GUTTING THE DEFENSE: With the players that have moved on, people see the team as being vulnerable. The National Talking-Heads are calling the changes a major hit to the SB team and local airwaves are filled with references to a "rebuilding year" and a 3-13 year. The theory is that a team that wins the SB should not make changes to the degree that have hit the Ravens and expect to "repeat". The influx of youth will have the team step back and there are those who are threatening to dump their PSL's if Reed is allowed to walk away.
 So let's take some time to study what has been done so far. On the offense, Boldin was traded and the Ravens got a 6th round pick. There was no doubt that he was a cap casualty if a deal was not worked out, and he would have been cut (without a draft pick) if the trade did not occur. So was Boldin so important that losing him causes the offense to drop in production? Mason was a productive veteran for Flacco, but he shifted to Q after Derrick left. Can you clearly say that Flacco will not find somebody that he can establish a "comfort-level" with on the present roster or that Oz will not find a veteran on the cheap to fill the spot? And McKinnie and Leach are probably losses yet to come. I love Leach but unless they can adjust his contract, he is too pricey for a position that is fading away. I personally would love to see the team hold onto a thumper like him, just to watch him flatten with blocks the lighter, faster LB's and DB's that are becoming the wave of the future. With Caldwell's schemes and the fast-paced type of offense being set up with Joe, I do not see that they can afford to hold onto Leach unless he is willing to play for a lot less. And McKinnie is a major question on so many levels that it will be a surprise if he stays. If he does, I see a one-year deal to keep him interested in playing. If he gets a long-term deal, I think that he tanks it. And if he walks, is he really a great loss? The Ravens were 9-2 while he was on the bench. The run through the playoffs with him in the OL was more related to it being a contract year for him, IMHO. What can you really expect to get from him at any time? Birk's retirement leaves a question about the leader of the line, but they may find a veteran if Gino can not handle it.
 As for the defense, who can really say that this team was a SB team that you needed to keep intact? Ray Lewis left, but he had reached his expiration date. Does anybody really think that the team should have paid Ellerbe, Williams or Kruger the kind of money they found in the market? And is Reed so important that they have to pay what he believes is his value? Overall the defense was not that good. And of course we do not know what talents the younger players have to offer, so we do not know the level of confidence that coaches have in those who are left. And so far, the Bargain-basement deals for the DL suggest that the Ravens see talent in the draft for the LB and DB levels. The only hole that concerns me is the leadership one. Coaches can do only so much. A player will pay attention to a peer in some things more than a person in authority. Ray commanded the respect and herded the sheep, acting as a buffer between the coaches and the players. Who will fill that spot now?
 This team was flawed on many levels. Everything broke right for them on the run through the playoffs, but I do not see that team being good enough to chase another title. Changes were needed. Are they enough to keep the team competitive? We will not know until the first kick-off; and even then it will be a question. How many people figured the season was toast when Suggs went down? Webb? Lewis? When Denver dominated them at home? When Batch pulled a win out of his Ben? When the Redskins pulled off a come-back? 
For now, let's just watch the formation of the 2013 team. It is only March, BTW.GUTTING THE DEFENSE: With the players that have moved on, people see the team as being vulnerable. The National Talking-Heads are calling the changes a major hit to the SB team and local airwaves are filled with references to a "rebuilding year" and a 3-13 year. The theory is that a team that wins the SB should not make changes to the degree that have hit the Ravens and expect to "repeat". The influx of youth will have the team step back and there are those who are threatening to dump their PSL's if Reed is allowed to walk away.
 So let's take some time to study what has been done so far. On the offense, Boldin was traded and the Ravens got a 6th round pick. There was no doubt that he was a cap casualty if a deal was not worked out, and he would have been cut (without a draft pick) if the trade did not occur. So was Boldin so important that losing him causes the offense to drop in production? Mason was a productive veteran for Flacco, but he shifted to Q after Derrick left. Can you clearly say that Flacco will not find somebody that he can establish a "comfort-level" with on the present roster or that Oz will not find a veteran on the cheap to fill the spot? And McKinnie and Leach are probably losses yet to come. I love Leach but unless they can adjust his contract, he is too pricey for a position that is fading away. I personally would love to see the team hold onto a thumper like him, just to watch him flatten with blocks the lighter, faster LB's and DB's that are becoming the wave of the future. With Caldwell's schemes and the fast-paced type of offense being set up with Joe, I do not see that they can afford to hold onto Leach unless he is willing to play for a lot less. And McKinnie is a major question on so many levels that it will be a surprise if he stays. If he does, I see a one-year deal to keep him interested in playing. If he gets a long-term deal, I think that he tanks it. And if he walks, is he really a great loss? The Ravens were 9-2 while he was on the bench. The run through the playoffs with him in the OL was more related to it being a contract year for him, IMHO. What can you really expect to get from him at any time? Birk's retirement leaves a question about the leader of the line, but they may find a veteran if Gino can not handle it.
 As for the defense, who can really say that this team was a SB team that you needed to keep intact? Ray Lewis left, but he had reached his expiration date. Does anybody really think that the team should have paid Ellerbe, Williams or Kruger the kind of money they found in the market? And is Reed so important that they have to pay what he believes is his value? Overall the defense was not that good. And of course we do not know what talents the younger players have to offer, so we do not know the level of confidence that coaches have in those who are left. And so far, the Bargain-basement deals for the DL suggest that the Ravens see talent in the draft for the LB and DB levels. The only hole that concerns me is the leadership one. Coaches can do only so much. A player will pay attention to a peer in some things more than a person in authority. Ray commanded the respect and herded the sheep, acting as a buffer between the coaches and the players. Who will fill that spot now?
 This team was flawed on many levels. Everything broke right for them on the run through the playoffs, but I do not see that team being good enough to chase another title. Changes were needed. Are they enough to keep the team competitive? We will not know until the first kick-off; and even then it will be a question. How many people figured the season was toast when Suggs went down? Webb? Lewis? When Denver dominated them at home? When Batch pulled a win out of his Ben? When the Redskins pulled off a come-back? 
For now, let's just watch the formation of the 2013 team. It is only March, BTW.

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