With the final preseason game of the 2018 NFL season mere hours away, and final roster cut downs to 53 only two days behind it, the wide world of social media is blowing up with Ravens fans trying to guess the final 53.
Realistically, players can be broken down into three categories at this juncture:
LOCKS: Essentially, all of your starters, a few depth guys, and the rookies in the draft class (most of them at least)
GONE: Fillers, UDFA’s, practice squad guys, journeyman, etc.
BUBBLE: Anyone worth fighting about.
Let’s talk about the bubble bros for a minute. Get on Twitter, Reddit, RSR Forums, or Facebook (or Instagram if you like to argue on weird platforms) and these fringe-roster guys are typically the topic of a heated debate. Some fans passionately defend their roster spot, while others throw keyboard jabs and suggest the player in question is all hype and deserves a pink slip.
So who are the biggest names on the bubble? Who are fans debating with the fervor of a thousand Ray Lewis’?
I’ve got 4. Because, lists.
Kenneth Dixon
The Optimist:
“Kenneth Dixon had a solid rookie year in 2016, and really came on strong to end the season that year. Sure, he had some suspensions last year, but he’s stayed clean since then! And all those injuries? He was healthy in 2016, bad luck in 2017, but he’s been relatively healthy through camp and preseason this year so far. He also has a high ceiling and can be a really, really good RB2. He deserves a roster spot!”
The Realist:
“Yea… no. Kenneth Dixon hasn’t played a meaningful snap since 2016, he’s had 4 knee injuries, missed 2 of 4 preseason games already with injury, and oh yea- remember those suspensions last year? One was PED’s, while the other was substance abuse. Not only was he stupid enough to take PED’s (which clearly don’t help when you’re always hurt), he’s also in the substance abuse program for being an idiot… come to think of it? If he got suspended for that, it means he’s been popped twice now! So we’re talking a guy with 1 healthy season- and really only 5 good games- coupled with 4 serious injuries, and 3 suspensions.
Sure, let’s count on that guy!
Send his ass packing…”
Winner: The realist is right, but the optimist probably wins when Dixon is on the roster.
Breshad Perriman
The optimist:
“Look… I know he’s not the player the Ravens thought they drafted in Round One years ago. BUT. He’s been healthy for over a year now, right? And his hands look like they got a bit better, didn’t they? I mean that touchdown catch in the 4th quarter versus the Rams was a thing of beauty!
I just think he deserves one more shot to figure things out. They wouldn’t be asking him to take every snap, but with his speed and size, he can still take the top off a defense, and who knows? Maybe he figures it all out and becomes a serviceable wideout!
If not, you know the Patriots or somebody will turn him into a player and the Ravens will regret it…
He deserves a roster spot!”
The realist:
“Are you friggin’ kidding me dude?! Perriman is in fact healthy… that’s where I stop agreeing with you.
Last year the Ravens basically had a bunch of scrubs at wideout. Chris Moore grew with the offense and improved. Perriman had the chance to do the same and just flat out disappeared like the ghost he is. Why the hell does he deserve a chance?! Oh, because of that touchdown vs the Rams that gave you hope? Yanno, that TD in the 4th quarter of a meaningless game versus guys who won’t even make the LA practice squad? Also, did ya notice that Perriman didn’t play until the second half of that game- after Jordan Lasley, Tim White and Janarion Grant all saw action in the first half? Same story for the Colts and Fins game since?
And you think the guy who can barely muster a catch versus scrubs each game deserves a roster spot?!
So humor me- are we keeping 7 wideouts then? Because Smokey, Snead, Crabs, Moore, Lasley are all locks, while Janarion Grant or Tim White get a 6th spot as a punt/kick returner… or in your world, do you just keep Perriman over 1 of 6 guys who were substantially better than him?
Get that trash outta here…”
Winner: The realist. If Perriman is on this team come 4:01pm Saturday you’ll see a small mutiny at the Under Armour Performance Center.
Maxx Williams
The Optimist:
“Maxx needs to make this team. He’s a literal jack-of-all-trades for the Ravens in the tight end group. He can block, catch passes, move around the field, and contributes on special teams. Even if he was a fringe guy, with Hayden Hurst missing a few weeks to start the season, there’s no way they can cut Maxx. I know he doesn’t have eye-popping receiving stats, but it’s because they don’t ask him to do much.
And while we’re at it, he deserves that final Tight End roster spot more than Darren Waller. Waller has suspension issues, and he can’t block, and he’s overhyped as a receiver because he barely did anything in his rookie year of 2016!
Maxx deserves a roster spot!”
The Realist:
First of all, Maxx doesn’t even deserve his second “x.”
This supposed jack-of-all-trades sure does jack-squat in those trades, amirite? I mean, he was supposed to be this pass catching tight end who also blocks well.. except he’s become a blocking tight end, who plods through his occasional routes and can’t catch a cold.
His special teams action is minimal. AT BEST.
And yea, let’s talk Darren Waller.
Waller who is a Red Zone threat… while Maxx isn’t.
Waller who is a great gunner on special teams… where Maxx barely contributes.
Waller who may have a few suspensions for hitting the pipe, but at least stays healthy… unlike Maxx.
But OMG! Maxx Williams can block! We’ve gotta keep him!
Take that trash elsewhere…”
Winner: Should be Waller. Probably Maxx come Saturday. But neither matter once Hurst returns in a few weeks.
Bob.
The Optimist:
“Lamar sucks! He’s a bust! He runs too much and holds the ball loose and he’s never gonna be a good QB!
If the Ravens really think they can compete this year, then they need to keep RGIII on the roster, because if Flacco gets hurt? Lamar isn’t winning games! At least Griffin brings veteran leadership and can control the offense. Plus he doesn’t have an abysmal completion percentage like Jackson.
RGIII needs that QB2 spot and the Ravens need to keep 3 quarterbacks.”
The Realist:
“Do you hear yourself speak? You just said Lamar runs too much, and he’ll never be a good QB… but you want to keep Bob? Who is literally the same guy with worse knees? But wait- he’s got veteran leadership! That means like… everything!
Or it just means you have no excuse for why you want to keep him, because let’s be honest- if Joe goes down? There’s no saving the season. PERIOD. So why not let Lamar start seeing live snaps instead of hiding him behind a clipboard at that juncture, which is what you’d do by keeping Bob as QB2, right?
Funny how logic can prevail if you just clear the stupid out from between your ears…”
Winner: Bob is staying, pending a Lamar-icle (it’s like miracle. But Lamar).
