steelcityraven

With all those tight ends one would think we would try to trade one of those for an offensive lineman or wide receiver. However, other than Pitta, none of them really amounted to much last year, Watson had one great year but has just been good outside his break out year with the Saints two years ago, Williams was another wasted high round draft pick, Like someone else commented, maybe Waller is that big guy who can be "Boldin-Like" at wide receiver and as Harbaugh said, Boyle could be utilized as a fullback. Move Waller to WR, ditch Williams and Pitta, Watson, Boyle and Gilmore could all make the team taking into consideration that PItta can still be fragile, Watson is recovering from an achilles tear, Gilmore has never been reliable and hopefully Boyle stays away from PEDs. Because of all those TEs with their own personal issues, you almost have to keep all four and maybe even Williams too.

Watson brings talent and experience to the team... and while he is not a Gronk - he is solid and productive. (a more athletic version of Owen Daniels)

Pitta is solid with good hands and a security blanket for Joe... (while his movement is limited and he gets zero yards after the catch- he still has a value- not what we are paying him but he is still valuable to us)

Gilmore- can be a great blocking TE and was developing into a legit rec threat before he got injured. If he can re-gain his form and continue to show progression... he can be good but his mouth has put a lot of pressure on him.

Maxx... has the physical tools and raw talent but needed to get his body strong enough to compete in the NFL. He was not there when we drafted him and got away with relying on his size too much in college. He has had two years now to develop his body and I am curious what he will bring to the table this year.

Nick Boyle- seems to be a baby Gronk style (minus some of the talent and natural ability) - nevertheless... Boyle can still be productive in this league but his PED issues make it hard to trust him moving forward. Maybe he will see time as an HBack or even at Full back but if not... Boyle may be a training camp cut.

Darren Waller... showed glimpses of potential last season. He is such an athlete and with freakish size and speed that I can see why we were tempted to make that move to TE with him. Especially in the Red zone and short yardage - he is hard to stop. With that said... we are really deep at TE and not so deep at WR... I think that Waller has a place on this team and that he can be most effective for us at WR... move him back to WR and move forward with Watson, Pitta, Gilmore and Maxx at TE. Run more two TE sets and make Boyle our HBack and Waller a WR. if we have an injury at TE we can always move one of them back.

whatever we do... do not draft howard.

Round 1. Takkarist McKinley - OLB-UCLA
Round 2. Cam Robinson- T- Bamma
Round 3. Jalen Myrick- CB- Minn
Round 3. De De Westbrook - WR- Okla
Round 4. Noah Brown- WR- Ohio St
Round 5. Ejuan Price- OLB- Pitt
Round 6. Kareem Are- OG/T - FSU

Is it possible that Waller is moving back to WR? He is slimmer then last year and with the depth that we have at TE and the need we have at WR... this seems like a logical move?

I would hate to lose Timmy... think he is going to be a star.... at the same time.... If we are... I would love to be able to trade him now... if not a draft pick...maybe a player? (I know that the NFL doesn't work like the NBA) but If we could get a quality C, G or even WR for Timmy.... (who plays and starts) then it may not be bad to off load him now. I get that the drat picks gives us 3-5 years at a price friendly contract but a draft pick is also unproven in the NFL and a FA who has been successful (at the right price) is what we were hoping the draft pick turns into (especially a 4-5-or 6 rounder)

I would love to find a way to keep TJ but if not....would love to see us get some production for him.

I'm also fired up but this all means nothing if Pees goes vanilla every fourth quarter. No more excuses Mr Pees. Top 5 overall is the minimum expectation 

yep

Ohhhh and Add Bug Howard -WR- UNC to the list. He has a lot of raw skill. He needs to be polished but he is a big bodied -long WR with decent speed and good route running. His hands and concentration are issues at times but we have had WRs who we helped through that (Torrey- Perriman)

Bug could be a steal between rounds 5-7

Lets get a WR in 1st round maybe Joe will have time to throw to him like last year then again maybe not. Its like putting new tires on a car with no engine.

I think there are quality WRs in the later rounds of this draft!

Ju Ju Smith-Schuster in Round 2 would be an immediate starter

I think that Westbrook in the 3rd is a steal

I believe that both Isaiah Ford and Noah Brown are legit starters who will probably both be available in round 4.

I think Stacy Coley out of Miami in Round 5 has potential to be a great pick up

KD Cannon out of Baylor in Round 6 is a dangerous playmaker and
Speedy Knoll out of A&M is undersized but a great slot WR who will also be available in round #6

and watch out for Robert Davis - a kid out of the small school of Georgia State who is very unpolished but just may be a gem available late.

Obviously Mike Williams- Corey Davis and John Ross are the ones that everyone is talking about and rightfully so but I really like Ford and Westbrook as NFL WRs - I also really think that Coley would be a great addition even is it is for STs

I would have to go with Taco Charlton and Dan Feeney.. I would love Peppers at #16 but pass rush is a bigger need and he would start opposite of Sizzle day 1. I know Feeney isn't a sexy pick but we could slide him to C or LG and kick Alex Lewis out to RT, either way he would provide a major upgrade over the guys we got and eventually replace Yanda.

OR grabbing Cam Robinson -T- Bamma who would take over for Wagner and allow ALewis to continue to play G taking care of essentially two OL positions and setting our OL up long term with Stanley, Cam and Lewis being our future. Not bad

OMG here we go again. Another Wide receiver. Unbelievable. We have NO pass rush but the Ravens so called brain trust is talking about taking another wide receiver in the first round. How many times do you fail before it sinks in? If we don't get a bonafide pass rusher, all the wide receivers in the world will make no difference. Good grief.

See my draft projection below. I think we will look to address the pass rush first. I know we added both KC and Kafusi last year bc that is what Mr. Biscotti wanted -is to address the pass rush!

I know that KC hasn't been what we had hoped just yet but I do think that once healthy Kafusi will be a difference maker.

I also believe that Mr. Biscotti still wants to improve the pass rush and I can only imagine that now that we lost Elvis... this will be a focus in the draft.

I really think McKinley is a realistic pick for us in round 1 and adds a skillset to our defense that makes us more dangerous right now!

I wouldn't be surprised if we took a pass rusher like McKinley in round 1 and then double dipped in round 4 and took a guy like Devonte Fields from Louisville. We can replace an undersized Louisville pass rusher (Elvis) with a slightly undersized Louisville pass rusher (Fields).

  36 minutes ago, Fastynart said:

OMG here we go again. Another Wide receiver. Unbelievable. We have NO pass rush but the Ravens so called brain trust is talking about taking another wide receiver in the first round. How many times do you fail before it sinks in? If we don't get a bonafide pass rusher, all the wide receivers in the world will make no difference. Good grief.

What is Kamar Aiken going to be in INDY? They have 1. TY Hilton, 2. Donte Moncrief 3. Phillip Dorsett - 4. Devin Street

Kamar will be a # 4 WR at best in Indy and probably and number five and that is provided that the Colts don't draft a WR.

In BMORE he would have been a # 4 at best behind
1. Wallace 2. Perriman 3. Whoever we draft and realistically probably behind # 4 Chris Moore... so he would have been a number 4 here at best and possibly a # 5 the same as in INDY

The Colts can over pay a # 5 WR if they want but I for one don't want our management overpaying a #5 WR -- Not sure what all the hysteria is about. For a second I thought we lost Jerry Rice or Terrell Owens.

It is Kamar Aiken... lets not push the panic button just yet.

LOL sorry responded to the wrong message

OMG here we go again. Another Wide receiver. Unbelievable. We have NO pass rush but the Ravens so called brain trust is talking about taking another wide receiver in the first round. How many times do you fail before it sinks in? If we don't get a bonafide pass rusher, all the wide receivers in the world will make no difference. Good grief.

What is Kamar Aiken going to be in INDY? They have 1. TY Hilton, 2. Donte Moncrief 3. Phillip Dorsett - 4. Devin Street

Kamar will be a # 4 WR at best in Indy and probably and number five and that is provided that the Colts don't draft a WR.

In BMORE he would have been a # 4 at best behind
1. Wallace 2. Perriman 3. Whoever we draft and realistically probably behind # 4 Chris Moore... so he would have been a number 4 here at best and possibly a # 5 the same as in INDY

The Colts can over pay a # 5 WR if they want but I for one don't want our management overpaying a #5 WR -- Not sure what all the hysteria is about. For a second I thought we lost Jerry Rice or Terrell Owens.

It is Kamar Aiken... lets not push the panic button just yet.

We need receivers, OL, and pass-rushers. There's no "perfect two;" we need more like a "perfect eight."

Round 1. Takkarist McKinley- OLB -UCLA
Round 2. TreDavious White- CB- LSU
Round 3. Sid Jones- CB- Washington
or Jalen Myrick- CB - MInnesota
Round 3. De De Westbrook -WR- Oklahoma
Round 4. Zach Baner - OT/ G- USC
Round 5. JJ Deilman- OT-UTAH
Round 6. Speedy Knoll- WR - Texas A&M

I will be really upset if we don't pounce on a DB in the second or third round of the draft. I hope we're able to grab a WR or pass rusher with our 1 pick if not RB is the top guy is there.

I believe that we will - there is a lot of depth at the CB position in this years draft... but we also have a lot of needs. I do think the offense could get a lot of love in the early part of the draft and I believe that if a Dalvin Cook or a Cam Robinson is still there at 16 we may just take them.

But if not... I can see our draft addressing pass rushers... corners ...wide receivers and OLmen

Below is what I would love to see (or something similar)

Round 1. Takkarist McKinley - OLB- UCLA
(great athlete- great speed and big frame and can get after the QB)

Round 2. Tre Davious White- CB- LSU
(I think he is the most under rated CB in his deep class)

Round 3. Sid Jones- CB- Washington
(If he is still there we have to take him... nice cornerstone for the future)

Round 3. De De Westbrook- WR- Oklahoma
(his draft stock has dropped but may be the best pure playmaker in the draft... he is a steal in round 3)

Round 4. Zach Banner- OT / OG - USC
(He is a giant guy at 6'8 353 and can play G or compete for Wagners position and with Greg Roman here... Banner will improve his tech)

Round 5. JJ Dielman- OT Utah
(6'5 310 and a better athlete then Banner - he will compete for both a G or Wagners position- physical and nasty and ideal in Romans system)

Round 6. Speedy Knoll- WR- Texas A&M
(the playmaker in the slot that we are looking for. Undersized but plays with an attitude... maybe the perfect replacement for SSS)

  21 minutes ago, JD08 said:

I wonder with this signing do we still go CB first round, or do we go for a ILB/pass rusher

If we somehow can get Zach Brown, then l will go with either Passrusher/Wr like a Derek Barnett or a Mike Williams if he somehow slides. 

Man if we could land Z Brown.... we could look to draft a CB early and focus most of the draft beyond that point on the Offensive side of the ball.

There is no chance this team, based on what they have done and can feasibly do in the future, can make the playoffs. There is no offensive line and no playmakers. No pass rushers either. Sorry this can't all be recitified in the draft unless ozzie hits on every single pick which has never happened and won't happen. Wasted money on a overrated run stuffer. The only upgrade has been Jefferson. We downgraded on our O line RT. We havent improved, we are exactly the same last year with a worse offense.

If we draft Cam Robinson... that gives us Stanley and Cam at Ts... Yanda and Alex Lewis at G. Urschel and Jensen can both play C but I have the impression that Mangold will be signed. That could be one of the best OLs in the NFL (I know that Robinson is a big IF but we really may be able to land him in Round 2.... giving us bookend Ts for years to come!

  24 minutes ago, steelcityraven said:

We now have Carr and Tavon as slot CBs and much needed depth in our secondary. If we can find someone now to start opposite Jimmy (long term-bc Carr can fill the gap)... We can have a legit solid defense. With both Jefferson and Weddle in the back. Williams- Pierce- and Timmy upfront

Cj ad Suggs at LB... We are pretty stacked on defense

Yep we are getting stacked. Turning out to be a scary defense. Pees all to you bud to have a successful playcalling this year. No more prevent defense in the 4th. 

Agreed... Pees is out of excuses... The bar has been raised significantly.

The picture is clear: Claiborne: better talent, higher star-factor, more potential for highlight reel plays - Carr: much higher consistency, and extreme durability. Claiborne will likely show you eye-popping stuff... when he's on the field, which is not really often. Carr won't make too many of those - but he won't be burned either.

If you take a look around 'Boys fans opinion on Carr, well, it's not the best things they say about him - but there's one fact for you: last season he played a total of 5 games covering Odell Beckham, AJ Green, Mike Evans and Golden Tate, and a gave up a total number of... (drumroll) 1 TD in these games - and even that wasn't really his fault. His last 5 games v the Giants he routinely covered Beckham - and OBJ never had a +100-yard game in this stretch.

Well, guys... if he puts up anything like this in purple & black, that's definitely OK with me.

Oh, and one more thing: many people think that the fact that he contemplated retirement means his heart is not there anymore. Well, I've got six words about what you can expect of guys who publically contemplated retirement then stayed or un-retired:
- Anquan
- Boldin
- Steve
- Smith
- James
- Harrison...

Thanks... good info. makes me feel really good about this signing now.

We now have Carr and Tavon as slot CBs and much needed depth in our secondary. If we can find someone now to start opposite Jimmy (long term-bc Carr can fill the gap)... We can have a legit solid defense. With both Jefferson and Weddle in the back. Williams- Pierce- and Timmy upfront

Cj ad Suggs at LB... We are pretty stacked on defense

Carr is a solid pick up. Hope he can return to form but at worst he is a solid player with a lot of experience He will add depth and time for whatever CB we draft to develop at his own pace. With Jimmy being injury prone... Carr's experience can go a long way. Like Ozzie said.... this makes us better but I would have rather had Claiborne. Either way.... it does make us deeper and better and I feel at worst, like Carr is a legit upgrade over Sharece Wright and at best, a signing that has potential to be great...

Ill take it!

We just signed Brandon Carr to a four year deal.... I am assuming that means that we grew tiered of Morris Claibornes games. I would have loved to bring Claiborne in but Carr brings some experience and depth to our DBackfield and a little more insurance. Plus if he can return to his old form... this could be a steal. At minimum Carr adds solid depth... and maximum maybe we found another gem at the end of his career... who will come to BMORE and produce.

Now to get Mangold and some offensive help before the draft.

Would you rather have Claiborne or Malcom Butler or one the draft guys? (assume Lattimore is gone by pick #16?

I want Claiborne and a draft pick (Lattimore, Teebor, Tankersley, Tredavious White, Fabian Moreau, etc) Jimmy is always hurt and we will need some insurance. But the presence of Claiborne should mean that we have time to bring the new guy along at his pace and not throwing him to the wolves at the hardest position in the NFL and in one of the toughest divisions. (We will face AJ Green 2x, A B 2x and possibly Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman 2x)

Good Luck Spiderman... God Bless.

Zach Brown...makes our Defense scary. He is fast and athletic.... we have maybe the most stout DL in the game. We have a pro bowler at LB in CJ... we have the grizzled out veteran on the outside in Suggs and the young athletic Judon. We have maybe the best S duo in football. We have Jimmy and Tavon and look to upgrade the CB position.


Zach compliments CJ very well. CJ's biggest struggle is covering the pass.... Zachs specialty. Zach runs in the low 4.4 range and is athletic enough to take away athletic TE's (Ladarius Green) and fast enough to give cut back RBs fits (G. Benard and L Bell).

Plus Zach has grown to be a physical presence who gets sideline to sideline well posting nearly 150 tackles last season. His athleticism along with CJs allows us to really bring pressure from anywhere and keep OCs guessing.

Sign Zach Brown!

Zach Brown and Claiborne.

Zach can take athletic TE's out of the game and has the speed, athleticism and versatility to be very productive along side of CJ. He is still young enough that he could give us several good years (A younger more athletic, more versatile Daryl Smith).

Claiborne has great cover skills and could really go a long way in helping to upgrade our CB position. Yes he is injury prone and but he is young and has a lot of good years left in him. High end talent at the CB position like Claiborne doesn't come along every day. He has a unique skill set that is worth taking a chance on. Plus we are still drafting a young CB so... Claiborne's presence (if nothing else) takes some pressure off of whoever we daft and allows then to develop at their own pace and not need to be thrown right into the fire. This move protects us in so many ways at minimum and has the chance to be a home run for a realistic investment.

Wouldn't mind seeing us bring in Mangold (I do believe that he is healthy and if he is inspired- NOT IN NY- he will be highly productive still). but if we do not bring him in... not feeling like this is a make or break

Clady or Sebatian Vollmer. I believe that Vollmer is still a FA... and would rather see us add him. Sebastian should come cheaper then Clady and is young enough and experienced enough that maybe we haven't seen him find his ceiling yet.

Finally... no sure about Barwin. At 30 years of age... not sure that he helps us like we were hoping. Then when I consider that he is 30 and his production is moving south... it concerns me more. I know he wasn't a good fit in a 4-3 scheme but what can we expect from a 30 year old guy who avgs over his career just over 7 sacks per season. All players see their production slip once over 30 and is he really worth that investment knowing that. On the other side of that coin... he does average 7 plus sacks per season and that is more then most people on our team. maybe a two year contract???? Not sure... wouldn't mind seeing us get younger there.... and maybe drafting a Takkirist McKinney, etc... there instead?

I feel much better about free agency now. I still do wanna see more from Pierce, Henry and Carl Davis this year, though.

Agreed.... I think Pierce can be the next Brandon Williams and if he takes that next step... would love to see the front office extend him now so that we don't run into this all over again.

I think Carl Davis showed flashes but needs to put on some size and strength that will allow him to be consistently productive in this league. He really does remind me a lot of Timmy though.

Not sure about Henry yet but the two I really want to see a lot from are
Kafusi and Urban. If those two can produce... our DL will be pretty scary. (of course we need Judon and maybe even someone to take the next step on the outside opposite Suggs as well)

Reddick- Takkirst McKinney or Tim Williams could also be that guy?