87 replies to this topic

[dhstandard]

The one negative I took away from the game against the Patriots was our failure to defend the runs up the A Gap (C and G). How many times did we watch Ridley just run straight into his center and push the defense back 6 yards. That all comes down to the nose tackle. Were lucky our red zone defense is so good, because they moved up the field quickly just running up the middle.

I REALLY think we need to take a nose tackle with the first pick. The tackles in the draft are poor as 2 of the top 3 are returning to school which forced one of the few late 1st round tackles (Eric Fisher) to the top 15 maybe even top 10. The rest of the linemen are G/C and the leftover tackles will play on the right side at best. The safeties are not the best coverage guys out there and we already have the hard hitting Pollard. If T'eo falls I would try to get him in the 2nd as he isn't worth the 1st round grade without his intangibles. (Also declining your Senior Bowl invite which would be the last chance to prove yourself after failing against good talent...I mean really?).

The NT spot has really shifted in the past few weeks. Jonathon Hankins, John Jenkins, and Jesse Williams, have all moved back and forth in the first round. My favorite is Jesse Williams. He is the anchor of that Alabama defense and shows incredible ability vs the run. Jonathon Hankins bad motor and questionable work ethic isn't what you want from the biggest guy on the field. Could turn into another Cody (yet Cody didn't have his talent). John Jenkins is a good pick as well but I'm just not a fan.

Edited by dhstandard, 21 January 2013 - 03:55 PM.

[Free Agent]

Its been gross seeing Kemo getting blown five yards off the ball play after play. Cody hasnt been better.

We definitely need a NT, and while I dont think we should necessarily target one with our first rounder, Id go after one in the first half of the draft for sure.

[gabefergy]

I disagree. NT is just not a valuable position. Those guys are big bodies, but I see a lot of bust potential. They are one-dimensional players who largely dominate weaker competition because of physical mismatches. I'd much rather draft an ILB to pair with Ellerbe or a safety that will fill a much bigger hole. I wouldn't be against taking a versatile DT, that could allow Ngata to play some snaps at NT but a pure NT does not excite me.

[H8R]

I don't want to waste a 1 on a NT... you can find a runstuffer in the third round or on the open market.

[Dubs]

I agree that the value of a NT is slowly diminishing but I do not think that we should pass on one in the first if you feel it is good value. I must say though I saw that too with the patriots game but I do not think you can say that is a NT issue as much as their runs are out of three wide or spread sets, with the NT being out or the ILBs being stretched to the sideline so to blame a NT on that is kinda tricky when schematically that is when the Patriots choose to run.

The one other thing that I have said countless times is that NT is one of the hardest position and possibly one of the slowest for college players to mature into. There are very few young NTs in this league who have done well off the start. I can only think of Ngata (did not even play nose), Wilfork, and possibly Phil Taylor (injury this year so we may not know now). Ultimately I am saying give Cody time he is progressing and he may be our Nt of the future given proper development. But yes we do need depth beyond Kemo - I would prefer a veteran again though.

I do think their may be value at LT even with Fisher and Joeckel gone. Lane Johnson looks to be the part and may be a solid pick. So I would not shut that door quite yet. Others may argue Aboushi as well.

[Stephenjr]

Who cares what you want,just sit back,relax,and enjoy the ride!! Thats why we have Oz,to make all the decisions that make our team great!!

[GrimCoconut]

I've come to realize something about the Ravens. Hear me out.

If NT is our biggest need, guess what? We're going to address it in free agency. I will tell you right now, that's how it's going down. I don't think the Ravens will get a NT in the 1st at all. Possibly not even the 2nd. The talent isn't there this year. Watch this post and come back at me after the draft. I'll gladly eat my words.

We might get a guy in the 3rd, but not earlier. The talent isn't there. Every year people say we need this, we need that. We needed a center last year, how'd that go? Konz isn't here. We didn't get one until the 3rd.

I think McBean will shore up that NT spot, and that we get a guy cut from another team if we can't get a guy we like where we want him.

[Brandon22]

I Honestly Can Assume We Take Johnathon Hankins with our first round pick

[Brandon22]

I agree that the value of a NT is slowly diminishing but I do not think that we should pass on one in the first if you feel it is good value. I must say though I saw that too with the patriots game but I do not think you can say that is a NT issue as much as their runs are out of three wide or spread sets, with the NT being out or the ILBs being stretched to the sideline so to blame a NT on that is kinda tricky when schematically that is when the Patriots choose to run.

The one other thing that I have said countless times is that NT is one of the hardest position and possibly one of the slowest for college players to mature into. There are very few young NTs in this league who have done well off the start. I can only think of Ngata (did not even play nose), Wilfork, and possibly Phil Taylor (injury this year so we may not know now). Ultimately I am saying give Cody time he is progressing and he may be our Nt of the future given proper development. But yes we do need depth beyond Kemo - I would prefer a veteran again though.

I do think their may be value at LT even with Fisher and Joeckel gone. Lane Johnson looks to be the part and may be a solid pick. So I would not shut that door quite yet. Others may argue Aboushi as well.

Don't Forget About Xavier Nixon

[Purple_ICE 81]

I would rather take ILB, OLB/PassRusher, or safety with the early picks and see them as the bigger needs.

[Miami Hurricane]

I've come to realize something about the Ravens. Hear me out.

If NT is our biggest need, guess what? We're going to address it in free agency. I will tell you right now, that's how it's going down. I don't think the Ravens will get a NT in the 1st at all. Possibly not even the 2nd. The talent isn't there this year. Watch this post and come back at me after the draft. I'll gladly eat my words.

We might get a guy in the 3rd, but not earlier. The talent isn't there. Every year people say we need this, we need that. We needed a center last year, how'd that go? Konz isn't here. We didn't get one until the 3rd.

I think McBean will shore up that NT spot, and that we get a guy cut from another team if we can't get a guy we like where we want him.

Gradkowski was a 4th I thought. But I see what your getting at

[GrimCoconut]

Gradkowski was a 4th I thought. But I see what your getting at

Yeah, you're right. I forgot because it was a high 4th. Lol.

[dhstandard]

I disagree. NT is just not a valuable position. Those guys are big bodies, but I see a lot of bust potential. They are one-dimensional players who largely dominate weaker competition because of physical mismatches. I'd much rather draft an ILB to pair with Ellerbe or a safety that will fill a much bigger hole. I wouldn't be against taking a versatile DT, that could allow Ngata to play some snaps at NT but a pure NT does not excite me.

The NT in the draft are way better than the other positions we need. OT is not there at all. The ILB are decent at best struggling either in the run or in coverage and do not dominate any of what they need to do. The safeties have been playing the game of "who is not the worst". Eric Reid and Vacarro are pretty much going back and forth with who is less bad.

Yes NT may not be the biggest most flashy position to draft especially in the 1st, but the talent there is way more filled than in our other positions of need. Getting a top notch NT who is already stout against the run and can push the centers back enough to close the pocket on the qb's is what we need or well keep getting gashed for 6 yards right up the middle.

[SecretAgentMan]

I Honestly Can Assume We Take Johnathon Hankins with our first round pick

He is not falling that far

[izvoodoo]

I don't want to waste a 1 on a NT... you can find a runstuffer in the third round or on the open market.

what if it was a guy who can really push the pocket, a la BJ raji?

[Miami Hurricane]

The NT in the draft are way better than the other positions we need. OT is not there at all. The ILB are decent at best struggling either in the run or in coverage and do not dominate any of what they need to do. The safeties have been playing the game of "who is not the worst". Eric Reid and Vacarro are pretty much going back and forth with who is less bad.

Yes NT may not be the biggest most flashy position to draft especially in the 1st, but the talent there is way more filled than in our other positions of need. Getting a top notch NT who is already stout against the run and can push the centers back enough to close the pocket on the qb's is what we need or well keep getting gashed for 6 yards right up the middle.

ILB class is actually pretty solid in my opinion with Brown being the best of the bunch but Greene, Minter, Te'o, and Reddick all look good. The Safety class is considered top notch with a bunch of players with upper echelon potential such as Elam, Vaccaro, Reid, Thomas, Swearinger, Rambo, Armstrong, and Lester. Tackle is definitely below average with only two "sure thing" LT's in Fisher and Joeckel, but there are some guys with decent potential like Long, Nixon, Aboushi, Jones (if you consider him a LT), Pugh, Fragel, and Hurst.

[GrimCoconut]

The NT in the draft are way better than the other positions we need. OT is not there at all. The ILB are decent at best struggling either in the run or in coverage and do not dominate any of what they need to do. The safeties have been playing the game of "who is not the worst". Eric Reid and Vacarro are pretty much going back and forth with who is less bad.

Yes NT may not be the biggest most flashy position to draft especially in the 1st, but the talent there is way more filled than in our other positions of need. Getting a top notch NT who is already stout against the run and can push the centers back enough to close the pocket on the qb's is what we need or well keep getting gashed for 6 yards right up the middle.

You won't find anyone who will agree with you more that NT is an area of severe weakness on this team. I even posted about it back when people were still saying #1 need was an ILB to replace Ray. I don't say that to get credit but I am telling you that so you know I recognize how important the position is.

With that said, there is no NT in this draft I would take in the 1st after Star. I am seriously cautious about Jenkins, Williams, & even Hankins. Each one of them has something that really concerns me. Whereas with a player like Te'o or even Minter, there are things I really love about them. Understand that the fundamental concern for me with those three players is a combination of character & potential.

I would take Te'o, Minter, Elam, Vaccaro, possibly Reid before the guys you mentioned. Arthur Brown is another guy I may take, but unlikely. I would rather take a Floyd before those guys.

I just feel like we can do better and I feel like we will do what we always do: BPA, and I don't see that being a NT. I really believe we will get an ILB or FS at 32. It's possible we take a guy like Jones from Alabama if he can play LT.

Also you say people aren't sure which safety doesn't suck the most? I know I am paraphrasing but I think this is a strong safety class that is very even in terms of talent, which makes it a challenge to name a consensus #1. That is not a bad thing.

Edited by GrimCoconut, 21 January 2013 - 08:40 PM.

[izvoodoo]

If this pick isn't a good NT, OLB/DE or OT I'm going to be pretty disappointed.

[H8R]

I still say we go BPA. You can never have too many good ball players!

[H8R]

what if it was a guy who can really push the pocket, a la BJ raji?

Raji had one good season so far, IMO . If that's the BPA , take it.