Making The Cuts; Always Tough

[march4superbowl]

It's time! With training camp right around the corner, evaluation is key for the coaches/management to get a last impression on these guys in deciding who they feel will best fit on the roster. QB Brad Roach will have a tough time trying to stay on the roster. Harbaugh said that it would be difficult to keep four quarterbacks. Heres a glance at some players in the thick of the competition:

RB PJ Daniels*, Justin Green*, Allan Patrick, Corry Ross, Jake Nordin

WR Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith*, Ernie Wheelwright*, and Matt Willis.

TE Scott Kuhn*, Lee Vickers

OL Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic*, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins

DL kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon*, Lorenzo Williams III

LB Dan Cody*, Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Robert McCune*,Mike Smith

CB Derrick Martin*, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls

S Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski*

If you could only select ten, which players would you select?*

[berad]

It's time! With training camp right around the corner, evaluation is key for the coaches/management to get a last impression on these guys in deciding who they feel will best fit on the roster. QB Brad Roach will have a tough time trying to stay on the roster. Harbaugh said that it would be difficult to keep four quarterbacks. Heres a glance at some players in the thick of the competition:

RB PJ Daniels, Justin Green, Allan Patrick, Corry Ross, Jake Nordin

WR Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith, Ernie Wheelwright, and Matt Willis.

TE Scott Kuhn, Lee Vickers

OL Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins

DL kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon, Lorenzo Williams III

LB Dan Cody, Nick Greisen, Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Robert McCune,Mike Smith

CB Derrick Martin, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls

S Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski

If you could only select ten, which players would you select?

My ten..

We're gonna have a lot of DBs

[MKdave]

RB PJ Daniels, Justin Green, Allan Patrick, Corry Ross, Jake Nordin

WR Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith, Ernie Wheelwright, and Matt Willis.

TE Scott Kuhn*, Lee Vickers

OL Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins

DL kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon, Lorenzo Williams III

LB Dan Cody, Nick Greisen, Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Robert McCune,Mike Smith

CB Derrick Martin, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls

S Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski

If you could only select ten, which players would you select?*

they'd be my guys, but I'd have really liked McCune, and I do think he'll be on the roster because of his standout special teams play.

[raven43]

It's time! With training camp right around the corner, evaluation is key for the coaches/management to get a last impression on these guys in deciding who they feel will best fit on the roster. QB Brad Roach will have a tough time trying to stay on the roster. Harbaugh said that it would be difficult to keep four quarterbacks. Heres a glance at some players in the thick of the competition:

RB PJ Daniels*, Justin Green*, Allan Patrick, Corry Ross, Jake Nordin

WR Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith*, Ernie Wheelwright*, and Matt Willis.

TE Scott Kuhn*, Lee Vickers

OL Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic*, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins

DL kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon*, Lorenzo Williams III

LB Dan Cody*, Nick Greisen, Edgar Jones,Jameel McClain, Robert McCune*,Mike Smith

CB Derrick Martin*, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls

S Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski*

If you could only select ten, which players would you select?*

I think those guys are all safe...

[neepo13]

It's time! With training camp right around the corner, evaluation is key for the coaches/management to get a last impression on these guys in deciding who they feel will best fit on the roster. QB Brad Roach will have a tough time trying to stay on the roster. Harbaugh said that it would be difficult to keep four quarterbacks. Heres a glance at some players in the thick of the competition:

RB PJ Daniels*, Justin Green*, Allan Patrick, Corry Ross, Jake Nordin

WR Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith*, Ernie Wheelwright*, and Matt Willis.

TE Scott Kuhn*, Lee Vickers

OL Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic*, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins

DL kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon*, Lorenzo Williams III

LB Dan Cody*, Nick Greisen, Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Robert McCune*,Mike Smith

CB Derrick Martin*, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls

S Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski*

If you could only select ten, which players would you select?*

[FerrariFan87]

Why do most, if not all, of you have Zbikowski AND Nakamura being cut? I don't think either will be... but that's what Training Camp is for...

[MKdave]

Why do most, if not all, of you have Zbikowski AND Nakamura being cut? I don't think either will be... but that's what Training Camp is for...

That's who we're keeping.

[Corvus]

Why do you have Nick Greisen, Justin Green and Cory Ross on here when we just resigned all of them to multiyear deals a few months ago? It would be kind of foolish for us to cut them after that.

Of the REST of those guys: Justin Harper, Marcus Smith, David Hale, Mike Kracalic, Amon Gordon, Edgar Jones, David Pittman, Lenny Walls, Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura

I am confident that Nakamura has a better chance of making the roster at the beginning of the season than Zbikowski. Supposedly we'll want to take 4 safeties into the season. Leonhard started a bunch of games for the Bills last year and was one of their top 5 tacklers. I predict it will be Nakamura and Leonhard backing up Ed and Dawan, but we'll see.

Edgar Jones is to versatile of a player to not make the roster in my opinion, whether he is a LB or a TE like they were using him in OTAs

[MKdave]

Edgar Jones is to versatile of a player to not make the roster in my opinion, whether he is a LB or a TE like they were using him in OTAs

If we cut EJ we're stupid. He's probably the best athlete we have.

[berad]

Why do most, if not all, of you have Zbikowski AND Nakamura being cut? I don't think either will be... but that's what Training Camp is for...

Bolded players are who we're keeping

[RoflDogs]

RB PJ Daniels*, Justin Green*, Allen Patrick, Corry Ross, Jake Nordin

WR Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith*, Ernie Wheelwright*, and Matt Willis.

TE Scott Kuhn*, Lee Vickers

OL Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic*, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins

DL kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon*, Lorenzo Williams III

LB Dan Cody*, Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Robert McCune*,Mike Smith

CB Derrick Martin*, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls

S Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski*

and im pretty sure you have 11

[BloodRaven]

RB PJ Daniels*, Justin Green*, Allan Patrick, Corry Ross, Jake Nordin

WR Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith*, Ernie Wheelwright*, and Matt Willis.

TE Scott Kuhn*, Lee Vickers

OL Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic*, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins

DL kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon*, Lorenzo Williams III

LB Dan Cody*, Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Robert McCune*,Mike Smith

CB Derrick Martin*, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls

S Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski*

Zbikowski is a maybe, seems hes been a bit sluggish in camp.

Wasnt Marcus Smith converted to HB at minicamp?

[ChiseBack(CB)]

RB PJ Daniels*, Allan Patrick, , Jake Nordin

WR Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith*, Ernie Wheelwright*, and Matt Willis.

TE Scott Kuhn*, Lee Vickers

OL Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic*, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins

DL kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon*, Lorenzo Williams III

LB Dan Cody*, Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Robert McCune*,Mike Smith

CB Derrick Martin*, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls

S Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski*

If you could only select ten, which players would you select?*

I thought it was the other way round with Marcus Smith, he was a runningback in college and just recently started playing WR.

With all the talk of Dan Cody being healthy I don't see why they would cut him considering his "potential".

[FerrariFan87]

Bolded players are who we're keeping

My mistake...

[geo]

RB: PJ Daniels, Justin Green, Allan Patrick, Cory Ross, Jake Nordin.

We could bring six and then I would take Daniels. Patrick probably IR or PS.

WR: Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith, Ernie Wheelwright, and Matt Willis.

Again we could bring six and then I take Harper, but it is really up in the air.. Carter and Wheelwrigth is promising, Willis did nice last year in TC and he knows his teammates, Reed.. coming with Cam. Well one or two of them will make our PS.

TE: Scott Kuhn, Lee Vickers

If Vickers is fit, else I think we will pick one elsewhere, probably a big blocker like him and QS.

OL: Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins.

Kracalik.. so fare he has not impressed me. No way we will cut Hale, if anything we will find an injury.. again one or two of them to PS.

DL: kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon, Lorenzo Williams III

If we bring six it should be Gordon, else we will have one going to PS.

LB: Dan Cody, Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Robert McCune,Mike Smith

With Cody as a dark horse.

CB: Derrick Martin, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls.

With Prude as a strong contender.

S: Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski

And here with Leonhard as a very strong contender.

At LB and secondary I see some big TC-battles with high quality and except from McClain none of them will make our PS. They are simply not qualified = either too experienced or too talented and then other teams will take them.

[neepo13]

I thought it was the other way round with Marcus Smith, he was a runningback in college and just recently started playing WR.

With all the talk of Dan Cody being healthy I don't see why they would cut him considering his "potential".

They have loaded up on linebacker over the past few offseasons. They've bought in a lot of guys with just as much if not more potential.

[raven43]

I get the feeling that if we released Zbikowski he would turn out lke James Harrison or Derek Anderson

[b-morebrotha]

It's time! With training camp right around the corner, evaluation is key for the coaches/management to get a last impression on these guys in deciding who they feel will best fit on the roster. QB Brad Roach will have a tough time trying to stay on the roster. Harbaugh said that it would be difficult to keep four quarterbacks. Heres a glance at some players in the thick of the competition:

RB PJ Daniels*, Justin Green*, Allan Patrick, Corry Ross, Jake Nordin

WR Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith*, Ernie Wheelwright*, and Matt Willis.

TE Scott Kuhn*, Lee Vickers

OL Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic*, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins

DL kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon*, Lorenzo Williams III

LB Dan Cody*, Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Robert McCune*,Mike Smith

CB Derrick Martin*, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls

S Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski*

If you could only select ten, which players would you select?*

M smith gets put on IR then again maybe cody will too

[BloodRaven]

I'd be happy if we got rid of Cody. Hes got what 3 tackles in 3 years? Take out the fact he was a high-ish pick and is ALWAYS INJURED, we have younger, faster and more athletic guys in Barnes and Edgar Jones (both these guys are special). McCune and McClain look more like practice squad/special teamers.

David Hale is being groomed as a Guard so he has a good chance to make backup duties, then you have Mike Kracalik is like a human spinning top at the best of times.

At corner I'd take David Pittman and maybe Lenny Walls for his height over Ronnie Prude and Derrick Martin. Pittman still has alot of potential.

Havent heard/seen much about Jim Leonhard other than his small size. Whats he like? I know Zbikowski went into minicamp overweight and had trouble with the game/practice speed and flipping his hips/changing direction.

[FellsPointRaven]

You don't cut Cody until you've see what he's got. For the extremely limited time he's been on the field he's shown promise and a hell of an engine - and after investing so much time and money into him I'd be interested to see what he can do if he can get through a full season injury-free. Not holding out a lot of hope but he could be a nice bonus.

Unless he absolutely bombs, the Ravens won't cut Zbikowski. You simply don't cut a third round draft pick after his rookie camp.

[raven43]

Alright, now I'm confused. What exactly is IR? I thought you get put on IR if you're seriously injured, now I'm getting the sense that's wrong. Can somone explain what IR is?

[MKdave]

Alright, now I'm confused. What exactly is IR? I thought you get put on IR if you're seriously injured, now I'm getting the sense that's wrong. Can somone explain what IR is?

IR is 'Injured reserve'. It's where you put players who are injured if you want to fill their roster spot with another player, but they can't play that year.

There's no parameters on how injured a player has to be to be on IR. That's why it's been said we could 'look' for injuries, which is basically saying we could make them up. That way we don't have to cut the player, but we can fill his roster spot with another player.

[FellsPointRaven]

Alright, now I'm confused. What exactly is IR? I thought you get put on IR if you're seriously injured, now I'm getting the sense that's wrong. Can somone explain what IR is?

No - you're right. If a player is placed on IR, he's paid his salary but cannot play that season. It's a way of freeing up a roster spot without having to release a player (i.e. Dan Cody).

If a player is put on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) at the beginning of a season, he must sit out the first six weeks but can then be reactivated between weeks 6 and 10, after which he has to be put on IR if he cannot recover in time.

[raven43]

There's no parameters on how injured a player has to be to be on IR. That's why it's been said we could 'look' for injuries, which is basically saying we could make them up.

If a player is put on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) at the beginning of a season, he must sit out the first six weeks but can then be reactivated between weeks 6 and 10,

OK, but why would we make up injuries so one player could play and another couldn't? why not just cut the guy who you're putting on IR for no reason?

And if a guy is placed on the PUP at the beggining of the season, does someone take his roster spot until he gets better (if he gets better)?

[MKdave]

OK, but why would we make up injuries so one player could play and another couldn't? why not just cut the guy who you're putting on IR for no reason?

A) There can be cap ramifications to cutting a player if they have received a signing bonus (which almost all have)

B ) it can be a way to make you you hold on to younger players while they develop.

[FellsPointRaven]

And if a guy is placed on the PUP at the beggining of the season, does someone take his roster spot until he gets better (if he gets better)?

Yes, they do. And when/if he comes off PUP, then the team must cut someone to make room for him.

[raven43]

OK, now I get it

[BloodRaven]

You don't cut Cody until you've see what he's got. For the extremely limited time he's been on the field he's shown promise and a hell of an engine - and after investing so much time and money into him I'd be interested to see what he can do if he can get through a full season injury-free. Not holding out a lot of hope but he could be a nice bonus.

Unless he absolutely bombs, the Ravens won't cut Zbikowski. You simply don't cut a third round draft pick after his rookie camp.

Ive seen 3rd rounders cut after camp before. The thing for me is he seems to have left the impression on coaches as being slow and overweight, thats almost career suicide. I hope he picks his game up.

[GermanRavensFan]

RB PJ Daniels*, Justin Green*, Allan Patrick, Corry Ross, Jake Nordin

WR Pat Carter, Justin Harper, Kerry Reed, Marcus Smith*, Ernie Wheelwright*, and Matt Willis.

TE Scott Kuhn*, Lee Vickers

OL Sean Dumford, Dave Hale, Mike Kracalic*, Adam Kraus, Isaiah Wiggins

DL kelly Talavou, Amon Gordon*, Lorenzo Williams III

LB Dan Cody*, Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Robert McCune*,Mike Smith

CB Derrick Martin*, David Pittman, Ronnie Prude, Lenny Walls

S Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tommy Zbikowski*

[BloodRaven]

I think Scott Khun is out for the season, Mike Smith was cut and Marcus Smith just signed.

I also think Jim Leonhard is just far too small to play safety.