The Random Thought Thread

[rossihunter2]

Yeah I think it depends where Dean ends up and the cast around him. Walker was the stack and shed guy while Tindall was your missile. Dean feels like a solid at everything but no true standout traits type of guy to me. I like him but I don’t put him on a pedestal above most of the other guys in that day 2 range.

i think Dean has great instincts and you can see the tape study when you watch him but when i see people talk about his crazy athletic traits i just want to show them a picture of christian harris who is hyper-athletic albeit a bit more of a project... not convinced by his instincts right now (which is surprising for a bama LB)

 

[RavensMania]

i think Dean has great instincts and you can see the tape study when you watch him but when i see people talk about his crazy athletic traits i just want to show them a picture of christian harris who is hyper-athletic albeit a bit more of a project... not convinced by his instincts right now (which is surprising for a bama LB)

yeah, definitely not a fan of Harris. His lack of instincts and how much of project he is is truly un Alabama like. I think he may need to be a will in the NFL as well.

 

[Simba]

i think Dean has great instincts and you can see the tape study when you watch him but when i see people talk about his crazy athletic traits i just want to show them a picture of christian harris who is hyper-athletic albeit a bit more of a project... not convinced by his instincts right now (which is surprising for a bama LB)

Agreed. It’s not to say I don’t like Dean but I struggle to see a true bonafide round 1 player there. Think someone could take him on day 2 and be happy with the results but I think there are better players at other positions in round 1.

 

[UPennChem]

I know the Ravens have for a long time not at all considered the C position to be of any priority this offseason. However I only ask this question because of the Zadarius Smith and Bobby Wagner misses.

With the cap we were trying to use for these guys, do we just take a step back and reevaluate? Like if you just use that money you were willing to spend on Tretter, then your OL is effectively done. You'll add a guy in the draft but you won't feel like it needs to be extremely high.

Then with the OL set you can basically feel comfortable drafting like 7 guys for defense and maybe even moving up 2 spots or something to ensure you get JJ or Stingley whoever you prefer.

I get this wasn't the original plan. But is it the best plan for today's world given what's happened?

 

[rossihunter2]

yeah, definitely not a fan of Harris. His lack of instincts and how much of project he is is truly un Alabama like. I think he may need to be a will in the NFL as well.

mike and will becomes a little meaningless though tbh especially in a 3-4 - the offensive motion determines who's the strong-side guy anyway - it's why, and ive been guilty of it too, talking about the ravens moving PQ to will is a bit silly... because they didnt change his role at all, they just took him off the field on 3rd down for a few weeks and tried to simplify the game for him during that time

it matters way more in a 4-3

 

[RavensMania]

I know the Ravens have for a long time not at all considered the C position to be of any priority this offseason. However I only ask this question because of the Zadarius Smith and Bobby Wagner misses.

With the cap we were trying to use for these guys, do we just take a step back and reevaluate? Like if you just use that money you were willing to spend on Tretter, then your OL is effectively done. You'll add a guy in the draft but you won't feel like it needs to be extremely high.

Then with the OL set you can basically feel comfortable drafting like 7 guys for defense and maybe even moving up 2 spots or something to ensure you get JJ or Stingley whoever you prefer.

I get this wasn't the original plan. But is it the best plan for today's world given what's happened?

I like Tretter and would be happy with the signing, but if they sign Tretter because they missed out on Wagner, that is a mistake. You don't use the salary cap just to use the salary cap.

 

[RavensMania]

mike and will becomes a little meaningless though tbh especially in a 3-4 - the offensive motion determines who's the strong-side guy anyway - it's why, and ive been guilty of it too, talking about the ravens moving PQ to will is a bit silly... because they didnt change his role at all, they just took him off the field on 3rd down for a few weeks and tried to simplify the game for him during that time

it matters way more in a 4-3

yeah PQ still played both Will and Mike roles after those 3 weeks.

 

[UPennChem]

I like Tretter and would be happy with the signing, but if they sign Tretter because they missed out on Wagner, that is a mistake. You don't use the salary cap just to use the salary cap.

Well I agree with the statement you don't use the salary cap just to use it wholeheartedly. But I guess my feeling is signing Tretter is not just using it for using its sake. That does seem to be a way to significantly improve the team Imo.

 

[rossihunter2]

Agreed. It’s not to say I don’t like Dean but I struggle to see a true bonafide round 1 player there. Think someone could take him on day 2 and be happy with the results but I think there are better players at other positions in round 1.

and it's not that i dont see a potential all-pro type player either especially given how cerebral you have to be to be elite at the position (and it's why he's still LB 2 on my board despite the traits others have) and i wouldnt quibble with a team who took him in a similar range to where we took PQ a couple of weeks ago

also worth saying that i think he's more likely to be higher on someone like Dallas's board than on baltimore's in terms of fit

but he's a little like some of the other prospects who might go in the 1st in this class in that their value isn't completely separated from their scheme fit when in other drafts you can find lots of scheme versatile guys at the top

 

[RavensMania]

Well I agree with the statement you don't use the salary cap just to use it wholeheartedly. But I guess my feeling is signing Tretter is not just using it for using its sake. That does seem to be a way to significantly improve the team Imo.

I believe and Zrebiec inferred that when Bozeman turned down the offer in December and Mekari signed his contract that that was the plan. They feel Mekari fits the Center need. I'd love to have Tretter at center and keep Mekari as swing tackle, but that doesn't seem to be the case with the Ravens.

 

[rossihunter2]

I like Tretter and would be happy with the signing, but if they sign Tretter because they missed out on Wagner, that is a mistake. You don't use the salary cap just to use the salary cap.

i kinda disagree here - there's no point not using all the cap we have on guys who make the team better just because we didnt land the guy we really wanted

 

[RavensMania]

i kinda disagree here - there's no point not using all the cap we have on guys who make the team better just because we didnt land the guy we really wanted

this part I agree with and I may have worded it incorrectly, but believe the plan has been Mekari since Bozeman turned down the deal.

Now we also don't know if they reached out to Tretter and didn't want to pay his price either.

 

[UPennChem]

I believe and Zrebiec inferred that when Bozeman turned down the offer in December and Mekari signed his contract that that was the plan. They feel Mekari fits the Center need. I'd love to have Tretter at center and keep Mekari as swing tackle, but that doesn't seem to be the case with the Ravens.

So again I totally agree this was exactly how the Ravens viewed the situation at that time. I personally believe they thought that at that time because they thought they were gonna be in on some big time defensive talent like Z and Wagner.

That didn't work out for us. So as FA is getting into phase 3 and the draft is coming up, I'm only asking is it time to reevaluate?

 

[RavensMania]

So again I totally agree this was exactly how the Ravens viewed the situation at that time. I personally believe they thought that at that time because they thought they were gonna be in on some big time defensive talent like Z and Wagner.

That didn't work out for us. So as FA is getting into phase 3 and the draft is coming up, I'm only asking is it time to reevaluate?

This is very possible and wish we could know the inner workings of what was going on in EDC's head.

@laceydecosta ..... please help

 

[UPennChem]

This is very possible and wish we could know the inner workings of what was going on in EDC's head.

@laceydecosta ..... please help

My guess is the Ravens won't be signing Tretter, but I definitely wouldn't be upset.

Maybe they think someone like Clowney could be a decent fit. They at least thought so a few years ago.

 

[rossihunter2]

I know the Ravens have for a long time not at all considered the C position to be of any priority this offseason. However I only ask this question because of the Zadarius Smith and Bobby Wagner misses.

With the cap we were trying to use for these guys, do we just take a step back and reevaluate? Like if you just use that money you were willing to spend on Tretter, then your OL is effectively done. You'll add a guy in the draft but you won't feel like it needs to be extremely high.

Then with the OL set you can basically feel comfortable drafting like 7 guys for defense and maybe even moving up 2 spots or something to ensure you get JJ or Stingley whoever you prefer.

I get this wasn't the original plan. But is it the best plan for today's world given what's happened?

this is why guys like EDC are paid so much - they're paid to be flexible, opportunistic and to have contingency plans - it's not like the ravens didnt know that bobby clearly wanted to be in LA and so they had to be ready to not get him in the end

obviously it sucks missing out on ZDS and now Wagner but we already got Williams (who we werent expecting to be available to us... harbs even admitted as much at his coach's breakfast at the owner's meetings)

we'll see who they pivot too but they're not going to not use that cap just because they lost out on wagner - maybe they end up giving it to some of the NFL's middle-class types who we've clearly been trying to avoid a little but who we've historically pursued in phase 3 of free-agency

then again, while we've not obviously showed interest in any of the other bigger name guys out there, we've got the cap to attack someone we might not have "wanted" as much before but will help our team - tretter would fit although it really does seem like they have no interest in adding a C, clowney, gillmore, ogunjobi (health depending) would all fit that kind of bill... the mathieu news surprised me and im confused as to the fit but he'd be that kind of signing too

as others have said before, free-agency kind of just skipped straight from phase 1 to phase 3 - still more guys than id have expected to available at this point are still there

 

[UPennChem]

this is why guys like EDC are paid so much - they're paid to be flexible, opportunistic and to have contingency plans - it's not like the ravens didnt know that bobby clearly wanted to be in LA and so they had to be ready to not get him in the end

obviously it sucks missing out on ZDS and now Wagner but we already got Williams (who we werent expecting to be available to us... harbs even admitted as much at his coach's breakfast at the owner's meetings)

we'll see who they pivot too but they're not going to not use that cap just because they lost out on wagner - maybe they end up giving it to some of the NFL's middle-class types who we've clearly been trying to avoid a little but who we've historically pursued in phase 3 of free-agency

then again, while we've not obviously showed interest in any of the other bigger name guys out there, we've got the cap to attack someone we might not have "wanted" as much before but will help our team - tretter would fit although it really does seem like they have no interest in adding a C, clowney, gillmore, ogunjobi (health depending) would all fit that kind of bill... the mathieu news surprised me and im confused as to the fit but he'd be that kind of signing too

as others have said before, free-agency kind of just skipped straight from phase 1 to phase 3 - still more guys than id have expected to available at this point are still there

Yeah this all makes a ton of sense. Names to keep an eye on Clowney, Gilmore, Matthieu, and Tretter it seems. Otherwise it might be more of a quantity of quality play.

I used to say ehh are we really gonna draft 10 rookies? I think getting one more key guy and getting younger may be better than signing 4 older guys and only keep say 6 or 7 rookies

 

[rossihunter2]

My guess is the Ravens won't be signing Tretter, but I definitely wouldn't be upset.

Maybe they think someone like Clowney could be a decent fit. They at least thought so a few years ago.

we know the browns have offered 2 for 26 (or something in that range) - that would be the offer to beat and we'd probably have to add another year to that deal to make it feasible in the cap and go 3 for 40 or something like that - idk if clowney would be willing to take that because then it's probably the last time he hits the market while somewhat close to his "prime"

but if we could swing it, he would be a great pivot

 

[UPennChem]

we know the browns have offered 2 for 26 (or something in that range) - that would be the offer to beat and we'd probably have to add another year to that deal to make it feasible in the cap and go 3 for 40 or something like that - idk if clowney would be willing to take that because then it's probably the last time he hits the market while somewhat close to his "prime"

but if we could swing it, he would be a great pivot

Clowney is just such a weird guy and who's had kind of a weird career. I hope if we do sign him, he can stay healthy

 

[rossihunter2]

Yeah this all makes a ton of sense. Names to keep an eye on Clowney, Gilmore, Matthieu, and Tretter it seems. Otherwise it might be more of a quantity of quality play.

I used to say ehh are we really gonna draft 10 rookies? I think getting one more key guy and getting younger may be better than signing 4 older guys and only keep say 6 or 7 rookies

and i think EDC agrees with you - looking at almost all the names we've been attached too and gone after (ogbah, williams, ZDS, wagner), we've been involved in big deal kind of guys and not the middle-class or ageing vet market much (outside of pierce, goldman and moses)... yet

i think it's pretty clear that EDC wants to make sure we're getting high-level play for the money we spend in free agency and that's why he wants more than just the 10 picks this year

the stated aim has been to get younger on defence - obviously they want to add campbell but i dont think they want to be left picking up stop-gaps in their 30s on cheap 1 yr deals again - ultimately they're not going to turn down an upgrade like houston last year again but i think they want to plug holes with young/dynamic/elite talents and fill out the roster with draft picks

and if that's the case it would be an interesting slight evolution from the previous philosophy of trying to plug every hole with vets before the draft (and i think it's probably a good adjustment given that lots of vets are still hanging around post-draft nowadays if you find that you miss out on a position in the draft)