Our WR core

[Marcel#52]

I want to talk about Q first. This guy is gonna be great in our Offense. Besides his great hands and over RB at WR abilities he is a great blocker down field. A lot of people try to knock him saying "He wasn't good until Fitzgerald came to the cards", Just remind them that Boldin had his 2nd best season as a rookie, without Fitzgerald.

Mason is a great route runner with great hands. He is a bit older and isn't as speedy as you like but he can still get open and should benefit from Q's presence so no more "doubling Mason and letting the other WR's beat you" for elite teams. He's also is an underrated Down field blocker.

Housh is one of those players who just get it done. He's not elite at anything besides getting open. He can block well down the field and can be dangerous in the slot.

Some things to think about; All these guys can block which should improve our yards after catch and continue to allow Rice and Co. big runs.

Heap should benefit from being covered by LB's, as should Dickerson and Pitta.

finally all this talk about a deep threat is fine. But we won't be that kind of Offense. It appears the "Raven way" is to be physical to beat up a defense up and down the field. They want to march down the field with long drives allowing our defense to rest and stay off the field. Also Housh and Boldin are good after the catch.


Anyone want to add?

[Purpleguy]

I think all of this talk about a deep threat is overrated. A team may go deep 2 or 3 times a game. Most deep plays in the NFL are successful because of a break down in coverage, or a receiver is just better at fighting for the ball than the DB, or more physical off the line, giving him a head start down the field. It isn't like Q, TJ, or Mase collapse after running 15 yards. We will have plenty of deep plays.

I hope fans are preparing themselves for this team being very pass heavy. Last season we went 4-0 being pass happy and the fans all bitched that we needed to run the ball more. For whatever reason the coaching staff listened and we dropped the next 4 or 5 games. Rice will still be an impact, but it will be a lot of designed screens and check downs in heavy blitz situations.

[RavenScallywag]

The point is that we CAN go pass heavy or we CAN go run heavy if we want to...

We went pass heavy early last year, but barely had the weapons to make it work. Now, Joe can hardly find a spot on the field where a guy WON'T be pulling his weight, except maybe on the OL.

[trailhiker85]

Definitely more talent at the receiver spots than in recent years. There's clearly a "win now" attitude and given the circumstances this makes sense.

It's an older group at WR, particularly with the addition of TJH. I'm guessing a couple of these guys won't be here beyond 2011, if that long. But there are good prospects for the future as well. There is youth at TE, and I suspect the Ravens really think David Reed could be a starter a year or two down the road.

[Stealthbirds80]

I want to talk about Q first. This guy is gonna be great in our Offense. Besides his great hands and over RB at WR abilities he is a great blocker down field. A lot of people try to knock him saying "He wasn't good until Fitzgerald came to the cards", Just remind them that Boldin had his 2nd best season as a rookie, without Fitzgerald.

Mason is a great route runner with great hands. He is a bit older and isn't as speedy as you like but he can still get open and should benefit from Q's presence so no more "doubling Mason and letting the other WR's beat you" for elite teams. He's also is an underrated Down field blocker.

Housh is one of those players who just get it done. He's not elite at anything besides getting open. He can block well down the field and can be dangerous in the slot.

Some things to think about; All these guys can block which should improve our yards after catch and continue to allow Rice and Co. big runs.

Heap should benefit from being covered by LB's, as should Dickerson and Pitta.

finally all this talk about a deep threat is fine. But we won't be that kind of Offense. It appears the "Raven way" is to be physical to beat up a defense up and down the field. They want to march down the field with long drives allowing our defense to rest and stay off the field. Also Housh and Boldin are good after the catch.


Anyone want to add?

One team last year that we may mirror in our offense may be the Saints. Very efficient and punching you in the mouth when needed. That offense down there kept their defense off the field a lot so they were rested and fresh. They just beat you b/c there are too many reliable places to throw or run with the ball. I like having that problem.

[TL24x7]

We have a poll asking visitors which AFC North team has the best receiving corps.

VOTE HERE (http://www.ravens24x7.com/)

[RavensNTerps]

Kind of reminds me of the 2000ish Oakland Raiders, with the beastly rushing attack and Brown and Rice late in their careers...of course we aren't quite as west coast oriented.

[Carey]

Definitely more talent at the receiver spots than in recent years. There's clearly a "win now" attitude and given the circumstances this makes sense.

It's an older group at WR, particularly with the addition of TJH. I'm guessing a couple of these guys won't be here beyond 2011, if that long. But there are good prospects for the future as well. There is youth at TE, and I suspect the Ravens really think David Reed could be a starter a year or two down the road.

I think the FO thinks Reed can return kicks and at least be a #3 WR going forward. We have Boldin here as the centerpiece but i'd think they will be looking for a future #1 in next years draft, a guy who can get deep that teams have to gameplan for. Mason is probably more likely to retire but he does have another year on his deal. TJ and Stallworth i think depends on the price tag and performance, if Mason retires maybe TJ takes over his role and also allows a rookie WR a chance to come in a learn.

As for this year i think we will be an offense that moves the chains alot, I get the feeling the general public thinks everybody is just gonna go out 5 yards and turn around, that couldnt be further from the truth. We wont challenge deep a whole lot until Stallworth comes back but short to intermediate we will thrive, plus with blockers like Boldin and TJ i'd expect our big plays will come from Rice popping long runs. Dickson will be the wildcard stretching the seams and manipulating the safety, if he's used the way i think he'll be used i could see WR's getting more big plays then people expect. Pitta is another chain mover who will be a matchup nightmare. Im just interested to see how Cam will use all these weapons. He had a great offense in San Diego with LT, Gates, a lesser developed V-Jack, etc. but he has more talent now then he had then and that team didnt have a quote on quote deep threat. Im cant wait to see this offense.

[CR_Dingley]

I was thinking about this earlier today....Mason prob gone after this year(maybe next) stallworth 1 year deal, tj one your deal. So after next year that leaves us with Boldin. I believe well extend stallworth if he can live up to his hype and there a few wide recievers going on the market. I can see ozzie making a grab at Vincent Jackson and then drafting a WR in the draft. giving us
Boldin ...FA...Mas...reed...Draft pick or stallworth.

[Everything_Ravens]

I think all of this talk about a deep threat is overrated. A team may go deep 2 or 3 times a game. Most deep plays in the NFL are successful because of a break down in coverage, or a receiver is just better at fighting for the ball than the DB, or more physical off the line, giving him a head start down the field. It isn't like Q, TJ, or Mase collapse after running 15 yards. We will have plenty of deep plays.

I hope fans are preparing themselves for this team being very pass heavy. Last season we went 4-0 being pass happy and the fans all bitched that we needed to run the ball more. For whatever reason the coaching staff listened and we dropped the next 4 or 5 games. Rice will still be an impact, but it will be a lot of designed screens and check downs in heavy blitz situations.

yes and no on the going deep is overrated point. you may only see the ball get thrown deep or completed deep 2 or 3 times a game. but that doesn’t include how many deep routes are ran a game that must continuously be accounted for by a defense. not only that but in today’s football the PI is becoming another way of moving the ball, all too often IMO. Its going to be a balancing act for Cam this year and if he can find the right balance we will be a nightmare on 3rd and anything manageable!

[RavenScallywag]

youth and long term outlook probably isn't so important right now, considering a lockout is possibly coming.

That said, Harper is possibly a guy who could be in our future, if he ever gets it. Reed will be around. Assume we'll likely keep looking in the draft. Boldin is here for 3-4 more years at least. Stallworth or Housh could stick around as depth. They aren't real young, but their tires still have some good tread on them left.

[WxKevin]

yes and no on the going deep is overrated point. you may only see the ball get thrown deep or completed deep 2 or 3 times a game. but that doesn’t include how many deep routes are ran a game that must continuously be accounted for by a defense. not only that but in today’s football the PI is becoming another way of moving the ball, all too often IMO. Its going to be a balancing act for Cam this year and if he can find the right balance we will be a nightmare on 3rd and anything manageable!

All of our receivers can go deep because they all have legs. No we don't have anybody with 4.3 speed but oh well.

I just don't see, short of a rash on injuries, how the passing game is not going to be spectacular this year. This is going to be so much fun!