The Random Thought Thread

[rmcjacket23]

I’m still team draft the best OL available. If it’s a G, so be it. Ideally it’s a T or C (if Bozeman doesn’t stay) but I’m not saying no to anybody because of Phillips, Cleveland, or Powers.

I mean that's fine, but if it's a Guard, who plays Tackle if Stanley is gone and/or who plays Center if Bozeman is gone?

It would have to be like a Zach Martin-level player, and I don't see that at the back end of the round.

I'm only doing best Olineman available if I think one of the aforementioned guys can play Center or Tackle. I've seen nothing to suggest Cleveland or Powers would be options at C, and I'm certainly no fan of the Phillips experiment at RT. If he's my swing Tackle I'm not even thrilled, let alone a starter.

I just don't see many paths where this FO looks at Guard and thinks its anything more than like a day 3 problem, and maybe late day 3 at that.
They have Zeitler, and they have three draft picks that can play Guard in the last three drafts, all in the 3rd or 4th round, which is a pretty gigantic investment for any FO to put that much emphasis on a position group with only two starters (and one is a veteran they signed in FA). Their solution to Guard is going to be, in my opinion, to simply make one of these guys play better, through competition or otherwise.

In an offseason where Lamar is likely to break the bank, others need large extensions, and the Ravens are going to rapidly move into the "draft heavy and cheap veteran plugs" market in the coming years, I just don't see how they can use high round draft picks on a position where they've already used very significant draft capital recently. To me, it's not that far off from saying they should use another first round pick on a WR next year.

If it's me, I'm either re-signing Bozeman or finding a veteran who can play that spot at a more reasonable price, I'm drafting a Tackle or two in the draft (really don't care where), and I'm hammering the draft with defensive player after defensive player after defensive player. There's not a single position on this defense I would go into 2022 saying "yeah, we're good". Not even Corner, where I still think we'll have a good unit in 2022 one way or another. Safety isn't locked up, pass rusher is always a need, our Mike linebacker is 32 and we just signed him off the scrap-heap mid season, and our defensive line may be close to entirely gutted.

And I don't think plugging a lot of those holes with 30+ year old veterans is the answer either.

 

[Michael M.]

All I know is that the O-Line is more than suspect and it can't all be because Stanley is out. Imagine if Flacco or someone like him was still QB in this current situation. They'd probably have ended up on IR by now.

 

[Simba]

I think the only way we’re drafting a guard is if they are a slam-dunk game-changing starter... guard depth at this point is completely and utterly irrelevant given those 3 players you mention

Agreed. When I say that, I’m not taking another like 4th rounder. But if it’s the 1st and there’s a G that I think can be a star, im taking him.

 

[BloodRaven]

This is interesting, the two best pass blockers this season are 40yo Andrew Whitworth and James Hurst. Those two have got to be the least athletic left tackles in the league today, but they're getting it done.

 

[rossihunter2]

I just don't see many paths where this FO looks at Guard and thinks its anything more than like a day 3 problem, and maybe late day 3 at that.
They have Zeitler, and they have three draft picks that can play Guard in the last three drafts, all in the 3rd or 4th round, which is a pretty gigantic investment for any FO to put that much emphasis on a position group with only two starters (and one is a veteran they signed in FA). Their solution to Guard is going to be, in my opinion, to simply make one of these guys play better, through competition or otherwise.

i agree with you on basically everything about this re: draft picks on guard except this one bit

we have depth at guard - would be pointless to add a day 3 pick to that group unless they're someone like Trey Smith who's a 1st/2nd round calibre player who's dropped 5 rounds for serious medical concerns...

i think if we draft a guard it's more likely it's high because that's the only place in the draft it would seemingly be worthwhile... we have great depth on the interior, we dont have a blue chip talent there - we've got enough guys to compete to already get ok play at least, there's no point adding another player to that "ok" mix

i think the solution at guard is exactly as you say - it's one of those 3rd rounders from the last 2 classes stepping up (be that phillips staying healthy and getting to be a full-time guard and not a swing tackle anymore, or maybe it's cleveland sort his footwork and technique out and activating his exciting physical tools)

 

[rmcjacket23]

i agree with you on basically everything about this re: draft picks on guard except this one bit

we have depth at guard - would be pointless to add a day 3 pick to that group unless they're someone like Trey Smith who's a 1st/2nd round calibre player who's dropped 5 rounds for serious medical concerns...

i think if we draft a guard it's more likely it's high because that's the only place in the draft it would seemingly be worthwhile... we have great depth on the interior, we dont have a blue chip talent there - we've got enough guys to compete to already get ok play at least, there's no point adding another player to that "ok" mix

i think the solution at guard is exactly as you say - it's one of those 3rd rounders from the last 2 classes stepping up (be that phillips staying healthy and getting to be a full-time guard and not a swing tackle anymore, or maybe it's cleveland sort his footwork and technique out and activating his exciting physical tools)

It would only be an option for me if they make Phillips move like full time to RT, or if they like somehow opt to trade Powers or something (sort of like Bredeson). Then you'll need depth.
Both seem very unlikely, though.

 

[rossihunter2]

All I know is that the O-Line is more than suspect and it can't all be because Stanley is out. Imagine if Flacco or someone like him was still QB in this current situation. They'd probably have ended up on IR by now.

i mean stanley's a huge miss - the difference in what you're able to do (especially in pass pro) when you can just leave your LT on an island and consistently not need to give him any help at all is massive

and he's the only blue chip talent in that unit since Yanda left so there's no real talent on the OL to mitigate the impact of his loss

so it means that you have to commit extra resources to LT and that pulls extra resources away from other less-reliable starters elsewhere on the line

it cannot be overstated the impact of an all-pro on your OL is - the ravens were lucky enough that for 4 years we had both Stanley and Yanda on the same OL (albeit Stanley took about half of his first season to really become that franchise tackle)

in 2017 for a month or 2 we actually had Stanley, Jensen and Yanda all at once for a brief period of sublime excellence (albeit tempered by James Hurst at LG and Austin Howard at RT lol)

Jensen's the kind of blue-chip talent that would have made a huge difference for Lamar

 

[rossihunter2]

It would only be an option for me if they make Phillips move like full time to RT, or if they like somehow opt to trade Powers or something (sort of like Bredeson). Then you'll need depth.
Both seem very unlikely, though.

i think we'll learn a lot about what they think of phillips when mekari comes back into the lineup - if he goes back to RT, is phillips coming back into LG or is Powers retaining that spot?

and then the question is... is powers retaining that spot because phillips is the swing tackle or do they think powers is the better starter right now...

but in either case, one of phillips or powers is guaranteed to be the incumbent at LG going into next offseason in that case

i fear that they'll value the stability of keeping powers at LG to not shake up the unit but i also know that they cant be satisfied with his play level (especially as they've shown it repeatedly the last 2 years that they've been trying to find any way possible not to have him be the starter but he's ended up there at the end of the season by default after injuries or because of rest)

 

[rossihunter2]

Agreed. When I say that, I’m not taking another like 4th rounder. But if it’s the 1st and there’s a G that I think can be a star, im taking him.

worth pointing out that it's tough to even come up with an example of a guard worthy of a 1st round pick like that who didnt have some swing value or potential tackle or center value...

the only guy in recent drafts (not named Quenton Nelson) i can think of who'd fit that kind of guard only bill would be Chris Lindstrom maybe

 

[rmcjacket23]

i think we'll learn a lot about what they think of phillips when mekari comes back into the lineup - if he goes back to RT, is phillips coming back into LG or is Powers retaining that spot?

and then the question is... is powers retaining that spot because phillips is the swing tackle or do they think powers is the better starter right now...

but in either case, one of phillips or powers is guaranteed to be the incumbent at LG going into next offseason in that case

i fear that they'll value the stability of keeping powers at LG to not shake up the unit but i also know that they cant be satisfied with his play level (especially as they've shown it repeatedly the last 2 years that they've been trying to find any way possible not to have him be the starter but he's ended up there at the end of the season by default after injuries or because of rest)

Agree. This coaching staff values continuity on the Oline, and unfortunately, we haven't had much of it this year. My best guess is that Mekari will get the RT job back, and Phillips heads to the bench as basically the top reserve to four spots.

 

[Michael M.]

worth pointing out that it's tough to even come up with an example of a guard worthy of a 1st round pick like that who didnt have some swing value or potential tackle or center value...

the only guy in recent drafts (not named Quenton Nelson) i can think of who'd fit that kind of guard only bill would be Chris Lindstrom maybe

I guess I don't like Powers or Phillips at LG, even if a healthy full strength Stanley were to return. Not sure Bozeman is worth keeping for big money, especially at center. And yes, losing Jensen proved to be painful but I had the impression Harbaugh didn't like him. I hope they find a place for Mekari on the line, he's been one of the few pleasant surprises.

 

[rossihunter2]

This is interesting, the two best pass blockers this season are 40yo Andrew Whitworth and James Hurst. Those two have got to be the least athletic left tackles in the league today, but they're getting it done.

Hurst has mostly been playing guard this year

and not sure whitworth is unathletic at all lol - whitworth's still got really nice feet and still has the benefit of the longest arms (or 2nd longest or something in that realm - i know it was 2nd longest a couple of years ago) in the entire NFL regardless of position

there's a lot of 1st round athletes on that list - and all of those guys are vets

 

[rossihunter2]

Agree. This coaching staff values continuity on the Oline, and unfortunately, we haven't had much of it this year. My best guess is that Mekari will get the RT job back, and Phillips heads to the bench as basically the top reserve to four spots.

and id understand that result but id also be disappointed about not putting phillips back in at LG - i think that would give us the chance to upgrade 2 spots on our line

id understand the value of continuity and the value of phillips as a backup RT (even though he's not a good RT) - but there's a reason he won the starting job at LG despite being injured during the preseason and his snaps at LG in week 1 are probably the most assured LG snaps i think we've had all year from anyone - id be disappointed because i think he's the best LG on the team and he's being somewhat held back because of his swing value which feels like the opposite of how that should work lol

 

[rossihunter2]

I guess I don't like Powers or Phillips at LG, even if a healthy full strength Stanley were to return. Not sure Bozeman is worth keeping for big money, especially at center. And yes, losing Jensen proved to be painful but I had the impression Harbaugh didn't like him. I hope they find a place for Mekari on the line, he's been one of the few pleasant surprises.

mekari shouldnt be a starter on this OL next year - he's the perfect 5 spot backup - probably one of very few OL in the league who truly offer 5 spot versatility

i dont like powers either albeit he is reliable but i do like phillips and we just drafted cleveland - both of those last 2 guys are 3rd round picks... would be really surprised if we drafted a guy who wasnt a slam-dunk starter because we've got 3 options between powers, phillips and cleveland with tools and game experience that we like

 

[JoeyFlex5]

worth pointing out that it's tough to even come up with an example of a guard worthy of a 1st round pick like that who didnt have some swing value or potential tackle or center value...

the only guy in recent drafts (not named Quenton Nelson) i can think of who'd fit that kind of guard only bill would be Chris Lindstrom maybe

This year: Kenyon green

 

[JO_75]

 

[Deebo813]

2 games in 3-4 yrs

 

[JoeyFlex5]

Wow, that’s not a name I expected to see this early. I said from the start I’d be shocked if he even has a chance to come back at the end of this year

 

[JO_75]

2 games in 3-4 yrs

Played 15 games in 2018, injured before week 1 in 2019 and opted out in 2020. If he were to return before the playoffs, I would be shocked given his injury history.

 

[rossihunter2]

Wow, that’s not a name I expected to see this early. I said from the start I’d be shocked if he even has a chance to come back at the end of this year

oh for sure - and this is probably only the first steps - definitely promising for his availability in 2022 though that he's already doing some workouts

but achilles injuries seem to take somewhere between 9 and 12 months for recovery in the NFL - and wildcard weekend would be 8 and a bit months post-injury...

if he plays this year that's an incredible recovery and certainly his working out is something to monitor and track

nice to have him working out but nothing much to read into it... yet