Za'Darius Smith 3rd among rookies in sacks

[GrimCoconut]

Nah, I think Upshaw is as good as gone unless we can keep him for a dirt cheap contract. I wouldn't even bother honestly.

I just don't want him back. He can go even on a cheap deal as far as I'm concerned. I know he's typically good against the run but I don't like how slow and one dimensional he is and I think he's a part of what's wrong with our defense even with his strengths.

[PurpleCity5]

I just don't want him back. He can go even on a cheap deal as far as I'm concerned. I know he's typically good against the run but I don't like how slow and one dimensional he is and I think he's a part of what's wrong with our defense even with his strengths.

Yeah, he just does not fit here. Never did really. I'm not a fan of his either and think we should just let him walk.

[terrynjulia03]

Kentucky runs a 4-3. Z was the DE there. Just saying.

[usmccharles]

Nah, I think Upshaw is as good as gone unless we can keep him for a dirt cheap contract. I wouldn't even bother honestly.

I just don't want him back. He can go even on a cheap deal as far as I'm concerned. I know he's typically good against the run but I don't like how slow and one dimensional he is and I think he's a part of what's wrong with our defense even with his strengths.

Yeah, he just does not fit here. Never did really. I'm not a fan of his either and think we should just let him walk.

I was never a fan, i dont know what it is about him.  And he has always looked out of shape to me, just not like a football player, if that makes sense. 

[PurpleCity5]

I was never a fan, i dont know what it is about him. And he has always looked out of shape to me, just not like a football player, if that makes sense.

Yeah he is really slow and cannot cover a fly in coverage. All he can do is really stop the run and even he has declined in that department.

[JoeyFlex5]

Yeah he is really slow and cannot cover a fly in coverage. All he can do is really stop the run and even he has declined in that department.

to be fair, no human alive could cover a fly

[terrynjulia03]

I was never a fan, i dont know what it is about him.  And he has always looked out of shape to me, just not like a football player, if that makes sense.

Im with you on that. Tbh I thought maybe using him as a 4-3 end on running downs to stuff it and lock down one side and than letting Suggs step in on passing downs, but hes even degraded there. Just dont know what the deal is.

I agree, let him walk. Some team will pick him up and maybe he'll award us a decent comp pick next year. Prob not, best we can hope for is maybe the last pf the comps. Lol

[PurpleCity5]

to be fair, no human alive could cover a fly

Yeah that was a really dumb analogy, I meant to say a slug but for some reason I said fly lol

[cushrinada1986]

Next season, he should be a real problem for teams once he gets his own dual OLB to play otherside of him just like Doom and Suggs.

[Sizzlebshu]

Very true Preston has only played 47% of the defensive snaps that's pretty darn good, too bad I don't have pff then I could actually see how many times he's rushed the passer this year. But Zadarius is pretty much right there with him with 2 less sacks but 10% less (37%) snaps on defense

Maybe someone has his PRP rating?

[zuilyas]

I was never a fan, i dont know what it is about him.  And he has always looked out of shape to me, just not like a football player, if that makes sense. 

 

Yeah, he just does not fit here. Never did really. I'm not a fan of his either and think we should just let him walk.

Upshaw's biggest issue coming out of college was finding a fit. That's why he slipped to the 2nd round. I too echo everyone else's sentiments. Let him walk after the season. 

[CalvinSmoke]

nice. I remember some posters here said that he wasn't much better than Z if he even is. Wasn't he just a physical beast?

I was one of those guys, ND linked a nice article on Za'darius. Even though he was knew to football he had far superior technique than bud.

[usmccharles]

I was one of those guys, ND linked a nice article on Za'darius. Even though he was knew to football he had far superior technique than bud.

I knew there was some on here.  Ill check that article out.  Sidenote, didnt know anyone else was in SD

[CalvinSmoke]

I knew there was some on here. Ill check that article out. Sidenote, didnt know anyone else was in SD

haha yea man been here off and on for a decade.

[Winchester]

Zadarius is better than Upshaw. He is a different player than Mcphee. Mcphee is a power rusher with good hand technique and wins with initial surge. Zadarius has a strong upper body but is too top heavy and it shows in his play. He is more flexible than credited for but he could be an elite athlete. His best performance will come if he leans out to about 260-265 without losing any strength. Then build more power in his legs through various football drills. It will even out his weight distribution for better bend and athleticism. As well as more power and burst off the snap or while redirecting. He is close but needs a good offseason like several ravens players. Weight distribution and power balance between upper and lower body is extremely important for burst and flexibility and agility. Talk to a tennis coach or gymnastics coach. Iam surprised NFL teams do not recruit more of them. It will help with line play more than anything. It will help create more surge strength and speed to power conversion. Zadarius could be a 4.6 40 player and 36" vertical and 10' broad at 265lbs or so if he cut to about 260 and added a little muscle and explosion to his lower body. As well as far better balance and flexibility after he is not playing so too heavy. Could be a better player than McPhee.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Winchester

[ellicottraven]

Zadarius is better than Upshaw. He is a different player than Mcphee. Mcphee is a power rusher with good hand technique and wins with initial surge. Zadarius has a strong upper body but is too heavy and it shows in his play. He is more flexible than credited for but he could be an elite athlete. His best performance will come if he leans out to about 260-265 without losing any strength. Then build more power in his legs through various football drills. It will even out his weight distribution for better bend and athleticism. As well as more power and burst off the snap or while redirecting. He is close but needs a good offseason like several ravens players. Weight distribution and power balance between upper and lower body is extremely important for burst and flexibility and agility. Talk to a tennis coach or gymnastics coach. Iam surprised NFL teams do not recruit more of them. It will help with line play more than anything. It will help create more surge strength and speed to power conversion. Zadarius could be a 4.6 40 player and 36" vertical and 10' broad at 265lbs or so if he cut to about 260 and added a little muscle and explosion to his lower body. As well as far better balance and flexibility after he is not playing so too heavy. Could be a better player than McPhee.

Just curious. Are you an athletic trainer that works with football players? You seem very sure about Zadarius' potential if he does what you think he should do...

[Winchester]

Just curious. Are you an athletic trainer that works with football players? You seem very sure about Zadarius' potential if he does what you think he should do...

Just curious. Are you an athletic trainer that works with football players? You seem very sure about Zadarius' potential if he does what you think he should do...

I never really applied for a pt certification. I was just a chunky kid in highschool and wanted to look like the terminator.lol I eventually became friends with a dude who played running back for a division 2 school. He brought me to a gym owned by arguably the best bodybuilder in the world. It is where many athletes and models trained. College football players,ranked tennis players,college wrestlers as well as renowned trainers, nutritionists and coaches. Many dudes trained there to prepare for their next NFL training camp invite. Several times everybody organized a friendly football game and drills similar to senior bowl week. I also helped some college wrestlers train and spar. And learned how to play tennis for cardio. Watching and listening to the college players and trainers instructinstruct I picked up on important important for peak performance. During games and helping the wrestlers practice I began to pick up on strengths that the athletes leaned on and weak points and muscle groups not recruited due to sometimes bad techniques or sometimes actual weaknesses. I really watched receivers and their strengths. I began picking up on things like straight speed means jack. And bad hands were usually result of poor agility,body control and coordination. Mostly everybody from division1 or2 really beleived he was going to make NFL. But I could easily see the most that did not stand a chance with bad athletic flaws like hip or ankle tightness or even weak hips or ankles and could see where line players generated thrust from and what joints receivers,dbacks recruited for burst and change of direction. There was 2 very impressive guards that one attended Maryland at one time but were cut by NFL teams cuz of only bring 6'0 305-310. Incredible balance and power generated from upper and lower body. I guess I began becoming detail oriented seeing what muscle groups were being recruited or left out from watching form during exercises. And how to isolate muscles. I wanted to build very good symmetry and watched exercises to isolate muscles and even particular parts of a muscle. From playing with and watching receivers and always picking up on more and more details I could easily spot ones that actually had a chance. Aside from physical skill the most underrated detail of a receivers game is savvy. Adjusting a route or section of a route on the fly to beat a dback or zone while not confusing his qb and presenting his qb with a good target. Of course the faster and more agile the receiver is the more helpful. A reason I would of taken Diggs in round1. And could see dudes like hunter and Patterson were collosal busts in the making!! As for the ravens Perriman. I really like his burst in his breaks and coordinated ball skills. I don't like that he didn't play nearly his 40 time. And for being a receivers son he shows very little savvy or football I.q. He could be a decent playmaker and #2. He will never be a #1 10 catch a game consistent receiver unless he shows more savvy and football intelligence. And his knee could drain his speed.

As for Zadarius more lower body muscle and power as well as a leaner body will result in more power and burst as well as better balance and a little more flexibility that will come with working hard at the drills and exercises. He will have to work very hard to get there but he has most of the tools. Just needs to lean out to about 260 then build the functional muscle in his lower body.

[sflegend89]

Bud Dupree has not impressed me at all, I realistically think Za'Darius could have the better career. I think the Steelers did us a favor because I'm fairly sure we would've taken Dupree if he was available. Pretty sure it was mentioned in a post-draft video that that Peters, Dupree, and Perriman were the last 3 players that we had a 1st round grade on and if Perriman wasn't there we would've traded out.

[Winchester]

Dupree could eventually be a good rush LB. Not sure he has the work ethic. Would never draft him in round1. I liked Daneel Hunter far better.

[CalvinSmoke]

Bud Dupree has not impressed me at all, I realistically think Za'Darius could have the better career. I think the Steelers did us a favor because I'm fairly sure we would've taken Dupree if he was available. Pretty sure it was mentioned in a post-draft video that that Peters, Dupree, and Perriman were the last 3 players that we had a 1st round grade on and if Perriman wasn't there we would've traded out.

I'd bet money we were going to trade up for Peters.

[gtalk12]

eye test says he can play, its just going to take a little time for him to be consistent

[Winchester]

I'd bet money we were going to trade up for Peters.

There are many players ravens wanted to trade up for. Only prob is what Ozzie usually offers is laughable. He is never even close to offering enough to complete the trade.

[The Raven]

There are many players ravens wanted to trade up for. Only prob is what Ozzie usually offers is laughable. He is never even close to offering enough to complete the trade.

 

You know this how? Not saying you're wrong just want more background

[ravenz2752]

What do you guys think of Upshaw playing 3-4 DE?

 

 

Just a thought

[ludy51]

What do you guys think of Upshaw playing 3-4 DE?

Just a thought

On any team other than ours please.

[sflegend89]

Dupree could eventually be a good rush LB. Not sure he has the work ethic. Would never draft him in round1. I liked Daneel Hunter far better.

 

The media definitely liked him way more than any NFL scouts did. Remember seeing Dupree mocked to the Falcons in the top 10 frequently. I really do think we would've picked him if he was available so the Steelers probably bit the bullet on that one just like they did on Shazier over Mosley the year before. I don't think Dupree will be a flat out bust a la Vernon Gholston but I don't see him ever being a premiere pass rusher. Will likely be good enough to keep starting but will be far from a game changer.

 

Even though we don't know much about Perriman still I would much rather have him than Dupree after watching him play quite a few times this year. I still think Breshad and Kevin White will come back with a bang next year and be the 2nd/3rd best WR's from that draft class behind Cooper.

[nextgen_RavensFan]

I hope Z will be our rock on defense for years to come. The guy just never quits, the motor is full throttle all of the time. A much different mold then the rest of our defense.

[GrimCoconut]

The one thing I really like about Za'Darius is his effort and that's something that I always see separating players at the next level. Effort and dedication are big parts of the game. See Antonio Brown for an example of how these two positively impact a player's future.

I think Za'Darius may turn out to be something special. He could lose some weight as Winchester said and I think it would help his game.

He's much less the McPhee the front office said he was and he reminds me more of a poor man's Suggs. He's not as explosive but he does use his hands well and he has started really bending better too.

[The Raven]

What do you guys think of Upshaw playing 3-4 DE?

 

 

Just a thought

 

If he was about two or three inches taller, yes. His frame isn't big or long enough for that.

[Winchester]

The one thing I really like about Za'Darius is his effort and that's something that I always see separating players at the next level. Effort and dedication are big parts of the game. See Antonio Brown for an example of how these two positively impact a player's future.

I think Za'Darius may turn out to be something special. He could lose some weight as Winchester said and I think it would help his game.

He's much less the McPhee the front office said he was and he reminds me more of a poor man's Suggs. He's not as explosive but he does use his hands well and he has started really bending better too.

I actually see much of patrick kerney in Zadarius. Kerney and Zadarius produce thrust with strong upper body's and get their legs into to action with great motors and hand use. Very similar flexibility and burst. Kerney generated slightly more thrust off the snapsnap with stronger legs and let his hands go in a blink. Once Zadarius leans out and builds a little functional muscle in his legs he will be practically the exact player Kerney was. As well as better balance once his weight is evenly distributed with stronger legs. He plays a little top heavy as of now. And it is effecting his burst off the line as well as his balance. With all the throwing in today's game Kerney would be a 15 sack guy. When Zadarius gets straight 12-15 sacks will be very realistic.