The Vent Thread 2014 Draft

[SecretAgentMan]

I think Brooks will be better than Dix. Then again, I think Dix will be a bust, so I guess that isn't a big vote of confidence for Brooks

No, Dix is going to be a good player. He doesn't have any overall weakness in my eyes, and was a safe pick. Mosley is good, but I still think Dix would've been the better pick

[ravensnick]

No, Dix is going to be a good player. He doesn't have any overall weakness in my eyes, and was a safe pick. Mosley is good, but I still think Dix would've been the better pick

I'd argue that while Dix is a much better prospect, Brooks is the certainly more athletic and maybe even more developed player. Dix was a jack of all trades, but remember, he was also master of none at Alabama. He was good, but not great at every aspect of the game. No aspect stood out, but nothing was glaringly missing. 

[beanfigger]

exactly

I was partial to Te'o. I thought he'd be decent in our scheme, but looking back on it he couldn't shed a block to save his life. Something Mosley can do and is good at doing.

I don't think we hate Mosley because we think he's bad(he's actually pretty good).. He wasn't a need though, and Dix was on the board.

I still don't understand why this wasn't a need as people say. An argument could definitely be made that other positions were "more" of a need, but I see one established starting MLB on the entire team. One. Spending a third on Brooks will wind up being a bigger gain relative to cost than a first on a safety who is a little better, and Mosely has the makings of a stud more than any safety in the draft. And I believe it is a position of need.

[gabefergy]

I still don't understand why this wasn't a need as people say. An argument could definitely be made that other positions were "more" of a need, but I see one established starting MLB on the entire team. One. Spending a third on Brooks will wind up being a bigger gain relative to cost than a first on a safety who is a little better, and Mosely has the makings of a stud more than any safety in the draft. And I believe it is a position of need.

Because Daryl Smith, Arthur Brown, Josh Bynes, and Albert McCellelan are all on the roster. They have all played well at ILB. Now, Smith is getting older so a future replacement was needed at some point but good ILBs do not have to be drafted in the first round.

 

It's a lot of resources to invest in a position that is not a premium defensive position, especially considering the glaring needs on the roster that weren't addressed.

[flynismo]

Need or not, I can't blame Ozzie for not wanting to pass up on a talent like that

[flynismo]

I still don't understand why this wasn't a need as people say. An argument could definitely be made that other positions were "more" of a need, but I see one established starting MLB on the entire team. One. Spending a third on Brooks will wind up being a bigger gain relative to cost than a first on a safety who is a little better, and Mosely has the makings of a stud more than any safety in the draft. And I believe it is a position of need.

I don't think it was an immediate need, but this is going to look great in a couple years when Daryl is gone or over the hill.

[BmoreBird22]

No, Dix is going to be a good player. He doesn't have any overall weakness in my eyes, and was a safe pick. Mosley is good, but I still think Dix would've been the better pick

Dix isn't a special player. He's an average player who got hyped up way too much because of how few good safeties there were. Sure, he's not going to allow too many big plays, not going to miss many tackles, and will be solid, but he's not a huge playmaker (often benefitting from other players to help him make a play instead of making his own), not an intimidating force, and not this great presence along the line of scrimmage. He's also not nearly the athlete that Brooks is.

[BmoreBird22]

I don't think it was an immediate need, but this is going to look great in a couple years when Daryl is gone or over the hill.

If the Ravens switch to the 4-3 like many think, it'll have been a pretty big need.

[flynismo]

No, Dix is going to be a good player. He doesn't have any overall weakness in my eyes, and was a safe pick. Mosley is good, but I still think Dix would've been the better pick

I had a similiar conversation about Reiff before he was drafted...everyone thought he was the 'safest' OT in the draft, but I knew he'd be underwhelming...I thought he'd be a decent to good starter, but nothing more. Same with Dix; he just doesn't stand out. Probably why when asked about choosing Mosely over HaHa, Ozzie said "the choice was clear" even though FS was a much bigger need than ILB

[flynismo]

If the Ravens switch to the 4-3 like many think, it'll have been a pretty big need.

Yeah that's very true

[SecretAgentMan]

I had a similiar conversation about Reiff before he was drafted...everyone thought he was the 'safest' OT in the draft, but I knew he'd be underwhelming...I thought he'd be a decent to good starter, but nothing more. Same with Dix; he just doesn't stand out. Probably why when asked about choosing Mosely over HaHa, Ozzie said "the choice was clear" even though FS was a much bigger need than ILB

We don't need a star at FS but he's a lot better than Brooks. Rieff has been decent. Not great. He would've  been a lot better at RT. Dix was better than Brooks and FS was our biggest need. RT's grow on trees, and I think we got ours in Hurst, so I'm not bad. But MOSLEY? He's a hell of a talent but no, we didn't need him. Then no WR addressed? No slot CB?

 

We didn't get much better offensively, something we needed desperately. 

[beanfigger]

Because Daryl Smith, Arthur Brown, Josh Bynes, and Albert McCellelan are all on the roster. They have all played well at ILB. Now, Smith is getting older so a future replacement was needed at some point but good ILBs do not have to be drafted in the first round.

It's a lot of resources to invest in a position that is not a premium defensive position, especially considering the glaring needs on the roster that weren't addressed.

Entering the offseason, MLB was possibly the biggest need. Then, we re-sign Smith and the position can just be considered covered? Maybe if we ran a 4-3. And about the first round part, I remember nearly the entire board rooting for us to grab one in the first last year. We got lucky to get a guy we wanted in the second. I believe that happened this year regarding safety. I'm glad we have a host of players that have played "well" in spot duty, too. I'm also glad we got a guy who will do that next to Smith in a starting role now. We got the guy who was obviously the best player available, and it isn't like he's gonna sit on the bench behind a stacked position hoping to get on the field.

[flynismo]

We don't need a star at FS but he's a lot better than Brooks. Rieff has been decent. Not great. He would've been a lot better at RT. Dix was better than Brooks and FS was our biggest need. RT's grow on trees, and I think we got ours in Hurst, so I'm not bad. But MOSLEY? He's a hell of a talent but no, we didn't need him. Then no WR addressed? No slot CB?

We didn't get much better offensively, something we needed desperately.

I still honestly don't know what to make of Brooks. part of it is ignorance on my part....I saw him play twice last year. Then there are the concerns over his lack of turnovers, and inexperience at the position.

So with that in mind, I look at the total package of Brooks, and I see a much higher ceiling on him than Dix. Whether he ever gets there....who knows, but we'll find out soon enough.

As for Reiff, that was my point...you don't take a LT at #11(?) overall, with the hopes that he is decent, and possibly better at RT.

But yeah, I have my own picks I am miffed about, I still think we should have went offense in 3rd and 4th

[gabefergy]

Entering the offseason, MLB was possibly the biggest need. Then, we re-sign Smith and the position can just be considered covered? Maybe if we ran a 4-3. And about the first round part, I remember nearly the entire board rooting for us to grab one in the first last year. We got lucky to get a guy we wanted in the second. I believe that happened this year regarding safety. I'm glad we have a host of players that have played "well" in spot duty, too. I'm also glad we got a guy who will do that next to Smith in a starting role now. We got the guy who was obviously the best player available, and it isn't like he's gonna sit on the bench behind a stacked position hoping to get on the field.

Yeah, normally resigning the starting MLB pretty much covers the need there. Mosley was not obviously the best player available. It's justt how our team had him ranked.

[beanfigger]

Yeah, normally resigning the starting MLB pretty much covers the need there. Mosley was not obviously the best player available. It's justt how our team had him ranked.

I thought he was. He was the highest rated player left on NFL.com and ESPN and our board. It's okay that he wasn't on yours. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. And getting back one of your two starting MLB doesn't necessarily cover the whole position. I do agree it wasn't our biggest need, but I completely disagree that it wasn't a need. There were very few positions that weren't a need at all for us.

[flynismo]

Looking back, I remember talking to some of you guys about Mosely a few hours before the draft. I said the only reason I wouldn't want him is because he wasn't a need -- assuming Brown shows some progression.

But looking back at how the first round played out, I feel it was by far the best option

[gabefergy]

I thought he was. He was the highest rated player left on NFL.com and ESPN and our board. It's okay that he wasn't on yours. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. And getting back one of your two starting MLB doesn't necessarily cover the whole position. I do agree it wasn't our biggest need, but I completely disagree that it wasn't a need. There were very few positions that weren't a need at all for us.

Josh Bynes started much of last season at ILB next to Smith and there is a reason why we traded up to take Brown last year.  I thought it was a position that could have used a late round pick or UDFA to compete for a last roster spot, but using a first round draft pick was a poor decision imo. 

 

Taking HHCD in the first round would have allowed for the addition of a much better player at a position of serious need like CB. 

[beanfigger]

Josh Bynes started much of last season at ILB next to Smith and there is a reason why we traded up to take Brown last year.  I thought it was a position that could have used a late round pick or UDFA to compete for a last roster spot, but using a first round draft pick was a poor decision imo. 

 

Taking HHCD in the first round would have allowed for the addition of a much better player at a position of serious need like CB. 

 

That's a fair argument, and it makes sense.  For me, I believe the gap between Mosely and some late round or UDFA is far bigger than Dix and Brooks, who we got.  I do really wish we would have drafted a CB, but I don't think the Mosely pick prevented that.  I had a much bigger problem with the middle of our draft, but even then I don't think it was horribly bad.  I just wish a CB was in there.  Desir was hanging around for a while waiting to hear his name called, and we had a comp 3rd that I felt had his name on it.

[ravensnick]

Josh Bynes started much of last season at ILB next to Smith and there is a reason why we traded up to take Brown last year.  I thought it was a position that could have used a late round pick or UDFA to compete for a last roster spot, but using a first round draft pick was a poor decision imo. 

 

Taking HHCD in the first round would have allowed for the addition of a much better player at a position of serious need like CB. 

Josh Bynes shouldn't be starting at ILB. No if, ands,or but, Josh Bynes isn't a NFL starting ILB.

[BmoreBird22]

Yeah, normally resigning the starting MLB pretty much covers the need there. Mosley was not obviously the best player available. It's justt how our team had him ranked.

If the Ravens had him ranked as the best player available (along with several analysts), how is he "not obviously" the best play available?

[BmoreBird22]

Josh Bynes started much of last season at ILB next to Smith and there is a reason why we traded up to take Brown last year.  I thought it was a position that could have used a late round pick or UDFA to compete for a last roster spot, but using a first round draft pick was a poor decision imo. 

 

Taking HHCD in the first round would have allowed for the addition of a much better player at a position of serious need like CB. 

Apparently the Ravens were only considering a cornerback in the first round, for what it's worth

[BmoreBird22]

We don't need a star at FS but he's a lot better than Brooks. Rieff has been decent. Not great. He would've  been a lot better at RT. Dix was better than Brooks and FS was our biggest need. RT's grow on trees, and I think we got ours in Hurst, so I'm not bad. But MOSLEY? He's a hell of a talent but no, we didn't need him. Then no WR addressed? No slot CB?

 

We didn't get much better offensively, something we needed desperately. 

I would hardly say he's a lot better. He's solid, but it's not like he's this amazing talent that we should all be in awe of. Terrance Brooks was considered a top 40 to 50 talent. Many scouts said they wouldn't take Clinton-Dix until the second round. He's solid, but not special. Again, benefitted from having like no competition at the safety position. Ozzie wanted a rangy, single high, playmaking free safety. Neither Dix nor Brooks is really a playmaker, but considering that Brooks is far newer to the position, and far rangier, it's more than likely that he'll improve his hands and become the bigger playmaker. He's always around the ball and he has a few stellar interceptions, so the potential is there. Just needs to keep his hands on the ball.

 

If the Ravens run the 4-3, they sure needed Mosley. Daryl plays strong side linebacker and Arthur would play weak side linebacker. Do you want Josh Bynes starting at MLB? Please. 

 

Cornerback is traditionally a position that takes quite a while to develop (three years), and Webb has the slot on lockdown, so the Ravens would be looking for an outside cornerback, something that historically isn't easy for younger players to handle.

 

As for receiver, if Kubiak's offense looks anything like Houston's did (we'll know soon), then the Ravens would run a lot of two WR, two TE. With Torrey and Steve as the one and two, the rookie would be competing with Jacoby Jones (who the Ravens did not just pay to be a return man) and Marlon Brown. That's too many cooks in the kitchen. 

 

How can you say the Ravens didn't get better offensively? A healthy Kelechi, a healthy Yanda, they traded for Zuttah, they re-signed Monroe, drafted Talieferro (a total Kubiak pick), brought back a healthy Pitta, brought in Owen Daniels, brought in Steve Smith, drafted Crocket Gilmore, and drafted Michael Campanaro. How is that not better than having Marlon/Jacoby split the number two role, having Dallas Clark and Ed Dickson play as the tight ends? How about Gino and AQ go back into the starting line-up? That's not even mentioning getting Hammock, Engram, Dennison, Pariani, and Kubiak. How can you really say the Ravens didn't get better offensively? That's just ignorance speaking because the Ravens didn't draft your favorite offensive prospect.

[jazz1988]

Josh Bynes started much of last season at ILB next to Smith and there is a reason why we traded up to take Brown last year.  I thought it was a position that could have used a late round pick or UDFA to compete for a last roster spot, but using a first round draft pick was a poor decision imo. 

 

Taking HHCD in the first round would have allowed for the addition of a much better player at a position of serious need like CB. 

 

I thought Josh Bynes played well last year when he started. He wasn't bad  and he  wasn't great but he did well.We did take Brown but we also didn't have Daryl Smith at the time and may have expected Brown to start right away but that didn't happen. I don't know how The Ravens view Arthur Brown right now but honestly him and Mosley could potentially make up for a solid inside linebacker duo and if they really impress maybe we can trade Daryl Smith to a team like the Broncos in the future or something if they still need help at  inside linebacker.

 

I thought we would have drafted a inside linebacker in the later rounds or obtain one that went undrafted but I can't honestly think of which one whom would had provided the same full package as Mosley. I never was a big fan of HHCD and thought he would of been gone by the time we pick.

[jazz1988]

I would hardly say he's a lot better. He's solid, but it's not like he's this amazing talent that we should all be in awe of. Terrance Brooks was considered a top 40 to 50 talent. Many scouts said they wouldn't take Clinton-Dix until the second round. He's solid, but not special. Again, benefitted from having like no competition at the safety position. Ozzie wanted a rangy, single high, playmaking free safety. Neither Dix nor Brooks is really a playmaker, but considering that Brooks is far newer to the position, and far rangier, it's more than likely that he'll improve his hands and become the bigger playmaker. He's always around the ball and he has a few stellar interceptions, so the potential is there. Just needs to keep his hands on the ball.

 

If the Ravens run the 4-3, they sure needed Mosley. Daryl plays strong side linebacker and Arthur would play weak side linebacker. Do you want Josh Bynes starting at MLB? Please. 

 

Cornerback is traditionally a position that takes quite a while to develop (three years), and Webb has the slot on lockdown, so the Ravens would be looking for an outside cornerback, something that historically isn't easy for younger players to handle.

 

As for receiver, if Kubiak's offense looks anything like Houston's did (we'll know soon), then the Ravens would run a lot of two WR, two TE. With Torrey and Steve as the one and two, the rookie would be competing with Jacoby Jones (who the Ravens did not just pay to be a return man) and Marlon Brown. That's too many cooks in the kitchen. 

 

How can you say the Ravens didn't get better offensively? A healthy Kelechi, a healthy Yanda, they traded for Zuttah, they re-signed Monroe, drafted Talieferro (a total Kubiak pick), brought back a healthy Pitta, brought in Owen Daniels, brought in Steve Smith, drafted Crocket Gilmore, and drafted Michael Campanaro. How is that not better than having Marlon/Jacoby split the number two role, having Dallas Clark and Ed Dickson play as the tight ends? How about Gino and AQ go back into the starting line-up? That's not even mentioning getting Hammock, Engram, Dennison, Pariani, and Kubiak. How can you really say the Ravens didn't get better offensively? That's just ignorance speaking because the Ravens didn't draft your favorite offensive prospect.

 

I think people really under rate how good it was for us to get a new offensive coordinator not just a new offensive coordinator but a real good one with a different offensive scheme instead  of the go vertical all day every day offensive scheme we been running since Flacco became our quarterback. The Bengels game(The last of the season )  was the most frustrating game because we refuse to use slants, rub routes or screens  to not only slow down their pass rush but to make it alot easier on Joe .

Our passing game was so predictable and beyond quarterback friendly.  Gary Kubiak offense to suppose to more quarterback friendly and I overall just like that he's bringing in a totally different offensive  scheme .

[RaineV1]

I actually prefer Brooks over Dix. Brooks is much faster and has the higher ceiling of the two. The only safety in the draft I would have taken over Brooks is Ward.

[flynismo]

I actually prefer Brooks over Dix. Brooks is much faster and has the higher ceiling of the two. The only safety in the draft I would have taken over Brooks is Ward.

Same here. Although I would have taken Pryor over Brooks, as well as Ward. I think Pryor was the best S of the class

[izvoodoo]

Same here. Although I would have taken Pryor over Brooks, as well as Ward. I think Pryor was the best S of the class

Agreed.  Pryor seemed like more of a football player.  Loving the contact, making plays.  The nice thing about HHCD is he has length, and apart from Jimmy Smith we kind of lack that.  Our secondary is average size at best.

[ravensnick]

Agreed.  Pryor seemed like more of a football player.  Loving the contact, making plays.  The nice thing about HHCD is he has length, and apart from Jimmy Smith we kind of lack that.  Our secondary is average size at best.

Elam and Brooks are a litttle short, but only an inch or two for S. Jimmy is freakish tall, and Webb is exactly average for CB. I'd say we are exactly average.

[BMORE21]

Most of you guys never heard of brooks before we drafted him now all of sudden you dudes are ranking him higher than pryor and ha ha. Please stop being blinded by fandom and let this thing play out before we judge any player.

[GrimCoconut]

Most of you guys never heard of brooks before we drafted him now all of sudden you dudes are ranking him higher than pryor and ha ha. Please stop being blinded by fandom and let this thing play out before we judge any player.

I'm not sure about that. Brooks was a very popular mock to us around here. Very popular. In fact, I think I started to see him more than the other safeties. Can't speak for others but I personally said he had the best coverage of any safety in the class before we drafted him. In fact, rmw and I had a discussion about who had better coverage skills between him and Ward before the draft.