Ravens Pre-Draft Press Conference

[ellicottraven]

Don't discount Jah Reid being the 66th guy. I only wish it is Jeromy Miles instead.

[52520Andrew]

Yeah, I actually like what I read about Means. He has some real potential as an OLB. 

 

When Ozzie said no one had heard of him I immediately remembered that you had heard of him lol

[ellicottraven]

When Ozzie said no one had heard of him I immediately remembered that you had heard of him lol

Could it possibly be Zack Thompson from Wake Forest? Because nobody has heard of him as well... 

[52520Andrew]

Could it possibly be Zack Thompson from Wake Forest? Because nobody has heard of him as well...

I don't have the exact quote on me now but I am almost positive he was talking about Means when he said it.

[Moderator 3]

Don't discount Jah Reid being the 66th guy. I only wish it is Jeromy Miles instead.

It is Reid.

@RavensInsider: Ravens re-signing veteran lineman Jah Reid to one-year contract, sources say: http://t.co/eg0BPdaaTQ

[jdynamite]

I saw a video where Ozzie hints at signings someone please tell me he wasn't talking about this Jah Reid signing I just received a notification for. Hope this guy doesn't waste another roster spot for us.

[Moderator 3]

We can have 90 players for now. The best/most useful 53 will make it through Pre-season.

[GrimCoconut]

Bringing back Reid doesn't surprise me. Wagner is coming off of an injury.

[GrimCoconut]

When Ozzie said no one had heard of him I immediately remembered that you had heard of him lol

Lol yeah I studied all the guys we signed to make sure I didn't make some dumb cuts.

[52520Andrew]

Lol yeah I studied all the guys we signed to make sure I didn't make some dumb cuts.

 

Yeah you gotta early on or else you end up making dumb moves lol, I got a couple offers early on where people were testing my knowledge of guys and I am sure everyone does

[Wildabeast88]

I heard it was for the minimum so probably 500,000+

[berad]

Jerry Coleman's always good for a dumb and/or patronizing question

[BmoreBird22]

We can have 90 players for now. The best/most useful 53 will make it through Pre-season.

Wait, you mean to tell me that when Reid was signed to the veteran minimum (which has almost no cap implications), he's only got a shot to make the roster and even if he does, he's not guaranteed starter? Wow, my mind is blown after reading some of these comments

[Edgar]

Jerry Coleman's always good for a dumb and/or patronizing question

You get a definite feeling that Harbaugh is annoyed by him. At least he keeps it interesting.

Very "seasoned" reporters asking softball questions of little interest such as,"tell us how the draft process has changed..."etc.

[Wildabeast88]

Reid 1 year 745,000

[berad]

You get a definite feeling that Harbaugh is annoyed by him. At least he keeps it interesting.

Very "seasoned" reporters asking softball questions of little interest such as,"tell us how the draft process has changed..."etc.

 

This is true but Coleman askes them in such a way that makes them go 'what are you talking about?'

 

Compare these two questions, one from Coleman in 2014 and the other from Bill West in 2015:

 

 

[Question to Ozzie, but was also dumb - berad edit] John, do you like to have prospects in individually one-on-one, sort of “Gruden-style,” and drill the guy to find out what he’s all about? (Jerry Coleman)

 

(NEWSOME) “[Answer to patronizing question]. I think the process that we go through is a very similar process that we’ve done since 1996. John [Harbaugh] and I value all the information. We want all the input from as many people as we can get, and that helps us to make decisions. Whether we spend our time with the guys at the Combine, whether we bring them here, we interview guys at the All-Star games, we want as much information as we can. We try to watch as much tape as we can, and then we make a decision on the player.”

 

(HARBAUGH) [after Ozzie answer] “No. That’s it – it’s good. I agree.” (To reporter: “I thought you had a question for me?”) (Reporter: “I did. I asked you about when you get the player in the room, do you talk to them individually?”) Yes, sure we do – of course we do. We talk to them a lot, [but] not Gruden-style; we do it Ozzie-style – that’s how we do it. (laughter) We do a great job of that. Just so you know, every guy that is available in the draft is being interviewed at some level. Our area scouts are interviewing, our coaches are interviewing when they get the opportunity to. It works its way up to where we see 60 [players] at the Combine, we see 30 here one-on-one between Ozzie and I. Eric and Joe are seeing even more guys too at that high level. We’re interviewing every guy, and some guys on four different levels we’re interviewing them and talking to them.”

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Transcripts-Pre-Draft-Media-Luncheon-Press-Conference/be70f184-03dd-4cfc-90d9-6b0e11f2ccba

 

"Gruden-style"?? LOL someone needs to stop watching ESPN if he thinks Gruden is getting anything but coached responses out of those players, that's probably the only reason those kids go on the show - to get good pub. Harbaugh has to navigate that dumb remark before he starts giving a legit answer.

 

 

John, how important is it to you to spend some time with these younger players coming in with character issues and some of the other stuff out there, to be able to sit down with them and spend some time with you? (Bill West)

 

(HARBAUGH) “It’s very important. It’s important before the draft, and we do that at the Combine on top of what our scouts do. Our scouts [provide] tons of information. But the four of us, and even Eric and Joe, have talked to these guys before they’ve come to Baltimore, but Ozzie and I, both at the Combine and in Baltimore, get a chance to really spend some time and talk to these guys. It’s critically important, especially for the guys that are going to be drafted a little bit earlier. You want your early picks to be really high-character guys and guys who are going to be leaders. That’s important that we try to find those guys, and then once you draft him, to get to know him and spend time building relationships with him and get inside his head a little bit to see what makes him tick and try to influence him a little bit, try to point him in the

direction as much as you can. Most of our guys do a great job with that, and we’ve just got to keep trying to do better with that.”

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Transcripts-Ravens-Pre-Draft-Press-Conference/329d4ab5-1cf1-427d-ad01-f92ae95a6d0b

 

A more direct question with a more in-depth answer on the exact same topic.

 

There was this stinker in 2015 my original comment was directed towards.

 

 

Over your years you’ve drafted 20-some wide receivers. There has been a lot of talk already about the position. How much pressure is there and do you feel on you to draft someone that will make an impact? So far, you have drafted a number of wide receivers, but none that have reached an elite status that have stayed with the organization. (Jerry Coleman)

 

(NEWSOME) “Well, if I were San Francisco right now and what I just paid Torrey [smith], I would think he would make an impact for that team. Am I correct?” (Reporter: “Well, that’s debatable. Yeah, I think he made an impact to a degree.”) “OK. We draft players. We try, I try, but we as a group, we try to learn from all of our mistakes. How can we get better? What were we not looking at that led us to make that decision? And hopefully, it will make a better decision for us going forward. I don’t know. The receiver position is changing with the size and the speed and the fact that more colleges are in a spread offense and they are throwing the ball. The receivers are getting more opportunities to catch a lot of balls. When I first got involved in scouting, you could probably go two or three games and the guy … I only caught 25 balls as a senior in college, but that game is changing, because the college game has changed. Receivers are coming into the league a little bit better prepared, and I think that will just help us do better. But I think Torrey had an impact in Baltimore for the last four years.”

 

Ozzie dismantles the question with a question right back that Coleman gives a weak answer to, "that's debatable", "I think he made an impact to a degree" LOL ok. Patronize Ozzie and then have him come back and shut you down.

 

But, hey, maybe I'm being too hard on Jerry Coleman. Just don't like him.

[B-more Ravor]

Reid 1 year 745,000

 

It also reported includes playing time incentives, so if those are for $80K or less (which is probable, IMO), then the deal qualifies for the minimum salary benefit and he will only count $585K against the Cap.  Any incentives earned (ha!) would end up counting against the 2016 Cap.

[GrimCoconut]

I can't stand Jerry Coleman.

[Wildabeast88]

It also reported includes playing time incentives, so if those are for $80K or less (which is probable, IMO), then the deal qualifies for the minimum salary benefit and he will only count $585K against the Cap.  Any incentives earned (ha!) would end up counting against the 2016 Cap.

Thanks for the extra info on the contract I agree if he gets those incentives we are in trouble.

[codizzle]

I actually wrote down that elite WR question when I heard it and was gonna mention it on here

A ridiculously stupid sequence there... Could definitely tell Ozzie was annoyed

Quite a few rough questions but that one was by far the worst

[hawkprey]

Regardless of how many times we've missed on receivers (Campanaro is not one of them IMO), it doesn't have anything to do with the players going forward. But think of all the receivers people here wanted us to draft and we didn't: Jon Baldwin, Quinton Patton, Stephen Hill...

[BmoreBird22]

Regardless of how many times we've missed on receivers (Campanaro is not one of them IMO), it doesn't have anything to do with the players going forward. But think of all the receivers people here wanted us to draft and we didn't: Jon Baldwin, Quinton Patton, Stephen Hill...

But then there are others like Gronk, Bryant, Allen, etc. It's a two way street

[Ravenslifer]

Regardless of how many times we've missed on receivers (Campanaro is not one of them IMO), it doesn't have anything to do with the players going forward. But think of all the receivers people here wanted us to draft and we didn't: Jon Baldwin, Quinton Patton, Stephen Hill...

 

True, but you also have to look at the QB situation for each team - Alex Smith/Matt Cassel, Alex Smith/Colin Kaepernick, Mark Sanchez/Geno Smith.  Those guys would probably look a lot better if they had better QBs throwing to them.  Of the guys I named, only Cassel has EVER passed for more than 3500 yards in a single season, and when he pulled that off his starting receivers were Randy Moss and Wes Welker - never even pulled that off in KC with Bowe.  For instance, I think Torrey could quite easily end up with fewer yards next year in San Fran than he had this year (767).  I think it unlikely Kapernick goes for more than 3500 yards especially with a defensive minded coach like Tomsula running the show.  Considering Crabtree had less than 700 yards as the number 2 last year while catching 63 percent of the passes thrown his way, and given the fact that Torrey in his career has never caught more than 53 percent of the passes thrown to him in a single season, I expect his numbers next year to be pretty terrible.  IMO unless you're a receiver like Megatron or Green, you can't put up good numbers without a good quarterback.

[Edgar]

This is true but Coleman askes them in such a way that makes them go 'what are you talking about?'

 

Compare these two questions, one from Coleman in 2014 and the other from Bill West in 2015:

 

 

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Transcripts-Pre-Draft-Media-Luncheon-Press-Conference/be70f184-03dd-4cfc-90d9-6b0e11f2ccba

 

"Gruden-style"?? LOL someone needs to stop watching ESPN if he thinks Gruden is getting anything but coached responses out of those players, that's probably the only reason those kids go on the show - to get good pub. Harbaugh has to navigate that dumb remark before he starts giving a legit answer.

 

 

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Transcripts-Ravens-Pre-Draft-Press-Conference/329d4ab5-1cf1-427d-ad01-f92ae95a6d0b

 

A more direct question with a more in-depth answer on the exact same topic.

 

There was this stinker in 2015 my original comment was directed towards.

 

 

 

Ozzie dismantles the question with a question right back that Coleman gives a weak answer to, "that's debatable", "I think he made an impact to a degree" LOL ok. Patronize Ozzie and then have him come back and shut you down.

 

But, hey, maybe I'm being too hard on Jerry Coleman. Just don't like him.

I can appreciate that. He comes off a smarmy generally.

It's probably me but I find questions by mills/Hollander just as annoying in a different way.

[Edgar]

This is true but Coleman askes them in such a way that makes them go 'what are you talking about?'

 

Compare these two questions, one from Coleman in 2014 and the other from Bill West in 2015:

 

 

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Transcripts-Pre-Draft-Media-Luncheon-Press-Conference/be70f184-03dd-4cfc-90d9-6b0e11f2ccba

 

"Gruden-style"?? LOL someone needs to stop watching ESPN if he thinks Gruden is getting anything but coached responses out of those players, that's probably the only reason those kids go on the show - to get good pub. Harbaugh has to navigate that dumb remark before he starts giving a legit answer.

 

 

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Transcripts-Ravens-Pre-Draft-Press-Conference/329d4ab5-1cf1-427d-ad01-f92ae95a6d0b

 

A more direct question with a more in-depth answer on the exact same topic.

 

There was this stinker in 2015 my original comment was directed towards.

 

 

 

Ozzie dismantles the question with a question right back that Coleman gives a weak answer to, "that's debatable", "I think he made an impact to a degree" LOL ok. Patronize Ozzie and then have him come back and shut you down.

 

But, hey, maybe I'm being too hard on Jerry Coleman. Just don't like him.

One thing that struck me upon reflection is the absolute humility with which Ozzie responds to either an implication that somehow he is a failure or to just the simple and mundane offerings of local reporters.

He is great at his job and he knows it but always responds with dignity even to the less than dignified question.

[berad]

One thing that struck me upon reflection is the absolute humility with which Ozzie responds to either an implication that somehow he is a failure or to just the simple and mundane offerings of local reporters.

He is great at his job and he knows it but always responds with dignity even to the less than dignified question.

 

This is true, not a ton of ego on him. Or any of the guys, DeCosta sticking around is proof of that even though he's definitely been offered more powerful positions.

[PurpleCity5]

I personally would rather have a great CB, than an Elite WR, but looking into this conference, I do think a trade up is imminent for one of those positions. 

[ravensnick]

True, but you also have to look at the QB situation for each team - Alex Smith/Matt Cassel, Alex Smith/Colin Kaepernick, Mark Sanchez/Geno Smith.  Those guys would probably look a lot better if they had better QBs throwing to them.  Of the guys I named, only Cassel has EVER passed for more than 3500 yards in a single season, and when he pulled that off his starting receivers were Randy Moss and Wes Welker - never even pulled that off in KC with Bowe.  For instance, I think Torrey could quite easily end up with fewer yards next year in San Fran than he had this year (767).  I think it unlikely Kapernick goes for more than 3500 yards especially with a defensive minded coach like Tomsula running the show.  Considering Crabtree had less than 700 yards as the number 2 last year while catching 63 percent of the passes thrown his way, and given the fact that Torrey in his career has never caught more than 53 percent of the passes thrown to him in a single season, I expect his numbers next year to be pretty terrible.  IMO unless you're a receiver like Megatron or Green, you can't put up good numbers without a good quarterback.

I won't chime in on Patton yet because it's only his second year in the league and he has had some talent in front of him, but Hill and Baldwin are two of the biggest WR busts of recent. Both are so awful that even in KC with Cassell and the Jets with Sanchez, they didn't deserve to see the field. They both couldn't catch a cold or run a half decent route. They both were truly terrible NFL WRs. It's not the numbers. They were simply awful on the field and got benched fairly early. 

[Ravenslifer]

I won't chime in on Patton yet because it's only his second year in the league and he has had some talent in front of him, but Hill and Baldwin are two of the biggest WR busts of recent. Both are so awful that even in KC with Cassell and the Jets with Sanchez, they didn't deserve to see the field. They both couldn't catch a cold or run a half decent route. They both were truly terrible NFL WRs. It's not the numbers. They were simply awful on the field and got benched fairly early. 

 

I agree but in their case it is because of the same thing - height, weight, speed guys that were taken based off of measurables and didn't make it.  But there are other receivers in this league that haven't put up numbers and I think they are in fact good, just in bad situations.  And I was just pointing out that it doesn't help any receiver that he has a bad QB throwing to him.  Look at Mark Clayton - I'd say he was no better than Hill or Baldwin, but with McNair he was almost a 1000 yard receiver, with Joe he put up decent numbers considering we weren't really throwing the ball at all in Joe's first 2 years, in St. Louis with Bradford he was on pace for 1000 yards.  Hill and Baldwin could have been at least serviceable 3/4 wideouts here with Joe, I certainly don't think they're worse than Jacoby Jones as receivers.  So my point being that good numbers or bad number doesn't always tell the story with receivers.

 

Here's a better example: Marqise Lee put up 400 yards last year.  But he only played in 13 games and was only thrown at 25 times total through the first half of the season.  The last 6 games he was thrown at 44 times and responded with 24 receptions  for 280 yards and his only TD.  Keep in mind his QB, Bortles, completed under 60 percent of his passes for less than 3000 yards and in the last 6 games in particular completed under 58 percent of his passes in 5 of them.  And yet if you project Lee's numbers for 16 games at that rate he would have had 64 receptions for 750 yards - pretty good considering his QB didn't hit 3000 on the season.  I think Lee could have been a 1100+ yard 8+ TD guy a year here in Baltimore with Joe, and I'm being dead serious.  He has the skillset, just not the quarterback.  And I think there are a lot of these highly touted receivers every year that go to bad teams with bad quarterback situations and get pigenholed as not being as good as they were claimed to be when really they just needed a change of scenery.  Hawkprey just picked 3 examples, but there are plenty more examples of receivers in this league who are statistically good to excellent but don't put up eye-popping numbers, so to use their lack of overall success as a reason not to draft them (not that Hawkprey did this, but I've seen plenty of posters point to Lee and guys like Kendall Wright specifically, who were endless topics of discussion on this board) is just wrong to me.

 

So, I don't care that the Ravens or other teams have failed at drafting receivers in the past, but there's no proof they're going to fail again if they draft one highly this time.  The last 2 times we tried we ended up with Torrey, which worked out, and Clayton, but he was stuck with Boller.  If he had Joe I bet Clayton would have been a yearly 800+ yard receiver here.  And the same goes for any receiver we draft that starts.  They're going to put up at least decent numbers by virtue of the fact that they have a very good QB throwing to them.

[lgcs27288]

But then there are others like Gronk, Bryant, Allen, etc. It's a two way street

Eh, not a fair comparison.

 

I think we would have drafted Gronk IF the Patriots didnt draft him right before we picked, same thing with Hernandez (thank God!) Gronk was a potential red flag coming out of school, I think he had back surgery if memory serves me right.

 

When you say Bryant, Im assuming you're meaning Dez. I also think we would have drafted him, IF the Cowboys didnt trade up infront of us.

 

I think for it to be a fair comparison, you should have used players that were drafted after we had picked in that respective round.