Ravens Biggest draft need: Impact DE

[jonboy79]

If the Ravens were one or two players away from being a contender, we could be seriously discussing foregoing that need and going for a top tier college prospect. Problem is: this has evolved into a bad team. What good would it do to get a Ryan to play behind this OL and be constantly be playing behind due to no pass rush and a porous secondary? What's needed is about 1/2 dozen or more good players. 1st or 2nd round material. But we don't have enough picks.

I would take an adequate QB for a season while focusing on these other needs. That is, if Boller continues playing as he did in the 2nd half yesterday.



23 points should win most games. I would say that is adequate.

See, the thign is, I still think we are 1-2 players away from championship calibre... as long as that player is an elite QB. We have a championship calibre defense, PERIOD. we haven't had a Raven's type defense, but despite ALL of those injuries we are still one of the better defenses in the league.

What youi suggest is make a great team without a QB. Then we have a great tema that still won't be winning championships. You have to allow a QB to mature in your system... We ned to get this guy in house NOW. Then we can build the team around HIM. We have enough playmakers on both sides of the ball, we simply can't get the bal where it needs to be.

I believe that the OL will improive with time, adn even moreso with a good signal caller. If we hadn't invested so heavily so recently I might think that needed to be done first, but well, in my mind it's nearly complete. We need to let them play, and sort their issues out. The talent is there.

[RustonRifle]

23 points should win most games. I would say that is adequate.

I'd almost agree if not for the fact that Boller:bag: gift wrapped a field goal and gave the Browns 7 more points on his interception return.

Heck, his QB rating for the day was a touch over 60 and that doesn't include his fumble and points given up. How adequate could his day have been?

Only in the city of Baltimore is Quarterback play this poor even remotely acceptable. The rest of the NFLs fans would be upset by play this shoddy.

[RustonRifle]

See, the thign is, I still think we are 1-2 players away from championship calibre... as long as that player is an elite QB. We have a championship calibre defense, PERIOD. we haven't had a Raven's type defense, but despite ALL of those injuries we are still one of the better defenses in the league.

What youi suggest is make a great team without a QB. Then we have a great tema that still won't be winning championships. You have to allow a QB to mature in your system... We ned to get this guy in house NOW. Then we can build the team around HIM. We have enough playmakers on both sides of the ball, we simply can't get the bal where it needs to be.

I believe that the OL will improive with time, adn even moreso with a good signal caller. If we hadn't invested so heavily so recently I might think that needed to be done first, but well, in my mind it's nearly complete. We need to let them play, and sort their issues out. The talent is there.

Definately Jonboy!!!

[Mista T]

See, the thign is, I still think we are 1-2 players away from championship calibre... as long as that player is an elite QB. We have a championship calibre defense, PERIOD. we haven't had a Raven's type defense, but despite ALL of those injuries we are still one of the better defenses in the league.

What youi suggest is make a great team without a QB. Then we have a great tema that still won't be winning championships. You have to allow a QB to mature in your system... We ned to get this guy in house NOW. Then we can build the team around HIM. We have enough playmakers on both sides of the ball, we simply can't get the bal where it needs to be.

I believe that the OL will improive with time, adn even moreso with a good signal caller. If we hadn't invested so heavily so recently I might think that needed to be done first, but well, in my mind it's nearly complete. We need to let them play, and sort their issues out. The talent is there.

Well, you are certainly entitled to your opinion about being only 1-2 players away from championship calibre. I hope you are right, but, realistically, IMHO our needs are much greater . I believe that we are more like 1/2 dozen players away from being a contender again .... and a few more on top of that from being to even think about winning championships.

Rolle & Ogden will both be gone, and their substitutes are a drop-off. Jarett Johnson is a major dropoff from Adalius Thomas. No secondary depth. LB depth is questionable..... the Smith Bros. may be finished. This defense is in danger of falling off to a lower echelon without acquiring a few impact players.

And the Offense? 1 or 2 players from championship calibre? Even someone of the calibre of Drew Brees (who should be wearing purple had our FO made the right move) would suffer behind this OL and with WRs who have disappeared.

I hope that I am wrong and you are right. I don't want to go through '96-'98 again after the way we were spoiled here since Billick arrived.

[Greg]

I'd almost agree if not for the fact that Boller gift wrapped a field goal and gave the Browns 7 more points on his interception return.

Boller got the team the lead with less than a minute to play, he did enough to win.

He had a terrible first half and great second half. And the whole time he was under pressure.

[Sports Steve]

We need to find a top notch OL player first our QB never has time to look down field.

2nd we need to find a great corner back.

[StingerNLG]

Oh man, Tex.....er.......Ruston, you made my ignore list. I know you are Tex because you have the same one track mind, and you use the same stupid emotion icons in every post like a three year old. So bye bye slick. Since the mods won't punish you for hijacking threads, since they don't punish you as Tex Ritter, it's onto the ignore list.

Jonboy, if you think QB is the #1 need and the OL isn't even really on the list, then I am afraid we are going to be right back here 3 years later talking about QB being the #1 need. Yesterday's game, and the beating Steve McNair has taken, forcing him out......and then OUT, should be a reminder that offensive line has got to come first. Think about this again, our offensive line is known for injuring quarterbacks. So drafting another QB to come in here and get beaten into mediocrity is just going to prolong the suffering.

We also BTW don't have a legit #1 reciever. Very little downfield threat. So keep that in the back of your mind as well.

We need to draft a Center, a stud Defensive End, and a cornerback. And it doesn't have to be in that order. We may need some linebacker help too since Ray isn't going to play forever. Kelly Gregg I imagine is going to be getting up there in years soon as well.


I'm telling you guys, be careful what you wish for. We'll get that first round QB at the expense of something we REALLY need, and we'll continue to pay for that, and ruin yet another kid coming out of college.

[purplepoe]

Boller got the team the lead with less than a minute to play, he did enough to win.

He had a terrible first half and great second half. And the whole time he was under pressure.

Now some people might say that Im nitpicking etc.... but did Boller really have a "great" second half Greg?

Was it MUCH better than the 1st half? Yup. But it wasn't great. Sorry, I just can't say a QB had a great 2nd half when he throws an ill advised pass that goes back 101 yds for a TD. Yes, he had pressure, but you just cannot do that.

He put us in position to win at the end and in the end that's all that matters.

Sadly our coaching, special teams, and plain bad luck let to another loss.

PP

[StingerNLG]

Now some people might say that Im nitpicking etc.... but did Boller really have a "great" second half Greg?

Was it MUCH better than the 1st half? Yup. But it wasn't great. Sorry, I just can't say a QB had a great 2nd half when he throws an ill advised pass that goes back 101 yds for a TD. Yes, he had pressure, but you just cannot do that.

He put us in position to win at the end and in the end that's all that matters.

Sadly our coaching, special teams, and plain bad luck let to another loss.

PP

5 scoring drives in the 2nd half, two of which over 75 yards? One right out of the gate? I would say great. No one is saying the whole game was great, but 5 out of 7 drives resulted in scores in the second half. I think that would classify.

[metro]

I disagree that we are one or two players away from a championship team. I do agree that the most important need is a franchise QB. I like Kyle Boller. He seems like a decent dude. However, he's not the franchise QB to build your team around. He would make a nice back-up QB. The O-line should improve with time and perhaps a better scheme. A QB that can recognize where the blitz is coming from would be big help too.

We also need a playmaking WR. Anyone who disagrees should watch a Patriots, Cowboys or Colts game. Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Marvin Harrison/Reggie Wayne do wonders for their respective QBs.

The defense needs an overhaul. We need a DT that can collapse the pocket. We also need a DE that can generate a consistent pass rush. The CBs are getting old and the Ravens need to bring in McAlister and Rolle's replacements. We also need LBs that are better in coverage. With AD gone, Ray is the only LB we have that can be counted on to make plays in coverage. The whole defense needs more speed.

It will take a few years to acquire the pieces, but the Ravens need to retool now. The top priority should be a franchise QB. They also need a coaching staff that can develop that QB. I'm not confident that the current coaching staff can do that.

[purplepoe]

5 scoring drives in the 2nd half, two of which over 75 yards? One right out of the gate? I would say great. No one is saying the whole game was great, but 5 out of 7 drives resulted in scores in the second half. I think that would classify.

Maybe it's semantics.

But again, great isn't what I would describe it as.

Good? Yup.

Like I said, Im probably nitpicking.

PP

[jonboy79]

Jonboy, if you think QB is the #1 need and the OL isn't even really on the list, then I am afraid we are going to be right back here 3 years later talking about QB being the #1 need. Yesterday's game, and the beating Steve McNair has taken, forcing him out......and then OUT, should be a reminder that offensive line has got to come first. Think about this again, our offensive line is known for injuring quarterbacks. So drafting another QB to come in here and get beaten into mediocrity is just going to prolong the suffering.

We also BTW don't have a legit #1 reciever. Very little downfield threat. So keep that in the back of your mind as well.

We need to draft a Center, a stud Defensive End, and a cornerback. And it doesn't have to be in that order. We may need some linebacker help too since Ray isn't going to play forever. Kelly Gregg I imagine is going to be getting up there in years soon as well.


I'm telling you guys, be careful what you wish for. We'll get that first round QB at the expense of something we REALLY need, and we'll continue to pay for that, and ruin yet another kid coming out of college.

At some point, the OL that we have CONSIDERABLY invested in RECENTLY has to step up. You can't keep draft the same position over and over again. I think we have to see what we have, and draft and acquire FA's to augment that. I don't really know exactly what we have in the line of Terry - Brown-Chester-Grubbs-Yanda as we may not have even seen that line on the field at the same tiem yet, or if we have it was certainly not nearly a full game. I think they will be good. Also there is NO denyign that improved QB play helps the line by leaps and bounds. A QB that can get rid of the ball quikcly and effectively, discourages the blitz. We haven't had that guy.

I agree that a bona fide #1 WR would be a great add as well, but I think we can wait a year on that one... at least not a more pressing need then QB.

Sure we have needs on the defense, but with all fo these injuries we are still a top 10 D... And JJ isn't that HUGE a drop in play from AD...

I understand what you are saying, I guess we just see it differently... I think if we do all of the things you say, which I do see as needs, we'll be wasting it without a QB. YOu think picking a QB may cost us to fill those needs... but really, who impacts a game more then a QB? How can a serious deficiemcy in the most important position in all of sports, be ignored?