Ravens Insider: Ravens news, notes and opinions: Anquan Boldin, offensive line, Tandon Doss

[ExtremeRavens]

The local uproar surrounding Anquan Boldin’s performance against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday was both predictable and understandable. However, I’m not sure the attention is in the right place. The Ravens clearly used the money that they saved by trading Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers ($6 million) to rebuild their defense, which was a necessity. Elvis Dumervil certainly would not be in Baltimore if Boldin stayed, and Daryl Smith and Chris Canty may not be either. But where it looks like they clearly erred was putting so much faith in the organization's younger wide receivers. While maintaining that the trade of Boldin for a sixth-round pick was strictly a salary cap move, Ravens’ officials made it clear that they liked what they still had in the organization at the position. There was no indication that the Ravens were even in on any free-agent receivers. That’s what doesn’t look good at the moment. David Reed was traded when it became obvious that he wouldn’t make the team. Tandon Doss was released but has since been re-signed. LaQuan Williams was let go, as was Tommy Streeter . Deonte Thompson hasn’t practiced since hurting his foot in the first preseason game. Not one of those guys has emerged and stepped up into a bigger role. And when you combine that with the injury to Dennis Pitta , that’s what has left the Ravens’ passing attack vulnerable. They say that the most important skill for any organization is to properly evaluate its own players. That’s been one of the Ravens’ biggest strengths, but obviously they envisioned the young receivers behind Torrey Smith performing better than they have.

 

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