A View from Enemy Lines

Speaking of Joe Flacco, I'm looking forward to him being our starting QB next year.

 

The one in your Profile Pic.


Harbaugh is a lot of things but he still has Lamar Jackson. Injured or not, he still is a major threat.

 

I am honestly thinking Kyler Murray or even, dare I say, Anthony Richardson. Neither would surprise me at this point. As for what I would do?!


Go with Will Howard. Maximize everything around him as much as possible and see what you have. If he succeeds?! Great. If not?! Ready up for 2027.

 

The Colts could be in some trouble with the way they're playing and have to deal with Houston and Jacksonville.

 

I agree. They will go with another retread thinking they are simply a QB away. Murray or Richardson won't move the needle a single game.

They are not a QB away. This team has major holes and flaws, lacks depth, youth, speed, and talent, has a poor scheme, and needs to replace every coach. They need to get the QB position fixed, if Howard isn't the guy, well you get good draft position the following year.

 

I don't really buy into the idea that we are thinking we are just a QB away. I think the idea is to keep a legit NFL QB as the signal caller while the team gets rebuilt. Once we have a good steady OL, some NFL level weapons, and a stingy defense that can get off the field on 3rd down, then we shout the moon for a franchise QB.


There are multiple ways to go about building a longterm successful franchise. One of those ways is to build the team first and add the QB last. It worked for us in the early 2000's.

 

You might be right and that is how they are looking at it. A temporary QB, replace aging players on defense, and make do until they get that rookie franchise QB in the draft.

The only thing I know the rebuild needs to be done with a different Head Coach. I don't want Tomlin anywhere near developing a new QB, his offensive philosophy is terrible (much like his defensive philosophy). This team needs an actual offensive guru and Quarterback whisperer that can develop a passing game.

 

With all those flaws it makes little sense to draft a QB. Once drafted they are on the clock for that fifth year option and you can't waste 3 or 4 years trying to assemble a team around him. I think the Steelers have taken a deliberate approach to signing vets that can at least hold the fort while they work on beefing up the trenches and other weak spots. Then you draft that shiny new QB,... around 2027.

 

I'd rather they go with Will Howard myself, but I have the same sick feeling that midget Murray will be the Steelers #1 QB next year. If that's the case, expect many more years of mediocrity to come.

 

Ravens should run every down. Especially if Harmon is out.

On our side of the ball, we should install 80 at QB. Then teach him the tush push. Run it every single play. My guess is that offensive production improves. Downside is that we'd get zero explosive plays. But that's just a push anyway.

 

Nope. Mount Washington under center. All tush push. All the time.

That's the true Arthur Smith offense...except Smith will want J Smith under center (or K Patterson if he could somehow get him back on the roster). So Tomlin has to put his foot down and not give him a helmet.

 

I am not necessarily suggesting taking a first round QB in 2026, especially if they are keeping Tomlin, this team is going to be terrible and will be in a better draft position in 2027. They have 12 picks next year, so if one falls in the later rounds, go ahead and take a QB. This team kind of needs to take a QB every year until they find one.

Even if these drafted QB's don't hit the field, you can trade and flip them for lower round draft capital. There are always QB hungry teams.

I also have to wonder if Tomlin's role in talent acquisition will be greatly reduced and Khan/ Weidl will be deciding the players.

 

It's a good point. Which fanbase should be more disappointed in their season so far? Gotta say the Ravens fans. They have a franchise QB in his prime, a beast RB, a highly drafted secondary. They are weak on both lines but still should be far better than their record.

 

If Art II is anything like Dan, he would treat Tomlin like Dan treated Noll at the end. Demand he fire his coaches, then take away his draft input. Two things Tomlin covets would basically gut the HC and he could decide just to walk away.

 

I've read multiple comments across multiple youtube videos critical of Tomlin these last few days where even purported Ravens fans have chimed in saying that they would prefer greatly Tomlin to Harbaugh. Assuming they aren't sock puppet accounts from Tomlin fan boys or his next of kin, it's funny to see just how rampant that opinion is outside of Pittsburgh, and even within their own division.

The clown world mainstream sports media has done such an excellent job of running cover for Coach Low-T these last 15 years, a number of rival fanbases are probably shocked that we'd ever want to get rid of him – to which, I would say, they can have him!

 

There in lies problem number one. When were the Ravens constantly in the mix even with Lamar?! Above average to great performances in both trenches. Baltimore has let theirs atrophy just as bad as Pittsburghs despite them constantly making that a priority.


Daniel Faalele, Andrew Vorhees, Roger Rosengarten, Travis Jones and CJ Okoye, to name a few. Some of these players were supposed to go higher than their initial draft slot; doubly so in Vorhees for he was a highly touted IOL prior to his injury. Not sure what happened in terms of development but it hasn't worked out thus far it seems.



This year?! Nnamdi Madibuke is gone and the Offensive Line has seemingly taken a step back sans Tyler Linderbaum. As a result, both units are hurting badly. Not nearly as bad as Pittsburghs though but still not up to Baltimores standard.

 

We lose against Baltimore and I think the team quits the rest of the way. Hell they probably already have…

 

I am all but convinced many of the players have checked out. That said, porous Coaching will do that to said players. That isn't to say many of the them are exempt from blame; Patrick Queen being chief among them.


However, Coaching matters. Without it, no matter how good a roster seems constructed, that team will fail. I asked the Brandon Staley led Los Angeles Chargers from 2021 to 2023 and they seemed to agree.