Ravens have to find a way to add some playmakers

[Tornado700]

Can any of us look at the Ravens 2016 and think of at least one top playmaker on this team? I wish I could, but I just can't. That's why they are, as we sit now, an 8-8 team. I can't blame this record on the coaching staff, but it appears to me that, as much as I like the owner, much of this falls on him and Ozzie. Joe had a tremendous 2012 playoff run and we won the superbowl. But Steve B. allowed his emotions to get the best of him and he over rewarded Joe with a $120 million dollar guaranteed contract. This contract, sadly, is now hurting this team overall. Ozzie has not hit any home runs in the draft since then either. Joe, for the sake of his team, will have to renegotiate his contract to bring that salary cap number down significantly, or we will continue to be a mediocre football team. We need a playmaker like Reed in our secondary and another one on offense, preferably at wide receiver. Finally, we are going to have to hit free agency with a vengeance this coming year if we are going to continue our reputation as one of the best teams in the NFL.

[oldno82]

I completely agree. If Joe wants to play on a team that always has a solid playoff shot, he's gonna have to renegotiate that contract down. If he doesn't want to help the team then bench him and get a replacement. If things continue as they are, this team is headed for trouble.

 

Sounds like I'm mad at Joe but I'm not. As you said the owner and GM made a blunder with a contract of that magnitude. I don't know how amenable Joe would be to a renegotiation downward for the sake of the team but hell, Brady did it.

[papasmurfbell]

Can any of us look at the Ravens 2016 and think of at least one top playmaker on this team? I wish I could, but I just can't. That's why they are, as we sit now, an 8-8 team. I can't blame this record on the coaching staff, but it appears to me that, as much as I like the owner, much of this falls on him and Ozzie. Joe had a tremendous 2012 playoff run and we won the superbowl. But Steve B. allowed his emotions to get the best of him and he over rewarded Joe with a $120 million dollar guaranteed contract. This contract, sadly, is now hurting this team overall. Ozzie has not hit any home runs in the draft since then either. Joe, for the sake of his team, will have to renegotiate his contract to bring that salary cap number down significantly, or we will continue to be a mediocre football team. We need a playmaker like Reed in our secondary and another one on offense, preferably at wide receiver. Finally, we are going to have to hit free agency with a vengeance this coming year if we are going to continue our reputation as one of the best teams in the NFL.

The coaching staff has some culpability. Run the damn ball. That said Joe just signed a new deal last off season giving him a raise. HE is not going to take a pay cut now.

[Tornado700]

I completely agree. If Joe wants to play on a team that always has a solid playoff shot, he's gonna have to renegotiate that contract down. If he doesn't want to help the team then bench him and get a replacement. If things continue as they are, this team is headed for trouble.

 

Sounds like I'm mad at Joe but I'm not. As you said the owner and GM made a blunder with a contract of that magnitude. I don't know how amenable Joe would be to a renegotiation downward for the sake of the team but hell, Brady did it.

So did Ben and Aaron.

[Tornado700]

The coaching staff has some culpability. Run the damn ball. That said Joe just signed a new deal last off season giving him a raise. HE is not going to take a pay cut now.

I am not aware that Joe renegotiated his contract for a pay raise? Over the $120 million? Why would our front office do that? We were 5-11 the year before last.

[papasmurfbell]

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/baltimore-ravens/joe-flacco-4000/
BC his $120 contract was really a 3 yr deal and it was getting unmanageable. So they signed an extension and he is making a lot more money now.

[vmax]

Justin Tucker's the only playmaker on this team.

 

Just one example here: I watched a ton of football with New Years Bowl games and the NFL playoffs and every good defense that I watched had DB's that lined up with and plastered the man they were covering.

The Ravens? If you're within 5-10 yards of your man then you have him covered.

I mean...WTF is that about?!

 

[varaven45]

Max, I've noticed the same darn thing about our guys - leaving a comfortable cushion for years. Our D just doesn't have the pass rushers and CB/S's of the past. How in the world we finished 7th in total D is beyond me. I guess it speaks to the mediocrity of the NFL.

 

Someone in this organization need to wake up, smell the java and fix the dang D and now. Not in the next couple years.

[vmax]

Dismal...........but true.

The Ravens biggest need:

 

 

Take a look at the Ravens' top four corners: Jimmy Smith is repeatedly hurt, Tavon Young lacks ideal size, Jerraud Powers is a free agent and Shareece Wright is a liability. This has been a position the Ravens have ignored for too long. Since 2013, the Ravens have allowed the fourth-most touchdown passes to wide receivers (78). One could also argue Baltimore needs a pass-rusher. If the Ravens can upgrade their coverage, they can generate more of a rush through blitzes. -- Jamison Hensley.........http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/32for32x170112b/biggest-2017-draft-needs-every-nfl-team

[papasmurfbell]

Max, I've noticed the same darn thing about our guys - leaving a comfortable cushion for years. Our D just doesn't have the pass rushers and CB/S's of the past. How in the world we finished 7th in total D is beyond me. I guess it speaks to the mediocrity of the NFL.

 

Someone in this organization need to wake up, smell the java and fix the dang D and now. Not in the next couple years.

They feasted on some really bad team. They failed badly against good ones.