NoSaint

It’s a common thing here to put the last guys fatal flaw as the top priority for the next guy regardless of what else is in his overall skill set. I don’t mean that as a big knock on fans- we’ve even had GMs do it (see hardy, James or Maybin, aaron). its easy and natural to do.

With a legit game changing pass rusher we are probably pretty high up there. I wasn’t on the Mack at all costs train but a pass rusher that truly has to be accounted for at all times changes the face of our group

Yup. It’s the old stat line vs skill set debate. Which shouldn’t exist in preseason. People posting his completion percentage and not talking about his accuracy, or zip or... totally missed the boat. Even the 5 int crowd, albeit right, many didn’t discuss his actual play. On paper in the preseason it was roses and ice cream but if you were watching the play and thought “wow, that guys got what it takes” you just aren’t watching enough good QBs. I suspect the issue is in part that it’s been 20 years since we’ve had a good benchmark in house to use. There’s just stuff you have to do as an nfl qb that he can’t.

Ill echo years old sentiment... crossman looks good when we carry like 5-6 guys that are special teams aces (on top of k, p, LS) if he has to coach anyone up that isn’t an established force (ala Easley, boobie Dixon etc...) it often has gotten very ugly and undisciplined in his units.

are we that much better with Star and the dead money as opposed to dareus and someone else on the roster?

Allen showing Nfl traits was the only redeeming factor in today’s game

Yes, as even down MANY scores he was checking down on 3rd down. He belongs in the league but that game was an indictment on him too.

I won’t argue I’m a big mahomes guy. But I’ll loop these arguments around to a few concerns: 1) are you confident in a system that would allow burning an off-season because they can’t evaluate an nfl qb with a ton of film? 2) are you confident we can do that with a college qb if we couldn’t with Taylor? 3) If you don’t think we could develop mahomes, do you think allen is an easier project? 4) does it worry you that we didn’t get a group of coaches that seems to inspire confidence in you regarding qb evaluation/development? again, not arguing I love mahomes. I honestly don’t know him that well, but some of the justifications in the thread seem to actually raise much larger red flags instead of putting minds at ease.

Honestly, that argument might make me feel worse, not better about our long term prospects. If the power structure created a spot where we couldn’t evaluate QBs for an entire offseason when we needed one then I think it’s a bigger red flag, no? Maybe ok short term but over the long haul? Additionally, we could’ve done the alex smith role with Tyrod. Not peterman, but our situations weren’t TERRIBLY dissimilar

I know it wasn’t this year but any time a WR rolls into camp at 280 lbs (and not always THAT heavy but often overweight), you have to question his commitment to excellence. Of the guys to take risks on I was surprised he was the dude.

9-9 is fine enough but probably not worth much in the discussion of if he’s the guy.

The flip side is- sit him behind Tyrod and use the boat load of picks to acquire all that instead of dismantling the team to trade up for the qb. I dont know the thought process behind why they loved allen but traded out of Mahoney but it’s an interesting enough discussion

Hes possibly the one that worries me most in a “wheels coming off” situation. He’s had motivation issues, and not always held his tongue. Hopefully he gets some catches early next week and buys into this being a spot where he can earn a contract. in a good situation he’s a bottom end 1, or high 2. Good role player but not a corner stone and he comes with risk (personality and knees)

Yup. JA was the only one that forces safeties back and he gives the best shot at explosive plays. This isn’t a 15 play drive type of team. It’s a long ball here, and a pick 6 there and hope for the best.

I chalked that point up as starting today without a qb in my framing. All offseason most of my favorite posters (you included) pointed out his limitations. He’s a good enough dude, but when you aren’t physically talented enough you often look good in garbage time or preseason and the wheels fall off when it counts. Ignoring stat lines, we all should have seen those skill set limitations, and generally realized they were matching what was happening on the field. Disheartening that our coaches haven’t seemed to be able to make the same connection

Ultimately it’s a passing league and we went into the season without a qb, OL, WRs, a pass rush, and only 1 corner. We will show some flashes here here and there but unless allen steps up huge, it’ll be a long year. Having a qb and playing with a lead masks a lot, but outside that, it’s a rough situation.

It is one but far from the only.

Frankly that has little to do with it. We have a talent deficit at almost every position group on offense. Bad players together for a long time don’t suddenly become good.

It was one of those days where everything broke his way. Blown coverages, dbs tripping over themselves, saints offense giving him breaks too. He is who he is... smart, hard working but limited so he has to take a lot more chances than a qb with a good arm. There are two takeaways from that: 1) some weeks you hit the cards you need on the flop but you don’t want to have to bet the longshot consistently as results albeit erratic always regress to the average (ie below .500 football) and 2) as the moment gets bigger (4th quarter, playoff run) the defenses tighten up and amplify the issue. Fewer windows he can hit and less opportunity to wait for another moment to find a safer play.

So I think we will be the worst offense and second worst defense after this week. But don’t quote me on that yet.

Nope- free agents. OL are developing slower than ever with the practice rules. I don’t love paying then stupid money but we needed to draft them last year to feel good about next year.

R-E-L-A-X guys

Yea but he made all the bad choices and mcd made all the good ones

This seemed to be the ravens plan from day 1. Not surprised it’s happening and was obvious to plan for.

I did enjoy that it’s just horrific, totally catastrophic moments, and in rolls Rex!