Ravens Q&A w/ Mike Wilkening & Matt Jergensen

The 2012 NFL schedule has been released, and anticipation is already building in Baltimore for the start of another Ravens season.

With that in-mind, Baltimore Sports and Life has reached out to a few writers for some current thoughts on the Ravens Roster.

Those questioned were:

Mike Wilkening, Pro Football Weekly
http://www.profootballweekly.com/staff/mike-wilkening/
http://twitter.com/#!/mikewilkening

Matt Jergensen, Baltimore Gridiron Report
http://www.baltimoregridironreport.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/RavensGab

Baltimore Sports and Life thanks these writers for taking the time to provide their thoughts.

Baltimore Sports and Life: “If (when) the Ravens and Flacco ultimately come to an extension; will the contract basically be above the recent contracts for Kolb and Fitzpatrick; but less than Roethlisberger?”

Wilkening: “In terms of guaranteed money, yes, that seems logical.”

Jergensen: “I think that’s the interesting thing about these negotiations. There are just so many bad contracts on the books for guys like Kolb and Matt Cassel that determining Joe Flacco’s true worth becomes a bit tricky. Flacco’s agent would like you to believe that he should get Top-Five Quarterback money due to his Win total. While I think that’s important to consider I don’t see it as the most important factor in deciding Flacco’s value. Nor would I simply use statistics either which place Flacco firmly in the second-tier of pro signal callers among players like Mark Sanchez, and Josh Freeman.

All things considered Flacco’s deal has to be above Kolb and Fitzpatrick but maybe closer in line with Matt Ryan. The Falcons may attempt to negotiate an extension for him this season to lower his huge cap number for 2012 ($13.5 million) and will no doubt be paying close attention to the Flacco negotiations. Ryan signed a deal in 2008 making him the 4^th highest paid Quarterback in the league even before he ever threw a professional pass. (6 years-$72-$34 guaranteed) Even though that was four years ago I’d expect Flacco to get a five-year deal comparable to an overall value of 70-75 million with various escalators and incentives and plenty of guaranteed green.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Rice averaged a combined 129.3 yards per game this past year. His yards per carry average  increased from 4.0 last year to 4.7. He is on the short list of best RB’s in the league. As expected by everyone, Baltimore placed the franchise tag on Rice. It is clear that Rice wants to be here, and that the Ravens want to extend him. The problem appears to be finding a comparable that works for both sides.  I imagine that Rice wants a deal similar to what Chris Johnson received (4yrs, $53M, $30M guaranteed), while the Ravens are probably hoping for a DeAngelo Williams type of deal (5yrs, $43M, $21M guaranteed). Ideally, I think the Ravens would prefer a 3 year deal. Should that not happen this off-season, I think the odds greatly increase that Rice never gets a long-term extension here. While understanding the 2nd year of being franchised is more expensive, I could easily see Rice being franchised again after next year, and if franchised twice; the Ravens may not want to extend Rice at any price. Do you see things similarly? What contractual terms would you suggest?”

Wilkening: “I would be surprised if the franchise tag were applied twice to Rice. A multiyear contract that gives him the guaranteed money he surely wants and lowers his salary-cap figure would be ideal for all. Rice is only 25, and he’s been extremely productive, so he should be asking for a lot. I see both sides of this one.”

Jergensen: “I’m right in line with the scenario you’ve laid out. I would not be surprised at all to see Rice receive the franchise tag a second time though I see that as all but killing any long term deal in Baltimore.

The Ravens may be hoping for a Williams type deal but its wishful thinking on the part of the front office. Rice and his agent have a much better case to get a huge payday even more so than his teammate Flacco. Not only has he been one of the most productive runners in the league he is the focal point of the offense in Baltimore. Theoretically he should get a deal similar to Chris Johnson but as we know cap wise that may not be the smartest decision.

The Ravens will have to end up having to give him 4-years but they’ll need to get creative with bonuses and up-front money to make it work. Over the years, Baltimore has always held on to its stars which is why it seems unthinkable to see Rice play elsewhere and why everyone seems confident he isn’t going anywhere. I’m not so sure though. If this deal doesn’t get finalized at least by mid-season things could turn ugly.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “With Ricky Williams’ surprise retirement, the Ravens are likely to give 2nd year backs Anthony Allen, and Damien Berry an opportunity to grab the back-up RB position. I feel pretty good about either one being capable in that capacity. If you lose Rice for any time, I’m not sure I feel comfortable with Allen or Berry having to be utilized as a starter. There are a few veteran FA’s still available. The Ravens appear unlikely to look at adding any FA RB’s prior to August. Would you suggest adding on of the FA’s now? Is there a RB likely to go in the 3rd to 5th round, that you think would be a good fit with Baltimore?”

Wilkening: “There are still a number of backs who could be viable 100-150 carry options still available in free agency. Cedric Benson and Joseph Addai are two that jump to mind. A second- or third-day back I like is Washington’s Chris Polk, but I don’t think the Ravens necessarily have to add someone in the middle rounds.”

Jergensen: “Since the Ravens cap situation is so tight at this stage it’s hard to imagine them being able to add any running back of note. If they could free up some cash due to getting either Flacco or Rice’s deal locked up a guy I like is Cedric Benson. He’s a power runner, who knows the AFC North and he could be valuable if he used in the same way Williams was a year ago. There is absolutely zero interest in him right now, which will drive his price down as well as his ability to shoot off his mouth about not getting the ball enough.

Due to the changing nature of the league running backs will slip in this year’s draft and there’s some value to be had in the middle rounds if the Ravens choose to go that way. Robert Turbin out of Utah State improved his stock at the combine showing speed (4.4) and strength and could be had in the third or fourth round. Tauren Poole from Tennessee is another player who improved his draft stock after there were concerns about him due to a mediocre season. He could surprise and may fall to Round Five. A final guy to keep an eye on is Florida’s Chris Rainey. He’s a lightning fast playmaker who could fill a variety of roles including returning kicks. (Another Ravens need) He’s projected to go between the fifth and sixth round and could be worth a flyer.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Boldin increased his yard per game, and yards after the catch in ’11. After missing the last two regular season games, Boldin had 10 catches and 174 yards in the playoffs. Smith had an outstanding rookie season (50 catches, 16.8 yards per catch, 5.0 yac). It is important to remember that he did not have the benefit of mini-camps and a full training camp. Having gained the experience from this year, I imagine he will be that much more refined after an off-season of work going into next season. Can the Ravens go into 2012 with 2yr WR Tandon Doss penciled in as the 3rd WR?”

Wilkening: “Yes, I think Doss can be a viable No. 3 option in this offense with Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith as the starters and a solid TE tandem in Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson.”

Jergensen: “I really have no idea. We only have Pre-season to go on in terms of information about him as he was only active six games but didn’t get a chance to a pass. I did like what I saw in terms of his route running and solid hands during the exhibition games. I thought that he clearly outplayed Torrey Smith during that stretch but it remains to be seen if the coaching staff is willing to give either Doss or Laquan Williams the shot to become the team’s third receiver.

I have a feeling that the Ravens will draft another receiver next week because I think the failed experiments of Donte Stallworth and Lee Evans have them thinking younger at that position.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “I said before last season that I thought Dickson and Pitta could match, and possibly exceed, Heap’s offensive production from 2010. Dickson finished with 54 grabs, for 528 yards. His yard per catch average dropped from 13.8 in 2010 to 9.8 in 2011 though. His longest reception was just 25 yards. I think he can be used down the field more, as he runs past LB’s and over Safeties. This whole off-season has to be about improving his hands. Pitta averaged 10.1 yards on his 40 grabs, and is a much better athlete than I gave him credit for. He had 6 catches in the season final, and 7 catches in the playoffs. He appears to be on the verge of really taking off. Your thoughts on Baltimore’s TE’s?”

Wilkening: “I think it’s a good tandem, the AFC North’s best one-two punch at the position, in my opinion. As you noted, the Ravens got a good deal of production from their young tight ends last season, and that’s a positive.”

Jergensen: “I think this group could really do some great things in the coming years on offense. We’ve seen the Tight End become a valuable part of NFL offenses as of late and many have the body type of a huge receivers and not just blockers. Pitta surprised everyone with his athleticism and arguably he possessed the best hands of the receiving unit. Dickson on the other hand desperately needs to improve in that area. His size and speed is a potential match-up nightmare for defenses if he could only catch the ball on a consistent basis.

I would hope that Cam Cameron would continue to find more creative ways to get both of these players the ball in 2012.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Prior to the Draft, the Ravens starting Offensive-Line looks like: McKinnie, Reid, Birk, Yanda, Oher from left to right. I like the idea of Reid at LG. Baltimore spent a 3rd rd pick to get him. The Ravens have been touting his potential for a year. Any reservations about a 6’7 Guard? Baltimore is likely to add an interior lineman early in the Draft. (We have seen numerous Mock Drafts connecting Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State, Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State, and Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin with the Ravens with the 29th pick.) Whomever that likely 1st or 2nd round pick winds-up being, do you think the Ravens would be better off starting that Rookie at LG, and having Reid available as Tackle depth? Is the key to the line, Oher elevating his play at RT?”

Wilkening: “I don’t see any problem with giving Reid a look at left guard. He’s had a year in the system and has some talent. You can always move him to tackle in the case of an injury. It’s clear the Ravens need to add at least one offensive lineman in the draft, and perhaps multiple linemen, and any pick at any position (tackle, guard, center) would not be a surprise. I would agree that further development from Oher would be helpful, but as is, you can win with him, in my opinion.”

Jergensen: “I’d be very surprised to see Reid as the starting Guard this season. I do see his height as an issue and wonder how he’d ever be able to execute any of the pulling techniques needed for the position. I like him as a developing Tackle for depth as well as being used in Jumbo or Unbalanced packages.

I’d feel more comfortable with a rookie like the ones you mentioned there instead of Reid. Of course if the line isn’t addressed in the draft they could look to former Brown Eric Steinbach to fill the spot.

Oher played much better in 2011 than most give him credit for. Now that the team has decided that he’s a Right Tackle he should stay there and continue to improve. That of course leaves Left Tackle to be addressed again in 2013 after McKinnie’s contract is up.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “For the 5th time in his 6 year career, Ngata played in all 16 regular season games in 2011. For the 2nd straight year, he had at-least 63 tackles, and 5 sacks. He finished 2nd among DT’s with 5 passes batted down. Ngata has received plenty of recognition for his play (especially after signing the 5 year $61M deal), but on the Ravens defense, he can still be a bit of a ‘forgotten’ man when you hear analysts talking about Baltimore. To me, he is the most important player on the Ravens defense. He is asked to do a lot, because he is capable of doing just about everything. While he always plays hard, I think there can be games where his impact does not match his talent. When Ngata dominates the line of scrimmage, the Ravens win. As a Rookie, Pernell McPhee made plays (6 sacks) seemingly every-time he touched the field. This year he will be asked to start, joining Mt.Cody, and Ngata on the line. How do you rate the Ravens D-line as a whole?”

Wilkening: “I think it is an above-average group. Ngata is a blue-chip player. Cody is stout in the middle. McPhee’s pass-rush ability is evident; now he must likely make the transition to starter, which means more reps.  Losing Cory Redding hurts the DE depth.”

Jergensen: “I really like the talent that the team has on the line. Starting with Ngata, who I think could be a Hall of Famer one day, you have a beast that occupies blockers and must always be game planned to stop. Let’s not forget that he played injured most of the year too.

Terrence Cody seemed to tail off as the year went on and I’d expect more from him in his second full-season. Pernell McPhee was a pleasant surprise and I’d like to think he can handle an increased role but he’ll need to prove it. Same goes for Art Jones.

The losses of Cory Redding and Brandon McKinney are going to hurt though. The Ravens love to rotate players on that line and they’ll need to look at the draft to find some new parts for the machine.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Ngata is my most important Ravens Defensive Player, but Suggs deserves all the accolades and every vote he received for DPOY. Jarret Johnson parting ways with the Ravens was not a surprise. The Ravens lose his knowledge, but gain fresher legs with Kruger joining the starting lineup. Like McPhee, Kruger had a great year as a situational pass-rusher. Ravens fans hope that Kruger proves adept at dropping into coverage when required. McClain has played in all 64 games of his 4 year career. In 2011, he had 84 tackles (34 solo), with 1 sack, and 1 pick. I was interested to see what would happen with him this off-season, and was pleased the Ravens were able to get him back at a reasonable price. Until the toe injury occurred, Lewis was still playing at an extremely high level this past year. I agree with those that say his pass coverage is not what it once was, but he still runs well to the ball. With his knowledge and preparation, he does not waste movements. Still one of the best LB units in the league?”

Wilkening: “Yes, it’s still one of the best LB corps in the league, in my view. Johnson, like Cory Redding, is a solid veteran — someone whose loss could be felt at times.”

Jergensen: “Since they only ended up losing one player from last season’s group I’d have to say yes. I loved Jarret Johnson as much as any Ravens fan but I wonder if the team let him go at just the right time. He’s got a lot of mileage on those legs. Speaking of which Ray Lewis continues to amaze and astound me every week. However at his age each season you have to ask if this is the one where he finally hits the wall. I thought McClain was long gone and was pretty pleased that the market dried up for his services. He’s a solid ballplayer who should only continue to improve. Don’t forget Dannell Ellerbee too. He’s had problems staying out of Harbaugh’s doghouse and more recently injuries in the past. If he puts it all together this season he could be a valuable contributor.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “CB has been a question for the Ravens going into the past two seasons. With the extension to Webb, it will be a non-issue going into ’12. Webb did not receive the National attention he deserved, but he played like an All-Pro. It was a shame to see Smith go down to an injury right away in Game 1, but he ended the year, getting plenty of playing time. Just like Torrey Smith, Jimmy Smith will benefit from a full off-season. You can’t teach his physical attributes. Do you see him emerging as a shut-down option next year?”

Wilkening: “Jimmy Smith’s upside is evident, but Cary Williams was a solid starter in 2011, and he’s not going to give up that job easily. My guess is that Smith’s best and most productive seasons are in 2013 and beyond.”

Jergensen: “It’s very possible that the Ravens will have one of the best cornerback combinations in the league for a long time. Smith had struggles typical of most rookies and he also had his moments where he looked pretty special. He’s got a great future in the league and for the Ravens.

Webb was phenomenal last season and the numbers back it up. Webb did not allow a touchdown pass all season and quarterbacks had a rating of just 55.6 when throwing in his direction, according to Pro Football Focus. Strong performances in the playoffs and other national games will only increase his profile.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “After coming off the PUP list in 2010, Reed had 8 picks. In 2011 he played in all 16 games. He only had 3 picks, which some have used as indication he was a non-factor. I think that is odd. Every Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, and QB that game plans for Baltimore knows they need to have an eye on Reed at all times. Instead of again raising the mention of retirement, Reed is openly talking about wanting to play another 4 years. If he plays well in 2012, and wants to continue playing; I can see the Ravens extending him for another 2 yrs. I can’t see the Ravens giving him more than that. If Reed is willing to go year-to-year, he will likely end his career in a Baltimore uniform. Do you see someone else being willing to give Reed 3 or 4 years? Would you rather see the Ravens go Saftety (Perhaps Alabama’s Mark Barron, or Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith?) in the 1st round over the Offensive-line?”

Wilkening: “The Ravens, as they always do, will stick to their board, and I don’t believe they will reach to fill any particular need in Round One. I would be surprised if Barron is available when the Ravens are on the clock. With regards to the safety or offensive line issue, I believe the offensive line is more of a concern than safety, relatively speaking.

If Reed were to garner a multiyear deal in 2013, it would likely be structured as a one-year contract, for all intents and purposes. He will be 35 in September 2013.”

Jergensen: “Most rational teams would not but then again Dan Synder is still an owner in the NFL. What you laid out seems fair considering Reed’s injury history. Reed and Ray Lewis are special cases and the Ravens brass realizes that. You have special rules for special players, that’s the way it works.

If Mark Barron were still on the board you take him. He’s a great talent and since Baltimore normally goes “Best player available” he might fit that description that late in Round One. I think Harrison Smith is a bit of a reach at that position though. If the choice is Smith or Peter Konz then I go with the lineman.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: ” One of the initial thoughts for me with the Ravens schedule, is that they will face a lot of quality QB’s (Big Ben (2), Dalton (2), Schaub, Rivers, Palmer, Romo, E. Manning, Brady, Vick.) What immediately stands out to you?”

Wilkening: “It’s a challenging schedule. What stood out to me is that the Ravens will play Pittsburgh twice in three weeks, which puts both clubs at a disadvantage, in my view. The vast majority of recent games between these teams have been closely contested, and their rivalry is no secret. It will be interesting to see how the Ravens and Steelers fare in the week after their first meeting and in the week after their second meeting. The Ravens, of course, lost after both Pittsburgh games a season ago.”

Jergensen: “The Ravens don’t play the Steelers until Week Eleven? I don’t get it. On top of that they travel to San Diego the following week and then come right back to face Pittsburgh again. Schedules always have rough patches and this is a tough one for Baltimore.”