Ravens select FB/TE Kyle Juszczyk

[organizedchaos007]

I like this pick.. I dont think Leach goes anywhere. This kid is a versatile player who has some physicality and great hands, and actually has some craftiness in his routes. I think he is our 3rd TE, and 2nd FB on the depth chart, learning behind leach. Think he will be Leach's replacement.. next year and I think this will be how Caldwell revolutionizes Cam's offense. Coaches, everytime they met with this kid (several times), they've watched tape together and have emphasized the desire to use him as a moving FB.  A FB who will be average the majority of time as a blocking FB running Iso's with flashes of road grader in him, but also a FB who can flex out and be just as effective if not more in the passing game as Dickson has been for us. This brings some versatility to Jim's offense, and I like it with the evolution of the passing game. 

 

A second thought is 2 TE, 1 FB, 1RB, 1 WR formations, looks like run formation so defenses have to take DB's off the field, but yet, essentially we have 3 great handed TE's and our top receiver on the field.. with rice coming out of the backfield/pass pro. I like all that this pick could potentially bring to the table. 

[Gtown Purple]

raven pick all the way

[MTRavensFan]

Keep Leach.

 

Dennis Pitta for slot receiver!  :)

[Bltravens]

Considering no one drafted a FB after we did after 4th round, this was a reach.

This guy smells like jah reid type of player(overlooking on a underdog prospect) And not in a good way.

He's not just a FB, he split out wide for Harvard in the slot alot of times.

[Ravenseconbeast]

He's not just a FB, he split out wide for Harvard in the slot alot of times.

 

yeah i looked @ his profile

 

he has some versatility

 

i still think its a bit of a reach for him @ 4th round

[Yatagarasu]

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

 

I say he will play a unique role on offense.

 

Vonta Leach might get released, but we don't know.

 

Juszczyk will help us continue that smashmouth run game we like.

[mgridda]

Kyle, welcome to the Ravens!

 

He's not at all similar to Vontae Leach though. They do different things. Maybe Caldwell is transitioning the offense into more of a spread offense. I think this means, more support for Joe Flacco...less support for Ray Rice.

 

He can block too. Really my only knock on him is his competition. Did he go to the Senior bowl?

[JO_75]

From Ozzie himself..

 

Aaron Wilson ‏@RavensInsider1h

Ozzie Newsome indicated there could room for both veteran fullback Vonta Leach and their rookie from Harvard

 

Like I said, I can see some goal line situations where Leach and Kyle are on the field at the same time.

[msufan]

I think I heard he went to senior bowl but not the combine.

[Fred Sanford]

Few people probably went into the draft thinking "we need a fullback/tight end hybrid from Harvard," in the fourth, but ya know what, just watch the guy play. He looks like he can line up at fullback, H-back, inline tight end, the slot, has speed, power. Playmakers are playmakers, we'll find a way to get him on the field. A guy who can block, catch, and run over people like this has some snaps coming to him.

[BloodRaven]

The kid can play, he looked great at the Senior Bowl. Aggressive, fast, physical, soft hands, GREAT route running. He's a dynamic player.

[Legacy_0f_52]

Considering no one drafted a FB after we did after 4th round, this was a reach.

This guy smells like jah reid type of player(overlooking on a underdog prospect) And not in a good way.

Nice logic. lol He was projected to be like a 4th round pick so I don't think it's a reach.

[Gordo52]

This is my 3rd favorite pick of ours. The other 2 are obvious.

I'm really excited see what he brings to our offense. I think of Kuhn/Meyers when I saw the highlights of him. Plus he can block.

[GrimCoconut]

Does anyone else think this means we cut Anthony Allen? His only real benefits for the Ravens were as a potential fullback and special teamer. Kyle can do both and catch passes too.

It very well may. Allen's a terrific ST player, but you'll need to be more than that to make it now. I'm not sure he is assured a spot, and he may find himself off the team. 

 

Nah.  Allen has earned his spot.

I love Allen as a lead blocker for Jacoby Jones. He's a big part of his success. With that said, I don't think the Ravens will keep Allen unless he can show he deserves a spot. To deserve a spot, he needs to be versatile. I don't think we want one-dimensional players anymore.

 

Considering no one drafted a FB after we did after 4th round, this was a reach.

This guy smells like jah reid type of player(overlooking on a underdog prospect) And not in a good way.

He's not a pure-FB like Leach. He's not in the mold of a RB/FB. He's more like Aaron Hernandez, where he can line-up anywhere as a TE, FB, HB. He's a really versatile player. If he was 6'5" or something, would you still feel that way? 

 

I would say it's more just because he is far and away the best FB in this class since he plays TE as well... He's a great player and it's definitely not a reach.

Yeah. He's not considered a FB. He's a hybrid TE/FB HB. He's a terrific player. You look up "PLAY LIKE A RAVEN" & his picture is there. I don't get what's not to like. I bet if he was known as a TE or 6'6 or something, people would be smoking this pick like it was illegal.

[Gordo52]

Hey Mingo Jarvis & Hunt, meet Juszczyk! :D

[rmw10]

It very well may. Allen's a terrific ST player, but you'll need to be more than that to make it now. I'm not sure he is assured a spot, and he may find himself off the team. 
 

I love Allen as a lead blocker for Jacoby Jones. He's a big part of his success. With that said, I don't think the Ravens will keep Allen unless he can show he deserves a spot. To deserve a spot, he needs to be versatile. I don't think we want one-dimensional players anymore.

I have to disagree on this one. I think it's more on the fact that there's not much else behind him. Rainey is a nice player but can't contribute on ST. He can return punts but we already have a lot of guys who do that. He won't get in the RB rotation with Rice and Pierce. Berry and Allen are very similar players. Might as well keep the one who has a proven track record. I think Allen gets a spot by default unless someone else is brought in, which seems unlikely.

[GrimCoconut]

I have to disagree on this one. I think it's more on the fact that there's not much else behind him. Rainey is a nice player but can't contribute on ST. He can return punts but we already have a lot of guys who do that. He won't get in the RB rotation with Rice and Pierce. Berry and Allen are very similar players. Might as well keep the one who has a proven track record. I think Allen gets a spot by default unless someone else is brought in, which seems unlikely.

I guess we'll see, but I personally don't know if he makes it or not. I believe he will need to show more in camp. He needs to show more versatility. That's all I am saying. 

 

We can agree to disagree, my man.

[CMC]

People in the draft forum did not research this guy before they started bashing this pick. During the season all of them will be praising Ozzie for making "such an excellent pick" or "Ozzie got a steal in the 4th" or "In Ozzie we trust guys."

[Ravenseconbeast]

It very well may. Allen's a terrific ST player, but you'll need to be more than that to make it now. I'm not sure he is assured a spot, and he may find himself off the team. 

 

I love Allen as a lead blocker for Jacoby Jones. He's a big part of his success. With that said, I don't think the Ravens will keep Allen unless he can show he deserves a spot. To deserve a spot, he needs to be versatile. I don't think we want one-dimensional players anymore.

 

He's not a pure-FB like Leach. He's not in the mold of a RB/FB. He's more like Aaron Hernandez, where he can line-up anywhere as a TE, FB, HB. He's a really versatile player. If he was 6'5" or something, would you still feel that way? 

 

Yeah. He's not considered a FB. He's a hybrid TE/FB HB. He's a terrific player. You look up "PLAY LIKE A RAVEN" & his picture is there. I don't get what's not to like. I bet if he was known as a TE or 6'6 or something, people would be smoking this pick like it was illegal.

 

I suppose we'll see.

 

Maybe we'll create a whole new scheme NFL never seen before

 

2 TE's in 2010.   Read options 2012.   Now HB/TE ?  who knows haha....but the player has to be great to create a mis-match.

 

Maybe he'll be worth every penny, or maybe he just can't do either blocking or receiving @ nfl level.   Who knows.   We shall see

[Intercepted]

I LOVE this pick, and here's why:

 

Imagine having Flacco, Rice, Juszczyk, Torrey, Pitta, and whoever our #2 WR is gonna be lined up in the I formation.

 

We can pound the ball on the ground, or split Ray Rice and Kyle Juszczyk out wide and essentially be in a 5 wide set without ever substituting players.

 

Add some no huddle and Joe Flacco in the shotgun to the mix and you have a one hell of a dynamic offense.

 

Check this video out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS54FxLGpkk

 

This kid isn't just some fullback that can catch the ball every once in a while. He's a full on playmaker. Tough to bring down, smooth route runner, punishing blocker and tell me he doesn't have one hell of a stiff arm after watching that tape.

[Inqui]

I suppose we'll see.

 

Maybe we'll create a whole new scheme NFL never seen before

 

2 TE's in 2010.   Read options 2012.   Now HB/TE ?  who knows haha....but the player has to be great to create a mis-match.

 

Maybe he'll be worth every penny, or maybe he just can't do either blocking or receiving @ nfl level.   Who knows.   We shall see

 

I'd be very surprised if we didn't have SOMETHING lined up for him. WalterFootball said we reached for him, but one of the commenters pointed out he's basically a TE/receiver that can bowl people over, and I agree with that. It looks like he has really solid hands too, so I think we'll have some sweet fourth down packages this year (and I thought that was something pretty remiss last season).

[ratedr]

I LOVE this pick, and here's why:

 

Imagine having Flacco, Rice, Juszczyk, Torrey, Pitta, and whoever our #2 WR is gonna be lined up in the I formation.

 

We can pound the ball on the ground, or split Ray Rice and Kyle Juszczyk out wide and essentially be in a 5 wide set without ever substituting players.

 

Add some no huddle and Joe Flacco in the shotgun to the mix and you have a one hell of a dynamic offense.

 

Check this video out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS54FxLGpkk

 

This kid isn't just some fullback that can catch the ball every once in a while. He's a full on playmaker. Tough to bring down, smooth route runner, punishing blocker and tell me he doesn't have one hell of a stiff arm after watching that tape.

Okay, you've 100% sold me on this guy. Dude can do it all.

[BloodRaven]

He's an awesome player, forget the school he can flat out BALL. Aaron Hernandez type potential.

[NaveSenrag]

The more I hear about this guy, the more I absolutely love this pick.

[Gordo52]

I'm so happy with this pick. I actually have a lot of fun watching his highlights. He won't truck people like that in the NFL but if he just shows flashes of what he does I'd be happy.

Classic "football player". His route running looks natural. I bet Belicheck would of liked the guy to fall to him.