Unknowns that will make an impact this year

[scrock]

On defense I think McAdoo is primed for a breakout, if he's healthy he makes the team. Its obvious, John and the coaches like the kid and he has hella potential.

 

Some of our draft picks, particulary John Simon could be in the rotation in year 1, yeah I know he's been labeled a special teams player in his first year, But this Ravens team is at a different point in our history. Usually maybe a rookie can come in and make an impact, this year is different. A few of these guys will play a big role in our team this year.

 

The main guys are Elam and Arthur Brown...but then there's Brandon Williams who I expect to replace Cody in the starting rotation and I expect he will be a force.

 

A little known guy like Marc Anthony could surprise, he was solid in college, his only knock I belive was his speed and maybe he lacked ball skills. Another guy Mellete who dominated at his level of college could be a sleeper as well. Diamonds in the rough fellas, the FO is the best in the biz at finding these late round picks and undrafted free agent. Another could be Matt Furstenburg? sp? ...his stock plummetted by bad QB play while at MD, we maybe got a steal right there, he could end up being one of the top TEs in the draft.

 

I'm excited, so many have written us off but there's a greater chance that we will be better in 2013 than we were in 2012...the best players will play, I love the fact that Harbs and the FO will go into training camp making our WRs fight for their spots and fight to play on gameday.

 

Even without those guys performing, which I think a few will...such as Doss and Deonte Thompson, perhaps even Streeter who I didn't care for at first, but coaches and even the man Steve Bisciotti pointed to the improvements he made all year and becoming a better pro. These guys can surprise some people. We may already have a Victor Cruz and a faster version of Boldin on the team, They just need reps and make a few plays to build up their confidence.

 

I can't wait....love this organization.

 

sorry I'm kind of giddy and feeling good so im talking to much....last one tonight i swear

 

 

[rmw10]

David Reed. He was great when Caldwell actually used him correctly last year. I think Doss will breakout as well.

[The Raven]

I really think David Reed will make an impact. He and Chykie Brown are my two unknowns that will break out.

[redrum52]

DeAngelo Tyson and Nigel Carr for defense. I'll go Juice and Streeter on offense.

[Yatagarasu]

Under-the-Radar Players

 

Offense:

Deonte Thompson - He's probably one of our fastest WR with Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones. I feel like he could be a player to watch in the WR competition due to his speed.

 

Defense:

Josh Bynes - He's shown some flash as a vacuum cleaner last year regular season game against the Broncos. The ILB position will be up for grabs, but I feel Bynes could be the dark horse in the group.

[CARavensFan]

I'm really excited to see what Juice is able to bring to the table, I think he could really change the way opposing deffenses have to play us if we use him the way I'm thinking we could.

 

On defense I could see a McAddo or a Hamilton making a splash even though we are crazy deep at OLB, but it would be nice to start letting our younger guys develop and take over the Kruger-role in the defense.

[RobFuseRaven]

Deonte Thompson, Nigel Carr, Matt Furstenburg and Jack Cornell are my main picks based on skill and need. People were very impressed with Cornell last year in training camp. I think he is a darkhorse. I would say Adrian Hamilton, but the team is crowded with good outside linebackers. I do think he will make the roster, but he won't see time on D unless there is a slew of injuries again.

[blitzking33]

O: Deonte Thompson & LaQuan Williams. Quan showed solid hands in the very limited playing time he's had.

 

D: Chykie Brown & Adrian Hamilton

 

Sleeper: Marlon Brown if he makes the squad and doesn't end up on IR.

[Corvus]

I agree with most of the assessments here. I'll throw this one in as well: with Jacoby possibly taking a bigger offensive role (not something I neccessarily agree with), Deonte Thompson and Asa Jackson emerge as more than viable replacements in the return game with Deonte handling kickoffs and Asa handling punts.

[GrimCoconut]

Will Pericak, Brandon Copeland, Anthony Levine, Aaron Mellette, Matt Furstenburg & Meshak Williams.

I think it will be hard for any offensive lineman to make an impact because you don't really substitute those guys. I think we're going to be set at starting CB so it will be tough to really breakout or impact the game unless someone gets hurt, which is possible.

[Gordo52]

Furstenburg!

(Dinkle-Burg!!!!!)

[Gordo52]

Aaron Mellette is someone I'm really rooting and hoping for to step up and help fill that void left by Boldin.

[scrock]

Deonte Thompson, Nigel Carr, Matt Furstenburg and Jack Cornell are my main picks based on skill and need. People were very impressed with Cornell last year in training camp. I think he is a darkhorse. I would say Adrian Hamilton, but the team is crowded with good outside linebackers. I do think he will make the roster, but he won't see time on D unless there is a slew of injuries again.

 

Oh I forgot about this guy, he was making noise last year as an undrafted FA, Bisciotti even mentioned him on radio interviews about how impressive he was, this guy could be good depth for this year and possibly move into a starting spot another year or so down the road.

 

As mentioned above, I think Josh Bynes is another find along the lines of Bart Scott and Ellerbe, when he startred and played he made plays and I believe he led the team in tackles in his starts.

 

I'm not as familiar with Nigel Carr yet but he's pretty good too.

 

For all the losses we had, we got younger, faster and more explosive on both sides of the ball. We lost NAMES...not so much production as the name of the guys we lost. You can't replace Ed Reed's leadership and same goes for Ray Lewis BUT and this may seem blasphemis but you can easily replace their production especially at their stage of their careers.

 

I look for Elam and especially Arthur Brown to be among the DPOY candidates, A Brown playing behind that DL is going to be huge for him, I could easily see him getting 100+ tackles easily this year,

 

excited

[easternshore97]

Under-the-Radar Players

 

Offense:

Deonte Thompson - He's probably one of our fastest WR with Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones. I feel like he could be a player to watch in the WR competition due to his speed.

 

Defense:

Josh Bynes - He's shown some flash as a vacuum cleaner last year regular season game against the Broncos. The ILB position will be up for grabs, but I feel Bynes could be the dark horse in the group.

Just curious if you have seen a lot of Deonte Thompson?

 

The only pre-season game I caught was some of the Atlanta game last year. But I worked with a Florida alum who told me he was surprised about Deonte Thompson making the team and running back kicks because Gator Nation wasn't really wowed by him when he was there.

 

and btw - I don't think Bynes is a dark horse. He got a chance to get the mike duties last season and I think one of those games he had like 14 tackles or something if I remember correctly.

[redrum52]

I agree with most of the assessments here. I'll throw this one in as well: with Jacoby possibly taking a bigger offensive role (not something I neccessarily agree with), Deonte Thompson and Asa Jackson emerge as more than viable replacements in the return game with Deonte handling kickoffs and Asa handling punts.

I can't believe I forgot to mention my boy Asa Jackson. He'snow my official top sleeper pick. With the uncertainty at cb behind Webb and Graham I think he gets his shot in camp and shines.

[JoeyFlex5]

if we find ourselves in a lot of 4+ wr sets, i see denote thompson making a few plays for us. idk if doss counts as a unknown, but ive made it clear that i think he is the guy to replace boldin, so if he counts, then yea, doss.

also i think someone will step up out of adrian hamilton and mcadoo, i personally think it will be hamilton. and i see josh bynes as our startling ILB next to art brown before the end of the year.

[K-Dog]

Kyle Juszczyk .

 

The surprise of the season.

I am calling it.

Not the ONLY one but get used to spelling his name.  We are going to be using it a lot.  ( in a positive way ;) )

[omar586]

ihedigbo, S, will make an impact, he will replace pollard nicely

[ravensdan]

Offense surprise players

O line. Either jack Cornell or Ricky Wagner replace mckinnie for either injury or ineffectivity.

Wide receiver. Deonte Thompson and David reed lead the team in catches after smith, rice and Pitta.

Defense.

D line. Chris canty should be a better version of what redding used to bring. He has been under appreciated for years.

Lbs. I am going to go with the unpopular choice of jameel McClain to start at mike and perform extremely well there.

[Tyler]

ihedigbo, S, will make an impact, he will replace pollard nicely

Matt Elam would like to have a word with you.

[ravensdan]

Matt Elam would like to have a word with you.

I am also not 100% sold Elam will start right away. Ihedigbo was very solid late last year. I think camp and preseason will be very interesting here.

[The Raven]

While it may not be the most likely or desirable situation, does anyone think we could have Ihedigbo at SS and Elam at FS? I feel like it's not that much of a stretch, and it is not outside the realm of possibility.

[NaveSenrag]

While it may not be the most likely or desirable situation, does anyone think we could have Ihedigbo at SS and Elam at FS? I feel like it's not that much of a stretch, and it is not outside the realm of possibility.

I would say that Michael Huff is a better FS than Elam. If Ihedigbo beat out Elam for SS, then Elam would be a backup.

[JoeyFlex5]

While it may not be the most likely or desirable situation, does anyone think we could have Ihedigbo at SS and Elam at FS? I feel like it's not that much of a stretch, and it is not outside the realm of possibility.

i would also love for elam to play FS but honestly, his best fit is at SS. if polamalu is a SS, then elam should be a SS, just because they have the same skill set and play real similar, hopefully pees can take advantage of it. if huff doesnt pan out and ihedigbo turns out to be a better option(which is possible) then they can both play either SS or FS so we have some versatility there.

[RavenFanatic1327]

IM gonna go Tommy Streeter here. he has the size and speed to be an elite NFL receiver.  the question is can he put it all together and does he have what it takes to be an elite receiver.

[easternshore97]

IM gonna go Tommy Streeter here. he has the size and speed to be an elite NFL receiver.  the question is can he put it all together and does he have what it takes to be an elite receiver.

Wondering if he comes back with an extra 10lbs to his frame. He could potentially be a new Megatron. Would Optimus Prime be too too un-original?

[Guest nflfan123]

My Bold prediction:

Caleb Hanie

Flacco goes down, Hanie comes up big

[Guest nflfan123]

Wondering if he comes back with an extra 10lbs to his frame. He could potentially be a new Megatron. Would Optimus Prime be too too un-original?

Optimus Prime is already taken by Richard Sherman

[SecretAgentMan]

My Bold prediction:
Caleb Hanie
Flacco goes down, Hanie comes up big

The 6'6 Flacco? If there is anything truely underrated about Flacco, that no one talks about, it's he's a tough dude. I've seen him take some nasty hits

[SecretAgentMan]

Wondering if he comes back with an extra 10lbs to his frame. He could potentially be a new Megatron. Would Optimus Prime be too too un-original?

Galvetron. The reincarnation of Megatron. New and improved ;)