Ravens sign Dallas Clark

[wickedsolo]

I would have called it silly earlier in the offseason, but I would not be surprised (or bothered) in the slightest if the Ravens cut Doss in favor of carrying both Reed and LaQuan as the 4th and 5th receivers. Reportedly both have been more impressive than Doss during practices and both play STs very well. That's especially true if they're able to carry both Mellette and Marlon Brown on the PS--obviously Mellette is the first guy up if we need more depth at the position.

I think Juszczyk will be listed on the roster as the 2nd FB and I don't have a problem with that because even though teams don't really carry 2 FBs, they usually carry a handful of guys whose REAL position is 90% special teams. Whether that's a LB, FB, safety, etc. I think that's what Juszczyk is destined for in year 1.

I think the call between 3 or 4 TEs is going to depend on whether or not Dickson is ready for week 1. If he's not, I think they'll carry 4 including him. If he's ready, he'll be the #1 guy, with 2 out of the 4 of Bajema/Clark/Shiancoe/Furstenburg. I think Dallas Clark has a good bit more left in the tank and Furstenburg intrigues me, while IMO Shiancoe (looks done and did nothing last year) and Bajema (just a ST guy and <10-snap-a-game blocker) should be given their walking papers.

Heh? What?

Come on...0 chance that happens. Doss is running with the 1's and while he isn't killing it during pre-season he isn't Travis Taylor out there.

[wickedsolo]

Oh I see.... Well there is no way in hell Dickson isn't making the team obviously.

I'm with Bmore... I won't be surprised if Doss doesn't make the team. He's been disappointing to say the least this offseason. His fourth round draft status from 2 years ago won't save him either. Hell, the 49ers may even be cutting their first round pick from only a year ago.

Call me absolutely nuts, but I have a feeling Mellette could eventually beat out Jacoby as the #2 some time this year, I think he makes the team.

Well, you guys are nuts.

Ozzie isn't parting ways with a 4th rounder who is running with the 1st team offense. It just isn't happening.

If Ozzie and Co are willing to keep Terrance Cody through his rookie deal, then they sure as shit are going to keep Doss.

I do agree with you about Mellette though. Watching him against Vandy a few years ago was really impressive and I think he has made a really good impression during camp. He can clearly hang, which is what you want to see from a young player. I too had a feeling about him and felt that it would only take Mellette getting some confidence at the pro-level and he could be a really nice asset to this offense.

[JAB1985]

I would have called it silly earlier in the offseason, but I would not be surprised (or bothered) in the slightest if the Ravens cut Doss in favor of carrying both Reed and LaQuan as the 4th and 5th receivers. Reportedly both have been more impressive than Doss during practices and both play STs very well. That's especially true if they're able to carry both Mellette and Marlon Brown on the PS--obviously Mellette is the first guy up if we need more depth at the position.

Id love a link to that "report", seems like conjecture. Almost every report ive been reading says that Doss is consistently getting open and getting a bunch of targets because of it and making spectacular catches. I think the worst that i heard said he and flacco were out of synch early but got back into rhythm by the end. I dont think a good report on williams or reed and no report on Doss means they leapfrogged him or have been more impressive. Its going to take a lot to pass him, even thompson and stokely have to work to pass him at this point. They certainly wont be cutting him, which is a far out scenario.

to add to what Wicked said, there seems to be a different standard for Doss and Williams/Reed. Them making a catch against 2nd-3rd team seems to carry more weight than what Doss does against the 1s. that doesnt seem fair in the slightest. You want them to get some reps with the 1st, I can understand that, but to say Doss should be cut because theyre better is just outrageous.

[Money227]

A few points:

1. No way we keep 7 WRs (certainly not with 2 FBs this year).
2. Anthony Allen will not be cut. Way too valuable on ST. Rainey and Berry will fall short again.
3. Williams and Reed have inside track to making team (again...ST).
4. I get all the reasons why Doss wouldn't be cut, but the fact he contributes zilch on ST leaves some chance in my mind.

[BigPlayReceiver]

I've got one cheek hanging off the Doss bandwagon but he's not getting cut.

[wickedsolo]

I've got one cheek hanging off the Doss bandwagon but he's not getting cut.

Me too.


Odds are if you are consistently running with the 1's, you aren't getting cut. You might lose your potential starting gig, but you're not getting cut.

[RavenScallywag]

A few points:

4. I get all the reasons why Doss wouldn't be cut, but the fact he contributes zilch on ST leaves some chance in my mind.

Um, you do realize he's one of the TOP punt returners on the team right now? He's either #1 or #2...

Guy plays ST, believe me.

BR.com lists him 2nd behind Jacoby (Rainey is 2nd on KR). I know for a fact I've seen him doing a lion's share of the PR on Special Teams practices the two I went to.

[Money227]

Um, you do realize he's one of the TOP punt returners on the team right now? He's either #1 or #2...

Guy plays ST, believe me.

BR.com lists him 2nd behind Jacoby (Rainey is 2nd on KR). I know for a fact I've seen him doing a lion's share of the PR on Special Teams practices the two I went to.

My bad. I just have Jacoby written in as our KR/PR specialist again this year and I feel like a backup punt returner is a luxury (not a necessity). We have other guys who can fill in (if needed).

[bmorecareful]

Me too.


Odds are if you are consistently running with the 1's, you aren't getting cut. You might lose your potential starting gig, but you're not getting cut.

Yet in your 53 man roster you have Shiancoe--the first team TE over the last 2 weeks--not making the cut (I agree with that assessment BTW.) It is not unprecedented for a guy "running with the 1's" to be cut, not even particularly uncommon if there are injuries at the position, and there are right now with Thompson in the tub. Obviously Shiancoe is not actually the top guy on the depth chart, but neither is Doss. Shiancoe is the #2 TE and Doss is (at best) the #3 WR, so they're essentially similar guys in terms of depth chart positioning.

Doss has reportedly been playing pretty much exclusively in the slot with the 1st team. If they felt so good about him in that position why did they just go out and sign a pure slot guy? Again, I've never said that Doss getting cut was LIKELY, only that it wouldn't really surprise me. The odds are still probably against it, but when you're talking about the 4th or 5th WR (which is where Doss very well might end up if Stokley wins the #3 job and Reed and Williams keep impressing,) by definition you're talking about a guy who isn't a lock.

BTW we're all aware Doss is on the PR depth chart. In that respect, he's similar to Reed--both are 2nd team returners--but the issue is that he doesn't play on any 0THER ST units. LaQuan plays on all 4 ST units and David Reed plays on at least 2 of them AND is a backup returner. To my knowledge Doss does not play any coverage units or the KO unit at all, only backup PR. If you think that's not a significant factor to the personnel decision, especially for a 4th or 5th WR, Marcus Smith says hello.

[Justlovemybirds]

Yet in your 53 man roster you have Shiancoe--the first team TE over the last 2 weeks--not making the cut (I agree with that assessment BTW.) It is not unprecedented for a guy "running with the 1's" to be cut, not even particularly uncommon if there are injuries at the position, and there are right now with Thompson in the tub. Obviously Shiancoe is not actually the top guy on the depth chart, but neither is Doss. Shiancoe is the #2 TE and Doss is (at best) the #3 WR, so they're essentially similar guys in terms of depth chart positioning.

Doss has reportedly been playing pretty much exclusively in the slot with the 1st team. If they felt so good about him in that position why did they just go out and sign a pure slot guy? Again, I've never said that Doss getting cut was LIKELY, only that it wouldn't really surprise me. The odds are still probably against it, but when you're talking about the 4th or 5th WR (which is where Doss very well might end up if Stokley wins the #3 job and Reed and Williams keep impressing,) by definition you're talking about a guy who isn't a lock.

BTW we're all aware Doss is on the PR depth chart. In that respect, he's similar to Reed--both are 2nd team returners--but the issue is that he doesn't play on ANY other ST units. LaQuan plays on all 4 ST units and David Reed plays on at least 2 of them AND is a backup returner. To my knowledge Doss does not play on ANY ST units. If you think that's not a significant factor to the personnel decision, especially for a 4th or 5th WR, Marcus Smith says hello.

Doss returned a few punts last year (including in the playoffs) and shared Punt Return Duties with Bobby Rainey in the Bucs game. He's actually pretty decent.

[bmorecareful]

Doss returned a few punts last year (including in the playoffs) and shared Punt Return Duties with Bobby Rainey in the Bucs game. He's actually pretty decent.

I'll correct my initial post. I meant he doesn't play any OTHER units besides occasionally returning punts. IIRC LaQuan consistently plays on all 4 ST units (KO return, KO coverage, punt return, and punt coverage) and Reed is at the very least the top gunner on the punt team. Doss doesn't do any of that.

[RavenScallywag]

It's possible Doss is a cut, but it's also possible Jacoby's 4M cap hit becomes a casualty, and Doss is kept for PR and WR duties. I'd say the odds are on him making the roster at least, but certainly he's not a guaranteed lock.