[News] Eisenberg: 6 Unanswered Questions As OTAs Kick Off

[BR News]

Who will back up Justin Forsett. Will there be a clear-cut No. 3 receiver? Can Matt Elam bounce back?

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[GO_Ravens]

I just don't think Campanaro can stay healthy so I say Deandre Carter wins the slot position job and returner duties.

[ellicottraven]

Kamar Aiken will win the 3rd WR slot. He is too versatile not to. He can play inside or outside and runs crisp routes and is strong and fast. Maxx Williams will be our TE #1 by season's end regardless of whether Pitta returns or not. Unfortunately, with Will Hill playing for a full season, he will be too much of a good player for Matt Elam to overcome and beat out, regardless of how much he improves at strong safety.Our O-line will continue from where it left off last season. Lastly, the person I think will be our kick returner this year and you heard it from me first - Kamar Aiken!

[trevorsteadman]

I just don't think Campanaro can stay healthy so I say Deandre Carter wins the slot position job and returner duties.

Injuries happen it is the NFL. If you think another small receiver in Carter who is 5'8 won't get hurt then you are wrong. The depth chart at wide receiver is already crowded. Only way that Carter can make the roster is if he beats out Marlon Brown, Kamar Aiken, or Michael Campanaro on the depth chart and there is little chance of that. If the Ravens think they really have a gem in this guy he will be signed to the practice squad. He is an undrafted rookie from a small school I think he can possibly be groomed into a good player but banking on it this season is a little bit of a reach.

[Purpleghost23]

When starts the OTAS?

[baltimore1975]

How comfortable are you all with the RB position? I think we have solid backs that can ground and pound, but it would be nice to have that home run hitter on the roster.

[budman]

My hopes are for Waller to be "one we've been waiting for". You just have to love a 6'6 240lb receiver.

[Bleedpurple&black52]

1) Buck backs up Forsett (better fit for Trestmans type of offense), 2) Aiken wins spot for the #3 WR. 3) Maxx & Crockett to start this season (give pitta time). 4) Doubt it, Elam will really have to impress & improve on TACKLING/COVERAGE to take Hill or Lewis spot at SS/FS, could very well be his last year as a Raven. 5) Yes, oline will be ready. 6) DeAndre Carter (unless Camp can stay healthy).

Edited May 26, 2015 by Bleedpurple&black52

[Saxxin]

Williams and Gilmore are the future of the ravens TE's. That's a damn good pair of weapons at Joe's disposal. Perriman is a deep threat and will fight for the ball a lot better than Tory did. His drops is that area are a lot less often than short and over the middle passes. Ozzie loaded the offense this year. The defense even with all those injuries stayed in the top 10 and were 6th in points allowed. I seriously doubt they get leveled with injuries like that again. It will be better this year than last. The Ravens are going to surprise everyone.

[757RavensFan]

When starts the OTAS?

 

1st of three OTAs sessions start tomorrow.

[TorryGundy]

I really hope we stop using Webby for punts!

[trevorsteadman]

How comfortable are you all with the RB position? I think we have solid backs that can ground and pound, but it would be nice to have that home run hitter on the roster.

I'm comfortable, you have the shifty, agile Forsett, the one cut runner in Buck Allen (hopefully he will turn out better than Pierce, and then the bruiser in Taliaferro. If you're asking about that home run guy it would probably be Buck Allen just because of the style he plays. The thing I am concerned about is if Forsett goes down how much do we trust Taliaferro and Allen to run the ball for us? Taliaferro averaged 4 yards a carry and wasn't bad in his play time. The offense has got a lot younger which means a lot more unproven guys to come in, which makes it exciting to wait and see.

 

 

My hopes are for Waller to be "one we've been waiting for". You just have to love a 6'6 240lb receiver.

Agreed and I'm more excited about Perriman. People look at the 4.20 seconds 40 yard dash time and immediately put him into the category of speedster when he is basically the same mold of another receiver in the draft in Kevin White, but faster. Kevin White got picked before because he isn't as raw but looking off of Perriman's tape he goes up and catches some tough balls which Torrey Smith and Mike Wallace never did as speedsters. Perriman made Bortles look good a lot of the times with his diving acrobatic catches.

[757RavensFan]

Kamar Aiken will win the 3rd WR slot. He is too versatile not to. He can play inside or outside and runs crisp routes and is strong and fast. Maxx Williams will be our TE #1 by season's end regardless of whether Pitta returns or not. Unfortunately, with Will Hill playing for a full season, he will be too much of a good player for Matt Elam to overcome and beat out, regardless of how much he improves at strong safety.Our O-line will continue from where it left off last season. Lastly, the person I think will be our kick returner this year and you heard it from me first - Kamar Aiken!

 

...and he catches everything.  The only dropped pass by him that I can remember was the TD pass vs Cinci in Game 1. I really don't understand the folks saying he's on the bubble to make the team.  I seriously question whether or not they payed attention to what he did last year.  If he has a camp similar or better than last season, there's no way he gets cut. 

[757RavensFan]

I really hope we stop using Webby for punts!

 

They only send him out there to fair catch punts.  He never returns them.

[peppy57]

I am routing for Aiken for #3, he is all in, Brown at times did not seem as committed, I also think Aiken would make a good choice for returner. Someone said it before Brown needs to come out swinging for the fences and prove is the man, he fell back last year and I think he might be lacking confidence, I truly believe Alike is the man, we will see fairly soon.

[AsianRice]

I cringe every time I see Webb returning punt........

[ellicottraven]

...and he catches everything.  The only dropped pass by him that I can remember was the TD pass vs Cinci in Game 1. I really don't understand the folks saying he's on the bubble to make the team.  I seriously question whether or not they payed attention to what he did last year.  If he has a camp similar or better than last season, there's no way he gets cut. 

Agreed! For those that continue to doubt Kamar after last season, I urge them to check out this article on him -

http://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2015/5/26/8651239/can-kamar-aiken-earn-the-3rd-wr-slot

[rmcjacket23]

...and he catches everything.  The only dropped pass by him that I can remember was the TD pass vs Cinci in Game 1. I really don't understand the folks saying he's on the bubble to make the team.  I seriously question whether or not they payed attention to what he did last year.  If he has a camp similar or better than last season, there's no way he gets cut. 

Do I think he gets cut? No.

 

But it also completely depends on how many WRs we carry. We pretty much know that SSS, Perriman and probably Campanaro are safe (mostly for return skills).

 

So would it surprise me if he fell behind guys like Marlon Brown and a Jeremy Butler or a Darren Waller? Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. If Aiken ends camp as the 5th or 6th WR, its entirely possible he gets cut, particularly when you'd expect us to carry at least 3 TEs on the active roster and 3-4 RBs plus a fullback.

[mkam1904]

Kamar will definitely be on the team. He has a similar build to Anquan but faster. I think Joe started to develop some chemistry with him last year. He could push Marlon for snaps as the starter. Remember he jumped Marlon and Jacoby for snaps last year.

[robbie29]

While I am excited about this year's draft, history shows that best case scenario, only 2 (hopefully 3) players will emerge from this draft class as better-than-average players. My unanswered question that won't be determined until the end of the year or next year: Which 2 or 3 players from this draft will end up being better than average? For Joe's sake, I hope it's Perriman and Maxx Williams.

Edited May 26, 2015 by robbie29

[ravens4life86]

Matt Elam?? Haha good one. He can reclaim a backseat to everyone else at the position of Safety. Dude is a bust. PROVE ME WRONG!

[Purple&BlackHeart]

Remember they want to limit SSS a little bit so he has more juice down the stretch of the season. While I still think he is in the top 2 receiver(with Perriman) category I really see the Wr position as a situational rotation or when a guy really needs a breather. I see Aiken as more of a third and long- medium guy. Marlon Brown will be more a third and short or redzone guy. Waller may even see some action this year in the redzone especially for 2pt conversions. Keep in mind Waller is still raw so it depends on how fast he develops. While I don't hate Camp I see him mostly playing special teams there just too much depth at the Wr position right now. Camp and DeAndre will battle for kick and punt returns and both might get the job.

[Purple&BlackHeart]

I got Buck backing up Justin for number 2 Rb. I think Lorenzo will be more of a 3rd and short and goal line back. Fresh and ready to power through lines.

[Purple&BlackHeart]

Hope the Ol can stay healthy but there is depth there. As far as Matt Elam I don't think his role will increase baring injury but I do think he will have opportunities to prove him self. I think Matt will keep a spot on this team and actually play better this year, I still believe in the kid and he seems to be taking this year more seriously.

[rmcjacket23]

Remember they want to limit SSS a little bit so he has more juice down the stretch of the season. While I still think he is in the top 2 receiver(with Perriman) category I really see the Wr position as a situational rotation or when a guy really needs a breather. I see Aiken as more of a third and long- medium guy. Marlon Brown will be more a third and short or redzone guy. Waller may even see some action this year in the redzone especially for 2pt conversions. Keep in mind Waller is still raw so it depends on how fast he develops. While I don't hate Camp I see him mostly playing special teams there just too much depth at the Wr position right now. Camp and DeAndre will battle for kick and punt returns and both might get the job.

While I agree that's the current intent, I honestly don't see it happening.

 

I still don't believe that Marlon/Aiken will carve out a big enough role through their play in camp/preseason where they will honestly consider reducing SSS snap count significantly enough to rest him. I think they will realize early on that there is still a decent talent/skill gap between those kinds of players, and I think SSS will take on a bigger role than the Ravens current will want. He hopefully will have a reduced production role, indicating that others are contributing to the offense more, but I just don't see the snap count decreasing significantly unless its literally forced by the coaching staff, which could be detrimental to the offense.

 

In particular, while we all want to believe that Perriman is going to be a stud, he's a rookie. There's a learning curve with 100% of rookie WRs, and I'm not expecting him to light the world on fire right out of the gate. So, at best, we head into the season with a WR core with major question marks up and down the roster, and the only "rock" in that is SSS.

[runcontrol]

Matt Elam?? Haha good one. He can reclaim a backseat to everyone else at the position of Safety. Dude is a bust. PROVE ME WRONG!

 

People seem to forget that a lot of fans were saying the same thing about Jimmy Smith when camp started in 2013.  I can't say Elam will make the same turnaround, but it has happened before. 

 

The main difference between the two is Elam had a decent rookie season, playing out of his normal position, while Smith was either injured or struggled to find the ball when it was thrown in his direction. 

[757RavensFan]

Agreed! For those that continue to doubt Kamar after last season, I urge them to check out this article on him -

http://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2015/5/26/8651239/can-kamar-aiken-earn-the-3rd-wr-slot

 

Great article on a young man, who never quit. Last year was his final year to make a NFL roster since he didn't have anymore practice squad eligibility left. I personally hope he makes it and becomes a successful WR in the NFL.

[Bruce_Almty]

...and he catches everything.  The only dropped pass by him that I can remember was the TD pass vs Cinci in Game 1. I really don't understand the folks saying he's on the bubble to make the team.  I seriously question whether or not they payed attention to what he did last year.  If he has a camp similar or better than last season, there's no way he gets cut. 

I think the 4 WRs from last year's roster plus Perriman & Waller. Anyone else that shines in camp goes on PS. Sure don't know what all the hype about Carter is. Fiftieth best WR in this draft class with same 40 speed as Camp & many others. You mentioned Aiken catches everything...Brown also caught everything thrown to him the 2nd half of the season. I have great hopes for these guys; TEs included.

Edited May 26, 2015 by Bruce_Almty

[stixfix69]

I'm very interested to see how the rookies stack up against the vets......As far as speed, and technique...

[rmcjacket23]

Don't really understand why we are even discussing the possibility of Elam getting cut. There's zero salary cap benefit to doing so, and he's at least respectable depth even if he doesn't have a big role. Its borderline impossible for teams to cut first round picks after just two years from a salary cap perspective, and although he played pretty awful last season, he isn't going anywhere. He's one of three safeties who is locked into a roster spot.