Is inside linebacker that bad?

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1365779838' post='1431657']
Kiko Alonso 6'3" LB from Oregon.
[/quote]

Second round pick, though. He's actually who I hope we draft in the second round.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1365780062' post='1431664']


Second round pick, though. He's actually who I hope we draft in the second round.
[/quote]
Same. I really like Kiko a lot. He needs work, but his potential is extremely high. He needs work on fundamentals and that's an area where I think he found find himself well on our team. Pees pushes the fundamentals.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I keep seeing that safety is a huge need....

Am I the only one who doesnt see it that way??

I wanted Huff bad and I think he'll be a top performer and leader for us. I dont think we lose much with Ihedigbo compared to Pollard. In fact I think he's better in coverage. Not to mention we drafted a safety in I think the 4th round last year and Omar Brown has been given high praise by the front office, players and quite frankly my eye test tells me the kid is going to be good. One of those guys that you cant put your finger on why, but big plays just seem to happen when hes around. Granted Thompson will be suspended and neither are a proven commodity... but we could easily resign Levine and Cook or even Consedine for more depth.

We've got our 2 starters. We've got young depth, and I want them to see the field. Omar Brown really does look like he could be an absolute stud. If we draft a safety first or second round he MAYBE steps in over Ihedigbo. Yes it gives us our future safety stud, but we've been spoiled by Ed Reed. It really isnt that much of an impact position anymore. With good cornerback play you can be really successful with average safeties...

To me, the philosophy is changing to where we're plug and play the defense and draft offense the first couple rounds in the near future. Most pressing needs are LT and WR. Point blank. We have 12 picks.... Trade up in the 1st and get your LT unless you know Armstead can be the guy, then you stand pat and go WR in the 1st and trade up in the second to get Armstead.

Maybe you even trade up in both rounds to Tavon Austin and Armstead. We make Linebackers out of nothing... I dont need to name the names, we all know them. Grab one in the middle-to-late rounds. Even a great defense doesnt help Joe Flacco throw the ball, and for this team to be successul we need our $120million man to be successful. LT, WR.

LB and S I think we can find starters 3rd round and later. Are they positions we want/need to fill? Yes, absolutely. But not with our top 2 picks. We'll draft BPA, but the reason I think we draft for need is bc with the 12 picks Ozzie can jump to wherever he wants to make his guy the BPA at any given time.

[Blackbirds Rule]

[quote name='BOLDnPurPnBlacK' timestamp='1365781423' post='1431692']
I keep seeing that safety is a huge need....

Am I the only one who doesnt see it that way??

I wanted Huff bad and I think he'll be a top performer and leader for us. I dont think we lose much with Ihedigbo compared to Pollard. In fact I think he's better in coverage. Not to mention we drafted a safety in I think the 4th round last year and Omar Brown has been given high praise by the front office, players and quite frankly my eye test tells me the kid is going to be good. One of those guys that you cant put your finger on why, but big plays just seem to happen when hes around. Granted Thompson will be suspended and neither are a proven commodity... but we could easily resign Levine and Cook or even Consedine for more depth.

We've got our 2 starters. We've got young depth, and I want them to see the field. Omar Brown really does look like he could be an absolute stud. If we draft a safety first or second round he MAYBE steps in over Ihedigbo. Yes it gives us our future safety stud, but we've been spoiled by Ed Reed. It really isnt that much of an impact position anymore. With good cornerback play you can be really successful with average safeties...

To me, the philosophy is changing to where we're plug and play the defense and draft offense the first couple rounds in the near future. Most pressing needs are LT and WR. Point blank. We have 12 picks.... Trade up in the 1st and get your LT unless you know Armstead can be the guy, then you stand pat and go WR in the 1st and trade up in the second to get Armstead.

Maybe you even trade up in both rounds to Tavon Austin and Armstead. We make Linebackers out of nothing... I dont need to name the names, we all know them. Grab one in the middle-to-late rounds. Even a great defense doesnt help Joe Flacco throw the ball, and for this team to be successul we need our $120million man to be successful. LT, WR.

LB and S I think we can find starters 3rd round and later. Are they positions we want/need to fill? Yes, absolutely. But not with our top 2 picks. We'll draft BPA, but the reason I think we draft for need is bc with the 12 picks Ozzie can jump to wherever he wants to make his guy the BPA at any given time.
[/quote]

I agree. I think our 1st will be Allen if he drops to us at 32. I also believe we would trade up to get Armstead in the 2nd. The only way i think that changes is if Brown falls to #32 I think we'd trade back into the 2nd and take Brown. He's compared to being a Novarro Bowman. He would go great next to Rolando (who I think will play great). I think we gain an early 4th pick with our trade back. I think we use that pick and our 62nd to get up high in the 2nd and get Armstead. We can get Rogers in the 3rd. I think Brown, Armstead, and Rogers would look great in purple here. We can get another ILB later in the draft for ST and backup depth and get a SS in the 4th to compete to start for us alongside Huff.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1365779872' post='1431659']

Manti Te'o is actually good in coverage--zone coverage. It is man coverage where he struggles but there are very very few LBs who are good in man.
[/quote]

Yea that seems to be the biggest misconception about Te'o. He does cover well in both zone and man coverage on RBs. But asking him to lock down a TE is something you wouldn't do. Hell it's not a ILB in the NFL who's coverage skill are good enough to match up athletic TEs consistently.

Also I'm not sure why people insist on using the word need and draft in the same sentence with Ozzie. Yes the Ravens do address needs in the draft, but not in the way people here continue to suggest. Ozzie has a list of player he expects to be potential options. As the draft plays out that list becomes smaller and smaller. As their pick approaches, the list is down to 4-5 guy they feel comfortable taking. At their pick they look at the list and see who has the highest "RAVENS" grade to determine BPA. Not the bpa on Mayock's or Kiper's board, not the most recognizable name to the fans, but the player who grades out the best over the whole 8-9 month draft process.

As an example, if Te'o, Hopkins, Allen, Brown, Elam, Cyprien are all still there at 32, Ozzie will select the highest graded guy, not the player that fills the biggest positional need. The Ravens draft players not positions. We might look up and Ozzie has traded back into the 2nd round for Margus Hunt or someone who plays a position that's not even consider a need. Because Ozzie approach seems to be, draft talented players and let my coaches find a way to use them. That's why we always seem to have soo much young talented depth on this roster that the Ravens rarely get burned by letting good players walk for money.

So if anyone is going into this draft thinking we gotta come away with WR, LT and S because theyy are positions of need, you'll probably have a stressful 3 days.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1365791404' post='1431835']


Yea that seems to be the biggest misconception about Te'o. He does cover well in both zone and man coverage on RBs. But asking him to lock down a TE is something you wouldn't do. Hell it's not a ILB in the NFL who's coverage skill are good enough to match up athletic TEs consistently.

Also I'm not sure why people insist on using the word need and draft in the same sentence with Ozzie. Yes the Ravens do address needs in the draft, but not in the way people here continue to suggest. Ozzie has a list of player he expects to be potential options. As the draft plays out that list becomes smaller and smaller. As their pick approaches, the list is down to 4-5 guy they feel comfortable taking. At their pick they look at the list and see who has the highest "RAVENS" grade to determine BPA. Not the bpa on Mayock's or Kiper's board, not the most recognizable name to the fans, but the player who grades out the best over the whole 8-9 month draft process.

As an example, if Te'o, Hopkins, Allen, Brown, Elam, Cyprien are all still there at 32, Ozzie will select the highest graded guy, not the player that fills the biggest positional need. The Ravens draft players not positions. We might look up and Ozzie has traded back into the 2nd round for Margus Hunt or someone who plays a position that's not even consider a need. Because Ozzie approach seems to be, draft talented players and let my coaches find a way to use them. That's why we always seem to have soo much young talented depth on this roster that the Ravens rarely get burned by letting good players walk for money.

So if anyone is going into this draft thinking we gotta come away with WR, LT and S because theyy are positions of need, you'll probably have a stressful 3 days.
[/quote]
I agree with everything here. It perplexes me that people don't understand this. It's like super panic mode right now. We must get a LT because Oher sucks there. I don't believe the Ravens or coaches or the front office even believes that statement for a second or even shares those sentiments. In fact, I think they are more concerned about right tackle than left.

[jdynamite]

We still need an ILB that has quickness to play decent to good pass coverage. Ellerbe and J.Mcclain had gone back & forth as players on side of Ray for the last 4 years because McClain was strong vs run and ellerbe was good vs pass. Then this past season ellerbe began to show promise as a blitzer inside also.

I was all for getting Rolando Mcclain for competition and depth because he still young with potential, but even if he drops some weight not sure how much is coverage would improve.
- I really haven't seen the potential in Bynes yet

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='jdynamite' timestamp='1365952687' post='1433389']
We still need an ILB that has quickness to play decent to good pass coverage. Ellerbe and J.Mcclain had gone back & forth as players on side of Ray for the last 4 years because McClain was strong vs run and ellerbe was good vs pass. Then this past season ellerbe began to show promise as a blitzer inside also.

I was all for getting Rolando Mcclain for competition and depth because he still young with potential, but even if he drops some weight not sure how much is coverage would improve.
- I really haven't seen the potential in Bynes yet
[/quote]

I think ILB will still be addressed, wheter it's 1st round or not is unclear. I think the biggest difference in the ILB unit will be the flexibility. As great as Ray was he handicapped the defense on third downs to an extent. There was no way Ray was ever coming off the field and understandably so. However now, you'll have interchangeable LBs imo. The best guys will be on the field. If Bynes and Carr are out better blitzers and coverage guy they'll play against more pass happy guys.

Pees seems to wanna get the best players on the field regardless. From a draft standpoint we might see guys who haven't even been liked to the Ravens drafted at LB. It'll probably be a really athletic guy.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1365978653' post='1433659']
I think ILB will still be addressed, wheter it's 1st round or not is unclear. I think the biggest difference in the ILB unit will be the flexibility. As great as Ray was he handicapped the defense on third downs to an extent. There was no way Ray was ever coming off the field and understandably so. However now, you'll have interchangeable LBs imo. The best guys will be on the field. If Bynes and Carr are out better blitzers and coverage guy they'll play against more pass happy guys.

Pees seems to wanna get the best players on the field regardless. From a draft standpoint we might see guys who haven't even been liked to the Ravens drafted at LB. It'll probably be a really athletic guy.
[/quote]
I just want to emphasize that this is an excellent draft for our needs.

WR is very deep with quality talent, but there is also, I feel, a lot of busts. I see quite a few pieces of gold in a lot of fool's gold. I believe we can scout the difference. One player in particular I want us to get is Stedman Bailey. He is probably my fifth favorite WR in the class with Keenan Allen, Robert Woods, Tavon Austin & DeAndre Hopkins with him. He's incredible. I realize stats aren't everything, but he accounted for 25 receiving TDs in 2012. That's remarkable.

I would be happy to get Manti Te'o, Kevin Minter, Kiko Alonso, Arthur Brown, Khaseem Greene, Sio Moore or Keith Pough, with Brandon Hepburn as another darkhorse candidate. There's more, as well. I'm exceptionally impressed with this linebacker class from top to bottom. It is very good. We can probably easily replace BA in this class.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1365723477' post='1431183']
It is a need, but that depends on things we as fans do not know. The MLB is supposed to be the signal caller of the defense.
[/quote]

This is exactly why I like Bostic in the middle of the draft if he's there. He may not be there calling plays this year or next, but give him some time and I can see him being that guy who moves his teammates around and gets them in place. He has his head in the game, reads the offense well, has good instincts, and is a vocal player. Will he be as good as it as Ray? Hell no, but who really will? But he's the type of player we could use down the line. Sure, he's more of a run stuffer than a coverage linebacker, but I think his leadership potential will help in the long run.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1365979065' post='1433666']

I just want to emphasize that this is an excellent draft for our needs.

WR is very deep with quality talent, but there is also, I feel, a lot of busts. I see quite a few pieces of gold in a lot of fool's gold. I believe we can scout the difference. One player in particular I want us to get is Stedman Bailey. He is probably my fifth favorite WR in the class with Keenan Allen, Robert Woods, Tavon Austin & DeAndre Hopkins with him. He's incredible. I realize stats aren't everything, but he accounted for 25 receiving TDs in 2012. That's remarkable.

I would be happy to get Manti Te'o, Kevin Minter, Kiko Alonso, Arthur Brown, Khaseem Greene, Sio Moore or Keith Pough, with Brandon Hepburn as another darkhorse candidate. There's more, as well. I'm exceptionally impressed with this linebacker class from top to bottom. It is very good. We can probably easily replace BA in this class.
[/quote]

Agreed on both accounts. I think production says alot. Yes numbers lie at times because you have to factor in competition and offensive scheme. But I feel it's better to see a guy actually do it then to project his potential to do it. I also like Aaron Dobson. Great hands and ability to get open. Looks like really strong outside #2 WR. Would go well with Torrey and Pitta.

I really like the ILB position as well. Te'o is my favorite but not the only guy I feel that fits us the best.