[News] Ravens' Take On 5 Positions Of Need

[BR News]

Baltimore will take a long look at pass rusher, left tackle, cornerback, safety and wide receiver.

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[trevorsteadman]

I think there is young guys like Elam and Brooks who need to be healthy and show what they can do. Elam was turning heads last preseason before going down. Brooks has the speed and awareness that he can make plays and he has but not enough to thrust him into the starting role. Kendrick Lewis I also think will be marginally better next season after being in the system for a full year and he finished strong. That and on top of Webb talking about his move to safety I think that the safety position is okay. If Webb does transition to Safety then we have a bigger problem at cornerback. If we sign Wright again, he is a solid #2 but his age is in question. Then we are left finding a nickel corner again. To me with Steve Smith in his last season and Perriman with a giant question mark by his name, the biggest needs are wide receiver and pash rusher. Suggs and Dumervil are not getting older, as well as Daryl Smith. Linebackers need to be drafted in the next 3 drafts heavily or we will give up a lot of big runs and lack a pass rush.

[The Greek]

6)better secondary coaches 7)new dc

[The Greek]

a strong pass rush immediately improves a healthy secondary unlike last year when we were on cornerbacks #7 and 8 so it didnt matter

[TruRavensFan52]

If Bosa, Ramsey, and Hargreaves are all gone I hope treadwell will still be there because I honestly think we are just a couple of pieces from becoming an explosive offense, but there still would be the question of left tackle though.

[Waka Flocka Flacco]

I really hope Bosa falls to us. If not, pick up Stanley or Tunsil and cut ties with Monroe.

[fusuymada]

Still believe if we want a wide receiver, we will have to do something about Joe's contract and pick up a free agent like Alshon Jeffrey. We know we cant draft wide receivers and we know we cant develop them so please, Ozzie, don't tell me we are going to hit ourselves in the head with a baseball bat all year long when we know if we stop doing the same stupid things, then it will stop hurting. Sign a free agent wide receiver, draft a Left tackle, cornerback, pass rusher and safety. Just saying, lets get real and quit lying to ourselves.

[The Greek]

i believe elam will be ready to kick some behinds next season. put him in his natural position and leave him there and work on his tackling which was awful but i feel it was also because he was being moved around so much by our genius dc pees.

[jravens13]

At least we all seem to be on the same page, but in this order: Pass Rusher, CB, LT, WR. I would even throw in ILB to find Daryl Smith's replacement.

[birdseye]

So I think after watching the whole ravens season in review press conference that I would be shocked if the ravens dont go pass rusher in the first round. this class is deep in WR with loads of speed so we could still snag an burner WR in rd 2. Apparently they think our secondary is fine as long as we get to the quarterback more so i doubt we will go CB until later rounds in the draft. just my opinion... I honestly think unless Bosa, Tunsil, or Stanley drops to us we'll trade back and pick somebody like Shaq Lawson or Robert (sp) ** the ole miss dude

[n#7]

Pass rushing legit D lineman. Priority 1,2,3. Then WR's. Speed and the ability to move O lineman around and backwards should be the two top priorities. Too many times the D was the ones being pushed backwards or down instead of the opposite.

[law215]

The fact that OZ pointed out Webb and Monroe as guys who can play well for Ravens next years makes be believe he is either lost his analytical skills or pulling a cya because as other analyst outside of the Ravens have stated , Webb and Monroe are overpaid.

[omar586]

i think we keep SSS,perriman, aiken, givens, mattews, d.brown

[ellicottraven]

Based on the entire presser, it would be a good assumption that if there is an elite pass rushing prospect available at 6, we pick him.

[omar586]

we will sign a passrusher in FA's could b mario williams

[ellicottraven]

i think we keep SSS,perriman, aiken, givens, mattews, d.brown

I think they pick Butler over Givens. Butler has a way to get open.

[n#7]

That's correct billiejean. That's where we differ in as much as I believe the team should go back to a legit 4/3 line. If you have two full size pass rushing DE's and two beefcakes in the middle(a la 2000 SB ravens)and ones who can actually push the OL back then that frees up the LB's even more. And the opponents would have their hands full with a McPhee types DE's along with the LB's. Remember, our starting LB's are all now into their 30's and it's only a matter of time before they must move on. And if the replacements aren't up to the take they're in trouble.

[RavensBaltimore]

i think we keep SSS,perriman, aiken, givens, mattews, d.brown

I think there is almost a 0% chance that Givens, Mathews, and D Brown are all on the active roster next year. Brown alone has an extremely small chance of making it. He wasn't even getting much playing time the last couple games this year, so how would he stick around with Smith and Perriman coming back? Plus, Ozzie said he wants to get one or two more WRs, which will knock a couple of the players you mentioned out, and Campanaro, Waller, and Butler will probably be competing for a spot as well. 

[billiejean]

That's correct billiejean. That's where we differ in as much as I believe the team should go back to a legit 4/3 line. If you have two full size pass rushing DE's and two beefcakes in the middle(a la 2000 SB ravens)and ones who can actually push the OL back then that frees up the LB's even more. And the opponents would have their hands full with a McPhee types DE's along with the LB's. Remember, our starting LB's are all now into their 30's and it's only a matter of time before they must move on. And if the replacements aren't up to the take they're in trouble.

The only issue with that is that for the past 10 years (maybe longer) we have been drafting players that fit a 3-4 defense.  There are major differences between an OLB in a 3-4 and a DE in a 4-3.  The defensive tackles and linebackers also differ greatly from one system to the next.  Not that it couldn't be done (sometimes a defense that has been one way for a lot of years changes because of a new coach) Its just like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.  If we were to switch, you're right, we would have to draft or pick up some new look DTs, DE and LBs (I actually think Art Brown would have more success as an OLB in a 4-3 system). It isn't always successful though.  What comes to mind is Buffalo.  They had Jim Shwartz as a cordinater who ran a 4-3 and they switched to a 3-4 because of Rex.  There was a dramatic decrease in production from Shwartz to Ryan because their DEs (Mario Williams, Jerry Hughes) along with their DTs (Marcell Dareus, Kyle Willams) had a difficult time adjusting to the new system. But im sure that there are other instances where the transition from one D to another worked well.  I just can't think of any at the moment.  

Edited January 8, 2016 by billiejean

[mearzunkies]

Hey, jean. Williams played on a 3-4 in Houston. ?

[mearzunkies]

Too much passing for most 4-3 D's. IMO teams require those speed OLB'S to cover the TE and Backs now a days.

[bmoraven]

Predicting Oz's Draft Order. 1. Pass rusher 2. O Line 3. Corner 4. WR We play in the AFC north, need to get to Big Ben and Dalton, Need O line to protect Joe and get the run game going. The pass rush helps fix the weaker corners giving QBs less time. Definitely need a WR, but we won 2 SB's without with a balance Run/Screen/TE driven Offense. So I don't think OZ changes his take on getting a solid WR core but not 1 superstar.

[bmoraven]

Lesley Frazier is Available, good defensive coach...Grab him up

[pcwag33]

Your best chance of improving the pass rush is having some big disruptive interior linemen who can penetrate. Urban can definitely be part of that if he can develop some technique. Overall Ravens interior DL has potential but technique is lacking. Need coaching upgrade on DL.

[billiejean]

Hey, jean. Williams played on a 3-4 in Houston. ?o

When they drafted him the Texans ran a 4-3.  I mean the guy is 6'7 and out of college he weighed 295 pounds.  His natural position is DE in 4-3 scheme (He is also probibly big enough to play DE in a 3-4 system but at that position  you wouldn't be able to utilize his speed).  But you're right when wade phillips was the DC they did switch to 3-4. Im not saying he can't play OLB.  He is just better suited at DE.  

Edited January 9, 2016 by billiejean

[utalkingtome123]

I think the ravens finally get it now they tried to stick to that old out of date formula we were doing but now they get that they can keep the same formula but modernize it I "guess" I could say

[bigcatfrank1]

Our LB crew had problems covering the inside this year, not sure why. They have speed. Was it a scheme problem? We do rotate our bigger OLB up on the line in certain sets so the Ravens do use a quasi 4-3 formation. as well we should with the size of Za D and Upshaw. Seemed like teams were in our heads all year. Pressure was the biggest winner, when they could do it, I think for the Ravens it is a must game plan.

[billiejean]

Lesley Frazier is Available, good defensive coach...Grab him up

he is 4-3 tampa 2 kind of guy, I'm not sure that would suit our defense. 

Edited January 9, 2016 by billiejean

[omar586]

I think there is almost a 0% chance that Givens, Mathews, and D Brown are all on the active roster next year. Brown alone has an extremely small chance of making it. He wasn't even getting much playing time the last couple games this year, so how would he stick around with Smith and Perriman coming back? Plus, Ozzie said he wants to get one or two more WRs, which will knock a couple of the players you mentioned out, and Campanaro, Waller, and Butler will probably be competing for a spot as well. 

sss, butler, aiken, perriman, givens, matthews, clay. waller to PS. camp + marlon will b cut. matthews and clay are good ST aces.

[omar586]

I think they pick Butler over Givens. Butler has a way to get open.

i forgot about butler, SSS, aiken, perriman, butler, matthews, givens, clay.