oldno82

Yes. That's one of the reasons Ray Lewis was so great when Goose and Co. were on the D-line. Of course, Lewis also had a motor that just wouldn't quit. I still haven't seen his equal in how quick he could get to the sideline during a play.

That's true but premium edge rushers are probably easier to find than those mult-talented DT's. And also LT's are so important to protecting your multi-million dollar quarterbacks. All 3 are desirable on a team and I'd be happy to have any one of them as long as they can make an immediate impact.

I'm not discounting the need for a DT but I think our priorities need to be edge rusher and left offensive tackle. Of course, you always have to keep options open if a really superb player at another position falls to you. If only we could mock-draft some coaches.

At this point in the season, probably every player is nursing some type of injury even if it's not reported. Lamar was back at practice today. That's a pretty quick recovery for an 'illness'. I wonder if he's so banged up, he just needs the extra day right now. I worry that all the hits he's taken over the last 7 years have caught up with him.

The Ravens should lose this one and probably the two after it. If they win, they'll have to have done it by rediscovering their mojo from last year and the first three quarters of the Bills game. I don't see that happening. The Pats aren't a super team, and we probably have more talent at the skill positions, but we live and die in the trenches which is where our weakness is along with mediocre (at best) coaching. Vrabel will have his team ready. Will Harbaugh??

If the Ravens win out, which would shock the hell out of me too, they will have earned a playoff spot. If they win a couple of playoff games, the coaching staff will probably all be safe. But those are 2 huge "if's". I don't think that is a realistic scenario. Three regular season games left. We could quite possibly lose them all and that is more likely than winning them all. If they don't win the AFC North, it should be total rebuild time.

We'll find out over the next 3 weeks but I tend to agree with that.

We had a nice effort from the entire D today and that's what it takes to shut out a good offense. Of course, we don't know how much of a difference T-Higgins could have made, but we certainly avenged our loss at home against them 2 weeks ago. Somehow, Lamar still doesn't look right to me but I give him credit for the check-off he called at the line of scrimmage when he tossed that TD pass out in the flat. That was a very good play by him. He didn't pass much today probably because of the cold and how well we were running the ball. As I have said ad nauseam, let's evaluate him after the last game of the season.

I agree and there are many pitfalls and problems to be solved. Keep or fire the coaching staff, renew or try to trade your franchise quarterback, develop effective offensive and defensive lines while preserving your skill positions. It's a lot on his or anybody's plate. Past NFL experience isn't very promising of success here...so many teams become perennial losers. There aren't many that rebuild intelligently. Steve is no dummy and his experience with a staffing recruiting business is a plus. I have some confidence he can do it. I hope he doesn't let me down.

I think giving the temperatures expected at game time, 7 degrees, I'd sit Bateman out for this one and play Dez.

I'd hate to see Monken go. I don't think he is the problem. And, not to add fuel to the fire, but I thought Harbaugh threw Monken under the bus several weeks ago during the 1-5 run and I didn't like it. I got the impression Harbs was saying it was the offensive coaches fault that the offense was having such a difficult time. It pissed me off at the time especially since wtf gives a guy with only a special teams background the balls to dump on his OC when that OC had created the best offense this franchise has had in all of its existence? I really thought it was a cheap shot and showed a lack of class by Harbs. Accountability is just a word to him.

I see your point. He doesn't appear quick enough anymore to get those big long runs he used to.

I've seen many,many plays where he stands in the pocket and goes through his reads before completing a pass in the previous 2 seasons.

I think Lamar's body is just wearing down. He can be a pocket passer (look at the last 2 seasons) but he's definitely off his game now. I'm not even sure he has enough quickness left to be as mobile in the pocket as he needs to be. I thought maybe it was just one physical ailment but I think it is more than just one plus I really do think he's got some emotional issues going on. Not being able to achieve and deliver on his Super Bowl dream is affecting his confidence which makes him play worse which in turn affects his confidence again. It's a vicious cycle combined with diminishing physical skills. And of course our lousy offensive line play and coaching are a killer too. He's still young. He might yet recover. That's why I say lets give him the rest of this season and see where we are at then. But there's no doubt he has me very concerned especially with that sieve of an offensive line.

Let's see how Lamar does over the rest of the season. If he's still in a funk and we can work out the cap details, I can see making a trade for picks. Keep in mind, though, that will commit us to a longer term rebuild back to respectability and playoff status.

Yeah, unfortunately Madds has a neck injury. Still no definite word but I doubt he'll be back. Jones deal: No doubt the guy's had a good year so far but money seems high.

Therein lies the problem. We are on the hook for that $70 mil/year cap hit for the next two years and unless his skills can somehow rejuvenate and, he shows it, what is he really worth? To any team?

I don't know what he said exactly but I thought he had indicated he was heading for retirement.

Yep.

Well it'll be a real shame if Mads is done. But if the guy has that type of injury that endangers his long term health, he should retire.

Unfortunately, Fowler is probably right. I think Steve is reluctant to fire his head coach buddy right now without giving him another chance with another staff. I don't think that is optimal because really talented staff applicants will want to go with new head coaches being hired rather than with a coach, Harbs, who will be considered a lame duck with a possibility of being fired next season and the newly hired staff would just be looking for a job again in just one year. Besides a new HC the team could use some really talented scouting/drafting personnel who can scout guys in the trenches. Looking for an edge rusher has also become a perennial hunt since EDC took over. DeCosta has found the magic ingredient for wide receivers but seems to be at a loss in getting us some real pass rushing young talent. Whatever happens, we need guys on the O- and D-lines that can play at a high level almost right away. That is, if they're serious about doing a 1 to 2 year rebuild. And let's not forget Lamar's contract extension/renegotiation. As I mentioned before, we might be looking for a new franchise quarterback in 2 years. We need somebody who'll be able to scout for one and somebody who can coach one. This may be more like a 3-4 year project if we need to go with a new QB.

Are there any new updates on Madds' injury? Is he going to make it back? I know there had been a lot of speculation that it might be career ending.

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.

Well it is interesting. But I too hate unattributed rumors. It only matters if the decision makers at the top of the food chain at Owings Mills do anything about it. Harbs' time has come and gone from my viewpoint. He had his positive moments but it's time to move on and the fan base knows it. You can tell that from the widespread agreement on this board and on the fact that other forums are saying the same thing.

This team is lacking in talented trench players. It has also reached ineptitude in the coaching and GM departments. But will Bisciotti really change anything at the end of the season? I don't know. Oh and one last thing: the psyche of this team is badly damaged. They're so demoralized that they may well go winless the rest of this year.