Next Week and Beyond

[BaltimoreTerp]

This season is over. At this point, there is no doubt about that fact.

The final five games of the season are home against New England and Indianapolis, at Miami and Seattle, and home against Pittsburgh. At best, we go 4-1 (which looks next-to-impossible at this point) and finish 8-8 for the season.

However, when it comes to next year, the season is not over. So, in order to prepare for the future some changes need to be made.

1. Our starting offensive line should be some combination of Jared Gaither, Adam Terry and Marshal Yanda at the tackles, and Jason Brown, Ben Grubbs and Chris Chester at the guards and center respectively.

We need to see what these guys will be able to do from now on, especially at the positions they are probably going to play next season (Terry at left tackle, Chester at center).

Jonathon Ogdan won't be back next year, and having him in there at this point in his career doesn't seem to be enough of an improvement over the others to waste this opportunity. He should get playing time in the mix, but not near as much as the others.

2. We should be putting some of the younger defensive players into the rotations.

Antwan Barnes should be essentially starting at defensive end and rotating at linebacker. Prescott Burgess should be getting as much playing time as possible. Get Edgar Jones involved.

Take everyone in the secondary and rotate them, even guys like McAllister, Rolle and Landry, so that Martin, Pittman, Ivy and Prude get as much playing time as possible.

3. Get Troy Smith as involved as possible, with an eye on starting him in the last couple games. Even if he doesn't play well, it answers important questions for next year. And if he does, and looks like he could be the answer for next year and beyond, that is one less issue to worry about.

There are other things that probably should happen, specifically the removal of the offense from Brian Billick's control, that won't. But the three things above could help get this team ready for next year.

Who knows? Maybe the younger players improve a little, and their desire helps win an extra game or two?

[ravensd5255]

I agree but with billick at coach none of it will happen.

[longflyball]

Let's see who can come closest to guessing the composite score of the Indianpolis and New England games. Is anyone else game, or am I just a twisted sadomasochist?

I'll say 84-17.

[mweb]

I know the season is basically lost, but I don't think it's right to bench Ogden or rotate guys like CMac. The other corners have had plenty of time to play this year anyway, and have shown that they need to be upgraded.

[Sports Guy]

I know the season is basically lost, but I don't think it's right to bench Ogden or rotate guys like CMac. The other corners have had plenty of time to play this year anyway, and have shown that they need to be upgraded.

I agree and I also wouldn't say it is a foregone conclusion that Ogden won't be back next year.

[BaltimoreTerp]

I agree and I also wouldn't say it is a foregone conclusion that Ogden won't be back next year.

Well, then he should let us know now. If what happened last offseason happens this offseason, I don't know if I want him back.

[mweb]

Well, then he should let us know now. If what happened last offseason happens this offseason, I don't know if I want him back.

The guy is probably one of the greatest offensive lineman ever, and has been with the Ravens his whole career, he shouldn't be benched, and he should be given until the offseason to decide if he wants to keep playing.

[Darthy Katt]

EGAD!!! The Ravens will be lucky if they finish the last five games 1-4!!! Next weeks score: Patriots 66 - Ravens 6

[BaltimoreTerp]

The guy is probably one of the greatest offensive lineman ever, and has been with the Ravens his whole career, he shouldn't be benched, and he should be given until the offseason to decide if he wants to keep playing.

But we aren't even in a situation where we can say, "Well, Jonathon Ogdan at 80% of his peak is still a top lineman." He's not the same anymore.

Look, I love the guy, and it is absolutely KILLING me to even suggest it. But, we need to see what others can do.

I'm not even suggesting "benching" him, just giving more of the PT to Gaither and Terry. That is what the focus needs to be on.

Finally, if he wants to wait until the "offseason", that's fine. However, it had better be well before the week before the draft this time around.

[BaltimoreTerp]

EGAD!!! The Ravens will be lucky if they finish the last five games 1-4!!! Next weeks score: Patriots 66 - Ravens 6

Thank you for your contribution. Now, any suggestion as to what to do about it?

[Sports Guy]

Mweb is 100% right....And besides, we have a ton of youth and depth on the O-line...If Ogden tells us in June that he wants to stay, that's fine....We can handle it because of the depth.

[NewMarketSean]

I agree with whats been said but you've got to treat Ogden with respect. Other guys like CMac too. Get everyone some playing time but you can't let your vets get upset over stuff like this. I know I say the complete opposite about the Orioles but those vets are likely gone after a season or should never be here in the first place. The Ravens vets are likely to still be a part of the future, even Ogden, so you let them play until they say otherwise.

[longflyball]

Let's send Philadelphia a draft pick for AJ Feeley. He's carving up the Patriots.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Let's send Philadelphia a draft pick for AJ Feeley. He's carving up the Patriots.

Miami already tried that a couple years ago.

Feeley ended up back in Philly and Miami ended up with Cleo Lemon.

[Miller192]

Let's send Philadelphia a draft pick for AJ Feeley. He's carving up the Patriots.

I wouldn't call it carving them up, he's 6-10 with 3 TDs. However, you are seeing what a well executed offensive scheme looks like.

[longflyball]

Miami already tried that a couple years ago.

Feeley ended up back in Philly and Miami ended up with Cleo Lemon.

Miami is almost as good as picking quarterbacks as we are. :D

[mweb]

But we aren't even in a situation where we can say, "Well, Jonathon Ogdan at 80% of his peak is still a top lineman." He's not the same anymore.

Look, I love the guy, and it is absolutely KILLING me to even suggest it. But, we need to see what others can do.

I'm not even suggesting "benching" him, just giving more of the PT to Gaither and Terry. That is what the focus needs to be on.

Finally, if he wants to wait until the "offseason", that's fine. However, it had better be well before the week before the draft this time around.

Offensive lineman don't rotate. And is he that bad? I can't imagine he's below average.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Offensive lineman don't rotate. And is he that bad? I can't imagine he's below average.

Since when do they not rotate? They've been rotating Grubbs and Chester all year, and before Pashos won the job a couple years back he rotated with someone else.

In the situation we are in, where we NEED to figure out who our next left tackle will be, a rotation is necessary. Let him play, let him still get most of the snaps in a couple games if necessary to make him and all of us feel better, but this is the NFL.

Ogdan isn't below average; he's probably slightly above average. But that isn't good enough to justify playing him full-time when we are both out of the playoff race and about to need to replace him.

Remember a couple years ago when he got beat by Dwight Freeney a bunch of times in a game and people were stunned? No one thinks like that anymore, whether we're either used to him not being Superman anymore or just taking him for granted while focusing on problems everywhere else.

[mweb]

Since when do they not rotate? They've been rotating Grubbs and Chester all year, and before Pashos won the job a couple years back he rotated with someone else.

In the situation we are in, where we NEED to figure out who our next left tackle will be, a rotation is necessary. Let him play, let him still get most of the snaps in a couple games if necessary to make him and all of us feel better, but this is the NFL.

Ogdan isn't below average; he's probably slightly above average. But that isn't good enough to justify playing him full-time when we are both out of the playoff race and about to need to replace him.

Remember a couple years ago when he got beat by Dwight Freeney a bunch of times in a game and people were stunned? No one thinks like that anymore, whether we're either used to him not being Superman anymore or just taking him for granted while focusing on problems everywhere else.

Well almost every team does not rotate offensive lineman. Many teams are able to determine who will play at a certain position to start the year without giving guys an in season tryout. This isn't QB, it's a lot easier to determine if a guy is ready or not. And Ogden has missed plenty of time this year, so they've been able to audition tackle's earlier in the year.

You don't know if you'll have to replace him.

[Miller192]

Since when do they not rotate? They've been rotating Grubbs and Chester all year, and before Pashos won the job a couple years back he rotated with someone else.

In the situation we are in, where we NEED to figure out who our next left tackle will be, a rotation is necessary. Let him play, let him still get most of the snaps in a couple games if necessary to make him and all of us feel better, but this is the NFL.

Ogdan isn't below average; he's probably slightly above average. But that isn't good enough to justify playing him full-time when we are both out of the playoff race and about to need to replace him.

Remember a couple years ago when he got beat by Dwight Freeney a bunch of times in a game and people were stunned? No one thinks like that anymore, whether we're either used to him not being Superman anymore or just taking him for granted while focusing on problems everywhere else.

It's not gonna happen BTerp. No team is going to send out their 2nd and 3rd string players in front of paying fans. That's what the pre-season is for.

You and I would both like to see it but the team isn't going to do that.

[Hank Scorpio]

This season is over. At this point, there is no doubt about that fact.

The final five games of the season are home against New England and Indianapolis, at Miami and Seattle, and home against Pittsburgh. At best, we go 4-1 (which looks next-to-impossible at this point) and finish 8-8 for the season.

However, when it comes to next year, the season is not over. So, in order to prepare for the future some changes need to be made.

1. Our starting offensive line should be some combination of Jared Gaither, Adam Terry and Marshal Yanda at the tackles, and Jason Brown, Ben Grubbs and Chris Chester at the guards and center respectively.

We need to see what these guys will be able to do from now on, especially at the positions they are probably going to play next season (Terry at left tackle, Chester at center).

Jonathon Ogdan won't be back next year, and having him in there at this point in his career doesn't seem to be enough of an improvement over the others to waste this opportunity. He should get playing time in the mix, but not near as much as the others.

2. We should be putting some of the younger defensive players into the rotations.

Antwan Barnes should be essentially starting at defensive end and rotating at linebacker. Prescott Burgess should be getting as much playing time as possible. Get Edgar Jones involved.

Take everyone in the secondary and rotate them, even guys like McAllister, Rolle and Landry, so that Martin, Pittman, Ivy and Prude get as much playing time as possible.

3. Get Troy Smith as involved as possible, with an eye on starting him in the last couple games. Even if he doesn't play well, it answers important questions for next year. And if he does, and looks like he could be the answer for next year and beyond, that is one less issue to worry about.

There are other things that probably should happen, specifically the removal of the offense from Brian Billick's control, that won't. But the three things above could help get this team ready for next year.

Who knows? Maybe the younger players improve a little, and their desire helps win an extra game or two?

Burgess is on IR.

Barring injury, don't expect to see much of Troy Smith.

I don't think Antwan Barnes is big enough to play defensive end. Edgar Jones probably won't suit up all season.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Burgess is on IR.

Barring injury, don't expect to see much of Troy Smith.

I don't think Antwan Barnes is big enough to play defensive end. Edgar Jones probably won't suit up all season.

I was going by the NFL.com depth chart, but now I remember Burgess going on IR.

They have Barnes as a backup end, but even if he's a linebacker just put him in more.

Do they really think that little of Smith right now that they wouldn't even give him a shot in a 5-11/6-10 season?

[NewMarketSean]

I was going by the NFL.com depth chart, but now I remember Burgess going on IR.

They have Barnes as a backup end, but even if he's a linebacker just put him in more.

Do they really think that little of Smith right now that they wouldn't even give him a shot in a 5-11/6-10 season?

I think it has more to do with Billick's relationship with Boller. He put a lot on the line by drafting him and going with him in his rookie season so I believe he is going to live and die by Boller.

Plus, Boller is doing just good enough to avoid getting yanked.

But I would be all for giving Smith a shot. I was hoping they were going to stick him in the game during the 4th quarter yesterday. But I wouldn't expect much from him with the way the OL has been playing.