varaven45

Crav, Not yet but someone - coach or player- needs to step up to the plate. The sooner, the better. In 2014 or 2015, or later. Until then, the team will, as Jim Morrison sang, wallow in the mire . Here's (and cheers) to our teams future leader and a return to relevance (and postseason) in the coming years.

Actually, Crav, Tucker earned his $. Maybe Marlon Brown. Perhaps Daryl Smith. Not sure about anyone else.

Tgann, Amen ! Amen ! Amen !

As fans, we were been blessed (and maybe spoiled) by the tremendous, if not unprecedented, team leadership of Ray Lewis. Ray's absence in leadership was apparent this past season and his "willing the team to victory" is something we may never again witness in this organization. Its a foregone conclusion that Ray will never be replaced. So, who is the team's next leader ? Look around the NFL. Some of your more successful teams have QB leaders such as Brady in NE, Rodgers in GB, Manning in Denver. Other successful teams seem to be led more by their coaches - Tomlin in Pittsburgh, Carroll in Seattle, Payton in NO. Its possible and perhaps more likely, that its a combination of coach and player (Bellicheck and Brady). Either way, this team is obviously lacking in leadership and, what's more, I don't see it with the coach and/or players. At least, not in their current persona. Lets look at our top player and arguably our team leader: Joe Flacco. He's not the demonstrative leader most fans are seeking or desire. But he leads by example. If he is a leader, the organization and team need to build completely around Joe and he, in turn, needs to accept the role and start wiling his team to victory (such as Ray). Its a two way street - the organization needs to fully support and surround Joe with legitimate talent (a strong OL, running and passing game) and Joe needs to fully embrace the role of leader. If it is truly Joe's team, he has to change and more effectively demonstrate by example, performance, and attitude. What about our coach ? Maybe John Harbaugh is the leader. if he is or will become, Harbs is going to have to make some changes. He can start by surrounding himself with the best coaches and players. His proclivity for hiring friends, family or old mentors has resulted in a dysfunctional team (see offense). The FO and Harbaugh need to work in unison to create a consistent, long term winning formula. With the exception of 2013, he has done that well. But last SB ship has sailed and he now needs to re-invent himself and the team's identity and structure. Is he the guy who can lead this team ? In my opinion, leadership may be the single most important factor that will determine this team's long term success. Without it, we are a ship without a rudder and going nowhere. I am confident the trio of Biscotti, Oz and Harbaugh have a plan but wonder about who will truly lead this team. Any thoughts or ideas ?

And the beat goes on..... the beat goes on ....

A strong OL and running game provides a special elixir to all NFL QBs.

Joe may have surpassed Boller's INT record but I bet Boller's infamous throw from the knees at the 50-yd line that split the uprights is still in tact. I believe that one is safe

Sometimes there's just not enough coaching up by Sandra Bullock. Sometimes ......

That and it might take 2-3 years of "solid " drafting - something that Ozzie and Co haven't done so well lately.

Depending on one's measure, I am not sure the team didn't improve. From a W/L standpoint, the team improved from 4-6 to 8-8 and so it went 4 and 2 over the last 6 games. The defense showed improvement since the opening night in Denver (although there were major lapses in the last two games). On a bright note, special teams were consistently good throughout the year. The offense was/is.. well.... offensive. Its always been a major, major shortcoming for this organization. It seems to have always lacked a strong offensive identity. We have only a half a dozen decent offensive pieces with which to work - Yanda, Flacco, Smith, Pitta, Rice or Pierce, Brown or JJ (questionable). Since the retirement of JO and with the exception of last years "lightning in a bottle" SB run, the OL and the running game have largely been ignored for the past few years How often in the past 2-3 years have we seen this team fail to get a SINGLE yard on 3rd or 4th and 1 ? I would love to see the statistics if these are kept. It goes against all conventional wisdom and football philosophy when you cannot gain a single rushing yard and what's worse is when the opposition KNOWS it. Its been on full display the entire year. I don't know the offense can be fixed in 1 offseason. The OL needs a leadership and identity/scheme change, an infusion of new and /or experienced personnel, and a highly successful draft in 2014 and 2015. I have confidence it will happen but its going to involve strong leadership, prudent personnel decisions and successful drafts. As always, In Ozzie We Trust will be on full display once again this offseason.

Agreed. We lost about 10 starters from SB team. 10 starters! Yeah, we were damn lucky to have won 8 games. The Lions game and Hit on Flacco was the dagger. Flacco wasn't the same afterwards. There are a lot of fixes - OL, running game, passing game, secondary- before this team becomes relevant . Fortunately, our Division and Conference is mediocre and a 8-8 and 9-7 record will keep you in the hunt every year. In the meantime, Ozzie and Harbs have their work cut our for them. Plus, Ozzie hasn't had a decent draft in years. It's time to reverse that trend in a HUGE way.

An OL, then an OL, followed by another OL. This after we have changed the OL coach.

It's a team.

They are all in this together. It's all for 1; 1 for all.

It all starts at the top. If this team wants to remain relevant and competitive during the Flacco era, it need to fix this broken offense this offseason. We are damn lucky it's been a mediocre AFC this season. Otherwise, we would have been eliminated a few weeks ago. Instead, we have a shot , albeit unlikely, at a winning season. The FO Ozzie and Harbs need to take a good look at the mirror , honestly assess the offense, Identify the deficiencies, and begin building a formidable offense for today's NFL. If they do, this team can and should compete nearly every year. If not, we will watch more of the same. My hope and expectation is that significant changes are in the offing .

There 's always a chance; always hope. With Joe's condition; however; it's highly unlikely for us to win this game.

Merry Christmas Raven Nation ! Varaven

Perhaps. All the reason to give him a final shot, esp if it gets out of hand.

It's obvious Joe wasn't right yesterday. We aren't winning without a 100% healthy Joe. I'd almost rather give Tyrod a shot with the No 1 team. He practically beat the Bengals- with their starters in almost the entire game - last year in Cincy. We need to find out whether this kid has anything or draft/pick up a legit No 2 in the offseason.

Exactly, bengals don't want to get swept this season, esp at home. Marvin will have em jacked like it's the SB.

I'd rather the bengals scrubs beat our scrubs and look ahead to the draft. Besides, It's a good year for the reigning champs to watch what the NFL wants: a Brady/Manning AFCC game, then retool in the offseason.

Max, Maybe Harbaugh, like Bellicheat, needed to take his boys out for a flick on Friday. Just kidding After Monday night's win in Motown, just about everyone was on our bandwagon and proclaiming "repeat" and "the team nobody wants to see in the playoffs" . How ironic now ? Anyway, one of the naysayers, Steve Young (who I dont particularly care for but is brutally honest), summed it best: the Ravens have heart, character and substance but no running game and that will be their Achilles heel, even if they make the playoffs. Dilfer and Ray Lewis scoffed at it but Young was right and our team and FO are either clueless and/or been in denial for a few years now. Its hard to fathom, Max, how the Biscuit and Ozzie are putting up with these shenanigans and this circus of an O Line. As our old late friend, Sock, used to say: it all about winning the LOS. With a few notable exceptions (last years SB run), our OL hasn't won many LOS battles the last few years. It most certainly hasn't opened up jack squat for running lanes. Lets hope for this organization's sake, significant "O" changes are a coming.... and soon.

Todays game (and resulting blame) is emblematic of this season. We've had 0 running game and horrible O-line play all season, SANS 1 or 2 games. For 2 or 3 seasons, this board and yours truly have been clamoring for a running game. We might have won a SB last season but even during our stretch run we were still passing on 3rd and/or 4th and 1 (remember the countless 3rd or 4th and 1 passes to Bolden and Pitta last year) . This team has not had a solid, dependable running game that could predictably make a rushing 1st down in the past 2-3 years or longer. The teams who will compete in this year's SB have at least a dependable, if not a smash mouth, running game. As a mere fan with limited football acumen, its absolutely astounding how this organization has failed to successfully address this OL/running deficiency. And its a major one that was on full display yesterday against a weaker but better coached squad. Knowing Joe's knee condition and NE's swiss cheese run defense, our offense absolutely had to game plan for this and the team flat out failed miserably. This offense should have pounded NE run D for at least 150 yards. Instead, we forced a dinged up, immobile Joe to throw it around, force into tight coverage, and yes, misfire and miss targets. . This team will go 8-8 and, for that, given the offseason losses and the pathetic OL play, is an earned performance for this years squad. I am watching games yesterday where teams are efficiently and effectively running against stout D's and yet we struggle on simple 3rd and 4th and 1 plays against the Patriots lower tier run D. The Pats !!!!! Unless the FO fully embraces but, more importantly, address this major OL/running game deficiency, we can expect more 8-8, 9-7 or 7-9 campaigns during the Harbaugh/Flacco regime. A substantial OL fix will turn this ship around. Until then, a continual grind and mediocrity will remain the rule.

We didn't play with the same resolve as we did in Motown. Just didn't show up. It happens. It happened to Pats vs Miami last week.

Well now we reconfirmed for the millionth time that our OL and running games is A No 1 offseason priority. Not even a close second.