LB Courtney Upshaw

[chsbasebalplayer]

I personally like Simon's potential way more than Upshaw. He showed a ton of effort and pass rushing skills in the preseason.

[gabefergy]

For those asking...here are the actual numbers.

 

 

[arnie_uk]

For those asking...here are the actual numbers.

 

 

take a screenshot of him with all 34 olbs, in signature stats, he's like 65 out of 73

[T3hRaven]

I personally like Simon's potential way more than Upshaw. He showed a ton of effort and pass rushing skills in the preseason.

 

If he doesn't amount to anything, it won't be because of his effort.  Maybe he can be that situational pass rush guy so we can afford to lose Suggs.

[Robbo15]

In hindsight Lavonte David or Alshon Jefferey would've been a better pick.

He's still young though and a solid player overall.

yes I WOULD take either one

[Gordo52]

yes I WOULD take either one

But we won a Super Bowl and he contributed to that. So it all worked out alright. At least that's how I try and think about it

[Poes Crows]

I don't think he will ever be a dominant pass rusher. I anticipate him having more problems with his weight. Could he play the 3 technique in our defense?

 

Love your Flacco / Spock Avatar.............well done

[Donte19]

I would like Simon to take his spot, but upshaw is a poor man's version of Suggs/dumervil and both would be ahead of him in that RUSH OLB spot.....upshaw has been moved to almost every position in the front 7 so maybe he has unseen talent...i dont see it but i didnt like the pick(knew it was coming once the trade back came, and wished and hoped Oz wouldn't do it, Dreams dont come true!) . But i guess he does his job well, since nobody has taken it yet and i don't think Simon is really or he come be by now...Mcphee replaces Art!!!! or upshaw but i like mcphee to replace Art

[CalvinSmoke]

Love your Flacco / Spock Avatar.............well done

haha, thank you. but i didn't put it together. I just swooped on it 

[jdynamite]

Upshaw isn't a pass rush specialists. He wasn't some top of the line pass rusher at Alabama either. Bama defenses rarely record sacks because they focus on gap assignments and power football.

Upshaw only had 17 career sacks at Bama. Not like.

Upshaw is a lunch pale, defender edge setter

I think some people wanted Upshaw to become what we hoped Sergio Kindle would be as a pass rusher.

[Poes Crows]

no player is above criticism

 

And neither are the Front Offices that draft those players

 

maybe if he showed me something, anything that he's trying to improve and values his position on tge roster id cut him some slack, but all hes shown thus far is he likes to eat and do little work in the offseason and show up to came on the wrong side of 300 lbs.

 

Upshaw was having problems with weight in the interim between Alabama's NCAA Championship and the NFL Combine. He went from a listed 255 or 260 (by memory) to 280+ by the Combine. 

 

Discussing that with a friend, this fan was worried he'd eat himself out of effectiveness.  My friend, said he would play Defensive End at the high weight and that's what the so called "scouts" opined.  As stated there was hesitation here.

 

Since he played at 255 or 260 a couple years ago in an aggressive conditioning program, its hard to believe he can't reach 260 again if directed and motivated.

 

As far as scouting reports go, everyone has an opinion including NFL Scouts and even NFL Scouts that scout for the Ravens.  This fan believes that at 260 Courtney Upshaw played a game from Outside Linebacker position at Alabama that would have inured greatly to Raven success.  Viewed him making a move to rush an agile LSU Quarterback.....Force him to commit without taking a fake and make a crushing sack.  Saw great potential in his game films.  His teammate from Alabama, Dont'a Hightower doesn't want to play pass defense.  They both play the run very well even at their increased weights.

 

All in all, he was a good pick. A helluva lot better pick than Matt Elam who may not play for this team for a whole lot longer. But Upshaw's propensity for weight gain was known and if you don't believe he was valuable at that slot you know who to point the finger at.  This fan is not prepared to do that with this player.

 

However, Upshaw has lost a step since college and he and Ray Rice both need to find that quickness again to avoid a currently bleak looking 2014.

 

For those asking...here are the actual numbers.

 

 

 

Pro Football Focus is a poor guide.  It isn't going to differentiate between a genuine pass rush attempt and a play that turned out to be a pass.  One has to realize that Upshaw's primary responsibility is an Edge Sentry.  His job is to not let anyone "pass"...his way and he has dropped into coverage fairly effectively. Additionally, PFF can't even get their numbers correct.  They messed up Monroe's attributable sacks and one is better off viewing the players and reaching one's own conclusion rather than rely upon statistics from such a concern. We all know what statistics are really worth.

[jdynamite]

im not benching anyone go back a couple pages. He's rushed the passer almost 600 times got less than 50 pressures in his career. Hes in the bottom 15 in terms of pressure per pass rush out of over 70 34 olbs in the past 2 years.

His pass rushing is almost non existent

I'm curious about that 600 number. Because during his rookie year, seemed like Upshaw played a majority of run downs for Kruger and sometimes lined up to set the edge with Kruger playing off him running free.

So I'm just wondering if the number is total count if passing plays Upshaw was on the field for, or the number of times he was actually used as a rusher.

Sometimes a player's assignment is to occupy blockers to free up other rushers.

[jdynamite]

In hindsight Lavonte David or Alshon Jefferey would've been a better pick.

He's still young though and a solid player overall.

Well if we are going to play that game.

Bobby Wagner would have been great.

Or the guy everyone hated on when I wanted to use the 7th rounder on Burfict. A tackling machine.

I really wanted Jeffrey in that draft.

[gabefergy]

I'm curious about that 600 number. Because during his rookie year, seemed like Upshaw played a majority of run downs for Kruger and sometimes lined up to set the edge with Kruger playing off him running free.

So I'm just wondering if the number is total count if passing plays Upshaw was on the field for, or the number of times he was actually used as a rusher.

Sometimes a player's assignment is to occupy blockers to free up other rushers.

I think it was actually McClellan and Upshaw that started when Upshaw was a rookie, then Kruger would come in on pass rush opportunities instead of McClellan. Once Suggs got healthy Kruger spelled Upshaw, but Courtney still saw his fair share of pass rush opportunities as has been spelled out in this thread.

 

As for occupying blockers when rushing the passer, that really does not happen all that frequently. You occasionally see that on a stunt but for the most part an OLB/DE is just asked to beat their man. 

[ClintLB8]

It's kind of weird, because Alabama has a grueling strength and conditioning program. Saban has his guys in tip-top shape. Yet, Terrence Cody, Upshaw, and (I think I heard) DJ Fluker with the Chargers have all had some issues with weight.

 

Weight is the only thing holding Upshaw back from being a pro bowl player. 

 

Since being in the NFL, or at Alabama for that matter.. weight has not been an issue with Fluker. The other two, yes. Fluker said Alabama's practices are harder than the NFL's by far. Maybe, since they aren't as grueling.. the players get complacent and lazy with the "easier" practices/workouts. Maybe a stretch, just a thought..

[ellicottraven]

I don't think you can brand him a bust quite yet. Right now, his role is to do the dirty behind the scenes work so the pass rushers can succeed. He is not a dominating force for sure, but his story is yet to be fully written. I will say this much, he isn't as bad a player in his position as Cody is in his...

 

But, if truth be told, I don't think we have had any impact draft picks in the past few years. All have been average to below average in terms of produciton on the field. With the 16th or 17th pick, they better change that, or we are screwed for a very long time...

[The Oakland Cathedral]

I don't think you can brand him a bust quite yet. Right now, his role is to do the dirty behind the scenes work so the pass rushers can succeed. He is not a dominating force for sure, but his story is yet to be fully written. I will say this much, he isn't as bad a player in his position as Cody is in his...

But, if truth be told, I don't think we have had any impact draft picks in the past few years. All have been average to below average in terms of produciton on the field. With the 16th or 17th pick, they better change that, or we are screwed for a very long time...

I'd consider Jimmy and Torrey significant impact picks...

[Robbo15]

But we won a Super Bowl and he contributed to that. So it all worked out alright. At least that's how I try and think about it

if we had either one of them we would be a better team especially with alshon

[Gordo52]

if we had either one of them we would be a better team especially with alshon

Currently, yes. But maybe we wouldn't have won one if it was any different? That's my point.

[52N19]

i thought after purnell mcphees and courtney upshaws first year  performances that they would evolve into impact players. unfortunatly they have both regressed.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Id say we resign Daryl Smith and have Arthur Brown start alongside.

..is what we are hoping to do. I'm really surprised how little contribution Arthur had in his rookie year. A guy like Ogletree was a full starter with leading tackles half of the season. Arthur couldn't even get above Bynes.

[BmoreBird22]

..is what we are hoping to do. I'm really surprised how little contribution Arthur had in his rookie year. A guy like Ogletree was a full starter with leading tackles half of the season. Arthur couldn't even get above Bynes.

I'm Brown's defense, he was injured and had to learn the terminology. Inside backers need to be a lot more aware and smarter than outside backers, in my opinion

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

With all the spots up for grabs and those that will still come, mini camps, personal workouts, etc... should be front and center on all the above mentioned players minds. It's there for the taking, we'll see who wants it worse. At the end of the day we separate the men from the "Ravens!" Time to step it up!

[Bltravens]

Like Ngata, like Suggs, Upshaw needs to come to camp in game shape and ready to go from the start.

This isn't 1975 where training camp was to get you in shape after doing jack all off season but pushups, drink and golf.

[Bltravens]

..is what we are hoping to do. I'm really surprised how little contribution Arthur had in his rookie year. A guy like Ogletree was a full starter with leading tackles half of the season. Arthur couldn't even get above Bynes.

Harbaugh has some terrible fetish with Bynes.

Bynes should never see defensive packages.

[rmw10]

Harbaugh has some terrible fetish with Bynes.

Bynes should never see defensive packages.

 

Remember when everyone got heated when they cut Bynes his rookie year?  Those were the days….

[Bltravens]

Remember when everyone got heated when they cut Bynes his rookie year?  Those were the days….

Lol, next Bart Scott they all said.

[Purple_ICE 81]

..is what we are hoping to do. I'm really surprised how little contribution Arthur had in his rookie year. A guy like Ogletree was a full starter with leading tackles half of the season. Arthur couldn't even get above Bynes.

Well the Rams also had a great defense and some great talent around Ogletree too like James Lauranitus making it easier to learn faster and take pressure off of him.

[Robbo15]

Currently, yes. But maybe we wouldn't have won one if it was any different? That's my point.

but whos to say we wouldn't have drafted another olb who would have been better ?

[Gordo52]

but whos to say we wouldn't have drafted another olb who would have been better ?

Never know. It's some cloud atlas stuff