Eric DeCosta interview

[bt12483]

I don't want too much of my own bias to filter what DeCosta said about Dickson. To report fairly he said that Dickson looked physically better than he'd ever seen him. I don't know if that is a reference to past injuries, or if he's finally bulked up a bit more to be a better blocker. He also said that Dickson looked more confident in and around the facility, as if he now finally feels like he belongs. Which is interesting.

You think about how Dickson has shown flashes of very good productivity--clutch or athletic catches--but too often he's dropped balls or not gotten to a spot. I can easily equate that with being tentative. I get the impression, compared to Pitta for instance, that he has not been a sure route runner and he doesn't turn and find the ball as if he expects it to be there. It's almost like he is surprised if he's open or if the ball comes to him.

Now, I'm really projecting my own subjectivity there. Nonetheless, DeCosta's comment about Dickson looking confident is one I want to attach to my own observations about Dickson appearing tentative at times.

Which brings me back to my original comment that I get the feeling that DeCosta (and I) are reaching for any sign that Dickson is going to live up to what they thought he'd be when they used a third round pick on him. If he played as aggressively and decisively as Boldin there's no reason he could not be just as difficult a match up as Boldin was for opposing defenses.

His draft profile weaknesses:

Lacks necessary strength to be a factor in the running game at the next level. Loses concentration sometimes on balls in traffic. Raw and inconsistent as a route runner. Does not always demonstrate proper body position to get open in tight spaces.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2011/profil...kson?id=497224

[Justlovemybirds]

If none of our B squad WRs step up I assume we will see a lot of TE action.

Is it just me or does Dickson seem to bobble the ball a lot? Whereas Pitta is very surehanded.

I would like to see Dickson (and his speed) utilized more under Caldwell (until he starts dropping balls....).

He definitely did it when he started to see more balls thrown his way. I think he was overthinking a lot of it.

Dickson also runs really soft i.e. never trying to run smaller DB's over.

FWIW I expect Dickson to have a decent year if only because it's a contract year.

[bmorecareful]

I don't want too much of my own bias to filter what DeCosta said about Dickson. To report fairly he said that Dickson looked physically better than he'd ever seen him. I don't know if that is a reference to past injuries, or if he's finally bulked up a bit more to be a better blocker. He also said that Dickson looked more confident in and around the facility, as if he now finally feels like he belongs. Which is interesting.

You think about how Dickson has shown flashes of very good productivity--clutch or athletic catches--but too often he's dropped balls or not gotten to a spot. I can easily equate that with being tentative. I get the impression, compared to Pitta for instance, that he has not been a sure route runner and he doesn't turn and find the ball as if he expects it to be there. It's almost like he is surprised if he's open or if the ball comes to him.

Now, I'm really projecting my own subjectivity there. Nonetheless, DeCosta's comment about Dickson looking confident is one I want to attach to my own observations about Dickson appearing tentative at times.

Which brings me back to my original comment that I get the feeling that DeCosta (and I) are reaching for any sign that Dickson is going to live up to what they thought he'd be when they used a third round pick on him. If he played as aggressively and decisively as Boldin there's no reason he could not be just as difficult a match up as Boldin was for opposing defenses.

I agree with this post. Dickson clearly has great physical ability, but has always been too tentative in every aspect of his game, whether it was blocking, getting out into his routes, or attacking the ball in the air. He just isn't confident and has never been, and it's hard to blame him.

He was a big slot WR in college and going to in-line TE was going to be a huge transition for him from day 1. At Oregon he never laid a hand on a soul to block (except in space) and mostly just ran short curls and digs against small corners that couldn't press him or fight him for the ball.

Regarding the original post, I think Travis Kelce, Keenan Allen, and Markus Wheaton were the top 3rd round targets. The Ravens were really interested in all of those guys and all were very good players who should have gone in the 2nd. It's not surprising that none of them fell, but this confirms to me that the Ravens do NOT feel the WR position is settled and would have added a talented player if they could have.

I like the optimism about Thompson, and he certainly has a lot of potential, but IMO (and maybe I'm reading between the lines too much) everything I'm hearing from the Ravens suggests that there's a personnel move at WR still coming.

[Shas]

There are still two guys out there they are trying to bring in that they are very high on. A local WR and a defensive lineman who played in the south west is all he'd say.

Any guesses about who the two players are that they are so high on and are trying to get into camp?

I'm going with Travis Johnson, the DE/OLB from San Jose State. Anyone know if he's signed yet?

I have no idea who the local player could be.

I'm not 100% sure I heard DeCosta refer to the local player as a receiver. I think the Towson fullback Tyler Wharton was an NFL prospect. Just a stab in the dark there.

[Shas]

everything I'm hearing from the Ravens suggests that there's a personnel move at WR still coming.

I failed to mention that he said they are still working on a couple things in free agency and specifically mentioned WR. Deion Branch is out there, but the guy I'd be interested in is Austin Collie, who I liked coming into the NFL and of course he has a Jim Caldwell tie. I could see the Patriots also being interested in him. The concern would be his concussion history.

And I suspect they are sorting through options at TE and OT. I think Dallas Clark and Kevin Boss are out there. Boss is only 29 but has also had concussion issues. Clark was frustrated in Tampa Bay playing for Schiano.

And then there is the OT question. I still think they go with Osemele and perhaps look at guards.

[Shas]

Maybe we just got the answer on who the defensive lineman DeCosta was chasing "from the southwest."

They just signed K State DE Meshak Williams. Since K State is in the Big 12, I guess that fits.

[bmorecareful]

I failed to mention that he said they are still working on a couple things in free agency and specifically mentioned WR. Deion Branch is out there, but the guy I'd be interested in is Austin Collie, who I liked coming into the NFL and of course he has a Jim Caldwell tie. I could see the Patriots also being interested in him. The concern would be his concussion history.

And I suspect they are sorting through options at TE and OT. I think Dallas Clark and Kevin Boss are out there. Boss is only 29 but has also had concussion issues. Clark was frustrated in Tampa Bay playing for Schiano.

And then there is the OT question. I still think they go with Osemele and perhaps look at guards.

I'm also high on Austin Collie. If he's healthy--that's a BIG if--he's a great slot receiver and would be a great fit in what I project Caldwell's offense to look like. He'd obviously come very cheaply and it's very easy to connect those dots. That's a move I'd love to see happen.

Maybe we just got the answer on who the defensive lineman DeCosta was chasing "from the southwest."

They just signed K State DE Meshak Williams. Since K State is in the Big 12, I guess that fits.

Nice scoop. I noticed Williams when I was watching Arthur Brown tape... he's very quick off the snap. We're overall loaded at OLB, but he can compete with Adrian Hamilton for the 5th spot, and could contribute as a pass-rush specialist in the near future.

[Shas]

he can compete with Adrian Hamilton for the 5th spot, and could contribute as a pass-rush specialist in the near future.

It will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

They essentially have three starters already for two OLB positions, Suggs, Dumerville and Upshaw. There we some talk about moving Upshaw inside as they have already essentially done with Albert McClellan.

Williams, Hamilton and Mike McAdoo will all compete with John Simon for a role behind the three starters.

[RavenScallywag]

Man, it's a testament to how much depth we're stockpiling that I keep forgetting about McAdoo and Hamilton...

I'd be very surprised if it was Collie. I loved that guy, but his concussion history really should just red flag him.

As far as OG or OT...Adam Snyder was just released recently by the Cardinals, started 27 games in the last two years between 49ers and Cards. Might be worth a consideration?

[Shas]

Confirmed my hunch that Teo wasn't even on their radar.

That's a logical assumption since he was still on the board as they sat up all night Thursday night plotting their Friday. Te'o went 38th to the Chargers.

You can also conclude they must not have had Minter on their radar, either, a guy so many mocks had going to them at 32. He went 45th to the Cardinals. (It's interesting to note that the Cardinals vacated the 38th pick, sending it to the Chargers so they could take Te'o, and then they used the Chargers pick at 45 to take Minter, who plays the same position. So there is another team who needed an ILB but steered away from Te'o.)

Why no interest in Minter for the Ravens? He's really not a sideline to sideline guy or a turn and run pass defender. They keep saying they wanted to get faster on defense. Think back to the Super Bowl replay shows with all the 49rs saying the Ravens defense was too old and slow and Vernon Davis openly mocking Ray Lewis trying to cover him. It's very, very clear what the Ravens wanted to do at S and ILB to address this issue. Minter is a great go-forward linebacker, but not what the team needed.

Niko Alonso was a dumb pick by the dumb Bills one pick later at 46. Alonso is also mostly a blitzer and run stopper, but without good football instincts.

Then the Bears use the 50th pick on Johnathon Bostic. My guess is the Ravens were actually squatting on Bostic or Brown and when Bostic went they knew they had to go get brown or settle for a consolation prize in Moore, who could still be a good player, but also could be Tavares Gooden Part Two. Moore fell to the third round, pick 66 to the Raiders.

Although, I never saw Bostic as a fit. Whatever Minter lacks in pass coverage, Bostic lacks more of it. Clearly though, the Ravens must have graded him higher than me. We should go with their opinion.

Comparing Brown to Moore, there is no question the Ravens liked Brown a lot better because they gave up three picks to Seattle to go to 56 to take Brown with Moore still sitting there. I also thought Moore was more (ha!) of an OLB to boot.

[Carey]

Thanks Shas for all the tidbits, it will be interesting to see Jim Caldwell's imprint with a full offseason to tinker with things as well as what Juan Castillo's imprint on the run game will be.

[Rxdoxx]

Local WR possibility???
Justin Wilson WR - Delaware State University 6'1" 175lbs 4.42 laser timed 40 2010: 1st Team All-MEAC 2011: Pre-Season MEAC Offensive POY 2012: 1st Team All-MEAC College Stats: Catches/Yards/TDs 2010: 59-937-11 2011: 54-563-6 2012: 67-816-6