-
Welcome to PurpleFlock! Be sure to sign up here so that you can chat with your fellow Ravens fans.
The Random Thought Thread
- Thread starter The Greek
- Start date
ThatsMyJoeTerback
Ravens Ring of Honor
My thing is we're gonna pay a running back $15 million a year just for him to run into loaded 8-9 man boxes. I don't know if I'd pay him. Especially behind our o-line, he can't really be the patient runner he is.
JoeyFlex5
Hall of Famer
But on the contrary, if you’re gonna send a rb into an 8-9 man box you’d likely want a top 3 rb in the league right?
Dom McRaven
Hall of Famer
To continue on this Bell conversation, looks like Lamar is trying to recruit?
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1093965242881789953
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1093965242881789953
ThatsMyJoeTerback
Ravens Ring of Honor
There's definitely multiple ways to look at it lol. If Lamar can just improve his throwing and make people pay with his arm, I would be ecstatic about it.
I'd be excited to have Bell as a receiver, but this is a case that screams out for platooning and not a single $$$$ unicorn RB.
I would grant that Bell will be better in this offense than his last years at Pittsburgh in terms of YPC, but there are a number of negatives with Bell:
1. The Ravens are buying into the decline phase of his career. He'll be 27 in 2019 with more than 1,500 career touches. That's a significant amount of risk on any multi-year deal. I can't predict whether the year off should help or hurt him, but his tread wear is significant.
2. He carries a big injury risk. If you park all of your money in 1 RB you can't replace him. If you split your money into specialists, you won't suffer the hard fall in case of injury. In addition, the Ravens have proved adept in finding undervalued players at RB. If the Ravens go to war with Edwards, Dixon, perhaps Collins, and another back who can contribute significantly as a receiver/pass blocker they should be in much better shape to plug and play in the event of injury. The Ravens WLB triple (Onwuasor, Young, and Levine) is the prime example of efficient platooning without a star.
3. I don't really trust a player who expresses (by both words and actions) concern of how his touches will affect his future marketability. It's true that the Steelers were incented to use him heavily in 2018, but if the Ravens sign him in 2019, I don't see how his desire to manage his workload under, say, a 3-year deal won't manifest itself well before 2021. I'd like to hear some creative ideas on how to try to roll the intensity of his workload (not just the number of touches) into the contract, but I expect it would be difficult.
4. He would be a big investment of cap which will reduce that available for in-house investment into young defensive talent (Judon, Tavon Young, Pierce, Humphrey).
Put me down as a hard pass on Bell at 3 years/$45 million with $20 million guaranteed.
I would grant that Bell will be better in this offense than his last years at Pittsburgh in terms of YPC, but there are a number of negatives with Bell:
1. The Ravens are buying into the decline phase of his career. He'll be 27 in 2019 with more than 1,500 career touches. That's a significant amount of risk on any multi-year deal. I can't predict whether the year off should help or hurt him, but his tread wear is significant.
2. He carries a big injury risk. If you park all of your money in 1 RB you can't replace him. If you split your money into specialists, you won't suffer the hard fall in case of injury. In addition, the Ravens have proved adept in finding undervalued players at RB. If the Ravens go to war with Edwards, Dixon, perhaps Collins, and another back who can contribute significantly as a receiver/pass blocker they should be in much better shape to plug and play in the event of injury. The Ravens WLB triple (Onwuasor, Young, and Levine) is the prime example of efficient platooning without a star.
3. I don't really trust a player who expresses (by both words and actions) concern of how his touches will affect his future marketability. It's true that the Steelers were incented to use him heavily in 2018, but if the Ravens sign him in 2019, I don't see how his desire to manage his workload under, say, a 3-year deal won't manifest itself well before 2021. I'd like to hear some creative ideas on how to try to roll the intensity of his workload (not just the number of touches) into the contract, but I expect it would be difficult.
4. He would be a big investment of cap which will reduce that available for in-house investment into young defensive talent (Judon, Tavon Young, Pierce, Humphrey).
Put me down as a hard pass on Bell at 3 years/$45 million with $20 million guaranteed.
allblackraven
Hall of Famer
I don't think he'll get that much anywhere after sitting entire season but 100% agree with everything you said.
Don’t forget that crucially bell is one of the best receiving backs in the league - especially as a route runner
cdp
Ravens Ring of Honor
Build that OL!!!! If we face a lot of 8-9 man boxes you're better of passing anyways. Thats my biggest fear for next season committing to the run no matter what.
JoeyFlex5
Hall of Famer
I think bell could be a full time receiver if he wanted tbh
We’re better off passing, but we ran against 8-9 man boxes the whole second half of the season.
cobrajet
Hall of Famer
Agreed. I think our team this season was capable of beating the Patriots. It would not have been easy, but the Ravens would have had a chance to win that game.
cobrajet
Hall of Famer
Agreed, no more breaking the bank on a RB.
Dom McRaven
Hall of Famer
As long as their two constants are there, they'll be alright.
Davesta
Ravens Ring of Honor
For reals. Just like nick saban and bama. Doesn’t matter if the coordinators leave
RL52TheGreatest
Ravens Ring of Honor
The thing that worries me about Bell is that even though he's talented, you could argue that he only had so much success because of being in the Steelers' system. Conner was still churning out yards in his absence and his rookie backup (forget the name currently) was also having some success in limited carries.
I'd rather us get Ajayi; he'll be a lot cheaper and he's a quick hitter who's going to punish defenders.
RL52TheGreatest
Ravens Ring of Honor
You referring to the Browns signing Hunt? I think we'll be okay, but the Steelers and Bengals should be very worried.