The 2021 Offseason Thread

[JoeyFlex5]

I’ll be honest, I’m not too worried about these minor injuries, if guys are missing here and there in the regular season I’m ok with it, because I feel like the defense and Lamar can carry this team to January, it’s our health and chemistry in the playoffs that I worry about

 

[ndub]

I’ll be honest, I’m not too worried about these minor injuries, if guys are missing here and there in the regular season I’m ok with it, because I feel like the defense and Lamar can carry this team to January, it’s our health and chemistry in the playoffs that I worry about

At this point idk if our offense can carry us into the playoffs to be honest… unless this OL can block for longer than for 1 second, we are completely dependent on our defense to get Ws. Even Superman back there this past week would’ve found it hard to do anything in the first half. This OL sucks ass

 

[UPennChem]

2-3 weeks. Let’s see. 2 weeks from this day is 8/31. 3 weeks from this date is 9/7. It’s an almost full 4 weeks until we play our game on 9/13

You're right but it's just a little more complicated than that. First we historically like to get a full week of practice in before bringing people back in which can add a week. Additionally as we saw with Bateman this off-season, little injuries are not something to write off. They very easily can get reaggrivated and postpone getting healthy and in worse cases get much worse. I'm not saying the sky is falling, but I am pointing out that there has basically been a report of at least 1 player picking up a so called minor injury every single day there are football activities. And in the case of McSorley lol, he threw out his back at home picking up boxes. Just seems like a lot of guys are knicked up and that effects building chemistry, something our QB historically needs to play at the highest level.

 

[ndub]

You're right but it's just a little more complicated than that. First we historically like to get a full week of practice in before bringing people back in which can add a week. Additionally as we saw with Bateman this off-season, little injuries are not something to write off. They very easily can get reaggrivated and postpone getting healthy and in worse cases get much worse. I'm not saying the sky is falling, but I am pointing out that there has basically been a report of at least 1 player picking up a so called minor injury every single day there are football activities. And in the case of McSorley lol, he threw out his back at home picking up boxes. Just seems like a lot of guys are knicked up and that effects building chemistry, something our QB historically needs to play at the highest level.

Bateman- absolutely zero injuries in college. Muscle tightness caused some missed time. Finally went down with a groin injury which he got surgery for. Who knows, maybe his groin was the source of the muscle tightness and it just finally gave out. He got that fixed.

One week after recovery- sure, when we have time for that and it’s absolutely required. Usually veterans are allowed to play ASAP once cleared and deemed needed for a game

 

[UPennChem]

Bateman- absolutely zero injuries in college. Muscle tightness caused some missed time. Finally went down with a groin injury which he got surgery for. Who knows, maybe his groin was the source of the muscle tightness and it just finally gave out. He got that fixed.

One week after recovery- sure, when we have time for that and it’s absolutely required. Usually veterans are allowed to play ASAP once cleared and deemed needed for a game

My only point here is more likely than not little injuries are little, but sometimes they bigger then anticipated. Knowing that's the case, it would be nice if we didn't have 1 to 2 players every single day picking up little injuries. Because even if every single one is little, it just screws up practice and that will effect cohesion early in the season where we play the chiefs. Lamar has KC living rent free in his head, called them his kryptonite or the boogie man or something I can't remember. We gotta beat them to get over that hurdle. I think we can if we're healthy, but that remains a real uncertainty at this point.

 

[ndub]

My only point here is more likely than not little injuries are little, but sometimes they bigger then anticipated. Knowing that's the case, it would be nice if we didn't have 1 to 2 players every single day picking up little injuries. Because even if every single one is little, it just screws up practice and that will effect cohesion early in the season where we play the chiefs. Lamar has KC living rent free in his head, called them his kryptonite or the boogie man or something I can't remember. We gotta beat them to get over that hurdle. I think we can if we're healthy, but that remains a real uncertainty at this point.

Hey, I get it. I have anxiety too when it comes to certain things, been guilty of projecting my same thoughts onto others in that I said someone or something was “in their heads”. But I learned to just let it be and let it take it from there

 

[UPennChem]

Hey, I get it. I have anxiety too when it comes to certain things, been guilty of projecting my same thoughts onto others in that I said someone or something was “in their heads”. But I learned to just let it be and let it take it from there

We certainly can only hope for speedy recoveries!

 

[rossihunter2]

At this point idk if our offense can carry us into the playoffs to be honest… unless this OL can block for longer than for 1 second, we are completely dependent on our defense to get Ws. Even Superman back there this past week would’ve found it hard to do anything in the first half. This OL sucks ass

i honestly think the OL will be fine...

Tyre Phillips had a bit of a rough time at LT but as soon as he moved inside to LG he looked like a completely different player - at tackle he looked like a below average guy - at guard he looks so much better... he was getting decent push off the ball, looked way more comfortable in pass pro, had some nice pulls, was much better balanced - think part of the problem with him at tackle is that he knows his own weaknesses against speed so sets so vertically that he creates a runway for EDGE guys to just speed-to-power him

i dont really care who plays LT in the next 2 preseason games but Phillips should be starting at LG in preseason week 2 (especially if cleveland cant go) - we wont learn anything about the LG battle (which Roman said today is still wide open) if he's playing LT - he looks way better at guard

and there's absolutely no way in hell powers should be getting the starter reps at LG (or any starter reps tbh)

if we're still just using the same OL personnel as last week (minus bozeman) for this week's game, then i'd like to see Mekari go to LT, Phillips go to LG, Colon at C (although he struggled), Bredeson at RG and Villanueva at RT - that feels like the better way to evaluate the guys who actually have a potential chance to contribute

but i genuinely thought Tyre looked like the best of all the OL in preseason week 1 - better than bozeman (who seemed to struggle getting push) and better than Villanueva (although i thought he did well too except like 1 play)

 

[rmcjacket23]

i honestly think the OL will be fine...

Tyre Phillips had a bit of a rough time at LT but as soon as he moved inside to LG he looked like a completely different player - at tackle he looked like a below average guy - at guard he looks so much better... he was getting decent push off the ball, looked way more comfortable in pass pro, had some nice pulls, was much better balanced - think part of the problem with him at tackle is that he knows his own weaknesses against speed so sets so vertically that he creates a runway for EDGE guys to just speed-to-power him

i dont really care who plays LT in the next 2 preseason games but Phillips should be starting at LG in preseason week 2 (especially if cleveland cant go) - we wont learn anything about the LG battle (which Roman said today is still wide open) if he's playing LT - he looks way better at guard

and there's absolutely no way in hell powers should be getting the starter reps at LG (or any starter reps tbh)

if we're still just using the same OL personnel as last week (minus bozeman) for this week's game, then i'd like to see Mekari go to LT, Phillips go to LG, Colon at C (although he struggled), Bredeson at RG and Villanueva at RT - that feels like the better way to evaluate the guys who actually have a potential chance to contribute

but i genuinely thought Tyre looked like the best of all the OL in preseason week 1 - better than bozeman (who seemed to struggle getting push) and better than Villanueva (although i thought he did well too except like 1 play)

Pretty much the theme of the offseason to me. The Oline is going to be defined by the quality of play of the Tackles. It's pretty much the opposite from last year, when Stanley was healthy.
Barring like a string of injuries that knocks out 2-3 interior lineman, I really don't have much concern with the interior. I have all the confidence in the world in Zeitler, Bozeman, and even whoever plays LG, if they're healthy.

That being said... I've seen pundits suggest that interior pressure is the bigger issue for Lamar, and that he can, theoretically, handle outside pressure more. So it could be the thought process that as long as we have a strong interior line, we will be OK.

 

[rossihunter2]

must think he's better than tavon and jimmy... and if that's the case we should expect him to be on the field a lot and definitely shouldn't be viewed as a 5th CB

 

[ravenslord]

I’ll be honest, I’m not too worried about these minor injuries, if guys are missing here and there in the regular season I’m ok with it, because I feel like the defense and Lamar can carry this team to January, it’s our health and chemistry in the playoffs that I worry about

Well we have plenty of time till January but I agree it's hard to build chemistry with all these injuries.

 

[rossihunter2]

Pretty much the theme of the offseason to me. The Oline is going to be defined by the quality of play of the Tackles. It's pretty much the opposite from last year, when Stanley was healthy.
Barring like a string of injuries that knocks out 2-3 interior lineman, I really don't have much concern with the interior. I have all the confidence in the world in Zeitler, Bozeman, and even whoever plays LG, if they're healthy.

That being said... I've seen pundits suggest that interior pressure is the bigger issue for Lamar, and that he can, theoretically, handle outside pressure more. So it could be the thought process that as long as we have a strong interior line, we will be OK.

i definitely think the quality of the tackle play is important but i wouldnt undersell the importance of the interior - i think lamar needs to be able to trust his OL in that he doesnt necessarily need them to be perfect but they need to be predictable - he needs to know who his weak link is in pass pro and where the pressure's likely gonna come from

 

[rossihunter2]

 

[rmcjacket23]

must think he's better than tavon and jimmy... and if that's the case we should expect him to be on the field a lot and definitely shouldn't be viewed as a 5th CB

Averett is going to play ahead of Jimmy this year. Been saying it for months. Jimmy is probably the 5th corner on this team, since he doesn't play slot. His best chance of substantial playing time is in a hybrid dime Safety role, or if there's an injury to Elliott or Clark. His best chance at snaps may be more as a Safety than as a Corner.

How much either plays is a huge ? to me though. It just depends on what Wink wants to do with his personnel groupings. All being healthy, if Averett is playing a ton, it would probably mean that Tavon isn't working out well in the slot, and that Marlon is playing inside a lot (which he has been), which basically makes Tavon a rotational player in Nickel.

Dime packages would be interesting, and Wink plays a good bit of them. Assuming Elliott and Clark remain on the field in Dime, one of either Averett, Jimmy, or Tavon isn't on the field. And it sounds like based on this Averett isn't likely to be the one on the sidelines. And if Jimmy isn't playing much Dime, I'm not sure when he's playing to be honest.

I suppose its possible they'll go back to the Marlon/Jimmy/Carr rotation route, where they're doing a heavy rotation among guys to keep them fresh. But I just don't see the Ravens thinking taking Marlon or even Peters off the field for more than a snap or two is a good idea.

 

[rmcjacket23]

i definitely think the quality of the tackle play is important but i wouldnt undersell the importance of the interior - i think lamar needs to be able to trust his OL in that he doesnt necessarily need them to be perfect but they need to be predictable - he needs to know who his weak link is in pass pro and where the pressure's likely gonna come from

Right. I'm saying the interior should be a significant upgrade from last year, and I think with time they'll be fine. I'm saying the Ravens may feel they're better off being "weaker" outside than "weaker" inside, because they probably think Lamar could move the pocket and be mobile enough to avoid outside pressure better than interior pressure.
I think our starters on the interior are better, and I think our depth on the interior is better.

 

[rossihunter2]

Averett is going to play ahead of Jimmy this year. Been saying it for months. Jimmy is probably the 5th corner on this team, since he doesn't play slot. His best chance of substantial playing time is in a hybrid dime Safety role, or if there's an injury to Elliott or Clark. His best chance at snaps may be more as a Safety than as a Corner.

How much either plays is a huge ? to me though. It just depends on what Wink wants to do with his personnel groupings. All being healthy, if Averett is playing a ton, it would probably mean that Tavon isn't working out well in the slot, and that Marlon is playing inside a lot (which he has been), which basically makes Tavon a rotational player in Nickel.

Dime packages would be interesting, and Wink plays a good bit of them. Assuming Elliott and Clark remain on the field in Dime, one of either Averett, Jimmy, or Tavon isn't on the field. And it sounds like based on this Averett isn't likely to be the one on the sidelines. And if Jimmy isn't playing much Dime, I'm not sure when he's playing to be honest.

I suppose its possible they'll go back to the Marlon/Jimmy/Carr rotation route, where they're doing a heavy rotation among guys to keep them fresh. But I just don't see the Ravens thinking taking Marlon or even Peters off the field for more than a snap or two is a good idea.

will also be interesting to see where stephens factors in - he's been playing a lot of nickel/safety in training camp and the preseason and has been playing a ton of dime with the 1st team defence - will be interesting to see if that's just because of jimmy's injury or whether he's going to be a factor early in the year

 

[rmcjacket23]

will also be interesting to see where stephens factors in - he's been playing a lot of nickel/safety in training camp and the preseason and has been playing a ton of dime with the 1st team defence - will be interesting to see if that's just because of jimmy's injury or whether he's going to be a factor early in the year

I would imagine ST and very little defensive snaps. If Levine is up and active, he may be a gameday inactive to me.

Just depends on how many DB's you're going to dress. They need to dress 9 or 10 likely for him to be active.

 

[RavensMania]

knowing we only have one more year of Peters after this season, assuming no extension, I wonder if they try and extend him to be the air apparent to Peters in the offseason. Of course it takes two to tango.

 

[rossihunter2]

i know im quoting myself but i just did this exercise and we're looking at a marked difference between huntley and mcsorely - mcsorely's drops in passing situations are a good 2 yards deeper than huntley's which makes the pocket massively steeper and harder to protect

 

[rossihunter2]

I would imagine ST and very little defensive snaps. If Levine is up and active, he may be a gameday inactive to me.

Just depends on how many DB's you're going to dress. They need to dress 9 or 10 likely for him to be active.

maybe it changes later in the preseason but just looking at the way he played in preseason week 1 and the way he was involved on special teams (and how good he looked on special teams) i find it hard to believe they wouldnt activate him - so many of our DBs play special teams that idk that i'd be surprised if we were activating 9 or 10 of them on gamedays