[News] Late For Work 4/6: Nick Mangold Leaves Without Contract, But Interest Remains On Both Sides

[rossihunter2]

18 hours ago, steelcityraven said:

While I agree with you on some of your analysis on Pocic - I think what makes him so intriguing is his athleticism and versatility. Pocic player both Ts, both G positions and C at LSU and played it well.

I felt the biggest downfall in Pocics game was less to do with his height and more to do to the fact that he needs to build his body up. Pocic is not strong enough yet but he has good athleticism and very good flexibility for a big guy. He is smooth in his bends and transition blocks well.

He lacks the ideal power at this point and gets pushed back too much... but that is a strength issue that many Centers find problematic coming out of college and it takes a few years to build that body up....

I personally really like his versatility and athleticism and think Pocic can flourish under a coach like Greg Roman.

I think Elflien out of Ohio State has some attributes that make him a more attractive prospect right now but I don't think he has the versatility that Pocic offers and most reports suggest that Pocic has a big advantage in the intelligence area?

not to be pernickety or anything but greg roman isnt actually our oline coach - he's the tight ends coach

[Cawtious]

On ‎4‎/‎6‎/‎2017 at 11:32 AM, rmcjacket23 said:

1. No, its irrelevant to YOU, because you fail to comprehend why its so important

2. That makes no sense. Again, if we know we have zero interest in him being our Center next year (which its clear we didn't), then we gain nothing by hanging on to him. Even if we never sign or draft anybody, he's still a goner. Delaying benefits the Ravens in no possible way.

3. Ignoring the hilariousness of anybody thinking the Pro Bowl is an indication of how good a player is, Gino was here just two years ago. So saying that Zuttah is the best Center we've had in a whopping 2-3 years, considering how bad Gino was, is pretty comical.

There's a difference between being a good Center and being a Center that is better than Gino. You're correct that the latter is accurate, but literally nobody that watched Zuttah play this past year thought that he played well. The Baltimore Ravens certainly didn't, since he's no longer here.

If you think we're getting a better offer AFTER the draft, you're delusional. All the draft does, by definition, is reduce the market for veterans that aren't signed at that time.

The other reality is the fact that both Jensen and Urschel will be unrestricted Free Agents next year, barring Urschel not getting his accredited year this year (only if he's pushed back to the PS, which for many reasons, I don't see happening at all).  The Ravens are going to need to draft to prepare for this reality.  I doubt they are able to or want to keep both (depends upon who wins the job, if one does, and how they perform)

I think Mangold's situation is related to questions about his physical condition.  If the Ravens offered him a deal that included an injury waiver, he may have balked at it.  I think the Ravens would be remiss for not asking for that contingency, as he is aging and has suffered decline in his game over the past two seasons. 

I don't think Mangold is going to be our option, right now.

I think the Ravens will let Jensen and Urschel battle this out for the starting job.  If they are concerned that neither fit the bill during camp, then I think you see them pursue a veteran and those two remain as depth for C/G going forward. 

I personally don't see the benefit of pursuing a higher round draft pick for the C position this year.  I can see the sense in grabbing one in the 5-7 round to develop this year.  I think we have glaring needs in the secondary, and we need a solid pass rusher.  We need another solid receiver, and some additional depth at OLB.  We will need to draft a RT as well, if the plan is to leave A. Lewis inside.   I would take a RT in the 3rd or 4th round if that is so.