The Vent Thread 2014 Draft

[ravensdfan]

People still use fax machines??

 

Some people are resistant to new tech. Or just cheap.

[Poes Crows]

We paid 120 million for a 19 TD, 22 INT quarterback.

 

For comparison Tom Brady with no receivers early in the year threw 25 TD's and 11 INT. 

Granting that Joe Flacco is not Tom Brady, he was still overvalued by Oz.

 

Contrary to what many believe on this board, Oz is in hot water and primarily it pertains to the Flacco contract.

 

Flacco has limitations. He is a "System Guy" and that's another reality that slipped by Oz these last couple years.

 

Flacco has won a Championship and can win others if the Raven's surround him with the proper personnel.  This is another reality that is clearly lost upon Oz because he has not taken the actions to "protect" his Flacco investment.

 

Flacco can get the job done with the right tools. Oz on the other hand just doesn't get it any more and clearly is heading the wrong direction again with the offense.

 

Hopefully this is the last year we have to endure the missteps.

 

 

I lost some respect when Ray said he could see himself as a Cowboy or something like that. Ray was also on 2nd contract though and Reed was obviously at the twilight of his career. There was no fall back or escape plan if Flacco didn't resign, unless we thought TT could be our RG3. There is also the fact we were picking at 32 with no good qbs coming out. Even if there was, the amount to move up would've crippled us.

[Bltravens]

We paid 120 million for a 19 TD, 22 INT quarterback.

 

For comparison Tom Brady with no receivers early in the year threw 25 TD's and 11 INT. 

Granting that Joe Flacco is not Tom Brady, he was still overvalued by Oz.

 

Contrary to what many believe on this board, Oz is in hot water and primarily it pertains to the Flacco contract.

 

Flacco has limitations. He is a "System Guy" and that's another reality that slipped by Oz these last couple years.

 

Flacco has won a Championship and can win others if the Raven's surround him with the proper personnel.  This is another reality that is clearly lost upon Oz because he has not taken the actions to "protect" his Flacco investment.

 

Flacco can get the job done with the right tools. Oz on the other hand just doesn't get it any more and clearly is heading the wrong direction again with the offense.

 

Hopefully this is the last year we have to endure the missteps.

Ozzie pretty much has a lifetime pass as GM in Baltimore.

[hawkprey]

We paid 120 million for a 19 TD, 22 INT quarterback.

 

For comparison Tom Brady with no receivers early in the year threw 25 TD's and 11 INT. 

Granting that Joe Flacco is not Tom Brady, he was still overvalued by Oz.

 

Contrary to what many believe on this board, Oz is in hot water and primarily it pertains to the Flacco contract.

 

Flacco has limitations. He is a "System Guy" and that's another reality that slipped by Oz these last couple years.

 

Flacco has won a Championship and can win others if the Raven's surround him with the proper personnel.  This is another reality that is clearly lost upon Oz because he has not taken the actions to "protect" his Flacco investment.

 

Flacco can get the job done with the right tools. Oz on the other hand just doesn't get it any more and clearly is heading the wrong direction again with the offense.

 

Hopefully this is the last year we have to endure the missteps.

While I agree that we overpaid by about $119 million, we saved a lot of money by signing monster talent like AQ Shipley and Brandon Stokely for pennies. So it all averages out to 8-8, right?

[juanman7]

I want to preface my comments by stating that I loved the job Ozzie Newsome, Eric Decosta and everyone else did this past weekend in the draft. In terms of value picks, it didn't get much better than that. But now, I've been holding some thoughts back that I just want to get out.

 

How did we not get a WR in the first three rounds? With the deepest class in years in which a number 1 could be found as late as early in the third round and number 2's all the way to round 7? Going on NFL.com and seeing all these videos and how they focus mostly on offense on that website discussing all the great receivers teams got, it just annoys me that we didn't take a chance on a guy like Allen Robinson or Cody Latimer in the second or even a davante adams or a jared abbrederis. My dream pick was Mike Evans who I seriously think will be a top 5 NFL Wide Receiver within the next 4 years, and seeing them go to a team other than the ravens is a hard pill to swallow knowing we could've gotten them at some point in the draft. I love Steve Smith Sr. and hope he can be like a Derick Mason for us but other than Torrey, no other WR is that reliable. Marlon Brown had some stats but nothing incredible and I'm just not too sure his ceiling is any higher at this point. And Michael Campanaro is a steal who could've gone in the 3rd or 4th but he has injury concerns and has to have an outstanding training camp to make the 53-man roster. I just hope our WR corps shows significant improvement on the field this season or I'm not going to understand the front office's logic in missing out on a potential number 1 talent time after time this past draft.

 

The same could be said about passing up on a running back earlier on considering the horrible performance by the running back's last season and not knowing whether rice will play the full season or even be back to his former healthier self. 

 

I just hope all these things get straightened out before the season.

[beanfigger]

I think if we would have drafted Jared Abracadabra instead of Urban in the 4th, this would have been my favorite draft of all time.  I liked just about everyone we did end up with, and I hope Campanarocadabra will be a serviceable slot guy for us within the next couple seasons.

[ravensdfan]

I'm really just coming into my own opinion that they are kind of scared of using high draft picks on offense. They just don't seem to be as successful overall as they are on defense.

 

They had Rice & Flacco. Took Torrey in the 2nd and while he's been good, has not really hit expected potential.

They had Oher - didn't hit expected potential.

Clayton - smh. Pitta wasn't selected until the 4th round.

Dickson came before him and well, that didn't work out.

 

Boller. ugh.

 

Hmm...perhaps they're a bit gun shy. Just speculating here.

[beasy2487]

Personally, I'm a little miffed that Ozzie hasn't held a press conference to apologize to the fans, ownership, and the future generations of fans and ownership he's done wrong with this draft. It's obvious that this was a colossal failure as evidenced by every expert making it clear Oz doesn't know what he's doing. It would be one thing if the guy had an irrefutable track record building winning football teams, but c'mon this is Ozzie Newsome we're talking about, not some legend of the game both on and off the field.

As the saying goes, "Defense doesn't win championships, rookie WRs and RBs do." Followed closely by, "Please consult forum posters for draft advice. The higher the post count, the better the mock." So please Ozzie (and Eric you take notes), it's time to do us all a favor and hang up this little short term "NFL" experiment you've been testing for the past 36 years. It's just not working out.

[Militant X 1]

I'm really just coming into my own opinion that they are kind of scared of using high draft picks on offense. They just don't seem to be as successful overall as they are on defense.

 

They had Rice & Flacco. Took Torrey in the 2nd and while he's been good, has not really hit expected potential.

They had Oher - didn't hit expected potential.

Clayton - smh. Pitta wasn't selected until the 4th round.

Dickson came before him and well, that didn't work out.

 

Boller. ugh.

 

Hmm...perhaps they're a bit gun shy. Just speculating here.

 

I feel that too!  While I like the fact that Ozzie and company want to stay true to our defensive roots, I also feel that at some point (in the drafts, trades and FA) the focus needs to be on building a potent offense to "compliment" a very stout, stingy and stifling defense.  I hate seeing that one-sided affect in Baltimore all of these years!

 

#Mili

[flynismo]

Lol beasy

[ravensdfan]

Personally, I'm a little miffed that Ozzie hasn't held a press conference to apologize to the fans, ownership, and the future generations of fans and ownership he's done wrong with this draft. It's obvious that this was a colossal failure as evidenced by every expert making it clear Oz doesn't know what he's doing. It would be one thing if the guy had an irrefutable track record building winning football teams, but c'mon this is Ozzie Newsome we're talking about, not some legend of the game both on and off the field.

As the saying goes, "Defense doesn't win championships, rookie WRs and RBs do." Followed closely by, "Please consult forum posters for draft advice. The higher the post count, the better the mock." So please Ozzie (and Eric you take notes), it's time to do us all a favor and hang up this little short term "NFL" experiment you've been testing for the past 36 years. It's just not working out.

 

I got my email this morning. Didn't you get yours?

 

There have been losing seasons as well. Did someone else draft those years? Mistakes happen. We all make them. Some are more avoidable than others.

[SecretAgentMan]

Lol beasy

Um... 

[flynismo]

Um... 

I'm lost!

[ravensdfan]

I feel that too!  While I like the fact that Ozzie and company want to stay true to our defensive roots, I also feel that at some point (in the drafts, trades and FA) the focus needs to be on building a potent offense to "compliment" a very stout, stingy and stifling defense.  I hate seeing that one-sided affect in Baltimore all of these years!

 

#Mili

 

Well I guess the upside is - Marlon should get to keep his spot in the rotation. With S.Smith here he'll lose some playing time but he should still get a lot.

 

We can only hope that these unproven players everyone is relying on for the O line pan out. It all starts there.

[SecretAgentMan]

I'm lost!

Ok. I'll say it. Why do you have a picture of Rebel  Wilson Zipping up her pants?

 

Well I guess the upside is - Marlon should get to keep his spot in the rotation. With S.Smith here he'll lose some playing time but he should still get a lot.

 

We can only hope that these unproven players everyone is relying on for the O line pan out. It all starts there.

Uh. One of em will, since that's usually the case. 

[Underdogsontop!]

While I agree that we overpaid by about $119 million, we saved a lot of money by signing monster talent like AQ Shipley and Brandon Stokely for pennies. So it all averages out to 8-8, right?

Couple times last season I wondered if joe flacco would rather have the $119mil and get sacked, pick himself off the ground, have limited amount of weapons to throw to, and most off all have the ravens lose games.... Then take a little pay cut to spend money on the O line, possibly get a top Tackle and WR in free agency?

[flynismo]

Ok. I'll say it. Why do you have a picture of Rebel  Wilson Zipping up her pants?

 

 

Everyone else has an avatar of a hot chick!

[Cville-Raven]

Everyone else has an avatar of a hot chick!

Clearly you're staying with the trend…

[flynismo]

Clearly you're staying with the trend…

LOL. Actually I want too see how long I can keep it without stabbing myself in the eyeball with a pencil

[T3hRaven]

Everyone else has an avatar of a hot chick!

 

Nobody wants to see that.

[Cville-Raven]

Nobody wants to see that.

Yeah I have to quickly skip past his posts now just to avoid the image. 

[flynismo]

sigh....you guys are no fun

[Cville-Raven]

Its for the better of everyone else's eyes

[flynismo]

Personally, I'm a little miffed that Ozzie hasn't held a press conference to apologize to the fans, ownership, and the future generations of fans and ownership he's done wrong with this draft. It's obvious that this was a colossal failure as evidenced by every expert making it clear Oz doesn't know what he's doing. It would be one thing if the guy had an irrefutable track record building winning football teams, but c'mon this is Ozzie Newsome we're talking about, not some legend of the game both on and off the field.

As the saying goes, "Defense doesn't win championships, rookie WRs and RBs do." Followed closely by, "Please consult forum posters for draft advice. The higher the post count, the better the mock." So please Ozzie (and Eric you take notes), it's time to do us all a favor and hang up this little short term "NFL" experiment you've been testing for the past 36 years. It's just not working out.

 

You forgot to inform them to stop drafting all these Bama Busts

[usmccharles]

I guess ill vent, but its not much

 

I like our draft.  Everything i read about the players we got is nothing but good things, im very excited to see brooks in action.  I have no issues not taking a rb earlier as i think we are fine in that area, i just think the faults were on the oline.  Only issue i have is that we finally had a spot in the draft where we could draft a offensive weapon to make a difference and we passed on it, cooks was still there when we took mosely, but ill be honest, im not too sure how good mosely is and dont know whats expected of him.  In a very deep draft at wr, we wait till the 7th round to pick a wr, hopefully MC turns out, i like him, but its a lot of faith to put on a 7th rounder. 

 

Oz is an awesome GM, the best in the game, but his weak spot is clearly wrs and he had a chance to change that right away this year.  MC may work, but we wont know for two years or so. 

[SecretAgentMan]

You forgot to inform them to stop drafting all these Bama Busts

This one is actually true(but I know others who think that Mosley was the real deal before the draft. Color me skeptical).

That said, I hated the Upshaw pick a few years ago. I really hated it. He made up with it for the KO pick, and although I was a fan of Pierce, I thought he was a reach. Which he was.

But we need to stop drafting Bama players. I'm tired of every even tested draft(yes, it's actually a pattern. Ozzie seems to draft better for the most part in odd numbered drafts. When he doesn't take a Bama prospect). That said, I do like Cooper next year

[Cville-Raven]

I really hope ESPN forgets about that Aloe Blacc song before next years draft. Quite possibly one of the most overplayed songs of all time.

[usmccharles]

sidenote, i still think trading Boldin away was a mistake

[redrum52]

I really hope ESPN forgets about that Aloe Blacc song before next years draft. Quite possibly one of the most overplayed songs of all time.

I hate that song. They play it all over NFLN, ESPN and the damn headphone commercial.

[Cville-Raven]

I hate that song. They play it all over NFLN, ESPN and the damn headphone commercial.

Yeah when I saw that was the song ESPN decided to open their draft broadcast with I was pretty PO'd.