Where We Stand Midseason: Receivers

[display name]

FB Vonta Leach (7 REC, 22 yards, 0 TDs): Description: A tough blocker for Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice, Leach also blocks for himself. He has done more than just block. Grade: A

* RB Ray Rice (aside from rushing): 38 REC, 414 yards, 2 TDs: Description: Rice, a class act, is both the Ravens' leading rusher and 2nd leading receiver. He is consistent. WR Grade: A-

* RB Ricky Williams (aside from rushing): 5 REC, 34 yards, 0 TDs: Description: Despite being a solid veteran backup to RB Ray Rice, Williams doesn't really offer much in the receiving departement. But, he does his job. Grade: B

*2nd year TEs Ed Dickson (30 REC, 277 yards, 1 TD) and Dennis Pitta (21 REC, 195 yards, 0 TDs): Description: Both have panned out well. Dickson, the starter, dropped a couple balls early but has moved past that. Pitta, although his numbers may not show it, has been a vital part of the offense. Don't change anything. I hate saying it, but I'm starting to see why the Ravens released injury-prone veteran TE Todd Heap. Grade: A

* WR Anquan Boldin: 41 REC, 627 yards, 2 TDs Description: Boldin, the #1 receiver in Baltimore, is a tough player who fits the Baltimore Ravens' style perfectly. He plays and acts like a true Raven. As far as handling him, keep it the same. He has dropped a couple balls, though. Don't try to change otherwise. Grade: A

* WR Torrey Smith: 20 REC, 397 yards, 4 TDs. Description: The Maryland rookie deep threat Torrey has shown flashes of greatness, like his three touchdowns in the First Quarter (including a 74 yarder) against the St. Louis Rams and game winning plays against the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers, but, like his QB Joe Flacco, is inconsistent. Smith struggles with dropps. It will be a relief when veteran Lee Evans finally returns from an injury. There will be much less pressure and mistakes if this guy learns and developes behind two quality veterans in Boldin and Evans. Grade: B-

* WR Lee Evans (2 REC, 45 yards, 0 TDs): Description: Wow. After seven classy seasons with the Buffalo Bills (1,000 yards in 2006 and 2008), Evans was brought in to add more veteran presence at receiving. His first two games were good. Evans had no catches in the season opener blowout of the Pittsburgh Steelers (was used mostly as a decoy) but had two 21 yard catches in a Week 2 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He has been dealing with a nagging injury that has kept him sidelined since. Evans, an 8-year veteran, should be welcomed back as the #2 receiver who could make the Ravens' passing in the top 5 in the NFL. But when you see my grade, please know it was only because of the injury and bad stats. Grade: D+

*WR Tandon Doss (0 REC, 0 yards, 0 TDs): Description: Wow again. The rookie Doss, despite Evans being absent the majority of the year, has received the bare minimal of playing time. In the preseason, Doss excelled, while Torrey Smith struggled, leading many to think he would have a bigger role. So far, that hasn't exacly happened. Grade: I cannot give this player a fare regular season grade, since I have no clue what he can due since he has barely ever played in any NFL regular season games (with NO injury problems I know of!)

* WR Laquan Williams (4 REC, 41 yards, 0 TDs): Description: Say what you want about this classy, undrafted Maryland rookie, but I believe Williams is the most consistent WR on his team (except maybe Boldin). Williams only has 4 catches for 41 yards, yeah, I know. But he was only targeted five times, I believe. LaQuan also had two key catches for first downs in a clutch win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here are Williams's jobs:
1) Provide depth 2) Special teams work on occasion 3) Take a defender away at WR 4) Catch the ball if Joe throws it to you. LQ does all that. Grade: A

Overall receiving Grade: B (Which should only improve now that Evans is close to returning!)

[1/28/01]

Rice isn't the leading receiver [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png[/img]

Good grading, though...agree on most parts

[Romo Ravens]

I think you're being a bit too generous to Williams. He has had some costly fumbles, but he is running hard for us. I would give him a B-

I agree with everything else though, especially LaQuan. How come nobody is talking about him? Or am I just not looking hard enough? He's made some tough grabs for us. I can't believe what's going in in Baltimore with two rookie WR's.

[The King]

I'd give Lee Evans an incomplete rather than an F+. It's not his fault he's been sidelined most of the season, but the two games he played he was a valuable part of the offense. Against the Steelers he opened up the field all day and allowed Ray Rice to have his huge game.

Giving Laquan Williams an A+ is totally unmerited. He's done a job, but that job has involved catching a total of four balls all season. Torrey Smith has 400 receiving yards and 4 TDS and gets a B- to Laquan's A+. Williams should have a C, tops, for what he's done. I love the guy and think he has great potential, but it's like giving Tandon Doss a B+ for having great hands in practice.

[ChrisRyan]

Don't get me wrong, I like Laquan... but A+ is a bit of a stretch... I give him a C+

[XxSizzleXx]

We are winning right now with 2 solid receivers. We will need 3 come playoff time which is why we need Evans back healthy.

[Free Agent]

[quote name='display name' timestamp='1320954216' post='863070']
*2nd year TEs Ed Dickson (30 REC, 277 yards, 1 TD) and Dennis Pitta (21 REC, 195 yards, 0 TDs): Description: Both have panned out well. Dickson, the starter, dropped a couple balls early but has moved past that. Pitta, although his numbers may not show it, has been a vital part of the offense. Don't change anything. I hate saying it, but I'm starting to see why the Ravens released injury-prone veteran TE Todd Heap. Grade: A+
[/quote]

I would say the only thing that needs to be changed is how involved they are with our offense. They need to see the field more, especially in those 2 TE packages. I would like to see Dickson and Pitta used as much as, and in the same way that Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are used in New England. Dickson and Pitta certainly have the talent to have similar success to the Pats TEs, and if they can become even more involved in the offense, then I think they will have similar success.

[keebl3rs]

Don't forget about Vonta.. "Get off me, ball!"

I really like our WRs this season. I honestly wasn't expecting Evans to come back though. I hope he really has made a full recovery. He tried to come back last season after sitting a bit and went out again.

[display name]

[quote name='keebl3rs' timestamp='1320960382' post='863186']
Don't forget about Vonta.. "Get off me, ball!"

I really like our WRs this season. I honestly wasn't expecting Evans to come back though. I hope he really has made a full recovery. He tried to come back last season after sitting a bit and went out again.
[/quote]
Oh I'll go add him!

[flynismo]

Dickson drags our TE grade down a bit...he still does not male cathces that he should.

Pitta is on fire when given the chance.

A+ for Pitta, C+ for Dickson; overall I'd give our TE a B.

LaQuan gets a C from me also.

[ball hawkin 20]

Anquan - B+
Torrey - C+
Dennis Pitta - A (hasn't dominated a game though)
Ed Dickson - C
Ray Rice - A

Not gonna grade someone with 2 catches, 4 catches, and a rb that rarely catches

[rlh445]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1320970816' post='863361']
Dickson drags our TE grade down a bit...he still does not male cathces that he should.

Pitta is on fire when given the chance.

A+ for Pitta, C+ for Dickson; overall I'd give our TE a B.

LaQuan gets a C from me also.
[/quote]

Fly, you really need to change the part of your signature that says, 'College: ASU' to 'College: BSHU'.

LaQuan would probably get a C from me as well, but not for a lack of trying or something. Pitta gets an A. Dick gets a...hmm. B. Purple shades, I guess.

[display name]

Why are you guys so hard on Dickson? Yeah, he's never dominated a game (couple drops), but has been farely consistent.

[ball hawkin 20]

[quote name='display name' timestamp='1320977741' post='863435']
Why are you guys so hard on Dickson? Yeah, he's never dominated a game, but has been farely consistent.
[/quote]

He drops easy passes that Heap would never ever drop in his life