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coordinator0
Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 11261
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Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:43 pm Post subject: Jameel McClain Activated; Billy Bajema Released |
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Quote: | Baltimore Ravens @Ravens 3m
Harbaugh was non-commital about Jameel McClain's status. Roster decision has to be made by 4 p.m. tomorrow. |
I'm interested to see where this is going. To be honest I'm hoping he gets put on injured reserve because if he's able to play I have no doubt Pees would try to get him on the field which would cut into the snaps of both Brown and Bynes. No good can come from that.
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Quote: | Baltimore Ravens @Ravens 9m
#Ravens have activated LB Jameel McClain to the active 53-man roster. Cut TE Billy Bajema. |
Last edited by coordinator0 on Sat Oct 19, 2013 2:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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SnA ExclusiVe 
Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 49882 Location: Hillsboro, OR
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Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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IMO, He's better than Bynes already, but we don't know if he's better than Brown.
I say activate him, but start Brown and play McClain on ST and then see what Brown's got. Brown has the most upside of any of our ILB's and he's the most athletic, but Jameel is the most well-rounded outside of Daryl Smith.
He can only help this team. _________________ #FireDeanPees...and Chris Hewitt....and Matt Weiss |
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coordinator0
Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 11261
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Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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If by well-rounded you mean can play somewhat competently in the box but is below-average everywhere else then I agree. I actually think Jameel is probably the worst run-defender out of the inside linebackers Baltimore has had the past few years. It's hard to tell what Brown can do in that facet but he's not out there to play that role. You can't say that about McClain. |
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BaltimoreTerp 

Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 34379 Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know if I'd agree that he's already better than Bynes. They're pretty similar players in many respects in that they both get playing time because they play disciplined, play hard, and know their assignments. They're both better in the run-game then they are either shooting the gap as pass rushers or dropping back in coverage. Only difference between them to me is that Bynes is a better athlete (and that's comparing him to McClain pre-injury, not whatever shape he's in having not played football in about a year), and McClain is the better leader and possesses strong intangibles, depending on how much you want to weigh that.
Given he was only cleared to play contact football very recently I just have a hard time believing he's in any sort of shape to contribute. I think IR is the best place for him. _________________
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SnA ExclusiVe 
Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 49882 Location: Hillsboro, OR
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Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe I have a clouded memory of what McClain was then, but from watching Bynes this year, he's not impressed me at all. _________________ #FireDeanPees...and Chris Hewitt....and Matt Weiss |
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santiagomn8
Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Posts: 301
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Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't McClellan out injured? If so then with both him and Byrnes out that leaves no back up so McClain is nice cover especially since he knows the defense. To me this seems like a great opportunity to see what brown has to offer and hopefully he shines |
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Mancunian Raven 
Joined: 09 Oct 2012 Posts: 3469
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 10:34 am Post subject: |
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I want to see Arthur Brown step in and make that spot alongside Smith his own. Especially with Heath Miller being one of Big Ben's favourite weapons, and the Ravens being so sucky at defending passes over the middle.
Brown will be better at that than either Bynes or McClain, and he's also got so much more upside than either of those two that it's ridiculous.
As for McClain himself, I seem to remember him being very disappointing last year, prior to his injury. The talk was that he was resting on his laurels after getting the big contract, and that did seem to be borne out through the way he played. But it's possible that this injury was hindering him, even then.
If he's not able to perform to the standards he needs to, then I wonder if we'll see him replaced with the other McClain that the Ravens hold the player rights to. _________________
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coordinator0
Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 11261
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 10:53 am Post subject: |
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Mancunian Raven wrote: | I want to see Arthur Brown step in and make that spot alongside Smith his own. Especially with Heath Miller being one of Big Ben's favourite weapons, and the Ravens being so sucky at defending passes over the middle.
Brown will be better at that than either Bynes or McClain, and he's also got so much more upside than either of those two that it's ridiculous.
As for McClain himself, I seem to remember him being very disappointing last year, prior to his injury. The talk was that he was resting on his laurels after getting the big contract, and that did seem to be borne out through the way he played. But it's possible that this injury was hindering him, even then.
If he's not able to perform to the standards he needs to, then I wonder if we'll see him replaced with the other McClain that the Ravens hold the player rights to. |
Nah, when McClain suffered the spinal contusion he was out immediately. I don't know if there was anything else bothering him but to be honest his play didn't seem any less impressive than usual. |
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Nucky 
Joined: 27 Dec 2011 Posts: 705 Location: Gburg, MD
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 2:57 pm Post subject: ... |
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Just got a text from the Ravens.
McClain has been activated and.......yup you guessed it
Billy Bajema was waived.. |
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coordinator0
Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 11261
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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I'm kind of surprised it wasn't Stokley again since it sounds like he's not playing tomorrow anyways. |
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diamondbull424 
 Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 13074 Location: Baltimore, MD
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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coordinator0 wrote: | I'm kind of surprised it wasn't Stokley again since it sounds like he's not playing tomorrow anyways. |
Bajema was awful in the last game though, dropped one ball, perhaps two. Whiffed on blocks. So it makes sense.
That said, Bajema will probably be back at some point... and he's a guy you can trust to stick around and wait for a phone call. Because let's be honest, who else is going to give him a call. His only other coaching connection in the league was Cam Cameron... and Cameron went to LSU.
So we're probably his only suitors.
In terms of McClain, good. I thought Bynes might upgrade what McClain gave us. But to this point Bynes was not looking good. He looked almost exactly like McClain... only he was worse at taking on blocks. Which effectively made him not stout enough to be a thumper, yet not athletic or skilled enough to be the main backer.
I'm not sure that Arthur Brown and Daryl Smith's skillsets will align properly, as neither are thumper types, but I say give it a shot. McClain will likely get the start because that's how Harbaugh operates, but he hasn't played meaningful football in months.
This seems like the perfect opportunity to get Brown's feet wet. Give Smith the Mike'd helmet for defensive calls. And allow Brown to fly around out there and make plays. If he makes mistakes, he'll have a bye week to focus on correcting those mistakes and allow him to be more effective coming off the bye and facing a pivotal stretch in our schedule. _________________
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coordinator0
Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 11261
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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diamondbull424 wrote: | coordinator0 wrote: | I'm kind of surprised it wasn't Stokley again since it sounds like he's not playing tomorrow anyways. |
Bajema was awful in the last game though, dropped one ball, perhaps two. Whiffed on blocks. So it makes sense. |
Well, yeah, it's Billy Bajema. That's pretty much the standard. Maybe the coaches are thinking they're better off just going with a lineman as their blocking tight end. With as little as Bajema brings to the passing game that line of thinking would probably be right too. |
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diamondbull424 
 Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 13074 Location: Baltimore, MD
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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coordinator0 wrote: | diamondbull424 wrote: | coordinator0 wrote: | I'm kind of surprised it wasn't Stokley again since it sounds like he's not playing tomorrow anyways. |
Bajema was awful in the last game though, dropped one ball, perhaps two. Whiffed on blocks. So it makes sense. |
Well, yeah, it's Billy Bajema. That's pretty much the standard. Maybe the coaches are thinking they're better off just going with a lineman as their blocking tight end. With as little as Bajema brings to the passing game that line of thinking would probably be right too. |
I also seem to recall Ricky Wagner having played TE at some point early in his Wisconsin career (though I'm not certain). So I have to imagine his hands couldn't be much worse than Bajema's... he's a better blocker and could potentially catch the defense completely off guard if he released on a route.
That and we've got Juszczyk still trying to break into the offense- he could steal some of Bajema's limited pass catching opportunities. _________________
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SnA ExclusiVe 
Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 49882 Location: Hillsboro, OR
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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WE RELEASED BAJEMA!?!
I am shocked! _________________ #FireDeanPees...and Chris Hewitt....and Matt Weiss |
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coordinator0
Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 11261
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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diamondbull424 wrote: | coordinator0 wrote: | diamondbull424 wrote: | coordinator0 wrote: | I'm kind of surprised it wasn't Stokley again since it sounds like he's not playing tomorrow anyways. |
Bajema was awful in the last game though, dropped one ball, perhaps two. Whiffed on blocks. So it makes sense. |
Well, yeah, it's Billy Bajema. That's pretty much the standard. Maybe the coaches are thinking they're better off just going with a lineman as their blocking tight end. With as little as Bajema brings to the passing game that line of thinking would probably be right too. |
I also seem to recall Ricky Wagner having played TE at some point early in his Wisconsin career (though I'm not certain). So I have to imagine his hands couldn't be much worse than Bajema's... he's a better blocker and could potentially catch the defense completely off guard if he released on a route.
That and we've got Juszczyk still trying to break into the offense- he could steal some of Bajema's limited pass catching opportunities. |
I've been getting my hopes up for that. One day man, one day. |
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