oldno82

Well put, Spen.

1) Actually, Flacco has done quite well with the talent he has---that's the only fair way to rate him. 2) So far he is living up to his contract since his cap number is only $7 million this year. Hell, that's a bargain. 3)He is in no way part of the problem. The O-line has been pretty bad and is dealing with injuries to 2 players. We have a new LT and C. It's a bigger problem than anything else. Also, the receiver quality, as a group (and excluding T. Smith), is mediocre at best. It may improve quickly now that Jones is back. And no one here is evading the truth. You seem to believe it's stupid on the part of people who disagree with your opinion. Everybody here's got their own opinion. Really the only ones that count are Harbs and Oz and we know where they stand.

Agree.

Wow it is amazing how much Flacco hatred is out there. Now, I don't put Joe in Manning's or Brady's class. That just isn't Joe. He got paid for 5 consecutive playoff seasons which included a Super Bowl win and an outstanding playoff run. What's wrong with that? Essentially it's a three year contract. The offensive line problems are both very serious and well documented and the receiving corps is a combination of inexperienced young receivers playing at best at average NFL standards (exception is T. Smith) and no real TE. Plus, the running game, used to set up the play action pass, has been the worst I've ever seen. The defense I'd say is playing at an average level. So with that, it's no wonder our record is that it is.

Boldin's 2013 Game Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/4512/anquan-boldin So...should we have kept him or did we do the right thing by trading him?

GREAT question! Hopefully one of the moderators can answer.

Looks like a 7-9 season is the most plausible. 8-8 a definite possibility. 10-6 only a small chance.

Spot on! We just are going to have to be patient.

He's with the Bucs now: http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/10/21/4863962/nfl-waiver-claims-cb-jordan-poyer-to-browns-rb-bobby-rainey-to

I agree with that. The offensive line, due to injuries to KO, the retirement of Birk, and Yanda coming off surgery has just not been the same. I'm not sure they can overcome that this season especially since it looks like KO needs surgery. Crap! I hope he's ready next year. Back problems can plague offensive lineman for years.

Last season the running game was productive and the offensive line was healthy and protective. That hasn't been the case this year. Plus without Boldin and Pitta taking away the middle routes, Torrey was one on one a lot last year. This year he's being bracketed. And Jones was out for 4 games of the seven played so far. That has really killed the deep passing game. By the way: whatever happened to Deonte Thompson? He's disappeared.

I have watched Joe very carefully both at the end of last season and for this season. He is definitely going through progressions when he has the time.

I have to hold Harbs accountable for the emotional letdown his season because his job as coach is to find ways to keep his guys hungry. Granted that is tough to do after a Super Bowl win but the really great coaches have succeeded there.

We'll have to see where this team stands playoff-potential wise before asking him to play this season. If the season is down the toilet, which is looking more and more likely, why take a chance on bringing him back early?

That's how I see it too. I hear a lot of talk from the players and coaches about how good they are but that talk hasn't panned out.And I sense a lack of desire in every game this year.

Cap figure is a whopping $16 million next year, the highest on the team. He just doesn't have it anymore and certainly not for those prices. He was a great player but injuries the last 3 seasons have taken their toll.

'Fire' is something that's been missing on this team all year.

Both teams have too many shortcomings at this point to take them seriously. Maybe it's good we head into the bye week with a loss. Motivator?

Why haven't we used the hurry-up no-huddle offense before??

AT LAST!!!

"The blocking scheme the Ravens will use today will be the same as last season, according to a team source, who also said that both running backs, Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce, still have not fully..." http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-players-told-john-harbaugh-they-were-unhappy-with-blocking-schemes-source-says-20131020,0,7508408.story Hope it helps.

Q was absolutely a beast in the playoffs, no doubt, but he didn't meet that level during the regular season or over the 1st 6 games so far this year. Separation was always a problem for him in every regular season we had him. Sure, I loved the guy and his attitude but we would have had no D with him here this year.

Good observation by OS and a good article by Eisenberg.

Geez! Incredible! Glad McClain's back though.

I agree. He's had a year of observing how it's done and he has to step it up now.