04-03-2016, 06:04 PM
(04-02-2016, 06:43 PM)THE Bigzoman Wrote: When have the Ravens been bad for two straight years though?
I feel ya, but when was the last time they were without a cast of stars though (Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Suggs, Ngata, Boldin, Ray Rice, Pitta, etc)? All those guys are gone now (or may as well be), and they haven't been replaced by anyone good.
They're going into this season with a starting WR who is 37 and coming off a major injury. The other WR hasn't had 1000 yards since 2011. They signed a 36 year old Ben Watson to play TE. Justin Forsett (31 years old) is their top RB. Joe Flacco has been asked to carry the load more over the last 3 seasons and has responded with an overall 82.0 passer rating.
That's just the offense. The defense was 30th in forced turnovers last year, allowed a 99.6 passer rating (27th), and finished 24th in points allowed. They let their leading tackler go (Daryl Smith- 121 tackles, 3 sacks + a pick), Suggs turns 34 in October and is coming off major injury, Dumervil is 32 and coming off his 2nd worst season, and the secondary sucks.
They haven't had back-to-back bad seasons since '98-99, but they also haven't had a roster this bad since they moved to Baltimore.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
