The 2014 Ravens Draft Thread

[HotInHere]

I do not want to spend high picks on S or ILB this year.

I trust the guys who make the picks more than I trust my own opinions in these draft matters. If a S or ILB is by far the BPA when we pick, then sure, turn in the card.

That said, the biggest reason I think that won't happen is that those are two of the cheapest positions on the field, and thus the most easily addressed through free agency or trade. WR's and tackles are very expensive free agent items; you almost have to get them through the draft unless you've got tons of cap room.

[NC Raven]

I trust the guys who make the picks more than I trust my own opinions in these draft matters. If a S or ILB is by far the BPA when we pick, then sure, turn in the card.

That said, the biggest reason I think that won't happen is that those are two of the cheapest positions on the field, and thus the most easily addressed through free agency or trade. WR's and tackles are very expensive free agent items; you almost have to get them through the draft unless you've got tons of cap room.

I mentioned this last draft, but if you look at last year's SB winning team, we had Ray Lewis (a first rounder) and then every other ILB on the team was a UDFA (Ellerbe, Bynes, McClain, BA, etc etc). Which is why I thought it was odd we took Arthur Brown so high, especially since he didn't have a clear role to step into.

[Dirt1]

I mentioned this last draft, but if you look at last year's SB winning team, we had Ray Lewis (a first rounder) and then every other ILB on the team was a UDFA (Ellerbe, Bynes, McClain, BA, etc etc). Which is why I thought it was odd we took Arthur Brown so high, especially since he didn't have a clear role to step into.

Keenan Allen would have been a much better pick in the second round last year.

[NC Raven]

I think there are better players for Baltimore's offense than Amaro. Now, Ebron might be a different story...

Ebron scares me. His college resume might as well be Ed Dickson's college resume. Including the inconsistent hands. He's mainly a seam route specialist (which was supposed to be Dickson's calling card), so it remains to be seen whether we would have the sort of scheme/playcalling to make appropriate use, assuming he turns out to be more than Dickson 2.0.

When he dropped an easy touchdown on a perfect over the shoulder ball in the bowl game, I just thought... yep. There you go again.

Ebron's blocking was described by UNC's color announcer (I listened to the pre game on radio) as "an improving part of his game." In other words... uh, yeah. Ebron is smart enough to know that stats get you in the first round, because even NFL executives get starry eyed over stats and will automatically project their magical ability to "coach up" the blocking part once the guy gets in the league.

He was a Butch Davis recruit at Chapel Hill, along with a mountain of illiterates who later became NFL first rounders but couldn't ever get over the 8 win hump or beyond the Belk/Continental Tire Bowl. A lot of "there's no 'team' in 'NFL Combine'" attitude on that squad as well. Where he stands on UNC's "me first" team ethos I don't know.

Bucky Brooks thinks he's a "matchup problem" for NFL defenses but I don't see why or how. He doesn't have the speed of Vernon Davis, and at 6'4" 245 he's hardly unusual in terms of size. In fact, that's about identical to Dennis Pitta, minus the excellent hands.

Hard to project -- he could be good, like Jordan Reed was in Washington this year. But I don't see the least bit of evidence for all the "next great tight end" or "clear first rounder" stuff I'm seeing.

[arnie_uk]

Ebron scares me. His college resume might as well be Ed Dickson's college resume. Including the inconsistent hands. He's mainly a seam route specialist (which was supposed to be Dickson's calling card), so it remains to be seen whether we would have the sort of scheme/playcalling to make appropriate use, assuming he turns out to be more than Dickson 2.0.

When he dropped an easy touchdown on a perfect over the shoulder ball in the bowl game, I just thought... yep. There you go again.

Ebron's blocking was described by UNC's color announcer (I listened to the pre game on radio) as "an improving part of his game." In other words... uh, yeah. Ebron is smart enough to know that stats get you in the first round, because even NFL executives get starry eyed over stats and will automatically project their magical ability to "coach up" the blocking part once the guy gets in the league.

He was a Butch Davis recruit at Chapel Hill, along with a mountain of illiterates who later became NFL first rounders but couldn't ever get over the 8 win hump or beyond the Belk/Continental Tire Bowl. A lot of "there's no 'team' in 'NFL Combine'" attitude on that squad as well. Where he stands on UNC's "me first" team ethos I don't know.

Bucky Brooks thinks he's a "matchup problem" for NFL defenses but I don't see why or how. He doesn't have the speed of Vernon Davis, and at 6'4" 245 he's hardly unusual in terms of size. In fact, that's about identical to Dennis Pitta, minus the excellent hands.

Hard to project -- he could be good, like Jordan Reed was in Washington this year. But I don't see the least bit of evidence for all the "next great tight end" or "clear first rounder" stuff I'm seeing.

Enron reminds me too much of pitta minus the hands, I think amaro is more of a matchup nightmare

[ursula]

I mentioned this last draft, but if you look at last year's SB winning team, we had Ray Lewis (a first rounder) and then every other ILB on the team was a UDFA (Ellerbe, Bynes, McClain, BA, etc etc). Which is why I thought it was odd we took Arthur Brown so high, especially since he didn't have a clear role to step into.

And of those ILB, only McClain and Ellerbe developed much at all. McClain has since regressed to where he's not even replacement level quality and Ellerbe was a bad FA pick by Miami. The Ravens depended on Ray not just for inspiration and (until the the last couple of years) his physical presence but also his brains. Our ILB UDFAs don't have those qualities.

At present we have no-zero-zip- 3 down ILB's. Darryl Smith was a half year wonder but wore down as the season went along. It was no coincidence that as he started to play worse the defense as a whole played worse. And he was easily our best ILB.

The rest of our ILBs outside of a clueless Arthur Brown, were UFDA's for a reason: they aren't very good especially if there's no one next to them who isn't pro bowl caliber. They can't cover and easily get caught up in the wash allowing replacement level backs like Green-Ellis to have their best games of the year. Don't you remember how Toby Gerhardt shredded our defense?

Hopefully Arthur Brown catches up with the game mentally next year. We need him to handle the short zones so we don't put so much pressure on an out of position Matt Elam. As for the rest, playing them is just asking for failure. We must have more quality at ILB if we expect to get to the playoffs next year.

As I said at the beginning, we need serious help on offense. We need better line play and we desperately need a WR. But we can't ignore the defense and we can't expect/depend on UDFA's to develop.

[wickedsolo]

And of those ILB, only McClain and Ellerbe developed much at all. McClain has since regressed to where he's not even replacement level quality and Ellerbe was a bad FA pick by Miami. The Ravens depended on Ray not just for inspiration and (until the the last couple of years) his physical presence but also his brains. Our ILB UDFAs don't have those qualities.

At present we have no-zero-zip- 3 down ILB's. Darryl Smith was a half year wonder but wore down as the season went along. It was no coincidence that as he started to play worse the defense as a whole played worse. And he was easily our best ILB.

The rest of our ILBs outside of a clueless Arthur Brown, were UFDA's for a reason: they aren't very good especially if there's no one next to them who isn't pro bowl caliber. They can't cover and easily get caught up in the wash allowing replacement level backs like Green-Ellis to have their best games of the year. Don't you remember how Toby Gerhardt shredded our defense?

Hopefully Arthur Brown catches up with the game mentally next year. We need him to handle the short zones so we don't put so much pressure on an out of position Matt Elam. As for the rest, playing them is just asking for failure. We must have more quality at ILB if we expect to get to the playoffs next year.

As I said at the beginning, we need serious help on offense. We need better line play and we desperately need a WR. But we can't ignore the defense and we can't expect/depend on UDFA's to develop.

I don't understand how Arthur Brown was "clueless".

"Clueless" is Corey Graham and Lardarius Webb whiffing on rub routes and pick routes multiple weeks in a row.

I just think the coaching staff felt like McClain and Smith gave them a better shot to stuff the run.

Clearly, it didn't. I think had they played Brown all year long beside Smith, he would have played a lot better as the season progressed. Look at Elam. The way he finished the season vs how he started was night and day.

[BigPlayReceiver]

Out of 17 prospects, Illinois TE Evan Wilson is the best blocking TE I've seen.
Listed at 6'6 and 250, he could probably bulk up another 10-15lbs easily.
With 8 TDs from a mere 27 career receptions, dude is quite familiar with the RZ.
He's a 6th, 7th or UDFA and certainly would be part of the solution, since we obviously hope to snag a pass catcher much higher.

I had two Illinois games on my DVR, and only other film is here...
http://draftbreakdown.com/players/evan-wilson/

[arnie_uk]

Is orgeons centre coming out

[wickedsolo]

Is orgeons centre coming out

No.

He and Mariota said they were returning.

[wickedsolo]

One guy I do like a lot coming out of Oregon is their DE, Taylor Hart. 6'6" 290lbs, great motor, excellent edge setter, and quite the athlete. Oregon uses him as a DE, DT, and even saw him drop into coverage.

If love to see him as a mid round pick.


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[wickedsolo]

No surprises here:

Johnny Manziel & Mike Evans declaring for NFL.

Washington RB Bishop Sankey (5'11" 220lbs) will also declare for the NFL.


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