Anquan boldin

[highwater]

I don't consider his two years here "underwhelming" -- maybe those who think that had expectations that might have been a little lofty. I certainly still think it was a good trade. I was always a Mason fan but I don't know what you mean when you say Mason brought more to the team than Boldin.

Having said that, I'm all for upgrading the passing game, but it goes beyond the WRs. I still remember Greg Cosell's somewhat scathing indictment of Cam's offensive game plans last year, which as I recall was that the plays and formations were all so predictable. I'm not confident that will change this coming season but I wish it would.

[ballhawk]

Compared to mason's production when he came over in 2005, boldin just hasnt hit it off here like mason did. Look at the numbers side by side. When we signed him for 4 years i definately expected four 1000+ yd seasons. Im pretty underwhelmed. Boldin was a highlight machine before he showed up in the land where receivers come to die.

[Ravenswintitle]

But he gets paid like a #1 wr.

His $6mil salary for 2012 is the 7th highest for a receiver in the entire league.

Thats the thing...he was brought in to be that #1 guy but it hasnt worked out that way.

Fair enough. Hopefully this will be his breakout year or he won't be around next year

[Corey]

Q is down at the castle for voluntary OTA's, sharing his knowledge with the young WR's and putting in work.

A lot of talk lately about how underwelming his 2 years with the team have been, and i was just wondering what some of you guys thought about it.

His numbers have been pretty mediocre for a #1 wr. They dont even hold up when looking at what derrick mason brought to this team. Does the leadership he brings and his threat as a downfield blocker offset what he has lacked in receptions and yardage? Is it all camerons fault? Was he worth the draft picks and salary? Is he a better option in the slot than dickson/pitta at this point? Does he have a future with the team beyond 2012?

A lot of question marks surrounding our "#1" WR these days, IMO.

To be fair when comparing him to Mason, Mason never played with a #2 WR who had more than 40 catches at any given time (in Cameron's offense) before playing with Boldin. His only real competition for balls before Boldin was Heap and Rice. Boldin is competing with Rice, a #1 TE, a #2 TE and an emerging Torrey Smith in an offense that's really boom or bust as far as passing goes. I guess what I am arguing is that the Ravens have more options now.

[wickedsolo]

I don't consider his two years here "underwhelming" -- maybe those who think that had expectations that might have been a little lofty. I certainly still think it was a good trade. I was always a Mason fan but I don't know what you mean when you say Mason brought more to the team than Boldin.

Having said that, I'm all for upgrading the passing game, but it goes beyond the WRs. I still remember Greg Cosell's somewhat scathing indictment of Cam's offensive game plans last year, which as I recall was that the plays and formations were all so predictable. I'm not confident that will change this coming season but I wish it would.

I know a lot of it has to do with Boldin just not being a great fit in Cam's offense, but if you look back at his stats he's down across the board in a lot of different areas since coming to Baltimore.

[GOTA]

I don't consider his two years here "underwhelming" -- maybe those who think that had expectations that might have been a little lofty. I certainly still think it was a good trade. I was always a Mason fan but I don't know what you mean when you say Mason brought more to the team than Boldin.

Having said that, I'm all for upgrading the passing game, but it goes beyond the WRs. I still remember Greg Cosell's somewhat scathing indictment of Cam's offensive game plans last year, which as I recall was that the plays and formations were all so predictable. I'm not confident that will change this coming season but I wish it would.

When you pay someone in the top 10 at their position you are expecting a top 10 performance. The Ravens can't be pleased with how things have turned out since they had to lay out a lot of money and cap space without the return that money should get you.

[JAB1985]

Chalk me up as being super disappointed with Boldin as a Raven.

He's one of my favorite players and has been since he was a Cardinal. I'm not a Florida State fan or even a Cardinals fan, but I have to respect and admire a player who plays the way he does. He's a bull playing a finesse position and I think it's great.

Yes, I certainly agree that Cam has completely misused Boldin since being here, but I've seen Boldin drop more passes than I can remember and it's rare to see him break tackles and gain those tough YAC that he was so famous for as a Cardinal.

couldnt have said it better myself. Love the player he was/sometimes still can be, but hes not been quite the same guy, even if the system is holding him back, its bigger than that. when you factor in that he basically played like a RB all these years with his age, i think it explains what were seeing. its not a complete drop off like you see with RBs, but he hasnt had nearly the touches a RB has.

[JustaslowZ06]

i agree with the big price tag but i would hope the market would support a reduced price and the ravens keep him. he plays like a raven and i would hate to lose him as a possesion receiver. i thought leron mcclain played like a raven as well and i hated to see him go to KC.

Believe me I do also, something in the range of 2-3M per year, that would still put him in the top 20 in the league as far as salary is concerned, maybe 3-4 years.

[saintmatthew]

When you pay someone in the top 10 at their position you are expecting a top 10 performance. The Ravens can't be pleased with how things have turned out since they had to lay out a lot of money and cap space without the return that money should get you.

He's brought a lot in term of leadership and motivation on the offensive side of the ball. I've read a couple times how he got the offense's head in the right place on the sidelines at crucial times. I can't remember all the specific times but I remember the Arizona game last year being one of them. No we haven't gotten a lot of flash from him but I feel his presence has very important.

[GOTA]

He's brought a lot in term of leadership and motivation on the offensive side of the ball. I've read a couple times how he got the offense's head in the right place on the sidelines at crucial times. I can't remember all the specific times but I remember the Arizona game last year being one of them. No we haven't gotten a lot of flash from him but I feel his presence has very important.

He sure hasn't gotten them to hold on to balls that should be caught. That's the kind of leadership we really need.

[bmorecareful]

He's brought a lot in term of leadership and motivation on the offensive side of the ball. I've read a couple times how he got the offense's head in the right place on the sidelines at crucial times. I can't remember all the specific times but I remember the Arizona game last year being one of them. No we haven't gotten a lot of flash from him but I feel his presence has very important.

I think what you guys are not getting here is that nobody would say Boldin hasn't been a valuable "presence," both on the field as a contributor and otherwise. The problem is that he is one of the top 10 highest paid WRs in the NFL. You don't pay that kind of money for "presence," you pay it for elite production, and Boldin has not given us elite production. He's given us Nate Washington/Jabar Gaffney/Malcom Floyd production for Marques Colston/Greg Jennings/Roddy White money. And that's a problem.

Again, I like Boldin a lot, but unless he agrees to a substantial paycut, I can't see him being on the roster in a year. This team URGENTLY needs a #1 target. IMO, they needed it this year and didn't get it, and that disappoints me, but it will be perhaps the #1 most pressing need next year unless someone really breaks out this year.

[ActualSpamBot]

I think Torrey is going to overtake Anquan as the number one receiver by week 1. From week 1 to week 8 he caught 15 passes, and then caught 35 from weeks 9 to 16. His development and chemistry with Joe seemed to improve markedly as the season progressed and now reports are that Torrey is working out with Joe on their own.

There's no doubt in my mind that from a purely physical standpoint, Torrey has the potential to be a number 1, pro bowl quality receiver. All he needs to do is build on his second half of last season and work on his consistency.

[bmorecareful]

I think Torrey is going to overtake Anquan as the number one receiver by week 1. From week 1 to week 8 he caught 15 passes, and then caught 35 from weeks 9 to 16. His development and chemistry with Joe seemed to improve markedly as the season progressed and now reports are that Torrey is working out with Joe on their own.

There's no doubt in my mind that from a purely physical standpoint, Torrey has the potential to be a number 1, pro bowl quality receiver. All he needs to do is build on his second half of last season and work on his consistency.

We might have to agree to disagree here. Perhaps my standards for a true #1 WR are too high, but I don't view Torrey as really having that upside. There are just a few things that are going to hold him back IMO, and chief among them is his hands-catching. It's very, very hard to suddenly become a natural catcher of the football, which Torrey is not. Very few guys who catch a lot of balls with their body ever fully shake the dropsies and become 100% dependable catch magnets. I think as good as Torrey will ever be, he will never be that.

Torrey to me is your prototype #2, he's built to play flanker in our offense. Give him a little room off the line to help him beat the jam, let him work the short and deep passing game, I think he's going to be a great player for us and will sometimes draw double coverage. But this offense really needs a big, fast guy to play split end and be our #1--a Vincent Jackson, Hakeem Nicks, etc. type.

[D-RavedUp5-27-52-20]

I laugh when certain people say Boldin is not comming back next year or hes not a number 1. I dont see Boldin leaving. He has Ray's leadership on our offense. And second do we really need a bonafide number 1? I rather have multiple weapons. And not ready to crown Torrey number 1 yet. But he is getting there.

[GOTA]

I laugh when certain people say Boldin is not comming back next year or hes not a number 1. I dont see Boldin leaving. He has Ray's leadership on our offense. And second do we really need a bonafide number 1? I rather have multiple weapons. And not ready to crown Torrey number 1 yet. But he is getting there.

Boldin has a base salary of $6 million next season. They'll use that same money towards Dwayne Bowe or Mike Wallace or some other proven free agent on the good side of 30. If Boldin is gone that doesn't mean that Torrey has to be the #1. There will be other options out there.

[Ravenswintitle]

He sure hasn't gotten them to hold on to balls that should be caught. That's the kind of leadership we really need.

He's teaching them the new 4 hand approach

Attachment 983

[GOTA]

He's teaching them the new 4 hand approach

Attachment 983

LOL! Add even more gloves if that helps figure out how to hold on to the ball

[The Excellector]

I would think that many remember the TD pass that he dropped against Pittsburgh two playoff years ago. Joe put the ball right between the hair and the linebacker, where only Boldin could catch it. That should have been the go ahead TD. One defensive stop and the game would have been over. Even with the late TD, the final drive would have been for a FG to tie. Boldin lets the ball bounce off of his chest, before Houshmanzadeh drops one on fourth down.

You can even go as far back as 2009 to get into the issues with dropped passes. That Indianapolis playoff game was full of them.

[Ravenswintitle]

I would think that many remember the TD pass that he dropped against Pittsburgh two playoff years ago. Joe put the ball right between the hair and the linebacker, where only Boldin could catch it. That should have been the go ahead TD. One defensive stop and the game would have been over. Even with the late TD, the final drive would have been for a FG to tie. Boldin lets the ball bounce off of his chest, before Houshmanzadeh drops one on fourth down.

You can even go as far back as 2009 to get into the issues with dropped passes. That Indianapolis playoff game was full of them.

Thanks for the memories

Ricky Proehl would've held onto the ball AND made the defensive stop

[The Excellector]

He certainly would have held on to the ball. Ricky Proehl had hands.