Ravens Biggest draft need: Impact DE

**ClericBlackDave** · 11-19-2007, 09:36 AM

Lets be serious here: The Ravens officially have no pass rush, with Pryce now sidelined with a torn Pectoral Muscle and Suggs seemingly still being 1 dimensional (very few inside swim moves, etc)

I think the Ravens biggest need is to draft an impact pass rushing DE to be across from Suggs.

We can't get off the field on 3rd and long, and its mostly because the other team is getting 5 or more seconds of pass protection. Its a shame to see such good play on 1st and 2nd down wasted because we can't rush the passer.

I hate to see what Tom Brady does to us if we can't generate some sort of pass rush.

**xmradiodave** · 11-19-2007, 09:39 AM

I did not look at this aspect before. I have been focused on the O-Line. It does appear we need some muscle at the DE position though. For the time being though, I am still thinking O-Line beef in the draft. Good observation though and definitely worth looking out for in the remainder of the season.

**ravenjoe** · 11-19-2007, 09:44 AM

Top Two Needs: 1 - Shutdown Corner; 2 - Impact De.

**jonboy79** · 11-19-2007, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by ravenjoe

Top Two Needs: 1 - Shutdown Corner; 2 - Impact De.

If you haven't noticed the scoring this season, there are abotu 75% of the teams in the NFL that would subscribe to these needs...

**festivus** · 11-19-2007, 11:43 AM

My list? 1. corner, 2/3 DE/QB tied.

**Mista T** · 11-19-2007, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by festivus

My list? 1. corner, 2/3 DE/QB tied.

Somewhat agree. If Boller was just finding his rhythm in the first half, and his 2nd half play was what we will see henceforth, QB should fall to later rounds or pick up a vet minimum FA. Our overall needs are too great to invest too much in the QB position if we are getting adequte play.

I am getting more concerned with the OL. I don't know if it's Terry, Yanda, Chester, Brown or several of them, but they look worse each game when they should be improving. Right now, I'm hopeful that Darling is for real and that Boller continues his decent play. In that case, the needs should be fulfilled as a CB, a DE, an OL, a QB and another CB/nickel in that order, but let BPA dictate. If there is a burner who can actually run patterns and who can hang onto the ball, get him into the mix in low rounds.

This is going to be a long and painful rebuilding.

**jonboy79** · 11-19-2007, 12:14 PM

My list...
1. QB- Boller is Ok... you won't win championships int eh NFL anymore with an OK QB...
1.b. - Coach. Billick has lost it. No control, no clock management, fear of running the ball, no grasp on who is the ebest player each position, at this moment. Football is a young man's game, and he stands by his Overpaid Vets. Lloyd needs to make the active roster to handle kickoffs.
2. CB- Rolle will be retiring, McAllister is aging...
3. DE- Assuming we DO re-sign Suggs, if not then it is #2. Pryce is aging
4. C- Chester isn't going to cut it at this level. He got BLOWN UP at LG...
5. WR- We need a big play threat
6. TE- Heap can't stay on teh field, and his backups are backups. We need a true, well rounded guy. QSyP may be evolving into this guy. He can block and catch, so it's a start.
7. Depth elsewhere, OL, DL... Big heavies...

**RustonRifle** · 11-19-2007, 12:17 PM

I cringe at the thought of the "guru" running the offensive show in Baltimore with another young QB but that is our #1 need.

We've played a host of 30 something defenses and struggled to put points on the board how many times this season?

I suspect Ozzie and the staff won't reach for a need they'll take the BPA
addressing QB,CB or DE positions.

Our overall needs are too great to invest too much in the QB position if we are getting adequte play.

Holy smokes

Three

turnovers and 1 Touchdown is "adequate" or even "decent" as you say?

Say What?

**Mista T** · 11-19-2007, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

My list...
1. QB- Boller is Ok... you won't win championships int eh NFL anymore with an OK QB...

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.

Originally Posted by RustonRifle

Holy smokes

Three

turnovers and 1 Touchdown is "adequate" or even "decent" as you say?

Say What?

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

**xmradiodave** · 11-19-2007, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mista T

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.

Boller was suprisingly well in the second half. The first half is where most of the damage was done. Let's see how he does next week.

**ClericBlackDave** · 11-19-2007, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by xmradiodave

Boller was suprisingly well in the second half. The first half is where most of the damage was done. Let's see how he does next week.

Pass protection.

You don't separate the play of your QB from the play of your offensive line, and so I'm not worried about Boller as much as I'm worreid about why we haven't bench Ogden for Terry at this point.

Terry is a natural LT, more of a finesse guy, and a better fit at LT AND a better start at LT than Ogden at this point.

Draft needs are at Defense End, CB, and Center. Flynn is at best serviceable, at worst a bum. Chester doesn't have the size or strength apparently.

QB may be a need, but is it the most pressing need? We'll see by how Boller plays when the line holds up.

But the change 1st half v. 2nd half was in the protection.

For most QBs, confidence = confidence-in-your-offensive-line

**xmradiodave** · 11-19-2007, 01:04 PM

I absolutely agree. I was not giving Boller all the credit. It had so much to do with protection. I am with you on that one.

**jonboy79** · 11-19-2007, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Mista T

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** · 11-19-2007, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Mista T

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

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.

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** · 11-19-2007, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

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** · 11-19-2007, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

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** · 11-19-2007, 05:01 PM

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** · 11-19-2007, 05:04 PM

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** · 11-19-2007, 05:05 PM

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** · 11-19-2007, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Greg

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