Mason Back - Ravens Receivers Now Deep?

[Bmore]

Unrestricted free agent wide receiver Derrick Mason and the Ravens reached a two-year agreement in principle Wednesday night, giving Baltimore what should be a formidable receiving corps heading into 2010.

It was previously unknown whether Mason, 36, would be re-signed considering the Ravens traded for wideout Anquan Boldin last Friday. The Ravens also signed wideout Donte Stallworth in mid-February.

But less than a week later acquiring Boldin, the Ravens made a statement that they still value their veteran Mason.

"We know exactly what we're getting with Derrick, and that's production,” General Manager and Executive Vice President Ozzie Newsome said.

“Every Ravens fan knows what Derrick brings to this team. It's reliability, toughness, leadership, the fight to win and the want of the ball in the clutch times. He has a two-year history with Joe [Flacco] that says, 'We know how to produce together.' They are on the same page."

Mason led the Ravens in receiving yards (1,028) and touchdowns (7) in 2009. He finished second on the team behind Ray Rice in receptions with 73. Mason has notched at least 1,000 yards receiving in eight of his past nine seasons.

"This is outstanding – just great news for the Ravens," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "Our coaches are happy. Derrick's teammates are happy, and you know Joe is smiling. Way to go to Ozzie and Pat [Moriarty, vice president of football administration] for getting this done. We would have lost something special if Derrick had gone to another team. We have gotten better in the last couple of days."

There were rumors that there could be interest in Mason from the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. Mason had also hinted at retirement at the end of the Ravens’ playoff run, he said a two-year deal would convince him to play.

“I’m getting myself ready to play football and help the Ravens win,” Mason said. “But, the first thing I am going to do is take my family on vacation. I’ll see everybody back in Baltimore soon.”

1. A. Boldin
2. D. Mason
3. D. Stallworth
4. M. Clayton

What ya'll think?

 

[hoodyallen]

1. A. Boldin

Not a number one anymore.

2. D. Mason

Solid

3. D. Stallworth

His career was looking like it was over before the suspension

4. M. Clayton

:smug:




It's a solid receiving corps...nothing special.

 

[Bmore]

Not a number one anymore.



Solid



His career was looking like it was over before the suspension



:smug:




It's a solid receiving corps...nothing special.

I agree with everything except the Boldin talk. Last 2 seasons he played less then a full season and have Fitz/Breaston with him and he still managed 1k minimum. Which isn't anything special, but it's the century mark.

Now he comes into Baltimore with a 36 year old Mason, who is solid for his age and has excellent hands. Stallworth, who when healthy and plays is a decent 10+ yards a rec receiver. Then Clayton has his.

So I'm thinking Boldin will have around 1200 yards by season end.

If we can draft Grisham and Rice continues to improve, it looks like our receiving game is leaps and bounds better then ever before.

 

[hoodyallen]

I agree with everything except the Boldin talk. Last 2 seasons he played less then a full season and have Fitz/Breaston with him and he still managed 1k minimum. Which isn't anything special, but it's the century mark.

Now he comes into Baltimore with a 36 year old Mason, who is solid for his age and has excellent hands. Stallworth, who when healthy and plays is a decent 10+ yards a rec receiver. Then Clayton has his.

So I'm thinking Boldin will have around 1200 yards by season end.

If we can draft Grisham and Rice continues to improve, it looks like our receiving game is leaps and bounds better then ever before.

Defenders double teamed Fitzgerald opening up a ton of room for him. Plus he benefited greatly from the Cardinals system. They essential ran a spread offense. Boldin would catch 5 yard dumps in the flats constantly and get 4-5 more yards. In a regular system, where he's getting doubled, and theres a heavy emphasis on Running, I dont see him succeeding.

 

[BazookaJoe5]

Teams cant shift all their coverage toward Boldin with Mason around, and if they do then Mason is going to eat the single coverage up. Not trying to compare Mason to Fitzgerald but it's not like Boldin is going to be the entire focus of the defenses we play - he can't be, not with the running game we have and Mason on the other side. Last year we had Mason and absolutely nothing else, the receiving group we have now is much, much better and looks pretty dangerous.

It's all up to Joe to get better now.

 

[Bmore]

Defenders double teamed Fitzgerald opening up a ton of room for him. Plus he benefited greatly from the Cardinals system. They essential ran a spread offense. Boldin would catch 5 yard dumps in the flats constantly and get 4-5 more yards. In a regular system, where he's getting doubled, and theres a heavy emphasis on Running, I dont see him succeeding.

Wait till Nuk see's this!

 

[BazookaJoe5]

Lets not forget Heap now either, he caught 50 some passes last year and had 6 TDs so he's not exactly terrible. But adding someone like Gresham as well would just be scary.

I am pumped though. I wish the season started tomorrow.

 

[Juggernaut]

Your 1-2 punch will be good for max 2 years

tbh, thats all you really need with that running game. Now or never, Ravens looking good this season. in 3, idk.

 

[St. Francisco]

Well...it's certainly better than what Baltimore had previously. It's not an amazing gathering of talent, but it's solid.

 

[bcransom]

Not a number one anymore.

rofl
Care to explain?

Boldin is still a #1, good for 1100+ yards every year. Mason is a very good #2, and after that it's solid with some talent that could end up being better than it's looking right now. The long and the short of it is the Ravens went from looking like a bottom 5 receiving corps to a very solid one, to go with a great running game.

 

[Tengo Juego]

Ray Rice can be added to the deep weaponry. Heap also enjoys these additions. Just needs to stay healthy.

 

[Point Blank]

Ryan > Flacco

 

[young2rice]

Yeah don't leave out Todd Heap in the factor.

Not to mention Boldin and Co. will have a much better benefit of Ray Rice and the Ravens backfield over Tim "Run 2 yards and go down on first contact" Hightower

 

[hoodyallen]

I'd like to clarify that I still think Boldin is an upgrade for Baltimore and a very good no.2 WR talent. I know defenses cant leave Mason alone, but he won't command double teams. Does the running game help Boldin some aspects? Yes, it opens up the pass game and the PA game, but it will also hurt his touches. Arizona basically threw 70 percent of the time in 08, and they still threw a ton in 09. You cant overlook the system. The Cardinals had the best QB possible for their game plan. Warner has one of the quickest releases in the NFL and has fantastic short throw accuracy. So many of Boldins catches came from 5-6 yard catches that he stretched into bigger gains. Flacco will not be able to set Boldin up in the way Warner did, and he won't have as many touches. Again, he will play well. I say he could finish the season with around 75 catches for 1050-1100 yards. Baltimore will have a solid receiving corps. Maybe even above average, but they should still be a run first team.

 

[dave]

Hoody has an excellent point.

Joe Flacco is not Kurt Warner.

I like the Ravens' re-signing Mason, but to assume they're an offensive juggernaut now is insane.

Flacco is a good NFL QB and nothing more.

 

[Bmore]

I'd like to clarify that I still think Boldin is an upgrade for Baltimore and a very good no.2 WR talent. I know defenses cant leave Mason alone, but he won't command double teams. Does the running game help Boldin some aspects? Yes, it opens up the pass game and the PA game, but it will also hurt his touches. Arizona basically threw 70 percent of the time in 08, and they still threw a ton in 09. You cant overlook the system. The Cardinals had the best QB possible for their game plan. Warner has one of the quickest releases in the NFL and has fantastic short throw accuracy. So many of Boldins catches came from 5-6 yard catches that he stretched into bigger gains. Flacco will not be able to set Boldin up in the way Warner did, and he won't have as many touches. Again, he will play well. I say he could finish the season with around 75 catches for 1050-1100 yards. Baltimore will have a solid receiving corps. Maybe even above average, but they should still be a run first team.

I'm not trying to compare Flacco to Warner (not now in his career at least) but, Flacco hit Ray Rice 78 times last year. So to say Flacco doesn't have a quick release or can hit Boldin for a 5 yard pass isn't accurate. Infact I'm more inclined to say that Flacco will actually look for the 5 yard pass before the deeper ones.

 

[hoodyallen]

I'm not trying to compare Flacco to Warner (not now in his career at least) but, Flacco hit Ray Rice 78 times last year. So to say Flacco doesn't have a quick release or can hit Boldin for a 5 yard pass isn't accurate. Infact I'm more inclined to say that Flacco will actually look for the 5 yard pass before the deeper ones.

Good point. Yes as a developing young WR he will be more inclined to check down short, but its not about that. So much of it is timing and motion. Arizona runs a completely different playbook, a lot of Boldins routes start out in motion and end short in the flats. It's not rocket science but Warner was just the perfect QB for the system, and the perfect QB for Boldin. You also cant overlook the fact that Boldin has taken a ton of punishment and might not be able to stay healthy all year.

 

[Nukleopatra]

If they had given up anything higher than a 3rd rounder, I'd be laughing right now.. But Baltimore managed to come away with a good WR for exactly what he's worth. If D. Mason can put up 1,000 yards in an 18th ranked passing offense, there's no reason why Boldin can't do it - if he stays healthy.

Joe Flacco will never be Kurt Warner, though.

 

[Kia Kaha]

The Ravens receivers are not deep IMO. They have a very good #1 and #2 combo but after that it is complete trash and I am a ravens fan.

Donte Stallworth - the guy has been out of the league for how long, and even when he was last in it, when did he make an impact. This guy can run a 4.3 forty all he wants but if he can’t stay healthy or make catches he won’t get any playing time (think what Demetrius Williams has done in Baltimore). I doubt he gets more than 30 catches to be honest

Mark Clayton - every year I tell myself this is his big year where he comes alive and makes play after play, but he is never going to more than an average WR. Clayton has a one big game now and then but he is so inconsistent it is not even funny. He is clutch at times (divisional round against Titans) and then at others chokes (Patriots last year). He really doesn’t excel at anything and struggles to get open all the time.

Bottom line is this - The Baltimore Ravens have done a good job to get Flacco some more weapons. Getting Boldin is going to help our offense a lot. It means teams cant stack the box against Ray Rice as Boldin and Mason will both eat up single coverage and with Boldin blocking up field for rice he could potentially get a few more yards each play. Boldin also gives the ravens that toughness they need. Having Mason as a number 2 wide out is great as he can use his amazing route running skills to his advantage and Flacco can finally pass it to someone going over the middle.

The Ravens getting back Mason and trading for Boldin doesn’t make their offense any worse, it makes it a lot better, but in no means do these moves mean that the ravens move to a pass first attack or become an offensive team. The ravens live by their defense and running game. This doesn’t change that.

 

[Derrville]

Didnt Boldin have his best season with Josh McCown and No Fitzgerald back in the day?