[News] Scouting The Senior Bowl: Outside Linebackers

[BR News]

Temple's Haason Reddick is a versatile player with explosive power off the edge. Alabama's Ryan Anderson may have been overshadowed in Tuscaloosa, but he can be a dominant presence against the run and pass. Houston's Tyus Bowser is intriguing but has a character flag.

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[Darryls17]

I know it's still early in the process and the analyst hardly ever get it right the first time, but from what I can tell. The DBs are getting a lot of love this year and some of those elite pass rushers are falling under the radar. Specifically Derek Barnett!! His measurables are similar to T.Sizz and he produced in college footballs strongest conference. This guy had more tackles for a loss than Myles Garret and Solomon Thomas yet he is ranked below them on several boards including Daniel Jeremiah. 33 Sacks and 52 tackles for a loss in the SEC is nothing to sneeze at, especially when your not on a team that is loaded with talent. If he doesn't test all that great at the combine I think he will continue to fly under the radar just enough for us to snatch him up. He is hands down better then any player listed above and would be a huge addition if we have to let Dumervil walk.

[Saxxin]

O-line and secondary. That's where they need the most help in the early rounds.

[ravens4life86]

@Saxxin, you realize they had 15 combined sacks from Dumervil, Jernigan, Sizzle last yr. Mostly from Sizzle. Great pass rush helps a 2ndry. Who knows Dum still might be cut. They need another franchise edge rusher.

Ryan Anderson is nice but if they are projecting him out as Upshaw no thanks, we dont need an edge setter, we need sack artists.
What about 1st round selections at 16 like Barnett,Solon Thomas, etc
Or rnd 2 selections like Mckinley,Smoot,Devonte Fields, Tj Watt etc.
I know ozzie love Bama, but get the best players. Outside of Julio,Cooper,Mosley. Not many Bama guys turn into studs

[Ravenous_Ravens]

Really? It's you can never have enough cornerbacks.

It used to be pass rushers, but face it in today's pass happy league a good secondary affords teams more time to get home to the QB. Stop the nonsense about any position but secondary in the early rounds please.

The Ravens added pass rushers last draft and most have yet to see significant snaps.

Unless some generational talent falls into their laps outside the top 10, which in itself is laughable, no pass rusher will be taken in round #1.

[Darryls17]

@Saxxin, you realize they had 15 combined sacks from Dumervil, Jernigan, Sizzle last yr. Mostly from Sizzle. Great pass rush helps a 2ndry. Who knows Dum still might be cut. They need another franchise edge rusher.

Ryan Anderson is nice but if they are projecting him out as Upshaw no thanks, we dont need an edge setter, we need sack artists.
What about 1st round selections at 16 like Barnett,Solon Thomas, etc
Or rnd 2 selections like Mckinley,Smoot,Devonte Fields, Tj Watt etc.
I know ozzie love Bama, but get the best players. Outside of Julio,Cooper,Mosley. Not many Bama guys turn into studs

Totally agree with you. I also think we could probably get a quality corner like Desmond King in the 2nd round. I feel like we are really good at scouting O-line guys and could get some quality in the 3rd or 4th round. I don't even think King made Daniel Jeremiahs top 50 and he had 8 picks last year and 3 this year. Dude makes plays, the knock is that he is 5'11 but Tavon Young is even shorter and he's going to be good I think.

[n#7]

@Saxxin, you realize they had 15 combined sacks from Dumervil, Jernigan, Sizzle last yr. Mostly from Sizzle. Great pass rush helps a 2ndry. Who knows Dum still might be cut. They need another franchise edge rusher.

Ryan Anderson is nice but if they are projecting him out as Upshaw no thanks, we dont need an edge setter, we need sack artists.
What about 1st round selections at 16 like Barnett,Solon Thomas, etc
Or rnd 2 selections like Mckinley,Smoot,Devonte Fields, Tj Watt etc.
I know ozzie love Bama, but get the best players. Outside of Julio,Cooper,Mosley. Not many Bama guys turn into studs

Agreed! The D backfield is only as good as the pass rush. Just because the current crop is not producing doesn't mean you don't keep trying to land one. They just have to do a better job of drafting and lately it's been abysmal.

[TheConquerorWorm]

I know it's still early in the process and the analyst hardly ever get it right the first time, but from what I can tell. The DBs are getting a lot of love this year and some of those elite pass rushers are falling under the radar. Specifically Derek Barnett!! His measurables are similar to T.Sizz and he produced in college footballs strongest conference. This guy had more tackles for a loss than Myles Garret and Solomon Thomas yet he is ranked below them on several boards including Daniel Jeremiah. 33 Sacks and 52 tackles for a loss in the SEC is nothing to sneeze at, especially when your not on a team that is loaded with talent. If he doesn't test all that great at the combine I think he will continue to fly under the radar just enough for us to snatch him up. He is hands down better then any player listed above and would be a huge addition if we have to let Dumervil walk.

I don't think Barnett translates to NFL very well. He just doesn't have the length or quickness to beat NFL tackles and struggles to keep run blockers off of him. He's more of a DPR (designated pass rusher) than a 4 down player (like Suggs). Hard to spend a high 1st Round pick on a guy that would only play passing downs. That's primarily why you see him ranked well below Garrett & Solomon. In my opinion Solomon Thomas is the best pass rusher in the draft (Garrett has the highest ceiling but I think struggles his 1st few years - i.e. Clowney).

The problem with college stats especially with pass rushers is that 95% of the Tackles they face in college are not good enough to be back-up Tackles in the NFL. Only 1 Tackle in the SEC is expected to get drafted in the top 3 rounds - Cam Robinson. And he may be moved to Guard at the NFL level (i.e. Greg Robinson).

[Darryls17]

  3 hours ago, Darryls17 said:

I know it's still early in the process and the analyst hardly ever get it right the first time, but from what I can tell. The DBs are getting a lot of love this year and some of those elite pass rushers are falling under the radar. Specifically Derek Barnett!! His measurables are similar to T.Sizz and he produced in college footballs strongest conference. This guy had more tackles for a loss than Myles Garret and Solomon Thomas yet he is ranked below them on several boards including Daniel Jeremiah. 33 Sacks and 52 tackles for a loss in the SEC is nothing to sneeze at, especially when your not on a team that is loaded with talent. If he doesn't test all that great at the combine I think he will continue to fly under the radar just enough for us to snatch him up. He is hands down better then any player listed above and would be a huge addition if we have to let Dumervil walk.

I don't think Barnett translates to NFL very well. He just doesn't have the length or quickness to beat NFL tackles and struggles to keep run blockers off of him. He's more of a DPR (designated pass rusher) than a 4 down player (like Suggs). Hard to spend a high 1st Round pick on a guy that would only play passing downs. That's primarily why you see him ranked well below Garrett & Solomon. In my opinion Solomon Thomas is the best pass rusher in the draft (Garrett has the highest ceiling but I think struggles his 1st few years - i.e. Clowney).

The problem with college stats especially with pass rushers is that 95% of the Tackles they face in college are not good enough to be back-up Tackles in the NFL. Only 1 Tackle in the SEC is expected to get drafted in the top 3 rounds - Cam Robinson. And he may be moved to Guard at the NFL level (i.e. Greg Robinson).

No doubt I feel like Solomon Thomas could dominate at the next level, but that also leads me to believe he won't make it to us at 14, but Barnett could be there. I think you are correct about the length and foot quickness, but I think his hands are elite. Sizzle doesn't kill guys with his quickness, he wins with his hands at the point of attack and is strength to set the edge against the run. I think Barnett may be able to emulate that play style and that would be perfect for our hybrid 34 scheme.

I'm also thinking down the line because I think this may be Darth-Sizzles last ride coming up and Dumervil may not even get another year with guys like Brandon Willams set to be a free agent. Plus conerback is deep in this draft and we can probably get someone that "competes" in the second round without reaching. I've seen some projections with guys like Marlon Humphrey falling out of the first round. He isn't perfect but he would definitely be the type of corner the Ravens like, and he already played in a pro-scheme.

[trevorsteadman]

2 hours ago, ravens4life86 said:

@Saxxin, you realize they had 15 combined sacks from Dumervil, Jernigan, Sizzle last yr. Mostly from Sizzle. Great pass rush helps a 2ndry. Who knows Dum still might be cut. They need another franchise edge rusher.

Ryan Anderson is nice but if they are projecting him out as Upshaw no thanks, we dont need an edge setter, we need sack artists.
What about 1st round selections at 16 like Barnett,Solon Thomas, etc
Or rnd 2 selections like Mckinley,Smoot,Devonte Fields, Tj Watt etc.
I know ozzie love Bama, but get the best players. Outside of Julio,Cooper,Mosley. Not many Bama guys turn into studs

Dumervil barely played because of a torn achilles... Right now he is probably better than most the team could get out on the open market. So unless they feel there is actually a player out there they know they can get... I think Dumervil stays. I know his age and production has dipped but I think a whole offseason recovering and Suggs and Dumervil will play better.

Plus I really don't like Barnett.... Honestly not really impressed with too many DE/OLB in this draft. I like Harris but he is one of the few I would be comfortable taking.

Edited January 26 by trevorsteadman

[The Greek]

draft them all!!

[sizzlingdoom]

  14 hours ago, Darryls17 said:

I know it's still early in the process and the analyst hardly ever get it right the first time, but from what I can tell. The DBs are getting a lot of love this year and some of those elite pass rushers are falling under the radar. Specifically Derek Barnett!! His measurables are similar to T.Sizz and he produced in college footballs strongest conference. This guy had more tackles for a loss than Myles Garret and Solomon Thomas yet he is ranked below them on several boards including Daniel Jeremiah. 33 Sacks and 52 tackles for a loss in the SEC is nothing to sneeze at, especially when your not on a team that is loaded with talent. If he doesn't test all that great at the combine I think he will continue to fly under the radar just enough for us to snatch him up. He is hands down better then any player listed above and would be a huge addition if we have to let Dumervil walk.

I don't think Barnett translates to NFL very well. He just doesn't have the length or quickness to beat NFL tackles and struggles to keep run blockers off of him. He's more of a DPR (designated pass rusher) than a 4 down player (like Suggs). Hard to spend a high 1st Round pick on a guy that would only play passing downs. That's primarily why you see him ranked well below Garrett & Solomon. In my opinion Solomon Thomas is the best pass rusher in the draft (Garrett has the highest ceiling but I think struggles his 1st few years - i.e. Clowney).

The problem with college stats especially with pass rushers is that 95% of the Tackles they face in college are not good enough to be back-up Tackles in the NFL. Only 1 Tackle in the SEC is expected to get drafted in the top 3 rounds - Cam Robinson. And he may be moved to Guard at the NFL level (i.e. Greg Robinson).

I agree with most of this. I don't like Barnett at all either, though a lot of people have him going top 10. Clowney only "struggled" in his first couple years because of injuries though, not talent. I think drafting Robinson or Barnett would be a mistake. Gotta solidify the secondary in the first couple rounds this year instead of taking other people's castoffs to try and stop Ben and Brady. I know a lot of people aren't usually for trading up. But I wish we would trade up and take 2 first rounders this year. Jamal Adams is special. I really wish he could lead our secondary for the next 10 years. Grabbing Adams and Quincy Wilson, to pair with Jimmy, Tavon, and Weddle.......we would have the best secondary in the NFL. Hands down. That way Joe could put up 12 points a game and we'd still be good lol really though

[BigUgly]

20 hours ago, Saxxin said:

O-line and secondary. That's where they need the most help in the early rounds.

Agree with secondary early, but not O-Line.  We will likely need a  center and RT/OG.  Those guys can be had in the 4th or later, plus there were some interesting candidates who got "injured" this past year.  I'm particularly interested to see how Namebot can develop - he's freakishly athletic and could be a KO 2.0.