beasy2487

I agree with this assessment. I don't think Upshaw will ever have the speed to get around a tackle and thus if he's lined up outside, unless there's a scheme-dependent mismatch (I.e. both of his hits on Big Ben) he's just not getting to the QB from the edge. That said, lined up inside where it's more about strength and skill than speed, he can use his uncommonly strong upper body to beat interior lineman.

Totally dude, that's why Manning has so many more SB rings than Joe! ...wait

It's science! I mean the NFL is reporting it so it must stand up to factual scrutiny right?! Wait...

To me, Pierce's greatest strength was his ultimate downfall. He's naturally a fast, violent runner. The violence though, which he needed to maintain to be successful at the NFL level, was created by the sheer chaos of his running style. He always seemed to be out control when he was running. The problem was, that style led to a lot of unbraced impact—with other players and the field—causing frequent injury relative to the position he played. Coaching did a good job of getting him under control, but I don't think it's any surprise that as he gained more control he became less effective. The chaos is what made him good but it was also unsustainable. To run like that you need a body like DeMarco Murray or Adrian Peterson...and what do those guys also have in common? Injuries!

Mostly a hunch but I'm just not high on Brown as a WR(i.e. Don't like 'em, lol). He's got a great work ethic, he's humble, and he plays hard. Those are all great things but even given those facts he just doesn't seem to have playmaking talent. On a team starved for receivers over the past two seasons, with one of the better QBs in the league, I can't remember a time I've seen him catch a pass that wasn't a jump ball or a schemed route to cut him loose. He doesn't play to his size and just generally lacks the tenacity I like in Ravens players. On a team that isn't starved for WR depth, I think you go with players with higher upside and/or that fill needs. I think Kamar Aiken offers everything that Brown does, giving Brown the slight edge as a receiver and Aiken the edge as a special teamer. Both Campanaro and Carter provide a change of pace from the trees we have in Waller, Perriman and Aiken/Brown; provide return ability; and are in a prime position to learn from Steve Smith Sr. TL;DR In my opinion Aiken and Brown are the same guy while Carter and Campanaro bring something different to the table. All in all, though, history dictates that the injury bug will make this choice much less contentious in the end.

In my opinion, it's more likely that we keep both Carter and Campanaro than it is that we keep both Brown and Aiken. Also have to keep in mind that injuries are going to make a lot of these decisions for the team.

Pittsburgh/New England is always a lose-lose for us, lol. I think the Bengals are due for an inexplicable step back, a realization that they bet the farm on the wrong QB, and an earnest look at their head coach (a la Andy Reid's eagles in their final days). My too early prediction is that this time next year, the Bengals are talking about developing a young QB and M. Lewis is on the hot seat.

Yea...between the overrating of M. Brown and the underrating of Gilmore...I'm not really what some of these fans were watching last season lol.

Davis signed I believe, just Perriman left.

Totally agree. Gotta ask yourself what's causing the drops, technique or execution? Catching technique, in my opinion, is one of the hardest things to coach because of a lot of it is instinctual...particularly when an NFL QB is throwing you a fast ball. BP's problem certainly isn't technique. He high points, comes back to the ball, and catches with his hands. When he's made his worst drops they have usually come when he gets ahead of himself and doesn't concentrate on securing the pass before making his move. That's an execution issue. Execution though, can be coached and I'm confident we will do so with Perriman.

I think some are underrating Camp's stock and overrating Brown's. From my perspective, I think the coaching staff is really disappointed that Brown hasn't developed into a better route runner and perhaps question his football IQ. Aiken I think is the opposite. I think they like Aiken a lot and and feel he is a savvy receiver, he just doesn't have elite talent for w/e reason and thus I think we'd like to keep him but he is by no means a lock. Camp, on the other hand, just needs to prove he stay on the field. I would be absolutely flabbergasted if he was cut before getting a chance to do that. He's well-liked by his teammates and the coaches love his skillset. Joe showed trust in him as well. I really think we him grow into that Welker-esque role many have predicted this year.

I think both Aiken and Brown will be fighting hard for their spots on the team and either, or both, could be on other teams by the regular season. I also think injuries will, unfortunately, help make he decision when the time comes as well.

I would love nothing more than for those two to come in and contribute. here's hoping!

I'm hoping that Upshaw learns some pass rush moves from Smith. Courtney will never have Smith's footwork but he can definitely pick up some hand techniques.

Bama North. Courtney, CJ, Trey, Nick...how wild would that be?

Knock on wood tho

The beauty of the ignore function is that you're completely oblivious and utterly confused when threads are being derailed, lol. I'm really excited for what Perriman is going to bring to this team. He's big, fast, has a strong desire to succeed and is humble. I love that our front office has a laser-focused vision and that we've done a great job over the past three offseasons installing a specific personality. We've been bullies on defense for a while. Now we're young on that side of that ball. On offense we've got a big time QB and a fierce O-line with quality depth. It's about time our receiving corps caught up.

"C'mon bro that's like 10 happy meals!" — Joe Flacco

If this is true then the problem is with the expectations, not the players.

Flacco's a goofball. I like 'em.

I think that's a great assessment. I will say that Davis has a lot more attitude than Haloti and I think that will serve the personality of our team. Urban is definitely comparable to Canty...hopefully he can put it together on the field.

I love your enthusiasm and general ravens expertise but I think you're a little off base here with Harbs' assessment of rookies (admitted Harbaugh lover here). Torrey was drafted in the same year as Jimmy Smith, and Jimmy still played special teams after he came back from injury. Elam and Mosley were in totally different situations at their respective positions and Jernigan was eased into the rotation gradually over the course of last year. I agree with you that it's good we're looking at Perriman to contribute early but I think that is only going to come to pass because we deem him ready. If we don't believe he's the best player for the job, he won't have the job.

If Tray Walker is lined up against Demaryius Thomas at any point during game 1 of this season then terrible things will have transpired during the camp and preseason that I am not prepared to contemplate.

Haha, thanks. Just having a little fun. Jinkies, Shaggy! You'd think if Mr. Mackey didn't have any expectations, he wouldn't be digging around in the expectations thread. I bet he's the ghost!

What I like about Walker from the little tape that's out there is that he shows outstanding technique which is a result of individual effort/skill rather than competition. You see great press and off man. You see fluid hips, tracking and ball hawking ability. More than anything, you see the ability to diagnose plays and stay disciplined. Combined with the fact that you can't argue with his measurables for the NFL level, he gives you something to he excited about.