The Random Thought Thread

[RavensMania]

I'm clearly not as down about this as most here. This season was the most fun I've ever had watching football. Obviously, a win in February would have been much, much better, but that doesn't take away the past several months for me. Plus, there's so much optimism to be had for the future. The first time probably ever that we've been happy with both coordinators - and both should be returning. Lamar is going to be, to borrow a phrase, "pissed off for greatness" and will work to come back even better next year. Finally, there are so few pieces that we need to acquire to overcome weaknesses; we aren't due to lose many of the more valuable starters to begin with; and will have a ton of cap space and likelihood of players wanting to sign with us in the offseason.

As far the loss yesterday is concerned, I can't figure out if the utter choke was more on the coaching or the players, but I suspect the former. Perhaps they all bought into the inevitability of a championship and let that get to their heads. As far as the game was concerned, there was practically no pre-snap motion, a nearly empty backfield all the time, etc. Seems like everything we did throughout the year was abandoned in unnecessary panic. The fourth and short calls were absurd to me. Thinking back to the Seattle fourth and 2, there were several players in the backfield creating all kinds of confusion. This time, Lamar just lines up under center and runs parallel to the line. Mystifying. I also question that the analytics would say to go for it down 8 rather than use Tucker to move within 1 score.

Not sure if I'll watch anymore postseason football. If not, I'll hope to read that the 49ers or Packers won it all.

Totally agree, although we aren't going to have as much cap space as we think, but definitely more than any year post Ray Rice. Probably further back than that, but I don't remember what our cap space was prior to that.

 

[jdynamite]

This should be an interesting offseason: how will the roster be re-shaped. The team has to add some capable pass rushers, as well as another Receiving threat regardless of Boykin’s & Brown’s progression.
Oline : Interior filled with question marks. Will Yanda retire? Bozeman, Skura, Mekari they played above expectations for much of the year, but I still feel competition is needed. Ben Powers a healthy scratch all year will he be a factor next year?

Also what happens on the DLine, none of these guys can pressure the QB and the run D is far from elite.

 

[RavensMania]

This should be an interesting offseason: how will the roster be re-shaped. The team has to add some capable pass rushers, as well as another Receiving threat regardless of Boykin’s & Brown’s progression.
Oline : Interior filled with question marks. Will Yanda retire? Bozeman, Skura, Mekari they played above expectations for much of the year, but I still feel competition is needed. Ben Powers a healthy scratch all year will he be a factor next year?

Also what happens on the DLine, none of these guys can pressure the QB and the run D is far from elite.

Powers seemed to progress well, although I only have the Steelers game to go by since he split snaps with Ehringer and graded out pretty well, but I agree we need to draft players there and do it every year.

 

[Batcerb]

 

[Deebo813]

Hawks are def resigning clowney

 

[JAAM]

Hawks are def resigning clowney

Too injury prone for my liking. I’d rather get someone else who can stay on the field. Some interesting names out there, and we can always draft someone. Curious to see what EDC does though. Seemed like he was prioritizing the secondary more than the front 7 by trying to trade for Adams.

 

[Deebo813]

We really let zadarous walk

 

[RavensFan419]

We really let zadarous walk

Don’t even act like he ever looked this good for us idk what he did this offseason

 

[SaltyDog]

Do you think this is the worst loss in franchise history? I’m trying to think of a loss that was worse then this one. The 2011 loss to NE in the playoffs was a tough one, but we weren’t supposed to win that one. This loss is especially tough because we were the best team in the league for 12 weeks leading up to this nightmare. If there is a silver lining we followed the 2011 loss to NE with a Lombardi in 2012. There is hope.

https://ebonybird.com/2020/01/12/baltimore-ravens-worst-loss-in-franchise-history/

 

[Deebo813]

Don’t even act like he ever looked this good for us idk what he did this offseason

I still wouldve kept him over judon

 

[Deebo813]

Do you think this is the worst loss in franchise history? I’m trying to think of a loss that was worse then this one. The 2011 loss to NE in the playoffs was a tough one, but we weren’t supposed to win that one. This loss is especially tough because we were the best team in the league for 12 weeks leading up to this nightmare. If there is a silver lining we followed the 2011 loss to NE with a Lombardi in 2012. There is hope.

https://ebonybird.com/2020/01/12/baltimore-ravens-worst-loss-in-franchise-history/

Most def the worst loss

 

[RavensMania]

Don’t even act like he ever looked this good for us idk what he did this offseason

he had some improvement going into last year, but not to warrant a 16.5 apy salary, no way.

Definitely proved us wrong. he had the most pressures in the league with 93. Happy for him

 

[JAAM]

I knew this WR cast would hurt us at some point. It’s like the Flacco era all over again. You surround your QB with the likes of Seth Roberts and Willie Snead (whom I like as a 4) as starters, you’re bound to hit a wall. I hope EDC revamps it by getting a stud via trade a la Anquan and signs someone like Robby Anderson and having Boykin/Snead as your 4/5. Hollywood is legit. He just can’t do it all.

Edit: making a trade for a big-time WR while signing Anderson seems like overkill, but we need to surround Lamar like the Chiefs have with Mahomes. Take advantage of your QB on his rookie contract.

 

[airconteka]

Resting the players and having a week off was definitely a momentum killer. For a team that is not built to chase a lead, momentum is a very critical asset.

 

[Grim]

Although we lost it was nice to see Hollywood come to play yesterday. Obviously the rest helped him tremendously. Really looking forward to seeing his growth in year two along with Boykin's development.

Brown should take a leap. I suspect he and Jackson will become even more best friends this offseason. Brown was our best weapon yesterday. I don’t have a ton of faith in Boykin though. With that said...

Boykin doesn't have that dawg in him. He's too soft for my liking. A finesse big with nice hands but doesnt play to his size

I mean, Boykin blocked a guy pretty far downfield. He’s got toughness I just don’t think he has concentration and I’m not sure he has the dedication. We will see this coming year though.

Do you think this is the worst loss in franchise history? I’m trying to think of a loss that was worse then this one. The 2011 loss to NE in the playoffs was a tough one, but we weren’t supposed to win that one. This loss is especially tough because we were the best team in the league for 12 weeks leading up to this nightmare. If there is a silver lining we followed the 2011 loss to NE with a Lombardi in 2012. There is hope.

https://ebonybird.com/2020/01/12/baltimore-ravens-worst-loss-in-franchise-history/

Most def the worst loss

No, this isn’t the worst loss. 2012 was worse because that team was pretty terrific and losing was a gut punch because you felt like we could’ve and should’ve won there. You could say 2006 was also worse than this, but that’s debatable. Yes, the expectations were large this time but it’s only a huge loss to some because of our regular season.

I knew this WR cast would hurt us at some point. It’s like the Flacco era all over again. You surround your QB with the likes of Seth Roberts and Willie Snead (whom I like as a 4) as starters, you’re bound to hit a wall. I hope EDC revamps it by getting a stud via trade a la Anquan and signs someone like Robby Anderson and having Boykin/Snead as your 4/5. Hollywood is legit. He just can’t do it all.

Edit: making a trade for a big-time WR while signing Anderson seems like overkill, but we need to surround Lamar like the Chiefs have with Mahomes. Take advantage of your QB on his rookie contract.

I’ve been saying we gotta improve our WR corps. I agree with you on that end fully. Brown could be great and Boykin is a 50/50 but I’d get more talent at WR and not rest on what we have.

 

[Craven_Raven]

Brown should take a leap. I suspect he and Jackson will become even more best friends this offseason. Brown was our best weapon yesterday. I don’t have a ton of faith in Boykin though. With that said...

I mean, Boykin blocked a guy pretty far downfield. He’s got toughness I just don’t think he has concentration and I’m not sure he has the dedication. We will see this coming year though.


No, this isn’t the worst loss. 2012 was worse because that team was pretty terrific and losing was a gut punch because you felt like we could’ve and should’ve won there. You could say 2006 was also worse than this, but that’s debatable. Yes, the expectations were large this time but it’s only a huge loss to some because of our regular season.

I’ve been saying we gotta improve our WR corps. I agree with you on that end fully. Brown could be great and Boykin is a 50/50 but I’d get more talent at WR and not rest on what we have.

I don’t see it with Boykin. He’s got size but he doesn’t know how to use it and none of them seem to be able to get separation consistently. Honestly most of the passes completeted this year to WRs have had a DB on their back. The 6’4 or 5” dominators in this game high point and uncle DBs. They punish them with their physical attributes but it starts with their aggressive mentality. I don’t see that out of Boykin and if you read his draft analysis the consensus was he passed the look test and had the physical attributes to be that guy but didn’t use them.

 

[Grim]

I don’t see it with Boykin. He’s got size but he doesn’t know how to use it and none of them seem to be able to get separation consistently. Honestly most of the passes completeted this year to WRs have had a DB on their back. The 6’4 or 5” dominators in this game high point and uncle DBs. They punish them with their physical attributes but it starts with their aggressive mentality. I don’t see that out of Boykin and if you read his draft analysis the consensus was he passed the look test and had the physical attributes to be that guy but didn’t use them.

Boykin kinda reminds me of Tandon Doss tbh. I don’t disagree with you. I’m just not sure if it’s a toughness thing or dog thing in him. I think it’s more something else. You could be right though, I just don’t know.

 

[JO_75]

 

[CanadianRavensFan]

I knew this WR cast would hurt us at some point. It’s like the Flacco era all over again. You surround your QB with the likes of Seth Roberts and Willie Snead (whom I like as a 4) as starters, you’re bound to hit a wall. I hope EDC revamps it by getting a stud via trade a la Anquan and signs someone like Robby Anderson and having Boykin/Snead as your 4/5. Hollywood is legit. He just can’t do it all.

Edit: making a trade for a big-time WR while signing Anderson seems like overkill, but we need to surround Lamar like the Chiefs have with Mahomes. Take advantage of your QB on his rookie contract.

The Vikings and Rams are going to be in cap hell next season so I'm hoping DeCosta can work something out with one of them to get us a stud receiver

 

[JAAM]

The Vikings and Rams are going to be in cap hell next season so I'm hoping DeCosta can work something out with one of them to get us a stud receiver

Stephon or Robert Woods/Cooper Kupp please!