The Clowns

[HoustonRaven]

After hearing Stallworth was heading to the Clowns, I took a look at their roster .... you know what (and it kills me to say it)?

The Clowns will be damn good next season. :grbac:

Anyone else concerned?

[purplepoe]

Well, they are certainly going for broke.

They don't have a pick in the 1st three rounds of the draft.

Add Stallworth is a big move IMO. Their offense was already potent with Edwards/Winslow catching balls. Stallworth adds another weapon and makes the #2 WR position on that team much stronger.

I still believe Anderson has alot to prove but he's in a damn good situation.

Add Williams and Rodgers (if he healthy and motivated) really solidifies their Dline as well.

They did trade Bodden though, which means they lost some secondary play. We'll see how that pans out.

It's an interesting situation out there now because it's obvious that they are making a huge push to not only make the playoffs but to go very far.

PP

[AZRAVEN]

Damn bettcha I'm concerned. I think the Ravens are in for a very tough fight in their division. I am not convinced Anderson is all that but they are sure giving him all the tools he could want. I'm not really sure that giving away their draft is smart long term but in the short run it may get them where they need to go. The fans in Cleveland have been about as patient as can be expected since they came back to the league, they need to win now and worry about sustaining it once they get there.

[bmore finest]

Somewhat concerned. Savage is doing all he can to build a playoff team. But i'm not sold on Anderson. More weapons is great, but i think he will hit that wall everyone hits in year two. Plus a harder schedule. They will be a handful next season though.

[highwater]

I'm not sold on Anderson either, but I think if he struggles Quinn can easily take his place. They look like they will be pretty good on offense, at least in the passing game, with either QB.

But they still don't scare me much -- now, if the Bengals ever figure out how to play defense, they would be a scary team.

[Drkraven]

The Stain history with high priced FA's is not good--Bentley and Baxter come to mind. If their luck holds they will be in meltdown mode by October.

[psuasskicker]

Counting on a team's luck to stay the same isn't exactly sound strategy. They were a couple terrible breaks (horrible blown call at the end of AZ game, for instance) from winning the division, and still finished 10-6.

They've got an incredibly tough schedule next season (as does everyone in the AFCN with the AFCS and NFCE where all the wildcard teams came from). But I've feel like they should be favored to win the division, even over the Steelers. They were almost as good as the Steelers last year, Anderson should be improved after a year's worth of starting, and they've improved some key areas that should put them over the top.

Of all our division opponents, they unquestionably scare me the most.

The Bengals were horrible on D last year and are losing pieces of it. Their offense is sick of it and mouthing off about how they're not happy and don't believe in their coach. If there's any team that could suffer an epic meltdown next year, it's the Bengals; particularly with the difficult AFCN schedule. I honestly believe they are a candidate to pick first overall in '09.

- C -

[JimBone]

After hearing Stallworth was heading to the Clowns, I took a look at their roster .... you know what (and it kills me to say it)?

The Clowns will be damn good next season. :grbac:

Anyone else concerned?

It's funny you posted this I was just thinking the same thing after hearing the about this deal. I think Cleveland and Shittsburgh will battle for the division crown and us and Bungles will battle for 3rd.. I think the Bungles will take a huge step back this year and we will hang around .500.

[Purpleguy]

I like how Savage is building with balance on both sides of the ball. It's a novel idea.

[ravenwoman]

I am very concerned. I always thought that we should have let Ozzie go and keep Phil Savage. The man has certainly turned this team around in 3-4 years. They have signed and drafted very well. On paper, they look to be the strongest team in our division. However, I am not totally sold on their head coach. It will be interesting to see if they can execute as well as they did this year.

They will be minus draft picks in the opening rounds, which I know is going to kill Savage. The only hope for them to regain a first and second round pick would be to trade one of their QB's, which I think they are not going to do.

Our hope is our new coach and coaching staff. I am hoping their fresh ideas and new approach will filter down to the front office and that we will rebuild our team with good talent. This year more than ever, we cannot goof up the draft.

[AZRAVEN]

I highly doubt that the new coaching staff is going to significantly alter the way our FO approaches the draft or free agency. Whatever change of approach the coaching staff makes will occur in their area not Ozzie and Eric's.

[ravenmaniac]

I am very concerned. I always thought that we should have let Ozzie go and keep Phil Savage. The man has certainly turned this team around in 3-4 years. They have signed and drafted very well. On paper, they look to be the strongest team in our division. However, I am not totally sold on their head coach. It will be interesting to see if they can execute as well as they did this year.

They will be minus draft picks in the opening rounds, which I know is going to kill Savage. The only hope for them to regain a first and second round pick would be to trade one of their QB's, which I think they are not going to do.

Our hope is our new coach and coaching staff. I am hoping their fresh ideas and new approach will filter down to the front office and that we will rebuild our team with good talent. This year more than ever, we cannot goof up the draft.

Ah, my favorite part of the off-season, when fans start crediting the assistant w/Ozzie's genius. Sorry, but Ozzie's record speaks for itself. That doesn't mean Phil isn't going to be a good GM, it just means he doesn't get credit for Ozzie's work. I'll keep one of the best GMs in the league as long as he wants to stay.

[Rxdoxx]

I'm not sure precisely why, but Stallworth going there doesn't really scare me.
Sure he had one very decent year in NO, but they thought so highly of him that Philly ended up with him. And they thought so much of him that NE got him.
and what 30-40 catches for a team with that passing attack?
I'll be surprised if he gets 40.
ANd whose time is he going to take? 50 catch Jurevicius??? Sure DS looks more impressive than Joe, but Joe is one of those opposing players who always seems to come up with the catch that keeps the others defense on the field longer.
To me it looks good only on paper, I'm not that impressed... I'll admit skills, but smell something else going on with him. 4 teams in 4 years???

[AZRAVEN]

I agree on Jurevicius, I had hoped that we would get him when he was available but the powers that be didn't think that much of him I guess, or maybe since we already had Clarence Moore they didn't figure they needed anyone else. :ww: :rolling:

[UKRaven]

I had a small wager on them for the playoffs /Superbowl at 66/1 last month. They are 33/1 now with the same bookie.