The Vent Thread 2014 Draft

[sflegend89]

Trading for Zuttah was like taking the best center in this draft class only we didn't give up a high pick to get him. I'm starting to think the "need" for a RT is over blown. If Wagner isn't looking like a starting RT in camp we'll kick out K.O. and plug a guy like Urschel or Jensen at LG. There's also the possibility of a serviceable veteran T or G getting signed. People are too hard on Rick Wagner as well imo, this isn't a "Doss" at his position who is never going to turn the corner. When Oher went out, Wagner had to come in cold off the bench to a game that had already established a rhythm and a feeling out process in the trenches. Then you add on the fact that he was a rookie and it was hist first live action in a regular season NFL game.. that's a really tough spot to be in.

[codizzle]

Confidence in Wagner is just as hillarious after how he performed when he came in for Oher.

I'm done venting about it - but the first one that drags on the offense if they're inept again - I am reminding how they just loved this defense heavy (yet again) draft and completely ignoring our offensive needs.

Don't want to hear it.

Getting old hearing same argument against Wagner..he was thrown into a tough situation without much preparation against a stout pass rush

He played much better as season progressed though it was in a limited role

[T3hRaven]

Getting old hearing same argument against Wagner..he was thrown into a tough situation without much preparation against a stout pass rush

He played much better as season progressed though it was in a limited role

 

Doesn't change the fact that it's a bit foolhardy betting it all on a late round guy with athletic limitations.  I still expect Eric Winston to be signed rather soon.

[PolishRifle]

Doesn't change the fact that it's a bit foolhardy betting it all on a late round guy with athletic limitations.  I still expect Eric Winston to be signed rather soon.

 

That would be a great singing...around 2008.

[arnie_uk]

Offseason upgrades pre-draft was chock full of offense.

how much of it was an upgrade. Zuttah is an upgrade over gino but lets not pretend he is alex mack. Smith is an upgrade over no Boldin, but he's not as good as boldin, owen daniels was cut by Houston because of a failed medical, so lets not set the bar to high with him.

Compare that to what 3 picks in the top 100 of the last 2 drafts all defense.

In comparison the offense has been neglected. The biggest improvement was trading for monroe last year.

[ravensdfan]

how much of it was an upgrade. Zuttah is an upgrade over gino but lets not pretend he is alex mack. Smith is an upgrade over no Boldin, but he's not as good as boldin, owen daniels was cut by Houston because of a failed medical, so lets not set the bar to high with him.

Compare that to what 3 picks in the top 100 of the last 2 drafts all defense.

In comparison the offense has been neglected. The biggest improvement was trading for monroe last year.

 

As far as players go, Monroe was the biggest upgrade by far. While adding Daniels & Smith plug some holes, these are two guys at the end of their careers. I'm not calling that an "upgrade" just yet.

 

Kubiak was the best thing they did for the offense. But you can't do your job if you're not given tools.

[1/28/01]

Kubiak

S Smith

Daniels

Fully healthy Pitta

Signed Monroe

Zuttah

Healthy KO

Rice dropped 15

Signed Jacoby

Grabbed a blocking TE for an OC who loves TEs

Potential slot WR in Camp

Offense has not been neglected in the last 4 months. Sorry.

If the offense flounders again, its due to chemistry of certain players or those players just not performing to expectation.

[arnie_uk]

Kubiak

S Smith

Daniels

Fully healthy Pitta

Signed Monroe

Zuttah

Healthy KO

Rice dropped 15

Signed Jacoby

Grabbed a blocking TE for an OC who loves TEs

Potential slot WR in Camp

Offense has not been neglected in the last 4 months. Sorry.

If the offense flounders again, its due to chemistry of certain players or those players just not performing to expectation.

getting players back from injury isn't going out and getting improvements it's gambling on them being what they were before they were injured.

Resigning players again, isn't going out and getting improvements, it's keeping the status quo., which was 29th in the league might I add.

Smith and Daniels are one year stop gaps, may help a little, but won't fire us from 29th to top 10. We are really relying on flacco and rice to transform their own seasons and fire us over the top with out improving their chances by adding much talent.

Defence on the other hand should, and needs to keep games close, it can't let up game killing drives this year. We've drafted good d players but if they can't come together and be a top unit this year we could be in big trouble.

I just can't see our offence putting us over the top unless joe takes that step towards "eliteness" and rice can turn back into that pro bowl runner. Personally, I'd have preferred to add talent to help them rather than gambling.

[1/28/01]

getting players back from injury isn't going out and getting improvements it's gambling on them being what they were before they were injured.

Resigning players again, isn't going out and getting improvements, it's keeping the status quo., which was 29th in the league might I add.

Smith and Daniels are one year stop gaps, may help a little, but won't fire us from 29th to top 10. We are really relying on flacco and rice to transform their own seasons and fire us over the top with out improving their chances by adding much talent.

Defence on the other hand should, and needs to keep games close, it can't let up game killing drives this year. We've drafted good d players but if they can't come together and be a top unit this year we could be in big trouble.

I just can't see our offence putting us over the top unless joe takes that step towards "eliteness" and rice can turn back into that pro bowl runner. Personally, I'd have preferred to add talent to help them rather than gambling.

Much rather have an average offense and a potentially top 10 defense. For the most part, Ozzie stuck with his BPA philosophy and it just so happened to yield defensive players. This offense has plenty of talent (or assumed talent) and now a new and proven successful OC. If they fail again, its on them.

[arnie_uk]

Much rather have an average offense and a potentially top 10 defense. For the most part, Ozzie stuck with his BPA philosophy and it just so happened to yield defensive players. This offense has plenty of talent (or assumed talent) and now a new and proven successful OC. If they fail again, its on them.

so your assuming everyone greatly improves on last year and we fire on all cylinders under a new oc right from the get go? Remember Castillo said it would take about 10 games for a new blocking scheme to cement in, how long will it take for a whole new playbook to cement?

I also don't think it has plenty of talent, it has some talent. Not as much as the defence does. If kubiak can't kick start the offence we will be in trouble, he has to get rice, flacco and torrey smith to greatly improve on what the done last year, but hopefully the oline helpfully improving would go along way towards that.

I have nothing against the players we took, and fully expect a great defense. I would just have like to seen it a bit split over the past two years, compared to 3 picks in a row defense two years in a row.

[ravensnick]

so your assuming everyone greatly improves on last year and we fire on all cylinders under a new oc right from the get go? Remember Castillo said it would take about 10 games for a new blocking scheme to cement in, how long will it take for a whole new playbook to cement?

I also don't think it has plenty of talent, it has some talent. Not as much as the defence does. If kubiak can't kick start the offence we will be in trouble, he has to get rice, flacco and torrey smith to greatly improve on what the done last year, but hopefully the oline helpfully improving would go along way towards that.

I have nothing against the players we took, and fully expect a great defense. I would just have like to seen it a bit split over the past two years, compared to 3 picks in a row defense two years in a row.

Honestly, where would be stick these guys in offense? We got a great future #2 TE in Gilmore and a back that fits well with Rice and Pierce in Taliaferro. We already got too many WRs to warrent getting a top guy and we got Campanero as well. We got some O-line depth in Urschel and Hurst. Weinning should be an improvement as a backup over Taylor (who could stay as an Athlete). Only thing I could see you could complain about is that maybe we didn't address tackle, but I think if we don't go with Wagner, we move Gradkowski to guard and KO to tackle. 

[1/28/01]

so your assuming everyone greatly improves on last year and we fire on all cylinders under a new oc right from the get go? Remember Castillo said it would take about 10 games for a new blocking scheme to cement in, how long will it take for a whole new playbook to cement?

I also don't think it has plenty of talent, it has some talent. Not as much as the defence does. If kubiak can't kick start the offence we will be in trouble, he has to get rice, flacco and torrey smith to greatly improve on what the done last year, but hopefully the oline helpfully improving would go along way towards that.

I have nothing against the players we took, and fully expect a great defense. I would just have like to seen it a bit split over the past two years, compared to 3 picks in a row defense two years in a row.

All cylinders? No. Enough talent and a highly paid QB to make an average offense? Yes, I believe we have enough talent and made enough improvements to be at the very least average. If Flacco cant perform average with Torrey, S Smith, Marlon, Jacoby, the 3 or 4 TEs we have, slimmer Rice and an improved OL (improved with extensions, signings and being on paper healthier) then we're in trouble for more than just this year.

[arnie_uk]

Honestly, where would be stick this guys in offense? We got a great future #2 TE in Gilmore and a back that fits well with Rice and Pierce in Taliaferro. We already got too many WRs to warrent getting a top guy and we got Campanero as well. We got some O-line depth in Urschel and Hurst. Weinning should be an improvement as a backup over Taylor (who could stay as an Athlete).

a top receiver to play as a number 2 with smith as three brown four Jacoby five would have been perfect.

I would have liked more depth on oline, back injuries aee tricky with ko. If he goes down we will likely have gino or a 5th round rookie at guard with a second yr 5th round pick at right tackle. It doesn't spell great unit to me unless kubiak completely transforms the blocking system, which will enrage me further about that castillo one.

Id have ppreferred a higher rated running back instead of the Crockett pick, and take him later. Im worried about the rb position. If Ray gets any sort of ban we have an oft injured pierce as number 1 and a project rb thats main strength is run blocking. Granted thats highly needed as neither pierce or ray can block, but id rather have someone whos main strength is actually running the ball.

Don't get me wrong we added some great peices to our d, I'm just not sure how jernigan will fit unless we move 43.

[ravensnick]

a top receiver to play as a number 2 with smith as three brown four Jacoby five would have been perfect.

I would have liked more depth on oline, back injuries aee tricky with ko. If he goes down we will likely have gino or a 5th round rookie at guard with a second yr 5th round pick at right tackle. It doesn't spell great unit to me unless kubiak completely transforms the blocking system, which will enrage me further about that castillo one.

Id have ppreferred a higher rated running back instead of the Crockett pick, and take him later. Im worried about the rb position. If Ray gets any sort of ban we have an oft injured pierce as number 1 and a project rb thats main strength is run blocking. Granted thats highly needed as neither pierce or ray can block, but id rather have someone whos main strength is actually running the ball.

Don't get me wrong we added some great peices to our d, I'm just not sure how jernigan will fit unless we move 43.

I sincerely doubt any rookie receiver going lower than OBJ could have done that. A "higher" rb would have been James White or Devonta Freeman at 99. I think Taliaferro fits better than those two. I think with the Mosely, Jernigan, and Urban, we have to move to a 4-3 (which we play a lot anyway).

[arnie_uk]

I sincerely doubt any rookie receiver going lower than OBJ could have done that. A "higher" rb would have been James White or Devonta Freeman at 99. I think Taliaferro fits better than those two. I think with the Mosely, Jernigan, and Urban, we have to move to a 4-3 (which we play a lot anyway).

firmly believe lee and robinson could have. Matthews might have as well.

[jazz1988]

firmly believe lee and robinson could have. Matthews might have as well.

 

I agree but they were all gone before we could pick. I thought Robinson or Latimer would fall in the third round but I don't think any one expected the Jaguars to trade back in the second round to get Robinson and for the Broncos to do the same to get Latimer. 

[Ravensfan23]

firmly believe lee and robinson could have. Matthews might have as well.

I feel those are just names at this point. I would have loved Lee, buy he doesn't make us or break us. Robinson and Matthew would provide exactly what we have in Brown imo. I think the biggest thing and the draft is nobody knows what Kubes view is after evaluation his players and building a offense to fit what we currently have.

It would have made you "feel" better to grab a big name offensive guy. But that doesn't mean the offense would have improved any, it would have just looked good to say we added to the offense.

Imo as good as the WR class was this year, there were only about 3 true #1guys. Everyone else were just strong 2s or slot guys. If Kubes felt the same way then he probably told Ozzie the type of guy he needed. If history stands we are talking about a guy who has built an great offense around average to good players at Oline, RB and the TE positions. Kubes may very well feel he has what he needs to coordinate a top 10 offense. If that's the case why wouldn't Ozzie take the opportunity to land 3 potential great defenders if they were all top on his board. Camp is one of the better slot WRs in this class, so cats if he didn't come over the first 3 rounds? If the Ravens wanted to come away with a strong slot guy who can keep the chains moving for Joe act they came away with that guy it's a win. Imo

[arnie_uk]

I feel those are just names at this point. I would have loved Lee, buy he doesn't make us or break us. Robinson and Matthew would provide exactly what we have in Brown imo. I think the biggest thing and the draft is nobody knows what Kubes view is after evaluation his players and building a offense to fit what we currently have.

It would have made you "feel" better to grab a big name offensive guy. But that doesn't mean the offense would have improved any, it would have just looked good to say we added to the offense.

Imo as good as the WR class was this year, there were only about 3 true #1guys. Everyone else were just strong 2s or slot guys. If Kubes felt the same way then he probably told Ozzie the type of guy he needed. If history stands we are talking about a guy who has built an great offense around average to good players at Oline, RB and the TE positions. Kubes may very well feel he has what he needs to coordinate a top 10 offense. If that's the case why wouldn't Ozzie take the opportunity to land 3 potential great defenders if they were all top on his board. Camp is one of the better slot WRs in this class, so cats if he didn't come over the first 3 rounds? If the Ravens wanted to come away with a strong slot guy who can keep the chains moving for Joe act they came away with that guy it's a win. Imo

it would be putting your offense in the best situation to succed6d5 instead of virtually setting for the status quo.

I could use the exact same argument for the defensive players we just drafted that you used to discredit the offensive ones we didn't draft.

[PolishRifle]

I think the Ravens offense will be back to being average atleast with what we have right now. Flacco had less surrounding him at points of his carreer in the past and still made it work. That's sort of the problem I have with this draft however. The FO seems to go out of their way to fix and improve the defense constantly. I'm just not getting the same impression from their efforts to help the offense.

We could've found other ways to get the money for Dumervil (yet, another addition to the defense), but Ozzie had to trade Joe's best receiver for 6th round pick (6th ROUND, I still can't believe it!) and as soon as we made some nice addition patching up the defense, Ozzie spend the following draft loading up on defensive talent and now we spend yet another draft using top picks solely for defensive talent and that in a draft with the deepest WR class in years, where we could've found a young replacement for Anquan.

When it comes to defense, Ozzie doesn't take chances, hopes that players come back healthy or just "likes the guys we already have". It's pretty obvious preferential treatment, imho.

[Ravenslifer]

Honestly, where would be stick these guys in offense? We got a great future #2 TE in Gilmore and a back that fits well with Rice and Pierce in Taliaferro. We already got too many WRs to warrent getting a top guy and we got Campanero as well. We got some O-line depth in Urschel and Hurst. Weinning should be an improvement as a backup over Taylor (who could stay as an Athlete). Only thing I could see you could complain about is that maybe we didn't address tackle, but I think if we don't go with Wagner, we move Gradkowski to guard and KO to tackle. 

 

I think this would be my only question mark with the offense - at this point, we have no definite long-term solution next to Torrey.  Steve won't be here forever, Jacoby is not a number 2, and while Marlon played well last year, he hasn't IMO at this point consistent enough to be considered a long-term starter.  I thought we'd be in good position to get a receiver with starting potential, but we did pick up a very good TE with starting potential to compliment Pitta.  My guess is the FO decided to see how Marlon, and other guys like Aaron Mallette and DT, progressed, but I still think a long-term starter next to Torrey is, at this point, a question mark.

[ravensnick]

firmly believe lee and robinson could have. Matthews might have as well.

I'm not taking Matthews at 17 and he went before 48. Same with Lee. I don't think Robinson would be a #1/#2 day one

[arnie_uk]

I'm not taking Matthews at 17 and he went before 48. Same with Lee. I don't think Robinson would be a #1/#2 day one

just throwing out a few names. Could have moved up in second or back whatever. Just saying there was options. Or even jace Amaro, or a definitive right tackle in the second.

[arnie_uk]

I think this would be my only question mark with the offense - at this point, we have no definite long-term solution next to Torrey. Steve won't be here forever, Jacoby is not a number 2, and while Marlon played well last year, he hasn't IMO at this point consistent enough to be considered a long-term starter. I thought we'd be in good position to get a receiver with starting potential, but we did pick up a very good TE with starting potential to compliment Pitta. My guess is the FO decided to see how Marlon, and other guys like Aaron Mallette and DT, progressed, but I still think a long-term starter next to Torrey is, at this point, a question mark.

I like Crockett as well, hd projected him to us, just not that early. Redzone threat initially like how the lions use fauria

[radicals]

Marlon Brown was great last year IMO for an UDFA rookie. He's been improving since last year, he'll be an important part of our offense next year.

[ravensnick]

Marlon Brown was great last year IMO for an UDFA rookie. He's been improving since last year, he'll be an important part of our offense next year.

Exactly. After Steve got signed, WR was no longer a need. 

[radicals]

Exactly. After Steve got signed, WR was no longer a need.

I think now with Campanaro we've covered the need. Ravens have more than enough offensive pieces that are talented

[ravensnick]

I think now with Campanaro we've covered the need. Ravens have more than enough offensive pieces that are talented

Exactly. i am a little concerned at OT, but i figure we plan to move KO there and have a LG competition. Every other position is really, really deep. We just got screwed over from poor play from Oher and Mckinnie last year as well as KO's injury.

[JoeyFlex5]

HAHAHA.  I love people like you.  Talk about the draft like you know everything when you really know nothing.  Whelp.  We got Brooks in the 3rd soooo.

HAHAHA no. i dont think most of us expected brooks to be there at 79. and if you looked at any posts i put up more recently, you'd see me say that after the terrence brooks, this whole draft started to make sense, and that it was a brilliant move to be so patient and stay so true to the board and end up getting a player we really wanted.

[radicals]

Exactly. i am a little concerned at OT, but i figure we plan to move KO there and have a LG competition. Every other position is really, really deep. We just got screwed over from poor play from Oher and Mckinnie last year as well as KO's injury.

Plus last years center was horrible. People are calling Zuttah average but if we can get a center that managed to prevent a sack for an entire season on a below average OL in Tampa, I'm more than happy to have him as an addition.

[ravensnick]

Plus last years center was horrible. People are calling Zuttah average but if we can get a center that managed to prevent a sack for an entire season on a below average OL in Tampa, I'm more than happy to have him as an addition.

Zuttah should be a a great player