Time is Now for Eric DeCosta to Take Over as Baltimore Ravens GM

By Jermaine Lockett
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

With the Baltimore Ravens not placing a franchise tag on Eugene Monroe, they are allowing him to hit the free agent market next week. Everyone in Ravens Nation is constantly badger me about the saying “In Ozzie We Trust.” Do you really? Is it time for Ozzie Newsome to hand over the reins to Eric DeCosta? Fans and Steve Bisciotti have to be convinced this lack of action to secure Monroe is enough to justify the change.

Newsome had more turnover last season than most teams in the NFL, and the team went 8-8 because of it. The focus should have been on the offensive side of the ball. Sure Baltimore lost vital pieces of the defense last year and Ozzie helped piece it back together with the signing of Daryl Smith, Elvis Dumervil and drafting of Matt Elam, but that was clearly not enough.  Newsome should focus on the run-game by jumping John Harbaugh’s case about getting Juan Castillo to use the best fullback in the game in Vonta Leach properly, but they decided to release Leach instead. It just doesn’t make sense to know you have a struggling run-game and release someone who is a help not a hindrance to it.

The next move that baffles me is not locking up at least one tackle before they hit free agency. Michael Oher is not a very good run blocker in the scheme that is being installed by Juan Castillo, but he is a force in a regular run blocking scheme and could still be a serviceable tackle with the right coaching. Letting him go to free agency and not even signing back Monroe seems like another foolish move. I get having to secure Dennis Pitta to a long-term deal, but Joe Flacco cannot throw from his back. Newsome needs to seriously address his O-Line if he plans for the Ravens to have any success this upcoming season.

There will be people who believe that Newsome has a master plan, and then there is me who believes he is slipping in his old age. Newsome still makes a move here and there that speaks to his management prowess, but lately with the trade of Anquan Boldin, the failure to sign a “True” LT to a long-term deal and his signing of washed up receivers have me convinced that it is time for the once prolific TE to step down as GM of the Ravens. We know DeCosta was kept around to be Newsome’s successor. We know that he is a very intelligent player evaluator and will help the organization tremendously. The changing of the guard has come and Eric Decosta’s time is now.

Jermaine Lockett is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/03/02/baltimore-ravens-pre-draft-profile-brandin-cooks/?P5izDGoFj2bd4Dvf.99
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