The Draft Is A Funny Thing

[scrock]

We look at the first few rounds of a draft and really look to those guys, those names who will make an impact on our team and the 5th rounders and on are just lucky if they can catch on to a team on special teams somehow.

To this point a guy like Pernell McPhee has outperformed Sergio Kindle in game situations and some would say in training camp.

A guy like LaQuan WIlliams, the other WR from Maryland, has outperformed earlier picks like Torrey Smith and even Tandon Doss, Torrey is struggling so far in game action, from all accounts Doss has great hands and is a good WR, he just hasn't gotten the looks in game I guess

Its not just late round picks, every year these undetected guys pop up and make the team as unrestricted free agents, we give Ozzie a lot of credit when he gets it right in the early rounds, when he gets it right in the later rounds we say he found another Gem in the rough....or something to that extent

Paul Kruger, Art Jones, Pernell McPhee..guys like that are really going to keep out defense on point in the coming years. If Sergio Kindle gets on the field and gets back to being an impact player that's great, if Torrey Smith can pick up his came at this level that's great...but its those late round picks, those players who don't get all the hype but are still good football players that are really necessary for continued success in this league.

The Ravens do as good as any other team in finding these guys, I hear how old our defense is seems like every year, well we've gotten younger on both sides of the ball but we're plugging in talent as talent goes out the door, That's something I think we can all feel good about.

[bmore187]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1313874409' post='758297']
We look at the first few rounds of a draft and really look to those guys, those names who will make an impact on our team and the 5th rounders and on are just lucky if they can catch on to a team on special teams somehow.

To this point a guy like Pernell McPhee has outperformed Sergio Kindle in game situations and some would say in training camp.

A guy like LaQuan WIlliams, the other WR from Maryland, has outperformed earlier picks like Torrey Smith and even Tandon Doss, Torrey is struggling so far in game action, from all accounts Doss has great hands and is a good WR, he just hasn't gotten the looks in game I guess

Its not just late round picks, every year these undetected guys pop up and make the team as unrestricted free agents, we give Ozzie a lot of credit when he gets it right in the early rounds, when he gets it right in the later rounds we say he found another Gem in the rough....or something to that extent

Paul Kruger, Art Jones, Pernell McPhee..guys like that are really going to keep out defense on point in the coming years. If Sergio Kindle gets on the field and gets back to being an impact player that's great, if Torrey Smith can pick up his came at this level that's great...but its those late round picks, those players who don't get all the hype but are still good football players that are really necessary for continued success in this league.

The Ravens do as good as any other team in finding these guys, I hear how old our defense is seems like every year, well we've gotten younger on both sides of the ball but we're plugging in talent as talent goes out the door, That's something I think we can all feel good about.
[/quote]

I agree with the exception of McPhee outperforming Kindle........they play two different positions and Kindle narrowly missed blocking two punts yesterday. Remember Kindle broke his skull last yr missing the entire season and like everyone this yr had no offseason due to the lockout. McPhee is playing great but so is Kindle

[theFRANCHISE]

It's important to note, though, as talented as these young, unheralded guys have looked in preseason, they run the risk of being preseason stars and regular season flops. Case-in-point: Victor Cruz, undrafted free agent WR for the New York Giants. Granted, Cruz would end his 2010 season in injured reserve, but he did nothing in the regular season in the action that he saw.

Preseason performances are relative. While we shouldn't completely dismiss them, we also shouldn't put 100% stock in them. It'll be up to the coaches to compare preseason performances to practice performances and see whether the proof is in the pudding.

That said, I see a lot of promise in this year's crop of undrafted free agents and late-round draft picks.

[Andrew Glass]

Right now mcphee has been beating linemen that may not be on a NFL roster in 2 weeks.

[scrock]

[quote name='bmore187' timestamp='1313875091' post='758311']

I agree with the exception of McPhee outperforming Kindle........they play two different positions and Kindle narrowly missed blocking two punts yesterday. Remember Kindle broke his skull last yr missing the entire season and like everyone this yr had no offseason due to the lockout. McPhee is playing great but so is Kindle
[/quote]

True, I think Kindle has looked good too, and I think he can help the pass rush, just simply saying that these other guys make an impact too, guys who weren't as hyped coming out of college

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1313875204' post='758314']
It's important to note, though, as talented as these young, unheralded guys have looked in preseason, they run the risk of being preseason stars and regular season flops. Case-in-point: Victor Cruz, undrafted free agent WR for the New York Giants. Granted, Cruz would end his 2010 season in injured reserve, but he did nothing in the regular season in the action that he saw.

Preseason performances are relative. While we shouldn't completely dismiss them, we also shouldn't put 100% stock in them. It'll be up to the coaches to compare preseason performances to practice performances and see whether the proof is in the pudding.

That said, I see a lot of promise in this year's crop of undrafted free agents and late-round draft picks.
[/quote]

this is true as well, as good as they look now they could certainly be duds when the real season comes on, but its nice to see them perform at this point which they have done without any offseason workouts, I sure hope they all perform when it counts, I hope Torrey Smith can start to make plays

I think our defense can be nasty this year...I mean we're usually a top 10 D anyway, the added QB pressure and sacks is going to help out our pass D as well

[Intercepted]

Don't forget that Kindle/McPhee and LaQuan Williams/Torrey Smith aren't facing the same players on the opposite team as well.

[jimmysmith3]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1313876629' post='758330']



I think our defense can be nasty this year...I mean we're usually a top 10 D anyway, the added QB pressure and sacks is going to help out our pass D as well
[/quote]
More like we're usually a top 3 D. Last year our D had a bit of an off year but I think that was largely because we struggled to get pressure on the QB, but I think this year we'll return to that form and be one of the top 3 defenses in the NFL.

[The Raven]

While it is preseason, and our boys are going against scrubs, what gives me hope is that guys like McPhee are [i]completely dominating, and destroying[/i] the competition. It's not like its close at all. Sure, they're not playing starters, but they're [i]destroying[/i] backups. That gives me hope for that they may be able to accomplish.

[ROH522155]

[quote name='Intercepted' timestamp='1313887227' post='758459']
Don't forget that Kindle/McPhee and LaQuan Williams/Torrey Smith aren't facing the same players on the opposite team as well.
[/quote]

Don't forget that Megan/Fox and Megan Fox/Megan Fox aren't facing the same Megan Foxes on the opposite Megan Fox as well. Thats all I got from that post the avatar is too distracting.

[reediddy]

[quote name='Intercepted' timestamp='1313887227' post='758459']
Don't forget that Kindle/McPhee and LaQuan Williams/Torrey Smith aren't facing the same players on the opposite team as well.
[/quote]

Right, their performances need to be taken with a grain of salt, though it's great to see their development and playmaking ability. In response to the OP though it is an amazing thing, some guys you draft in high rounds have all the talent but no drive, and the guys in the later round have promise but use their motivation as a driving force. Too many examples to give but for us obviously Bart Scott comes to mind. So hopefully guys like McPhee and Kruger, LaQuan, Chykie, these guys all pan out and make a sizeable impact on our team

[scrock]

I don't think their performances mean nothing, they still have to beat their guy, they are still fighting for their jobs. So you know the guys they have to go against is going to try and be the best he can be on every play.

Pernell McPhee isnt just doing it against backups, he's been doing it in camp too

As far as Megan Fox, she's a pretty face but she has ZERO skills....acting wise anyway, i'm sure she's not bad between the sheets

[Ravensfan23]

I see a lot of people down on Torrey right now. To be fair to him, he's been missed for big plays in each of the 2 games. Tyrod missed him, and Joe missed him.

Also, his speed is showing up on plays that he doesn't get the ball, freeing up space for Rice and Boldin in both games.

So I wouldn't be so quick to say he's struggling just because he only has one catch.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1313968619' post='759337']
I see a lot of people down on Torrey right now. To be fair to him, he's been missed for big plays in each of the 2 games. Tyrod missed him, and Joe missed him.

Also, his speed is showing up on plays that he doesn't get the ball, freeing up space for Rice and Boldin in both games.

So I wouldn't be so quick to say he's struggling just because he only has one catch.
[/quote]

I would like to see us get the ball in his hands with space. At least one over pass he had open space. Get him in stride and he could be gone.

[BmoreRaised]

so you're waiting for Kindle to go back to being an impact player? since when was Kindle an impact player in this league? and yes the competition does matter even if your beating your guy or not.I'll wait for the season to start before I make an assessment on any of our rookies and younger players.

[jdynamite]

From what I've seen McPhee appears to play extremely hard and attack the ball, I think if given the opportunity in regular season he couple make an impact by pressuring the QB...
Kindle looks really quick off the ball, so I'm hoping that with elaborate blitz we can also see some production from him.
Art jones has also been really impressive to me.

I don't care what competition they played against because every player on the field is capable of making a team...

[jdynamite]

[quote name='BmoreRaised' timestamp='1313971481' post='759390']
so you're waiting for Kindle to go back to being an impact player? since when was Kindle an impact player in this league? and yes the competition does matter even if your beating your guy or not.I'll wait for the season to start before I make an assessment on any of our rookies and younger players.
[/quote]

The competition level may be a factor however you can't discredit a person for beating whose in front of them. I mean it's kinda like saying if a top pass rusher like Suggs or Freeney can't beat Jake Long or Joe Thomas one on one for sack then all the other sacks aren't worth anything.
Now sure seeing McPhee, kindle or whoever beat 2nd or 3rd stringers not same as a 1st team starter. But u have to remember if they were playing with first teamers in theory it could be easier for them because Suggs or Ngata would absorb a double team leaving them with one on one protection often times.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1313970135' post='759368']

I would like to see us get the ball in his hands with space. At least one over pass he had open space. Get him in stride and he could be gone.
[/quote]

Yea I would like to see that as well. We had a couple of chances to do that, but it was missed connections and one time Tyrod just didn't throw to him.

I really wouldn't be surprised to see that same play action pass that Boldin got to go to Smith this week.