gabefergy

I think this WR class is better than some are giving credit. I think I have 4 first round grades at WR and Boyd is borderline for me, but ultimately I would take him in the 2nd no questions asked. I love Treadwell. I love Coleman. I love Doctson. Michael Thomas looks like a really polished prospect. A bunch of mid round guys as well like Braxton Miller, Pharoh, the other Michael Thomas, Sterling Shepard, D'Runnya...

You're right, it's a pretty small sample size to look at. A lot of the time he is lined up at OLB or even slot CB, it kind of makes evaluating him as an ILB a challenge, but imo he has all the tools to be an elite LB in today's NFL. Mosley is already a great run defender, and I think their speed and different skillsets would complement each other well.

This isn't how you evaluate talent. Project the skillset, not the system.

you guys see the gif I just posted? He knocks an OL backwards before the guy could even engage him. This is shedding a block, no? https://zippy.gfycat.com/SaltyComplicatedComet.webm Here he sheds the TE pretty effortlessly. https://zippy.gfycat.com/FloweryPlaintiveHumpbackwhale.webm I don't see it as a problem.

I think the LBs inability to cover was a pretty glaring need. It would allow more versatile use of safeties and more man coverage concepts. Jack routinely erased slot receivers whether it's a TE or WR. I think that is a big value added to any defense.

Yes, watch the Virginia (2015) game. You will see some nice film of him taking on blockers. It's not his greatest asset. He uses speed and agility to avoid blockers fairly well, but he has some physicality to him as well. https://zippy.gfycat.com/ScholarlyTemptingChevrotain.webm

I think Tunsil is better. He's more fluid.

Stanley has a lot of inconsistncies that worry me. Lacks power in run game and his anchor vs power rush is poor. He has a nice frame/athleticism, but I don't see him as a lock to be a quality LT which is why I have him lower. I think Decker might be a better pro tbh. Nkemdiche is a physical freak with immense upside. Rare explosive traits for a DT/DE at 295. If his head is on right, he has potential to be a dominant pass-rusher in the NFL. That's why I have him over Buckner who is a more complete player at this point, but his upside is not as high. Jack is another massive upside player, but unlike Nkemdiche he doesn't have the character questions. Position penalty is the only reason he isn't top 3. He can cover TEs, WRs, RBs like a DB but is a very physical presence against the run as well. He is everything you want in a modern NFL LB.

Vanished because Baylor was onto their 3rd and 4th string QBs.

My team is loaded for next year: Cam Gurley Dion Lewis Duke Johnson Julio Sammy Watkins Donte Moncrief Travis Kelce

I disagree. A QB almost always goes top 5, this class has 2 that could go top 5 and there are probably 7-8 teams that need a QB. Browns, Niners, Texans, Bears, Jets, Rams, Eagles, maybe even the Cowboys. Right now the Ravens will be picking top 5 anyway and I don't see any more wins on the schedule, so they will obviously be able to get a top 5 talent if they choose. I think Nkemdiche has a good shot to go in top 5 ahead of one or two of the CBs as well.

Who are the big 5...Bosa, Tunsil, Ramsey...? At least 1 QB will go top 5, so take Stanley or Treadwell. I think Hargreaves has a good chance to be on the board when we pick too.

Pretty much how I see it as well. I actually think we will be competetive this week, but still lose in the end. Seattle's offense is predicated on being able to run the ball, and stopping the run is what we do best. Also WC team playing early on east coast rarely goes well for the WC team. We won't score much, but I don't think they do either.

Don't lie, you wanted Marqise Lee Trading back in to the late teens and taking an ILB isn't the worst idea, using a top 5 pick (I believe we are currently #4) would be terrible. I still think there will be good players to take where we are drafting and even if we trade back there might be better options as well, especially at WR.

My point is that your whole point is wrong. Having a 2-gap principles doesn't hurt the pass-rush. Look at how DL lines up in any scheme, they aren't lining up directly in a gap, it's off a shoulder of an OL.

And Mosley looks more and more like a bad pick. Don't make the same mistake twice with a high first round pick. In a trade back scenario, it becomes a little more interesting because Jack and Smith are both very good talents, better than Mosley was coming out. Still, there are other positions that need to be addressed, like WR,CB, OLB, OT and this positions are historically harder to fill with later draft picks. The Ravens have a unique chance to grab an elite talent at a position that elite talent rarely falls outside of the top 10.

Except everyone said Mosley was going to be a great 3 down LB. Mosley's draft was one of the best drafts we have had in years.

Mosley was what 16th overall? Do you feel he has been worth it? It doesn't require a top 10 pick to improve th LB position. I know that can be said about any position, but LB is far easier to find quality players.

My overall point is, I don't think scheme is going to make a difference. The Ravens have a strong run defense because of Brandon Williams at NT as opposed to when they were floundering with the like of Terrance Cody. The pass-rush has fallen off because no Suggs or McPhee. Last year in the same scheme the pass-rush was one of the best in the NFL. The Broncos have a great defense because they have elite talent across the board. They were great last year too before Wade Philips got there, and Wade Philips scheme has had mixed results. The Falcons, the Jags, and the Seahawks all play a very similar style defense. One team is way better because of the players they have.

No no no no. Taking another ILB is a terrible idea.

You understand what 2-gapping is yes? You have a DT or DE lined up over a single OL or TE. He is responsible for both gaps to either side of him in run defense. In terms of rushing the passer, maintaining gap integrity has zero benefit. Ravens players play the pass the same as any other scheme. Bull-rush or slide by your blocker to get after the QB.

Gap assignments, 2 gap or 1 gap, are for run-defense, not pass-rush lanes. Now designed blitzes will have specific gaps to hit for the blitzing players, but that's a different scenario entirely. The whole concept of 2-gapping is a run-defense concept. It has no relevance to rushing the passer. Once a DT or DE reads pass, you attack 1 gap to pressure the QB. I guess you could argue on some plays, PA in particular, having a 2 gap defense will slow down the pass-rush more than a defense that is designed to hit 1 gap, but on the vast majority of plays it has no affect on the pass-rush at all. Considering that the Ravens are nickel on roughyl 60% of the the snaps they aren't even playing in a 3-4 front on most passing downs anyway so the effect of having 2-gap principles when rushing the passer in miniscule.

It has literally nothing to do with the pass-rush. Gap principles are specific to run defense. What exactly is Pees supposed to do dial up a pass-rush besides sending extra defenders? Interior pressure is all about DTs winning one on one match-ups or being able to split double teams, they aren't two-gapping against the pass. When he had players like McPhee, he put them in excellent position to win either as a blitzer or as an interior DL. He has tried using Upshaw and Za'Darius in this role and they just haven't been effective. Jernigan has really been the only DL who can get a somewhat consistent pass-rush on the interior.

I think personnel has a lot more to do with how good a defense is than scheme.

We really do run a hybrid and most front 7 players can work in either a 4-3 or 3-4. I don't really think it makes much of a difference at all, coaching schemes are flexible to personnel.