What If...

by vlad755 on Aug 18, 2011 4:26 PM EDT

What if, the worst case scenario happens Friday night and the Ravens lose a starter to season ending injury? Just kicking this around as filler until game time. We have lost at least one starter for the season each of the past few years, so if past is prologue...

I was thinking about this and it occurred to me that on defense, we are set with plenty of depth all the way around. Even if we lost Ngata, we have a ton of depth on the D-line; same with Reed and Ray-Ray -we have depth to fill in for them. We would lose a step, but I do not think it would be the end of the season. I think Suggs and what he brings in pass rushing production would be the only defensive player that would really hurt if lost for the season.

Special teams I am kind of passing on, because every team is in the same boat if their punter or kicker goes down- they find the best on the street and hire them...

Our offense, is a whole 'nuther story... While I believe we have plenty of depth at WR and TE, everywhere else would either be a fatal blow or near fatal blow. Ray Rice going down would be a huge hit, but we do have Ricky and some others all ready in house.

The two I fear the most would be Flacco and Oher. Flacco for obvious reasons -game (over), set and match. But if Oher goes down, we are in a world of hurt also because of the ripple effect along the O-line (Yanda at LT anybody?!?!), and the fact it would potentially be putting Flacco in a (life) career threatening situation in terms of being pounded like a red-headed stepchild caught in a bathroom stall with Big Ben.

So, any thoughts in terms of who you would fear the most in terms of being knocked out (and Fabian Washington and Troy Smith are not valid responses!)?

The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!

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DON’T THINK ABOUT THIS STUFF!

"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda

by Mr MaLoR on Aug 18, 2011 4:30 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Try again…without what ifs

what if my grandmother had balls? she’d be my grandfather

by Evan Skev on Aug 18, 2011 4:51 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

still rec’d .. damn im nice

by Evan Skev on Aug 18, 2011 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I really dont think about stuff like this

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?-langton Hughes

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Aug 18, 2011 4:59 PM EDT reply actions

It sucks to think about this stuff, but it happens all the time. This is a physical sport and it only takes one play to get taken out. We have depth in a lot of positions, but completely agree that Oher and Flacco are far and beyond the biggest concerns. Luckily both have proved durable so far, but I really think we need to sign a LT or at least a RT with some LT experience in case Oher were to go down.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Aug 18, 2011 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

the injury rate is 100%… teh sux

by Evan Skev on Aug 18, 2011 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

Well we definitely need more depth on the line for sure. I think if we can find a solid starter in FA (like a stitchcomb) then losing Oher wouldn’t be a huge blow anymore, though it would certainly still hurt pretty bad.

I think losing anyone on the offensive side of the ball, or any CB would hurt, but wouldn’t be catastrophic to us as a whole. Losing Flacco is the only one that would completely cancel out this season and make it just a extended preseason game for the young guys.

by Mstevens_Design on Aug 18, 2011 6:34 PM EDT reply actions

I'd have to say Boldon on O and Ngata on D

Don't let my defense dictate your offense..

by lastcallbmore on Aug 18, 2011 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting

I agree we would lose a little something, but don’t you think with our stable of WR’s and D-Linemen that we could make up for some of the lost production?

by vlad755 on Aug 18, 2011 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Joe on offense, Suggs on defense.

"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda

by Mr MaLoR on Aug 18, 2011 9:47 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

"Airborne, do not look at the ground. I promise you, it will be there. Unless the tectonic plates shift, and a chasm opens up on the drop zone, in which case we will surely let you know."

by jackmca on Aug 19, 2011 1:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Flacco's a no-brainer

no one else on offense is nearly as important as Joe. On D, I tend to agree that it’s Suggs, but a case could be made for Ray, Ed, or Haloti also, especially if guys like Kruger and Kindle can provide pass rush.

by Luke E on Aug 20, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I only say Suggs because we have seen people step in for Ray and Ed and do a fairly adequate job. We have yet to see someone step in for Suggs and be able to be 1/4 as productive as he is. Defenses live and die by QB pressure, and Suggs is the best we have. Losing him is almost as hurtful as losing Joe.

"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda

by Mr MaLoR on Aug 21, 2011 4:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I couldn’t agree more.

"Airborne, do not look at the ground. I promise you, it will be there. Unless the tectonic plates shift, and a chasm opens up on the drop zone, in which case we will surely let you know."

by jackmca on Aug 21, 2011 5:54 AM EDT up reply actions

i don't disagree

Right now, he’s our only proven passrusher. But i’d hesitate to be satisfied with “a fairly adequate job”. Zbi last year did just that, but we all saw what we had missed when Ed came back—DPOY candidate.

It’s good that we can have this discussion, because it means we still have many good players on D.

by Luke E on Aug 21, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Joe Flacco

by E-ROC on Aug 18, 2011 10:21 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

If Brendon Ayanbendajo or Prescott Burger go down, we’re fucked!

"I hate your sig…" -Mr MaLoR

by StuckInUtah on Aug 19, 2011 2:54 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

*Prescott Burgess

"I hate your sig…" -Mr MaLoR

by StuckInUtah on Aug 19, 2011 2:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I like Ayanbendajo and out of all out young linebackers hes the only one that has been a defensive player of the week(it happened in 2009)

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Aug 19, 2011 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn’t know 34 yrs old was considered young. And unlike what I said about Cary Williams a few months back, I know for a fact that Ayanbendajo will be a ST’s player and nothing else…..not that there’s anything wrong with that ;) He is good at was he does, but he’s hardly irreplaceable.

"I hate your sig…" -Mr MaLoR

by StuckInUtah on Aug 19, 2011 3:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Burgess > BA. The man seems to never be healthy and Burgess is up and coming ST stud. He could be our next AD or Gary Stills.

"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda

by Mr MaLoR on Aug 19, 2011 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn’t know 34 yrs old was considered young

I didnt mean it like but meant to say he is the only linebacker so far that has been a defensive player of the week playing next to our ray lewis while our younger guys have not.

And unlike what I said about Cary Williams a few months back, I know for a fact that Ayanbendajo will be a ST’s player and nothing else

Im pretty sure Ayanbendajo will play special teams but I think he going to see the field on defense as well.

Pagano believes that Ayanbadejo benefitted early in training camp when restricted free agents like Tavares Gooden, Jameel McClain and Dannell Ellerbe were not allowed to practice because the new collective bargaining agreement prohibited them from taking the field until Aug. 4.

"He got a ton of reps. He knew exactly what to do, and he went out there. And the guy can fly. He can cover, he’s a great blitzer and he’s playing as physical as he’s ever played," said Pagano. "So, his stock is going up big time. He’s going to be a great addition for us."

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Aug 19, 2011 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Well…..damn. What can I say Jazz, thanks for the insight. Hope I don’t come down with another case of “foot in mouth”, but anything can happen over the course of a season.

"I hate your sig…" -Mr MaLoR

by StuckInUtah on Aug 19, 2011 5:15 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

lol but you could be right unless the younger guys prove to be much better to see the field on defense than him

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Aug 19, 2011 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

The man seems to never be healthy and Burgess is up and coming ST stud.

I didnt know Brendon had health issues. The only time I knew he had some injury problem was in 2009 when he was put on I.R and it took some time for him to get back in 2010 because he was on pup.

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Aug 19, 2011 5:17 PM EDT reply actions

Well he has played in a total of 15 games the last 2 seasons, so yea….he has health issues.

"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda

by Mr MaLoR on Aug 21, 2011 4:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm sorry but you're all wrong

If we lost Ray Lewis, our Defense falls apart at the seams. Remember 2 or 3 years ago (when we still thought Ray was old) and we lost Ray Lewis to an injury? Our defense was never the same. Statistically he doesn’t have the impact the rest do, but there is no better leader on the Ravens. He calls the audibles and sets the defense. You can’t measure intangibles which is why the biggest loss we could have is Ray Lewis.

I like Turtles!
I call it like I see it, some fan bases can't handle that.

by RedTurtle on Aug 20, 2011 10:44 AM EDT reply actions

Lewis hasn’t missed a game since 2007, and even then (and in 2006, as well) he only missed two games. You have to go back to 2005 to find Lewis missing significant amounts of playing time.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

State your case, back it up with facts and reasonable opinions ...
Bruce Raffel

by Ampallang on Aug 20, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I Thought

Our 1’s on defense, sans Ray-Ray, did pretty good last night.

"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
"God's whiskers! Your face is as hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
"I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today."
"It's big for a reason."

For Pittsburgh fans, that's Pope, Twain, Rostand, Rogers and Megamind

by vlad755 on Aug 20, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah both Ellerbe and McClain made a couple real nice plays.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Aug 20, 2011 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

So basically what you are saying is that our defense is completely screwed after this season or next? Because Ray is just about done in the NFL.

I definitely do not agree with that. And 3 years ago, Ray was 33. He is almost 37 now and even though I hate to say it, he isn’t THAT great anymore. Definitely still an amazing player, but skill wise, I see a much greater fall off in our defense if Ngata or Suggs went down rather than Ray.

"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda

by Mr MaLoR on Aug 21, 2011 4:31 AM EDT up reply actions