reed20fence

There aren't many teams that concretely expect their 4th round picks to make the team and at least play a rotational role on their side of the ball while starting on special teams. We're one of those teams that do expect our 4th rounders to contribute. I mention this because Tray Walker is a Free Safety that converted to a CB. So he can be a gunner/jammer immediately on special teams. Compare the combines of 3 players to see where he falls. Jimmy Smith, Cary Williams, and Tray Walker. Jimmy had about 30 pounds on Cary and Tray coming out of school. but his 40, shuttle and 3-cone times are quite similar to the other 2 guys. There's no doubt that Walker is a project (for starters he'll need to bulk up a little without compromising his speed) but he has the potential to be a versatile guy for us.

Heck, we already have a tradition of playing the Gladiator theme in our pregame introductions. Now we can all chant MAXIMUS! MAXIMUS! every time Williams scores. I'm so amped to see the 2016 Ravens!

Im not too down on the whole CB high pick thing. Jimmy isn't out forever and our woes at that spot were due to injuries and lack of quality depth. Tray Walker is a guy who, in spite of playing for a smaller school, has a larger frame 6"3' than Jimmy, does a more aggressive job of jamming on the line than Jimmy did at Colorado, and like Webby, was a free safety his freshman year and converted to Corner, so he's not afraid to step up and take a downhill running back head on at the line of scrimmage. All that said, there's always the June 1st cuts...

The camera wasn't at its widest angle when the question was asked but Decosta did a hilarious job of leaning towards Ozzie to get in the shot and flash his grin while Ozzie was answering. Love these guys!!

We essentially replaced Torrey with a somewhat thicker, taller, and faster (if anyone thought that was possible) guy. While Torrey got a 40 million dollar contract, we got this kid for 5 years at a post- 2011 CBA rookie wage scale. I'll take it. If anyone is interested, the 26th picks salary breaks down like this: 2015 - 1.4 million 2016 - 1.7 million 2017 - 2.1 million 2018 - 2.5 million With option for 5th year 2019 - 6.8 million It's a 5 year 15.5 million contract. Compare that to the 40+ Torrey was demanding. This is how you build consistent winners.

Bread and games. Western civilization has always needed the mob to have its colesium and gladiators. We may have temporarily softened to the point where we don't stomach people gutting each other or lions ripping fellow human beings apart for our amusement, but rest assured, the seeds of Rome are still very much in all our psyches.

Not that it's their fault but they really are milking this phone call for every possible article they can to get through the dog days.

I'm sure our coaches look at the solid production that Schaub and the Texans had in 2012 (8th in total rushing, 11th in passing) on offense and then the steep decline in 2013 as a result, in no small part, of the lack of a viable running game from Arian Foster. Foster was run into the ground when he was discovered, but his injuries started to pile up in 2012 and had calf and hamstring troubles early in 2013, eventually dinging his back in week 5, and missing the last 7 weeks of the season on season-ending IR for back surgery. As we know all too well now, Kubiak's scheme can't function without the run game. So what appears on the face of things to have been Schaub's fault in 2013 is a much deeper story than people let on. The moral of the story - have multiple options in the run game so the season isn't over if one guy gets dinged up. Just ask Schaub how that goes.

A few things folks, BPA according to Kiper's board or Mayock's List or Cbssports or PFT or Roto is not BPA according to the board that is the fruit of our own scouts and player developer's year long labor in evaluating these guys' talents and digging into things those pundits can't begin to imagine. Second, good or bad, the Ravens are who they are because they do not lie as an organization. Will they deliberately get vague and obfuscate to avoid tipping their hand or protect their players, sure. But these men, I've come to see over the years, do not lie. So when they say the draft happened to evolve such that guys on D happened to stick out like sore thumbs when their turns approached, I believe it. All that remains is the philosophical debate on whether we should reach as an organization and betray our own board and hard work just to fill needs by placing warm bodies in slots on the depth chart, or should we stack our team with guys who are genuinely the most gifted at their position at the point we had to pick given the full pool that remained.

Welcome to Raven Nation TJ. The road to the Hall begins today!

It's obvious from last year's draft and the first pick so far, the 3 most important traits we're looking for in our picks in order of importance are: 1. Character 2. Character 3. Character

Ryan Clark? Why not just get the kid from Louisville in the first?

This was an 8-8 team that was a few plays away from a sixth straight berth inspite of having a decimated o-line. I honestly think the FO wholeheartedly believes that if Kelechi stayed healthy and they didn't lose Jensen and Wagner (all guys under contract for a while to come) they go to the playoffs. Sure they'll never pass up an affordable decent lineman, but ultimately we build to beat the Steelers for the North crown, and get depth to stave off NE and DEN in January.

The teams to beat that're going to be in our way ultimately are Denver and New England and both are beefing up their secondaries. Smith was an absolute must have after signing Pitta as a second matchup nightmare for the third CB while Pitta outwits the OLBs and safeties. On the flip side, we absolutely need a veteran but still fresh nickle CB to fill the void the Corey Graham left. Peyton and Tom Terrific absolutely carve up defenses just by outnatching their slot guys against the opponents mediocre third CBs. And if not a CB, then at least an agile third safety that can cover man but also provide run support when those guys check to runs with their stout backs.

We should get Evan Deitrich Smith just to further the madness.

A few things to consider in the rebuilding of the line. Osemele can slide to RT and may be willing to do so. Him lined up next to Munroe and Yanda is pretty much a lockdown on that respective side. Also, we just don't know whether there is hidden potential in Ricky Wagner and Ryan Jensen from last year because both were hurt. Not only will guys be healthier, we'll actually have quality depth unlike last year when the line was decimated by injuries. All that said, we stil definitely definitely definitely need help at the center position. Not adressing that will be absolutely inexcusable.

If we do sign Smith wouldn't it be tipping our hand on draft strategy? Everyone would know we're coming into the draft with a tilt towards o-line and adjust their boards. I say we make an aggressive offer to Alex Mack and restore some balance. Also, the WR field is getring crowded now. Torrey, Marlon, Jacoby, usually Pitta lining up as WR on spreads got Mallette in waiting and now potentially Stevie Smith? Why on Earth would we waste a first rounder on a guy that'll just crowd the field some more? Get a RT or FS.

You get the feeling our FO thinks we had the skilled players to make the playoffs and compete last year if only the line could buy Joe some time. That's not to say they won't pounce if a WR or TE or one-cut RB is available that fits Kubiak, but how good can this line be if healthy? Munroe-Osemele-Mack-Yanda-future Raven

Score! Now draft Lewan and let's go win another Super Bowl.

Smith is our kinda guy