[News] Despite Weaker Offensive Line Draft Class, Ravens See Options

[BR News]

Baltimore has a starting spot open at right tackle. If they're going to find a plug-and-play starter, do they need to draft him early?

View the full article

[b93333]

One thing you can say for Ozzie is that he is pretty darn good at picking offensive linemen. He better continue that trend this year because if we had to play the season with the group we have now we would be in a world of trouble... both with our starters and our depth.

[ellicottraven]

I would focus on the other positions in the first and second rounds frankly. I would love to add a difference maker in the first no matter the position. I would like it to be WR, OLB or CB in the first.

[RayRayRaven]

One thing you can say for Ozzie is that he is pretty darn good at picking offensive linemen. He better continue that trend this year because if we had to play the season with the group we have now we would be in a world of trouble... both with our starters and our depth.

pickin olin is the easier pic of all an he needs to get one first pic

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Oz seems to be able to find good OL in the draft. Just this articles title and we both know it's not just being said on this website but on all the pre-draft shows that is going to put a chip on some of these young mens shoulders and up their game.

[balfan23]

I still think we end up moving Lewis to RT and what we're looking for is a plug and play guard, which will likely be easier to find that a plug and play tackle. Of course, we also need to find a plug and play starting center. One of these will need to come from FA, I believe. Filling both with rookies seems unlikely. 

I don't know that we're in a good position to get Lamp, but I do like the sound of some of the talk around this guy. Unfortunately, feels like he's a reach with #16, but will not be around when we pick in the 2nd. 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2017-nfl-draft-meet-forrest-lamp-the-nfls-next-great-guard-prospect/

[jravens1313]

We also have a starting spot open at Center.

[Steve32]

I still think we end up moving Lewis to RT and what we're looking for is a plug and play guard, which will likely be easier to find that a plug and play tackle. Of course, we also need to find a plug and play starting center. One of these will need to come from FA, I believe. Filling both with rookies seems unlikely. 

I don't know that we're in a good position to get Lamp, but I do like the sound of some of the talk around this guy. Unfortunately, feels like he's a reach with #16, but will not be around when we pick in the 2nd. 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2017-nfl-draft-meet-forrest-lamp-the-nfls-next-great-guard-prospect/

The Ravens have stated that they prefer Lewis at Guard and believe that he is best suited to play guard.

[balfan23]

1 hour ago, Steve32 said:

The Ravens have stated that they prefer Lewis at Guard and believe that he is best suited to play guard.

... but they have also acknowledged that moving him is an option. 

[omar586]

i hope they dont reach for a OL and miss on a passrusher or CB

[JoeyFlex5]

cam robinson at 16 to play LG and sliding lewis to RT would seriously be the best move unless lewis is absolute garbage at RT. he is just ok at guard and doesnt seem to offer as much powerful push up front as we would like.

[Halshayeji]

52 minutes ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

cam robinson at 16 to play LG and sliding lewis to RT would seriously be the best move unless lewis is absolute garbage at RT. he is just ok at guard and doesnt seem to offer as much powerful push up front as we would like.

A few months ago Cam was considered a top 10 talent because his film screamed Pro Bowl LT. Then he had a rough combine and evaluators started saying stuff like he'd be a great RT so he started falling on mocks. Now there's serious consideration of just sliding him inside and utilizing his strength. Add some off field stuff surfacing. Thus he's fallen as low as mid second round in some mocks.

I'd love it if we somehow land him in the second. I'd find it hard to justify using the 16th overall on a LG  

[JoeyFlex5]

4 minutes ago, Halshayeji said:

A few months ago Cam was considered a top 10 talent because his film screamed Pro Bowl LT. Then he had a rough combine and evaluators started saying stuff like he'd be a great RT so he started falling on mocks. Now there's serious consideration of just sliding him inside and utilizing his strength. Add some off field stuff surfacing. Thus he's fallen as low as mid second round in some mocks.

I'd love it if we somehow land him in the second. I'd find it hard to justify using the 16th overall on a LG  

i dont see how anyone ever saw hhim as a LT. MAYBE a RT, but as a guard he definitely projects best. 

and i will take an elite G or C at 16 all day. zack martin was one of the best value picks in the 2014 draft after ODB and donald

[Halshayeji]

10 minutes ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

i dont see how anyone ever saw hhim as a LT. MAYBE a RT, but as a guard he definitely projects best. 

and i will take an elite G or C at 16 all day. zack martin was one of the best value picks in the 2014 draft after ODB and donald

Well he played LT at Alabama and handled Garrett prity well. That's probably why people had him top 10 before the combine.

great point, that's big praise when you call cam elite and compare him to Zack Martin 

[TheConquerorWorm]

Ideal draft:

1. WR Corey Davis
2. OLB Carl Lawson
3. CB Teez Tabor
3. RT Roderick Johnson
4. C Tyler Orlosky
5. RB D'Onte Foreman
6. QB Brady Gustafson

[JoeyFlex5]

16 minutes ago, Halshayeji said:

Well he played LT at Alabama and handled Garrett prity well. That's probably why people had him top 10 before the combine.

great point, that's big praise when you call cam elite and compare him to Zack Martin 

To be clear. I don't compare cam to Martin, Martin was justifiably a top 10 talent, cam belongs in the teens. 

And cam beat Garrett because Garrett went in with no attack plan and looked foolish. He overcommitted the edge every snap and Garrett never had any intention of countering inside. That's why Barnett had him on skates, because he brought an arsenal.

[bigcatfrank1]

It appears that the Ravens could trade back and get Cam, Ram or Bolles. If they miss out on the WR's, LB and Edge that they are serious about.
OZ might or they might get offers if a team really wants a player.

Makes you wonder what they could get if they were to trade back? Maybe another second, probably not. But possibly a 3rd and /or more.

So if the Ravens could manage lets say Cam R and pick up yet another pick inside of 90, that could set up quite a bit of possibilities. Still having 47, 74, 78 and lets say 90. Five picks inside of 90 could be big, real big.

Or they could make the deal take Cam and then trade up for a 2nd round player that they want inside of 47, they would have some bargaining power. Now that might be something to watch. Cam then any two of- Lawson, Lamp, Pocic, McCaffrey, White, in the second
and come back with
any two of- D King, Ju Ju Smith, Worley, Godwin, R Johnson.

So many options so many good possibilities, just have to have a little luck and and hope the ones they can get will play lights out!

[GageRage]

C Pocic from LSU with #47, with #186 OT Skipper Arkansas, Deff Larger OL for the Future, 6'10 Skipper, 6'6 ALewis, 6'7 Pocic, 6'4 Yanda, 6'6 Stanley, other then Yanda that looks like a beast OL to me

[purpledown]

one draftnik has the Ravens taking Ramczyk

[sizzlingdoom]

Ideal draft:

1. WR Corey Davis
2. OLB Carl Lawson
3. CB Teez Tabor
3. RT Roderick Johnson
4. C Tyler Orlosky
5. RB D'Onte Foreman
6. QB Brady Gustafson

Those top 3 would be amazing. Tabor has to go in the 2nd though. He's a first round CB all day. Top 20 player as well. He was hurt at the combine and pro day, plus it's a classic example of people overeacting about times. His tape is all I care about. Depending on how the draft goes, I ideally would like to go Wr and OLB with our first 2 picks in either order. But taking Tabor with our second pick would be very tempting. Before people were losing their minds with combine numbers, some had him going 5th to the Titans. he is that good.
I think Foreman goes in the second for sure. People won't be able to get over his weight+the 40 time he put up at his pro day.
Corey Davis would be awesome but I think he'll be gone. I actually might prefer Ju Ju over Williams, and he's gonna go about a round later for some reason.
Davis then Lawson would be an awesome start, but something similar that I'm digging a little more would be
Barnett then Ju Ju

[Halshayeji]

11 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

To be clear. I don't compare cam to Martin, Martin was justifiably a top 10 talent, cam belongs in the teens. 

And cam beat Garrett because Garrett went in with no attack plan and looked foolish. He overcommitted the edge every snap and Garrett never had any intention of countering inside. That's why Barnett had him on skates, because he brought an arsenal.

If that's how you justify it then I'm not debating that. Great post

[JoeyFlex5]

8 hours ago, GageRage said:

C Pocic from LSU with #47, with #186 OT Skipper Arkansas, Deff Larger OL for the Future, 6'10 Skipper, 6'6 ALewis, 6'7 Pocic, 6'4 Yanda, 6'6 Stanley, other then Yanda that looks like a beast OL to me

Tall is actually bad for every interior OL position. If pocic was 6'3 he would probably be a first rounder but instead he has noted leverage issues because of his height

[JoeyFlex5]

13 minutes ago, Halshayeji said:

If that's how you justify it then I'm not debating that. Great post

Yeah I'm not really into the X beat Y so X is a better player stuff. Film does a lot to debunk those kinds of things. For instance cam shut out Garrett, and Barnett had one sack against him, but the stats don't tell the story because Barnett absolutely dominated cam and Alabama ran a good game plan to avoid him. If Alabama had traditional drop back passes and ran across the whole front then Barnett would've had the game of the year against the top OT in the nation.

[stixfix69]

Maybe find a stud LG in the draft, and move Lewis to RT...

[sizzlingdoom]

Maybe find a stud LG in the draft, and move Lewis to RT...

That's an option. But going into the season with Lewis as our only "RT" could be extremely dangerous

[Halshayeji]

2 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

Yeah I'm not really into the X beat Y so X is a better player stuff. Film does a lot to debunk those kinds of things. For instance cam shut out Garrett, and Barnett had one sack against him, but the stats don't tell the story because Barnett absolutely dominated cam and Alabama ran a good game plan to avoid him. If Alabama had traditional drop back passes and ran across the whole front then Barnett would've had the game of the year against the top OT in the nation.

I'm actually surprised you'd say that. Of course I don't look at X beat Y but when it comes to linemen, i look at the top guys he went against and I like to see how they do against each other. I don't care what Cam did againsts mideocre pass rushers but I do care about how he looks against future NFL pass rushers. 

Of course stats don't say the complete story but I specifically look for plays after he gets beat. How he reacts when he has no help or how he reacts when he's caught off guard. Stuff like that. And when it comes to linemen, you have to look at every single snap. Like you mentioned. Stats are so deceiving at times. 

[The Mom Gene]

  23 minutes ago, stixfix69 said:

Maybe find a stud LG in the draft, and move Lewis to RT...

That's an option. But going into the season with Lewis as our only "RT" could be extremely dangerous

especially after suffering injuries last season. We need the cushion there this year. We can't afford that again.

[billiejean]

15 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

cam robinson at 16 to play LG and sliding lewis to RT would seriously be the best move unless lewis is absolute garbage at RT. he is just ok at guard and doesnt seem to offer as much powerful push up front as we would like.

I don't think you can make the assumption that Lewis will never be able to get a push at guard based solely on his rookie season.  In Rick Wagners rookie year he would come in for heavy sets and he looked awful.  In his soph year he was one of the best Tackles in the league.  Im not saying that that is going to be the case for Lewis but it could.  Im also not keen on the idea of taking a OT at 16. It certainly could happen but I don't think any of the tackles in this class are worthy of being picked that early.

Edited April 10 by billiejean

[Drinkmore Beer]

Using a #1 on an OT would be nuts. No player available is worth it. Find one in later rounds (like we did with Wagner). What we need are playmakers -- dynamic receiver, edge rusher, CB. I'd also be very happy with Reuben Foster as #1. Huge step up from KC. Imagine pairing him with Mosley.

[sizzlingdoom]

Using a #1 on an OT would be nuts. No player available is worth it. Find one in later rounds (like we did with Wagner). What we need are playmakers -- dynamic receiver, edge rusher, CB. I'd also be very happy with Reuben Foster as #1. Huge step up from KC. Imagine pairing him with Mosley.

I agree with this post