Upshaw hurt again.

[nk02442]

[quote name='RavensWin09' timestamp='1347140587' post='1142466']
he isn't the only person we need to be looking to replace there buddy. OLine, then MLB, then OLB. i am tired of wasting olb picks that aern't turning out (kindle, upshaw, and kruger). i'm optimistic on upshaw but seriously... its time to stop drafting early OLBs and move on to another position.
[/quote]

As much as I love ray, MLB isisnt realy a priority. Besides Patrick Willis, they just dont impact the game like othe possitions. With pass heavy teams and huge TE to cover, your better off investing in DE/OLB and Corners. The LB possition next to the SS is probally the possitions where you can have average players and still win with a good supporting cast.

[nk02442]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1347140359' post='1142465']
umm what? There is a good chance he won't come back the same. A very good chance. all the driving force and push would come from calves and Achilles. He may not be the same. Nothing wrong with that statement
[/quote]

Its cool. Dont argue with the ignorant (less educated) fans. They live in lala land and think everything with purplez is automaticaly the bestest.

[Alexir]

[quote name='nk02442' timestamp='1347141502' post='1142475']


Its cool. Dont argue with the ignorant (less educated) fans. They live in lala land and think everything with purplez is automaticaly the bestest.
[/quote]

Not gonna find a LT and starting OLB in the same draft especially where we pick. LT is bigger priority.

[The Raven]

[quote name='RavensWin09' timestamp='1347140587' post='1142466']
he isn't the only person we need to be looking to replace there buddy. OLine, then MLB, then OLB. i am tired of wasting olb picks that aern't turning out (kindle, upshaw, and kruger). i'm optimistic on upshaw but seriously... its time to stop drafting early OLBs and move on to another position.
[/quote]

This doesn't make the least amount of sense. You want to stop drafting OLBs in early rounds because we haven't had recent success there? What?

[PolishRifle]

Upshaw was, in my opinion, clearly the best player on board, which means that picking him fits Ozzies MO. Courtney was part of a very successful defense in college. More then enough reason for me to give him and Ozzie the benefit of a doubt.
The Giants won 4 Superbowls already. They always did this with a great passrush and a good offense. Why shouldn't we mold our team after their example, if they won 3 Superbowls in a little bit more then the last 20 years?

[CapoRocky]

Don't worry about Upshaw. He will be healthy and learn how to be a good ballplayer over the course of the season. Guys like Suggs had to start somewhere. No one player call fill the void alone. Let's just put pressure on Dalton and see if he throws it away.

[T3hRaven]

[quote name='RavensWin09' timestamp='1347140587' post='1142466']
he (Suggs) isn't the only person we need to be looking to replace there buddy. OLine, then MLB, then OLB. i am tired of wasting olb picks that aern't turning out (kindle, upshaw, and kruger). i'm optimistic on upshaw but seriously... [b]its time to stop drafting early OLBs and move on to another position.[/b]
[/quote]

Yes and no. The key to a strong defense, at least in most cases, is a strong pass rush. With the 3-4 that obviously comes from the OLB position. We have been trying to find a Woodley to go with our Harrison, so to speak. Suggs injury is a concern and he might not come back the same, but at the same time he is on the downslide as a premier pass rusher due to his age. Coming off of a lot of college success in the Nick Saban defense, Upshaw should be the replacement this year and if he pans out is the solution long term. If Kruger succeeds at the other slot we can take OLB off the early board, but if not and there is a player at the right value available it would be nice to get that bookend rusher.

[T3hRaven]

[quote name='nk02442' timestamp='1347141394' post='1142473']
As much as I love ray, MLB isisnt realy a priority. Besides Patrick Willis, they just dont impact the game like othe possitions. With pass heavy teams and huge TE to cover, your better off investing in DE/OLB and Corners. The LB possition next to the SS is probally the possitions where you can have average players and still win with a good supporting cast.
[/quote]

Excellent point by the way. Ravens fans on the whole tend to forget that MLB is a position that really doesn't need to be elite because of the success Ray Lewis has had, and the fact that his leadership role over the course of his career has made him the de facto leader of the team. I would also add FS to the list of least important positions to be elite on the defense, with only premier talents like Reed being able to impact the game in the way a good corner could. You need pass rush and you need corners in today's league, everything else is just nice to have.

[nk02442]

[quote name='CapoRocky' timestamp='1347210049' post='1142982']
Don't worry about Upshaw. He will be healthy and learn how to be a good ballplayer over the course of the season. Guys like Suggs had to start somewhere. No one player call fill the void alone. Let's just put pressure on Dalton and see if he throws it away.
[/quote]

Can you pick lottery numbers too? Optomisim does not make something true.

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='nk02442' timestamp='1347141394' post='1142473']
As much as I love ray, MLB isisnt realy a priority. Besides Patrick Willis, they just dont impact the game like othe possitions. With pass heavy teams and huge TE to cover, your better off investing in DE/OLB and Corners. The LB possition next to the SS is probally the possitions where you can have average players and still win with a good supporting cast.
[/quote]

People overrate the MLB contribution to the game just look at Patrick Willis, best MLB in the league yet when it was crunch time he couldn't do anything but watch Eli Manning roll his team in the playoffs. We have good corner depth so we need double digit sack OLB's in the worst way.

[mhead66]

[quote name='CapoRocky' timestamp='1347210049' post='1142982']
Don't worry about Upshaw. He will be healthy and learn how to be a good ballplayer over the course of the season. Guys like Suggs had to start somewhere. No one player call fill the void alone. Let's just put pressure on Dalton and see if he throws it away.
[/quote]

It's completely true that 95% of posters, at this time last year, were saying - or at least thinking - that Torrey Smith could be a bust. He figured it out as the season progressed, and became a star... so, let's not overreact about Upshaw - at least not yet.

However... pass-rushing OLBs is (usually) a position where a rookie can come out of the gate quickly. Von Miller had 11.5 sacks, Aldon Smith 14 in their rookie years. It's a position where a rookie doesn't need to know the total defensive package - he can just pin his ears back and attack. And - unfortunately - we haven't seen a strong bull rush, haven't seen any quick, blazing speed rushes, haven't seen anything noteworthy from Upshaw, yet. He's been nicked up a bit, but I think we were all hoping for a little bit more.

We need to be patient, sure - but Courtney needs to win over Raven nation with a 3 sack game, or something similar - when he gets healthy.

[BloodRaven]

A players rookie season is no indicator of how their career will turn out. If he gets zero sacks and limited snaps it won't worry me one bit.