So you want to know how good OLB Daryl Smith is?

[ghost1986]

Smith will be a starting, every down ILB for us this year.  Much more than a fill-in.  If McClain doesn't return (and hopefully even if he does), Brown and Bynes will battle for the second starting spot in the middle.  Smith has his spot locked down.

Yeah I don't know why I said fill-in. I agree with you about Bynes. I need to see a little more from Brown, but I was pleased with the defense. I try not to put too much thought into it since it's pre-season and just the first game, but that's the thing. It's the first time I've seen  our new guys hitting their new guys violently. And I do enjoy it.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

Dude was all over the place last night. Was surprised to see him get in on the QB. I can't wait to see this defense play more than a few drives

[Sami84]

If he plays like he did with the jags not only do I expect pro bowl I wouldn't be shocked he finally got his all pro. If he had gone to a better side his legacy right now based on his talent and production would be that of the Navarro bowmans of this world. That's how high I've rated him since his Georgia tech days

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Hate to say it, but as far as pure playing ability (maybe a bit premature) right now a HUGE upgrade over anyone we've had in that spot the past few years.

 

His athleticism is still there, and his instincts are just awesome. In a bigger market, on a better team, Samis absolutely right we'd be talking about this guy as the heir to ray lewis.

[5aiah]

He can do everything extremely well. The casual fans might have never heard of him but anyone who follows a lot of football(or plays Madden) already knew we got a huge steal. His ratings on both the game(he's been 90+ ovr for a while) and on advanced sites do him justice when the national media has not. He easily stood out as the leader and best player on the Jags defense if you ever got a good look. He has been great in coverage, above average blitzing for a 4-3 linebacker, and a great run stopper. He is the entire package and crazy consistent in a variety of roles(something a Raven has to be) for so long. 

[Sami84]

Robert Klemko ‏@RobertKlemko

17m

@mzenitz Ex-teammate Russell Allen described him as "the most underrated player in football."

[GrimCoconut]

I'll tell you all how good he is: he's only signed to a 1-year deal. Let's hope we can re-sign him next year because he might just be making that hard on us lol. Him and Art Jones look like they're playing to get paid.

[Poes Crows]

He looked good

[rmw10]

I'll tell you all how good he is: he's only signed to a 1-year deal. Let's hope we can re-sign him next year because he might just be making that hard on us lol. Him and Art Jones look like they're playing to get paid.

 

I really would have tried to give him a 2 year deal.  I thought that when we signed him, and I think it even more now.  He's always been very underrated.  With that being said, I knew he was good, but I didn't know he was as good as he showed on Thursday.

[GrimCoconut]

I really would have tried to give him a 2 year deal. I thought that when we signed him, and I think it even more now. He's always been very underrated. With that being said, I knew he was good, but I didn't know he was as good as he showed on Thursday.

Yeah I agree. I imagine the reason it's a one year deal is less our desire than it is Smith. If you know you're good but coming off of an injury why take a long term deal? Same reason I feel Pitta does the same thing.

[rmw10]

Yeah I agree. I imagine the reason it's a one year deal is less our desire than it is Smith. If you know you're good but coming off of an injury why take a long term deal? Same reason I feel Pitta does the same thing.

 

True.  There's a whole discussion on the Pitta thing in the free agency thread haha.

[GrimCoconut]

True. There's a whole discussion on the Pitta thing in the free agency thread haha.

Yeah I read that and I'm not getting into that. I'm just using this as an example lol. I don't want Daryl Smith to become Dennis Pitta. I hope I don't cause that haha.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Yeah I read that and I'm not getting into that. I'm just using this as an example lol. I don't want Daryl Smith to become Dennis Pitta. I hope I don't cause that haha.

if he plays all season at the level he played the first preseason game for us, Daryl will get a new two-three years contract to retire him a Raven

[rmw10]

if he plays all season at the level he played the first preseason game for us, Daryl will get a new two-three years contract to retire him a Raven

 

...if we can afford him.  We have a lot of question marks next year in free agency: Art Jones, Dennis Pitta, Ed Dickson, Corey Graham, Michael Oher.  I think we only have something like $3M available next year (before cuts and stuff) based on what we have on the books now.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

...if we can afford him.  We have a lot of question marks next year in free agency: Art Jones, Dennis Pitta, Ed Dickson, Corey Graham, Michael Oher.  I think we only have something like $3M available next year (before cuts and stuff) based on what we have on the books now.

ohh, there will be plenty of cuts and stuff lol... like any other year... don't pretend you don't know it (feel it already) and guess what will happen with the sky again

[GrimCoconut]

...if we can afford him. We have a lot of question marks next year in free agency: Art Jones, Dennis Pitta, Ed Dickson, Corey Graham, Michael Oher. I think we only have something like $3M available next year (before cuts and stuff) based on what we have on the books now.

Yes. This is how I see it. Right now my top priority is Arthur Jones. He looked like a monster. I love it. We can and probably will cut McClain next year if we did bring back Smith.

Pitta and Dickson are both concerns because both guys are free agents obviously and Pitta will be coming off of an injury. Also we need to consider the contracts due after next season because the Smith twins and McPhee are all unrestricted free agents. That could be a real issue especially since I see both Smiths playing great.

We manage the cap and generate compensatory picks by letting talent we can usually afford to leave go. This will be no different. Pitta well be a free agent next off-season and if we re-sign him to a one year deal we'll have a hydra on our hands.

[rmw10]

ohh, there will be plenty of cuts and stuff lol... like any other year... don't pretend you don't know it (feel it already) and guess what will happen with the sky again

 

Oh yeah I know lol.  I was just glancing over the roster and here's what we should be able to free up:

 

McClain - $3.2M

McKinnie - $3M

Koch - $1.6M

Spears - $1.25M

 

That's approximately $9M.

 

Suggs is another possibility, but I highly doubt that.  He would save $7.8M, but I think an extension to lower that number is much more likely.

 

I really hope we can hold onto Daryl Smith.  Arthur Jones and one of Pitta/Dickson (depending on Pitta's recovery/Dickson's performance) are my priorities right along with Smith.  Graham and Oher are my secondary choices.  Everyone else can go.

[GrimCoconut]

Oh yeah I know lol. I was just glancing over the roster and here's what we should be able to free up:

McClain - $3.2M
McKinnie - $3M
Koch - $1.6M
Spears - $1.25M

That's approximately $9M.

Suggs is another possibility, but I highly doubt that. He would save $7.8M, but I think an extension to lower that number is much more likely.

I really hope we can hold onto Daryl Smith. Arthur Jones and one of Pitta/Dickson (depending on Pitta's recovery/Dickson's performance) are my priorities right along with Smith. Graham and Oher are my secondary choices. Everyone else can go.

Arthur Jones, Dennis Pitta and Daryl Smith are tops for me too. I agree that we'll probably extend Suggs. I think this will be easier because I think he wants to be here. I don't know if he'll take a discount but he may at this stage. I can't imagine it would be a lot. His leadership has really impressed me.

I fear Arthur Jones may be allowed to walk but I hope not. We have a history of highlighting players in contract years to get them attention when they're free agents and allowing them to walk due to price while re-signing the guys who truly matter. Ideally I'd prefer to give Torrey Smith an extension next off-season, re-sign Daryl Smith and Arthur Jones to three year deals and re-sign Pitta to a one year deal because I doubt he takes more due to the injury unless we really throw money at him.

That would be ideal as we could re-sign the guys we need and avoid having two of Rosenhaus' clients as free agents in the same year and leave Jimmy Smith and Dennis Pitta as our big fee agents the year after. The contacts of CB is stabilizing around 6-8M but WR is rising

[Bullrush]

The people at PFF have no clue what they're talking about, it's like a bunch of teenage madden/fantasy football fans. None of them have any relation to football or let alone NFL. So their evaluation process is like asking a weight lifter to judge a chess player.

 

That said I still think Smith can be a good starter here, maybe very good, who knows. But let's be real here, the guy was a free agent, nobody wanted him, he'll turn 32 in a few months. I don't see All Pro material here, but I love the addition, it was a great pickup and he'll play well I think. Don't expect too much just yet, let's get some games in first.

[beanfigger]

Yeah I agree. I imagine the reason it's a one year deal is less our desire than it is Smith. If you know you're good but coming off of an injury why take a long term deal? Same reason I feel Pitta does the same thing.

This only further strengthens my confidence that Pitta gets a multi-year offer from us. That is, if his rehab doesn't raise any red flags.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

Oh yeah I know lol.  I was just glancing over the roster and here's what we should be able to free up:

McClain - $3.2M

McKinnie - $3M

Koch - $1.6M

Spears - $1.25M

That's approximately $9M.

Suggs is another possibility, but I highly doubt that.  He would save $7.8M, but I think an extension to lower that number is much more likely.

I really hope we can hold onto Daryl Smith.  Arthur Jones and one of Pitta/Dickson (depending on Pitta's recovery/Dickson's performance) are my priorities right along with Smith.  Graham and Oher are my secondary choices.  Everyone else can go.

 

I would add David Reed's 980K into the mix too, so that would make it close to £10 M; I bet we'll re-do Sizzle's contract and save at least $6 M there too; then there's some of the draft picks from 2010 and 2011 that might get cut and replaced by new rookies, that could save some pennies too lol; with $16 M in cap space (and that's without it going up) we could do some business lol

[ClintLB8]

I also hope we find a way to resign Daryl Smith to a 2-3 year deal following this season. I loved how he performed and I just feel like he fits what Ozzie is trying to do. A combination of Smith and Brown over the next 2-3 years could prove to be the best duo we have starting in awhile (notice I said duo, haha).

[Bltravens]

The people at PFF have no clue what they're talking about, it's like a bunch of teenage madden/fantasy football fans. None of them have any relation to football or let alone NFL. So their evaluation process is like asking a weight lifter to judge a chess player.
 
That said I still think Smith can be a good starter here, maybe very good, who knows. But let's be real here, the guy was a free agent, nobody wanted him, he'll turn 32 in a few months. I don't see All Pro material here, but I love the addition, it was a great pickup and he'll play well I think. Don't expect too much just yet, let's get some games in first.

No one wanted him because of his knee issue last year, it scared them off. If he was healthy all year last year and played how he had been during the course of his career a team would have picked him up very early to a 2-3 year deal. He's not an All Pro, but he's the answer to our ILB issue this year and then some.

[Bullrush]

No one wanted him because of his knee issue last year, it scared them off. If he was healthy all year last year and played how he had been during the course of his career a team would have picked him up very early to a 2-3 year deal. He's not an All Pro, but he's the answer to our ILB issue this year and then some.

It's not like anybody had to make a huge investment in order to get him. A 1 yr minimum deal would have done it, so I don't think it was just knee related. 30+ year old linebackers usually can't find any takers unless they have a recent Pro Bowl under their belt. Other big name free agents are still out there, nobody wants them. Guys like Barret Ruud and company. He has also had some All Pro or Pro Bowl years, but nobody wants him. Teams would rather go with a young healthy draft choice who can play special teams as well.

 

I hope he's the answer this season, maybe next season as well but we can't say that now, he needs to play, produce and stay healthy first. But so far everything sounds great, he seems to be a great leader and it seems like based from what the coaches are saying that if he stays healthy he'll have a really good year. Let's hope.

[rayray200123]

He doesn't have to be spectacular, just needs to be solid this season. Not Ray Lewis, but I'm sure he'll come in and fill in the role as admirable as possible. He's another guy we'll all be keeping an eye out during the preseason.

[Sami84]

I've watched this guy for years.. Him and Karlos Dansby are pro bowl talent players. Just not officially so.

[omar586]

MLB position looks good now with Smith, bynes, Brown, McClellan. Ozzie just makes it look easy, I don't think he's done with roster, he will start cutting our losses if they don't perform n th next couple games, and hunt around for next leach-Jj-pollard-McKinney underrated signing.

[arnie_uk]

Through the first qtr. Alot better in run than I expected

[ratedr]

He's a beast, best FA pickup of the offseason.