BmoreBird22

5 minutes ago, purpletide said:

You know how much we got for spending?

About $10M before all players and draft are taken into account and that's before the details of Pitta's cut are released.

2 hours ago, PurpleCity5 said:

I honestly view Claiborne as a fall back option. If we don't get the CB we want in the draft than we have him to rely upon. Still think we should invest one highly because him and Jimmy struggle to stay healthy, in the end I think this can make picking a pass rusher/WR our two biggest needs if/when Claiborne is signed. 

You won't get Claiborne that late. Some team will take a flier long before then.

14 minutes ago, The Raven said:

I'm curious about Webb's role here if he comes back. Nickel safety? Don't want to see him back at corner, and I doubt he'd take a starting safety job. Since Weddle and Jefferson aren't really the kind of guys you want to see as a single high, maybe Webb does come back to be that single high nickel safety.

Maybe Jefferson is also coming in to be a more full time "dime backer" like Levine was last year. 

If Pees continues to use the dime, we could have a hell of a back seven with Mosley at LB, Jefferson at dimebacker, Webb deep, and Weddle roaming,

Arizona utilized a ton of three and four safety sets last year to help neutralize the threat of tight ends and I'd imagine Jefferson would be able to help with that transition into three and four safety sets. 

6 minutes ago, The Raven said:

I haven't put much thought into how we'll use him, but from the sounds of things (and as I just said in the other thread), it sounds like this guy could be the prototype "dimebacker," filling the role we probably envisioned for Elam and used Levine for.

I love the move to have a sure tackler underneath to take away the short routes that have burned the Ravens due to poor tackling and pursuit. 

A Bleacher Report writer ranked this as his top move of the offseason out of 136 signings so far.

Many believe the Ravens will end up landing Claiborne and apparently Webb isn't done here if the Ravens can help it.

From LaCanfora.

So, the Ravens currently sit at about $7M in cap space with the top 51 in play. When the rosters move to all players (53+PS+Draft), the Ravens will be flush out of cap. Now, that number hasn't been updated for PItta's new restructured cap hit and I'd fully expect two of Pitta, Arrington, and Watson to get cut, so the Ravens should have one more move in them. I wonder if it's going to be Claiborne.

On 3/11/2017 at 2:29 PM, JoeyFlex5 said:

same with reports saying Jonathan Allen has a chance to fall very far, if that guy is there at 16 then something must be REALLY wrong with him... 

in that scenario I'd hate to be the GM

Matt Miller reported on this at the combine. He has shoulder injuries and arthritis that are going to scare teams.

8 minutes ago, ravensnation5220 said:

I think he's got all the tools to succeed. He just needs to refine his technique a little, idk how you fix his ball tracking ability but maybe we can limit those opportunities by giving him help over the top. Otherwise I think he has great hips and feet, he just needs to be more consistent with it. 

His physicality and football iq will keep him in the NFL for a long time. I also think he's gonna be great early in his career on special teams

I think you fix his ball tracking with confidence and better route recognition. If he were more patient and able to trust his speed and length more, he'd be in a better spot to simply turn his head around. That's the big issue I see.

Just now, purpletide said:

(I know I stated this before, but I've watched some film since) I also like how he's not afraid of making a tackle, something I saw a lack of in Sidney Jones. Got the size and speed we need at an outside corner but needs to work on fluidity, I've seen him get burnt for not using his hips. I still think safety is an option in the future if need be.

I think his hips get way too much flack. I think the biggest thing I saw is he's actually too quick to open his hips and commit, which might stem from his issues of failing to locate the ball. 

He doesn't backpedal or allow the player to commit before he just turns and runs. He just flips those hips and goes. I think once he gets his ball tracking down better, he'll get better in that regard.

Just now, ravensnation5220 said:

This is true but we do play a lot of man as well. We use zone in certain situations like end of half or end of games. Although I think he's a very coachable kid and jimmy can help him along the way. 

Trust me when I say they use quite a bit of zone for the entire game. It's really pretty stark how often they use it, but it's not an easy thing to differentiate because all zone will contain man concepts depending on the routes being run. 

But in any case, I like Humphrey a lot. I think he checks every box physically you want and Jimmy had the same issues of turning his head when he realized he couldn't win on his physical traits alone. I think Humphrey has a very high ceiling.

1 minute ago, 52520Andrew said:

Yeah think Adams is the safer prospect and should be really good to boot, I just really need a guy like Hooker who can make it easier for my SS to play closer to the LOS where I think Ihedigbo and Blanton are better. That is about how I feel on Hooker as well although I think he will at least be solid on the back end while he gets better instincts and pursuit angles(they were pretty bad). As for the injury(torn Labrun and sports hernia, think Lattimore was the one with the hamstring issues) I remember him playing hurt against Clemson and he was still able to make that amazing interception where he crossed the field, everything I have heard suggests that he will be good to go.

Is it Lattimore with the hamstring issues? Well, then scratch that concern from Hooker. I'm just vary wary of his lack of experience and the missed tackles. Otherwise, he's got the necessary instincts and ability to read the eyes of a quarterback and close to the ball. I think wiser quarterbacks will make it difficult early, but he won't stay down for long.

1 hour ago, EdTheMythicalOne said:

And what are the knocks on Kaufusi?

He plays too high which means he's not getting leverage and not only does he lack upper body strength, but lower body strength. I mean I am not making this stuff up, this is coming from scouting reports from people that do this from a living. I think I will take their analysis and buy into it a bit more than a fan sitting at home and watching highlight reels.

He's also showing that his "speed" as somebody defined it (which actually isn't speed) and him being a "player that plays faster and stronger on the field" does not hold up because he lacks that speed and explosion on the field that should be there based on his combine.

You claim @The Raven doesn't know what he's talking about, but all you're doing is reading scouting reports. There is nothing to suggest you ever watched him in college and you obviously never got to see him in college. You're arguing with people based off of one or two blurbs you read from CBS or NFL.com. 

Excellent way to base your arguments.

Also, again, regarding the combine, that should make up a very little portion of how a player is looked at. Players are literally trained on how to do every single combine drill in the exact way to maximize a time. There are literal coaches that train these players on the exact stance, form, get off, push off, etc. to make sure that every single thing they do is for making that number pretty, regardless if it represents what happens on the field or not.

The bench press isn't a good measure because it measures endurance, not actual strength. How many times can his muscles take lifting up 225? Probably a lot less than other people because isn't he 6'8"? That's a lot further to go than someone who is like 6'2", for example. That doesn't actually show strength.

On the topic of the 40 and measuring speed, when are we really going to see a defensive lineman run 40 yards in a straight line? We aren't. It's a horrendous argument to base your assertions on. Furthermore, when you see a DL line up in a true track stance with his head down like that, let me know. Plus, the combine 40 times start on first movement, meaning if he twitches his leg, the time starts. It doesn't start when he moves across a line; first movement, period. That's why scouts prefer to hand time it, not actually use the combine times.

I mean, hell, Leonard Fournette just posted pretty putrid times vs what you'd expect, but I've never seen him have an issue running over people or getting caught from behind because combine times are useless, just like arguments based on one or two scouting reports.

Also, regarding draft profiles, remember that NFL teams see everything those analysts do and more. They don't miss a thing. Try to remember, too, that these draft profiles are often written based off of three or four collegiate games. How do we know they didn't pick a really poor sample or a really good sample? Generally speaking, you'll get a decent sample to see traits based on four games, but there's no guarantee.

On the topic of Hooker, I think he's one of those guys who won't really click until year three, but once he does, he'll be a potential perennial All-Pro. I just am very wary of all the hamstring issues and a player who doesn't have a lot of experience. There's no substitute for live reps as a safety.

But I think he will be very good down the road. Still have Adams as a higher rated prospect, but they're both going to be great.

21 minutes ago, ravensnation5220 said:

He's really a great fit for us but I really worry about his ball skills. It's not that he can't catch because he can but locating the ball down feild continues to be a problem and it won't get any easier in the NFL. Other than that he checks all the boxes. Great character, high football iq and loves the game. I just really worry teams will go bombs away against him

That's why I love him in a Cover 3 or Tampa 2. Helps keep the play in front of him more often than not.

1 hour ago, purpletide said:

This upcoming season will be the first one in which I actually watch (I've always watched college, just now getting into NFL), are we more of a zone or man coverage team? I think Humphrey is a good man coverage guy, but I think he'll shine in zone. Should do fine as a corner, but has the physicality and aggressiveness to play as a safety (I hate to think about it but when Weddle inevitably retires, Humphrey could be a replacement, not at the same level of course).

Pees runs quite a bit of Tampa 2 and Cover 3 looks. 

I actually think Humphrey projects best into a Tampa 2 or Cover 3, so it works out.

32 minutes ago, The Raven said:

I do, but I don't think he's what we should be looking for. I'd like to see us find a long term answer in the first round of the draft.

I've mentioned him for several months now, but I'm in agreement- at his age, he's not the long term answer the Ravens want. However, I do think he's a very upstanding character and could help mentor KC, Judon, and Smith.

11 minutes ago, The Raven said:

I'm talking about his ten yard split, his burst off the line, his short shuttle, his 3 cone. I forgot that I need to write things out in specific for you.

It's not that black and white. Gino Gradkowski had 29 reps at his pro day and a 28.5 vert -- solid numbers for a center -- but got thrown around like a toy. He lifts strong but doesn't play strong. By comparison, Weston Richburg had 25 reps and a 25.5 vert. Who's the better center? But I don't think I can convince you otherwise, so I'll let it rest

It's not the motor. I can distinguish talent and motor. It's what I see with my eyes on the tape. What I see as the primary problem is his pad level.

People also forget that as an offensive/defensive lineman, leverage and leg drive play just as large a factor as upper body strength. Plus, as a tall, long armed player, bench presses are harder to complete. He has to come down and go up a lot further than someone six inches shorter than him.

I'm just going to say what we're all thinking.

Damn, that Jacksonville Jaguars defense is going to shut down my offense.

With the third overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars take...

Jamal Adams, S, LSU

With the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins take...

Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama

There's an entire draft section...

I know who @arnie_uk wants and the Browns seem to be hanging onto the top pick, so that's positive.

Of my favorite prospects, I still have Wilson, Humphrey, and White as my three favorite.

5 hours ago, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

Did we overrate Quincy Wilsons draft position??

One analyst I really respect is Matt Miller because he routinely talks to scouts and tends to mold his mocks partially based on how the media views players. He still has Wilson going in the first.