NBC Sports Pre-Draft NFL Lineup Rankings

[dc369]

6. Baltimore Ravens

QB: Joe Flacco
RB: Ray Rice
FB: Vonta Leach
WR: Torrey Smith
WR: Jacoby Jones
TE: Dennis Pitta
LT: Michael Oher
LG: Jah Reid
C: Gino Gradkowski
RG: Marshal Yanda
RT: Kelechi Osemele

Offensive Overview: The Anquan Boldin trade will have less of an impact than popular opinion insists. A mid-range to low-end NFL No. 2 receiver, Boldin has only seven touchdowns over his last 33 regular season games and does not separate from coverage. Playoff stardom understood, Boldin actually had an inhibiting effect on Baltimore's pass game at times over the past three years. The Ravens will lean more on Smith and Pitta, and 2012 sixth-round receiver Tommy Streeter could add a new dimension. Streeter runs 4.34-4.40 at 6-foot-5, 220. Oher is listed at left tackle, but he'll go back to the right when Bryant McKinnie returns on an incentive-laden deal. Osemele looks like a future All-Pro left guard. Ultimately, Baltimore is banking on Flacco, Rice, Bernard Pierce, Smith, Pitta, and Jim Caldwell to carry its offense into the future.

LE: Chris Canty*
RE: Arthur Jones
NT: Haloti Ngata
ILB: Jameel McClain
ILB: Albert McClellan
OLB: Terrell Suggs
OLB: Elvis Dumervil*
LCB: Lardarius Webb
RCB: Corey Graham
FS: Michael Huff*
SS: James Ihedigbo

Defensive Overview: Talking heads overrate Baltimore's offseason losses because the Super Bowl champs are in the spotlight. But GM Ozzie Newsome is used to replacing from within. Since the compensatory process began in 1994 – Newsome took over in '96 -- no team in football has received more compensatory picks than the Ravens, which is because no team has "lost" more free agents. A healthy Suggs and Webb will go a long way toward solidifying the pass defense, and Ngata will play more nose with Canty, Jones, Marcus Spears, and Pernell McPhee rotating on the ends. Pairing Suggs with free-agent steal Dumervil gives Baltimore the NFL's premier edge-rushing tandem. They'll work in a three-way rotation with 2012 second-rounder Courtney Upshaw, terrifying offenses. Though never an elite tackler, Huff is one of the league's best center-field cover safeties. Talking heads also fail to mention the 2012 Ravens finished a middling 17th in total defense. With Dumervil aboard and 12 draft picks at Newsome’s disposal, there's every reason to believe they'll be better in 2013.

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nf...-rankings?pg=1

[somedumbguy]

Interesting read. I think that is about right. On the overall list I think the 49ers are better than the Broncos because they're younger and more physical. The 3 to 7 range feels interchangeable as each team has their weaknesses.

The Broncos feel like an injury from falling off a cliff to me.

[LukeDaniel]

IMO, this is one the most logical breakdowns I've seen from a 3rd party source in a long time. This is what journalism should look like....analysis-based versus shock-based.

[wickedsolo]

IMO, this is one the most logical breakdowns I've seen from a 3rd party source in a long time. This is what journalism should look like....analysis-based versus shock-based.

:word

[JAB1985]

IMO, this is one the most logical breakdowns I've seen from a 3rd party source in a long time. This is what journalism should look like....analysis-based versus shock-based.

I love when i see it, but sadly its rare.

[rpcfball]

Ozzie knows games are won in the trenches. He decided he wanted to upgrade the d-line and Boldin was a casualty.

[Ravens44]

IMO, this is one the most logical breakdowns I've seen from a 3rd party source in a long time. This is what journalism should look like....analysis-based versus shock-based.

Crazy right. I had to do a double take. Great to read something like that.

[pslholder96]

I have to agree with most of the posters. Succint and spot on. Strange considering the source is "rotoworld". I'm more hopeful now than I was a few weeks ago.

[TDL1000]

I would feel much better going into the draft if the Ravens could get McKinnie resigned since LT is a position that won't get filled in 2013 by any of this years picks.It would also probably be in their best interest if the could sign a vet ILB like Dansby because whomever they draft may need some time to get NFL ready before they can step in and start.If their cap space was $7.2M before signing Dumervil who has cap number of $2.5M,Huff at $1.35M then they should still have around $3.7M in cap space.The $2M they get back after June 1st for Pollard should be plenty to cover their draft picks.

[Sirdowski]

IMO, this is one the most logical breakdowns I've seen from a 3rd party source in a long time. This is what journalism should look like....analysis-based versus shock-based.

Agree. I dare say... Informative?

[Doctor]

I thought it was interesting that the writer just states matter-of-factly that "Oher is listed at left tackle, but he'll go back to the right when Bryant McKinnie returns on an incentive-laden deal."

I hope that this is what happens in the short-term (barring one of the top three LT prospects falling into out lap), however it's anything but a certainty.

[steelerhater]

6. Baltimore Ravens

QB: Joe Flacco
RB: Ray Rice
FB: Vonta Leach
WR: Torrey Smith
WR: Jacoby Jones
TE: Dennis Pitta
LT: Michael Oher
LG: Jah Reid
C: Gino Gradkowski
RG: Marshal Yanda
RT: Kelechi Osemele

Offensive Overview: The Anquan Boldin trade will have less of an impact than popular opinion insists. A mid-range to low-end NFL No. 2 receiver, Boldin has only seven touchdowns over his last 33 regular season games and does not separate from coverage. Playoff stardom understood, Boldin actually had an inhibiting effect on Baltimore's pass game at times over the past three years. The Ravens will lean more on Smith and Pitta, and 2012 sixth-round receiver Tommy Streeter could add a new dimension. Streeter runs 4.34-4.40 at 6-foot-5, 220. Oher is listed at left tackle, but he'll go back to the right when Bryant McKinnie returns on an incentive-laden deal. Osemele looks like a future All-Pro left guard. Ultimately, Baltimore is banking on Flacco, Rice, Bernard Pierce, Smith, Pitta, and Jim Caldwell to carry its offense into the future.

LE: Chris Canty*
RE: Arthur Jones
NT: Haloti Ngata
ILB: Jameel McClain
ILB: Albert McClellan
OLB: Terrell Suggs
OLB: Elvis Dumervil*
LCB: Lardarius Webb
RCB: Corey Graham
FS: Michael Huff*
SS: James Ihedigbo

Defensive Overview: Talking heads overrate Baltimore's offseason losses because the Super Bowl champs are in the spotlight. But GM Ozzie Newsome is used to replacing from within. Since the compensatory process began in 1994 – Newsome took over in '96 -- no team in football has received more compensatory picks than the Ravens, which is because no team has "lost" more free agents. A healthy Suggs and Webb will go a long way toward solidifying the pass defense, and Ngata will play more nose with Canty, Jones, Marcus Spears, and Pernell McPhee rotating on the ends. Pairing Suggs with free-agent steal Dumervil gives Baltimore the NFL's premier edge-rushing tandem. They'll work in a three-way rotation with 2012 second-rounder Courtney Upshaw, terrifying offenses. Though never an elite tackler, Huff is one of the league's best center-field cover safeties. Talking heads also fail to mention the 2012 Ravens finished a middling 17th in total defense. With Dumervil aboard and 12 draft picks at Newsome’s disposal, there's every reason to believe they'll be better in 2013.

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nf...-rankings?pg=1

Remains to be seen, but Boldin sure looked good when he had an offensive coordinator who knew how to use him.