As the the Ravens make their boldest move ever in free agent trades
or signings they are slowly putting in place a team that is SUPER BOWL worthy.
How good is their latest arrival (BOLDIN)? Well His stats speak for themselves.
His Stats are:
1. No one has more receptions per game average IN RECENT YEARS.
2. No one has more yards per game average. Second is super star of
Texans Andre Johnson a yard behind.
3. Only 4 players in the NFL now have scored more tds per game IN
RECENT YEARS.
4. Only 2 NFL players Johnson of Texans and Fitzgerald of Cardinals
have more pass receptions average per game, not Randy Moss, Edwards ex Brown
now Jets or Brandon Marshall.
5. Only 3 players have more yards per season higher averages.
These stats are out of 299 wide receivers drafted in the last few years!
Have much better is the Ravens passing attack now with Stallworth
and Boldin? 100% better, both have caught more passes in one season at times
then last year starters Washington, Clayton and Williams in their entire
careers.
What if Derrick Mason now re-signs for two more years too? How good
can this passing group be next year along with a healthy Todd Heap a backup
tight end and a healthy, smarter Joe Flacco now coming into his third year? Add
to that their three back running attack and a young one year more experienced
offensive line and you may see the Ravens have one of the more productive
offenses in the league along with a very good defense.
What additional tight ends are the Ravens interested in at this time
in this agent class? Is a drafted young player (at tight end) a better way to
go? The answer is, if a free agent pickup at a decent price is possible then
signs one. But a good young rookie college player at this position would be a
wise way to go no matter what veteran tight end might be added. What tight ends
are now available in free agency this year? Here is a list (there are many
more) of possible top end players at this position still unsigned:
Alge Crumpler- last year with Titans 27 receptions 222 yards 8.2
average and 1 td. Career- 37 tds 4,601 yards 367 receptions.
Ben Watson- Last year 29 rec 404 yds 5 tds. Career- 20 tds 2,102 and
167 receptions. 6years compare to Crumpler’s 9 years.
Chris Baker- 14 rec 142 yards 2 tds (played on same team as Watson
so stats are low). Career- 159 rec 14 tds and 1,647 yards in 8 seasons.
Anthony Fasano- 38 rec 339 yds and 2 tds. Career 93 rec 1,062 10
tds.4 years
Fasano is younger, has more potential to improve, and might come at
a bargain price in a multi-year deal.
The Ravens are now in a wait and see pattern along with most other teams.
Allteams usually at this time each year
appear to wait to see where and when second tier free agents will sign and for
how much and how soon. Once the signings begin by a few teams usually most
teams then step up their efforts to also sign their favorites. That are still
in the market. The Ravens may have to sign a defensive tackle if both of their
free agent Tackles sign elsewhere( Justin Bannan already signed with Denver and
Dwan Edwards still looking and visiting
teams). The Ravens with their big moves at wide receiver in this off-season
have very few immediate needs in signing other teams' free agents.
They now are waiting to see if any of their restricted free agents
get offer sheets. If they do then the Ravens must decide if they wish to match
the offer or except a draft pick. Their (Ravens) management team now can begin
to really get into lots of college game film to see who they rate highest on
their value board for the draft. The coaches and scouts now can discuss the
draft possibilities and at what positions that are most needed while Ozzie
continues to decide on free agent possibilities.
We must assume that a young pass rusher has moved up high on their
draft priority list along with a tight end and defensive backs.
If all theRaven offensive
lineman return and at least one of theirbackup quarterbacks the Ravens will be turning back to their defensive
needs for many early round draft
selections. Ed Reed's decision to retire remains a major concern and as well as
the re-signing of veteran wide receiver Derrick Mason. A tight end and a defensive back will also get
high consideration early in this 2010 draft.
With only two early selections in rounds one and two at the current
time the Ravens must choose the best two players with their "Best player
on the board" method of drafting. Availability and need should be factors
considered this year.
The Ravens must draft for the future in their later rounds this year
at some positions that now have older players as starters. The positions of
most needs are tight end, pass rusher and defensive backfield along with
defensive tackle. They must also consider long term contracts with some of
their restricted free agents before this season begins and not allow them to
reach the open market in future years.
Although I am not always been in favor of many of this team's off season
moves and draft selections (in rounds 2-7), this off season this team has made
many good decisions and at the right
price. Ozzie has been aggressive and brilliant in his off-season moves. With a
great draft class available this year and many quality young players waiting to
be NFL players the Ravens will be adding a few more missing pieces of the
puzzle that leads to a championship. This team appears ready to make a SUPER
BOWL RUN IN 2010!
03.05.10
RAVE REVIEW RAVEN DECISIONS IN 2010
With the
college combine workouts now completed and the free agent period begining on
March 5th, let's look at what decisions the Ravens will need to make to get
ready for the 2010 season. There are many important decisions that confront the
Ravens even before the 2010 NFL draft.
The first
decisions that now are being made are tender offers for their restricted free agents
(RFA). Because of the uncap year some rules have changed in both for unrestricted
(UFA) and restricted free agents (RFA).To
become an UFA in this uncap year you must have 6 years service time in the NFL. This means the RFA list will be much larger
than ever before adding about 170 players that normally would be unrestricted
free agents. (UFA).What decisions on tender contract offers will the Ravens now
make for their RFA players? The Raven RFA
tender offers will be made public by the March 5th date. Because of the uncap year these tender offers
are not binding so the Ravens can cancel any offer made at any time. Each NFL team can make a trade offer for any
RFA. This offer can be equal to or lesser than the value of the tender contract.
Once an offer sheet is received the original team can match the offer or allow
the player to sign with compensation with the other team. The compensation (in draft
picks) is the amount in the tender offer or a team can offer a lower
compensation amount. There are four (4) possible tender offers.
The tender
possible offers are:
HIGH- 1ST
AND 3RD DRAFT PICK
MIDDLE- 1ST
DRAFT PICK
LOW- A DRAFT
PICK DEPENDING ON WHAT ROUND A PLAYER WAS ORIGINALLY DRAFTED.
SECOND
ROUND OFFER- 2ND ROUND DRAFT PICK
The tender offer is also based on each player's
salary from the previous year and includes an increased by 10% for the 2010
season. For example, Mark Clayton was a first round
draft pick in the draft and made 2.09 million last year so his tender offer
must be at least 2.29 million. This would mean the Ravens would offer Clayton a
middle tender contract. We will know
exactly what the Ravens think of each player when tender contract offers are completed.
A unique
part of the process in an uncap year is the "UPGRADE TENDER RULE". A team will be penalized if they offer a
player drafted low a higher tender offer. The rule states if you have a player
like the Ravens Jared Gaither who was a
5th round supplemental selection and place a high tender offer on him all your
other RFA tender offers are reduce for
return compensation value.
So even though Mark Clayton may receives at least 2.39 million in tender offer (middle) because of his last year's salary and he was a 1st round draft pick the Ravens will not receive an offer higher than a 2nd or
3rd round pick for Clayton. Why? Because
if you offered Jared Gaither who
was a 5th round supplemental pick a high
or middle tender offer (1st round ) you
are affected by the upgrade restricted
free agent rule. All your other RFA compensation draft picks offers will become
lower than their original drafted positions. A high offer to Gaither means less
compensation for all of the Ravens other draft picks that are restricted free agents.
Some of these uncap rules were not written very clearly. The only thing the average
fan needs to know is the Ravens will make tender offers to their restricted
free agents and can receive trade offers. This is the first decision that the
Raven Management team lead by Ozzie Newsome now faces.
The next decisions
are what free agents are the Ravens interested in and at what price? Who best
fits their needs in this free agent class (both RFA that requires a draft pick
and UFA signings that will be a contract offer)? Once you have decided on this
part of your roster you then can concentrate on the draft and your value board.
With this draft being one of the best ever
maybe a player of need would be a better way to go in the draft then the best
player on YOUR board (Unless that player of need is a gamble in an early
round).
With so many players rated closely in ability
the Raven decisions in the 2010 draft will be very important.
In another
area of management decisions, what will the Ravens decide about their current
roster of players? What players should the Ravens keep and at what price? Here
are some of the players that the Ravens must decide on in the coming months.
QUARTERBACKS-
We know
that Joe flacco is "Their Man” at quarterback. However, what will the
Ravens do with the other two RFA QBs? Both John Beck and Troy Smith will likely
get tender offers from low to second round. Will other teams make trade offers?
Will the Ravens agreed to trade either of them.
It is likely that John Beck returns to the team next year (unless a team
that needs a QB gives him a chance to compete) and Troy Smith could be traded
for a 3rd or 4th round draft pick. Possible trading partners for Smith could be
Cleveland, St Louis, Buffalo, Washington, Jacksonville or Oakland. If both
leave then the Ravens will need to add an experienced back up before the 2010
season.
RUNNING
BACKS-
Coach
Harbaugh stated that Willis McGahee was not going anywhere but many disagree
and think
trade possibilities are probable. If a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick is offered by
another team like the Skins, Pats, Jets or others, maybe the Ravens reconsider their
current thinking. The Patriots appear to be a perfect fit both in salary and experience
for their team and coach.
They (Patriots)
have three second round draft picks. If McGahee is traded, look for the Ravens
to draft or sign a free agent running back before 2010 season begins.
TIGHT ENDS-
With a sometimes injured Todd Heap and no other productive or experienced tight
ends on the roster the Ravens must address this need in the draft (early). Jimmy Graham of Miami, Dorin Dickerson
Pittsburgh or Dennis Pitta along with a few others are good choices. With the
deepest tight end group ever in the draft look for the Ravens by round three to
address this need. A tight end in round one would be a gamble.
OFFENSIVE
LINE- The Ravens has 3 of their top young offensive lineman on their restricted
free agents list this year (Yanda, Chester and Gaither). All will get tender
offers but for how much? Will any team send the Ravens an offer sheet they (Ravens)
do not want to match and allow these players to leave for a draft choice? Is a
trade possible?
If by draft
day any young starter is gone, the Ravens need to address this position in the
draft. Early (first 4 rounds).
WIDE RECEIVER- This position is the one
everyone thinks is the Ravens biggest need. Will the Ravens further address
this position in free agent signings or in a trade? Will they re-sign Derrick Mason? No college
wide receiver in round one appears to be a good choice.
For the most part these receivers are 2nd-4th round
selections. Picking one in round one is a big gamble since they are the biggest
failures in any draft. Do not make the big mistake of previous drafts and reach
for a player like Clayton or Taylor in round one that may never develop in to a
productive player.
ON DEFENSE-
LINEBACKERS-
With a good young group of linebackers thanks to good drafting (Phillips,
Gooden) and free agent signings (Darnell Ellerbe) you would think the Ravens
would not draft a linebacker early in this draft. But if a quality young
linebacker is still on the board like Brian Graham of Michigan or Sean
Weatherspoon of Missouri the Ravens may just choose one at selection 25.
COVER
CORNERS/ SAFETY - With the uncertainty of Ed REED'S
return because of injury and no speedy or more than average safeties on
the team, the Ravens may surprise and take one of the three top highly rated ones with their 25th
pick or trade down and still get
their man. With other backfield performers like Fabian Washington who is a coming
off an injury) and Dawan Laudry both RFA's
along with Haruki Nakamura and Lardarius
Webb coming off of major knee surgery no one knows how many
returning veterans will be healthy and on the roster by training camp.
DEFENSIVE
LINE-
With Trevor
Price slowing down and having a large 4.5 million salary due in 2010 and both Justin Bannan and Dwan Edwards being unrestricted free agent this position needs to be addressed.
PASS RUSHERS- With only Terrell Suggs
returning as a true pass rusher do not be surprised that the Ravens address
this position in free agency or in the draft early. Paul Kruger had a terrible
rookie year and Antwan Barnes ( a RFA) leaves lots of questions in this area Look
for some additions and improvements in
2010.Adding some established
veteran players along with a college
draft pick would seem a better way to go then just relying on the draft to
improve your pass rush.
The Ravens
must not lose their pro bowl fullback Le'Ron McClain to a team in free agency. Adding a fullback to this year’s
(2010) roster and allowing McClain to run the ball would be a good move.
With an uncap year no one knows what direction
any NFL team will be taking. But the Ravens need to improve, make the right
decisions in free agency and the draft if they are to make the playoffs and
make a run for another SUPER BOWL.
