Mark Clayton is Turning It UP!

[ravenfever_com]

I want to say that I am very Happy to see Mark Clayton getting better with Joe this year. I think that Mark will end up having a very productive post season and will be even better next year.

With Mason and Clayton we really do have a good down field threat. I know some of you will call me crazy ... But I stand with him and our team!

[HoustonRaven]

Clayton have an average game at best.

He has had spots of brilliance this season and certainly produced more then in previous seasons but I still think we go after a stud WR in the draft.

[festivus]

Clayton have an average game at best.

He has had spots of brilliance this season and certainly produced more then in previous seasons but I still think we go after a stud WR in the draft.

I agree we go after a big play WR, but Clayton had a good game. His stiff arm in the first quarter on the WR screen play was absolutely nasty, and set the tone for Ravens attitude for the rest of the night. He is a very serviceable starting WR, just not the 6'3" big play guy we all want.

[sailorsam]

Clayton have an average game at best.

He has had spots of brilliance this season and certainly produced more then in previous seasons but I still think we go after a stud WR in the draft.

:iagree: he's producing, but I still think we can upgrade.

[Marcel#52]

Clayton have an average game at best.

He has had spots of brilliance this season and certainly produced more then in previous seasons but I still think we go after a stud WR in the draft.

I still don't get how people over look his 2006 season where he broke out and had 900+ yards and 5 tds... Clayton was then hurt a lot of 2007. He grew with Flacco this season. So next year with him and possibly mason and a new game changing target, I think we will see a new offense

[ravenfever_com]

Marcel ... I am glad some other fans pay attention to details !! I like the thoughts of our O the way it is now. Big threats get covered and right now Mason and Clayton can split the field.

[ursula]

I also think Flacco and Clayton are beginning to get on the same page. Clayton isn't pro bowl material yet but I think given everything, especially the likelihood of cutting C-Mac (salary cap issues) with the resulting hole we'll have at cornerback and the fact that we'll be picking oh around #24-26 or lower, makes picking a stud WR in the draft less important. I think we'll be looking next year at the same top 4 receiving corps (Mason, Clayton, Heap, D-Will) with the reserves being shuffled (we cut Figurs and draft maybe in the mid rounds a big WR).

[RavenDavey]

IF...Clayton continues to play "better" and improve, he will be a big part of the Flacco era in the NFL. The biggest tangible that Clayton needs to learn is that being displayed by D. Mason this season! Mason was a true warrior last night leaving it all on the field!

[StingerNLG]

Marcel ... I am glad some other fans pay attention to details !! I like the thoughts of our O the way it is now. Big threats get covered and right now Mason and Clayton can split the field.

You are missing the point though. Mason is a possession receiver, not a downfield vertical threat (thus all the sideline patterns he gets, like yesterday).

Clayton is NOT a speed receiver that can stretch the field. He just isn't. That's not to say he can't be a good #2 receiver. But a downfield threat he isn't.

We need someone with the speed to beat cover corners.

[TheExtraPoint]

Mark Clayton always produces when he has a legitimate quarterback throwing to him. Receiver is the most dependent position in the NFL. That's a HUGE deal!

It happened at Oklahoma.

It happened when we had a year of Steve McNair's relative best.

And it's happening again now with Joe Flacco.

Being saddled with Kyle Boller for so long really stunted his growth as a player. I'm a huge fan of this Mark Clayton. He's a smart, physical, tough football player, and the anti-TO in terms of how he approaches the game. Most of all, he's extremely reliable - the kind of guy you can win with no matter who you play.

He blocks extraordinarily well down-field given his size and has shown a knack for the big play. He's a tougher, more durable, though slightly less elusive Deion Branch circa his New England days.

I do think that adding an impact receiver (using Suggs to move up for Crabtree comes to mind) would make Clayton, Derrick Mason, and Demetrius Williams better - but Clayton deserves more credit than he gets.

The Ravens have the makings of a special NFL offense - Mark Clayton should be a part of that going forward if you ask me. He can be to Joe Flacco what Branch was to Brady. I really believe that.

And Derrick Mason isn't getting any younger either. We've come a long way since the days of Travesty Taylor, Clarence Moore and Devard Darling. Keep as much of this team together as possible, including Clayton. They have "it"!

[HoustonRaven]

I still don't get how people over look his 2006 season where he broke out and had 900+ yards and 5 tds... Clayton was then hurt a lot of 2007. He grew with Flacco this season. So next year with him and possibly mason and a new game changing target, I think we will see a new offense

Just because it was his personal best season doesnt make it a great season for a WR. This league is littered with one-season wonders so to harken back to ONE decent season and then say it makes for a successful career would mean you'd have to include all the other one-season wonders in that discussion as well.

In 2006, Clayton was the leagues 25th best receiver --- Excuse me while I yawn a lot.

Now throw into the mix his number 1 draft status and he is not living up to his paycheck.

I want him to be the top 10 stud he was expected to be. Sadly, it's has not panned out. His stats this year give him another year to prove me wrong -- and I hope he does.

[StingerNLG]

Trap, lets not make this about Boller. IIRC Derrick Mason had lots of success with Boller as the QB as well, as did Todd Heap.

This has to do with Clayton just not being the 1st round pick we thought he would be right now.

[Lee Van Cleef]

His stiff-arm was awesome. What is it with this team, do they coach that? I've seen a number of great stiff-arms froom Ravens players this year, Le'Ron cleared out a cowboy with one on his TD run.

[xmradiodave]

I am beginning to have second thoughts. I was not on board with Clayton. Over the past few weeks though, I am liking what I am seeing. I am not ready to tag him as a playmaker receiver...yet. He is starting to come to life though. I was hard on the guy, as I expect better from him. He is slowly proving me wrong.

[srobert96]

The problem is that Clayton and Mason are the same type of receiver. They are both great number 2s. I believe Mason and Clayton will be back next year and they need to get a true number 1. I think next year will more than likely be Mason's last year.

[Dave Lap]

I still don't get how people over look his 2006 season where he broke out and had 900+ yards and 5 tds... Clayton was then hurt a lot of 2007. He grew with Flacco this season. So next year with him and possibly mason and a new game changing target, I think we will see a new offense

I'm pretty sure he was playing the slot receiver position that year. He's much better suited there than at the wide out.

[RavensDomination]

He blocks extraordinarily well down-field given his size and has shown a knack for the big play. He's a tougher, more durable, though slightly less elusive Deion Branch circa his New England days.

The Ravens have the makings of a special NFL offense - Mark Clayton should be a part of that going forward if you ask me. He can be to Joe Flacco what Branch was to Brady. I really believe that.

I highlighted these sections of your post because I like the Brady/Branch reference. People forget that New England didn't win their Super Bowls with Randy Moss, they won them with Tom Brady and a bunch of Mark Clayton's. Team oriented, do your job type WR's. A QB makes a great WR, not vice versa. With our defense and a group of solid but unspectacular WR's we can go places. The fact of the matter is you can't have a team of all stars on defense and pay for a big time WR, there isn't enough money. Not to mention people say we need a #1 receiver but not like a T.O., well name one that isn't like T.O.? All big time #1 WR's are head cases, except maybe guys like Colston or Boldin.

[pyite32]

Or Wayne,
Harrison,
Roddy White,
Dwayne Bowe,
Andre Johnson,
Calvin Johnson,
Lee Evans,

[ravenfever_com]

Since Mark had another awesome game .. I pulled this back to the top of the pile ...

I think Clayton and Mason are everything we need with the run game we have. Get Heap in the Mix and Quinn back and BAMMMMMM ....

[RavensDomination]

Or Wayne,
Harrison,
Roddy White,
Dwayne Bowe,
Andre Johnson,
Calvin Johnson,
Lee Evans,

If you think any one of those receivers are in T.O., Randy Moss, or even Chad Johnsons category you are crazy. I'll give you Harrison, but it doesn't hurt that he has maybe the best QB ever throwing him the ball.

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

I think it's just the fact that Flacco's getting comfortable with the offense and his receivers:happyanim

[xmradiodave]

Clayton is definitely making plays on the ball. These last few weeks, we have seen great productivity out of the guy. He has not had great games against solid defenses, but think he has really began to find his confidence, and Joe Flacco is a large contributing factor. A rookie QB has helped develop his team in ways that were unexpected. I am truly excited for the future of this team. Flacco, Clayton, all of them.

[Dave Lap]

Ive always pimped Clayton, even last year. He did well 2 yrs ago and then went into a funk.

But he had Boller back then who left receivers stretched out and reaching back leaving them out to dry. He never if seldom led them.

Now Clayton has someone leading the throws like at Oklahoma.

He said in beginning of camp that Joe would start by week 3. Of course that was before the injuries and the rest is history.

We still need a top WR in the likes of TO and Boston, but with better attitudes, of course.

Also, Boller didn't have the pass protection that Flacco is getting now. It was harder for him to connect with his receivers.

[pyite32]

If you think any one of those receivers are in T.O., Randy Moss, or even Chad Johnsons category you are crazy. I'll give you Harrison, but it doesn't hurt that he has maybe the best QB ever throwing him the ball.

Andre Johnson is the best receiver in the NFL, hands down. Imagine if he played for a good team, he would be scary.

Also I believe at least half my list had a better year than your coveted head cases.

[RavensDomination]

Andre Johnson is the best receiver in the NFL, hands down. Imagine if he played for a good team, he would be scary.

Also I believe at least half my list had a better year than your coveted head cases.

I think Andre Johnson is good to, maybe a future T.O. in terms of talent, not quite there yet. Moss is in a league of his own, his season with Brady last year he was simply unstoppable, I've never seen anything like it. I don't think Roddy White or Dwayne Bowe should even be in the convo. Both good, but nothing great (yet). Just my 2 cents.

[RavensDomination]

Also, Boller didn't have the pass protection that Flacco is getting now. It was harder for him to connect with his receivers.

I know this has been addressed here before, but I think in a lot of situations Boller made our line look worse than it was. No doubt the line is better now than it has been in 5 or 6 years, but Flacco has great pocket presence. A lot of times he makes a step or two to buy the extra split second needed to make a throw rather than take a sack. He doesn't get rattled under pressure like Boller would, hell Boller never could figure out how to beat the blitz.

[Dave Lap]

I know this has been addressed here before, but I think in a lot of situations Boller made our line look worse than it was. No doubt the line is better now than it has been in 5 or 6 years, but Flacco has great pocket presence. A lot of times he makes a step or two to buy the extra split second needed to make a throw rather than take a sack. He doesn't get rattled under pressure like Boller would, hell Boller never could figure out how to beat the blitz.

I totally agree with your sentiments about Flacco. I've loved this kid since we drafted him.

However the O-line under Billick was no where near the level of the O-line now. Boller should have just painted a bulls eye on his chest.

You know, whoever gets Kyle Boller could be in for a pleasant surprise. I really think that he has a very long learning curve. Seriously. He has gotten a little bit better every year.

This year he had a strong training camp and for the first time, he was consistently getting the checkdown pass to the backs out after going through his reads. He was hitting them on the money, in stride, and before the pass rush got him. I had never seen him perform that well before. I think he would have had a decent year had he been healthy. Not Flacco-esque but better than folks would have predicted.

We'll see when he winds up at another team next year.

[deuce]

Good point but I bet Ozzie takes a D-guy on the first round - either a corner or pass rusher.

All the good WRs will be gone by our turn and there arent that many of them.

Maybe, maybe not. Crabtree will go early, after that it is hard to say. Maclin (from Mizzou who is on ESPN tonight), Nicks from UNC and DHB from Maryland could all be available when we pick 32nd.

[RavenDavey]

You know, whoever gets Kyle Boller could be in for a pleasant surprise.

I bet he ends up with either the Lions or the Chiefs.....

[Losac]

You know, say what you want about Boller's play on the field, but the guy is nothing but a complete class act. Listening to his comments from the sideline yesterday about how he's happy for the team's success this year and how much he's seen Flacco develop since preseason - he's a great teammate and I wish him the best of success next year. There's a ton of QB-hungry teams and Boller deserves a fresh start somewhere.

He's like Rudy - if the guy's talent ever matched his heart, he'd be a Pro Bowler.

[StingerNLG]

A year off to get the taste of Billick's offense out of his mouth can't hurt either. I wish Boller the best as well, as he deserved better than the treatment he got here. A class act all the way.

That said, his time has come and gone. It's Joe Flacco's time. And we're in the playoffs thanks to him. We turn the page.

If you think about it, Joe Flacco NEVER had to work in a Billick offense. He had the Cameron offense from jump. You can't tell me that wasn't a factor in his development too.

[Dade]

The way Clayton has stepped up lately has made me think do we really need another receiver.

That over the shoulder catch he made was awesome. He may have just turn the corner into a playmaker.

If anything we should get a WR in the second or third round.

I'm sorry I ever doubted Clayton.

[Better than Boller]

yea, now imagine if we had D Williams in or another receiver we get from the draft as a good #3 and we have a legitimate offense