184 replies to this topic

[Mike in STL]

BSL: http://baltimorespor...-53-man-roster/

 

4-0 in the preseason. Some guys who flashed potential aren't going to make the cut. Who do you think makes it?

 

I think there are maybe 50 locks, and 3 could be argued.

[Mike in STL]

The arguable ones are:

Ryan Mallett or Josh Johnson? (Mallet)

6 WRs or 7, with 7 allowing you to include Michael Campanaro? (6 WRs)

De'Ondre Wesley or James Hurst? (Wesley)

Arthur Brown, keeping in mind you have to cut someone better at any other position (Cut him)

5 CBs or 6? 5 you get to keep one of Will Davis, Sheldon Price, Maurice Canady. 6 you get to keep 2. (5, Davis)

 

I know I said 50 locks, I should say I feel strongly about 50 of the 53. I'm not sure on Camp, Hurst, Brown. Pretty sold on the rest.

[JordanKough]

I think your post / article is right. Not many spots here. The only spots I'd differ are:

 

Last two in: Campanaro, Pierce, 

 

Last two out: KLM, Carter

 

I'm interested to see if they IR to return Elam or just cut him loose too. 

 

There's no way with Dixon hurt they only go with two RBs, but I feel like Allen's spot long-term is in real jeopardy and I don't think all 4 RBs will stay on the 53-man either via IR or cut at some point. 

[JordanKough]

BTW...just paged through the game thread. 

Camp's spot is more about the fact that he won't get to the PS and will be immediately claimed if he's cut. Zero chance he's not on someone's roster on opening day. 

 

Also Wallace and Smith Sr. are probably only around this year. 

 

If things break right Perriman, Moore, Butler, Aiken, Camp next year is a solid group but one with a couple health question marks, a couple development question marks. The depth will matter and we'll miss him if things don't break right and he ends up staying healthy for the Pats. 

[JordanKough]

I didn't realize Davis got hurt, seems like that makes Pierce a lock now. Which I think makes KLM a lock to not be on the team. 

 

I wonder if Kendrick loses his spot to Price or Canady. I think Price might get to the PS, but Canady might not...

 

It's interesting on the RSR report on the defense of last night's game he was talking about trading depth.

 

And then Breer in his MMQB report also mentions that http://mmqb.si.com/m...ts-dak-prescott

 

6. Could the Ravens swap their depth to fill a hole? Baltimore’s roster is in a bit of transition, but they have a wealth of promising young interior defensive linemen that other teams have been evaluating. If you have, say, a tight end to spare, the Ravens (since Ben Watson is out for the year) could be in the mood to deal.

 

Does anyone remember the last time we swapped 53-man depth to start the season? I'm curious because it's been mentioned pretty heavily, but I personally can't think of a time something like this has happened. 

 

I'd welcome a trade...just skeptical it happens when we're already fighting a roster crunch. 

[Mike in STL]

I think your post / article is right. Not many spots here. The only spots I'd differ are:
 
Last two in: Campanaro, Pierce, 
 
Last two out: KLM, Carter
 
I'm interested to see if they IR to return Elam or just cut him loose too. 
 
There's no way with Dixon hurt they only go with two RBs, but I feel like Allen's spot long-term is in real jeopardy and I don't think all 4 RBs will stay on the 53-man either via IR or cut at some point. 

I feel like Carter did more than Brown though.
KLM out wouldnt be too suprising.

Without Dixon you still have 3 RBs. Forsett, West, Allen. I think while Dixon rehabs they get by with the 3. Then when he returns, if you make one of his duties kick return, I could see them holding all four. Or another injury situation happens and it works itself out.

3 RBs and 7 WRs, or 4 RBs and 6 WRs. It's all the same.

[JordanKough]

I don't think they see Carter as a viable ILB. I think they'll use Levine and McLellan if they need to in that spot. 

 

Which makes me think they'll try and find a way to carry another CB or S, in case Levine finds himself playing more nickel in a 3-3-5 Robber type situation. Which with the way he played, would be perfectly reasonable. 

[Hooded Viper]

While I don't believe this will happen, it is what I would like to see for the following positions:

 

QB:  I would love the Ravens to trade Mallet and keep Johnson.  I think Mallet can make all the straight shot throws, not always accurately, but his touch is horrendous.  Even with a strong arm he doesn't have a great deep ball throw because of a lock of touch. He also can't drop the ball into the bucket behind the LB's and in front of the Safeties, again because of a lack of touch.  I feel Johnson has a much better ability to make these throws.  His arm talent is very good, albeit not as good as Mallet, but he knows when to put some on and take some off.  He also seems to read the field better and goes through his progressions more so than Mallet who tends to panic a bit after his first 2 options are out, IMO.  Finally, he has a much better ability to make plays with his legs which adds a dimension that Mallet just doesn't have.  

 

WR:  We are total agreement on who will be on the roster, though I could see them keeping 7 with Camp making the team.  As Jordan points out, I don't believe he would make it to the PS, though that would be my choice.  I would also try and put Matthews on the PS, though again I doubt he makes it, and I would put Reynolds on IR with an "injury".  Regardless of how many they keep this looks to be the most depth and talent that the Ravens have ever had at the position.

 

TE:  I agree with you assessment as well but when Waller comes back I would have no problem with the Ravens getting rid of either Max Williams or Crocket Gilmore; IR whichever of the 2 is more hurt come week 5 (could be moot if Pitta can't stay healthy).  My preference would be Williams as he has shown very little since he was drafted as far as I am concerned.  I think Waller has a chance to be a spectacular receiving TE down the line.  I also like Nick Boyle over both Gilmore and Williams, hopefully he has learned his lesson.  He can block, catch and is pretty athletic, though he will never be a down-the-field threat.  I think TE looks good in the future with a solid 3 of Gilmore, Waller and Boyle.  Anything Pitta can provide is just icing on the cake, and I am not holding out hope he remains healthy the entire season.

 

D-Line:  I fully expect Pierce to be part of the rotation as the season starts.  I think he has shown much more ability than both Davis or Henry, especially with his ability to collapse the pocket and get after the QB.  That is a trait this defense has sorely missed and he was showing that ability against the Saints' starters last night.  Harbaugh couldn't be more complimentary of him last night when he stated that last nights play was something they had seen from Pierce all training camp.  I think either Lewis-Moore or Urban's spot may be in jeopardy, probably Lewis-Moore because of Urban's ST prowess.

 

I am pretty much in agreement with the rest of your predictions.  Hoping Victor Ochi, Price, and Canaday can make it to the PS but we will see.  Nice writeup!

[Mike in STL]

While I don't believe this will happen, it is what I would like to see for the following positions:
 
QB:  I would love the Ravens to trade Mallet and keep Johnson.  I think Mallet can make all the straight shot throws, not always accurately, but his touch is horrendous.  Even with a strong arm he doesn't have a great deep ball throw because of a lock of touch. He also can't drop the ball into the bucket behind the LB's and in front of the Safeties, again because of a lack of touch.  I feel Johnson has a much better ability to make these throws.  His arm talent is very good, albeit not as good as Mallet, but he knows when to put some on and take some off.  He also seems to read the field better and goes through his progressions more so than Mallet who tends to panic a bit after his first 2 options are out, IMO.  Finally, he has a much better ability to make plays with his legs which adds a dimension that Mallet just doesn't have.  
 
WR:  We are total agreement on who will be on the roster, though I could see them keeping 7 with Camp making the team.  As Jordan points out, I don't believe he would make it to the PS, though that would be my choice.  I would also try and put Matthews on the PS, though again I doubt he makes it, and I would put Reynolds on IR with an "injury".  Regardless of how many they keep this looks to be the most depth and talent that the Ravens have ever had at the position.
 
TE:  I agree with you assessment as well but when Waller comes back I would have no problem with the Ravens getting rid of either Max Williams or Crocket Gilmore; IR whichever of the 2 is more hurt come week 5 (could be moot if Pitta can't stay healthy).  My preference would be Williams as he has shown very little since he was drafted as far as I am concerned.  I think Waller has a chance to be a spectacular receiving TE down the line.  I also like Nick Boyle over both Gilmore and Williams, hopefully he has learned his lesson.  He can block, catch and is pretty athletic, though he will never be a down-the-field threat.  I think TE looks good in the future with a solid 3 of Gilmore, Waller and Boyle.  Anything Pitta can provide is just icing on the cake, and I am not holding out hope he remains healthy the entire season.
 
D-Line:  I fully expect Pierce to be part of the rotation as the season starts.  I think he has shown much more ability than both Davis or Henry, especially with his ability to collapse the pocket and get after the QB.  That is a trait this defense has sorely missed and he was showing that ability against the Saints' starters last night.  Harbaugh couldn't be more complimentary of him last night when he stated that last nights play was something they had seen from Pierce all training camp.  I think either Lewis-Moore or Urban's spot may be in jeopardy, probably Lewis-Moore because of Urban's ST prowess.
 
I am pretty much in agreement with the rest of your predictions.  Hoping Victor Ochi, Price, and Canaday can make it to the PS but we will see.  Nice writeup!

Thanks.

I'd be fine with Johnson. Cap savings over Mallett. Mallett due incentives if he takes a certain amount of snaps. About 1-2 games worth. You hope the backup never plays anyway.

I was high on Wallet even as a WR. Came from the same place as Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas (Although Clemson looks like the new WRU). 4.4 40 at the combine. 6'6". Not afraid to block. After watching him last year he isn't quick in short bursts, like in and out of cuts. But still has side that plays and moving to TE maybe the right move. Jump balls. Red zone threat.

But I wouldn't give up on Maxx yet. He was very young last year. At just 22 now, he's still got room to bulk up. Harbaugh made it clear that Maxx is here to catch passess. I feel like he's the next Dennis Pitta, a seam route runner, sure hands, chain mover. While Gillmore is more the blocking, brusing tough yards TE. If anything, Pitta will hold up Maxx's development as far as reps. But Maxx's cheap rookie contract allows for time to evolve. If he's not a contributor until 2017, that's okay.

[JordanKough]

Yeah...no way the Ravens cut bait on Williams just yet given how young he is. Also, rookie TEs really don't ever show you anything at all. Also, it should be noted Williams showed more during his actual game time last year when Waller couldn't get on the field, then followed by a suspension. 

 

I love Waller too, but the story on Williams appears to not even have been started yet. 

[Mike B]

Great write Mike, as usual.

 

I think Mallet is the type who can get a team through a few games if needed.  I am not sure about Johnson. He provides a point of difference, from Joe, in that he is a runner and if he had to play the coaching staff, could develop a package around him to make it a little more difficult to game plan for.  The question is who would you rather have play if Joe went down.  To me it is Mallet.  Unless they can trade Mallet to the Vikings or Cowboys for a 4th round pick then keep Mallet.

 

Wide Receivers- I think they keep 7.  I know it means that someone good leaves at another position, but even keeping 7 means a talented receiver leaves...Chris Matthews.  Damn it is nice to see the team that once started Frank Sanders and Javon Hunter have so much receiving talent.

 

I think Ozzie may make a trade and I hope they are on the waiver wire, because there has to be better options then Hurst of Wesley as backup tackles.

[Hooded Viper]

You both make fair points on Williams.

[MKlein76]

Per Zrebiec:

Here's a potential roster wrinkle for Ravens: free agent kick returner Devin Hester worked out for team today, per sources.

[Mike in STL]

Per Zrebiec:
Here's a potential roster wrinkle for Ravens: free agent kick returner Devin Hester worked out for team today, per sources.

I guess they want to make sure they explore all options. I'd pass though. Long past his prime. Cost will be likely a little higher than someone already on the team. Return specialist are less and less a position of need as the league tries to get rid of returns all togethers. Basically just need a guy who won't fumble.

[JordanKough]

I think Ozzie may make a trade and I hope they are on the waiver wire, because there has to be better options then Hurst of Wesley as backup tackles.

 

Has this happened before? Ozzie trading a depth guy for something at the deadline? 

 

Wouldn't be also be better off waiving them first, is there time after a guy is waived like in baseball to trade them? 

 

I've heard a lot of chatter about trading for depth at this stage, I'm just not sure how feasible it is. Isn't everyone in a roster crunch? Why would you give up assets when there are similar depth guys on a lot of teams.

 

Have we ever made a trade for a guy to put him on the 53-man from another team that didn't plan to carry him?

 

Mostly curious about this as I don't remember this being something we regularly talk about each year. 

[Mike B]

You both make fair points on Williams.

I think Williams is going to be a good player.  I think I read he was the second youngest player in the NFL last year.

He needed to get stronger and the little I have seen him this year, he seems to have gotten bigger.

I don't think he is going to be the type of TE that will be used to stretch the middle of the field, but with health and PT, I think he can be a big possession TE, who is a weapon in the red zone.

[GabeFerguson]

Injuries to guys like Dixon, Maxx, Pitta, Carl Davis make the final 53 somewhat tricky to project. 

 

I'm leaning towards them keeping 7 WRs. It's just hard to see them let Camp go with all his upside and he is the best KR/PR on the team. If only that guy could stay healthy...

 

Pierce and Canady I think are both on the outside looking in, but Pierce may sneak in if Davis' inury is going to be more than a couple weeks.

 

I'd rather Johnson over Mallett, but I think Mallett will be the guy.

 

I don't see how Arthur Brown makes the team at this point.

[SportsGuy]

Per Zrebiec:
Here's a potential roster wrinkle for Ravens: free agent kick returner Devin Hester worked out for team today, per sources.

I was waiting for that.

[bnickle]

Interesting. I would guess that a Hester signing would likely take the spot of a WR. Thats me assuming 7 of them will be kept as of now.  I think Pierce is kept.  

[SportsGuy]

Hester over Camp?