The Random Thought Thread

[Dom McRaven]

Florida has a pretty good following. Live in South FL and see a decent amount of fans. Only have been to the 14 Bucs game where Flacco tore up Tampa but was a great experience. Plan on making it to the Miami game this year.

I debated the entire week prior if I was gonna go or not, but couldn't since I had a shit-ton of homework to finish up (managed to do so the Saturday prior lol). I missed the first couple of minutes, but when I switched the channel to the game, I remember hearing loud cheers and I'm thinking that the Bucs made a big play. Wrong! Other from Flacco tearing them up, I was amazed to see how much fucking purple was in the stands.

Do it when you get the chance. Still regret not going in 2019. Still haven't been to Hard Rock and it's the closest stadium to me. Best decision I've made was not going to 2011 MNF game against the Jags. That ride home would have stung.

I too debated going to this game but since we routinely smack them in Miami, I didn't want to risk the jinx by going to the game. By far, my favorite Ravens game under the Lamar Era. As for the Jags game, I was still in HS at the time. Throughout the day, I was getting clowned since I was one of the very few Ravens fans at that time. Don't get me started on wide left by Tucker's predecessor.

 

[Deebo813]

We really passed on ridley for hurst

 

[rmcjacket23]

We really passed on ridley for hurst

Among other players, yes.

However, keep in mind that we also traded Hayden Hurst for J.K. Dobbins and Calais Campbell. So if we drafted Ridley instead, unless we traded him to Atlanta also, those two players likely aren't Ravens today.

 

[RavensMania]

Among other players, yes.

However, keep in mind that we also traded Hayden Hurst for J.K. Dobbins and Calais Campbell. So if we drafted Ridley instead, unless we traded him to Atlanta also, those two players likely aren't Ravens today.

Yes, it was Atlanta's 2nd that got us Dobbins and their 5th that was traded away for Campbell.

Definitely a nice way to look at it and I'm also not sure Ridley does as well in our offense the last couple seasons, especially without Julio on the other side. We also wouldn't have drafted Hollywood the next year, and I still have a high ceiling with Hollywood. Back to Back 1st round WRs would have been highly unlikely.

 

[Dom McRaven]

We really passed on ridley for hurst

We don't need to be REMINDED of this, sir.

 

[Deebo813]

Yes, it was Atlanta's 2nd that got us Dobbins and their 5th that was traded away for Campbell.

Definitely a nice way to look at it and I'm also not sure Ridley does as well in our offense the last couple seasons, especially without Julio on the other side. We also wouldn't have drafted Hollywood the next year, and I still have a high ceiling with Hollywood. Back to Back 1st round WRs would have been highly unlikely.

Even when julio misses games, ridley shows up big. He probably wouldnt have as many yards and tds in our system but he still would get open.. he was already a top 5 rte runner before playing a down in nfl.

 

[redrum52]

We really passed on ridley for hurst

Still dont believe it.

I had some pretty wild nights in the epicentre

Went to the Bucs Steeler MNF game after sneaking in a water bottle of Don Julio. We decided to park in the Publix plaza near the stadium after the game to explore the gentlemen's clubs. We come back to our car towed (a rental) and then had an interesting journey having to get it back before we left in the morning. Good times. Pretty sure we bumped into Michael Irvin.

 

[RavensMania]

Even when julio misses games, ridley shows up big. He probably wouldnt have as many yards and tds in our system but he still would get open.. he was already a top 5 rte runner before playing a down in nfl.

no question about his route running skills. We were all drooling over those, it was his drops in college that has some concerned and could have been what kept us from drafting him. I agree, it was a mistake, but my top WR choice that year was DJ Moore, then Ridley.

 

[rmcjacket23]

Even when julio misses games, ridley shows up big. He probably wouldnt have as many yards and tds in our system but he still would get open.. he was already a top 5 rte runner before playing a down in nfl.

Don't think anybody is suggesting he's not a good player.
The point is that, for receivers, stat accumulation is pretty much how we measure receivers. There's a lot of guys in this league who know how to get open that don't put up big stats.

Ridley plays in an offense that both can't, nor seemingly wants to, run the football. I think if Miles Boykin got 143 targets like Ridley did, he'd be, at a minimum, a 1000 yard receiver. I think I could say that for a very large quantity of receivers in the NFL.

That being said, in order to get 143 targets, you have to a) be better than the other receivers in your room so that the coaching staff puts you in the game and b) be a part of an offense that throws the ball enough to get 143 targets to one player.

Scenario b seems highly unlikely to occur anytime soon in a Ravens offense.

 

[rossihunter2]

We really passed on ridley for hurst

that one was heartbreaking for me lol - i was so high on ridley - luckily (for me) we picked my favourite receiver in 2019 instead

 

[UPennChem]

Anyone ever go on NFL.com and look at that draft tracker? In years past would have all the prospects by position, show the combine numbers, give pro comparisons, and assign a grade. This year though, it just doesn't seem to exist.

 

[Deebo813]

Don't think anybody is suggesting he's not a good player.
The point is that, for receivers, stat accumulation is pretty much how we measure receivers. There's a lot of guys in this league who know how to get open that don't put up big stats.

Ridley plays in an offense that both can't, nor seemingly wants to, run the football. I think if Miles Boykin got 143 targets like Ridley did, he'd be, at a minimum, a 1000 yard receiver. I think I could say that for a very large quantity of receivers in the NFL.

That being said, in order to get 143 targets, you have to a) be better than the other receivers in your room so that the coaching staff puts you in the game and b) be a part of an offense that throws the ball enough to get 143 targets to one player.

Scenario b seems highly unlikely to occur anytime soon in a Ravens offense.

Most players cant get 143 targets though.. i dnt even think we can compare it with boykin cause there is no way he would even convince us that he deserves that many targets.. even if boykin had 1k yards he still woulrnt even compare to those guys..

 

[Deebo813]

that one was heartbreaking for me lol - i was so high on ridley - luckily (for me) we picked my favourite receiver in 2019 instead

I really thought we were going to pick him lol.. it seemed like a no brainer imo. Guess things happen for a reason

 

[JO_75]

It's funny how that gas mask video for Tunsil caused a giant ripple effect and the Dolphins getting a bunch of picks out of it and now the 49ers getting their next Franchise QB all out of this deal. Considering how if not for the gas mask, Tunsil would have been a Raven at 6, perhaps Stanley was the one who fell to Miami then shipped off to Houston for a bunch of picks?Or would we have traded Tunsil for that same haul Houston gave Miami?

 

[JAAM]

Still dont believe it.




Went to the Bucs Steeler MNF game after sneaking in a water bottle of Don Julio. We decided to park in the Publix plaza near the stadium after the game to explore the gentlemen's clubs. We come back to our car towed (a rental) and then had an interesting journey having to get it back before we left in the morning. Good times. Pretty sure we bumped into Michael Irvin.

“Bumped” and “Michael Irvin” in the same sentence. Hell yea

 

[rmcjacket23]

Most players cant get 143 targets though.. i dnt even think we can compare it with boykin cause there is no way he would even convince us that he deserves that many targets.. even if boykin had 1k yards he still woulrnt even compare to those guys..

That's kind of the point... most players won't get 143 targets. Even if they're really good receivers they may never get to that level. Requires an offense willing to throw the ball that much, and that much to one player, in order for it to happen.

My point was if any receiver on this team got 143 targets, they would have very impressive stats and everybody around the league would think they're a good receiver.

You people realize that if Hollywood was the exact same player he is today, on 143 targets, he'd have over 1,100 yards a year with double digit TDs? Would put him right up there in the top 10-12 guys in the league in both yardage and TDs.

Would we be talking about a dire need for pass catchers with an 1,100 yard receiver and a 700-800 yard TE on the roster?

A lot of this is about volume folks.

 

[Deebo813]

That's kind of the point... most players won't get 143 targets. Even if they're really good receivers they may never get to that level. Requires an offense willing to throw the ball that much, and that much to one player, in order for it to happen.

My point was if any receiver on this team got 143 targets, they would have very impressive stats and everybody around the league would think they're a good receiver.

You people realize that if Hollywood was the exact same player he is today, on 143 targets, he'd have over 1,100 yards a year with double digit TDs? Would put him right up there in the top 10-12 guys in the league in both yardage and TDs.

Would we be talking about a dire need for pass catchers with an 1,100 yard receiver and a 700-800 yard TE on the roster?

A lot of this is about volume folks.

Thats not true.. if boykin had impressive stats, he still would be trash lol. Everything from his route running to the way he moves isnt on par with any good wr in lg.. if brown had 1100 yards last year, i still wouldnt put him in top 10 lol.. tbh i dnt even know what we are talking about here.. boykin should never be mentioned

 

[Ellicottraven]

Are/were you a triathlete? The you way write your posts remind me a lot of someone with whom I used to be acquainted when I lived in Maryland.

Oh no, far from it! While I can surely swim, cycle and run I can't think of doing them for more than a minute a day! laugh out loud! However, to be a sports fan one must have played sports as a youngster. I certainly did as well.

 

[rmcjacket23]

Thats not true.. if boykin had impressive stats, he still would be trash lol. Everything from his route running to the way he moves isnt on par with any good wr in lg.. if brown had 1100 yards last year, i still wouldnt put him in top 10 lol.. tbh i dnt even know what we are talking about here.. boykin should never be mentioned

It's not about where YOU rank him. Its about where he would rank in the league. If Hollywood Brown had the same passing volume thrown his way that most of the "top receivers" in the league, he would be universally in the discussion with those players. Maybe not by you, but you'd also be in the very smallest of minorities. As much as fans would like to pretend like they're supremely educated about what makes a good receiver and what doesn't, the very first thing you're going to with every player is the stat line. If that stat line says they're good, that's the baseline of the discussion. If it doesn't, that's also the baseline.

The initial premise of this discussion was about how disappointed you were that we took Hurst over Ridley. I pointed out why that's the wrong way to look at things, because its really Campbell + Dobbins over Ridley, which I think it would be hard to argue we get the bad side of that deal.

And the reason I wouldn't take Ridley over those two players is because I think Ridley's stat line, and therefore largely how fans evaluate receivers, wouldn't be nearly as productive in Baltimore. Among the many reasons why, is simply, he wouldn't get the ball thrown to him nearly as much.

 

[UPennChem]

It's not about where YOU rank him. Its about where he would rank in the league. If Hollywood Brown had the same passing volume thrown his way that most of the "top receivers" in the league, he would be universally in the discussion with those players. Maybe not by you, but you'd also be in the very smallest of minorities. As much as fans would like to pretend like they're supremely educated about what makes a good receiver and what doesn't, the very first thing you're going to with every player is the stat line. If that stat line says they're good, that's the baseline of the discussion. If it doesn't, that's also the baseline.

The initial premise of this discussion was about how disappointed you were that we took Hurst over Ridley. I pointed out why that's the wrong way to look at things, because its really Campbell + Dobbins over Ridley, which I think it would be hard to argue we get the bad side of that deal.

And the reason I wouldn't take Ridley over those two players is because I think Ridley's stat line, and therefore largely how fans evaluate receivers, wouldn't be nearly as productive in Baltimore. Among the many reasons why, is simply, he wouldn't get the ball thrown to him nearly as much.

Let me just bring this up. While I don't really disagree with you, I think you've made a really rigid argument which is why you're at an incongruency with deebo.

He says he can't believe we passed on Ridley for Hurst. You say its really Campbell and Dobbins. You're argument is based on the value accrued. You also rightfully bring up that Ridley wouldn't be the stat compiler he is in Baltimore. Also means his value would be somewhat smaller here.

The thing though is, I don't think deebo is making a value of the pick argument. I think he's saying we have historically taken only a select few high round WRs, and of those we have an average hit rate. Obviously the conclusion there is we hardly ever have any really high end quality receivers. Whether or not Ridley has the same stay value in Atlanta or Baltimore is not the point. If Baltimore is ever to balance its offense and improve the passing game, it likely has to be through better drafting. That Obviously includes outside round 1. So the sentiment i believe is, Ridley was a aupee high floor and high ceiling prospect and was in our laps at a huge position id need and we went elsewhere.

Just 2 different arguments here. And deebo, if that's not what you were thinking call it out, but that's at least what I was thinking. I would have taken Ridley at the time, but given we didn't, I think we've done more than a fine job maximizing value there.