[News] Late For Work 5/9: Early Look At Ravens Wide Receiver Depth Chart

[bioLarzen]

I would love to see more Daniel Brown.

Me too - but that's gonna be a texbook case of an uphill battle, I'm afraid...

[bioLarzen]

Waller is switching to TE,honestly his best shot at making the team,and would no doubt be a nightmare for LBers trying to cover a TE who ran a 4.40.

That's still on the unlikely side though. Even if Pitta can't really contribute, he'll probably be no higher than 5th on the depth chart - 4th as long as Boyle is suspended. As long as at least three of the Watson/Gillmore/Williams/Boyle quartet is healthy, Waller seems unlikely to even make the roster, let alone carve out a significant share of offensive snaps.

Well, at least he has a camp and pre-season to prove himself and get higher on the depth chart. I wouldn't bet on him making the final roster thouh. He's an unproven TE who would have to edge out 2 or 3 good guys for a roster spot...

[stixfix69]

i'm looking at two position with my eye on next year, with players that might be shelved on ir for next year.....SSS last season,and IMO Forsett might be as well...We are pretty loaded at WR and RB so it will be interesting to see who comes makes it out of camp....To me Dixon could be our primary back next year, as he can do all the things RR did, run and catch, very excited to see how it all unfolds....

[The Mom Gene]

1 hour ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Yeah, lets pump the brakes a bit here:

1. Its 88 TDs in college. It doesn't mean anything.

2. Lets not pretend like the Ravens made some big round 1 trade to get ahead of New England to take this guy. He was a 6th round pick. If the Pats really thought he was great, they'd have drafted him sooner.

3. In all likelihood, the only position he will be a "playmaker" at in year 1 is as a kick returner, which he will have to beat out a couple other guys with more experience in order to earn that role. Me personally, I find the days of "playmakers" as kick returners to be largely declining year over year, so this is a pretty tough spot to become an instant playmaker at.

Plus, that position is largely simply an exercise in proper decision making.

Long term, could be a good returner, but I don't see an immediate impact and I certainly don't see him playing many snaps in year 1 on offense. Far too raw in that regard, and the transition from the defenses he's seen at Navy to the NFL is enormous.

Because he has 2 years of Navy service he'll have to fulfill anyway.  He'll be back when he's done.  Clearly there is a reason he was drafted.  And yes, there are rumblings that the Patriots WERE going to take him.  But they knew of his service requirements, and were "waiting" to nab him  in later rounds as well. 

[eze17]

  3 hours ago, stixfix69 said:

Waller is switching to TE,honestly his best shot at making the team,and would no doubt be a nightmare for LBers trying to cover a TE who ran a 4.40.

That's still on the unlikely side though. Even if Pitta can't really contribute, he'll probably be no higher than 5th on the depth chart - 4th as long as Boyle is suspended. As long as at least three of the Watson/Gillmore/Williams/Boyle quartet is healthy, Waller seems unlikely to even make the roster, let alone carve out a significant share of offensive snaps.

Well, at least he has a camp and pre-season to prove himself and get higher on the depth chart. I wouldn't bet on him making the final roster thouh. He's an unproven TE who would have to edge out 2 or 3 good guys for a roster spot...

Waller has also played well on special teams last year...I admit he has an up-hill climb to make the cut, but I think he's closer to the bubble of making the team than you think...

[rmcjacket23]

9 minutes ago, The Mom Gene said:

Because he has 2 years of Navy service he'll have to fulfill anyway.  He'll be back when he's done.  Clearly there is a reason he was drafted.  And yes, there are rumblings that the Patriots WERE going to take him.  But they knew of his service requirements, and were "waiting" to nab him  in later rounds as well. 

There's a reason why hundreds of players were drafted. And yes, the Patriots were going to take him... in the sixth round. Again, that's the sixth round.

A guy who scored 88 TDs in college wasn't considered a top 150 player by any NFL team. 

There's a reason why players get drafted where they get drafted as well. 

[ravens4life86]

And about Reynolds Service Commitment... The Navy Chairman or something judt came out this past week and said Reynolds will be able to pursue his career.. in NFL.. after all the prescedent was set last year with NE OL that was allowed to play and put his active Duty to the weekend and offseason..

And with Reynolds being 20minutes away from Annapolis...you know they will let him play..

Why is everybody so freaking NEGATIVE.

Gets hyped for our new players...

Dont try to rip them left and right

[Ravenous_Ravens]

One point I don't agree with is that the Ravens keep both Reynolds and Campanaro. They bring the same type of ability and skillset to the table. If the competition is at all close I see Reynolds making the team, due to the injury bug Campanaro cannot seem to shake. Kinda unfortunate as Camp looked to be a solid WR, but being on the field week to week also plays a role on the final cut downs.

I do agree that SSSr, Aiken, Periman, Wallace are pretty much locks but Wallace will need to separate himself a bit.

Outside of that, whoever shows up consistently throughout camp and preseason games will be a front runner. ST contributions will likely decide any decisions that are too close.

I'm putting my sleeper pick on Daniel Brown to make the roster. Although he was mostly a PS member last year, in his brief game time he made some big catches and seemed to be aggressive on the ball and run good routes. His first catch should have been a TD except for a penalty if memory serves correct. With his size, he could be a solid slot or outside WR.

I also see Aiken having a big year after growing a lot last season. Last year he had to deal with teh opponents best secondary players. This season they will most likely hone in on SSSr. and Periman as the priority.

[The Mom Gene]

Bottom line is there is a very healthy competition at the position.  Let's see where the cream rises.  The best will do well...  They'll all be fighting for a position on any of the squads.

 

[Halshayeji]

3 hours ago, respecttheRaven said:

Whew...thanks!! Glad that was all it was!!! They could of said that so people like me don't "freak out" about it!!

Your not alone. We all freaked out when we first heard of it lol

[Halshayeji]

5 hours ago, usmccharles said:

I think they really need to ease SSr in slowly and hope he is ready for a late season run.  With that injury, he might be extremely slow at getting back to his normal playing style, if he can completely get back to it. 

I absolutely agree. No one here loved signing SSS as much as me and no one loves him as much as I do but I really hope he doesn't have a 100 catch season. I'd like to ease him in and preserve him for 4th quarters and the playoffs. Then let him hunt! 

[Drew P]

1 hour ago, bioLarzen said:

That's still on the unlikely side though. Even if Pitta can't really contribute, he'll probably be no higher than 5th on the depth chart - 4th as long as Boyle is suspended. As long as at least three of the Watson/Gillmore/Williams/Boyle quartet is healthy, Waller seems unlikely to even make the roster, let alone carve out a significant share of offensive snaps.

Well, at least he has a camp and pre-season to prove himself and get higher on the depth chart. I wouldn't bet on him making the final roster thouh. He's an unproven TE who would have to edge out 2 or 3 good guys for a roster spot...

Waller is a core ST player

[eze17]

And about Reynolds Service Commitment... The Navy Chairman or something judt came out this past week and said Reynolds will be able to pursue his career.. in NFL.. after all the prescedent was set last year with NE OL that was allowed to play and put his active Duty to the weekend and offseason..

And with Reynolds being 20minutes away from Annapolis...you know they will let him play..

Why is everybody so freaking NEGATIVE.

Gets hyped for our new players...

Dont try to rip them left and right

I don't think the reaction is negative, just that the team needs to evaluate all the new guys we've added and not just proclaim "out with the old: in with the new."

I am a veteran of the U.S. Navy...do you think I DON"T want too see Reynold's break out and be a superstar? Of course I do. But Reynolds himself has admitted that he is years behind playing the positions that the Ravens expect him to play. We as a team are hoping that his superior athletic skills and desire to excell at football will translate into being the player we think he can be.

I believe that most of our draft picks will make this team, but Reynolds will not be handed the job because we like him as a person, or what he's accomplished in the past...he needs to earn his spot on the roster. And the best way to do that is proving he can be a returner on special teams, a job that is wide open at the present.

I am hyped about our new players, but I don't want to see them given a valuable spot on the roster just because they were drafted. The NFL is a show-me league...so they need to be hungry enough to grab the brass ring that's been put out there for them.

[sami]

  4 hours ago, respecttheRaven said:

"Harbaugh said that Jimmy Smith's foot procedure went well".....................Ummm what??!! What foot procedure...the lisfrank surgery from last year, or did he need some other procedure we are just hearing about. First time that I have heard about it.....anyone else know anything about this??!!

They removed a screw

you saying Jimmy had a screw loose??

[808Blackbirds]

5 hours ago, respecttheRaven said:

"Harbaugh said that Jimmy Smith's foot procedure went well".....................Ummm what??!! What foot procedure...the lisfrank surgery from last year, or did he need some other procedure we are just hearing about. First time that I have heard about it.....anyone else know anything about this??!!

We all knew

[EdTheMythicalOne]

  5 hours ago, respecttheRaven said:

"Harbaugh said that Jimmy Smith's foot procedure went well".....................Ummm what??!! What foot procedure...the lisfrank surgery from last year, or did he need some other procedure we are just hearing about. First time that I have heard about it.....anyone else know anything about this??!!

We all knew

He had the screws removed from the surgery.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

One point I don't agree with is that the Ravens keep both Reynolds and Campanaro. They bring the same type of ability and skillset to the table. If the competition is at all close I see Reynolds making the team, due to the injury bug Campanaro cannot seem to shake. Kinda unfortunate as Camp looked to be a solid WR, but being on the field week to week also plays a role on the final cut downs.

I do agree that SSSr, Aiken, Periman, Wallace are pretty much locks but Wallace will need to separate himself a bit.

Outside of that, whoever shows up consistently throughout camp and preseason games will be a front runner. ST contributions will likely decide any decisions that are too close.

I'm putting my sleeper pick on Daniel Brown to make the roster. Although he was mostly a PS member last year, in his brief game time he made some big catches and seemed to be aggressive on the ball and run good routes. His first catch should have been a TD except for a penalty if memory serves correct. With his size, he could be a solid slot or outside WR.

I also see Aiken having a big year after growing a lot last season. Last year he had to deal with teh opponents best secondary players. This season they will most likely hone in on SSSr. and Periman as the priority.

I've suggested the same thing in my picks for the 53 man roster here: http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/topic/68401-my-current-guess-at-the-ravens-53-man-roster-merged/?page=3#comment-2392405

I think they keep one big body type WR and Daniel Brown was my pick over Marlon Brown, Chris Matthews, and Jeremy Butler. I also think Camp gets cut due to his injury history, how well Reynolds might do, and because of that roster redundancy. You don't need two guys that are essentially the same player. My roster picks leave 3 open roster spots on the 53 man for some last ditch bubble guys and depending on where the Ravens want their extra spots to go. Do they keep an extra DL, WR, and DB spot? I also have a couple of spots left on my completely unofficial practice squad.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

  2 hours ago, The Mom Gene said:

Because he has 2 years of Navy service he'll have to fulfill anyway.  He'll be back when he's done.  Clearly there is a reason he was drafted.  And yes, there are rumblings that the Patriots WERE going to take him.  But they knew of his service requirements, and were "waiting" to nab him  in later rounds as well. 

There's a reason why hundreds of players were drafted. And yes, the Patriots were going to take him... in the sixth round. Again, that's the sixth round.

A guy who scored 88 TDs in college wasn't considered a top 150 player by any NFL team. 

There's a reason why players get drafted where they get drafted as well. 

And with Reynolds it was because all your tape on him is as a QB, and he really wasn't going to cut it as an NFL QB. You don't have any tape on him as a WR or a KR/PR so you are rolling the dice on a guy who doesn't have elite measurables as far as speed goes.

low risk with potential decent reward if he can make it as a KR/PR and a shifty slot WR

[CaliRavenFan]

I would love to see the Ravens have a little fun in the preseason and let Reynolds run the triple option with Dixon and Richardson. I guess i will be able to do it in Madden when it comes out, Tyrod was my secret weapon.

Im thinking Monroe will be a camp cut saving us 6.5mil, We have very underrated and young Offensive and Defensive Lines. My sad thought of the day though is Henry replacing Williams after this year, Brandon is a beast and is going to get major money. Well unless he wants to take a good faith contract, something like 2-3 years 6-7 mil but fully guaranteed. That would allow us to resign Tucker and Williams to both long term contracts. One can dream right? ?

[mearzunkies]

VERY classy move Harbs. Yet another reason the Raven F/O is one of the best!!!

[CQ1]

Can Perriman finally stay on the field and contribute?

Correction: I believe that he would have to make it on the field FIRST- before, "staying". Hello.

[bigcatfrank1]

If Smith Sr or Perriman can make it through a few weeks of training early on The Ravens should seriously look at moving some of that young WR talent on a CB.

[CQ1]

I would love to see the Ravens have a little fun in the preseason and let Reynolds run the triple option with Dixon and Richardson. I guess i will be able to do it in Madden when it comes out, Tyrod was my secret weapon.

Im thinking Monroe will be a camp cut saving us 6.5mil, We have very underrated and young Offensive and Defensive Lines. My sad thought of the day though is Henry replacing Williams after this year, Brandon is a beast and is going to get major money. Well unless he wants to take a good faith contract, something like 2-3 years 6-7 mil but fully guaranteed. That would allow us to resign Tucker and Williams to both long term contracts. One can dream right? ?

Yes! We need to retain BWilliams- some how; Yes! Reynolds could be that "slash" factor.

[Crusader]

Can Perriman finally stay on the field and contribute?

Correction: I believe that he would have to make it on the field FIRST- before, "staying". Hello.

They lowered the white chalk lines so he should be fine.

[Maryland]

Can't wait for the preseason to start. Going to be one hell of a battle for that last WR spot (if there is one--they could just keep 5), and for Daryl Smith's vacated ILB spot (if there is one--they could be playing a lot more 4-3 and nickle), and at RB of course, and TE.

[Ravens_Flock]

Going with a theme I guess, I really hope that Arthur Brown takes full advantage now that he'll finally have a shot at actually earning a starting position. And I also hope that the Ravens actually GIVE him a chance to earn it. Poor guy got drafted the year they brought in Smith, and the next year we drafted Mosley. I would not say it's really been his fault at all, stuck behind those two guys, that he has seen the field so little in his first few years, sadly.

As ever, I am also going to root for Marlon Brown, even though he's definitely going against the odds now. I think that they have been misusing him the last two seasons, and that's obvious. You don't ask a 6'5" WR to play the slot. He succeeded his rookie year because they played him outside, and actually used him as a weapon in the redzone. They did neither, for the most part, in 2014 and 2015. It's a crowded WR race, and even if he makes the team I don't know how many snaps he'll actually get at this rate, but I'll still root for him.

[usmccharles]

1 hour ago, Ravens_Flock said:

Going with a theme I guess, I really hope that Arthur Brown takes full advantage now that he'll finally have a shot at actually earning a starting position. And I also hope that the Ravens actually GIVE him a chance to earn it. Poor guy got drafted the year they brought in Smith, and the next year we drafted Mosley. I would not say it's really been his fault at all, stuck behind those two guys, that he has seen the field so little in his first few years, sadly.

As ever, I am also going to root for Marlon Brown, even though he's definitely going against the odds now. I think that they have been misusing him the last two seasons, and that's obvious. You don't ask a 6'5" WR to play the slot. He succeeded his rookie year because they played him outside, and actually used him as a weapon in the redzone. They did neither, for the most part, in 2014 and 2015. It's a crowded WR race, and even if he makes the team I don't know how many snaps he'll actually get at this rate, but I'll still root for him.

The thing is, Marlon as had ample amount of chances to prove himself and beat out other players, he hasn't.  I don't see him making the team this year, he just doesn't have the upside as some of these new guys we are bringing in. 

[Drinkmore Beer]

If Camp stays healthy, then he has to make the team, because he's an ideal slot receiver who we KNOW can make plays. Why replace him with Reynolds who hasn't even learned the position?

[usmccharles]

4 minutes ago, Drinkmore Beer said:

If Camp stays healthy, then he has to make the team, because he's an ideal slot receiver who we KNOW can make plays. Why replace him with Reynolds who hasn't even learned the position?

Because Reynolds is a high risk/high reward.  I am with you, if Camp stays healthy he is a threat, but there is no reason to believe he is able to stay healthy.  I mean, that is basically the point of the draft, drafting new players to bring new dynamics to your team. 

[rmcjacket23]

15 hours ago, EdTheMythicalOne said:

And with Reynolds it was because all your tape on him is as a QB, and he really wasn't going to cut it as an NFL QB. You don't have any tape on him as a WR or a KR/PR so you are rolling the dice on a guy who doesn't have elite measurables as far as speed goes.

low risk with potential decent reward if he can make it as a KR/PR and a shifty slot WR

Correct, thus why expecting any significant contributions from him as anything other than a kick returner in year 1 is a bit of a leap for me. I don't know too many guys who change positions from college to the pros and are able to successfully do that in year 1.