Ravens to make Ellerbe an offer

**Paintballguy** · 03-08-2013, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

You know, while I can see Ozzie offering him a good amount of money, we've all taken note of the way Ozzie has handled the ILB positions. It should not surprise us if Ozzie tries to bring in more UDFAs. With Ray gone, if he loses Ellerbe, Ozzie will probably try to bring in one veteran, but I wouldn't expect anything major.

Ozzie talked about the middle of the defense. Perhaps, he is thinking of it from the front to the back. For example, if you have a better Nose Tackle, that makes your ILBs better.

Getting a better nt will definitely make the ilbs better.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**The Excellector** · 03-08-2013, 06:44 PM

I just think that Vontae Leach's case is different, because he is the undisputed best at his position. This isn't the usual case of being able to find a guy to give you his type of production at a lower price. Leach gives you the best production out there. No one else out there is going to give you the production he gives you.

Do you honestly think an H-back is going to open similar holes in defenses as Vontae Leach?

**JAB1985** · 03-08-2013, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

I just think that Vontae Leach's case is different, because he is the undisputed best at his position. This isn't the usual case of being able to find a guy to give you his type of production at a lower price. Leach gives you the best production out there. No one else out there is going to give you the production he gives you.

Do you honestly think an H-back is going to open similar holes in defenses as Vontae Leach?

Youre not wrong in saying hes the best. But the best vs a guy not in the league at his position is far greater than a 3 down ILB vs out of the league. You say 3/4 of a year because of last years hamstring issues. Its a fair knock. He also played with a bad ankle and two broken thumbs without complaint at a high level. Injuries happen but hes shown hell play through the ones he can. That means something to me. We may have been able to get udfas to fill in before, but ray lewis isnt here anymore. We wanted a ILB of the future to be here to learn from ray before he retires. Well maybe he was in our FOs eyes. Ellerbes value vs leaches is not even close, imo, eventhougb i do agree hes the best FB vs a Top 10-15 or so ILB.

**Paintballguy** · 03-08-2013, 06:55 PM

Leach is great but we had no issue cracking big runs without him and the offense flowed better. Flacco destroyed the patriots when they went 11 personnel no huddle.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**The Excellector** · 03-08-2013, 07:05 PM

We won't be able to do that against everybody. We need package versatility.

**Lime in the Coconut** · 03-08-2013, 07:05 PM

I'd like to keep Ellerbe, but of course, not for a load of money. I believe he has upside, but his injuries concern me a bit. I like both McClellan and Bynes actually. I think if Ellerbe isn't re-signed, a vet or rookie will come in and compete with the players we have. The thing that's interesting to me is that if all these guys don't come back, what do we do in FA with $12 million free (could be more if they make more cuts)?

One glaring need on defense is at NT. We need to really get a dominant run stuffing player at that spot.

**iggyman555** · 03-08-2013, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Lime in the Coconut

I'd like to keep Ellerbe, but of course, not for a load of money. I believe he has upside, but his injuries concern me a bit. I like both McClellan and Bynes actually. I think if Ellerbe isn't re-signed, a vet or rookie will come in and compete with the players we have. The thing that's interesting to me is that if all these guys don't come back, what do we do in FA with $12 million free (could be more if they make more cuts)?

One glaring need on defense is at NT. We need to really get a dominant run stuffing player at that spot.

DT and pass rusher and cover LB

**JAB1985** · 03-08-2013, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

We won't be able to do that against everybody. We need package versatility.

So in your opinion keeping the best FB for the few teams that still commit heavily to the run in a passing league is more important than an ILB thats capable of stopping the run, pass rushing, and although not great is our best coverage LB?

**AirFlacco** · 03-08-2013, 09:03 PM

DAMN, Ellerbe's agent just said they'll talk to all 32 teams. Someone in here said a deal was made but they wanted to sign Joe before announcing it. I knew that was too good to be true.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/...3-b543b4d8d47b

**arnie_uk** · 03-09-2013, 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by AirFlacco

DAMN, Ellerbe's agent just said they'll talk to all 32 teams. Someone in here said a deal was made but they wanted to sign Joe before announcing it. I knew that was too good to be true.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/...3-b543b4d8d47b

Can't ever remember reading that

**NC Raven** · 03-09-2013, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Lime in the Coconut

I'd like to keep Ellerbe, but of course, not for a load of money. I believe he has upside, but his injuries concern me a bit. I like both McClellan and Bynes actually. I think if Ellerbe isn't re-signed, a vet or rookie will come in and compete with the players we have. The thing that's interesting to me is that if all these guys don't come back, what do we do in FA with $12 million free (could be more if they make more cuts)?

One glaring need on defense is at NT. We need to really get a dominant run stuffing player at that spot.

I agree. I'm not sure all this "we're going hard after Ellerbe" talk isn't a smokescreen/PR move. The fans don't want to hear we're gutting our ILB corps (everybody freaking out already with Ray leaving, and thinking we'd need to replace two starters at ILB).

In fact, all our ILB's last year EXCEPT RAY were UDFA's (McClain, McClellan, Ellerbe, Bynes, Ayenbadejo). The Ravens do NOT place a high value on ILB's and I believe with the DL depth in the draft and in FA, they believe they can improve the LB corps by beefing up the D Line.

So while we may re-sign Ellerbe, I see this as another Adalius Thomas / Bart Scott / Ed Hartwell scenario. Ellerbe is great for us and I'd love to have him back, but the fact is, he'll almost surely get paid like a superstar somewhere else. Some teams never learn, and telling your fans you're "bringing some of that Ravens defense swagger" on board is always an easy sell. People actually buy it. Over and over and over and over. How many Defensive Coordinators did we turn into head coaches? How many free agents have left the team, gotten overpaid, and sucked into oblivion?

Why would Ellerbe be any different? Adalius Thomas was IMHO the best of the bunch, and even he didn't do crap when he left. I don't know. I could easily see the Ravens "make a run" at Ellerbe but secretly be glad to let him be somebody else's cap-space filling contract.

**wickedsolo** · 03-09-2013, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by NC Raven

I agree. I'm not sure all this "we're going hard after Ellerbe" talk isn't a smokescreen/PR move. The fans don't want to hear we're gutting our ILB corps (everybody freaking out already with Ray leaving, and thinking we'd need to replace two starters at ILB).

In fact, all our ILB's last year EXCEPT RAY were UDFA's (McClain, McClellan, Ellerbe, Bynes, Ayenbadejo). The Ravens do NOT place a high value on ILB's and I believe with the DL depth in the draft and in FA, they believe they can improve the LB corps by beefing up the D Line.

So while we may re-sign Ellerbe, I see this as another Adalius Thomas / Bart Scott / Ed Hartwell scenario. Ellerbe is great for us and I'd love to have him back, but the fact is, he'll almost surely get paid like a superstar somewhere else. Some teams never learn, and telling your fans you're "bringing some of that Ravens defense swagger" on board is always an easy sell. People actually buy it. Over and over and over and over. How many Defensive Coordinators did we turn into head coaches? How many free agents have left the team, gotten overpaid, and sucked into oblivion?

Why would Ellerbe be any different? Adalius Thomas was IMHO the best of the bunch, and even he didn't do crap when he left. I don't know. I could easily see the Ravens "make a run" at Ellerbe but secretly be glad to let him be somebody else's cap-space filling contract.

Interesting perspective.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Forum Runner

**RavenScallywag** · 03-09-2013, 09:41 AM

that's all fine and good, but you can't tell me Ozzie isn't having some near panic attacks over the thought of a LB corps where Ray is gone, Ellerbe is gone, McClain may still be injured (and not great), and your top options are BA, Bynes, and McClellan...

If Ellerbe signs somewhere else, we're going to HAVE to bring in some sort of vet with starting ability.

**wickedsolo** · 03-09-2013, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

that's all fine and good, but you can't tell me Ozzie isn't having some near panic attacks over the thought of a LB corps where Ray is gone, Ellerbe is gone, McClain may still be injured (and not great), and your top options are BA, Bynes, and McClellan...

If Ellerbe signs somewhere else, we're going to HAVE to bring in some sort of vet with starting ability.

There are some of those in FA.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Forum Runner

**ursula** · 03-09-2013, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

that's all fine and good, but you can't tell me Ozzie isn't having some near panic attacks over the thought of a LB corps where Ray is gone, Ellerbe is gone, McClain may still be injured (and not great), and your top options are BA, Bynes, and McClellan...

Sure we can. Everything we've seen by Ozzie over the years screams Don't Panic in large friendly letters. You may or may not like certain moves he makes but panic is just not what he does. I can imagine the scenario where we get to the draft with no Ellerbe, no other vet ILB and we don't go ILB in the first couple of rounds. I'd be panicking, we'd all be panicing, but Ozzie won't be.

Ozzie really does believe in right player, right price.

**Benny8444** · 03-09-2013, 10:34 AM

we have the cap space to sign players from other teams as well esp if Leach is cut and Boldin plus BA. Plus bobbie williams was cut and I would not be surprised if Cody is cut as well to open more space.

I think some big moves are in the works with the goal of getting younger and better.

**Doctor** · 03-09-2013, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Benny8444

we have the cap space to sign players from other teams as well esp if Leach is cut and Boldin plus BA. Plus bobbie williams was cut and I would not be surprised if Cody is cut as well to open more space.

Doubtful they cut Cody. He's due to earn $630k in base. He won't be re-signed after this season, but I don't see Ozzie cutting a player making barely above league minimum.

**BcRaven** · 03-09-2013, 12:15 PM

Here's a scenario : The Ravens offered Cary Wms a 3 year, $15 mil. contract before the 2012 season. He turned it down and is very likely to wear another uniform in 2013. Could his unspent $$$ be applied on Ellerbe, and we'd keep the ILB we desperately need? Perhaps life domino theory applies here. Hmmm... Bc

**NC Raven** · 03-09-2013, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

that's all fine and good, but you can't tell me Ozzie isn't having some near panic attacks over the thought of a LB corps where Ray is gone, Ellerbe is gone, McClain may still be injured (and not great), and your top options are BA, Bynes, and McClellan...

If Ellerbe signs somewhere else, we're going to HAVE to bring in some sort of vet with starting ability.

See, I don't think Ozzie IS all that worried. If you had told me in summer 2010 that we'd win the Super Bowl in 2013 with 37 year old Ray Lewis (who I wouldn't have guessed would still be playing) paired with Ellerbe at ILB I'd have said you're nuts.

I'm not going with the overplayed "next man up" crap here either, because the "next man" isn't necessarily going to be as good as the last man (or he wouldn't be the "next" man). I do understand that we can't let everyone go. But ... can we really sit here right now and say that Bynes/McClellan/rookie/cheap vet is going to be that bad? Especially if we get a real NT in the draft?

It's all very interesting at this point, but just looking at the Jameel McClain deal -- even THAT is looking like an albatross around our salary-cap-necks (just on performance and value; I don't factor the injury because anyone can be injured). And McClain's deal is nothing compared to what people are talking about with Ellerbe. Do the Ravens really want to sink another... $5-6M a year into that position?

I don't think they do. I think they wish Ellerbe was still around another year on his old deal, that's what!