Calvin Ridley

[Ravens_20]

I'm on the Kirk bandwagon. We need that Jamison crowder type of guy in the wc offense.

[BigPlayReceiver]

A team history doens't determine their destiny. Just because The Ravens haven't been good at drafting some wide receivers in the past doesn't mean they shouldn't draft one in this year draft.

I actually agree with you here...so then the club must change something upstream (its evaluation process, evaluation personnel, or its drafting "aggression") and/or downstream (system-fit, scheme, coaching).

If not, the Ravens destiny will indeed mirror its history.

[BcRaven]

I predict we will skip drafting a HB this year, because "Everyone else is" .... just like the year we skipped on all the depth at WR.

4D chess Ozzie will claim Trust the process

Sad part is... You make complete logical sense based on our FO

Guys, the difference is that when we needed a WR, as we do today, we skipped the logical candidates. In 2018, the Ravens have Collins, Allen, and Dixon, who IMO are competent RBs. So, I'd look elsewhere for offensive help. However, if the RB available @ #16 is rated well above the other offensive contenders, then I would draft him as long as we feel he will make an immediate impact. I just don't want guys sitting on the bench (see OLB) while our WRs and TEs fail miserably... Bc

[usmccharles]

Guys, the difference is that when we needed a WR, as we do today, we skipped the logical candidates. In 2018, the Ravens have Collins, Allen, and Dixon, who IMO are competent RBs. So, I'd look elsewhere for offensive help. However, if the RB available @ #16 is rated well above the other offensive contenders, then I would draft him as long as we feel he will make an immediate impact. I just don't want guys sitting on the bench (see OLB) while our WRs and TEs fail miserably... Bc

I agree with you. I think Love is on another level than our rbs though. Im worried since we need a wr... We are going to take one no matter what just like with BP

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[Shas]

I actually agree with you here...so then the club must change something upstream (its evaluation process, evaluation personnel, or its drafting "aggression") and/or downstream (system-fit, scheme, coaching).

If not, the Ravens destiny will indeed mirror its history.

Agreed. I'm just not sure what the common factor is that they are overvaluing or undervaluing across all these consistent WR misses. If I look at their history of drafting receivers in the top three rounds (round noted) we're talking about...

• Patrick Johnson (2)
• Travis Taylor (1)
• Yamon Figurs (3)
• Mark Clayton (1)
• Torrey Smith (2)
• Breshard Perriman (1)

The only one with any kind of success is Smith.

What really stands out is how few at bats they've given themselves in these earlier rounds. Six highly drafted receivers over the course of 22 drafts.

I've heard experts say that projecting college receivers is difficult for any front office...the bust rate is high...so it's better to sign known free agents. And I can appreciate that. Perhaps that's been their philosophy: being risk adverse, and only using later picks and hoping the player develops, and relying on FA signings. But I think that needs to change.

Here are the remaining receivers they've drafted in rounds 3-7...

• Jermaine Lewis (5)
• James Roe (6)
• Brandon Stokely (4)
• Ron Johnson (4)
• Javin Hunter (5)
• Clarence Moore (6)
• Derek Abney (7)
• Demetrius Williams (4)
• Marcus Smith (4)
• Justin Harper (7)
• Tandon Doss (4)
• Tommy Streeter (6)
• Michael Campanaro (7)
• Darren Waller (6)
• Chris Moore (4)

So there are your fifteen additional WRs, bringing the total to 21 over 22 drafts. Only Stokely proved much. Maybe Moore or even Campanaro finally turn a corner. But that's a awful lot of misses. 20 out of 22 so far if you're counting. So risk-adverse is netting them next to nothing.

If I were to try to point to any other factor, I have a vague sense that they are prioritizing for the wrong set of characteristics when evaluating receivers. There are a bunch of these guys on this list who are really return specialists--that's almost not trying to fill a WR need when you go that route. Then straight speed guys. Then there is a set of guys who have height advantages.

But what I don't think I see very often are receivers who stood out as prospects because they simply showed great hands in college. It seems obvious that when evaluating receivers you should be finding a guy with strong, sure hands who catch everything that's thrown at them. Before I want to hear anything about speed, or vertical leap, or quickness, or acceleration, or run after catch, or catch radius, or route running, the first thing I want to see on the scouting report is that he brings in every catchable ball and then we can talk about secondary abilities.

Tell me who those guys are in this draft. Which wide receivers in this draft have Danny Woodhead's hands? I know DJ Moore does. Tell me the rest and let's pick from that list.

They've dipped into the second or third round only three times for a receiver in 22 drafts. One of those guys, Figurs, was strictly a return specialist in their minds. The fastest guy in the draft. That leaves two legit WR picks in rounds 2 or three (both second rounders). Meaning they were at least 50/50 when picking up Torrey Smith and Patrick Johnson.

The Steelers, by contrast have drafted a similar number of receivers over the same 22 years: 24.

Here is their list, by round....

1 Santonio Holmes
1 Plaxico Burress
1 Troy Edwards
2 JuJu Smith-Schuster
2 Limas Sweed
2 Antwaan Randle El
2 Will Blackwell
3 Sammie Coates
3 Markus Wheaton
3 Emmanuel Sanders
3 Mike Wallace
3 Willie Reid
3 Hines Ward
4 Martavis Bryant
4 Fred Gibson
4 Danny Farmer
4 Jahine Arnold
5 Malcolm Johnson
6 Justin Brown
6 Antonio Brown
6 Lee Mays
7 DeMarcus Ayers
7 Toney Clemons
7 Dallas Baker
7 Mike Adams

So while the number of overall WR picks is pretty close to the same, they have used more than double the amount of picks in the first three rounds on a WR and more than triple the number of WR picks made in rounds 2-3.

To push this a little further, even (and maybe it's pushing it too far), the Ravens seem to do better taking offensive players, overall, in these rounds 2-3 compared to their defensive picks. To wit,

OFFENSIVE RD 2-3

2 Chris Chester C
2 Ray Rice RB
2 Kelechi Osemele T
2 Adam Terry T
2 Maxx Williams TE
2 Torrey Smith WR
2 Pat Johnson WR
3 Casey Rabach C
3 Chris Redman QB
3 Bernard Pierce RB
3 Musa Smith RB
3 Jay Graham RB
3 Jah Reid T
3 Oniel Cousins T
3 Marshal Yanda T
3 Crockett Gillmore TE
3 Ed Dickson TE
3 Yamon Figurs WR
3 Devard Darling WR

DEFENSE RD 2-3

2 Gary Baxter DB
2 DeRon Jenkins DB
2 Kamalei Correa DE
2 Terrence Cody DE
2 Paul Kruger DE
2 Anthony Weaver DE
2 Timmy Jernigan DT
2 Dwan Edwards DT
2 Kim Herring FS
2 Arthur Brown ILB
2 Tyus Bowser LB
2 Courtney Upshaw LB
2 Sergio Kindle LB
2 Dan Cody LB
2 Jamie Sharper OLB
3 Lardarius Webb DB
3 David Pittman DB
3 Chris Wormley DE
3 Bronson Kaufusi DE
3 Carl Davis DT
3 Brandon Williams DT
3 Terrence Brooks FS
3 Tom Zbikowski FS
3 Tim Williams LB
3 Tavares Gooden OLB

Almost none of the offensive players on this list would I call flat-out misses or busts. Whereas half of the defensive players here could be called labeled as such. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but the defensive list seems much more boom or bust.

To net this out, I'd be fine if they make ILB Roquan Smith their first pick at 16 but really would like to see them take pass catchers in rounds 2-3 where I think the value will be better. If one of those receivers is a tight end, fine. But both should possess great hands.

That was 20 paragraphs to rationalize what I want to see them do in this draft.

[Goode05]

I predict we will skip drafting a HB this year, because "Everyone else is" .... just like the year we skipped on all the depth at WR.

4D chess Ozzie will claim Trust the process

If everyone is drafting running backs we should draft lbers and Dlineman kinda like how we build up the secondary and they shut down the Steelers and Cincy


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[Justlovemybirds]

Calvin Ridley announced this week he'll leave Alabama for the NFL draft. Based on what I've seen and heard, Ridley is the top receiver in this year's class. At 6'1" and 190 pounds, he doesn't have standout size, but his route running is special. I expect, based on tape and conversations with scouts, he'll be a top-15 pick.

Matt Miller scouting notebook http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...rs?share=other




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[Culex]

Forget the college stats with that crappy QB they have. Ridley is very good and tough to guard just watch his game tape

[Laxdad24]

Forget the college stats with that crappy QB they have. Ridley is very good and tough to guard just watch his game tape

I hope your right. He’s projecting to be top 15 so he won’t be there for the Ravens. His game tape vS Mercer 2x is nice though


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[Culex]

I hope your right. He’s projecting to be top 15 so he won’t be there for the Ravens. His game tape vS Mercer 2x is nice though


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I think Chicago might steal him from us. I'm not really that interested in any other receiver other than him and Kirk. JW does play a little like Boldin though.

[Laxdad24]

I think Chicago might steal him from us. I'm not really that interested in any other receiver other than him and Kirk. JW does play a little like Boldin though.

If it’s me I take BPA in the 1st. Look for Love, Guise in the 2nd and Lazzard whenever he’s avail. 2-3rd. Big , strong , great hands. DJ Moore also. Auden Tate if he’s there late.


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[Justlovemybirds]

Per Daniel Jeremiah

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...mpionship-game

I received a few text messages during the game from NFL scouts saying Alabama WR Calvin Ridley is going to be much better in the pros than he is in college.

I agree with them.

Alabama struggled to get him going early, but he made two huge catches down the stretch against Georgia, one for a TD and one to put the Crimson Tide in range for a potential game-winning field goal, although they were unable to convert on that opportunity.

Ridley might have been the most talented player on the field Monday night.

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