oldno82

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.

So all we need is 6 or 7 first round picks and we'll be in business.

Probably. It would become the new story flavor of the week.

Kolar is the least of our worries. Cap hell along with all the pending free agents is a much bigger concern. I wonder if they even have a plan for that. I assume they're negotiating to get Lamar's numbers down, but I would be pleasantly surprised if they can pull that off.

Well it could very well be one of many things, too beaten up to practice, disgust with his performance to date, unhappiness with his extension/renegotiation, unhappiness with coaching. Who the f*** really knows??

Kolar is replaceable. If Likely is gone, then we can wait for the draft. But I don't think his being 'gone' is a done deal yet as Tsyl points out.

It looks like the team valued past performance more than future. I like Andrews and what he has done for the franchise but not so much if they cut Likely loose. They've got to sign Likely and that likely means (pun intended) cleaning up Lamar's cap hit for the next 2 years.

The NFL must be really happy...this year in the AFC North is parity heaven.

Yes it's possible. Given the sad state of the Ravens and Steelers. I think unlikely they win out though. Bills should beat them.

We'll see how they respond this Sunday.

I think we are past the mediocre altitude and still dropping.

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.

Well, I tell ya one thing: he certainly makes an impression!

You beat me to it, Tsyl...I watched that game today and saw the Bills playing without their 2 regular tackles and wondered WTF are we doing? Their O-line was better, much better, than ours with 2 subs and an injured Center playing. Coaching can really make the difference. You can bet the Steelers will look much better next Sunday than they did today against our floundering Offensive line. BTW, did you see the 6'7 311lb Tight End Pittsburgh has? He was unstoppable once he caught the ball. But he probably struggles to get open.

Since the league rules are biased in favor of the passing game, we're probably looking at a finesse ol if there is a choice that has to be made. i'd prefer a hybrid line like we had when Lamar took off 3-4 years ago. Very unfortunate that we lost a very very good OL coach in D'Allesandris last year. The OL hasn't been the same since. As for new coaches: yes up and down the line. Who's out there that might be available that we could target?

Help is desperately needed on the O-line and we can start at LT because I think this will be Stanley's last year with the Ravens. We need a couple guards to boot. Ditto with an edge rusher. A necessity that we get one. We need a stud here. Lower priority but still need a RB, WR, Center, and maybe an RT (I'm not sure Rosengarten is all that good). I see that as 5 necessity picks (or high level free agents) and 4 other needs. We'll never hit on all our needs via the draft this year. We might actually have to spend some high money (gasp!) on proven free agents. And I will also add, we need either a much better backup QB or better yet, a QB to groom as Lamar's replacement. After the beatings he has gotten over the last 5-6 years, I think his body is giving out. Now if anybody can develop a plan that gets a haul for all these needs in one off-season, I'll be greatly surprised and very happy!

Hmmm...I'm not sure they win any of them.

This team has fallen apart right in front of our eyes. I feel stupid for believing all the sports experts who said before the season started that the Ravens were loaded for a Super Bowl run. This team has a lot of talent at all the skill positions but is deficient on the offensive line and lacks a real star pass rusher. They are sickening to watch. Lamar has big, big problems...he doesn't seem to be able to get the ball out quickly and that's a necessity with our lack of pass protection. I think Monk could have had him roll out more this season as our pocket is too often insecure. Combine that with his poor ball security and you have a recipe for disaster. Some people say we don't run enough. But so many times we send Henry straight ahead into a brick wall. We don't use Keaton Mitchell enough either. I could go on and on, but the coaching is in need of major changes. I think it's time for Harbs to go. And if he's not going to negotiate a new deal, Lamar can go with him. The team needs those cap resources elsewhere. All in all, a pathetic premature ending to this year's football season for Ravens fans.

This was without a doubt the most disgusting and depressing performance I've seen in many years. Save yourself a waste of time, Tsyl, and don't bother to watch the rest of the game.

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.

Well, there never seems to be a complete absence of teams making stupid trades.