NFL Network Discusses the "State of the Ravens"

by Bruce Raffel on Mar 19, 2011 6:00 PM EDT

On the NFL Network, the 'Total Access' crew discussed the 'State of the Ravens" yesterday and you can watch the video on NFL.com. The discussion started off with the question is Joe Flacco ready to lead the Ravens to the Super Bowl. Analyst Jon Janson said Flacco is ready but not able to right now for a couple of reasons. He stated that the team needs to find a left tackle so they could move Michael Oher back to the right side. That comment is sure to start this debate once again, despite the fact that Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has repeatedly said that her is the team's left tackle.

Jaanson went on to say that the team also needed a wide receiver to stretch the field and open up things for WR Anquan Boldin, who is great after the catch but needs that deep threat to enable Flacco to get Boldin the ball more often. He added that Ray Rice needs to get the ball in space and use his speed and moves to make the big plays that he was not able to do with the same regularity in 2010.

Warren Sapp chimed in that Flacco needed to step up this year, as the age of the defense is getting to be a concern and he cannot do it without a solid defense, led by Ray Lewis.

Check out the video and listen to what the NFL Network guys have to say about the "State of the Ravens."

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Comments

I watched that last night. If those are Jansen’s reasons why Joe isn’t our team leader yet, then I am perfectly fine with him as our QB now and in the future. Jansen’s reasoning had nothing to do with performance, because everyone knows (or should know) that Joe has improved statistically every season. With a deep threat, our offense could be really special. When you have a quarterback, it makes the whole team better.

by JoshuaStein on Mar 19, 2011 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I agree

as Janson’s reasoning was not because of Flacco, but due to what was around him. Once those pieces are in place, it should happen but Joe will have no excuses, unless of course, Ray is gone and the defense sucks!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Mar 19, 2011 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Just hope that..

it’s not too late for Ray and the Defense by the time these weapons for Flacco arrive/develop.

by rayravenknight87 on Mar 20, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Having a deep threat will be good it would make things more explosive but

I dont think speed is going to solve our problems on offense. The Ravens offense does need to improvement on the O-line but I’m more concern with chemistry being made between the players on the offense. I really think its amazing how this team went 12-4 with a offense that didn’t have chemistry and i think Ozzie probably realize that chemistry is the most important part for this offense at this point.

by jazz20 on Mar 19, 2011 8:07 PM EDT reply actions

I think the huge need is o-line as well

If the o-line was just a bit better this past year, we would have won that home game against the Steelers and perhaps one other game, which would have given us a Bye and home field advantage in the playoffs. Who knows…

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Mar 19, 2011 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed O line is the biggest problem, but I do think speed will help out a lot. We lack explosive players on offense and you need players that can make something out of nothing when things aren’t clicking. Explosive players can help jump start an offense when they are slow and too many times last year, our offense just looked flat. I really hope we can get a burner that can keep the defense honest and that along with some O line help should drastically improve our running game.

by AV23 on Mar 19, 2011 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I have always said in our matchups with Pittsburgh that the team that makes 1 or 2 50+ yard plays is going to win the game, and it has usually held true. A guy like Torrey Smith or Titus Young could definitely be that guy.

"If only Flacco could put up numbers similar to Matt Ryan, or maybe just improve his stats year-to-year, he wouldn’t seem like such a wasted draft pick. It’s as if a young quarterback needs to put up better stats in his first three years than nearly every other quarterback to play in the NFL to justify a first round pick." - Amp

by Mr MaLoR on Mar 20, 2011 12:00 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yeah we saw how huge Brown was in that game and we don’t have the guys that can make those plays. I really am hoping for Titus Young, I really like what he brings.

by AV23 on Mar 20, 2011 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Agree about Titus YOung

uch more versatile than Smith and brings a bt of elusiveness, ala Philly’s Sean Jackson.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Mar 20, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

you say we lack explosive players but we had it with players like David Reed, Donte Stallworth, Ed Dickson, and

maybe Marcus Smith if he does have some speed. The Ravens really lack right now is the ability to use all their players in the right situations; The Ravens coaching staff have to get out the philosophy that the starters on offense can do it all every game with out getting shut down and I don’t know why they don’t see this.

The Ravens defense seems to always have some form of sub packages/ backups getting their chance to see the field to contribute. The Ravens offense should do the same like the Patriots, Colts and Saints offense does

by jazz20 on Mar 20, 2011 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I am a huge Reed fan, but he was a rookie and from what I heard he wasn’t grasping the playbook and the NFL style completely yet, Stallworth was injured part of the year and Dickson did get used at times, but Heap was having a pro-bowl type year. I agree we need to find ways to use them, but Stallworth has been hurt and inconsistent his whole career and Reed is young and most WR’s don’t really get comfortable til about their 3rd year.

by AV23 on Mar 20, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Those guys have speed

but none of them will ever be referred to as “explosive” and we might never know unless they truly get a real chance.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Mar 20, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. I think Stallworth and Housh signing late last offseason affected the chemistry between them and Joe.

by JoshuaStein on Mar 20, 2011 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

im glad to see the NFL network

chimed in with its usual in depth “analysis”

by davver on Mar 20, 2011 1:45 AM EDT reply actions

Cam schemes for speed on the outside

but we have West Coast O personnel

Harbaugh has a doghouse and seems to believe everything he thinks.

Our players are excellent but our coaches are 2nd rate.

I love Baltimore but I don’t have confidence in the coaching so my expectations are low.

by Evan Skev on Mar 20, 2011 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

very true. our coaches are average and don’t adjust. how many times do you need to lose to Pitt before you maybe, just possibly try something different- like stretch the field and using a power back. this season will be worse than last years simply because of age and still no continuity in the receiveing ranks. stallworth, reed and housh couldn’t have been used less. unfortunatly, heap decided to have a decent year and gave Cam an excuse to play patty cake small ball. heaps success killed the deep game.

by raven on Mar 21, 2011 12:48 AM EDT reply actions