Let's Make It Official: It's a Rebuild

[varaven45]

 

 

Still, need a pass rushing dynamo to help replace the loss

of Suggs et al

[papasmurfbell]

Did they watch Weddle on the field? I would hope Thomas is far better.

[oldno82]

Still, need a pass rushing dynamo to help replace the loss

of Suggs et al

 

 

Are there any worthwhile pass rushers left in FA?

[varaven45]

Houston- formerly of KC. Not sure of who else

[papasmurfbell]

14. Ezekiel Ansah (29), EDGE, Detroit

 

[papasmurfbell]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/03/18/earl-thomas-was-shocked-by-the-ravens-offer/

 

Earl Thomas thought he was going to Kansas Cityin free agency until a last-minute offer sent him to Baltimore.

Thomas told Peter King in Football Morning in America that he never had a sense the Ravens were even interested, let alone that they were going to blow him away with a a four-year, $55-million offer.

 

What was KC's offer? How much of a difference was it to "blow him away"?

[papasmurfbell]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001023105/article/ravens-earl-thomas-was-prepared-to-sign-1yr-deal

Ravens' Earl Thomas was prepared to sign 1-yr deal

Earl Thomas resigned himself to a one-year prove-it contract. Then the Ravens swooped in.

After seeing fellow safeties Landon Collins, Tyrann Mathieu and Adrian Amos land big deals while his market remained slow to materialize, Thomas told NBC's Peter King for his Football Morning In America column, that he'd rationalized signing a one-year, $12 million deal with incentives.

The deal came quickly, with the Ravens giving Thomas $35 million guaranteed in the first two years of the four-year, $55 million contract.

 

I think this could prove to be a seriously bad decision.

[varaven45]

Time will tell. If hes healthy and plays like his LOB days, we are good. If not, not a good deal for us.

[papasmurfbell]

https://clutchpoints.com/ravens-rumors-justin-houston-likely-too-expensive-for-baltimore/

 

 

 

According to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, the former Kansas City Chiefs star’s asking price is likely to prove too expensive for the Baltimore Ravens.

“Former Kansas City Chief Justin Houston is currently the top prize and he’d be a good fit for the Ravens. However, some reports indicate that Houston could get a deal for north of $10 million per year, and that’s more than what the Ravens can afford to spend. His price would have to come down for a deal to work with the Ravens.”

 

[varaven45]

It would be nice but not absolutely necessary to snag Houston. If we are so fortunate, that frees us up to draft a good WR in the 1st. Otherwise, we may need to go pass rusher in 1st, no later than 2nd. Lots of holes to fill.

[vmax]

They are banking on Bowser and Williams stepping up. Williams could be the man if he stays healthy. He broke out his junior year at Alabama. It's his junior year here.

They also have an awesome secondary and they are counting on it to make turnovers and coverage sacks.

Eric's not done yet.

[oldno82]

I don't think Bowser has 'it' but Williams is still a possibility. And like you said, Eric isn't done yet.

[vmax]

I'm still talking "Rebuild" here.

 

When using that word it means to me that it will be very hard, if not impossible, to win the AFC North and hard to make the playoffs this season.

The situation here is similar to the one the Browns faced heading into 2018 season. They went 9-7 barely missing the playoffs but with a lot of player and team development over the season. Then a strong off season has them standing with a lot of hope for this year. 10-6...11-5 does not seen unreasonable.

 

I see the Ravens in this light.

Any hope for the Ravens this year lies in "Parity" and a watered down league.

It's lies in Eric DeCosta's roster building vision and having a very good draft that will fill the holes, add team depth and bare fruit next year. There's too much to accomplish in one year.

 

Lamar needs receivers. He needs a solid O line that can excel in run blocking and hold their own in pass protection. He has excellent TE's and Ingram should be a great safety valve. Snead will contribute but Lamar has no true #1 WR to throw to. Plus....he has to develop as a solid at least average passer. There's no guarantee that will happen.

The D needs players who can pressure the QB and LB's who are fast and can cover.

 

In short, there's a lot of needs and holes to fill. When you factor in that it takes time and experience playing together for team units to mature and play fast, instinctive football, then "Yes" it's a rebuild year.

[oldno82]

Agree with you Max. I don't think it's necessary to have naked fruit next year though.

[vmax]

On the WR situation; the Ravens need players who can play like Hines Wart.

Run blockers and fire drill guys who can get open and in position for Lamar as he scrambles.

Lamar can extend most plays and that is a defense gasser and killer.

This actually has to be in the playbook and practiced 10,000 times.

 

 

 

 

Maybe worth a look...

 

Could a receiver-needy team pull the trigger on a similar low-risk, high-upside deal with Bryant this offseason?

New Orleans is expected to sign tight end Jared Cook to complement Michael Thomas, but the Saints could always use more weapons, especially with Mark Ingram out the door, and already showed interest in Bryant. The Baltimore Ravens were interested in Dez's services last year and just recently lost John Brown and Michael Crabtree in free agency. Word is the New York Giants just lost a pass-catcher, too.

The start of the 2019 season is more than five months away, so there's no rush for Bryant to sign anywhere, especially considering he's still in the throes of rehab. But when he's healthy, Dez's services as a veteran receiver will be in demand...http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001023855/article/dez-bryant-ill-be-a-steal-wherever-i-go-in-free-agency

Edited March 23, 2019 by vmax

[papasmurfbell]

Bryant has nothing left. He was a shell when healthy in Dal.

[papasmurfbell]

Oh and how drops are alwasy associated with Ravens WRs, Bryant is a drop machine.