[News] Eisenberg: League Drafts Offense, Ravens Draft Defense

[The Mom Gene]

I have Faith in the Ravens. What may seem like doom and gloom for so many fans right now will all work it's way out in the future. These guys in that war room aren't dummies folks. A big tough TE actually helps the O-Line. The two Florida State Defensive guys were really good picks. Along with C.J., I think we have something good happening. For rounds 4 - 6 I see OL, RB, and some special teams guys.

And then there's post-draft. Believe in the Great and Powerful Ozzie.... He has reasons for his choices. He has always stuck with his board.

[BEACHBOY]

balfan23 - I would have gladly "settled" for any one of those RBs taken in that run. If staying true to our process means waiting too long, then perhaps we should rethink the process. Every draft is different based on the talent that is available, your draft position, number of picks and type of picks. To my way of thinking the key to a successful draft is to be flexible and remain open minded to an opportunity that presents itself rather than stick to a process.

[ZEAQUE]

Let's go ahead and talk about Ngata. This is probably a sign for him, he is eating up cap space, and denied a new contract, The drafting of Jernigan was either a plan to trade or release Haloti, or force him to play better, or go away. Though we have had n underappreciated draft so far, I still trust in Ozzie.

[Peej]

...Lets just hope that T Smith,some late round pick wrs,an undrafted wr and a 35 year old slot receiver actually works out this year because that same formula crashed and burned last year.

 

This "formula" that crashed and burned was not what you implied: What last year's formula really included:

 

No running game (reshuffled OL and injured or ineffective RBs)

No Pitta - a chain mover in the middle of the field who could make 7 - 15 yard catches in traffic

No Boldin - a chain mover deeper down the middle and at the edges who also made 15 - 20 yard catches in traffic

Injured Jacoby Jones for more than 1/3 of the season

Little help for Torrey Smith (Who still was a 1,000 yard receiver last year)

Retread TE

Retread Slot WR

Brand spankin' new receivers (Brown)

 

And yet this "crashed and burned" team was within 2 quarters of making their sixth straight playoff appearance.

 

What do they have this year?

 

Improved OL with only one question mark

Motivated RBs (though I believe we will see competition before long)

Pitta (Enough said)

Boldin replace by Smith (Yes, 35 years old, but a consummate professional and chain mover)

Daniels (Still effective after all these years - just ask the Falcons about Tony Gonzalez)

Torrey Smith (Does anyone want to bet he will not be a 1000 yard receiver again?)

Jacoby Jones (Good receiver, but great return weapon)

Marlon Brown (An UDFA that led the team in TD passes and grew a lot as the season progressed)

 

Looks like Flacco is not exactly crying in his soup now, does it?

[Tdotfan]

Ozzie said there are a 180 draftable players. only 100 have been taken so far meaning there are 80 prospects ozzie feels that could make an impact. I don't get why everyone is spazzing, i was pretty disappointed when we selected those players too. Just because other teams have them ranked low are "draft experts" have them ranked 291 and we got them at 99. our team is AMAZING at developing talent.Ozzie doesn't draft for just 2014, he drafts for 2014,2015 and 2016. Daryl smith is 32 years old, he's not a Ray Lewis that could play until 37 and we only really have him for 2 years. Also, imagine having arthur brown and mosley in the middle behind a rotation of timmy jernigan, brandon williams and ngata. Ngata and Daryl smith are on their way out we're effectively drafting their replacements.

[terpmaniac]

God, all the moaning and groaning on this site, its making me sick. Been reading much of the analyst around the web and have read nothing but good to great things about our draft like this from Football Nation:

Best Value Pick: Kony Ealy %u2013 Defensive End %u2013 60th Overall: Detroit Lions

Worst Value Pick: Justin Britt %u2013 Offensive Tackle %u2013 64th Overall: Seattle Seahawks

Winning Team (Round 2 & 3 Only): Baltimore Ravens & Carolina Panthers

Losing Team (Round 2 & 3 Only): Chicago Bears & Cincinnati Bengals

I am certain that Ozzie and Co. know more then I and know what in hell they are doing. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH PLEASE!

[Peej]

I am disappointed in this draft because players we desperately needed were on the board when we picked and we grabbed an Alabama guy...

 

It looked to me like the players we "desperately needed" were gone (the top 5 OLmen, the top 4 WRs and the top 2 TEs) when the Ravens were on the clock.  None of the remaining players were better than Mosley so the BPA became a Raven because of his short- and long-term value to the team - as decided by our FO.

[BEACHBOY]

I'm not prone to Offense or Defense - I want playmakers. For me it started at the top of the draft picking Mosley because that decision set in motion everything else that followed in our draft. Its not that I don't like C.J. Mosley; he is a terrific football player and a high character guy who if he can remain healthy stands the chance of becoming an all-pro. My dissatisfaction stems from the fact that two guys who could help us immediately, two guys linked to us in numerous mock drafts were sitting there for us to take and we passed them up - Pryor and Clinton-Dix. Is there that much of a talent gap between Mosely and the other two? I don't think so and when you consider everyone's injury history, when you consider the NFL has become a pass first league and when you consider that by adding Clinton-Dix, or Pryor you make Elam that much better I feel the better choice would have been to pick a safety. Had we done so then maybe we would have added a RB in the 3rd.

[Bruce_Almty]

I think I trust the Ravens' board a little more than Drafttek's.

So you agree Crockett was BPA at 99.

[Ravens3]

So you agree Crockett was BPA at 99.

 

They wouldn't have made the pick if he wasn't. They stick to their board. That's what makes them successful. For all we know all the players the Ravens have gotten are future pro bowlers. We can't really judge at the moment. Just trust in the process.

[bmorepizzy]

All the negative doom in gloom, Ozzie has lost it blah blah, maybe he has maybe he hasn't but the point of the matter is this, know of us know and I mean none of us, what a player will become; which is why Ozzie said in the press conference you have to wait 3 years and see. People say oh if the player was so good why did he drop this far??? key term lack of discipline. The Ravens rarely lack that i,e drafting a Ray Lewis at 26, Ed Reed at 24, Toad Heap at 32, Ray rice in the second, Jimmy Smith at 24 and Torrey Smith at 56. Did they drop because they were not good at their positions no, but they did because other teams overlooked them or reached for other players trying to address needs. I watched a clip of Pete Carrol last night who said when it comes to drafting they take who they think is the best player and who fits there scheme and could careless where the rest of the football world grades them cause it really dosen't matter they have to play for them. Now I'm not saying the our scouts and GM are perfect and don't miss on players from time to time but they have proven as earlier as a year ago that their drafting method will help us win Superbowls.

[Peej]

So you agree Crockett was BPA at 99.

 

Nooooo.  I believe that the Ravens FO has a better insight into the players they draft because unlike the "national boards" who only look at film, the Ravens scouting team (guys that have been together a long time and can finish each others' sentences) look at film too.  However they also send scouts to watch practices, interview coaches and generally get to know a player much, much better in order to make decisions.

 

Please note that each team was allowed 30 interviews (as were the Ravens) and used most of them.  However, through three rounds, the Ravens have picked four guys? 

 

Was Crockett the BPA at 99?  I don't know because I have not put in the work...but I will bet you that the Ravens have!

 

Remember, Bruce, Pitta was a 5th rounder while Dixson was a fourth rounder so it still is a crap shoot...although less so in round 5.

[balfan23]

balfan23 - I would have gladly "settled" for any one of those RBs taken in that run. If staying true to our process means waiting too long, then perhaps we should rethink the process. Every draft is different based on the talent that is available, your draft position, number of picks and type of picks. To my way of thinking the key to a successful draft is to be flexible and remain open minded to an opportunity that presents itself rather than stick to a process.

Yes - each draft is different, but all of the variables you stated (talent, your draft position, # and type of picks) are known going in. You spend months preparing. There is a fine line between reacting appropriately to changing market conditions and panic. Anticipating how the market will change is a part of the planning. You don't react to those changing conditions by throwing the plan out the window. 

 

Which of our picks would you have given up? Jernigan, to pick up either Sankey, Hill, Hyde, Sims or Mason; or Brooks to pick up West, McKinnon or Archer? Which ever your answer, it really comes down to player evaluation. Clearly our FO ranked our selections over these RBs and you did not. It is your evaluation vs. theirs - and not their process that you are finding fault with, it would seem. 

[Queen City Savior]

I wish everyone would just relax. We are having a great draft by most accounts. NFL.com has us in the top 5 so far for the first 3 rounds after picking Mosely and Jernigan, both of which were rated in the first round (and in some cases as top 20 picks) by a lot of people.

 

Its almost like we had 2 first round picks! Then we fill our biggest need with a widely regarded second round talent in the third round who could be the best free safety in the draft.

 

Just accept that what you are watching is a culmination of at least a year of work from the front office. They know what they are doing. They are going to make good choices for the team and they know more than we do. Crockett Gillmore in the 3rd might have been a surprise, but it fills a need in getting a well rounded TE. Its obvious the front office likes this guy and they did not want to risk losing him before their pick in the 4th round. The pick kind of reminds me of the Pitta pick a few years back. Pitta was not described as fast either and look how he has turned out.

 

Just have some patience and enjoy the draft. We already have a solid draft. CJ Mosley will likely see time this year rotating with Arthur Brown along side Daryl Smith. Timmy Jernigan will help replace Arthur Jones at DE and add to a stacked defensive line. Terrence Brooks will compete for the FS job with Darian Stewart right away and may see some time this year. Also with Kubiak's 2 TE system, Crockett Gilmore will see some playing time this year. We are doing well and there is even more to come.

[ckarp34]

I get the draft picks this year, but I'm not a fan of it. Don't get me wrong, they are good picks (except that TE) but we are clearly drafting for the long term. 2013 we drafted a Safety, Inside Linebacker, and D Tackle...2014 we draft a Inside Linebacker, D Tackle and Safety. Can someone say Do OVer? Our defense definitely got deeper and with young studs. However, we are not drafting to win this year. With a draft loaded with offensive weapons, how do we not get one? Given, I can't see the tape on all the small school guys you never hear about but man, we missed again. Do you know that the Ravens have never had a Pro Bowl WR...EVER? Forget about drafting one but not even having one represent the Ravens in Pro Bowl...that says a lot...and it's one of the most important positions you can have. Love the Ravens, I have faith in our draft but I'm frustrated on our immediate needs not being addressed with real studs.

[BEACHBOY]

Pete Carrol's philosophy is sound; draft the player you think is best AND who fits your scheme. You need to go into the draft with a plan of making your team better. Your selection should be driven by a combination of talent and need. To simply choose BPA is to suggest you don't have a plan. Taking Gilmore at #99 doesn't even suggest BPA.

[fusuymada]

It looked to me like the players we "desperately needed" were gone (the top 5 OLmen, the top 4 WRs and the top 2 TEs) when the Ravens were on the clock.  None of the remaining players were better than Mosley so the BPA became a Raven because of his short- and long-term value to the team - as decided by our FO.

In my previous comment I indicated the fact he is injury prone as the reason he fell so far. But think about this, we drafted a safety, Defensive Tackle and Inside Linebacker in the first three picks of last years draft. And we added a tight end after signing another tight end last year and adding another one this year. It is my opinion tha I expressed in my comment that I am disappointed in the Mosely pick because of being injury prone and best player available isn't best if he can't stay on the field and the fact that we reselected the exact same positions in the first three picks that we did last year and didn't address need. I am disappointed it looks like Darian Stewart or a fourth rounder is our starting safety. I am disappointed we drafted a guy who fell because he coudnt pass a urine test. I know what the FO decides, that's obvious by their picks, however, that doesn't mean I am disappointed any less.

[blitzking33]

So... you're saying we shouldn't burn Ozzie and banish him from Baltimore for ever?

 

Good luck with this veiw on these forums on draft-day

Haha yup that's exactly what I'm saying. Power D vs. Great O.. the D always prevail. When you have a great Defense you're secretly  helping your O out. Do people want Offenses to score on us then our Offense have to start on their own 20 ever possession? Even Manning won't win that way.

[Corvus]

Since we were able to get Brooks, the 4th or 5th best safety in the draft, I actually love the way our first 4 picks went down. Regardless of what the popular opinion is, secondary help either at free safety or nickel corner was a much bigger need than right tackle at this point in what everyone is acknowledging is now largely a pass dominant league, so I'm glad we were able to straddle the BPA/need line enough to fill one of those two spots with a solid prospect. Mosley and Jernigan will help improve the run defense while Mosley can do some middle of the field coverage well and Jernigan can help bring the heat on QBs. People hating on the Gillmore pick? Before the draft, all I heard here was "we need a blocking tight end" and now when we draft a guy who is a solid blocker already with tons of room to improve there, everyone hates it? Give me a break. He needs to improve as a route runner but he already has good hands too, he won't be a 20 yd catch guy as he simply doesn't have the speed but could really help in moving the chains and providing a big target in the red zone. I find it extremely hypocritical that some fans were on here vehemently defending the Mosley pick a couple of nights ago but are upset with the Gillmore pick.

As far as right tackle goes, I have said it before. Had he not struggled at left tackle his senior season at Wisconsin, Rick Wagner would have been a 2nd round, at worst 3rd round pick last year. He is already over the rookie o-lineman hump I have mentioned several times that they almost all have year one in adjusting to the speed of the league. He is already a nasty run blocker and that is more the right tackle's forte unless your QB is left handed which isn't a problem in Baltimore. Someone posted on one thread last night, can't recall who, that they talked to Rick in person very recently and he told them "no one is taking that spot from me" and convinced them we may already have the right guy for the job. And even if it isn't Rick, I'm sure as the idea has already been thrown around that Eric Winston would certainly be a doable signing post draft if necessary and I'm sure he would be interested because we aren't going to find a "starting caliber right tackle" in this draft Eisenberg, there's usually only half a dozen or so of those guys tops across the o-line in each class anyway as far as their rookie season goes. Not to mention with a newer simplified blocking scheme, we already have 4 very good linemen filling our other 4 line positions. When you have those guys already, the 5th guy doesn't need to be some superstar, just a solid, competent player and I think Wagner (or Winston if that become a route we take) can easily fill that role.

[Ravens3]

No one is wrong or right at this time of year. We have no clue how any of these players will turn out. Personally, I just trust the Ravens' front office, put faith in their process, because I figure they know better than any of us. Since the jury is out on everyone, why not express confidence in the guys we acquire, rather than "it should have been this guy"? That's the way I look at it at least.

[bmorelove2424]

martavis bryant....please get him ozzie...6'4 and runs a 4.4....defense would have to respect his size and speed...do we all remember randy moss

[breden16]

If are first 3 picks last year in elam brown and williams and now the 3 we took this year pan out, imagine how good our defense could be. Our offense got a lot of attention in free agency so i have no problem with what we have done so far. Also, Gilmore is a big tight end. Something that we need. A receiver i like late today is Michael Campanero. Hes a great slot guy that reminds me of Danny Amendola

[axisofeeble]

Wagner,Jensen were here last year and so was Jah Reid yet we still couldn't run block or keep Joe from getting sacked 3 times a game and hit way too much. OK Zuttah was so good Tampa let him go. If Ossie is healthy,we got a mauler at LG? or will he move to RT again? Jernigan? Why? Easily blocked and we already have Cody for that role,with Brandon Williams looking for playing time. Eric Winston? Really? Joe Flacco needs a running game,we tried Castillo's dream finese zone blocking dream and our talent didn't work that scheme. We paid Joe, when will we protect our investment?. In Ozzie I trust but losing 10-6 is not victory.Without an o-line Brady or Manning couldn't win here. 4 picks left, get some 0-line help,get new 0-line coach. One thing is certain Ngata is in his last year as a Raven for sure,Suggs too,now get someone for Yanda cause we won't pay any of them according to this draft so far.

[BEACHBOY]

balfan23 - your comment was that when a run on RBs occurred those teams who grabbed a back were "late to the party". So which teams in your opinion panicked? Was Carlos Hyde a bad choice? How about Jeremy Hill, Terrence West? You asked who I would have given up; Mosely is the answer. Not because he isn't talented, but because of how that selection impacted our draft. Had we taken Clinton-Dix, or Pryor we wouldn't have had to settle for a less talented safety at 79. And I'm clearly not as excited about Jernigan as some are who graded him as a 1st rounder. I think he is undersized for an NFL NT and he disappeared at times in college - took himself out of the game in the 4th quarter of the national championship game. That's really disappointing to me. We needed to fill the void left by Arthur Jones' defection, but I think we pulled the trigger too early when a talented guy like Louis Nix doesn't come off the board until the 83rd pick. There were a lot of offensive playmakers available in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, guys who you could argue were also 1st round caliber. and per our own FO we needed to be very smart in this draft, because we had a lot of holes to fill. I'm just disappointed that among the top tier TEs, WRs and RBs we landed exactly none of them.

[LifeofaRaven]

You know the NFL teams have gone crazy on offense in this draft because of the top heavy offensive players...the draft is what it is... teams take the best player on offense,but in the end defense win you games and the super bowl,ask Manning of the Broncos who came into the Super Bowl with one of the most prolific offense in the history of the game...but yet in the end "DEFENSE" won the game...so to the wizard of OZ,when you can get good defensive players who fall to you in the draft ,then go for it ...

[Ravens3]

Kubiak had a lot of success at finding RBs in later rounds at Houston. Arian Foster wasn't even drafted.

[BEACHBOY]

Lets all try to remember that and not bash our QB mid season when the run game's going nowhere and Flacco is on his back, because he has no time and his receivers can't get separation.

[ravens4life86]

Ryan Mink, Eisenburg etc someone at Ravens.com, it would be nice if you posted a piece within the hour before the draft started of potential Raven Targets for Rnds 4-7, like yesterday with those rounds.

[verified]

i see why our offense is never on top here we are in the deepest WR draft in history and we still draft nothing but defense, and not only that we draft the same positions over and over our deepest positions on the team are DT and LB and what do we draft? DT and LB haha outrageous. its to late now, if we draft a WR now its gonna be another tommy streeter that won't even make the team smh way to go Ozzie I how out 7 DT and 11 LBs can play offense for us smh

[balfan23]

balfan23 - your comment was that when a run on RBs occurred those teams who grabbed a back were "late to the party". So which teams in your opinion panicked? Was Carlos Hyde a bad choice? How about Jeremy Hill, Terrence West? You asked who I would have given up; Mosely is the answer. Not because he isn't talented, but because of how that selection impacted our draft. Had we taken Clinton-Dix, or Pryor we wouldn't have had to settle for a less talented safety at 79. And I'm clearly not as excited about Jernigan as some are who graded him as a 1st rounder. I think he is undersized for an NFL NT and he disappeared at times in college - took himself out of the game in the 4th quarter of the national championship game. That's really disappointing to me. We needed to fill the void left by Arthur Jones' defection, but I think we pulled the trigger too early when a talented guy like Louis Nix doesn't come off the board until the 83rd pick. There were a lot of offensive playmakers available in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, guys who you could argue were also 1st round caliber. and per our own FO we needed to be very smart in this draft, because we had a lot of holes to fill. I'm just disappointed that among the top tier TEs, WRs and RBs we landed exactly none of them.

Beachboy - we'll just have to see how it plays out. I know it is a disappointing to not have us get guys you've hoped for. I would have loved for us to have gotten West in the 3rd, but not at the expense of Brooks. I wanted us to get Lattimer in the 2nd and was a little disappointed to see us take Jernigan, but in the end, I see their line of thinking. Hopefully he turns out better than you anticipate. And yeah, I don't know what the deal was with Nix. 

 

As far as Mosely vs Dix/Pryor. Apparently the FO didn't think the separation between Dix/Pryor and the guy we got (Brooks) was significant enough to warrant passing on a guy like Mosely - who they apparently believe will be the QB of our defense for years to come. If that doesn't happen, a few years down the road this draft will not be getting good grades ... but I hope for our team's sake they are right and we come up roses.