My take on the draft and the Offseason

[Jacquouille]

42 minutes ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

Again I think it comes down to proper utilization of the players. Kikaha actually reminded me a lot of suggs coming out in the sense that he's a legit LB and not just a rusher, in the 34 he plays the run very well and rushes the passer physical and refined, correa very well could have a bigger impact in the passing game but in the 34 I think He will struggle against the run. In a 43 I think He has elite potential in all facets because of his nose for the ball and his burst and speed, kikaha strikes me as a more "steady" type of guy who is always gonna make his presence felt in some way by doing the dirty work when he's not rushing the passer. Both are good players I think

Okay, I can't really argue with that, but what strikes me here is you're the first one to state that Correa has good instincts. I could only find a handful of plays of him as a LB, and while his awareness was good I wouldn't have considered him an instinctive player.

36 minutes ago, BmoreBird22 said:

4 sacks, seven hits, 16 hurries. I'd imagine most of that was later in the year.

Yeah along those lines, not impressive but it really stroke me watching some highlights (would have liked to have full games but Game Pass is too expensive for the poor student that I am lol). And I really think most of it came in the second half of the season. Again I might be wrong like I was for Carl Davis, but at least with more presence on the edge QBs shouldn't be able to get away from him.

[Winchester]

17 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

And as all former GMs will tell you...

"When you listen to the fans, you'll end up sitting with the fans". When fans tell you to do something, sprint the other way. Don't walk, don't jog, don't run... sprint as far away as possible.

No matter who a gm listens to its results or else

[rmcjacket23]

Just now, Winchester said:

No matter who a gm listens to its results or else

Not necessarily. Reaction to results is dependent on expectations, which generally fans have no idea what those expectations are. They know what their own personal expectations are, but not that of ownership or management.

Its why there's plenty of GMs who keep gigs for many years without having won a lot of games. Same thing with coaches, players, etc.

If you lose long enough, sure you'll get fired. But fans and smart owners generally have very different views on what that looks like. 

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

1 hour ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

Again I think it comes down to proper utilization of the players. Kikaha actually reminded me a lot of suggs coming out in the sense that he's a legit LB and not just a rusher, in the 34 he plays the run very well and rushes the passer physical and refined, correa very well could have a bigger impact in the passing game but in the 34 I think He will struggle against the run. In a 43 I think He has elite potential in all facets because of his nose for the ball and his burst and speed, kikaha strikes me as a more "steady" type of guy who is always gonna make his presence felt in some way by doing the dirty work when he's not rushing the passer. Both are good players I think

Yea, I think Correas best fit is at Will in 4-3. Situational blitzer, find and seek the ball carrier, and has the ability to drop and cover when needed.

[RavensFan34950]

7 minutes ago, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

Yea, I think Correas best fit is at Will in 4-3. Situational blitzer, find and seek the ball carrier, and has the ability to drop and cover when needed.

would you be able to compare Correas to Peter Boulware in any way?

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

1 hour ago, Winchester said:

I can't dislike previous drafts but like this one?? Sounds like you are implying you have to love every move Ozzie Decosta makes. Or else hate every move Ozzie Decosta makes??

No, now you're putting words in my mouth or implying meaning when its not there. 

You said waiting for this draft to address pass rusher was a mistake... and then went on to say we got 1 of the 2 double digit sack guys in the 3rd round who is better than the 7th overall pick Buckner, that we got a 1st round talent beast interior pass rusher in Henry, and a potential 3 down LBer who can be a blitz artist and cover specialist.

If thats what they pulled out of this draft, and Sizzle/Doom are still effective players until we see otherwise (they were the top pass rushing tandem in the NFL the last season they were together) how exactly was it such a terrible decision on their part to wait until this draft to add pass rushers??

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

4 hours ago, Winchester said:

Ealy fell after the combine. I used to like Mayock but saw and heard some things he no longer cared about scouting like he once loved it. Anyways the #4 edge rusher could be a beast and the #2 tackle a touch above average. To be honest I watched about 10 plays of a game and the first player that I thought of was Bruce Smith. I believed he could of been in a little better shape(like Bruce coming out but he got in top shape) which made his burst and crazy flexibility/leverage that much impressive!! 

Jernigan was more a run stuffer and many said Elams limited skills would not transfer to the pro game. He was surrounded by superior talent at florida. He was a panic replace ed reed reach pick any way you cut it!! Ozzie Decosta even said are you ready to replace ed reed. It was a terrible pick at the time and worse pick now.  I can't believe there are fans that continue to back him as a potential standout player. Look at the date of those articles. You will more than likely find them dated post combine. Every player coming out you could say is inconsistent. Nobody dominates all the time. Mack was said to be inconsistent. This is the year jernigan needs to break out or he is just a solid player. I don't know how anybody can justify jernigan over Ealy and Robinson. There are no excuses. Ozzie Decosta overlooked far better players and selected Jernigan. Robinson is already a top 5 WR and Ealy is primed for a  great year. Jernigan is a touch above average.

Thats a stupid way to evaluate drafts and GM's drafting ability.

To knock a FO for passing on Robinson or Ealy and selecting a different player, who may not be as dominant at his position as say Robinson is at WR is silly. Every team passed on Robinson in the 1st round, including the team that ended up selecting him. 90% of them didnt pick a player better than Robinson in the 1st round.... so i guess they all should be fired or criticized, and theyre all horrible.

NO ONE thought allen robinson would be this good this early.

Its like saying every GM in the NFL should be fired for passing on Russell Wilson twice bc QB is the most important position to fill. How could you possibly select a less talented player than that?

Fire everyone for letting Tom Brady fall to the 6th or Romo go undrafted...

 

Some guys have traits you like, or upside...and sometimes they just explode and far outplay what you see on their tape or what their expected ceiling is, or develop way faster than anyone could predict. Tearing people down for not being fortune tellers or psychics is stupid.... even if you happen to get lucky once and a while and see that potential in a player that others miss.

Guarantee neither of your Robinson boys do ANYTHING this year.... and if thats the case - you dont get to post anymore ok? Bc your credibility is 100% gone at that point.... how could you feed us that theyre the most talented WRs in this draft and then other players out perform them? See how stupid that is.

 

And, please. Show me the posts from you during the 2014 draft saying we need to take Ealy or Robinson... or pre-draft saying how great they are and should be 1st rounders... How about, show one post where you've loved a player prior to them actually succeeding in the NFL that wasnt totally obvious. Bc so far, everyone Ive seen youve vouch for are either way in the past with no evidence that you truly felt that way at the time, are current and havent played yet so we dont know if youre right or not, or they were Marqis Lee and Rob Housler who havent done jack and u were completely wrong on.

If youre gonna hold the FO to a standard that they cant take a good player before a great one that was available  (like every single GM does every year) then at least show some proof that youve ever been right about even one prospect ever.

[Winchester]

1 hour ago, RavensFan34950 said:

would you be able to compare Correas to Peter Boulware in any way?

That is a he'll to the no!! Boulwsre at his best is the best ravens edge rusher ever. If not for injuries Boulware would be up there witn Ray Lewis for best defensive players

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

1 hour ago, RavensFan34950 said:

would you be able to compare Correas to Peter Boulware in any way?

No, i wouldnt. I like Correa at Will because he's a better player in space, and i dont believe he has the size/strength/technique to engage with tackles head on. But in space he can use his speed around the edge, or knifing through gaps/space in the line to get into the backfield... and he can drop into space and cover, or read/react to the play and use his athleticism to close space and make tackles.

Boulware was more of a traditional 4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB... taking on blockers, winning with power, speed or technique.

[Jacquouille]

11 minutes ago, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

No, i wouldnt. I like Correa at Will because he's a better player in space, and i dont believe he has the size/strength/technique to engage with tackles head on. But in space he can use his speed around the edge, or knifing through gaps/space in the line to get into the backfield... and he can drop into space and cover, or read/react to the play and use his athleticism to close space and make tackles.

Boulware was more of a traditional 4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB... taking on blockers, winning with power, speed or technique.

Did you mean at SAM?

[K-Dog]

Looking at our offense, I am thinking opposing defenses are really going to have their work cut out for them.

I see decent threats in the line, run game, short pass and long pass.  No, not the most intimidating offense ever, but an offence that is going to take a good amount of game planning and some pretty top notch play to keep them in check.

 

Nice....

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

3 hours ago, Jacquouille said:

Did you mean at SAM?

No I think id like him better at Will. 

If it were me and were playing a 4-3 I'd probably play McClellan at Sam, Mosley at Mike and Correa at Will. 

McClellans probably the strongest so id want him taking on a tackle, FB or TE and allowing Mosley/Correa track down plays. 

I think Correa is better in space, probably better in coverage, and has more speed. And at Will he won't be blocks head on, and can instead use his speed off the edge or shooting gaps to blitz. His overall athleticism is probably better too for chasing down plays from the backside. 

[JoeyFlex5]

Thanks for the shout out man! I don't see kaufusi and peppers as being similar aside from the length. Peppers was way more of an athletic freak, if you could make a perfect DE on Madden he would come out looking like peppers, I think kaufusi is far off from that and he would need a lot of work on his physique and burst. Maybe the physicality is on par but that's as far as I would go. I think at his best he could compare to Everson griffen, solid blend of burst off the snap and ability to engage the tackle and shorten the bend or give himself the inside lane and good length to finish the play. As you've pointed out a lot though he needs to distribute his weight better, he's far too slim at the shoulders and upper legs region and too soft in his core, luckily these are things that can be improved and by improving this he not only ups his play strength but also his burst and balance which is already decent.

[Sami84]

I really like the Kaufusi pick as I see him being a guy that will make an impact . I think he could easily get 6-7 sacks this year as a rookie. I just wish he was a bit younger. hes 25 so by the time his contract plays out he'll be 28-29..He's going to have to come out the gates with a purpose. He doesnt have time to grow..he needs to be good and good now.

[Jacquouille]

It's going way too far, we were supposed to talk about this offseason.

[Winchester]

Back on subject. Kufusi is likely going to be a 43 defensive end or 34 rush olb. So when he cuts 16-20 lbs of bad weight and adds 10-14 lbs of muscle he will gain a step of explosion. His game speed should be about 4.75. His broad jump should be a little less than 10'. His vertical about 33-35". And his 3cone will be sub7. He will settle in at a leaner and more explosive yet stronger 280-285lbs Not quite the athlete that Peppers is but it is in the category of freak of an athlete for his size. I never really watched much of Peppers. Is Peppers play style similar to Kufusi?? To where their games could be somewhat similar?? Kufusi at these measureables would at least be a feared edge rusher even if he is not compared to Julius Peppers. 

 

Come to think of it Mario Williams is a good signing for his cost. A freak like he and Peppers could lose a step and have top shelf athleticism for his size.

[JoeyFlex5]

Kaufusi won't be a rush LB. in a 34 he'll play DE but at the 5t with a stand-up rusher to his side most likely. He already plays high and doesn't have great functional strength as a result so having him rush from the 2point would really be playing into his weaknesses

[Jacquouille]

I've come to accept that rookies rarely make a difference in year one, RBs and some WRs excepted, so I'm more impatient to see what our year 2 guys can produce. They all showed flashes, if they can get consistently good, our team can make a Big jump.

[usmccharles]

29 minutes ago, Jacquouille said:

I've come to accept that rookies rarely make a difference in year one, RBs and some WRs excepted, so I'm more impatient to see what our year 2 guys can produce. They all showed flashes, if they can get consistently good, our team can make a Big jump.

Expectations definitely should be held in check for rookies.  But sadly I can see it now, If KC or Kaufusi have little impact this year people will lose their minds. 

[Jacquouille]

31 minutes ago, usmccharles said:

Expectations definitely should be held in check for rookies.  But sadly I can see it now, If KC or Kaufusi have little impact this year people will lose their minds. 

Yeah but it's a long process to adapt to the NFL. The good news is, we have a lot of guys from the 2 previous drafts who have matured and should step up this year in Jernigan, Urban, Campanaro if healthy, ZDS, Buck, Maxx, possibly BP. At one point this season we all said they were promising, well if they stop being just promisses and start producing that will be plenty enough of a progress for the whole team.

Edited May 26, 2016 by Jacquouille

[usmccharles]

10 minutes ago, Jacquouille said:

Yeah but it's a long process to adapt to the NFL. The good news is, we have a lot of guys from the 2 previous drafts who have matured and should step up this year in Jernigan, Urban, Campanaro if healthy, ZDS, Buck, Maxx, possibly BP. At one point this season we all said they were promising, well if they stop being just promisses and start producing that will be plenty enough of a progress for the whole team.

I am pretty excited to see what ZDS can do with a bigger role. 

[Jacquouille]

1 hour ago, usmccharles said:

I am pretty excited to see what ZDS can do with a bigger role. 

I've been saying that for a while now although he might not see as much playing time with all the new rushers at disposal.

[Winchester]

7 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

Kaufusi won't be a rush LB. in a 34 he'll play DE but at the 5t with a stand-up rusher to his side most likely. He already plays high and doesn't have great functional strength as a result so having him rush from the 2point would really be playing into his weaknesses

I'm not saying I'm right about this but I do not think he would be a good interior player such as 3-4 defensive end or DT. Even penetrating tackle of end. He bends well but trench leverage guy wouldn't be his m.o. I really like him as an edge rusher. Cut 16-20 lbs,play at about 4.75 game speed. Tack on 10-14 lbs of muscle without slowing himself down any and unleash him off the edge.  My opinion He is actually a little stronger than credited for Because  ravens converted Johnson and mcphee to edge rushers. And those guys are not nearly the athlete that Kufusi is. So what are your thoughts guys. 

[Jacquouille]

13 minutes ago, Winchester said:

I'm not saying I'm right about this but I do not think he would be a good interior player such as 3-4 defensive end or DT. Even penetrating tackle of end. He bends well but trench leverage guy wouldn't be his m.o. I really like him as an edge rusher. Cut 16-20 lbs,play at about 4.75 game speed. Tack on 10-14 lbs of muscle without slowing himself down any and unleash him off the edge.  My opinion He is actually a little stronger than credited for Because  ravens converted Johnson and mcphee to edge rushers. And those guys are not nearly the athlete that Kufusi is. So what are your thoughts guys. 

While I would tend to agree with you, and find Kaufusi pedestrian as a 5tech, PFF has him as the best interior rusher of the draft fwiw. Quite honestly I don't think it's worth asking, he's gonna travelling like Mcphee did depending on the situation. 

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

1 hour ago, Winchester said:

I'm not saying I'm right about this but I do not think he would be a good interior player such as 3-4 defensive end or DT. Even penetrating tackle of end. He bends well but trench leverage guy wouldn't be his m.o. I really like him as an edge rusher. Cut 16-20 lbs,play at about 4.75 game speed. Tack on 10-14 lbs of muscle without slowing himself down any and unleash him off the edge.  My opinion He is actually a little stronger than credited for Because  ravens converted Johnson and mcphee to edge rushers. And those guys are not nearly the athlete that Kufusi is. So what are your thoughts guys. 

i think his pad level and playing too upright are the only reasons he would struggle at 3-4 DE... but i think that can be easily corrected with the proper coaching.

He's probably better as a 4-3 DE, but i think hes quick and strong enough to beat interior lineman so long as he learns to play better with leverage.

He attempted to lose weight in 2014 to play OLB and completely failed at it. Not saying he cant in the NFL, but just that he wasnt succesful trying to do so in the past.

Edited May 26, 2016 by BOLDnPurPnBlacK

[Winchester]

11 minutes ago, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

i think his pad level and playing too upright are the only reasons he would struggle at 3-4 DE... but i think that can be easily corrected with the proper coaching.

He's probably better as a 4-3 DE, but i think hes quick and strong enough to beat interior lineman so long as he learns to play better with leverage.

He attempted to lose weight in 2014 to play OLB and completely failed at it. Not saying he cant in the NFL, but just that he wasnt succesful trying to do so in the past.

He has Watson to learn from to properly cut excess fat without cutting into muscle or strength. Ben Watson is the most knowledgeable guy for cutting fat and adding muscle to build power speed and lower body explosion. Probably one of the reasons Harbs wanted Ben Watson with Harbs push for better training, nutrition and overall shape and conditioning of his players. Watson is a freak and fanatical building speed power and explosion.He ran down champ Bailey in 2005 from behind following an int. And knocked him out

[Winchester]

7 hours ago, usmccharles said:

I am pretty excited to see what ZDS can do with a bigger role. 

More interested in Kufusi and Henry.

[JoeyFlex5]

1 hour ago, Winchester said:

I'm not saying I'm right about this but I do not think he would be a good interior player such as 3-4 defensive end or DT. Even penetrating tackle of end. He bends well but trench leverage guy wouldn't be his m.o. I really like him as an edge rusher. Cut 16-20 lbs,play at about 4.75 game speed. Tack on 10-14 lbs of muscle without slowing himself down any and unleash him off the edge.  My opinion He is actually a little stronger than credited for Because  ravens converted Johnson and mcphee to edge rushers. And those guys are not nearly the athlete that Kufusi is. So what are your thoughts guys. 

I think he's an edge rusher too that's why I labeled him a 5t. Which is still an edge rusher of sorts in my book lol. 34de can have a wide range of jobs and being a 5t edge rusher is one of them. 

 

And I don't think he's weak, I just think He plays high and it kills His functional strength at times, so I think having him rush while already standing up is counterproductive, having him come out of the 3 or 4 point outside of the tackles shoulder I think is the best way to highlight his strengths. He works the tackles outside shoulder VERY well when he engages, it's really what he does Best.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

31 minutes ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

I think he's an edge rusher too that's why I labeled him a 5t. Which is still an edge rusher of sorts in my book lol. 34de can have a wide range of jobs and being a 5t edge rusher is one of them. 

 

And I don't think he's weak, I just think He plays high and it kills His functional strength at times, so I think having him rush while already standing up is counterproductive, having him come out of the 3 or 4 point outside of the tackles shoulder I think is the best way to highlight his strengths. He works the tackles outside shoulder VERY well when he engages, it's really what he does Best.

Agreed... he used a sick counter spin move against both tackles in the game against cinci and produced 2 sacks from them. down right abused em

[xxhighriser]

Why so many negs on OP, do yall think objectively or just based on faith everything will be perfect? (Which it won't)

Agreed with a lot of the draft grades which showed to be a very solid draft.  Looking at the pick you have to be utterly biased not to believe Correa has the most bust potential. His size, where he got picked, the fact we picked 2 pass rushers who look immediately better after him?  He'll have to show the most out of all our rookies which I don't think he'll live up to.  Dixon too was my favorite pick, Allen last year.  I honestly think Forsett should be on the bubble cus I want to see both of these dudes A LOT.

 

Lineup wise I don't think Pitta should be cut unless his play shows he doesn't have it anymore.  Stanley should start at LG until ready to takeover for Monroe cus I think Wagner will bounce back.  This was a very good offseason by Oz and co and I dont think we're done yet.  This team is 11 win, deep playoff material.