Josh Wilson | Secret Superstar

[mgridda]

Here is an excellent article about Josh Wilson that I have been dying to discuss, think all Ravens fans should read and makes me feel Ozzie Newsome has done the whole "smokescreen before the draft thing" successfully with all these mock drafts predicting we draft a cornerback.

Hopefully we can lock up Josh Wilson and Chris Carr:

[quote]Going into the 2010 season, the thing holding the Ravens back from being an elite team, according to most experts, was their defensive backfield. Dominique Foxworth was out for the year with a training camp injury, not everyone was sold on the pair of Chris Carr and Fabian Washington, and Lardarius Webb was returning from an ACL injury, fueling doubts of his reliability.

To add depth and some security to the secondary, the Ravens traded for Josh Wilson late in training camp. The Seahawks were apparently sold on Jordan Babineaux, Marcus Trufant and Kelly Jennings, which to them meant 2007’s second round pick was expendable. We had Wilson rated better than all three players in 2009, making us think we had witnessed a pilfering.

While Chris Carr played at a high level, Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb struggled. As the season went on, Webb showed some improvement, but after allowing eight catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns against Buffalo, Fabian Washington’s time as a starter was over.

His replacement? The Ravens’ Secret Superstar, Josh Wilson.


<[i]snip[/i]>

-- By Khaled Elsayed [/quote]

Source: [url="http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/04/15/secret-superstar-josh-wilson-baltimore-ravens/"]http://www.profootba...ltimore-ravens/[/url]

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

That's a great article. I'm glad it quotes so many statistics as well, so I can use them whilst arguing that our "secondary issues" are actually stemmed from the pass rush.

Good find!

[Purple Punishment]

Great article!!

I wonder how Foxworth is going to feel about restructuring his contract so we can pay Wilson?

[grape drank]

Great Article, when Ozzie signed this guy I honestly didn't know who he was, then I watched some film and was like wow, at the very least he should add a spark in the return game. Then he showed some real potential to become a very good -> elite corner. I think Safety is more of a worry than corner, as long as Webb can come back strong. (the season after a knee injury usually isn't as good as it was, so kudos to Webb for all the hard work)

[TDubbs]

Great Read that Is. Nice to see him get the recognition that he deserves. Awesome that he is a Maryland product. Makes big plays at clutch times, would love to have him locked up and be a Raven for good.

[T-ray]

Absolutely love Wilson. He's a very underrated corner, who with time/experience, could become elite. Great steal by getting him with a 5th pick.

As for Webb, he is going to be good folks. Yes he struggled at the beginning, but he was coming off a major injury that affects everyone the following year, whether they admit it or not. He got better as the season went on IMO. Sure, he had mental breakdowns. But this guy is from a small school and is still very young, so you can't ask for more. With Austin, who's coached Rodgers-Cromartie/Trufant, I see him becoming a breakout corner as well.

Bottom line is we don't need another corner. We're good at the spot.

[hawkprey]

Wilson's doing better at the end of the season and worse at the middle of the season is all because of the pressure we got. Midseason - no pressure. Late season - great pressure. He's still good but obviously an area of concern is getting to the QB, not replacing him.

[-Truth-]

I remember a certain someone, won't name names, who argued that Josh Wilson will be no better than Fabian Washington. So how would you like that crow prepared? Does medium-well suffice?

[T-ray]

[quote name='-Truth-' timestamp='1303062727' post='666372']
I remember a certain someone, won't name names, who argued that Josh Wilson will be no better than Fabian Washington. So how would you like that crow prepared? Does medium-well suffice?
[/quote]

Honestly, before last season, I don't think anyone could've given a good prediction on how Wilson would do. Some guessed that he'd be exactly what a 5th rounder what give you, and some others guessed/hoped that he would become a good player. Thankfully, he has indeed become a good player with a high ceiling for becoming elite.

[-Truth-]

[quote name='T-ray' timestamp='1303066438' post='666392']
Honestly, before last season, I don't think anyone could've given a good prediction on how Wilson would do. Some guessed that he'd be exactly what a 5th rounder what give you, and some others guessed/hoped that he would become a good player. Thankfully, he has indeed become a good player with a high ceiling for becoming elite.
[/quote]
He was one of my favorite players from other teams, so I had a good impression of his ceiling during his Seattle days. I thought that he could excel with a better supporting cast. I've been raving about him since the acquisition and I couldn't be happier to see it pan out.

[Militant X 1]

some players just need a new environment to recreate that spark that they once had in the league. Josh Wilson coming to Baltimore gave him that spark! i've said it before and will again here....i absolutely love Wilson's gameplay and then of course, i will NEVER forget his game-winning pick6 for a "walk-off" TD in OT against the Texans there in Houston. unbelievably incredible!

~Mili

[Ed_Reed20]

What impressed me most about Wilson last season was his physicality. He put in a lot of strong tackles and I couldn't believe my eyes when he leveled Joe Thomas in the second Browns game.

[Guest RBates]

I have always liked Josh Wilson. If you drafted him in fantasy and your league had return yards you where money for the championship game. This guy can play the game. But don't give up on FoxWorth to early, he in my mind was supposed to be the most improved player last season.

[BloodRaven]

I always liked him but figured that due to his size he was more suited to covering the number 2, I was pleasantly surprised by both him and Carr.

[Free Agent]

That is a great article, and it confirms what I have believed for a while: Josh Wilson is our best corner. I would love for the Ravens to resign Wilson, and Chris Carr is possible, and thrust Wilson into a starting role right away.

[grape drank]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1303102788' post='666557']
What impressed me most about Wilson last season was his physicality. He put in a lot of strong tackles and I couldn't believe my eyes when he leveled Joe Thomas in the second Browns game.
[/quote]
is there a video of that anywhere?

[BloodRaven]

Someone has a gif of the hit in their sig, Wilson and Thomas went head to head and Thomas got demolished.

[grape drank]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1303129310' post='666583']
Someone has a gif of the hit in their sig, Wilson and Thomas went head to head and Thomas got demolished.
[/quote]
looks like im going to have to scour the boards lookin' for that sig' haha

[berad]

[quote name='grape drank' timestamp='1303140472' post='666620']
looks like im going to have to scour the boards lookin' for that sig' haha
[/quote]

I think it was hawkprey or noy. Hawk might've taken it off, haven't seen it on his. And Noy hasn't posted in a while. Those are my two best guesses.

[nk02442]

Wilson was without a doubt the best DB we had last season. Him and Carr were very solid. Reed was also a pick monster, be he does give up some stuff over the top more than he should.

I think wilson should be a #2 Corner. Only thing I dont like about him is his size. Not realistic for him to be matched up to a Vjax or BMarshal size guy who has 7-8 inches and reach on him. The roddy white play was a great example. Even though a flagerant OPI. he was shoved down like a rag doll from a physically bigger and more powerfull reciever. Then again if Landry didnt suck so much in over the top coverage, it would have neglected it. You dont have a 5-8 corner play m-2-m in OT with one of the best recievers in the league.

[RL52TheGreatest]

I just hope that some other team doesn't swoop in and offer him a ridiculous contract. Wilson's a great fit for the Ravens so hopefully a deal can get done to keep him for many years to come.

[mgridda]

[quote name='nk02442' timestamp='1303141497' post='666630']
Wilson was without a doubt the best DB we had last season. Him and Carr were very solid. Reed was also a pick monster, be he does give up some stuff over the top more than he should.

I think wilson should be a #2 Corner. Only thing I dont like about him is his size. Not realistic for him to be matched up to a Vjax or BMarshal size guy who has 7-8 inches and reach on him. The roddy white play was a great example. Even though a flagerant OPI. he was shoved down like a rag doll from a physically bigger and more powerfull reciever. Then again if Landry didnt suck so much in over the top coverage, it would have neglected it. You dont have a 5-8 corner play m-2-m in OT with one of the best recievers in the league.
[/quote]

Wilson is definitely 5'9 and above. Corey Ivy was 5'8.

With that said, it was a flagrant offensive pass interference and so it really shouldn't count against Wilson but rather the referees. Landry's coverage over the top needs work too. A lot of the times he's not that badly burnt - he's right there - but he doesn't make an aggressive leap or dive or get into the mix at that high speed situation to make the play. I feel like Landry is still psychologically damaged from the Jamal Lewis hit which broke his neck and ruined his 2008 season. But that's going away every game he plays and makes it home safely.

I would disagree with you that someone who isn't 6'3 or 6'1 or 6'2 shouldn't play #1 cornerback. Cornerbacks have been getting bigger, but cornerbacks need a lot of agility and footwork to do their job well: usually shorter players are more agile due to a lower center of gravity. With that said, most 5'10 or 5'9 cornerbacks can dunk on a basketball hoop and have an incredible vertical. Remember when Billick tried putting 6'6 Clarence Moore out there because he figured he could just go up and get it? A good schoolyard tactic, but it does not work well in the NFL.

Nnamdi is 6'2, Revis is 6'1 and Champ is 6'0. These are the best cornerbacks in the league (Woodson had an off year last year: Tramon Williams played better), so they dictate the trends but they're really phenomenal athletes who are capable of being tall and super agile. More often than not you'll find a 5'9/10/11 guy who can jump over a 6-'1/2/3 guy who is really good at turning his hips and has the excellent agility cornerback play demands.

Brandon Flowers is 5'9, Tramon Williams is 5'11, Antoine Winfield is 5'9, Asante Samuel is 5'10, Leon Hall is 5'11: with the exception of Winfield's speed, these are some of the best cover cornerbacks in the NFL (and Winfield is the best in run support: bar none). Personally I like a little versatility in cornerbacks and having a tall cornerback is good to match up on a tall receiver, but how often will we face the Lions or the Chargers? Other than that there's no 6'4+ tall receiver who can take our corners on despite a height advantage.

[hawkprey]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1303140734' post='666623']
I think it was hawkprey or noy. Hawk might've taken it off, haven't seen it on his. And Noy hasn't posted in a while. Those are my two best guesses.
[/quote]

Me? I haven't had anything in my sig for like a year. I tried searching the internet but I can't find any Josh Wilson hits, let alone the one on Thomas. I remember him hitting a lot of guys low last year and causing them to flip over. Fun to watch

[Corvus]

Good article with some interesting stats. Josh Wilson is the reason I've been saying all offseason we will not be drafting Jimmy Smith (unless somehow he tumbled into the 50s for our 2nd rounder). Ozzie had preliminary talks with Josh and his agent before the lockout and both sides have expressed interest in staying together. Unless he flat out rejects our new offer, he will be in Baltimore next year. Unlike most seasons, we have no free agency before the draft, where Ozzie typically plugs a few holes so we can stick with our "best player available" draft strategy. He can't do that this year so all of our picks will be a mix of need + best player available. I can guarantee you now our 26th overall pick will be the best OT, DE, or OLB left on Oz's board...
All that said, I hope I am right and Josh is a Raven for the next several years, you don't just let a 26 year old corner with 24+ starts just walk after trading for him.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1303140734' post='666623']
I think it was hawkprey or noy. Hawk might've taken it off, haven't seen it on his. And Noy hasn't posted in a while. Those are my two best guesses.
[/quote]

It's [b]noy[/b] for sure.

[Ravens Lover]

Wilson was my favorite CB all year don't know why they waited so long to start him can't wait to see what he does next year now that he is familiar with the defense

[-Truth-]

[quote name='grape drank' timestamp='1303140472' post='666620']
looks like im going to have to scour the boards lookin' for that sig' haha
[/quote]
No need. I had it saved:

http://picfront.org/d/8aF2

Enjoy.