Eric Decosta Quotes

[scrock]

You could tell things didnt really fall perfectly for us this year, at least that's the feeling I got by some of the picks...like taking RB Pierce that one felt off, thats when the Bengals jumped up and took WR Sanu 1 pick ahead of us.

Check these quotes out
[quote]

[b][b]April 28, 2012 7:37 p.m.[/b][/b] - by Jason Butt
Director of player personnel Eric DeCosta described the 2012 draft as "funny." He alluded to a lot of Baltimore's top targets being taken before the Ravens had a chance to select them. When asked if it was frustrating, DeCosta nodded his head slowly.
[/quote]
[quote]

[b][b]April 28, 2012 7:47 p.m.[/b][/b] - by Jason Butt
Described as "unusual" by Director of player personnel Eric DeCosta, Baltimore's top 150 features only three players remaining on it that weren't drafted. In most years, the board has about 25 players that go undrafted, who Baltimore targets in free agency.
[/quote]

Maybe I'm crazy but I could kind of tell things weren't going our way at times...I like a couple of our picks but you could tell IMO that we had to settle for a few players. I hope they all prove me wrong but I'm not overly impressed / have a good feeling about this years draft. I'd give us a C maybe

[truthistold2u]

Make no mistake Baltimore traded up for Pierce at RB. Harbs had been talking to him since the first round

[GrimCoconut]

This was a very good draft for other teams. I think the biggest problem is a lot of teams drafted QBs early last year, so they were committed to them and as a result they drafted without considering QBs early. I think that caused a lot of talent to be taken that we wanted. Things could be very different next year, and I expect it to be. I think next year will be a very good draft. I think a lot of teams give up on their QBs next year and take them again.

[truthistold2u]

Teams reached for QBs. The problem was they all wanted WRs and multiple ones to pair with their offenses

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1335662472' post='1066458']
You could tell things didnt really fall perfectly for us this year, at least that's the feeling I got by some of the picks...like taking RB Pierce that one felt off, thats when the Bengals jumped up and took WR Sanu 1 pick ahead of us.

Check these quotes out



Maybe I'm crazy but I could kind of tell things weren't going our way at times...I like a couple of our picks but you could tell IMO that we had to settle for a few players. I hope they all prove me wrong but I'm not overly impressed / have a good feeling about this years draft. I'd give us a C maybe
[/quote]when we picked i think it was Asa Jackson, 5th round comp, maybe it was the safety, we almost ran out of time, Juron Criner and Marvin Jones went in the couple picks before, i think that was one example they assumed one guy would be there, probably Criner, then Oakland snapped him up and they had to scramble... i thought we had ran out of time on that pick

[RavenousBG]

Too many former Baltimore execs and coaching staff have filtered around the league. There are probably more teams doing things the way we do them and their boards look like ours. That keeps us from being able to manuever and pick who we want. Just an idea of why we missed on some. I do think we missed a few that we targeted but it's just a guess. I still think things will pan out.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1335662756' post='1066472']
when we picked i think it was Asa Jackson, 5th round comp, maybe it was the safety, we almost ran out of time, Juron Criner and Marvin Jones went in the couple picks before, i think that was one example they assumed one guy would be there, probably Criner, then Oakland snapped him up and they had to scramble... i thought we had ran out of time on that pick
[/quote]
I agree with you 100%. I really think we were going to take Criner but the Raiders raided him from us.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1335662472' post='1066458']
You could tell things didnt really fall perfectly for us this year, at least that's the feeling I got by some of the picks...like taking RB Pierce that one felt off, thats when the Bengals jumped up and took WR Sanu 1 pick ahead of us.
[/quote]
While Sanu may have been the guy they wanted, to the contrary I really like the Pierce pick. I don't think Ozzie plans to lock Rice up long term considering his mileage and (alleged) outrageous contract demands. Add to that he's not a natural zone stretch runner and you can kind of see where things are going.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1335663037' post='1066485']
While Sanu may have been the guy they wanted, to the contrary I really like the Pierce pick. I don't think Ozzie plans to lock Rice up long term considering his mileage and (alleged) outrageous contract demands. Add to that he's not a natural zone stretch runner and you can kind of see where things are going.
[/quote]
It's very possible we move on from Rice next year. Not sure it does happen, but it is possible. I can't stand the way Rice can't get to the endzone on short yardage situations. It really irks me.

[berad]

[i]"Pahk the cah in Havahd Yahd"[/i]

Oh it's those kind of quotes... Yeah, Ozzie and DeCosta seemed a little distressed with how the draft went. They said a lot of players they wanted were picked before their slot and that their board was ravaged - they said something similar happened in 2010 [i](probably when they missed out on Gresham and maybe Bryant, for example)[/i]

I think they wanted DeCastro, Hightower, Zeitler, Crick, and probably some others that were scooped up right before their eyes.

[truthistold2u]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1335663037' post='1066485']
While Sanu may have been the guy they wanted, to the contrary I really like the Pierce pick. I don't think Ozzie plans to lock Rice up long term considering his mileage and (alleged) outrageous contract demands. Add to that he's not a natural zone stretch runner and you can kind of see where things are going.
[/quote]

He wasn't though. Ravens always wanted Pierce

"We looked at our board and most of the players we wanted were bring picked," Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said. "We had the additional (fifth-round) pick and thought the value of going up to get Bernard was worth it.

[truthistold2u]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1335663105' post='1066486']
It's very possible we move on from Rice next year. Not sure it does happen, but it is possible. I can't stand the way Rice can't get to the endzone on short yardage situations. It really irks me.
[/quote]

Which is why they got a big back. Rice is great before like the 5 yard line and as a receiver

[berad]

[quote name='truthistold2u' timestamp='1335663236' post='1066492']
He wasn't though. Ravens always wanted Pierce

"We looked at our board and most of the players we wanted were bring picked," Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said. "We had the additional (fifth-round) pick and thought the value of going up to get Bernard was worth it.
[/quote]

Yeah, they traded up directly for Pierce

[Ravenslifer]

For the most part I'm pleased with the picks we got. We aren't a team that had a lot of needs, and I feel like our most pressing concern was the interior offensive line, which we addressed nicely. Besides, a lot of players who could have come out in this draft decided not to, and I think next year will be a deeper draft than this one.

[T3hRaven]

I think this was just a weak draft class in terms of overall talent. That's why good players were taken before us instead of slipping due to QBs, workout warriors, and the like.

[raybaby]

Yeah last year they seemed more excited. Jimmy & Torrey fell to them so I don't blame them lol

[ravensdfan]

I did not like the way this draft fell for us at all. NE traded up to snatch up Hightower, Bengals took a couple guys I felt we might be targeting.

I watched the presser with our first 3 picks and I like Upshaw and Osemele (sp?). I feel they could come in and make an immediate impact. Not sure at all why we traded up for a RB. Color me still confused on that one.

Harbs said something about Gradkowski starting at G and eventually moving to C. A guy that many said was just barely worth drafting out of Delaware.

Head scratching draft to me but then again, I'm not making the big bucks to understand these moves. That would be Ozzie so I'll take a wait and see approach.

[truthistold2u]

[quote name='ravensdfan' timestamp='1335663646' post='1066508']
I did not like the way this draft fell for us at all. NE traded up to snatch up Hightower, Bengals took a couple guys I felt we might be targeting.

I watched the presser with our first 3 picks and I like Upshaw and Osemele (sp?). I feel they could come in and make an immediate impact. Not sure at all why we traded up for a RB. Color me still confused on that one.

Harbs said something about Gradkowski starting at G and eventually moving to C. A guy that many said was just barely worth drafting out of Delaware.

Head scratching draft to me but then again, I'm not making the big bucks to understand these moves. That would be Ozzie so I'll take a wait and see approach.
[/quote]

Adding a RB was huge. Probably the 2nd biggest need after Guard

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='truthistold2u' timestamp='1335664708' post='1066535']
Adding a RB was huge. Probably the 2nd biggest need after Guard
[/quote]

Unless they figure not to sign Rice I don't see it. Even then, we still have Berry & Allen on the roster. I rather liked what I saw of Allen last season.

[truthistold2u]

[quote name='ravensdfan' timestamp='1335665012' post='1066546']
[b]Unless they figure not to sign Rice I don't see it[/b]. Even then, we still have Berry & Allen on the roster. [b]I rather liked what I saw of Allen last season.[/b]
[/quote]

1. One of the biggest weaknesses last year was picking up the tough yard and moving a pile. Rice is great but he's not going to pound it in. Also yes Ravens do have a contract dispute with Rice that's hopefully over before Season

2. 3 carries for 8 yards and he's the guy? Still in the running for back up power back but the role is crucial and needed more options. 2nd RB will Impact the game next year more than a 3rd WR

[Blex64]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1335663154' post='1066487']
[i]"Pahk the cah in Havahd Yahd"[/i]

Oh it's those kind of quotes... Yeah, Ozzie and DeCosta seemed a little distressed with how the draft went. They said a lot of players they wanted were picked before their slot and that their board was ravaged - they said something similar happened in 2010 [i](probably when they missed out on Gresham and maybe Bryant, for example)[/i]

I think they wanted DeCastro, Hightower, Zeitler, Crick, and probably some others that were scooped up right before their eyes.
[/quote]

I don't think we were shooting for Crick, but the other 3 definitely. I have no doubt we'd have grabbed any of them at 29. 2010 is a good comparison though. Bryant and Gronkowski, among others, getting gobbled up by everyone else.

[Blex64]

[quote name='ravensdfan' timestamp='1335665012' post='1066546']
Unless they figure not to sign Rice I don't see it. Even then, we still have Berry & Allen on the roster. I rather liked what I saw of Allen last season.
[/quote]

Obviously the FO didn't see enough to feel comfortable with him as the number 2. The coaching staff is both more knowledgeable and better informed so...yeah...

[truthistold2u]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1335665359' post='1066562']
I don't think we were shooting for Crick, but the other 3 definitely. I have no doubt we'd have grabbed any of them at 29. 2010 is a good comparison though. Bryant and Gronkowski, among others, getting gobbled up by everyone else.
[/quote]

I don't think Ravens take Zeitler at 29

[truthistold2u]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1335665428' post='1066565']
Obviously the FO didn't see enough to feel comfortable with him as the number 2. The coaching staff is both more knowledgeable and better informed so...yeah...
[/quote]

Never hurts to bring in competition for a position Ravens needed to upgrade

Can you imagine if Rice held out or got hurt and Ravens had just Allen and Berry for a run heavy offense? With unproven players the more options the better

[Yatagarasu]

Courtney Upshaw (top 20 talent) was a perfect match.

However in the later draft, we missed out since the Bengals and other teams were picking up talented Raven-targeted players.

Anyways, we still ended up with a solid draft class.

I believe Kelechi Osemele was our O-line dropback option since all those OL might picked in bunches.

Pierce might had to be traded up for since the Steelers or the Lions were taking a hard look at him in the 3rd.

Gino Gradkowski probably was a reach due to how the talents were being taken before us, so I guess the Front Office couldn't wait for him.

Asa Jackson was a small school prospect who should provide KR/PR duty with hisquickness. This was a value pick for a small less known prospect.

I guess Streeter was actually a BPA due to Criner, Childs, Jones, and other WRs being snatched up before us.

Last pick, Tyson, was picked because the D-line was thin. however he seems to be a more 3 tech due to all the 5 tech type players all gone.

[Blex64]

I don't get the Gradkowski as a reach talk. He might have been mocked later but plenty of teams seemed to be high on him, so we grabbed him while he was around. Same with trading up for Pierce. The FO was tired of seeing the guys they wanted come off the board, so they took them.

[uhhhh]

Who leaked our top100 board. I thought that thing was guarded like Fort Konx. (joke)
This draft was frustrating to watch, because it looked like it were the same teams that were scooping up the targeted players right in front of us. It could also be because of the quality of players this year.

[SizzleSuggs55]

How do we truly know who the ravens were targeting? It wasn't a home run draft, I understand that in the first round everyone got snatched up before us. Call me biased, I'm thrilled about Upshaw, i would have been happy if we traded up for him. I also believe we weren't targeting Zeitler in the first, and besides Upshaw Pierce is my favorite pick in the draft. I love the way he runs and explodes through cuts, he's an extremely intriguing prospect, and Streeter is a project that could pay dividends. Who knows we'll have to wait and see!

[JohnJohnson]

Well when you're picking 29th it's not easy, you're at the end of every round. It's hard to get the players you want most.

[raybaby]

This has been reported as a pretty medicore draft class. Teams had a lot of the same players on their boards. Add the new rookie deal which makes trading way more acceptable and the Ravens late draft position especially selecting behind Cinci & Pitt makes this draft a little more frustrating. Still solid picks. Decosta said it would be a depth draft but they're competitive so I'm sure they were a little frustrated that some of their guys were taken. Still think we got the steal of the draft with Upshaw. We also had a better draft than Pitt in 2011 IMO so this years draft doesn't put Pitt 'over the top'. Cinci will be interesting though.. hoping Dalton has a sophomore slump or better yet a career slump lol