Upshaw's future

[Ravensfan23]

"Overall, due to his size, strength, and play against the run, Upshaw has late first-round talent. Look for him to pair with a pass-rush specialist opposite of him at outside backer in a 3-4 scheme where he can set the edge, work against tight ends and be a heavy run defender."

 

So, this is what NFL.com's scouting report said about Upshaw, in case anyone was wondering.

I can't imagine the Ravens or anyone else was looking at Upshaw as a Suggs type player. The biggest reason why he dropped to even the bottom of the first round was because not many teams valued his intelligences, work against the run, his capabilities of covering and his ability to slide inside to fill other positions in sub packages over his lack of pass rush. But all of those things are exactly what the Ravens valued and expected from Upshaw from everything they've said. Not sure why a guy who wasn't brought in to be a pass rusher would now get knocked for not being being enough of a pass rusher

rusher.

[Ravenseconbeast]

I think Upshaw is worth considering a contract.   Reason is bc we got Suggs & Doom.  Both heavily aggressive OLBs that knows how to get to the QB.   You need a guy like JJ or Upshaw to keep the tempo on the defense going when the opponent tries to change things up and want to pound the ball.   

If Doom & Suggs sought to spend their time trying to utilize their talent on other area of the field, we probably wouldn't have seen them notch the +30 sacks together last year.   

Obviously, Upshaw need to really expand his role as a linebacker.   His talent is limited, and for most part (sooner than later) we are going to heavily invest on group of OLB next draft given Suggs & Doom probably got a solid 2 years left in them.   

This might be the last year of Upshaw in ravens uniform.  Im excited to see what he got in store for us.  Every year we have players like this on their last year of their contract that drives up their stocks bc they raise their game.   I guarantee we will see the best of him this year.  

Edited July 5, 2015 by Ravenseconbeast

[Ravensfan23]

I think Upshaw is worth considering a contract. Reason is bc we got Suggs & Doom. Both heavily aggressive OLBs that knows how to get to the QB. You need a guy like JJ or Upshaw to keep the tempo on the defense going when the opponent tries to change things up and want to pound the ball.

If Doom & Suggs sought to spend their time trying to utilize their talent on other area of the field, we probably wouldn't have seen them notch the +30 sacks together last year.

Obviously, Upshaw need to really expand his role as a linebacker. His talent is limited, and for most part (sooner than later) we are going to heavily invest on group of OLB next draft given Suggs & Doom probably got a solid 2 years left in them.

This might be the last year of Upshaw in ravens uniform. Im excited to see what he got in store for us. Every year we have players like this on their last year of their contract that drives up their stocks bc they raise their game. I guarantee we will see the best of him this year.

I honestly feel that people just don't watch Upshaw play. This guy does so much for this defense but if you ask most fans he's just a run stopper. Upshaw is worth far more then just a consideration of a new contract imo. I think the Ravens look to get him signed before FA start and because most probably won't value him like the Ravens do i think he stays. But if he gets 5+ sacks this year someone might throw bigger money to him and like you said it could be his last year. But losing Upshaw would be a sizable blow to this defense imo.

I think this article says a lot about how much the Ravens value Upshaw. http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/The-Underrated-Courtney-Upshaw/6c79a1e1-019f-4370-bcb6-7b6921d53b8b. It's articles like this that leave me puzzled at the fact that some think the Ravens are unsatisfied with Upshaw.

[The Mom Gene]

If they exist those said posters are severely misinformed.

Trust me, they exist.  There are many.

[Bltravens]

Again you are still telling me what Ozzie would never do. How do u know without having direct access to Ozzie? Your value of a player and a draft pick isn't Ozzie's. You continue to talk from "perception" of you don't draft this type of player here or there. Say's who? Where is it written that you don't draft a OLB at 35 who you feel is capable of being everything u want in a SOLB and rotate him with a great pass rusher? The ultimate goal of the draft is to add players who can add enough value to your team that they can be important parts of helping your team win a champion. Was Upshaw viewed as a 3 down player, i would say yes and for the most part he is a 3 down player because he slides inside and helps push the pocket and in a lot of cases covers which Doom struggles with. The notion that Upshaw is just a 2 down player is false.

 

Important cogs to be filled early, where theres a role that needs to be filled which Upshaw certainly does.  However he was viewed as a 3 down player at OLB and that is not a role he fills, especially when paired with high draft position.  I have maintained this point from the get go, fills a role, but not the final evolution of what Upshaw was projected to be by the FO.

The biggest reason why Upshaw is rotating at strong side OLB is because Ozzie got a rare opportunity to add one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. That's a no brainer. If Doom wasn't here Upshaw would be doing exactly what he's doing now but he'd also be adding 5-6 sacks per season imo. But in no way would he be what Suggs or Doom is because that's not what he was drafted for.

 

While this has merit in and of itself with Dumervil, it is worth mentioning that Upshaw lost a gross majority of pass rush snaps to McPhee and all of them in games that mattered/playoff games that wasn't in mop up duty.

So if Upshaw wasn't drafted to be a dominant pass rusher and the only reason he's not producing a handful of sacks is because you were fortunate enough to add one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, why should the Ravens be upset or feel they haven't gotten what they were expecting? Not a single coach, player, or decision maker has come out and said Upshaw needs to do more in pass rush. Upshaw said he wanted to produce more in that area because sacks equal dollars in free agency.

 

Upshaw was drafted to be a compliment to Suggs on the opposite side. The FO saw the hole at OLB opposite Suggs and thought Upshaw could fill it as a 3 down player.  The FO had no idea Dumervil would be available, thus going into the foreseeable future it would have been Upshaw and Suggs.

A OLB taken at 35 wouldn't be a rotational player if Ozzie wasn't able to score one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. You guys act as if Upshaw is being rotated with John Simon or even Mcphee for that matter. It's Elvis freaking Dumervil. Ozzie was able to find the perfect combination of a strong side OLB, but adding Doom doesn't mean they are expecting more of Upshaw. Maybe you are but from the looks of it the Ravens are not. They are prefectly happy with Upshaw.

By your preception the Ravens should be unsatisfied with Doom because they paid him starter money but all he does is rush the passer. He doesn't cover, rarely plays the run, he doesn't call and set the defense, he just rushes the QB. Last time i checked a SOLB getting paid starter money should be able to do all those things. But I'm sure the Ravens are pretty happy with Doom.

Absolutely not because the value of his role is significantly higher than Upshaw's role right now. Goes back to my second post on this with positional value and role values.  Dumervil's value to the team is higher than Upshaw's.  Doesn't mean Upshaw has no value but if Upshaw gets hurt or Dumervil gets hurt, which one do you think Harbaugh will be more worried about replacing the production? 

 

There's no real sense going back and forth here, we have different perceptions on what a #35 pick at OLB should be doing, that's fine.  I'm not here to convince anyone, just add an opinion.

[Ravensfan23]

There's no real sense going back and forth here, we have different perceptions on what a #35 pick at OLB should be doing, that's fine.  I'm not here to convince anyone, just add an opinion.

 

completely agree. I was never looking to convince you of anything. I just asked one simple question that you just touched on in the bolded area. If we have different perceptions of what a #35 pick should be at OLB, how can anyone say the Ravens are not satisfied with him without knowing what their perception of what Upshaw should be. That's my only point. Your opinion is yours and mines belongs to me. And in my opinion the fact that Ozzie, coaches and players sing the praises of Upshaw leads me to believe that they are more then happy with him and where he was drafted. 

[gtalk12]

He needs to show what he can do day in and day out. Not once in a while

[gabefergy]

The very same people criticizing Upshaw are criticizing Darryl Smith. Their performances have been masked by the likes of Dumervil, Suggs, Nagata, and the others. This team has been identified as having the best front 7 in the league. With guys like Mosley in there as well??? Just another example of over-analyzing, and elevated expectations by some fans.

I, personally love the guy, watch him closely, and have seen him lay it all out there. (a great example is not limited to and including Big Ben). As Ravensfan says, the coaching staff is very complimentary of him... There's nothing questionable about this guy.

Not me. I love Daryl, he's one of the best players on the team. Upshaw deserves every ounce of criticism he gets though. He's been a major disappointment as a high pick.

[The Mom Gene]

I think we see more of him this year.  Remember, Suggs is getting older, so is Dumervil.   We brought in Carl Davis.  We have C.J..  I think we are changing... We need to just give it some time.  Not everyone makes a strong impact their first year or so.  Especially when you have seasoned veterans in there. 

[gabefergy]

I think we see more of him this year.  Remember, Suggs is getting older, so is Dumervil.   We brought in Carl Davis.  We have C.J..  I think we are changing... We need to just give it some time.  Not everyone makes a strong impact their first year or so.  Especially when you have seasoned veterans in there. 

I think it will depend on how good Za'darius is as a rookie. The Ravens want him to take on some of the pass-rushing duties that McPhee had. If he can be impactful immediately in that role, Upshaw probably maintains his role as an early down run-defender and and reserve pass-rusher. If Smith doesn't look ready, Upshaw will likely see more snaps as a blitzer/interior pass-rusher.