recent addition of Stevie Baggs a.k.a Shakespeare.

[black blood purple passion]

The ravens just signed Stevie Baggs, which I'm pretty excited about actually! He's torn up the CFL for years, and people have been saying he should go to the big show for years. I knows he's tried and not made it before, but he's played for the lions and cardinals. The Lions have hardly had an elite defence or good scheme up until just recently. And the Cardinals were fairly set at DE/OLB up until recently, so I think he just had a couple of tough breaks. In our scheme he MAY flourish, and have a somewhat Cameron Wake type story if he works hard. Worst case scenario.....he'll make great depth at an injury riddled position.

Our front Office is great at finding diamond in the rough type linebackers, so Baggs may have a shot.

Also, check out his weird overly exaggerated pigeon toes, its actually quite entertaining to look at.

[PuRock]

[quote name='black blood purple passion' timestamp='1344282245' post='1111245']
The ravens just signed Stevie Baggs, which I'm pretty excited about actually! He's torn up the CFL for years, and people have been saying he should go to the big show for years. I knows he's tried and not made it before, but he's played for the lions and cardinals. The Lions have hardly had an elite defence or good scheme up until just recently. And the Cardinals were fairly set at DE/OLB up until recently, so I think he just had a couple of tough breaks. In our scheme he MAY flourish, [b]and have a somewhat Cameron Wake type story if he works hard.[/b] Worst case scenario.....he'll make great depth at an injury riddled position.

Our front Office is great at finding diamond in the rough type linebackers, so Baggs may have a shot.

Also, check out his weird overly exaggerated pigeon toes, its actually quite entertaining to look at.
[/quote]

Anybody that might be a gem from the CFL that has a 'Cameron Wake type Story' is a go in my book. You CFL fans need to keep us apprised of these talents.

I'll pass on looking at the pigeon toes though.

[BmoreRav]

Is it true that the reason he is nicknamed Shakespeare is because he 'makes plays'?

[black blood purple passion]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1344287747' post='1111332']
Anybody that might be a gem from the CFL that has a 'Cameron Wake type Story' is a go in my book. You CFL fans need to keep us apprised of these talents.

[b]I'll pass on looking at the pigeon toes though.[/b]
[/quote]

its actually ridiculous lol.

[black blood purple passion]

[quote name='BmoreRav' timestamp='1344288006' post='1111337']
Is it true that the reason he is nicknamed Shakespeare is because he 'makes plays'?
[/quote]

he's actually quite well spoken so it wouldn't be far off to assume he might be quite a writer as well. Hopefully he can write off Tom Brady's season this year with a huge sack!

[hawkprey]

I don't see room for him unless we have a few guys end up on IR. I don't think he could step in and outperform Kindle, Chavis Williams, or McClellan.

[rmw10]

When they split up the squad into their respective positions at practice on Saturday, they had Baggs with the inside backers. That would seem to make it very unlikely he gets a spot.

[CalvinSmoke]

I love the reasoning of his nickname. If i was still playing ball i'd steal that one ha.

But all jokes aside he has to be one heck of a player to make our active squad this year. Best of luck to him.

[Corvus]

You can never have enough 1) cornerbacks and 2) pass rushers. As much as I want to see all of our young guys get in there and succeed, Sergio and Chavis are complete unknowns on the field and Albert has only really seen significant time on special teams and inside linebacker. I'll take the guy with some pro experience who has had some success harassing QBs. Good signing that certainly can't hurt.

[NaveSenrag]

I'd like him to make it, because he seems very talented, but, if I recall, we have a pretty complicated scheme, and I fear that he might not have enough time to learn an entirely different game and learn our scheme at the same time.

[Free Agent]

He has dreads, thats a plus.

[Free Agent]

Here's a nice little highlight vid of some of his CFL action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFXTgh6JhO4&feature=related

[Juviebest]

And rocks #55....has a motor too.

[black blood purple passion]

he'll be better than Chavis Williams, could be better than Mclellan with some time to learn the playbook. If he's better than Kindle and Kruger, thats up to him to prove

[1/28/01]

The spin move at :55 was just silly. He should show some emotion, though

[BMORElegacy]

He was electrifying at the CFL level. Let's hope that translates to the big leagues. His motor is great!

[CapoRocky]

Not many players have successfully made the transition from the CFL to the NFL. I'm not saying that he won't, but the odds are stacked against him.

[Bltravens]

I watched him when he was with Saskatchewan for a couple years. Him and John Chick just flat out wrecked game plans off the edges, no blocking schemes could contain the both of them. He's not overly refined as a pass rusher, but more of a high motor guy and he definitely DOES NOT have the burst Cameron Wake has. To put things in perspective the year before Wake was signed by Miami he had 22 sacks. Baggs has never sniffed that in a season.

[PDO]

Yeah, he's not Cameron Wake... but that's not an insult either, Wake might be the best pass rusher in the league.

Fantastic motor, great nose for the ball; excited to see if he can translate any of it, even as a situational pass rusher.

[Ravenseconbeast]

The more the better. Bring your A game !

[Alexir]

He was cut by a CFL team, doubt he will make it but good luck to him. Dont compare him to Wake, that's a joke!

[indianstick]

His motor definitely jumps out the screen and if he was practicing with the ILBs..he will have to beat out nigel carr and/or bynes for that last spot and most importantly show some Shakespearean talent on special teams. We'll see how he looks on thursday

[BmoreRavens732]

[quote name='indianstick' timestamp='1344315549' post='1111570']
His motor definitely jumps out the screen and if he was practicing with the ILBs..he will have to beat out nigel carr and/or bynes for that last spot and most importantly show some Shakespearean talent on special teams. We'll see how he looks on thursday
[/quote]i doubt he plays thursday. Hes got alot to learn before then. Maybe limited play?

[cobrajet]

[quote name='CapoRocky' timestamp='1344302019' post='1111450']
Not many players have successfully made the transition from the CFL to the NFL. I'm not saying that he won't, but the odds are stacked against him.
[/quote]
You are right there, it is not like the minor leagues in baseball. It is a very tough transition.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1344315032' post='1111566']
He was cut by a CFL team, doubt he will make it but good luck to him. Dont compare him to Wake, that's a joke!
[/quote]
He was the highest paid defensive player in the CFL. Hamilton asked him to take a pay cut, he said no, and the team released him to save on the cap.

It was not performance based at all.

[Guest RBates]

He has a better chance of taking Suggs #55 jersey than he does of making this team. Those plays showed no pop on any backs. No true coverage skills. Just a speed rusher against mediocre lineman at best. My prediction, best case scenario = Practice squad all day.

[Alexir]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1344368848' post='1111879']

He was the highest paid defensive player in the CFL. Hamilton asked him to take a pay cut, he said no, and the team released him to save on the cap.

It was not performance based at all.
[/quote]

Interesting. Didn't know that, I'll be looking for him Sunday ( and Thursday if he gets in)

[hawkprey]

I would've been less skeptical had I heard Ozzie scouted him, but instead he called and Ozzie just accepted.

[Dubs]

He is a good CFL player but I cant see him making the team...some CFL guys who may one day make the NFL are: Dimitri Tsoumpas, OL, Calgary..thats about all I can think of off the top of my head, ha. I know Solomon Eliminiam, LB is making the transition this year with the Vikings, he is a player to watch and reminds me of Ellerbe without the issues

[AsianRice]

You know Ozzie called and signed him so it's something special about this dude: can't wait to see him on the field against the Falcons if he can learn all the scheme before the game....