Almost A Complete Team Failure

After thinking about how bad Joe has sucked this year, I've realized how much the failure can be spread evenly across almost every unit, coach, staff member. Let's start at the top shall we.

Steve Biscotti - Regardless of how anyone feels about Kaepernick, how it was handled was pathetic of an owner. How he hasn't demanded better of this team is also equally sad and depressing.

Ozzie Newsome - 13 of the teams last 17 picks in the first 2 days have gone to defense. Over 100M in contracts this past season spent on defense. And yet this defense is trash from a Ravens perspective.

John Harbaugh - Refuses to higher anyone that isn't a friend unless forced to (see Kubiak). Refuses to call out his QB on his trash play. Clearly won't bench him to get a message across since he won't even call him out publicly like he would other players.

Marty Mornhinweg - Just plain trash. I don't know if these 2 yard passes are completely on him or not since Trestman did the same thing. I'm wondering if it's Harbaugh's decision or if Joe is simply refusing to look down field. The first time they got to the Bears 9 yard line and threw three straight times, I understood a little due to time and only having 1 timeout. But the second time had 11 minutes on the clock in the 4th and only a 7 point deficit. No freaking reason to stop using the two guys averaged almost 5 ypc EACH when you have 3 plays to get 9 yards.

Dean Pees - I don't know why he has a job. All that money and draft stock invested in a defense that's been trash under him. Too many pass rushers for no pass rush. If not for the corners, his defense would likely be bottom 5.

Slight pause here to address a specific point. Between Ozzie and Pees, one has to go because one of them is the direct problem with the defense. Either Ozzie can't scout talent anymore or Pees doesn't know how to use it. Considering how badly Jefferson is being used, I'd lead towards the latter. Let's continue to some individual players and units:

Joe Flacco - Pure bum at this point. Scared, panics, doesn't know how to stay alert, can't throw, and is so quick to throw a 1 yard pass. Decision making has been horrendous for two years now (at least). I've reached the point where I'd rather see Mallett or Woodrum out there. At least if they suck, it'll be expected as they aren't sitting on a $120M+ contract

WRs and TEs - Collectively, pure trash. Ben Watson gets a big pass and Maclin gets a little one. Perriman and M.Williams should be gone after this season. I'm done defending either one. Everyone else not named is a 3rd stringer at best, talent wise.

Safeties - Weddle should retire after this year. Not just because of the missed tackle that turned a 7 yard pass into a 50 yarder, but because he's been beat all season. Anyone remember the last play he made? Me neither. Webb and Jefferson are playing poorly as well, but they are being used poorly imo. Jefferson is not a coverage guy, he should be focused on run defense. Webb is not a man coverage guy in the slot, he should be playing center field. These two cases fall back on Pees and Harbaugh

This thread is titled with "almost" for a reason. I actually feel bad for a few units and players. Those players are as follows:

RBs - Collins and even Allen look good out there. Too bad we'll abandon the run at the stupidest times. For the Bears, Howard averaged 4.6 ypc and they kept running him all game long, 36 times to be exact. Smart coaches there. Both Collins AND Allen averaged 4.9 ypc, so the Ravens coaches stop running them and have Flacco, who's sucked all season, drop back 44 times. and run a combined 25 times.

CBs - This is the best unit on the team and are collectively doing a great job in pass coverage. Too bad the safeties give up passes like they bet on the other team each week. The linebackers aren't doing much better either.

D-line - This unit isn't exactly playing great, but after losing Williams and Urban (and I guess Davis), I can understand their play since it's mostly a bunch of 3rd and 4th rounders being led by an undrafted player. No real draft pedigree here.

LBs - Not sure what to make of them. I think they are being used incorrectly also (why does Judon not rush more. Where's Bowser and Williams).


TLDR: Mornhinweg and Pees need to go and be replaced by guys who aren't Harbaugh family friends. John might need to go also. Flacco needs to be benched. Players need to be used correctly. If Ozzie can't get past this archaic "focus on defense only" mindset, then he needs to go also

 

The last play Weddle made (that I remember) was the INT vs Pittsburgh.

 

I'm not rubbing salt in the wounds - I know that was a BAD loss that has serious ramifications for any season overall given what was in front of you these coming weeks, Steelers certainly can't take joy in your loss to Chicago........they beat us too. I'll bet the only wins they have this year will be vs the AFC North. Some items:

1) Your team has scored only FOUR........count em.......FOUR fewer points TOTAL this year through 6 weeks than Pitt.
2) Ozzie does deserve some criticism for last several years in drafts/acquisitions. Its killing your team now as highly drafted players just haven't panned out or developed (Elam, Brown, M. Williams, Perriman, Correa, Kafusi), and injuries have ravaged depth or killed entire units on both sides of the ball (Yanda/Williams). You just can't miss on several first or second rounders as they usually form (or SHOULD) the core of your starting lineup. With the exception of Mosley/B. Williams/Stanley, the last FIVE combined draft classes for the Ravens have been without a lot of solid starters/contributors, let alone difference makers. You can't build/sustain either side of the ball through free agency if you're also paying your QB as a franchise caliber player. It just doesn't work. I didn't realize until yesterday that with the exception of two players (NT-Hargrave and starting ILB Williams), every one of Pitt's starters on defense are 1st or second round home grown picks. Haden/Mitchell were acquired free agency, but were still 1st/2nd round choices a few years ago. It took a few years to turn over the old guard, but they have a good young D now capable of being dominant at times. If you don't have quality players being groomed to replace those that become free agents and allow you to pick/choose whom you want to keep, you're going to have a tough time keeping a quality roster on either side of the ball.
3) I think EVERYONE today now understands how important having a quality OL is to having any decent offense. Nothing you do will work or provide any consistency if your guys up front can't control the line of scrimmage. Any decent defensive front you face will make the game a dogfight even before the game starts.
4) Benching/cutting/trading Flacco isn't an option, he's going to be the QB AT LEAST thru the 2018 season due to extensions/restructures. Cutting him next year would incur a $16 million cap hit, and no team is going to do that AND lose their starting QB without a quality replacement. Prior to the 2019 season, cutting or trading him would save the Ravens $8 million, but is that enough savings to be in the market for a QB and starting over again........probably not. So its going to be Joe, regardless of the management/coaching situation for a couple more seasons at least. I'm not saying its NOT reasonable for the fans and coaches to be upset and furious as Joe has been asked to success REGARDLESS of what's around him, in front of him, or behind him. That's what comes when you are a designated franchise QB with a $25+million cap hit. You are expected to make plays.
5) Martavis Bryant is seeking a trade (or its been reported as of a couple weeks ago). Apparently unhappy with role in the offense and that Ben can't get him the ball "enough", and emergence of rookie Smith-Schuster. You can have him for a 2nd rounder!

 

I agree with most of your post. Here's my take:

Bisciotti: I think his biggest issue is the over-commitment to loyalty. Both Balto. sports owners have this issue (the other being Peter Angelos). Loyalty is a great thing. But, there comes a time when you have to ask yourself the question, "Is the loyalty I feel and want helping or hurting the team."

Harbaugh: I've stated for years that his biggest issue is self-confidence in his ability as HC, especially on offense. It's not just that he hires friends/family friends, it's that he hires recycled coaches that haven't been relevant in years instead of hiring younger, brighter coaches that understand today's game. Look at his OC hires over the years. Cam, Kubiak, Morhenweg, and Caldwell. All had been HC's. All had been prominent OC's in their time, but besides Kubiak and Caldwell, the game has/had passed them by. More like left them in the dust. As for Pees, I'm tired of defending him also. The game has passed him by. The Ravens had a perfect replacement in Teryl Austin, but that might be gone also as he's been mentioned as a HC candidate. Harbaugh's loyalty also gets in the way. Remember when firing Cam Cameron was just short of pulling teeth with a pair of rusty pliers?

Ozzie: Maybe it's time for him to step down. He's had a great run, but I'm wondering how much Harbaugh has influenced the picks over the past 10 years? But, Ozzie doesn't get a complete pass. Like I mentioned in yesterday's thread, the Ravens made a commitment to the run. They beefed up the OL, but they forgot one thing. An actual RB. I like West and Collins, but I just feel as though either one is a #1 RB. West is a great short yardage/goal-line RB. Collins is a great complimentary RD, like Tarik Cohen on the Bears. If you're going to make a commitment to the run, then draft/trade/sign a real RB. It just reminds me of when they gave Joe the big contract but forgot to get him the offensive weapons he needs to succeed.

Morhenweg/Pees: Morhenweg is just another in a long line of recycled OC's/HC's that have become irrelevant for today's game. Pees has drawn some nice schemes this year, but he doesn't seem to understand that not everyone has the same talent level or the same skills. He doesn't understand the importance of adjusting for the players that are playing, not the ones that are injured.

Flacco; Looking more and more like Kyle Boller every game.

WR's/TE's: Love the pickup of Maclin. Love that Campanero is healthy and making a difference both on ST's and on offense. Wallace has regressed to his pre-Ravens days with Miami and MN. Perriman? Not sure what to say? Butterfingers on easy catches, but makes the difficult ones. Is it the WR's or the coaching? Is it the WR's, coaches, or the OC's scheme/play calling? Is it the WR's, coaching, OC, or Joe's inability to to be consistent? IMHO, it's a combination of all of the above. I'm still of the opinion that Maxx Williams can be a #1 TE if he can ever stay healthy. Big If. I like Boyle, but the fact that he is 1 more dirty drug test away from a 1 year suspension makes me question his intelligence.

OL: Kudos to D’Alessandris and Gregg Roman. Losing a team leader like Yanda, plus all the other injuries, FA's, and retirements could've have been a lot worse if were not for the coaches. Kudos to Ozzie for getting bigger, meaner players and for signing Howard. Still wondering why Eleumenor is starting over Bergstrom. I find it a bit unbelievable that a 5 year veteran is worse than a green rookie who should be learning his craft in practices, not in real game situations. At the very least, Bergstrom couldn't be any worse. Is this Harbaugh's loyalty to "his" players? Or does he have his head shoved so far up his ass he can't see?

Safeties/CB's: Once more, I'm not sure if it's the players or the coaching. Again, I'm going with a combination of the two. Weddle's and Webb's best days are obviously behind them, but with all the injuries that have occurred to the defensive backfield, they're forced to play more than they should. Plus, drafting Safeties hasn't been a strong point in the Harbaugh era. Again, is that Ozzie, Pees? Harbs? IMHO, all three. On a better note, Humphrey looks like a future #1 CB.

LB's: Judon has taken great strides. So has Smith. Suggs looks like his previous self before the injuries, but I wonder if he'll be able to keep up this play as the season progresses. The few times I've seen Williams he looks like what I've said all along. A younger version of Dumervill. I've seen him miss tackles, overrun plays, and he can't pass cover. I'm hoping he get better, but there is a reason he was on the board in the 3rd round. Bowser needs more snaps. He'll make rookie mistakes, but he needs to be on the field more. I think he will come the 2nd half. Correa was either a wasted pick or, once again, they're trying to turn him into something that he isn't.

DL: it's all about Brandon Williams. That's it. Once he went out, the D-line went kaput. I do like what I've seen from both Henry and Wormley. Kaufusi looks like a wasted pick. When Williams gets back, the whole defense will play better.

Would a house cleaning benefit the Ravens? It probably couldn't hurt. At the very least I agree it should start with Morhenweg and Pees. Harbaugh should not only be on the hot seat, but the seat should be sparking ready to burst into flames. Is it time for Ozzie to step down? Not sure. As noted, it seems the drafts have gone downhill in the Harbaugh era. Part of the blame has to go to Ozzie, not only for the picks but also maybe for giving too much input to his coaches. Ultimately, it's his, or maybe DeCosta's, decision.

 

Relax Ravens’ Fans. You may end up 3-4 after traveling to Minnesota next week but consider your team is highly likely to win its next 4 games after that which are:

MIA AT BAL
BAL AT TEN
BAL AT GREEN BAY (NO RODGERS)
HOU AT BAL

Also consider you have future wins against Indy and Cleveland just needing to be played. And your team is capable of winning other games too. I see your team no worse than 9-7 but I bet you end up 10-6. And who knows, maybe even better.

 

You are more positive than most of us. We just lost to a rookie QB, in Baltimore, that didn't attempt many passes. Miami just beat the Falcons and Tennessee at least has a more respectable passing game than Chicago should have. Green Bay will have adjusted to life without Rodgers by that game (a month from now).

If the offense stops playing like a highschool unit, we could go 3-1 or 4-0 in that stretch (also pending B.Williams is back). If the offense continues playing how it is now, we'll lose all 4 games

 

Unless Watson goes down, the Ravens are NOT beating the Texans. Winning 3 of the next 5 is VERY possible for Baltimore.

 

As Beach points out a lot to us on our board and as makes a lot of sense, teams like Chicago are better than we think. Always a good idea to wait until end of year to see a teams final record when evaluating whether you lost to a “loser” team or not during the year. And of course, other than a handful of perennial door mats in the NFL who appear to be under some kind of mystical ancient curse they are so bad (no offense to the Browns, Lyman, but I admire your intestinal fortitude ) ....the vast majority of teams in the NFL are more than capable of pulling an upset ..... I question a lot about the NFL as you know but man, they get the parity and salary cap thing right and ensure most teams remain competitive and that only the poorest run teams do not.

However, just forecasting wins for your team based on remaining schedule (upsets aside and I’m sure you guys are hoping this game gets that out of your system) I see you guys 10-6.

 

Since it’s in Baltimore I think they bring the rookie QB back down to earth some. However, he was a great play for my fantasy team this week and has been playing at a ridiculously high level for a rookie.

 

Pretty accurate assessment, I do recall you being one of the those on the fence about the whole williams extension thing, and i remember having a decent discussion with you about it- i wish my point was not so blatantly personified these last few weeks but as others continue to say - the trenches are everything. Take a mediocre as balls QB and give him a good O line and he can throw the ball with time. The injuries just wrecked us way too hard, losing a damn HoF guard and then the depth around him is unreal

2k

 

I think we (Ravens faithful here) are all having the same thought pattern. After the game (actually when Flacco has a few seconds to make a sideline pass right before the end of regulation and they threw a pass to the middle of the field and burned out the clock) I had that breaking point moment where I said I am done with the current constitution of this Ravens organization.

Normally I am the glass half full guy who is typically in support of the organization pretty much no matter what because I believe they always have a plan in place.

No more.....

I am ready for wholesale changes top to bottom and that includes Ozzie stepping down and handing the reigns to DeCosta and getting rid of Harbaugh and his whole coaching staff.

We have suffered through two full decades of our organization failing to be able to figure out even a middle of the pack NFL offense (or more specifically offensive personnel). I am so tired of our team having to trot over to the scrap heap to find our offensive starters. This has been the case for many years now and the offensive players we have drafted have been COLLOSSAL busts (relative to their draft slots). From Taylor to Clayton to Perriman to Maxx, as far as receivers go, and failing to build the offensive line year after year makes me infuriated.

Christ, the Steelers have drafted more top talent receivers in ONE damn draft than we have in the last 20 years. How hard can it really be? I can't even wrap my head around the fact that we have not even lucked into a top talent guy.

I guess the closest we have come is drafting Torrey a few years ago.

The fact that we went on that historic (Flacco out of his mind) playoff run a few years back has totally masked the fact that we have been getting worse on offense year over year.

I am just past my breaking point with all of this and can't stand the fact that in this era of offensive football, when practically all the other teams have figured this out, we have a front office that is basically openly admitting they can't build an offense so they punt that whole side of the ball in the draft and fall back on almost a 100% defensive draft plan.

 

Yup, I was definitely not the biggest fan of the Williams contract. I wanted to keep Wagner as I thought protecting your 120M+ QB was more important than stopping the run for a team that's historically always stopped the run. Now, I can see the value of B.Williams, but I'm also still not happy about it all. The o-line is still in shambles, and apparently the DC needs every freaking player to be in tip top shape in order to have a good defense, and that's freaking annoying. Of course the offense is the worst it's ever looked so there's that

 

Yeah, that pass over the line of scrimmage was were I emotionally tuned out. I said even after they tied it up that I couldn't be excited because they'd find a way to lose. Even when we got the ball at the freaking 40 due to a short punt and only needed about 20 yards to be in Tucker's range, I didn't expect a win and I was right.

I'm with you that serious changes need to be done. The OC and DC both need to go. I'm okay with Harbaugh staying if he stops hiring family friends. I'm okay with Ozzie staying if he works on balance and stops focusing on defense. If those two aren't willing to make changes then they can go also.

 

I'm pretty much in line with you all (Ravens fans) here. I don't think this team and it's management are at all aligned. It seems in disarray. Yes injuries happen and we've been dealing with that since 2013. That's 4 and a half seasons straight without ample contingencies or a plan to change that. But who is most responsible for that failure?

Biscotti: When did he stop having balls? Whiffing on Kaepernick was a pussy move. We could've then had a quality back-up for a Joe injury or benching ON THE CHEAP. All he can say to the crowd then is "Pray for us."? Really? When did prayer solve anything that action couldn't? Pray? Does God really care about your football team? No. Such mealy-mouthed thing to say. Sorry Steve, do better. Take matter into YOUR hands rather than entrust your team to God's who could care less about the Baltimore Ravens.

GM/Asst GM: "In Ozzie We RUST" could be new motto. I'm sure Ozzie and DeCosta are of the same mind. Eric is an Ozzie "student." Both would have to go if you perceive any meaningful change to this performance of this office. Ozzie has brought in and retained talent, and I was excited about this years squad. Great on paper. I would think that a coach could make this work. Maybe we could've kept B. Williams AND Wagner if we didn't have Joe's bloated salary. Perhaps a Brian Hoyer or Josh McCown would've been acceptable and we could've also save money and expense on these speed-receivers too? The LEAGUE went to a pass-friend set of rules and the team was late to table to on this shift. Now that they're there they don't invest in OL depth to give the QB time. The run game actually looks better though it wasn't their intention. I can see how Ozzie's INVESTMENT in defense makes certain sense in attempting to counter the pass-happy league and that we've struggled in the secondary for years. However, I'm beginning to think that he's getting out of touch with the sport at least in identifying the players that will make his vision of the team competitive and building depth through talent. Another thing is the investment in injury prone players like Woodhead, J. Smith, Perriman, Urban, M. Williams, and others. Whatever his formula on player development he needs to abandon it for key positions.

Harbaugh: I hate apologists from any side and he's been way too upbeat this season in the face od 3 devastating losses that clearly show a team that has gone completely off the rails. No fire. All complacency. Ozzie gave him a roster that had great talent. It all looks like they're largely being misused, particularly on offense. Defense gets a little pass just because they are on the field WAAAAAYYY too much and missing the linchpin of their DL. Again, injuries happen but it seems to me it's encumbent upon John to FIX that problem 5 seasons and counting. Also, hiring family friends in not unique in the NFL. In fact, it is common place. The key is to hire people you can trust as well as rely on to be the best at what they do. I don't think that Harbs does this well as of late. Kubiak was a prime example of this as RR1 mentioned. His only defense to it is that he didn't want a one-year OC. Kubiak is one of the best X-O minds AND play callers in the modern era of the NFL.

Dean/Marty: Our coordinators almost sound like a 60's lounge act. I was never a Mornhinweg fan, but had to be optimistic about him and harbs/Ozzie/Biscotti's faith in him. However, if I was in management with the team, I'd have had to say "NO" from the get go. He's a terrible play caller and they seem to INSIST Joe listen to his OC's plays all game, every game. Ozzie/Harbs hand you a roster designed for a fast, passing offense and you train the OL with run blockers. When the rush become effective they abandon it for the pass and vice versa. The obvious weaknesses of defenses don't seem to be exploited and they're not kept honest. Pees is another story entirely. I'm not ready to bail on him completely just yet because he is again getting snake bit with injuries and the defense is a bright spot regardless. If not for them the team wouldn't have any wins. B. Williams was the worst person to get injured and he didn't apparently have anyone behind him (Davis or Henry) that could should his load. However, with their talent level they should be able to make up in the secondary what the pass rush is lacking. One has always affected the other in football and this team is getting beaten in cover 2 in all the soft spots (i.e. screen passes). The lack of quality tackling from the the best to the worst players is troubling and should've been addressed. However, again, the defense is on the fiueld WAAAAYYY too much and the wear and tear this early is probably peaking too early because of it.

Flacco: Joe has lost his cool. Instead call him Joe Casual." Unless he's secretly harboring a back injury preventing him from throwing accurately he is failing as a starting QB. If he really has one (which would explian Biscotti's plea fro prayer) FUCKIN' SIGN Kaepernick or some other capable QB! Or start Woodrum for Christ sakes. At least then we know, Joe is toast for the year and can heal and as fans we can at least note that we are dealing with a young QB on a learning curve. Also, in a city like Baltimore, think of what signing a player committed to social change would mean to the fan base. Baltimore is roughly 65% African American. You can hedge your bets with the pro-kneel and anti-kneel fan base. Mallet's salary could've gone toward affording Collin, minus his $1 million in dead money. I'm a huge Flacco fan, but if he eventually gets usurped by a better performing, emerging, cheaper and more hungry player, I'm OK with that. Player loyalty should always come with at a premium. Joe has not carried this team since 2014.

On the flip side of Flacco, we all know that it his 2012 run wasn't due to Cam Cameron or Jim Caldwell (especially NOT Caldwell). In fact, it seems it was in spite of both those men, and Joe looked more in control when Cam was fired for the remainder of that epic run. Caldwell all but said he didn't change shit to Cam's schemes. To me it WAS STILL THAT Flacco that COULD be running this team, but he disappeared. Two reasons: 1) he was playing for his next contract in 2012, was given everything he wanted after and appears to be resting on his laurels, and 2) They reverted back to calling all of Joe's plays and he has shown no urge to wrest control over his wins back from some father-figure OC. In either case I'm, losing faith that he was worth the money he was paid. That is of course hindsight being 20/20, but at least make him earn his paycheck and expect him to make audibles like an elite even if he was only ever starter quality.

All the other positions after this are a result of the coaching not expecting players to do what they're paid to do. And shame on the players from not not doing more for themselves (Perriman/M.Williams) OR trying to be heroes instead of solid technicians (Weddle/Jefferson). There is plenty of blame to spread around for bad passes, penalties, turnovers, and missed tackles. Agian, this team is off the rails.

 

I mostly agree with you, except on Pees. He's been one guy even I've defended, but his defenses simply show no difference regardless of talent. The 2017 defense is no better than the 2014 unit after Jimmy was done for the season. Yes Williams and Urban went down, but Brent wasn't really a staple in this defense for long so I can only really give him one significant injury right now. It doesn't make sense to have corners playing as well as ours are, AND having the pass rushers we do, yet you can't hide the other deficiencies at all. Man, I miss Rex. Better yet, I miss Pagano since he did more with less than even Rex did

 

Pees is wearing thin on me too, but mostly because his "Patriots-style system" is contingent upon a couple splash players so they can afford the big QB salary. In salary caps situations there is obviously only so much cap to go around. When one player like Joe (or Brady) earns that much the few splash players have to make the others around them play better. Joe hasn't done that since 2012, arguably 2014. Similarly on defense they have players like Wilfork, Bruschi, and Ninkovich who could be relied on for their play, health, leadership and football IQ to get the others around them informed and in position every play. They never had more than 3 key players on their D at one time and nearly everyone on Belichick's team is replaceable at the drop of a hat. The Pats always had a suspect D and has always been more opportunistic than dominatinig. That is what Pees is trying to accomplish and has yet to achieve on a consistent basis. The entire problem with that system is one of those key players gets injured, the house of cards falls flat. They also invested to heavily in it, perhaps to be both opportunistic AND dominant. That may be a case of flying too high to the sun, because they patched together an OL that was middling at best.

In this way Ozzie (maybe it's more DeCosta or Moriarty) has continued to shine. However, the team still seems to lack a real identity on offense and defense. Maybe that muddled vision is the key to the issues?

 

Hate to break it to you, but Brady's cap number has NEVER exceeded $20 million once in his career. This year its only $14 million. Next year and in 2019 he finally hits $20 million contractually, though he's restructured for LESS once before. Several years it was right at or BELOW $10-12 million. Part of why they've been able to stay competitive and be able to afford to round out their roster with free agents and role players. If you look back, they honestly HAVE NOT drafted all that well over the years, and have traded several guys just about to enter free agency rather than pay them top dollar (J. Collins and Chandler Jones recent examples).

Brady has played at substantially below his market value most of his career just like Jordan did until the very end of his. He's actually PISSED OFF A LOT OF AGENTS that feel he's HURT several players earning potential for refusing to command top dollar. When you have crazy off the field income/endorsements that exceed what you make playing the sport, you can afford to play for peanuts compared to some of your peers. It also helps to have the world's highest paid supermodel as your wife that takes home $30-40 million per year like Brady does, lucky bastard.

Now Joe on the other hand........yes, you're right. If you aren't playing at a level even approaching that for which you're being paid.......and I think Joe has the highest cap number of anybody in the league this year that isn't on a 1-year deal like Cousins..........it screws up everything from a cap standpoint. Its fine if you're playing like Brady or Rodgers or among the top QBs in the league, but if you aren't - you handicap your whole team because there's only so much each traditionally competitive team can do in free agency.

 

If I'm Bisciotti this would be my biggest gripe with the front office staff. When Joe won the Super Bowl they were obviously at his mercy and I understand that. Sure they could have signed him the summer before and that itself deserves crticism when you hear the whole 6yr/96M deal fell apart over 1M in the last year of the deal but you can set that aside when you win a Super Bowl. They had to pay him, he had all the leverage and they had little choice but to pay him but the structure of the deal, one that would put them back at the table in 3 more years was a fireable offense. To put it in perspective, Matt Ryan signed a short time later for his own 20M deal (new money). When you added it to his existing deal it was actually 6rs, 116M. So it was similar but look at the structure:

Flacco Ryan
2013 6.8M 9.6M
2014 14.8M 17.5M
2015 14.5M 19.5M
2016 28.55M 23.75M
2017 31.15M 23.75M
2018 24.75M 21.65M

The one on the right is sustainable. The one on the left is irresponsible. Had they structured a deal like the other 31 NFL teams they could be heading into 2018 with ZERO DEAD MONEY and all the leverage if they wanted to extend, trade or simply move on from Joe. Instead they will go into 2018 with nearly 29M in dead money left on the deal.

 

There's no doubt they fellated Flacco after the SB and he wad the most sought after FA in 2013 with no real other QB in sight to replace him. They expected he would be a multi SB winning QB, which could still be possible tho' not based on his 2017 performance so far. Ryan's deal is a decidedly better but that's because a) he hasn't won a SB and b) doesn't have as long of a deal - 2021 to 2018.

Joe's deal, IF he was performing, wouldn't appear to be half as bad. What I think really needs to happen is for the coaching staff to give Joe the reigns. Fuck the conservative play calling. Mornhinweg is not a great play caller anyway. Give Joe control like back in 2012 after Cameron was fired. See if that works.

 

Joe was under the franchise tag. He wasn't going to hit free agency and when they both signed in 2013 they were 6 year deals that ran through 2018. The totals were within 4mil. It was the structure that screwed the Ravens and it was self-imposed.

They had to spread 120M over six years and somehow thought that a 1st 3 years / last 3 years split of 36M / 84M made sense. It was so incredibly short-sighted and irresponsible knowing what they knew about the future cap increases. Someone should have been fired.