totally agree Preston. Bowe would be really nice but we need a new C Mac

Mike,

I've been saying this all along. We need a physical corner that can keep up with teams No# 1 WR.

I hear that the Texans Dunta Robinson is disgruntled in Houston. Any chance we could give up a LB and maybe a #2 pick for him?

Keep the truth coming Mike...........

James

I agree Mike. Forget the WR talk we need CB's! What's the deal with Webb could be possible start or is he not ready yet?

Bye week tweak list:

1. Switch to 3-4.
2. Find another corner (on or off the roster).
3. Get D. Williams & K. Washington more involved in the passing game.
4. Get some young blood on the D-line/LB
5. Work the 3 headed monster more (Rice, McGahee, McClain)

Agreed. Especially since Samari Rolle is not going to play this year. I think the kid Webb should get a shot at least at nickel back. He can't be any worse than what we have out there now.

You'd be surprised how "good" our defensive backs would look with a bit of a pass rush. Suggs gets doubled every snap and needs a bookend to rush the passer which will make our DB's not need to cover for 5 or 6 seconds every time.

Haha now we only need a CB even tho last week Clayton dropped the ball for the loss. We have no big go-to WR but we have a superb QB so that's mostly where the 31 points comes from. Sure, we are hurting at DB, anyone can see that. We've had a terrible group of DB's for the last 3 years but Rex was able to hide that for the most part by blitzing on almost every down. If they don't start blitzing more we are in for a long season.

Mike....I agree but are any good/proven corners available?

Right on the money!!!

I think this defense would be just as bad as it is right now if we had Champ Baily and Asante Samuel back there. Our corners are actually better this year than they were last year. What has changed? Rex is gone. Mattison is not an NFL coach. How can you have Lewis, Suggs, Ngata and Reed and still suck?!!!!! Rex made lemonade with the lemons he had. It's all on the schemes. You can blame the players all you want. Great coaches coach with the personnel they have. Cam Cameron took us to the AFC championship game with with a one armed wide receiver, a rookie QB, rookie running back. That's what great coaches do. Mattison has got to go. Harbaugh should stop doing personal favors and get coaches that can coach.

Agreed- 100%

What about Ty Law or Deltha O'Neal?
I understand these guys are both past their prime but lets be honest, they both would be an upgrade over Frank Walker or Foxworth or Carr.
I agree 100% Mike, maybe we want to get these receivers only so then they can't beat our secondary.

i completely agree...why would we need another WR when we are scoring 30+ pts a game and still lose...thats a reflection of the D, specifically the secondary, not being able 2 do thier jobs, they r undersized and average corners at best and really hurts that out LB are making the down the field tackes rather than our safties who are supposed 2 give over the top coverage help...

i completely agree...why would we need another WR when we are scoring 30+ pts a game and still lose...thats a reflection of the D, specifically the secondary, not being able 2 do thier jobs, they r undersized and average corners at best and really hurts that out LB are making the down the field tackes rather than our safties who are supposed 2 give over the top coverage help...

So mike when was the last time you ran a 40 at lets say, 4.35, 4.28, 4.45? How about make over 7 -8 picks in college? Had over 140 or so tackles? Was academic and athletic all-american in college and, here is the kicker, when did you get drafted from college to the pros to play cornerback? I don't think you or some of the other crazy folks that comment on the seconday here had did this. You guys kill me with your silly contentions. The team needs a cornerback that can "hold hhis own against a receiver." No cornerback or receiver holds his own on every play. There have never been a shut-down corner and never will be. Receivers never catch all of their passes with corners on them, and corners never intercept all passes. So what these team has to do is just coach right as they are doing and the players are getting better by game. I think some of you losers are jealous of what these are paid. I'm not jealous of your pay as an editor, because your colums are sorry. SO don't get jealous of the players. If you can do better suit up.

Couldn't agree more! Please find a corner.

For once, Mike, we're in total agreement. When I read the rumors about trying to get T.O., I had to wonder WHY? Granted, we don't have a stellar receiving corps, but they're doing fine all in all. For this season anyway, the one glaring need we have is at the cornerback position. And while we're at it, how about getting rid of Chris Carr and Frank Walker?

Mike I agree WR is not the problem. Unless one of those guys can play CB as well I don't think we need them.

I couldn't possibly agree more. Our receivers aren't perfect but we are putting points on the board and succeeding offensively. Our secondary is suffering and we need a corner more than anything.

this is exactly what I have been saying, with an average D this team is 6-0

Exactly. Receiver is not the issue... not by a long shot. Frank Walker is useless. Foxworth finally had a decent game bringing his season total to one. Chris Carr looks lost. Fabian Washington looks mediocre at best and he's way too inconsistent. Lardarius Webb has the speed but we can't afford any on-the-job training in the secondary right now.

Also, Mike, please explain to me why Mattison would call a defense that leaves Walker man-to-man on the Vikings best receiver at such a crucial juncture, and why he called off the blitz during the fateful winning series after it had worked to perfection one series prior...

let me rephrase, "with an average secondary" we'd be 6-0. It's very possible with 31 teams we are 15th in D anyway, which would be average

Yes, this is the right assessment.

Although I don't expect Ozzie to tip his hand and thereby make it harder to get a reasonable deal done. Sellers who know they have a desperate buyer hold all the cards.

I agree 100%. Our biggest need is for a decent corner (or two).

Wish it were that simple. We need both positions solidified. There are balls that are dropped that a true number 1 reciever would probably catch or be able to catch up to the passes Flaccos delievrs with that big arm. I love Mason but really he is a number 2 at this stage in his career.

I think the Ravens made some big leaps of faith and they are paying for it now. We let Stover go, we have an inconsisitent receiving corp that we didnt think that need to be upgraded, questionable cb signing that no one really understood and probably the most important leap was that we did not see the quality of coaching drop under Mattison. He doesnt seem to have the same pedigree as some of our previous coordinators. Loosing Rex was going to happen but was Mattison the most qualified when your are looking at a superbowl run. You have to look at Harbough. Give him credit for Cameron but he cant get a pass on his D coordinator pick. I think some of the problems in the secondary arent that they just cant cover anyone. They seem to be out of place and dont communicate well. Fabian looks totally different from last year. He was never all world but serviceable. We still have the main group of guys. You cant tell me that losing Leonard and Scott changed the D when we have lost just as many good players in the past. Why does the whole group look un raven like ? Its not just the secondary.

We will come back but only as fast as Ozzie and the team own up to the mistakes. The last time we faced such a decision was with Boller. Get a true number 1 reciever and corner. Its easier to pick up a tried and true free agent wr. We tend to not draft that position well. You can hopefully trade for a serviceable corner this year because not too many big names ones will be free. Pick up a stud in the draft next year.

Suggestion trade McClain he should have great value coming off the Pro Bowl year he had.

What about a trade for Texans CB Dunta Robinson? He has been angry at the GM for franchising him and he is recovering from an ACL injury, but he represents an upgrade over our starters. He is a bigger hitter, more aggressive, and a tenacious tackler. The only downside is that he will need a new contract and will likely want to be paid, most likely on the same scale, if not more, than Foxworth.

Mike,

This is the first time I agree with you. The receivers are doing a good job. The need is at corner, I guess there is not one out there to get.

Mike,

Would be nice to see how many people before this season (Including You So Called Experts At The Sun) who thought we had significant great depth at corner.

Now all we get is whine whine whine we suck at covering. I think most of these posters are flopping from the analysis they provided back in training camp that we had what we needed in our secondary.

Of course that would take some owning up which I doubt most of you haters would have the courage to do.

I agree 100%.

Mike , i am starting to worry about ozzie a little. His off season signings left a lot to be desired. Now they are talking about a receiver, they don't have one corner back that can cover or tackle on this team. I don't understand there thinking. They also need to be exploring somebody else to rush the passer. Mike be honest if you will, don't you think suggs look fat and completely out of shape. It looked like he was pulling a truck on sunday, really slow.

they scored 31 points because Rice kept out running them on screen passes and Runs ....not because the were torching the secondary... Clayton's touchdown was against Karl Paymah.....not Antoine Winfield.....let's be realistic mike...yes your right their corners do suck like I said they would form day 1....but I cant believe you dont think that this team would be better with a quality impact receiver other than potential hall of famer Derrick Mason....and please dont compare TO on the Bills with TO on the Ravens because it would be like comparing Randy Moss on the Raiders with Randy Moss on the Patriots.....we all knew what was going to happen with TO in Buffalo....that experiment was doomed from day 1.....with the Ravens he would have the motivation he needs to flourish....and they need him....its a perfect fit with baggage....I'd take the superbowl with the Baggage over the Morally and politically correct stance without the superbowl.....coach Herman Edwards''HELLO....YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME''....do they want to win the superbowl or do they want to let Coach Harbaugh continue to set a fine example of always saying the right thing for scoutmasters across America.

AMEN! Be honest, are there any good, avilable CBs right now?

If I were the Ravens, I would go with an entirely new defensive scheme. They are trying to imitate a Rex Ryan defense. Rex is no longer here. To run the same defense, but out of the "base", is just ridiculous. The base defense is not working. You can't find a linebacker on the team to fill in for Bart Scott. Tavares and Jameel are just not getting the job done. Ellerbe deserves a look.

If it were my team, I would go back to a 4-2-1-4. Use Ed Reed as a "Shark". He needs to be able to roam the field and take chances. This would fill the hole of the 2nd Middle LB Position. If they can't get the job done, what else can you do?

For the secondary, I would put LeDarius Webb in at CB with Foxworth. I would then put in Haruki and Zbikowski at Safety. Linebackers would be Ray, JJ, and Suggs. Defensive Ends would be Pryce and Ngata. Defensive tackles Kelley Gregg and Bannon.

The defense needs a change. There are no CB's that are out there. Teams know our weakness, and highly doubt anyone would give up a legitimate CB to us knowing that could take us over the top. Adjustments need to be made with what we have now. By putting Ed Reed in as a shark, you are letting him stay aggressive and use his natural instincts and abilities. Putting Webb, Haruki, and Zbikowski puts two starters on the bench in Landry and Washington. You are also filling a major hole with the 2nd MLB position that can't seem to get going after Bart Scott left.

because we needed to put up 34 einstien

So because we need a corner, we don't also need a receiver? What we have here is a reporter setting himself up with something negative to write. If we get a receiver and not a corner Preston can write something negative. We still need a receiver. Preston did this with the whole Stover/Hauschka decision. If Hauschka makes the kick Preston doesn't address it. Misses the kick and he says "told you so". Sports opinion column 101 Mike. Cmon!!!

AGREE! Does every Ravens fan want to see a shootout for a football game for the future?The team has been exposed to lack in cover personel and until this current bunch decides that they need to step up their game(to try to meet their salaries?) I recommend we look around for at least some dudes that want to play old Ravens D and can improve with time.Opposing coaches are going to salivate watching the latest game film of our secondary.

I don't get it either...our offense can put up plenty of points as is. I'm not sure what cornerbacks are out there but I know there's one named CMac who we could surely use at this point. I'd love to know the real reason why he was let go...I'm sure it was more than showing up in shorts and a t-shirt for the ride to Miami stadium.

At this point, I'm even missing Corey Ivy and that's says something.

I couldn't agree more. Clayton made a great catch, Washington is playing well, the problem is the pass defense SUCKS. Rolle not coming back makes it even more urgent. We should have kept Leonard, Landry is awful.

I completely agree with that take. At the beginning of the season I thought Wide Receiver was their biggest need but its obvious that a CB will fix their problems. Anything has got to be better than what they currently have in place. And one question I have is why is Frank Walker still playing after two straight games and maybe more of getting destroyed out on the field and committing stupid penalties. I mean if you are going to grab a jersey like that at least make sure the guy does not make the catch. Their secondary is a JOKE and I am not looking forward to seeing Indy come to town at all.

That is the truth!

i couldn't agree more ,plus a pass rusher to complement suggs would help as well

the ravns coaching staff are a bunch of idiots they want a tom brady offense so badley they dont care about loosing and not having any defense at all. all i hear is we got to work harder john just shut up you are so stupid grow up and stop trying to be like the eagles but atleast they have D. well atleast you wont be hear at the end of our loosing season

Mike, what do you see as the problem with our corners? They were supposed to be fast and agile, albeit on the smaller side. BTW, 5'11 is not short by any means.

Maybe because we never hear of a good corner being available? Maybe instead of insulting your readers, maybe you should do some investigations into possible corners that are available?

It is clear that the Ravens corners are routinely failing to shutdown long passing plays, but it is short-sighted to place the blame on only one source. The Ravens' historically stout run defense is not as successful as in years past at the point of attack and subsequently the linebackers are not able to make stops as close to the line of scrimmage as usual (zone blocking schemes where the running back chooses his gap in real time seem particularly effective this year). This is turn is not causing as many third and long situations that typically enable the Ravens to employ their blitzes effectively. Without generating the pressure on the quarterback that we are also used to from strong Ravens defenses, the cornerbacks will continue to be picked on. This is not to suggest that a change in personnel won't help, but an internal review of the problems plaguing the unit as a whole might be more useful. For instance, the adjustment last week that saw increased playing time for McKinney (a bigger tackle to pair with Ngata at the line of scrimmage) served much better run defense in the second half that forced a number of three-and-outs that enabled the Ravens to come back towards the end of the game.

So as everybody, here my wishlist :

1/ bench landry and Carr an replace them by Nakamura and Webb: Nakamura is a playmaker and he won't blow up his coverage assignement like landry, he could make our cornersbacks looks better... At this point Carr don't deserve a roster spot either at corner or at returner so let's free a spot and put some electricity on the field with webb!

2/ Bench gooden and put Ellerbe right next ray lewis! we need tough dominant nasty Linebackers, not speedy and fragile...

3/ Stick with Mckinney on running down, this guy is a beast and can disrupt the pocket with Ngata next to him! keep gregg as a deluxe backup!

4/ our base 3-4 defense
nGATA - McKInney (nose)- Price
JJ -ray -ellerbe- suggs
washington nakamura reed foxworth
(nikel: webb)

5/ No need to trade for a WR!!!! we have enough talent in offense!!!!

6/ trade for the right corner or don't trade! no need of a down hill carreer old and injured corner asking for a last huge paycheck!!!! no need of a huge star, just a young 6-0 , 200lbs physical guy and good tackler, that's enough with the talent we have around!!!

7/ remenber we've lost against top QB and at the last second each time! stop panicking and freaking, we're gonna be fine!!!!

Philosophy of scheme is the problem… not the corners; a solid DT or a speedy DE makes more sense to go after than a CB or WR at this time. And let’s be honest, does Landry have any clue on what he’s doing back there? Keeping Leonard would have been a wise decision, because all he did last year was clean up all the deficiencies we had at corner… Landry is a joke!

Everyone is in agreement that corner is a major need for this team, but everyone needs to realize good cover CB is not there for the taking. It is the most sought after position in football, so who would be willing to trade one away, NOBODY. There is nothing the Ravens can do right now to get a corner, unless there is another GM out there that doesn't have a brain.

Agrred. The Ravens offfebse is doing well. Why bring in screww ball T.O. to mess it up.
The Ravens need a corner. If you make a trade that's what you trade for

I tell you how to fix the problems..... This is how i do it on Madden and i know this isnt Madden but hear me out. Ed Reed is a 99 overall at FS and SS so put him at CB where he is a 93 overall rating. That is way better than Foxworth who is 81 and Washington who is 76 overall. I am quite sure that Nakamura can fill in for Reed because they are about the same size and Nakamura was doing good in training camp so thats what I would do even though thats a big risk but it works good for me on Madden and I know this a game this is real life but its worth some kind of try if we didnt make any moves before the trade deadline and they dont want to sign McCalister back.

Maybe Bart Scott was right when he said Rex was actually the head coach last year.

I agree totally that we don't need a wide out.....we need a corner, even two would be better. Let me remind some that Chris Mack is still out there I think and would be better than any we currently have. And does tha name Ogollesby sund familar. He live here in maryland not far from the Ravens Complex. He was tearing them up in preseason....They kept Walker and let that kid go....Hey Coach....am doing a giant rethink on you.....Can you say Brian Bellick.

I keep hearing the comment
from Coach Harbaugh that the corner's will get better, when
We are almost half way into the season and it's the same thing
every week. We need to put more pressure on the QB. I think the defense they are playing is not a good fit for this team .