Ravens will go with who they have at WR

[vmax]

Ozzie believes, Torry believes and Joe will make it happen....

 

 

After Baltimore waited until the final round to draft a receiver – Elon’s Aaron Mellette – some fans started questioning that strategy on Twitter to the team’s top wideout Torrey Smith.

 

The third-year receiver assured fans that they have nothing to worry about.

 

“We have talent,” Smith responded on Twitter. “Just watch.”

 

The talent Smith is referring to are the young receivers who have been waiting for a chance to get on the field. Tandon Doss, David Reed, Deonte Thompson and LaQuan Williams have all been given limited opportunities to show what they can do. They will compete with Mellette and last year’s sixth-round pick Tommy Streeter for a spot in the rotation.

 

“We need to figure out if those guys can play,” General Manager Ozzie Newsome said. “The only way they’re going to get the opportunity to play is to get them out on the football field. And now not having Anquan, those guys will get that chance.”

 

The competition at receiver is mostly likely for reps behind Smith and Jacoby Jones, who was the team’s No. 3 target last season. Jones could play more of an increased role in the offense, but the Ravens also have to balance his snaps on offense with the impact he makes on special teams.

“Hopefully one or two of those guys are going to emerge,” Newsome said. “It would be great if all four of them did, but if two of them did, then that would help us to be able to say, ‘OK we need to sign David going forward, or we need to sign Tandon going forward.’ But if we don’t get a chance to get them on the field and tell them, ‘The job is yours to win, we’ll never get the opportunity to be able to provide for those guys to be able to play here in the future."

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Torrey-Smith-We-Have-WR-Talent-Just-Watch/6c8c183a-6002-44f5-99a5-85d00fb07163

 

It looks to me like this it it. I see no Boldin replacement available anywhere at the present....and there is the CAP to consider.

 

It would be best for Jones to be a #3 WR. Then he's rested enough for the return game.

Remember...Joe also has Pita, Rice, Dixon. Juszczyk may work his way into the receiving game.

 

They can't replace Boldin's stats and playmaking ability, but there are many ways to move the chains.

The offense is going to evolve again...guys like Pierce will see to that.

[cravnravn]

That's fine by me

[oldno82]

Not nearly as worried about WR as I am about LT. I wonder if FA Winston could move back to LT like he did in college.

[vmax]

Not nearly as worried about WR as I am about LT. I wonder if FA Winston could move back to LT like he did in college.

 

I agree. The passing game didn't take off until Joe had that extra split second to throw once the line was reshuffled with McKinnie.

My guess on Winston is that he'll play guard and tackle. They will have him working out at both positions because they want everybody to be versatile. He's got to show them that he can hold down the fort at LT at this level. Nobody knows that answer right now.

[cravnravn]

My biggest fear is that they move Oher back to LT, caus thats all they have.

[colincac]

Agreed on this, McKinnie is a much bigger priority than a WR. I expect the run game to be a much bigger part of the offense this year either way. I'm excited for some 3 back sets with the versatility of the new FB and perhaps some Pierce and Rice in at the same time.

[oldno82]

Well McKinnie's back. That was key. Yes we could use another WR like Boldin but there is a chance that one of the guys already on this team will step up.

 

Lets not forget that Boldin wasn't getting much separation the last 2 years.

 

(But man could he fight for the ball!)

[varaven45]

Yeah Boldin could fight for the ball. He was a defensive back playing WR - he liked to break opposing DBs arms (or threatened to). Won't miss his difficulty in getting separation but will miss his dang physicality. There's no WR like him in the NFL.

 

Ozzies going to need to keep his eye on the waiver wire this summer. Don't have much confidence outside of Torrey and Jacoby, unless Doss learned how to catch in the offseason

[cravnravn]

One of those 4 will step in at #3. Im pulling for Laquan..

[oldno82]

LaQuan has looked at least decent at times. Don't know what happened to Doss' hands---that was supposed to be his big talent. He might get it back.

[faaaaaaq]

The thing about Boldin was his downfield blocking. Take the 4th and 29 for instance. Without Boldin's block, Ray doesn't make that play. So to me that is the one thing our young guys need to pick up.

[oldno82]

He was a beast at blocking but very few WR's are.