What ESPN's James Walker Thinks

by Rexx on Mar 20, 2009 1:28 PM EDT Comment 20 comments

ESPN's AFC North writier James Walker thinks the Baltimore Ravens will go the same route in April's NFL Draft as many of the Beatdown's readers. He says that Maryland's Darius Heyward-Bey would make a great hometown choice, but that his Combine probably moved him up to being selected earlier than the 26th spot that the Ravens currently sit in. However, he does think that UNC's Hakeem Nicks would also be a fine fit, although the comments seem to recommend that they shy away from Florida's Percy Harvin, even if he is available.

Check out the entire article by clicking here.

0 recs | Comment 20 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Love James Walker

One of the most un-biased sports writers I have ever seen. He tells it like it is, does not favor any team over another in the AFC North.

He broke it down perfectly. We are making all the moves right now to focus on WR in the draft. I like when Ozzie said he wants the draft to be a plus and not have any needs, but I think what he is doing right now is focusing on just having one need heading into that weekend to fill, and that is WR.

Getting guys like Foxworth, Birk, Carr, LJ Smith, that just takes more pressure and work off of Ozzie’s shoulder in the draft. We have not signed a signle WR yet, and I think it will most likely stay that way unless we go after Holt, Reggie Williams, or Jenkins. We all want DHB here, but if Hicks drops to us and Ozzie takes him, lets do roll man, I am ready to get that guy the ball.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Mar 20, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree that Hakeem Nicks would be a perfect fit.

I wonder why Matt Williamson doesn’t like “small receivers.” Small receivers prospered in this game. You’re either good or not good at what you do.

by E-ROC on Mar 20, 2009 3:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Im not so sure about our defense falling off?

"But like my father said, you want Jennifer Lopez but does she want you? No. I'll just take what ever they give to me."-Julian Taverez

by purpleonblack86 on Mar 20, 2009 9:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Puh-lease!

I know, they’re another year older and we lost a good linebacker and had changes in our corners…blah, blah, blah. Us true Ravens fans have heard that every year and what happens? We re-load and our defense is top two every damn year, which will be no different in 2009, unless of course we end up #1!

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 21, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually think we got younger for next year on D

Landry is a few years younger then Leonhard
Foxy is way younger then CMac
Carr is way younger the Rolle
T-Good is much younger the Bart

At a few positions our guys are aging, but I am pretty sure the average age on our D will be younger then last.

The average fan thinks our D is a reflection of an aging Ray. He may be our leader but we have a wealth of young improving talent on the roster.

by DT711 on Mar 21, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

younger

not so sure that Dawan is that much younger than Leonhard. I really like James Walker. It’s about the only column in ESPN I still read except for Clayton. I refuse to pay them money to be an “Insider.” What a boatload of crap.

by ppdoc on Mar 21, 2009 9:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea its only like a year or less

Good call

by DT711 on Mar 21, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's a great comment to Walker's blog

on ESPN.com, from an obvious well versed and knowledgeable Ravens fan that seems to understand how we re-load at linebacker and how well those who have made a name here went to free agency for the big bucks and future invisibility on their own teams once they were out of the huge shadow cast by the Ravens Ray Lewis.

Lucas from Hyattsville (Staaaand uuuup!) writes: Whats up James, just wanted to give my take on Ravens linebackers. Why dont people realize that Ray Lewis makes every linebacker around him great. For example, remember Adalius Thomas, what has he done since he left? Oh yea, what about that guy Ed Hartwell, who signed that big deal with Atlanta (i believe)? How about Jamie Sharper? All these guys were Pro Bowl caliber players on the Ravens defense, just to leave and seem to vanish off the face of the football world. I think Bart Scott is the next name on that list. With no Ray Lewis for teams to plan around,Scott has not demonstrated he has the tools to be a Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher caliber. Secondly, why is everyone second guessing Rex leaving. He was great Defensive Coordinator but people need to realize before him it was Marvin Lewis, and before him Mike Nolan both NFL coaches. Both times they left people said our defense would not be the same and they only got better. People better wake up and realize Ozzie and the front office are great talent hunters and will not let our focal point be mediocre. Out.

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 22, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gonna make this short and sweet...

Sign T. Holt, and draft P. Harvin!!!!

by Sam Mancinotti on Mar 22, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ok and wrong!!!!!

I will take Holt, but not Harvin. He is not the type of WR we need. He is quick, I will give him that, but not the tall, stand-out WR this teams has lacked all 13 years. We will take Nicks or Heyward-Bey over Harvin.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Mar 22, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The type of wr we need?????

Nicks is a slow wr that cannot stretch the field, he has great hands, but no work ethic and a problem in the locker room(as told by his coach)!
Heyward-Bey would be better, but how many raw receivers do we need, Clayton was supposed to be a burner, and we also drafted a couple others in the past six years that was supposed to fit that role as well.
There is one NFL player that I would compare Harvin to…..Steve Smith, now wouldn’t you want Steve Smith on the team and that doesn’t have anything to do with size, besides Harvin is strong and has great hands technique and there is no DB strong enough to keep him on the line.

by Sam Mancinotti on Mar 22, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We need T. Holt...

No matter what, we need Holt!

by Sam Mancinotti on Mar 22, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Your crazy man

But so are the rest of us! We are not going to sign Holt. We would have by now. So the draft is where we are taking this dilema.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Mar 22, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holt is on vacation

He said he was taking a liitle time off, then he is going to do visits. Should be this week, next week latest. Im sure his agent already has the list of teams interested and he just needs to decide where to visit.
If his demands are reasonable, i think we need to sign him. Maybe restructure Mason, and tack on 2 more years, but less money this year, clear a mil or 2. Then sign Suggs to a contract, and clear off a few million this year. Then we can afford holt. Next year we have more room cuz JO and Mcnair are off the books (finally), so we can afford to give mason more next year in return for restructuring and taking less this year. I still am praying we sign Holt somehow. If we do, we would have no needs going into the draft except depth and youth. Our biggest immediate need would be DE for when Pryce retires…

by Rayisyourdaddy on Mar 23, 2009 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good comments

Math_Geek should be doing this numbers stuff!

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 23, 2009 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't be suprised if...

we sign T. Holt and Orlando Pace by then end of next week! Then in the draft for the first two rounds we just take the best players available.

by Sam Mancinotti on Mar 22, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Probnably not

we will most likely stand pat until after the draft and then fill holes by bargain shopping on unsigned vets. Holt would be good to have, but not necessary. Pace would just not be an upgrade over Anderson at this point in both’s careers.

Are you really Harvin’s agent?

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 22, 2009 5:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HA! What's funny is that I am a Noles fan!

I don’t think Pace would be a good pick up either unless he just wants to play for us for pennies. Honestly, I miss Jamal Lewis! I think we need to get Beanie Wells. The trio of fullbacks running did a great job last year, but we need one horse like Jamal was just to wear down the def front and then break it for 60! How much does McGahee got in him anyway? Rice is tough, but I am still a little salty that we didn’t pick up Slaton(by the way I’m from Morgantown). I live down here in Jacksonville and have been able to see Harvin for the past couple years and can just tell he has IT! He is going to be what Reggie Bush wants to be.

by Sam Mancinotti on Mar 22, 2009 6:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs