The worst thing about pulling off a good draft...

[Inqui]

.... is having to wait four months to see your new players in action.

 

Don't get me wrong here, I realise you need to wait a few years to see how good a draft class really is, but after re-watching the Super Bowl it really looks like we've got an improved team and I can't wait to see how our new guys do.

 

At the start of the game it was Ray Lewis missing tackles in the open field, but towards the end it was Bernard Pollard and Cary Williams leaking that godawful TD to Michael Crabtree when they should have brought him down 10 yards out.

 

Come September, it'll be Arthur Brown darting around trying to shut down short-ranged plays and it'll be Matt Elam doing the enforcing. Frankly, I can't wait to see that. I can't wait to see which of our rookies win their training camp battles. I can't wait to see how Tommy Streeter's come along (he was basically a free draft pick this year when you think about it). I can't wait to see Elvis Dumervil in a Ravens uniform. I can't wait to have Lardarius Webb back. I can't wait to see Jim Caldwell running his own offence.

 

It's a real shame to see Ray Lewis and Ed Reed go, and Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs possibly on their last legs, but the Three Days of Early Christmas we've just been blessed with have been all about the future, and it looks damned exciting. But now we have to wait until September to see it.

 

(I know, total first world problem)

[Jalxsu]

I'm a bit stuck finding things to do now the draft is over!

Really enjoyed scouting potential draft picks.

It's an "odd" year, so no World Cup or European Championship for me to look forward to in "soccer" either.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

I'm a bit stuck finding things to do now the draft is over!

Really enjoyed scouting potential draft picks.

It's an "odd" year, so no World Cup or European Championship for me to look forward to in "soccer" either.

 

yep, 3 1/2 long months

[jdynamite]

Worst part about having the draft over now is the wait....
The threads really slow down, until OTAs, mini-camps, training Camps begin and people post updates.

I'm already anxious for the WR battles, to hear about the Progression of Streeter & Thompson in particular especially after we didn't get Patton like I had hoped

[PolishRifle]

...is not having any receivers.

[T-ray]

The only area I see that could hurt us (without taking injuries into consideration which is impossible to predict at any time), is receiver. Sure, we didn't snag a LT, but we can always sign Bryant McKinnie or even make some trades for one. At ILB, we did get Brown, but we still have to rely on Jameel McClain to take over that 2nd ILB spot, which is ok because we could still sign someone like Dansby. However, receiver is the trouble. We have no idea what Torrey Smith is capable of if he uses his full potential, but we also don't know if he can handle the duties of being the number one receiver every single game, every single play. Even if this pans out well (like I think it will eventually), we still have a huge opening at the #2 receiver position. Jacoby is great at big plays, but as seen with the Texans, he is highly inconsistent if relied on for a full season. Doss can't get separation, and he struggles with the dropsies every now and then. We all know David Reed should've been cut by now. And we have unproven, raw talent with Deonte and Streeter. Who will take over that spot?? Thats my trouble.

[T-ray]

...is not having any receivers.

Haha we both basically typed this at the same time. Thinking on the same page

[PolishRifle]

Haha we both basically typed this at the same time. Thinking on the same page

Your put more thought in your post though.

[T-ray]

Your put more thought in your post though.

Thanks! I try to give a little bit of reasoning along with my posts because I know that what I say most of the time does not line up with the consensus opinion on this board.

[PolishRifle]

Thanks! I try to give a little bit of reasoning along with my posts because I know that what I say most of the time does not line up with the consensus opinion on this board.

I agree with you 100% on the WR issue. We don't have a star WR. We never had one.

When Boldin actually got hot in the playoffs and Joe had something resembling a great receiver, we ended up winning the SB and Joe matching Montanas record.

I love Torrey, but he is more of #2 WR, but so was Boldin, imho. Both of them were inconsistent throughout the last regular season. Jones lacks the hands to be counted on on many plays and I don't feel so great about having to count on 4th rounders and worse.

I get it. We had to reload on defense. It seems to me, that we do that most of the time anyway and then I have to hear clueless rubes complaining about Joe's stats for the next season.

Yes drafting WR early is risky, but you need atleast one great WR to have an effective passing game. I really hope we trade up for a decent WR in the next draft. It doesn't have to be Julio Jones or Calvin Johnson, but give us atleast a Dez Bryant.

[K-Dog]

Ozzie is NOT done yet. Guarantee.
He is just taking a quick breather.

[Cville-Raven]

I'll say this again Arthur Brown>>>>>Keenan Allen

[PolishRifle]

I'll say this again Arthur Brown>>>>>Keenan Allen

The problems at WR are not a result of this years draft, they are a result of all the drafts we had. The Ravens FO, as good as it is in building up defenses, is a failure at creating respectable passing offenses.

We never had a star WR. It's nothing new. The only thing the Ravens organisation does is get players, they thing could develop into good WR.

Flacco didn't get signed, because he matched Joe Montanas playoff record last season, he got signed for winning in spite of an average cast of receivers in almost every regular season, while Ozzie kept constantly working on the defense.

[Cville-Raven]

The problems at WR are not a result of this years draft, they are a result of all the drafts we had. The Ravens FO, as good as it is in building up defenses, is a failure at creating respectable passing offenses.

We never had a star WR. It's nothing new. The only thing the Ravens organisation does is get players, they thing could develop into good WR.

Flacco didn't get signed, because he matched Joe Montanas playoff record last season, he got signed for winning in spite of an average cast of receivers in almost every regular season, while Ozzie kept constantly working on the defense.

Jesus christ, only once have we drafted a receiver in the first two rounds since Flacco. What do you expect? Look at Seattle; average cast of receivers. They should have been in the Super Bowl. Next year is probably going to be a better receiver class anyway. I want to get elite on defense. Having some fancy ass passing game just isn't the Raven way. Look at Tom Brady and Aaron Rogers to lesser extent. Those guys don't need top 5 pick receivers to succeed. Also with Green bay, they've been spending picks on receiver for I don't know how long and look how garbage their D and O-line was last year. This is a test that Flacco is going to have to pass if he wants to truly be in the upper echelon of QBs. 

[Yatagarasu]

If you do a great draft, the worst thing about it is that we won't be able to keep them all and have to decide who stays and who goes.

 

This draft was a very deep draft compared to last year and I feel Ozzie probably landed 5 possible starters, which is excellent.

[blitzking33]

Brown kind of looks like Ray a little too.. and Elam and Ed have beards.. so that's a + lol

 

I hope Brown bulks up a little though.

[izvoodoo]

The problems at WR are not a result of this years draft, they are a result of all the drafts we had. The Ravens FO, as good as it is in building up defenses, is a failure at creating respectable passing offenses.

We never had a star WR. It's nothing new. The only thing the Ravens organisation does is get players, they thing could develop into good WR.

Flacco didn't get signed, because he matched Joe Montanas playoff record last season, he got signed for winning in spite of an average cast of receivers in almost every regular season, while Ozzie kept constantly working on the defense.

Don't over rate drafted rookie players coming in to make an impact.  If they were better than Doss in his 3rd year they'd be a second round pick.  Drafts are for foundation, not impact.

[PolishRifle]

Don't over rate drafted rookie players coming in to make an impact.  If they were better than Doss in his 3rd year they'd be a second round pick.  Drafts are for foundation, not impact.

So you're saying Elam and Brown won't have an impact on the next season? I disagree.

[Gordo52]

The worst thing is trying to find a way to keep all these guys long term after their rookie contracts expire.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

So you're saying Elam and Brown won't have an impact on the next season? I disagree.

I don't think that's what he's saying, but I agree with you and I think that both of them will be starting in the opener. 

[izvoodoo]

So you're saying Elam and Brown won't have an impact on the next season? I disagree.

Elam and Brown will, who were the best players on the board.

But receiver just didn't shake out this year, we always have more needs than picks.  I'm not thrilled about our receiving core, but this was a really weak receiver draft.
 

I think our first three picks were like a realistic wish list.

[PolishRifle]

Elam and Brown will, who were the best players on the board.

But receiver just didn't shake out this year, we always have more needs than picks.  I'm not thrilled about our receiving core, but this was a really weak receiver draft.
 

I think our first three picks were like a realistic wish list.

Sure. But I don't see how anyone disproved my original post. We don't have viable receivers opposite of Torrey next season. Do I want Doss to prove me wrong? Of course. I want my team to win. But I have my serious doubts about the guys we have been developing. Torrey is not a proven #1 WR either. He was inconsistent from game to game last regular season, so even he will have to step up.

[GrimCoconut]

The worst thing is trying to find a way to keep all these guys long term after their rookie contracts expire.

And also the cuts that will come because we can only keep  53 guys. 

[CMC]

Ozzie is NOT done yet. Guarantee.
He is just taking a quick breather.

No. Ozzie is calling so the pot gets bigger.

[Bltravens]

The problems at WR are not a result of this years draft, they are a result of all the drafts we had. The Ravens FO, as good as it is in building up defenses, is a failure at creating respectable passing offenses.

We never had a star WR. It's nothing new. The only thing the Ravens organisation does is get players, they thing could develop into good WR.

Flacco didn't get signed, because he matched Joe Montanas playoff record last season, he got signed for winning in spite of an average cast of receivers in almost every regular season, while Ozzie kept constantly working on the defense.

 

That problem has been two fold though, we haven't had a real QB until Flacco in 2008.  One would make the argument that Cam stifled the offense as much as any lack of an "elite" WR as well.  Caldwell is going to play around with things and scheme guys open, something Cam never did.  Think its one of the reason we took the Polish guy, kind of a Delanie Walker style guy, to mess with teams defensive packages when he's on the field, can go into an ace package against a base defense and then split Pitta and 'Check out in the slot.  2 LBs aren't going to cover them man up in our division, only one that could is Timmons.

All I can say about this years draft in terms of offense is there was no way we were going to get a LT to come in and start from day 1 anywhere near our picks and Ozzie/DeCosta/Horitz mustn't have been overly impressed with the WR class when they were compared to guys like Elam/Brown/Williams.

[wademan2636]

i cant wait to see brandon williams completely dominate cody in every single training camp activity.  williams will bring about the end of terrence cody, which is something we have all been pulling for.  and even if williams doesnt live up to expectations, i still fully expect cody to be gone soon.

 

i also cant wait to see how we use our new FB to create mismatches.  he is going to be a weapon in a lot of ways.  he brings me back to the days of mike alstott in TB

[Yatagarasu]

OTs are tough to find I guess.

 

I commend Ozzie to stick to his board instead of reaching for an Offensive Tackle.

 

I feel that after we won the Super Bowl, we actually had a lot more need than just OT.

 

Almost every position on the defense had to be addressed due to the exodus of many starters and also the dip in effectiveness last season.

 

Ozzie decided to invest this draft on the defense and has done well.

 

It might not had been perfect since we didn't get a LT, but under the circumstances that a lot of LTs were taken early and sometimes reached. We decide to focus elsewhere with better talents.

 

I assume we will get two instant starters as the rest try to move up the depth chart.

 

By year 3, I have a good feeling we will get 4-5 starters out of this good, which means we had a very successful draft.

 

However, after year 4, we might be able to keep at most two of the starters, three if they give hometown discounts. Flacco cap will take up a lot of space.

[Ravenseconbeast]

watch the O's beat the stomp out of redsox and see how time flies.

 

soon as O's are done Ravens are back.

[easternshore97]

I agree with you 100% on the WR issue. We don't have a star WR. We never had one.

When Boldin actually got hot in the playoffs and Joe had something resembling a great receiver, we ended up winning the SB and Joe matching Montanas record.

I love Torrey, but he is more of #2 WR, but so was Boldin, imho. Both of them were inconsistent throughout the last regular season. Jones lacks the hands to be counted on on many plays and I don't feel so great about having to count on 4th rounders and worse.

I get it. We had to reload on defense. It seems to me, that we do that most of the time anyway and then I have to hear clueless rubes complaining about Joe's stats for the next season.

Yes drafting WR early is risky, but you need atleast one great WR to have an effective passing game. I really hope we trade up for a decent WR in the next draft. It doesn't have to be Julio Jones or Calvin Johnson, but give us atleast a Dez Bryant.

 

You're living in the past brother. Perhaps I should say it another way.

You're living in Cam Cameron's past. It's a new season since the Denver game @ M&T. The entire offense played inconsistently and that was the case going back to some of 2009 and for sure in 2010, 2011. Just a reality check. I like what I've seen in Doss and I like the flashes from Reed. They are all professionals and they go work on their craft and try to get better. 90% of Giants fans didn't know what they had in Victor Cruz and I remember in watching him catch 3 TDs against the Jets in a preseason game in 2010 (or '09) when he was wearing #11 at the time. He didn't get any time that whole season and then he came into a game the following year and dropped a few balls and then caught fire later in the year. Giants fans didn't know who he was until then...later in the year.

 

Unless you're going to practice every day with Ozzie, you gotta be patient and trust that its going to happen for those guys. Plus all 6 or 7 of them will make 2 or 3 out of the bunch a whole heck of a lot better

[easternshore97]

OTs are tough to find I guess.

 

I commend Ozzie to stick to his board instead of reaching for an Offensive Tackle.

 

I feel that after we won the Super Bowl, we actually had a lot more need than just OT.

 

Almost every position on the defense had to be addressed due to the exodus of many starters and also the dip in effectiveness last season.

 

Ozzie decided to invest this draft on the defense and has done well.

 

It might not had been perfect since we didn't get a LT, but under the circumstances that a lot of LTs were taken early and sometimes reached. We decide to focus elsewhere with better talents.

 

I assume we will get two instant starters as the rest try to move up the depth chart.

 

By year 3, I have a good feeling we will get 4-5 starters out of this good, which means we had a very successful draft.

 

However, after year 4, we might be able to keep at most two of the starters, three if they give hometown discounts. Flacco cap will take up a lot of space.

 

I'm a Wisconsin guy. Badger alum. Ricky Wagner has the ability to get it done. He kept Russell Wilson clean.

 

I know you might not buy that and are thinking that Russell Wilson kept Russell Wilson clean, but you know UW is Linemen U (and Tight End U)

 

How AWESOME is it though that we potentially already have a replacement for Dumervil and Suggs (as well as Ngata). Won't be skipping any beats when they are gone or slow down