i wouldnt be surprised if this happend tbh.
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2018 Free Agency
- Thread starter purplepittabread88
- Start date
Lmao so true
Right now it seems like Paul Richardson and Marqise Lee will both be the top 2 wide receivers in free agency. I like those guys but I don't know if I would like them that much for 9 million a year. I was little more in favor of The Ravens going after Jarvis Landry than those two because I think he fits what The Ravens need more . The last time The Ravens signed 30+ year old receiver who was released due to cap reason was Steve Smith Sr and the last time The Ravens drafted a receiver in second round it was Torrey Smith. If The Ravens end up getting another Steve Smith Sr and Torrey Smith that's a successful move and Joe Flacco will be happy.
Yes Maclin failed but lets be honest the time before that, the Ravens turned to be right.
Oldfaithful
Hall of Famer
I’m not too worried about it. Everyone is hellbent on building an elite offense but that’s not going to happen. Honestly if it were me running the team I’d focus my resources on the oline at this point or at all possible. I’d still pull the trade for Emmanuel Sanders if you could as I think his game ages well due to his route running. I don’t think that Torrey would be a terrible get. He’s approaching 30 sure but he’s got a few more years of speed left and it’d be more than a good idea to bring in a familiar target.
Point is. I know people are hellbent on being an offensive first team. It’s never going to happen. People want the WR in his prime. We don’t have a long window with Flacco. If he can play, so be it. People don’t understand how desperate the situation is. Those cap cuts would be automatic upgrades on the team and even Allen Robinson wouldn’t have fixed all the issues in offense, and if you think he would you honestly need to recheck your priorities. Even without those two on the market there’s still going to be options available.
The offense got better later on in the season because we found our identity and Flacco helped clean up his mechanics. We are a run first team without a doubt. Fix this overachieving oline and add 2-3 weapons in the passing game that can ACTUALLY CATCH THE BALL, and the offense will be fine. Boldin, Pitta, Jacoby, and Torrey were not this elite corps of weapons. They were good, damn good. But they were plentiful and capable. We are lacking that. We have playmakers in the backfield. Collins and Woodhead are good weapons.
An elite WR won’t solve our problems.
Point is. I know people are hellbent on being an offensive first team. It’s never going to happen. People want the WR in his prime. We don’t have a long window with Flacco. If he can play, so be it. People don’t understand how desperate the situation is. Those cap cuts would be automatic upgrades on the team and even Allen Robinson wouldn’t have fixed all the issues in offense, and if you think he would you honestly need to recheck your priorities. Even without those two on the market there’s still going to be options available.
The offense got better later on in the season because we found our identity and Flacco helped clean up his mechanics. We are a run first team without a doubt. Fix this overachieving oline and add 2-3 weapons in the passing game that can ACTUALLY CATCH THE BALL, and the offense will be fine. Boldin, Pitta, Jacoby, and Torrey were not this elite corps of weapons. They were good, damn good. But they were plentiful and capable. We are lacking that. We have playmakers in the backfield. Collins and Woodhead are good weapons.
An elite WR won’t solve our problems.
Edgar
Ravens Ring of Honor
Agreed. This draft class and where we are selecting offers the ability to build a devastating offensive line and I feel it's the direction our draft should take.
Joe doesn't need AJ Green...give him protection, a running game and guys that can win on third down.....
JAAM
Hall of Famer
Well, this takes us back to the point where we wanted to trade for Jarvis but the asking price was too high. Wonder if Ozzie and company will say screw it and get a trade done (also, fuck the Dolphins):
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/9405/jarvis-landry
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/9405/jarvis-landry
mc_red23
Pro Bowler
Jeff Zrebiec @jeffzrebiecsun 28m28 minutes ago
Interesting news on one of the Ravens pending FAs: Crockett Gillmore is making the transition to a new position. Previously a tight end, Gillmore is moving to the offensive line. He's been training w/former NFL player LeCharles Bentley who runs a highly-respected OL Academy.
Ken McKusick @FilmstudyRavens 12m12 minutes ago
Fascinating. OT I assume based on height?
Jeff Zrebiec@jeffzrebiecsun 3m3 minutes ago
Probably. But obviously that will depend on his progress. This is something he's wanted. Even in 2015, he was saying that he wanted to play OL. Think most people felt he was joking.
Wow!
Interesting news on one of the Ravens pending FAs: Crockett Gillmore is making the transition to a new position. Previously a tight end, Gillmore is moving to the offensive line. He's been training w/former NFL player LeCharles Bentley who runs a highly-respected OL Academy.
Ken McKusick @FilmstudyRavens 12m12 minutes ago
Fascinating. OT I assume based on height?
Jeff Zrebiec@jeffzrebiecsun 3m3 minutes ago
Probably. But obviously that will depend on his progress. This is something he's wanted. Even in 2015, he was saying that he wanted to play OL. Think most people felt he was joking.
Wow!
Oldfaithful
Hall of Famer
Crockett wasn’t that great of a blocker though. That’s the thing. It was very overrated when he was healthy just like the rest of his game.
If I’d rather move anyone to Oline itd be Maxx tbh.
If I’d rather move anyone to Oline itd be Maxx tbh.
Sledge Hammer
Pro Bowler
Fans have no choice but to believe that will work. I’m for building an elite oline. But I’m not for 30+ yr old receivers and turning over our receivers every 2 yrs looking for the latest unwanted declining cap cut. If Sanders could do the things he could when the Broncos signed him. Elway would not be looking to dump’em. We take on a declining players salary and the Broncos take our draft pick. And use that money toward the next 25 yr old version of Emmanuel Sanders in free agency. It’s not like the window is closing on a hall of fame QB. If Joe lays an egg again the stadium is gonna be completely empty. I favor an elite oline first. But you do need a WR the offense can feed off the attention he gets. Unless you have a stable of top shelf NO.2 receivers and TE’s and franchise running back. I’m not saying we need to sign Landry or Robinson. Or need a Julio Jones. I didn’t wanna pay them $14million per year. But a young skilled high roof receiver looking for opportunity to be a go to WR would be ideal. One that could cost $8-9 million per year. Receivers that will get better with joe within the system over next couple years. As opposed to lose a step every year which negates his acclimating to joe and the offensive system.
Many fans are in that offensive mode of thinking when the defense fronted 4 hall of fame caliber players. And several pro bowl caliber players. The idea the offense only needs to be adequate to win a super bowl. The defense isn’t close to dominant. And the franchise QB is eating up $25million per in salary cap. Which means the offense needs to be leaned on far more.
Teams with great dominant defenses the 2000 ravens, 2002 bucs, the recent Seahawks and Bronco defenses. Didn’t do it in the draft alone. There were free agent splashes as well. Ravens aren’t making free agent splashes so there’s little chance of building a dominant defense. The offense with a $25million QB has to be leaned on at times. Even the ravens Super Bowl team the offense picked up its pace.
But there were a lot of lucky lottery hits. Jacoby Jones is trash that happened to have his 5 mins of fame when needed most. I told everybody Jacoby isn’t gonna be heard from again. He is the ravens David Tyree. An all pro left tackle was cut for weight probs. He happened to have a college mate he respected and looked up to in Ray Lewis. That whipped him into the best shape of his career and he was a franchise left tackle for that run. That reshuffled the line into a dominant and menacing OLine. A lot of lucky rare stuff came together for that run.
Sledge Hammer
Pro Bowler
I suggested that several times. If he could bulk up to 310-320 lbs without losing much athleticism. Could be a steal. Bentley is considered a guru at building Functionsl size and power. And learned technique himself later in his career.
DeVito52
Ravens Ring of Honor
Apparently Gillmore weighs 305 right now
he improved as a blocker and he seems to have bulked up specifically to play this role - if he comes cheap then why not take a flier at least in training camp...
Edgar
Ravens Ring of Honor
I'm sure I never suggested the offense need merely be adequate. Clearly we need receivers.
RL52TheGreatest
Ravens Ring of Honor
I'd still be worried about his injury history; Gilmore is like the Camp of TEs. That being said, it doesn't really hurt to see what he can do and if it jump-starts his career then I'm all for it.
Sledge Hammer
Pro Bowler
At times he looked ok as a blocker. At times he did an adequate job on edge rushers. Add 40lbs to him and focused on blocking specifically without catching to take away his focus on becoming a good blocker and he has an opportunity to be really good. He is 6’6 with 34” arms and huge 10 1/2” hands. If he comes in at 310-320lbs without losing much of his TE athleticism. He could be a really good Right Tackle. Ravens should sign him on a 2 yr $5millon backloaded contract.
We saw him beast linebackers trying to tackle him when he was 266 lbs. He has a chance to be the next Jason Peters. Not saying as good as Peters. But a TE turned good right tackle. If he comes in 310-320 lbs he will be as big or bigger than Hurst and Alex Lewis. And training a year with Bentley since his injury. He is gonna be stronger than Lewis and Hurst. And being a TE he is a far better athlete. His pros as a blocker was he mirrored and sustained very well. Doing that at 315 lbs could mean a dominant right tackle. The ravens are up for catching a break like that.
I know you didn’t. But if ravens follow the usual monologue of a cheaper cap cut vet with diminishing skills as their “Big WR free agent upgrade”. To tandem With some round2 rookie as their hyped WR moves. Then the offense isn’t gonna be much better. In that case it is gonna be middle of the pack average. Need to find a young skilled receiver looking for opportunity to be the lead NO.1
Since Sanders is the topic tell me other than his age where is there enough evidence to prove that Sanders still isn't as good as he was in 2016 or later? Especially when you consider how bad The Broncos quarterback situation was last year.
Oldfaithful
Hall of Famer
Yeah seriously. Even though Sanders is over the age of 30, the dude's main asset as a player is his route running and reliability. Those don't go away with age. As much as I'd rather pursue a WR in his prime(and I do think an unsuspecting trade might be in the works given Biscoitti's behavior during the press conference. Honestly has left me more than curious) if Sanders is part of the solution I can't complain. We need to acquire multiple options in the passing game. Do that and fix the line and a lot is going to change.
Sure, while the end of last season we did play an easier schedule, and Flacco cleaned up his mechanics for the first tme in years, I do think the other third component for the turnaround is that we found an identity on the offensive side of the ball. Collins, despite getting minimal playing time early, still almost broke 1000 yards on the season and showed an ability to make something out of nothing. He's a feature back. Hell, we are being totally honest he did not look terrible as a receiving option out of the backfield. Through upgrades on the offensive line alone, and nothing but upgrades, this offense becomes MUCH better. Say what you will about Roman, he's absolutely brilliant when trying to establish rushing attacks. This offense opens up because of Collins. We get a guy like Sanders who just has a knack for getting open over the middle and making tough catches on third down, and another deep threat and the offense is better off for it. Icing on the cake would be getting a good TE in this class. Goedert, Andrews, Gesicki, Hurst, Thomas. Any of them will do.
And while the defense isn't a dominant unit. If not for injuries that defense would've carried us to the playoffs last season if you want the full truth. Losing Jimmy and Tavon made things a lot harder. Brandon Williams going down for a few games cost us. It's a super bowl caliber unit at full strength.
Build a good offensive line and acquire a few reliable options in the passing game the offense will go as far as Collins and Flacco take it. It won't be elite, but we've never been an offensive team and we should stop trying to be an offensive team. Our defense blew it towards the end.. But make no fucking mistakes whatsoever. They were the only reason we were in any position to even make the playoffs. Even slight upgrades on the offense would go a very long way.
Sledge Hammer
Pro Bowler
Ravens fans already talking themselves into a 30+ receiver not declined lol. You know your managements tricks. His routes were so good cuz of his explosion and suddenness. Broncos coaches and fans blame the offensive probs with a decline in the WRs skill sets as much as the QBs. The coaches and Elway watch them every day and I think would see a decline in their skills. Nobody dumps a top shelf NO.2 in his prime unless drama or diminishing skills. Elway is playing it smart and dumping him b4 anybody else recognizes it. His 2016 was subpar. But I understand it serves your interests to believe he is the same player he was 5 yrs ago. And blame his decline line all on his QBs. Elway is in a rush to dump him and find his 25 yr old version in free agency looking for opportunity
Oldfaithful
Hall of Famer
I don't think people get it. The receiving corps was so pathetic last season that the hypothetical that several others and myself are proposing would still be a SIGNIFICANT improvement. Mike Wallace was our most reliable option in the passing game and he's nothing more than a deep threat. What does that tell you? Like literally.
An offseason of
Emmanuel Sanders
DJ Moore
Isiah Wynn
Hayden Hurst
And the offense improves IN SPADES. Yanda is coming back too. That offense isn't elite but it could do something that our offense straight up couldn't do for the first half of the season. That offense could probably get the job done