The Random Thought Thread

[Willbacker]

This isn’t a ravens talk post but I’m posting it anyway
View attachment 2603
baby boy #2 is here as of 8:55pm!

Congrats my man. Always a beautiful thing.

Lmao I can see this happening........ That crazy ass Marlon Humphrey. I like that wr but his steps are too choppy. Uh oh. Breathe!! Breathe!!! Breathe!! Smack!! Waaaah!! *wipes sweat from forehead happy with joy*. Hugs. Call everybody. Congrats!! Congrats!! Congrats!!. That crazy ass Marlon Humphrey.

 

[JoeyFlex5]

Congrats my man. Always a beautiful thing.

Lmao I can see this happening........ That crazy ass Marlon Humphrey. I like that wr but his steps are too choppy. Uh oh. Breathe!! Breathe!!! Breathe!! Smack!! Waaaah!! *wipes sweat from forehead happy with joy*. Hugs. Call everybody. Congrats!! Congrats!! Congrats!!. That crazy ass Marlon Humphrey.

Lmao man I was just trying to keep myself distracted and passing time. No lie I did like ten mock drafts in a row while they had my wife getting prepped in the OR, I was losing my shit lol, all is good now though!

 

[JoeyFlex5]

Congrats, dude!

Thank you!

 

[Simba]

This is more thinking out loud than anything, but I do wonder if we could see more 4-3 looks because I feel like our personnel (with some re-signings of course) might better fit that way. I wouldn't anticipate a base shift or anything, but we already use a lot of 4-3 under and it feels like we could easily add some true one gapping concepts to this defense. We finally have sideline to sideline speed at LBer.

In theory:

DE: Campbell (slides inside on passing downs), Ferguson
DT: Williams, Washington
DT: Wolfe, Madubuike
DE: McPhee, Ward
SLB: Bowser, Welch
MLB: Queen/Harrison, Fort, Alaka
WLB: Queen/Harrison, Board

Harrison in particular is a guy that I think could provide cover at all 3 LB positions. Would much prefer him at SLB or MLB but think he has enough versatility to do it.

Again, just thinking out loud more than anything. Still need to add a couple of pieces, particularly at DE, but it's not a bad looking group. I feel like Bowser would excel in a SLB/LEO role.

 

[rossihunter2]

This is more thinking out loud than anything, but I do wonder if we could see more 4-3 looks because I feel like our personnel (with some re-signings of course) might better fit that way. I wouldn't anticipate a base shift or anything, but we already use a lot of 4-3 under and it feels like we could easily add some true one gapping concepts to this defense. We finally have sideline to sideline speed at LBer.

In theory:

DE: Campbell (slides inside on passing downs), Ferguson
DT: Williams, Washington
DT: Wolfe, Madubuike
DE: McPhee, Ward
SLB: Bowser, Welch
MLB: Queen/Harrison, Fort, Alaka
WLB: Queen/Harrison, Board

Harrison in particular is a guy that I think could provide cover at all 3 LB positions. Would much prefer him at SLB or MLB but think he has enough versatility to do it.

Again, just thinking out loud more than anything. Still need to add a couple of pieces, particularly at DE, but it's not a bad looking group. I feel like Bowser would excel in a SLB/LEO role.

i think it's very unlikely you see us put 3 LBs on the field without taking a DL off the field

this idea of morphing to a 4-3 gets brought up every year and it never seems realistic to me - like what actual benefit would we see from moving to that over the 3-4 base we currently run - on a fundamental level i think all we'd see is more 1-gapping in the run game but im not sure that's a great fit for Queen or Chuck coming downhill

either way it's basically a moot point anyway because we only played lots of base against the Titans, Patriots and Browns

 

[Simba]

i think it's very unlikely you see us put 3 LBs on the field without taking a DL off the field

this idea of morphing to a 4-3 gets brought up every year and it never seems realistic to me - like what actual benefit would we see from moving to that over the 3-4 base we currently run - on a fundamental level i think all we'd see is more 1-gapping in the run game but im not sure that's a great fit for Queen or Chuck coming downhill

either way it's basically a moot point anyway because we only played lots of base against the Titans, Patriots and Browns

Oh I don't completely disagree, and I'll reiterate that I don't see this as a shift to a base formation by any means. I just mean adding some 1 gap principles to try to generate some interior pass rush. The idea of Campbell and Madubuike being able to 1 gap in the middle on occasion? Sign me up.

 

[cdp]

cant remember where but someone did an interesting look at jadeveon clowney too earlier in the year - because historically he's been someone who statistically gathers up a ton of pressures but doesn't finish

basically the conclusion was that there's a particular skill to finishing at the top of the rush - usually requiring the ability to bend the edge so that the rusher isn't forced past the back edge of the pocket

a lot of clowney's most successful rushes (i.e. ones he finished) were inside moves

idk how applicable that is to Judon - but neither he nor Ngakoue are elite benders

in terms of the proportion of free rushes - i think that's more about how Wink schemed pressure - probably see lots of unblocked pressures on other defenders too... Judon was often the benefactor though because the stunts and simulated pressures were often schemed around his versatility and skillset (obviously it's not a particularly high-value skillset but there's a reason we designed stunts and twists for him)

hahaha elite bender...

 

[rossihunter2]

Oh I don't completely disagree, and I'll reiterate that I don't see this as a shift to a base formation by any means. I just mean adding some 1 gap principles to try to generate some interior pass rush. The idea of Campbell and Madubuike being able to 1 gap in the middle on occasion? Sign me up.

i certainly see that making some sense - but it should be noted that we've been so good at defending the run (and consistent) for so long partly because of the way Williams et al just dominate the space on the interior

but i could see us adding more - it would certainly be a good fit for madubuike and campbell

 

[JoeyFlex5]

i certainly see that making some sense - but it should be noted that we've been so good at defending the run (and consistent) for so long partly because of the way Williams et al just dominate the space on the interior

but i could see us adding more - it would certainly be a good fit for madubuike and campbell

After this year and last, after seeing all of our talent get torn to shreds by the chiefs repeatedly, and seeing time and time again the way to beat the chiefs, I have fully subscribed to building a 4 man rush.

if we trade Zeus, forget receivers, you replace Zeus, then use the new trade ammo to build the front 4. If that means taking a daviyon Nixon and azeez ojulari and another edge all on days 1/2 then so be it.

If you wanna see potentially the greatest defense to ever play, go ahead and give THIS secondary and THIS coordinator a 4 man rush to defend with the greatest rushing offense of all time to back it. Madubuike I think is a great start, queen and bowser aren’t front 4 but they will make winks scheme “work”, and if you land a daviyon Nixon then you can cause some havoc even with average edge rushers, re-sign Ngakoue and land a quality edge rusher in the draft and you’re smooth sailing. Easier said than done and it would leave holes elsewhere, but it’s a value thing, I can live with certain holes if we have that kind of defense

 

[BloodRaven]

I'm good with the possibility of losing Zeus, Judon and Ngakoue as long as we get a good haul from Zeus.

 

[JoeyFlex5]

I'm good with the possibility of losing Zeus, Judon and Ngakoue as long as we get a good haul from Zeus.

this draft and FA class is gonna leave the team still barren af in some spots if we arent able to trade zeus for a haul

 

[Simba]

this draft and FA class is gonna leave the team still barren af in some spots if we arent able to trade zeus for a haul

They've positioned themselves in an interesting way for sure if all of those guys are gone. Gotta think they're willing to throw out at least one big deal, and I would also think that goes to OL with how many holes we're going to have there.

Leaves you with needs at G/C, RT, WR, and OLB

As time goes on, the less and less convinced I am that we're prioritizing WR heavily. Think we'll find a vet to add to the rotation and maybe a mid round swing again.

Would also think we look for a bargain OLB as well if we can.

So that leaves C/G (whichever we don't sign in FA), RT, and OLB as your early needs. Wouldn't completely rule out S either but it's not a hole per se.

But it all lines up decently well if all of the rumors are correct. Spend big at one position, add a couple of cheaper vets near the end of the line to your other big holes, and then head into the draft to fill the rest. Easier said than done but we have the capital and space to do what we need to do.

 

[Simba]

Also one real interesting name on the trade block is Rob Havenstein from LA. 2 years left on his deal, with a year 1 cap hit of $6.75M, but could be an easy extension candidate to lower that number. LA is tight against the cap so he's not likely to cost much, because he's gone no matter what. Could be a cheap way of filling RT with a solid player if OBJ is traded.

 

[JoeyFlex5]

They've positioned themselves in an interesting way for sure if all of those guys are gone. Gotta think they're willing to throw out at least one big deal, and I would also think that goes to OL with how many holes we're going to have there.

Leaves you with needs at G/C, RT, WR, and OLB

As time goes on, the less and less convinced I am that we're prioritizing WR heavily. Think we'll find a vet to add to the rotation and maybe a mid round swing again.

Would also think we look for a bargain OLB as well if we can.

So that leaves C/G (whichever we don't sign in FA), RT, and OLB as your early needs. Wouldn't completely rule out S either but it's not a hole per se.

But it all lines up decently well if all of the rumors are correct. Spend big at one position, add a couple of cheaper vets near the end of the line to your other big holes, and then head into the draft to fill the rest. Easier said than done but we have the capital and space to do what we need to do.

agreed, i find myself less interested in the wr class by the day, because at this point you gotta look big picture, we have holes at valued priority positions, and WR isnt a priority for this offense, and youve also made a lot of investment into it recently and at some point you gotta ask the browns and boykins and duvernays of the world to step tf up and catch the ball when it comes to you or get open more consistently, at some point you gotta ask the guy you built the entire team around to deliver a more catchable more consistently, and definitely get your OC to call passing concepts that are actually concepts and not just routes that are tossed in there like filler

also, i laughed at the bolded/underlined

 

[LSURavenFan]

I feel like Corey Linsley will be EDC's big splash this offseason.

Maybe find sign a vet WR that ends up released.

I could see them attacking Edge in the draft.

 

[Deebo813]

agreed, i find myself less interested in the wr class by the day, because at this point you gotta look big picture, we have holes at valued priority positions, and WR isnt a priority for this offense, and youve also made a lot of investment into it recently and at some point you gotta ask the browns and boykins and duvernays of the world to step tf up and catch the ball when it comes to you or get open more consistently, at some point you gotta ask the guy you built the entire team around to deliver a more catchable more consistently, and definitely get your OC to call passing concepts that are actually concepts and not just routes that are tossed in there like filler

Even though i agree with you, if we go into this season with these same wrs, we arent winning a SB. We dont need a julio or adams but we dnt need someone who can atleast get open

 

[JoeyFlex5]

I don’t give a single shit about what Patrick queen can’t do/doesn’t do well, because what he does well, he does REALLY well.

that kid is a goddamn playmaker through and through.

 

[JoeyFlex5]

Even though i agree with you, if we go into this season with these same wrs, we arent winning a SB. We dont need a julio or adams but we dnt need someone who can atleast get open

I agree, but at the same time, if we don’t trade brown for a haul and then draft a WR early, then I don’t think we have the OL or pass rush or depth really anywhere to win a SB and I think our long term prospects get even worse.

 

[rossihunter2]

Even though i agree with you, if we go into this season with these same wrs, we arent winning a SB. We dont need a julio or adams but we dnt need someone who can atleast get open

exactly - like i get the idea of not wanting to make a big splash at WR this offseason but also... right now our WR group is Hollwood, Boykin, Duvernay, Proche, antoine wesley - that's an awful group if we don't make at least 1 or 2 additions

we couldn't beat man coverage last year and it's unlikely they'll all magically be able to do it this year - we need to find at least 1 ok starter at the position

as much as they may be prioritising OL and EDGE, we cannot ignore the position where we have the biggest gains to make regarding win-share increase

 

[Deebo813]

I agree, but at the same time, if we don’t trade brown for a haul and then draft a WR early, then I don’t think we have the OL or pass rush or depth really anywhere to win a SB and I think our long term prospects get even worse.

You do have a point and ive been thinking the same thing. If we resign yannick and trade brown for atleast a 1st, would we have enough cap to pick up atleast a vet wr and or pass rusher/olineman out of free agency?