balfan23

17 minutes ago, allblackraven said:

I sometime wonder what is the reason he hasn't been booted off the forum long time ago. More ammo for the theory how this place is the same as FB?

Am I paranoid?

Yeah - it is tough to just boot somebody ... they really have to be cited for breaking the rules. Being extraordinarily obnoxious alone isn't grounds for dismissal. The thing is so many people who the majority of posters find obnoxious are also hyper critical of the team to a ridiculous fault. Start removing them and the cries start to pour in about being a homer site, not allowing for contrarian opinions, etc. 

I guess a rule could have been specifically created that your posts need to be in readable English. That would have done the trick. 

I kind of like the reddit concept ... they remove posts if enough people neg it, don't they. If you make it a large enough count,. It allows the posters themselves to judge what needs to be removed and doesn't need to be justified by some specific rules violation. 

6 minutes ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

Is it considered a bold prediction to say Tim Williams will have a better rookie year than Myles Garrett?

Given one was selected #1 overall and the other selected in the 3rd round - I'd say yes. If Garrett plays to expectation and their production is even near comparable, the Williams will probably be the steal of the draft. 

I don't think this approach is obsolete - though, I know a lot of teams seem to feel it is. 

But here's the thing ... if we take that approach, here's something that Joe and the rest of the offense need to understand. When you play defense first, rule #1 NO TURNOVERS! Especially not ones where you force the ball into coverage when you are already in position to score. Rule #2, you can't have holding penalties or take sacks that take you out of FG range. That's something we've done a lot of lately, it would seem. 

I'm in general a Joe supporter, but that's the one major sticking point I have with his play of late. I'm not worried so much about how many yards he has or what his completion rate is ... it is the number of bad decisions - almost rookie like mistakes - that result in turnovers that take points off the board. I know this turns him into the dreaded "game manager", but I don't care what people call it or how it reflects on him. If it results in winning, that's all that matters. 

The time finally came where the FO knew it was time to act to get our edge rushers of the future. After we got Bowser, I thought ... well, we need O line still and a WR would be nice ... but man, if Williams is still there when we pick again - I don't care what other positions we need - this is a steal! 

I know it may be premature ... but I really feel like we've just picked up the guys who will produce more than half the teams sacks over the next 5-10 years. 

Welcome Tim ... get out there and Play Like a Raven! 

43 minutes ago, Ravenskid52752 said:

Yeah 3 games is not enough to really see who he is as a player. The Memphis game they had him just setting the edge and Covering Backs and TE's. The other two Cincinnati and  Louisville you see the potential what he could be as a pass rusher he was all over Lamar Jackson in that game. I see Hassan Reddick in him  but not as Polish as hassan as a pass rusher but he covers better than hassan does now. 

I noted that when Louis Riddick commented on Bowser, he said his team tended to put him too often in coverage, rather than letting him cut loose and get after the QB ... something he said he'll get plenty opportunity to do when he joins the Ravens. 

The sense is that he didn't compile the kinds of stats that are sought after 1st round edge rush talent, at least in part because of the way he was utilized, but that the skill is there for him to be a very effective pass rusher going forward. 

46 minutes ago, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

Yea I've watched the film on him. And he was probably the best CB in the draft for a Cover 2 defense which we happen to play a lot of. 

Everyone always complains about our zone with the CBs playing 5 yds off the ball and always forcing the underneath stuff. 

We draft a CB who excels in that type of coverage and everyone complains. He is awesome with the ball in front of him and has plenty of quickness and speed to do so. 

Probably the best tackler of the CBs in the draft too. So he can close the underneath stuff and tackle immediately. 

Spot on. What jumped out at me was Pees' comments during Humphrey's introductory presser:

"You guys in the press have been around me long enough to know - we like to pressure, we like playing man coverage, get up in your face and there have been some times last year ... in those last 4 games, we weren't able to do that. That's why this guy is sitting here beside me. ... At the line of scrimmage, this guy is absolutely phenomenal. ... I am so excited that we're going to be able to do some things that we've been wanting to do ...but could never do for a whole season". 

So a lot of this speaks to the frustration of not being able to keep Jimmy on the field. He clearly feels that this pick brings stability at corner and moves us in the direction of being able to get more aggressive with our secondary. 

Just now, allblackraven said:

If only you stopped responding to that nonsense

I basically never do ... but with the boards shutting down, I'm taking the opportunity to let a choice few know what I think, as I've basically had to remain silent and struggle to think if there is a valid rules based reason why I can just start eliminating some of these horribly annoying posts. 

25 minutes ago, RayRayRaven said:

u kno u are so wrong it says u shuld nevah have ur own bd itll take yrs to overcome this but tha silver linin is this is gonna be fatal we will get change afta this one otha thang bet I can find post of urs praisin cleats elam as the next ed reed jus like oz sayed

Wait - you said "I give up", yet posted 3 more times ... promises, promises. 

19 minutes ago, atomicfront said:

I don't know how you can do a "spoiler" on a draft pick.  These forums have the strangest rules.  

When virtually every one on the forum is watching the announcements on TV, we're all in sync and commenting on the same picks as they are announced. When tweets come out 2 picks ahead of the discussion and someone posts them - when they KNOW that people are waiting to hear it on TV ... then that's being a spoiler. 

It wasn't a "rule" per se ... just a plea for following the draft in that way. 

Can't say I remember who was doing that ... can you? 

6 hours ago, jimmypowder said:

I grade the draft a C+ . Here's an analysis from

one publication : 

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The Baltimore Ravens had the league's seventh-ranked defense last season. Only four teams recorded more takeaways, and only three surrendered fewer first downs. They lost two key offensive players—tackle Ricky Wagner and fullback Kyle Juszczyk—in free agency, but retained top defensive free agent Brandon Williams. 

And yet in the first three rounds of the draft, a team in desperate team of reinforcements for quarterback Joe Flacco used all four of its draft picks on defensive players. And it's not even clear there are starting roles for cornerback Marlon Humphrey, linebacker Tyus Bowser, defensive end Chris Wormley or linebacker Tim Williams. 

These were, generally, picks for the future, which is odd for a team that continues to lose important offensive players and has posted a winning record just once in the last four years. 

Did the Ravens really have that luxury? They're putting a lot of eggs in questionable baskets on that side of the ball, which could end badly with guys like the unproven Breshad Perriman, the old and recently injured Danny Woodhead and whoever replaces Wagner. 

This doesn't appear to be a team moving in the right direction.

 

Well, what this basically says is that the draft philosophy of reaching for need is better than taking the best player available. Our FO and most successful ones don't agree.

I think the writer embellishes a bit ... not sure I'd really call Juice a key offensive player. I just don't feel like we're going to lose a lot from his departure. Yes, Wagner was key and needs to be replaced. But do we get his replacement in the draft by selecting someone like Robinson or Ramczyk instead of Humphrey, if we have Humphrey rated significantly higher? Organizations that do such things don't succeed. 

If Humphrey meets the FO's expectation, he will be starting. Did this writer even watch our team play last year, or did he only look up some stats to quote for the article?  The lack of depth in our secondary was ultimately our Achilles heel and come the end of the season, our edge rush pretty much disappeared. Both positions were clear needs. 

Bottom line - as Ozzie said, the draft ends, but our roster is by no means set. We will (hopefully) aggressively pursue players who can help NOW at the positions most needed (O line and WR). These were picks for the future, because that;s what good organizations do - draft for the future. If this is an organization moving in the wrong direction - it is not because they drafted only defensive players in the early going. 

10 minutes ago, RayRayRaven said:

I noted Jon Gruden really emphasizing something that I had not thought of but seems to make sense.

if u liistenin to joh gruden u gonna be confused. he the guy that worked out with tebow and says he was ready to star in the nfl. much more than that of all the talkin heads on tv gruden is the guy that nos the least.

One guy he blasted on this front is Hooker.

If say no evil gruden blasted hooker that s all u need to know. hooker will ball out.  are you serreiously quotin that mouth without a head?

When you look at the report on Humphrey, it would seem like the things he needs to work out can be worked on, such as downfield coverage and tracking of the ball. It doesn't seem like he needs to be coached up on how to lay the wood. 

he needs work on downfield coverage and trackin a ball and we draffed him as a corna on our number 1 pic?  are you listin to urself? 

So - I'll take that as a good thing. Hopefully he can get these issues fixed and quickly. It also is helpful that we've got a nice set of safeties to help on deep coverage. I know we don't want to rush him, but I'd like to see him making on impact on this defense ... sooner rather than later. 

I have such a headache that's what happens when u draff matt elam in a bama uni.  I understand bein hopeful but has anyone watchd the film on humpf?  anyone?

What Gruden said - does it make logical sense? I'm not sure why I'm bothering to ask you, but I'd say yes. Discredit him with whatever you can drag up, I really don't care. 

If you think anyone we're going to select at #16 is without flaw, then you're dreaming. Heck, you generally can't draft someone #1 overall without a number of things that need to be worked on. "Are you listen to urself?" 

Speaking of headaches ... many are caused by your posts. 

There will be a lot I will miss when these boards close. Your posts won't be among them. 

5 minutes ago, ellicottraven said:

What happened? I thought we must be the most desirable team formost UDFAs' and their agents? Did our scouts get outmaneuvered by other teams for the cream of the crop?

I'm not sure what you are talking about. Were there specific players that it was known we were shooting for that gave us the cold shoulder and went elsewhere? If there was no one specifically stated by the team that we sought and missed out on, then I don't see how we got outmaneuvered by another team. 

That is .. unless you're saying you know who the cream of the crop is and we didn't get any of them. I find that really hard to believe, given that only the most plugged in people who have 18 hours a day for 6 months to devote to player evaluation even know who half of these guys are. 

19 hours ago, allblackraven said:

He had proper color shirt for that workout

Yeah he did ... I  loved his comment at the end .. in answer to "How are you feeling" - "I'm feeling like a Baltimore Raven, that's how I'm feeling!" 

1 hour ago, 52520Andrew said:

I am really starting to like this pick. I know I criticize those people that always have picks "grow" on them after their initial reaction but I really like this situation for Humphrey and watching the interviews I think he will be good for us. He doesn't have to start immediately and if he does start he will be the #2 CB with plenty of potential safety help. We have a lot of flexibility with him based on how he develops and the Alabama defense is complicated meaning he should be able to grasp the scheme stuff a bit faster than most guys. And when we get him developed a bit on locating the deep balls and the footwork a bit we are talking about a 6'0 197 pound guy who can run in the low 4.4s and is physical in the run game but also quick enough to run a 6.75 3 cone drill. Been wanting more CB help for years and I think we have found it.

Another part of what allowed me to have this pick grow on me was the way CBs went flying off the board in the late 1st and early 2nd. I really thought that pass rusher was going to be a more challenging need to fill and I wanted it filled in the 1st round with either Barnett or Reddick. Of course, to get either of those two would have required a trade up.

Given some of the pass rush help we were able to get later in the draft, failing to trade up (presumably for a pass rusher) may have been a blessing in disguise. The impact of the addition of Humphrey, Bowser and Williams should be felt almost immediately. I'm of the mind that you'd be hard pressed to see these needs more effectively addressed. 

I noted Jon Gruden really emphasizing something that I had not thought of but seems to make sense.

Almost every college player coming out needs work on something. Virtually no one comes out 100% NFL ready. According to Gruden, you cannot select a player high who needs to work on how to tackle, because the CBA prohibits significant contact in practices. If a player is not a good tackler coming out of college, you can expect that to be an issue that will linger - possibly forever. 

One guy he blasted on this front is Hooker. Yes, he's an amazing athlete and has a ton of talent, but has bad tackling habits that he doesn't see being able to be adequately addressed given the guidelines of the CBA. When you look at the report on Humphrey, it would seem like the things he needs to work out can be worked on, such as downfield coverage and tracking of the ball. It doesn't seem like he needs to be coached up on how to lay the wood. 

So - I'll take that as a good thing. Hopefully he can get these issues fixed and quickly. It also is helpful that we've got a nice set of safeties to help on deep coverage. I know we don't want to rush him, but I'd like to see him making on impact on this defense ... sooner rather than later. 

4 hours ago, Moderator 3 said:

I wish you had posted that in his Welcome thread.  Copy and paste maybe?

Sure. 

It is sort of a paradox ... I hate them, I want them to suck ... but at the same time I understand that if they did go through a drought, it would feel like something was missing. In the end, the league is better when we're both good and both ripping at each others throat 2 or 3 times a year.  

14 minutes ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

Humphrey - best in class in top-down coverage. Big struggles in downfield coverage. Commits too early and gets burned at times from it. Footwork could be better. Struggles to locate the ball. Ferocious hitter, physical press guy and with more consistent handwork he could jam guys right into the bench. Closes in on the pass like a bat outta hell and brings the heat to let the receiver know he's there. Gets off blocks like a linebacker for blitzing and blowing up screens 

I noted Gruden really emphasizing something that I had not thought of but seems to make sense ... he didn't state it specifically about Humphrey, but in general. Almost every college player coming out needs work on something. Virtually no one comes out 100% NFL ready. For him, the thing you cannot select high, because the current CBA does not allow you to work on and that is how to tackle. If you come out of college and you are not a good tackler - then you can expect that to be an issue that will linger - possibly forever. 

One guy he seemed to blast on this front is Hooker. Yes, he's an amazing athlete and has a ton of talent, but has bad tackling habits that he doesn't see being able to be adequately addressed. When you look at the report on Humphrey, it would seem like the things he needs to work out can be worked on, such as downfield coverage and tracking of the ball. It doesn't seem like he needs to be coached up on how to lay the wood. 

So - I'll take that as a good thing, when it comes to our selection. Hopefully we can get some of these issues fixed and quickly. It also is helpful that we've got a nice set of safeties to help on deep coverage. I know we don't want to rush the guy, but I'd like to see him making on impact on this defense ... sooner rather than later. 

11 minutes ago, Flamengo1265 said:

We should still make a run at Mangold.

I believe we should as well. The line last year was relatively good, as long as all the starters were in. They ran into trouble anytime anyone went down - and we've lost Wagner. I think we need to give ourselves one more certain starting player on the o line, so the best camp performer takes the the last starting spot and then we have a little better depth. 

Like Oz said in the 1st round presser, after the draft is over, our roster will still not be set. 

Just now, redlobster said:

and Godwin is gone now.

Goodwin and Williams just made more sense ... than Wormley. Wormley better be awesome, especially if Goodwin pans out. He just looks like the kind of receiver we need

Just now, Underdogsontop! said:

Round 4 122

Round 5 159

Round 6 186

Thanks!

3 minutes ago, Underdogsontop! said:

3 more.....Probably more defense

what rounds ? in our 16th slot? 

What are our remaining picks?

As much as I want to see the offense get some help ... Williams makes sense. Wormley is what has me scratching my head. He better be the bomb. 

Don't ask me what we'll do. After that last pick ... we could do anything and it wouldnt surprise me