Baltimore's FA WRs laid a rotten egg today

[Flugel]

Folks,
Anquan Bodlin dropped a pass right at the goal line, which was the only time I heard his name all game. Aside from that, TJ Houshmandzadeh dropped a sure first down late in the game on 4th down. I don't think this is what Ozzie had in mind when he was showing them the money.

Did any of those signings really justify the fuss and hype? I'm well aware of what Boldin did to Eric Wright; but who didn't exploit him when they needed a big play in the passing game? Without looking at stats, I don't recall TJ and Boldin beign the winning differences in alot of games. I get the impression Derrick Mason never stopped being the goto guy for his young QB

Living here in TN, I often hear about how disappointing previous FA signings of Yancey Thigpen and David Givens turned out to be. Then I saw us sign Donte Stallworth to an exchange value of 1 TD for 2 signing bonuses in 2 years.

Unfortunately, round 2 of the draft hasn't treated us any better dating all the way back as far as Lawyer Tillman and continuing on through Dennis Northcutt, Andre Davis and Quincy Morgan. KJ was somewhat of a succes even if it was shortlived to seasons 1-3. I haven't read too many of our fans being excited about Robiskie or MoMass either. Rond 1 at #3 overall wasn't much better - Braylon gave us 1 good season out of 4 so he'll be best remembered for his bar fights and dropped passes.

SHOULD we draft the best WR available at #6 overall? Or, do we dare try that 2nd round thing again for this position? We can't expect to win games if we don't address this part of the passing game that handcuffed scoreboard. And even worse a lack of a threat on the perimeter allowed defenses to cheat as many as 9 guys in the box to prevent Hillis from beating them.

Heckert's resume for getting good WRs in Philly puts me at ease a little.

[Tobalaz]

IF a wr is there worth the pick, yes, take him, if not, try to trade back a little then take a wr and pick up an extra 2nd or 3rd rounder since we're hurting so bad for talent.

[Legacy Fan]

Let me know when our WR's can take us to a big game.



Then we can discuss whether or not they fuck up in one.

[Legacy Fan]

p.s. Sorry Fluges.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Legacy Fan

p.s. Sorry Fluges.

LOL! No problem - because you make a valid point about our WRs. Right after I posted this, Sez had a list of FA WRs in the Tom Heckert role play thread that included guys like Steve Breaston, Lance Moore, Santonio Holmes, Vincent Jackson and other intriguing vets.

The funniest thing about some of our biggest needs (WR & DE) is that they have a disturbingly high bust factor in the draft. Our luck hasn't really been wonderful with FAs thus far. I can't tell you how many FAs/Trade Acquisitions we've brought here with salary committed high expectations only to see their names appear on IR or get suspended.

When the plans are Braylon Edwards and Donte Stallworth - tough to blame the person inheriting those clowns. I forgot to add that Stallworth is one of those Ratbird FAs that didn't do a single thing to impact that game yesterday. I can't really say that surprises me because there's a reason nobody that's overpaid him to date deems him keeper material. He'll be available to the earliest suckers again. We can count on that.

[Enigmatic Evil]

The thing is, you hire those big game guys and when you get them not holding up their end of the bargain then you gotta shake your head. I have read that Flacco was by no means impressive in that game but I saw the Houshmandzadeh drop and that one just clunked off of his hands because he was late anticipating the pass.

WE NEED some new WR's in the pool fighting for these starting jobs. We learned that between MoMass, Robo, Stuckey and Cribbs we don't even have a #1 guy... arguably we don't even have a #2. Everyone made plays here and there but nobody was consistantly a target for the QB's and nobody out and out WON us a game... though there were times where they may have even LOST a game for us. Stuckey's fumble against the Jets comes to mind.

[PlaygroundLegend]

I respectfully disagree

I dont think the problem is the WR's

You see, the Baltimore WR's are proven

Joe Flacco is not, he choked HARCORE in the playoffs last year, and this year ( before the WR dropped that pass) he threw a perfect ball to a DB waiting to make the catch (he dropped it too)

Ive been saying it for Years, Joe Flacco is NOT the real deal, he is Derek Anderson, a DA that has a much better team around him, competent coaching, and handles pressure a little better

I repeat!! Joe Flacco is a False idol

[Sez.EJ]

I must disagree.. Flacco laid the egg.. Housh has been lousy for 2 years that's why Cinci and Seattle both got rid of him..so him dropping a pass is not a big mystery..Housh not even on the roster untill September.. He was a desperation move to fill the WR spots due to injuries befor the season started..not a guy they went and sought out in april during free agency...

Boldin was only targeted 3-4 x so that's not his fault. Boldin proved his worth with 7 td's and over 60 balls pretty much splitting evenly with Mason who also had 7 td's and over 60 balls.

Don't blame the Free agents for this one. Flacco had one of his worst games of the year. Turnovers killed them, not the recievers.. Not to mention.. umm... this just in.. the Steelers have a pretty good defense.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Sez.EJ

I must disagree.. Flacco laid the egg.. Housh has been lousy for 2 years that's why Cinci and Seattle both got rid of him..so him dropping a pass is not a big mystery..Housh not even on the roster untill September.. He was a desperation move to fill the WR spots due to injuries befor the season started..not a guy they went and sought out in april during free agency...

Boldin was only targeted 3-4 x so that's not his fault. Boldin proved his worth with 7 td's and over 60 balls pretty much splitting evenly with Mason who also had 7 td's and over 60 balls.

Don't blame the Free agents for this one. Flacco had one of his worst games of the year. Turnovers killed them, not the recievers.. Not to mention.. umm... this just in.. the Steelers have a pretty good defense.

You can't drop TD passes vrs the Steelers the way Boldin did; BUT I think you're right to point out Joe Flacco wasn't the QB in that matchup capable of leading his team to a clutch drive or 2 or 3. Ray Rice's fumble early in the second half wasn't helping them either.

[mario]

What QB hasn't laid in egg this year against the leagues best defense, and one of the best defenses the Steelers have ever fielded?