7-9 to 9-7 mode. Either way, we have the nucleus of a good solid team right now but much of our future lies in the yet-to-be made moves by Oz. Bisc and Company. I like the team's future, especially at the OL & QB positions but am not confident about the other positions and our Defensive Coordinator. We need to make some sweeping changes on the D side of the ball and strategically plan for Ray and Reed's replacement. The sooner we accept/embrace, the better this team will remain competitive.

Max, Good stuff. But I thought Biscotti brought in Harbs to be elite like NE and Indy from the get go. I know Harbs will get a mulligan this year (after last yrs success) but I thought we were striving for a playoff team every yr. Its not over yet but we arent a legit playoff team this year. It looks like we are deviating from our plan of producing an elite team every year. It may come across a bit presumptious or even insensitive but either we hired Harbs to win and become Indy and NE like every year. If we dont this year, we need to make necessary changes to make that happen. Lets be accountable here !

I will say conclusively and unequivocally that without a major WR FA acquistion - Boldin, Breaston, whoever - Flacco will struggle mightily in this organization. Draft picks alone wont make it. Its like the O's pitching staff trying to become stout w/o a leader, a veteran. Like Rodgers, Favre, Rothlesberger, Flacco has GOT TO HAVE TOYS. Right now, he has broken down (heap), defective (D Will), older (Mase) or never going to make it (Clayton) toys. Oz and Biscotti - get the toys !