1140 replies to this topic

[Ravens2006]

Any word on why Lamar missed practice yesterday?

 

Because John Harbaugh hates running backs. Duh!!!

 

[bmore_ken]

So what do you guys think about Derrick Henry this year?

As usual with Ravens OCs, he's being under utilized. 

[BaltBird 24]

It's been one game....

[You Play to Win the Game]

I love Justin Tucker just like we all do. It's time to start looking at our options.

 

The league is 35/39 on FG's over 50 yards through week 2. Tucker is 0/2 - Indi is 0/1 and the Commanders are 0/1 as the only 3 teams to have missed a 50 yard attempt this season. That's a 89.7% hit rate league wide. It won't stay quite that high, but that's quite a detriment to no longer have that in the bag. The league is 89.7% and Tucker is 1 for his last 9 (11.1%). Even his FG's within 50 are dicey (several that he's made are just barely within the uprights. 

 

You can do worse, but I think we've reached that point in time where we can do better, too. Need to have 50+ in the bag, especially in a tight playoff game type scenario.

[NewMarketSean]

Tucker isn't going to get replaced anytime soon but I agree he is not automatic like he used to be. Not even close.

[makoman]

I trust Tucker completely under 50 and not at all over 50, which is sad to say, and it makes some of these situations difficult. He still costs more to cut than to kick next year so I'd say he sticks for 2025 regardless. But yeah you have to start thinking about what you are doing soon. It's tough to feel like you need an extra 10 yards in an end of half/game scenario.

 

I suppose this is another thing the team knows better than us. If he is still consistent long range in practice under normal FG conditions (I.e. snap-hold-kick with defense, not with a tee) then perhaps the misses are an anomaly or something. But everyone can see 1-7 over 2 years. I suppose the situation will be clearer by end of year, if the results continue this way or he has a bit of a come back.

[bmore_ken]

I trust Tucker completely under 50 and not at all over 50, which is sad to say, and it makes some of these situations difficult. He still costs more to cut than to kick next year so I'd say he sticks for 2025 regardless. But yeah you have to start thinking about what you are doing soon. It's tough to feel like you need an extra 10 yards in an end of half/game scenario.

 

I suppose this is another thing the team knows better than us. If he is still consistent long range in practice under normal FG conditions (I.e. snap-hold-kick with defense, not with a tee) then perhaps the misses are an anomaly or something. But everyone can see 1-7 over 2 years. I suppose the situation will be clearer by end of year, if the results continue this way or he has a bit of a come back.

I think age hits everyone. Including kickers. The offense needs to move it inside 50. I think the gravy train is over. 

[jamesdean]

I don't think Tucker has lost any leg strength.  His kicks are still long enough over 50 yards, but his accuracy has really declined.  He continually pulls the ball wide left.  I don't know if they have a kicking coach but there needs to be an adjustment in his technique. I'm sure he's well aware of that and has looked extensively at video of his kicks.  Maybe there's a disconnect with Stout's placement of the ball on the longer kicks.  I don't think Tucker would throw him under the bus, so I guess we'll never know.  Whatever the issue is, it's a real problem because it changes the dynamics on the field and unfortunately, gives Harbaugh the incentive to go on 4th downs when he really shouldn't.  At some point, you just have to play smart football, take into consideration what you're dealing with and start punting more and pinning teams back. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I love Justin Tucker just like we all do. It's time to start looking at our options.

 

The league is 35/39 on FG's over 50 yards through week 2. Tucker is 0/2 - Indi is 0/1 and the Commanders are 0/1 as the only 3 teams to have missed a 50 yard attempt this season. That's a 89.7% hit rate league wide. It won't stay quite that high, but that's quite a detriment to no longer have that in the bag. The league is 89.7% and Tucker is 1 for his last 9 (11.1%). Even his FG's within 50 are dicey (several that he's made are just barely within the uprights. 

 

You can do worse, but I think we've reached that point in time where we can do better, too. Need to have 50+ in the bag, especially in a tight playoff game type scenario.

Stout low key sucks. ST taken a big hit compared to 3+ years ago

[BaltBird 24]

I still can't believe they wasted a 4th round pick on a punter. Look at that punt that sealed the loss in the Vegas game. What did it net? Like 12 yards?

[Mackus]

Wouldn't have been a waste if he was good. But he isn't. Bad rookie year, solid sophomore year. But it's almost unheard of for a punter to lose you a game and I'd put that 4th quarter punt behind only the PI in terms of individual plays that were hugely negative.

[makoman]

Yeah, nothing inherently wrong with a punter in the 4th. Koch would have been fine in the 4th, and in fact was better than at least one of our 4ths the year he was picked. I feel like the 4th starts to be where things get much more iffy as far as the picks contributing, so if you can get a good STer that is likely ok. But the problem is that he doesn't really seem to be any better than a random UDFA punter.

[BaltBird 24]

Looking at the top punters...

Dickson (SEA) 5th round, Townsend (KC/HOU) UDFA, Hekker (LAR/CAR) UDFA, Stonehouse (TEN) UDFA, Cole (OAK/LV) UDFA, Anger (JAC/HOU/DAL) 3rd round, Cooke (JAC) 7th round, Fox (DET) UDFA, Way (CHI/WAS) UDFA, Wright (MIN) UDFA.

That's the top 10 rated punters. One guy drafted higher than Stout (Anger 3rd round by Jacksonville). 7 of the top 10 were UDFA plus a guy at the end of the 7th round.

Using a 4th round pick on a punter is a waste.

[makoman]

Looking at the top punters...

Dickson (SEA) 5th round, Townsend (KC/HOU) UDFA, Hekker (LAR/CAR) UDFA, Stonehouse (TEN) UDFA, Cole (OAK/LV) UDFA, Anger (JAC/HOU/DAL) 3rd round, Cooke (JAC) 7th round, Fox (DET) UDFA, Way (CHI/WAS) UDFA, Wright (MIN) UDFA.

That's the top 10 rated punters. One guy drafted higher than Stout (Anger 3rd round by Jacksonville). 7 of the top 10 were UDFA plus a guy at the end of the 7th round.

Using a 4th round pick on a punter is a waste.

I think that’s a reasonable point of view. I still think that 4th rounders miss enough that if you really love a punter it’s ok to take one there. Same for kicker even though Tucker wasn’t drafted. If you don’t love one you can find someone good enough among the undrafted. The main problem is they misevaluated him being worth it.

[Mackus]

It's like stealing 3rd with 2 outs. Ok to draft a punter in the 4th, but they better be good.

Same like MLB in the 1st. Mosley a good pick. Queen a bad pick. Can't (well, shouldn't) blanket say that it's a waste to draft a MLB in the 1st. If the player does well it can justify it even when usually it's an overdraft. But you better hit because the typical expectation is that it's not worth the squeeze at that point.

Stout has not justified the draft position. But if he were really good we wouldn't be complaining about his draft position.

[Ravens2006]

Stout has been basically terrible overall to my eyes. Don't care what stats might say, he doesn't impress with leg strength / distance / hang time and tends to shank one at the worst times.

 

If the Ravens had been at midfield when he punted late, I guarantee he booms it in to the endzone, when a coffin corner kick is ideal. Instead when they needed him to boom one with hangtime, he hit the coffin corner equivalent... but from deep in their own territory.

 

Maybe Special Teams guru John Harbaugh can work with him and make him better. Be nice to see John make someone better.

[Pedro Cerrano]

How long do you keep a lousy punter around just because you drafted him high?

[makoman]

How long do you keep a lousy punter around just because you drafted him high?

He's meh but Sunday aside not really necessary to cut him. No one on the street right now is likely any better.

[Mackus]

How long do you keep a lousy punter around just because you drafted him high?

Until someone better is available for nearly free.

[Biggsy]

I think age hits everyone. Including kickers. The offense needs to move it inside 50. I think the gravy train is over.

Saw a stat today that blows my mind. Tucker is 0/2 on 50+ yarders this season. Every other kicker in the NFL is 35/35.

That seems insane to me.