Justin Harper Making A Case?

[edreedfromtheu]

[quote name='Milton145' timestamp='1281454526' post='447817']
I won't get hyped for anything until we play other teams who don't have our horrid corners.
[/quote]

While I agree the Ravens don't have the best corners... you have to be realize that there are a lot of other teams out there with pretty bad corner situations too. Some even worse than the Ravens.

Harper is that tall receiver, kind of like Kelley Washington was last year, or Randy Hymes in years past. He definitely gives Flacco a lot more options, especially in the red zone.

[PuRock]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' timestamp='1281462944' post='447878']
I want to support the guy, but if he wants people wearing his jersey... he's GOT to switch up the numbers. 14? What is that? I realize when you're not on the final roster you don't get much say in the matter. But if he does make it... let's get that thing changed pronto!

Yes, I worry about the important stuff. haha
[/quote]

I guess it's a personal preference but I personally like the #14 on a WR. It's different from the normal 81.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' timestamp='1281462944' post='447878']
I want to support the guy, but if he wants people wearing his jersey... he's GOT to switch up the numbers. 14? What is that? I realize when you're not on the final roster you don't get much say in the matter. But if he does make it... let's get that thing changed pronto!

Yes, I worry about the important stuff. haha
[/quote]

What if Harper made #14 a great number like Fitzgerald has done with #11 and Austin with #19?

[Ravens Lover]

I saw some nice things from him last year and he made the practice squad and it seems like he's gotten better so I think he'll make the team

[Nobi]

I think we have to carry 7 WR this year. Don't forget people like Reed and Smith will essentially be special teams players, and if Reed doesn't show he is good enough on Special Teams that may have been a wasted pick. This year probably will have some of the toughest decisions in recent times, I just hope whatever we decide pans out and we aren't looking back in regret over it.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Nobi' timestamp='1281467280' post='447932']
I think we have to carry 7 WR this year. [b]Don't forget people like Reed and Smith will essentially be special teams players, and if Reed doesn't show he is good enough on Special Teams that may have been a wasted pick.[/b] This year probably will have some of the toughest decisions in recent times, I just hope whatever we decide pans out and we aren't looking back in regret over it.
[/quote]

I disagree.

Parmele appears ot have outperformed Reed returning kicks so far but that could change in pre-season. However, even if Reed can't beat out Parmele or win a job and is winds up on the practice squad, I don't see you'd begin to consider him a "wasted pick" within months of being drafted.

As for Smith, he's proven he can play special teams but I think it's about time he showed he' made progress as a WR. If not, he could be cut.

[Nobi]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1281463098' post='447884']
I guess it's a personal preference but I personally like the #14 on a WR. It's different from the normal 81.
[/quote]

I always used the number 14 whenever I played receiver. It definitely does have a ring to it.

[Nobi]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1281467540' post='447933']
I disagree.

Parmele appears ot have outperformed Reed returning kicks so far but that could change in pre-season. However, even if Reed can't beat out Parmele or win a job and is winds up on the practice squad, I don't see you'd begin to consider him a "wasted pick" within months of being drafted.

As for Smith, he's proven he can play special teams but I think it's about time he showed he's made progress as a WR. If not, he could be cut.
[/quote]

Smith is one of our top players on kickoff coverage team. I think that is more important than a 5th string wide receiver. I can't see Smith being cut. It is far more likely Reed is going to be put on the Practice Squad or cut.

[baltravens]

Well, are the Ravens going to keep more than 5 receivers because Mason, Boldin, and Stallworth are locks?
I don't think Harper is ahead of Clayton or M. Smith and that spells bad news for him. M. Smith is so valuable on special teams and it appears that D. Williams is ahead of Harper and the odds are that Williams is going to get cut. Throw D. Reed into it because he is a slot-specialty receiver, and the case for Harper would seem to go even further down.

[PuRock]

[quote name='baltravens' timestamp='1281468307' post='447943']
Well, are the Ravens going to keep more than 5 receivers because Mason, Boldin, and Stallworth are locks?
I don't think Harper is ahead of Clayton or M. Smith and that spells bad news for him. M. Smith is so valuable on special teams and it appears that D. Williams is ahead of Harper and the odds are that Williams is going to get cut. Throw D. Reed into it because he is a slot-specialty receiver, and the case for Harper would seem to go even further down.
[/quote]

They only started last season with 4 WR on the rosters. So I can't see the team keeping anymore than 5 guys.

Boldin, Mason, Stallworth, (Clayton, Reed, Riley, D-Will, Smith). There could be a big cut this year with either D-Will or Clayton. Clayton is valuable but he might not be worth the cost to them.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Nobi' timestamp='1281468124' post='447939']
Smith is one of our top players on kickoff coverage team. I think that is more important than a 5th string wide receiver. I can't see Smith being cut. It is far more likely Reed is going to be put on the Practice Squad or cut.
[/quote]

I certainly agree Smith is fine gunner and Reed could be put on the practice squad. However, Smith was out last year and the special teams performed relatively well . Plus, Reed was only drafted this year meaning it's less likely the team would part ways with him so soon. Marcus is going into his third season with this team and special teams aside, hasn't proven much.

[ravensfan160]

I hope we can find a way to keep all our young receivers whether its by putting them on the active roster or sticking them on the practice squad again (if they are still eligable and hope nobody claims them). I say that because there might be 2 or 3 extra spots next season. Stallworth is working under a 1 year deal so we can't bet he'll be back, Mason could retire especially if we win it all, and I believe Clayton and Williams are in the final year of their contracts as well.

We could very well see a lot of Harper, Riley, Smith, and Reed next year if we can manage to hang onto them all this season.

[Raven2daBone]

[quote name='FlaccoFlicker' timestamp='1281381593' post='447265']
he is getting alot of press and we do have a thread for him already lol
http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/topic/24356-harper-looked-really-good-today/

but I would be glad to see him pan out as a decent receiver
[/quote]
Now i can agree with that, he's put in his time with the practice squad...lets see what happens in preseason, he'll have his time to shine.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='baltravens' timestamp='1281468307' post='447943']
Well, are the Ravens going to keep more than 5 receivers because Mason, Boldin, and Stallworth are locks?
I don't think Harper is ahead of Clayton or M. Smith and that spells bad news for him. M. Smith is so valuable on special teams and it appears that D. Williams is ahead of Harper and the odds are that Williams is going to get cut. Throw D. Reed into it because he is a slot-specialty receiver, and the case for Harper would seem to go even further down.
[/quote]

I agree about Clayton. However after that there is really no solid ranking of WRs. Harper will have as many opportunities to make this roster as Smith, Reed, Williams, or any other WR after the top 4.

As many have said before, at some point the Ravens have to keep a eye out for the future, and that point is now. Make no misttake about it, the young WRs on this time will have to prove their worth as pass catchers first and foremost. Then after they prove they can be of value in the passing game, if they're not major assets to the passing game they will need to play ST well.

Special Teams is a major part of any team, and this one probably more so then others. However you don't build the core of your team around Special Teams. Ozzie and company didn't go into the offseason making a promise to give Rosburg more help on ST. No, they made a vow to get Flacco the kind of help, he'll need to take that step into that elite class of the NFL.

So imo, Smith being so valuable on special teams, doesn't hold as much wieght as a guy like Harper being able to help Flacco in the passing game. So if Smith wants to make this team he will have to make as many plays as Harper if not more, in the passing game.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1281468523' post='447946']
They only started last season with 4 WR on the rosters. So I can't see the team keeping anymore than 5 guys.

Boldin, Mason, Stallworth, (Clayton, Reed, Riley, D-Will, Smith). There could be a big cut this year with either D-Will or Clayton. Clayton is valuable but he might not be worth the cost to them.
[/quote]

You can't judge what the Ravens will do this year based off what happend last season imo. The reason i say that is because, guys like Cam, Al, Zorn, and even players have said how things will open up more in the passing game this season. Cam has been quoted to saying he wants Flacco to dig deeper in the playbook and be able to attack defense with more.

Now does that mean we'll keep more then 5 wrs? no, but last season was a completely different mindset imo. None of the younger WRs proved to really be worthy of a roster spot last season. Smith probably would have made the 53 had he not being injuried.

I can very well see the Ravens keeping 6 WRs this season, plus 3 TEs. Now will all those guys dress on gameday? I doubt it.

As for Clayton not being worth the cost, i don't think that's the cast. I strongly believe that Clayton is being groomed to be Mason's replacement next season. Clayton is not nearly as poor a WR as many Ravens fans make him out to be(thats for another thread). Clayton is basically a clone of Mason, and now with the added presence of Boldin, Clayton will be allowed to work the field inside out, much like Mason does.

Everybody is so excited about Stallworth, even without seeing him take one snap, but for good reason i guess. However the thing about Stallworth is, that much like Washington, he might not fit in the long term future of the team. If a guy like Harper steps up this year and shows down the line that he can be a really good #2 next to Boldin, then you have Clayton who the team looks at like a Mason clone(my opinion), and a young guy like Reed shows value from the slot, Stallworth might find himself without a contract next off season.

Now that's a lot to say right now because we haven't even seen one preseason game yet, but it'll be fun to see it play out

[ravens13]

Clayton's fate with the Ravens this year (if we don't trade him, which I believe we're trying to) may be tied directly to Troy Smith's. It's definitely possible that we only keep two quarterbacks. But if Smith makes the team, then Clayton loses the potential emergency quarterback role that he held several years ago. Also, we definitely have better special teams contributors than Clayton. He is going to have to do more than just play receiver to make this team. Are there any other guys on the bubble with college quarterback experience?

[1/28/01]

[quote name='ravens13' timestamp='1281544712' post='448343']
Clayton's fate with the Ravens this year (if we don't trade him, which I believe we're trying to) may be tied directly to Troy Smith's. It's definitely possible that we only keep two quarterbacks. But if Smith makes the team, then Clayton loses the potential emergency quarterback role that he held several years ago. Also, we definitely have better special teams contributors than Clayton. He is going to have to do more than just play receiver to make this team. Are there any other guys on the bubble with college quarterback experience?
[/quote]
I'm fairly confident Clayton is a lock for the #3/#4 spot.

[BloodRaven]

I think Clayton was born to play slot, he's quick and despite a few highly publicised drops (hey even Mase dropped a few) he has great hands.

[I*Bleed*Purple]

Interesting read on MASN this morning. Nothing we don't already know, however.

[url="http://www.masnsports.com/dan_kolko/2010/08/training-camp-superstar-searching-for-redemption.html"]Harper[/url]

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='I*Bleed*Purple' timestamp='1281626452' post='449013']
Interesting read on MASN this morning. Nothing we don't already know, however.

[url="http://www.masnsports.com/dan_kolko/2010/08/training-camp-superstar-searching-for-redemption.html"]Harper[/url]
[/quote]

Good read. it's always good to hear quotes striaght from the player's mouth.

Harper has the opportunity to be the 5th WR on the depth chart, but get way more opportunities then a normal #5 WR because of his redzone abilities.

However like the article says and what Harper appears to understand is that he will have to do it in game time situations