Ravens Are Falling Apart

[Seven]

Have lost Lewis, Boldin, Ellerbe and Kruger. Gave Flacco a ridiculous contract. Have added Chris Canty...

Lewis, Ellerbe and Kruger were all starters at linebacker. That leaves them with Terrell Suggs as a returning starter on that unit. Anquan Boldin made Joe Flacco look like a competent quarterback at least a dozen times over the postseason when Flacco's passes had no business being caught. Who is going to start opposite Torrey Smith? Jacoby Jones? Is Brendan Ayenbadejo really going to be a starting linebacker for this team? I would have to think so considering they lost both interior backers. I don't see what the plan is here. Canty is a decent player but who are they going to sit down on that line for him? McPhee/Ngata/Jones are all solid.

Does anyone disagree with me? Seems to be a lot of worry about our team but in my mind even though we have a lot of question marks the Ravens all of a sudden have more holes.

[Psycho Ward 86]

no theyre not. very wishful thinking though. the ravens, steelers, and patriots are about as stable as it gets in the nfl. They get mcclain back from injury to fill one of the starting ILB spots. He's been a starter there for the past 3 seasons anyways, and a starter for some good defenses nonetheless. Upshaw started more games than Kruger anyways at OLB and he was going to be the heir apparent to that weakside outside linebacker spot at some point anyways. Suggs will still be there. Really they just have 1 ILB spot they really need to fill and they have free agency and the draft to do that. And the ravens draft about as well as anybody, and they have more cap room than people make it sound like.

Remember before the 2011 opener when almost everyone thought we over matched THE SHIT out of the ravens roster and they blew us out at our house 35-7? And then swept us, and won the division? lol. thats all i gotta say. this whole division is going to be a pain in the ass for the rest of the league to play.

[SteelerEmpire]

There over there saying the same thing about the Steelers... lol. I guess it's like nuclear annihilation; whoever rebuilds first wins...

[Crow-Magnon]

Ellerbe + Kruger = way $$$ overpaid. This league is littered with ex-Ravens LB's who left for more money and faded into oblivion.

[86WARD]

Don't forget the probable loss of Ed Reed.

But they'll be fine...still in a better spot than the Steelers right now. It's a good thing they handcuffed themselves a lol bit with Flacco's deal.

[salamander]

The Steelers aren't exactly in the best spot themselves at the moment.

[XxKnightxX]

Last I checked ozzie newsome can find gems in the draft year in and year out. They're fine.

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[ALLD]

They have more depth than the Steelers right now.

[Seven]

They have more depth than the Steelers right now.

Really? Really? I keep seeing everyone here say this and it doesn't seem to be true at all. If you look at both teams starting with Roethlisberger > Flacco as a baseline, the rest of the roster falls into place suggesting to me that the Steelers are currently a superior team.

The Ravens are losing:

Paul Kruger
Dan Ellerbe
Ray Lewis
Bernard Pollard
Matt Birk
Anquan Boldin
Cary Williams*
Bryant McKinnie*
Ed Reed*

How on earth does that put them in a superior position? Depth? What depth? Courtney Upshaw and who else? They have nothing at inside linebacker, little at receiver, nothing at safety, an overpaid quarterback and too much cash invested in defensive linemen.

You guys can say "they're fine" all you want because it's bold to say otherwise but that roster has been gutted. Flacco is not going to put the team on his back without an option like Boldin.

[Godfather]

Hopefully Pollard catches on with the Jets, Bills, or Dolphins so he sees the Patriots* twice a year.

[Seven]

Hopefully Pollard catches on with the Jets, Bills, or Dolphins so he sees the Patriots* twice a year.

Haha that would be funny.

If I were the Ravens I would seriously consider trading Ray Rice. I think Bernard Pierce is a better runner and you could replace some of these pieces with what you get in return for Rice.

[Psycho Ward 86]

Really? Really? I keep seeing everyone here say this and it doesn't seem to be true at all. If you look at both teams starting with Roethlisberger > Flacco as a baseline, the rest of the roster falls into place suggesting to me that the Steelers are currently a superior team.

The Ravens are losing:

Paul Kruger
Dan Ellerbe
Ray Lewis
Bernard Pollard
Matt Birk
Anquan Boldin
Cary Williams*
Bryant McKinnie*
Ed Reed*

How on earth does that put them in a superior position? Depth? What depth? Courtney Upshaw and who else? They have nothing at inside linebacker, little at receiver, nothing at safety, an overpaid quarterback and too much cash invested in defensive linemen.

You guys can say "they're fine" all you want because it's bold to say otherwise but that roster has been gutted. Flacco is not going to put the team on his back without an option like Boldin.

this is exactly what our forum sounded like before the 2011 opener against the ravens. they proceeded to blow us out 35-7. A big reason was because they had a lot of "inhouse talent" that teams outside the organization didnt really know were quite that good. Its foolish to think the ravens are anywhere near out of the count. People find reasons why the steelers are doomed to fail every year and we damn near always succeed in ways that make them green with envy. This season being a rare exception. I hate so many people in that organization but i respect the ravens enough to see them as formidable until they prove otherwise

[Seven]

this is exactly what our forum sounded like before the 2011 opener against the ravens. they proceeded to blow us out 35-7. A big reason was because they had a lot of "inhouse talent" that teams outside the organization didnt really know were quite that good. Its foolish to think the ravens are anywhere near out of the count. People find reasons why the steelers are doomed to fail every year and we damn near always succeed in ways that make them green with envy. This season being a rare exception. I hate so many people in that organization but i respect the ravens enough to see them as formidable until they prove otherwise

I agree with you to a certain extent but I don't believe they lost 5 or 6 starters on defense, two starting offensive linemen and their most impactful offensive playmaker prior to the 2011 season, either. It seems to me that Baltimore is believing in this facade that Joe Flacco is going to make everything alright - and he's not that type of player. He isn't going to make the team around him better. He needs help and all the help he had last season is leaving.

[Crow-Magnon]

I agree with you to a certain extent but I don't believe they lost 5 or 6 starters on defense, two starting offensive linemen and their most impactful offensive playmaker prior to the 2011 season, either. It seems to me that Baltimore is believing in this facade that Joe Flacco is going to make everything alright - and he's not that type of player. He isn't going to make the team around him better. He needs help and all the help he had last season is leaving.

Other than Boldin, what help did Flacco get that is leaving? Matt Birk is a helluva center, be he ain't 29 or 30. With all those "superstars" on the defense last year, just how dominant was the Ravens D in 2012? That's right- not so much. Unless Ozzie has a brain tumor, I respect his decisions, because he's normally spot-on.

[vader29]

[Count Steeler]

That Deer Antler spray must really smell something fierce.

[Psycho Ward 86]

LOL

[Seven]

Other than Boldin, what help did Flacco get that is leaving? Matt Birk is a helluva center, be he ain't 29 or 30. With all those "superstars" on the defense last year, just how dominant was the Ravens D in 2012? That's right- not so much. Unless Ozzie has a brain tumor, I respect his decisions, because he's normally spot-on.

The defense wasn't spectacular but it played well enough to help the offense win games. Do you really think it's going to play up to that level with Lewis, Kruger, Ellerbe, Williams and Pollard gone? I won't even include Reed because I thought he played pretty poorly last season.

And do you disagree that Boldin made huge plays in every postseason game for you guys? Plays that otherwise not made probably would have led to losses? Do you really believe Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones are going to bring that to the table?

If McKinnie and Birk leave and Oher moves back to LT and Osemele has to kick outside again, the running game goes away making Rice and Pierce pretty useless. Do you really want to see Gradkowski back at center? I can't believe that.

I really could see an 8 - 8 season on the way. And I don't believe that is wishful thinking.

[GBMelBlount]

The defense wasn't spectacular but it played well enough to help the offense win games.

You know, when a team is in synch, whether on defense or offense, you find ways to win imo.

The Steelers were that way at one point.

[GoSlash27]

I don't worry about what the Ravens are doing so long as they're not violating their parole.

[steelreserve]

Hmm .. sometimes the public does have its facts straight...

[Seven]

Ravens have cut guard Bobbie Williams AND other teams have become interested in tight end Dennis Pitta.

Ravens have lost:

Anquan Boldin

Paul Kruger
Ray Lewis
Dannell Ellerbe

Bernard Pollard
Ed Reed
Cary Williams

Bryant McKinnie
Matt Birk
Bobbie Williams

Dennis Pitta?


I mean, come on guys. This is getting ridiculous. They have lost almost all their starting linebackers, over half their starting offensive line, best offense player and nearly their entire starting defensive backfield.

[86WARD]

Still a better team than the Steelers right now...

[salamander]

Let's reiterate: the Steelers aren't much better off at this point.

[Seven]

Still a better team than the Steelers right now...

Let's reiterate: the Steelers aren't much better off at this point.

With what players??? At what position, exactly, outside of defensive line and running back, are the Ravens superior to the Steelers?

They're going to have to suit these guys up pretty soon.

[Boh]

Haha. Count us out in March. please.

[salamander]

Haha. Count us out in March. please.

For the record, regardless of which team lost or loses whatever players, I fully expect our games to be just as hard-fought as usual.

[Boh]

The way they're ment to be played! agreed

[salamander]

The way they're ment to be played! agreed

Exactly. Ain't nothing like some smashmouth AFC North football!

[Seven]

Haha. Count us out in March. please.

Sorry buddy, but Marcus Spears and Chris Canty are defensive linemen. You need linebackers, defensive backs, wide outs, offensive linemen... 8-8. At best. This time next year the uproar over Flacco's ridiculously irrational contract will be even louder than it is now. Can't wait.