[News] Who Will Ravens Replace Zachary Orr At Inside Linebacker?

[BR News]

After the 24-year-old linebacker was forced into retirement with a congenital neck/back condition, the Ravens suddenly have a need in the middle of their defense. Kamalei Correa and Patrick Onwuasor are two in-house candidates that could take over the position, and the Ravens could also look to the draft and free agency.

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[sami]

someone had to step into Rays spot...now THAT was tough. Then someone had to step into Daryl Smith's spot. He did a good job filling in for Ray. Then Orr filled in for Daryl and now someone has to fill in for Orr. Next man up.

[Crusader]

First it was the corner position now it going to be the inside linebacker position rotating like underwear. Instead of Joe working out with his receivers it looks like C.J will have to do the same.

[reed20]

Come on Correa

[RaRaRavens]

Damn, our roster is seriously starting to look like Swiss cheese - holes every which way. Just to name the positions where we need (improved) starters at: LB, CB 2 (considering Young should play the slot), WR 1&2, C, OLB, most likely DT and RT as well. Gonna be a looong offseason...

[sami]

Damn, our roster is seriously starting to look like Swiss cheese - holes every which way. Just to name the positions where we need (improved) starters at: LB, CB 2 (considering Young should play the slot), WR 1&2, C, OLB, most likely DT and RT as well. Gonna be a looong offseason...

We've got the WR 1&2, we also have the OLB and RT as of right now. Quit being so pessimistic.

[Maurice0094]

This could be another position of need in the draft based on just the lack of depth. If Reuben Foster is at 16 I could see the former Bama alum here. I could also see us taking a Ben Boulware in 5th-6th rd because a Boulware has never did a Ravens d wrong.

[Wildwest Raven]

Go Patrick!!..put Portland State on the map..

[The Beak]

How about Z Brown from Buffalo he is an UFA, could prob sign him for 9.5mil for 3 years, he had 147 tkls, 4 sacks last year...,

[BiggMack91]

If Reuben Foster is at 16 take him but if not and peppers is still there take him imagine if it was C.J and peppers playing MLB for us we could cover any TE out there

[Mahatma_Sloth]

KC or Onwuasor. my money is on Onwuasor, or a rotation if KC can learn to stuff runs.

[bioLarzen]

  1 hour ago, RaRaRavens said:

Damn, our roster is seriously starting to look like Swiss cheese - holes every which way. Just to name the positions where we need (improved) starters at: LB, CB 2 (considering Young should play the slot), WR 1&2, C, OLB, most likely DT and RT as well. Gonna be a looong offseason...

We've got the WR 1&2, we also have the OLB and RT as of right now. Quit being so pessimistic.

We've gpot WR 1&2? Who do you consider starting caliber WR beside Wallace? Because I don't think at all that Perriman has proven himself last sesaon... The way things looked at the end of the season, I'd much rather go with Aiken than Perriman - but Kamar's all but gone.

[JamesA119]

The hit keeps on coming. Ozzie's job just got a bit tougher. We had that position secured and now instead of focussing on CB, safety, pass rusher, Oline and WR, we now have to worry about ILB.
Salary cap space is minimal, and only 7 picks in this draft

[Córvido]

Cavellis Luckett has solid coverage skills and is a very interesting future option.

[MadStorkSociety]

Come on Correa

It's a great opportunity for him, if he can fill it. I'm afraid there is not enough evidence for Ozzie to rely on him at this point.

[omar586]

we will be fine, LBs/DT/RBs/TEs are not always big issue for the ravens, they always find gems in UDFAs or draft to cover those. i think ozzie all ready has someone to replace orr on the roster, lamar Louis? maybe he could emerge as potential replacement.

[The Greek]

i see them giving correa and onwuasor every opportunity to run with this and if they are struggling than the veteran cap casualty will be signed. hope harbs gives orr an internship into coaching

[robbie29]

I'm not as worried about Orr's loss as I am about Steve Smith Sr. Ozzie does well drafting ILB but he stinks at drafting WRs (Torrey being the only exception). Normally we sign a solid veteran WR or two, but we don't have as much money as we normally have. It would help if Joe took a pay cut but unfortunately that ain't gonna happen. Hopefully guys like Perriman, Maxx Williams, and Dixon will all play lights out in 2017. It could happen...

[balfan23]

I still don't know what Correa is - I thought we drafted him to be an edge rusher, but then we tried first to using him inside and ultimately he didn't give any indication where he can play and be effective. We need Correa to step up in 2017 and contribute somewhere in a significant way. I don't want to hear that we need to draft for Orr's loss. We have too many other places that need to be addressed. Back fill ILB and draft secondary, edge rush and O line.

[nj_ravens]

  2 hours ago, sami said:

  2 hours ago, RaRaRavens said:

Damn, our roster is seriously starting to look like Swiss cheese - holes every which way. Just to name the positions where we need (improved) starters at: LB, CB 2 (considering Young should play the slot), WR 1&2, C, OLB, most likely DT and RT as well. Gonna be a looong offseason...

We've got the WR 1&2, we also have the OLB and RT as of right now. Quit being so pessimistic.

We've gpot WR 1&2? Who do you consider starting caliber WR beside Wallace? Because I don't think at all that Perriman has proven himself last sesaon... The way things looked at the end of the season, I'd much rather go with Aiken than Perriman - but Kamar's all but gone.

"Because I don't think at all that Perriman has proven himself last sesaon"

We need to play our picks if we want out of veteran free agent cycle. If we want true impact FAs then we can't let journeyman guys take reps from our draft picks and money from our cap.

[nj_ravens]

I still don't know what Correa is - I thought we drafted him to be an edge rusher, but then we tried first to using him inside and ultimately he didn't give any indication where he can play and be effective. We need Correa to step up in 2017 and contribute somewhere in a significant way. I don't want to hear that we need to draft for Orr's loss. We have too many other places that need to be addressed. Back fill ILB and draft secondary, edge rush and O line.

"ultimately he didn't give any indication where he can play and be effective."

It seemed like they were liking him at ilb, but Orr was just better. Team wasn't expecting it. Wanted to get Correa on the field so started working him outside. High learning curve for Correa, learning 2 spots as a rookie, when his really not a "smarts" player but an instinct/motor guy. Should do better this year.

[balfan23]

24 minutes ago, nj_ravens said:

"ultimately he didn't give any indication where he can play and be effective."

It seemed like they were liking him at ilb, but Orr was just better. Team wasn't expecting it. Wanted to get Correa on the field so started working him outside. High learning curve for Correa, learning 2 spots as a rookie, when his really not a "smarts" player but an instinct/motor guy. Should do better this year.

I was just under the impression, based on what he was in college and what his draft analysis was, that he was going to be an edge rusher that we needed (and still need) to prepare for the inevitable issue we will have when Suggs and Doom are done. Then, we moved him inside during camp and then he lost his job to Orr. 

We tried to use him during preseason (second team) inside and he was basically invisible, so it unfortunately doesn't feel like he just got edged out of the ILB starting job. Sure - tough learning curve and no doubt he could step up in 2017 (I'm really hopeful he does), but I'm just saying he's still a bit of an unknown. 

 

[TheConquerorWorm]

KC or Onwuasor. my money is on Onwuasor, or a rotation if KC can learn to stuff runs.

Agree 100%. Onwuasor is a big hitter and a converted Safety - so we know he can cover. My guess is that KC is used in blitz packages and Peanut is used in coverage packages.

[Halshayeji]

1 hour ago, The Greek said:

i see them giving correa and onwuasor every opportunity to run with this and if they are struggling than the veteran cap casualty will be signed. hope harbs gives orr an internship into coaching

That would scare me going into the season. Orr played a vital role last year and we need someone to replicate that or at least come close.

Mlb is not a position I'd like to roll the dice with.

Edited January 21 by Halshayeji

[JamesA119]

  37 minutes ago, balfan23 said:

I still don't know what Correa is - I thought we drafted him to be an edge rusher, but then we tried first to using him inside and ultimately he didn't give any indication where he can play and be effective. We need Correa to step up in 2017 and contribute somewhere in a significant way. I don't want to hear that we need to draft for Orr's loss. We have too many other places that need to be addressed. Back fill ILB and draft secondary, edge rush and O line.

"ultimately he didn't give any indication where he can play and be effective."

It seemed like they were liking him at ilb, but Orr was just better. Team wasn't expecting it. Wanted to get Correa on the field so started working him outside. High learning curve for Correa, learning 2 spots as a rookie, when his really not a "smarts" player but an instinct/motor guy. Should do better this year.

Insightful comment but I think the drop off between Orr and Correa is too much for Correa to be the replacement this coming season. I still don't know how Correa looked so good in college and appear so overmatched in the NFL. Look Judon was a 5th round draft pick, which means he didn't look nearly as good as Correa looked in college games, but he comes in and makes a quick impact.

[Crusader]

Ravens can't spend a draft pick to fix that hole now. Not until those other great picks have a chance to show up. They should at least get three years like A Brown.

[purpledown]

I dont believe his replacement is on the team , will try free agency or the draft.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I hope its an open competition.

[BigUgly]

This is a real shame.  Orr was better at ILB than Mosley, and could've become truly special - another undrafted gem like Bart Scott.  That said, I hope Oz resists the temptation to grab Reuben Foster from 'Bama at 16.  Either Correa can play or we put in Onwuasor (who was one of the hardest hitters in camp) or McLellan.  We have more pressing needs elsewhere on the D (CB, Edge, FS).  

[law215]

I think Correa or Onwuasor could fill that role. If they draft another ILB with all the other needs on this team, I think that would be a mistake. IF they have any desire to maintain a manageable cap, they need to get out of the win now mentality and let these young players develop.
The defense has enough old players as it is. That's probably the biggest reason for the defense nose diving a the end of the season.