$10 million a Year for Kruger

**s.r.genovese** · 03-04-2013, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by Ravenous1

Even if you accept what you said as true it still does not change the fact that the Ravens were smart to not resign JJ for the money he wanted and they will be smart for not giving Kruger the type of money he is looking for.

"neither was a complete player" those are the key words. Guys like that are great to have around at your price to be used at your discretion. When the price goes to high let someone else pay it.

I agree he's priced himself out of what we can afford but it doesn't mean he is easy to replace. Just because he's "not a complete player" doesn't mean he isn't good. It seems that posters easily dismiss all the good he did just because he wasn't the greatest run defender.

And I also think his deficiencies there are a little overblown.

**wickedsolo** · 03-04-2013, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by s.r.genovese

I agree he's priced himself out of what we can afford but it doesn't mean he is easy to replace. Just because he's "not a complete player" doesn't mean he isn't good. It seems that posters easily dismiss all the good he did just because he wasn't the greatest run defender.

And I also think his deficiencies there are a little overblown.

I would agree with this.

He made some good plays as a run defender as well as in coverage.

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**AirFlacco** · 03-04-2013, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by pslholder96

Well Kruger's speciality was rushing the QB and for what it's worth every team ran on the ravens for much of the season.

Kruger has always had a run prob, Ravens haven't. Like someone posted, teams didn't game plan vs Kruger.

**The Excellector** · 03-05-2013, 12:02 AM

What makes the Ravens defense great will never change: It's ability to stop the run. Some posters used to be in denial about that. "We need to rush the passer" "We need coverage LBs". The 2012 Ravens defense sucked, quite frankly, by Ravens standards. What was the one reason that stood out the most? Its inability to stop the run.

First and foremost, to be consistently successful as a starter on this defense, you have to be able to stop the run. Especially, if you are a front seven defender. That is why Jarret Johnson lasted as long as he did. It is also why the Ravens will not pay out for Paul Kruger. It is also why Courtney Upshaw will become the full time starter.

Personally, I just don't care much for those 'pass rush only' types. I'd rather have a guy like Upshaw who could give you seven sacks, paired up with the right person.

Now, that doesn't mean that prospects entering the draft aren't guys that can develop in run defense, depending on the circumstances.

I just value run defense more than some and Kruger doesn't do it for me.

**bacchys** · 03-05-2013, 09:14 AM

Well, Ex, some folks are of the belief that running the football is dying in the NFL.

Bellicheat isn't one of them. The Patriots emphasized the run this past season.

**The Excellector** · 03-05-2013, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by bacchys

Well, Ex, some folks are of the belief that running the football is dying in the NFL.

Bellicheat isn't one of them. The Patriots emphasized the run this past season.

Then, they can have fun with their coverage LBs while their defenses are getting gashed by these read option offenses.

**Coastergenius** · 03-05-2013, 11:15 AM

For as much as Kruger is called a one-dimensional, situational player, ProFootballFocus had him listed as our greatest value above salary of any Ravens player. Obviously this took his low salary into account, but the statistical analysis actually showed that he was pretty well rounded and played pretty well against the run. So I'm not sure why people are showing that he was just a 3rd down specialist or something.

That being said, I see resigning your own guys as risky as signing big ticket free agents. And you have to ask yourself if you would sign him as a big ticket free agent for his asking price if he came from another team. At this point in our franchise, I don't think that we're in the situation to be locking up so many money into a few veterans. We need to rely on drafting players to step up to retool.

**Captain Silver** · 03-05-2013, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Coastergenius

For as much as Kruger is called a one-dimensional, situational player, ProFootballFocus had him listed as our greatest value above salary of any Ravens player. Obviously this took his low salary into account, but the statistical analysis actually showed that he was pretty well rounded and played pretty well against the run. So I'm not sure why people are showing that he was just a 3rd down specialist or something.

That being said, I see resigning your own guys as risky as signing big ticket free agents. And you have to ask yourself if you would sign him as a big ticket free agent for his asking price if he came from another team. At this point in our franchise, I don't think that we're in the situation to be locking up so many money into a few veterans. We need to rely on drafting players to step up to retool.

Again, stats don't point to the fact his game improved when Suggs came back!

**Stealthbirds80** · 03-05-2013, 02:18 PM

Not really one of those guys crying because Kruger will leave. I like he guy as a player, but he is getting paid for part-time playmaking. I can't hate on the fact that someone is willing to pay for that. Kudos to him. Enter the Upshaw era which I think he will do just fine. He's a little of both JJ and Suggs. Not a lot of sacks, but enough to cause issues and also be a force against the run. I'll take that.

**The Excellector** · 03-05-2013, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Silver

Again, stats don't point to the fact his game improved when Suggs came back!

Yeah, stats don't show how TEs were even kicking his ass up the seams in the running game.

**Tucker: M&T Sec 527** · 03-08-2013, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by LukeDaniel

That's an unwarranted amount of money. Kruger was in the NFL for four years and really only during one 10 games stretch did he ever show an ability to be anywhere near that type of player. IMO he's a 4 year/$25m type player, not a 5 year/$50 million type player.

Kruger was young coming in the League. Early to the draft, Mormon obligations, complications from an ugly off-field incident (a knife to the spleen) all contributed to a slower growth curve. He definitely matured and contributed in 2012. The eternal question for guys who leave is how much of their success is owed to playing for the Ravens' defense, and how much do they bring along with them?