Suprising How Clueless Some National Media Are About Ravens Draft Needs

by Rexx on Mar 21, 2009 1:43 PM EDT Comment 24 comments

Listening to Sirius NFL Radio yesterday, which is much of what I listen to in the car (other than Howard Stern and sometimes '70's music). The show in the time slot I was listening to is called "Movin' the Chains" and is hosted by Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan, both respected and knowledgeable, as all the Sirius NFL Radio guys are in my opinion (or at least I thought!).

Friday afternoon they were taking turns doing a Mock draft of round one and I just happened to turn it on as they were finishing up with pick number 25 (Miami Dolphins). The Baltimore Ravens were on the clock and one of them (don't know if it was Kirwan or Ryan) said the Ravens really need a wide receiver who can stretch the field, to go with their second year QB who has a gun of an arm to wing it downfield. Everything sounded fine at that point. Here is where I just shook my head, rolled my eyes and laughed. He said that Maryland's Darius Heyward-Bey was available but they weren't sold on his pass catching ability, although they loved his speed. They said North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks had great hands but his speed was not good enough to separate from the CB's. So they said the perfect pick for the Ravens was Florida's Percy Harvin and that was who they were selecting for Baltimore. They went on to say that while Harvin had some attitude issues, they would sit him down with Ray Lewis who would set him straight in a second and all would be cozy and comfortable with him in a Ravens purple jersey.

Now I'm sure there might be those of you who would agree with that pick, as Harvin was a game breaker and is expected to be a first round pick in April's Draft. However, I expect him to go earlier and besides, he isn't the type of wideout that the Ravens are looking for. We already have two very good receivers who can catch the ball that are under six feet tall (Mason, Clayton). Harvin is also undersized compared to both DHB and Nicks, who are both over 6'2" tall. The Ravens obviously need a big, strong and fast WR who can not only stretch the field, get the YAC we have missed for so long, but can also go up and come down with those jump balls that only Todd Heap used to be able to grab in traffic.

Harvin might very well be a good returner, but we now have Chris Carr to lead us in that area. Harvin might be good for YAC and stretching the field, but to me he is more of a Devin Hester-type that is going to be a good returner but an okay receiver. In the meantime, both DHB and Nicks will be the type of receivers that Joe Flacco can confidently throw the ball up and fully expect them to either run underneath it or go up and outmuscle the DB for the completion.

I would have expected the national media to already know of our needs more specifically than just needing a receiver. Surprisingly, so many of them seem to not have a clue. I guess that's part of the reason why Ozzie always seems to amze even them on draft day, eh?

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that's funny

Yea Percy will be long gone before the Ravens pick at 26. I’ve heard the inconsistencies about Hey-Bey’s hands but if we draft him I think with our WR coach he’ll be ready in not time as long as he brings the right attitude. Which I am sure he will, being a Maryland native, as much as I love MD myself, I know I would. When it comes to Nicks the tape speaks for itself, just watch that bowl game against WVU, not fast enough…I don’t think so! As always as you know and every other Raven fan should know, in OZ WE TRUST.

"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 21, 2009 2:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If we can get DHB and Ramses Barden

That would be amazing. Get the fast guy with size to burn you on the sides and the 6’6" Barden who has the strength and height to just overpower any CB. Barden also ran a 4.5 forty and I have heard him be compared to Keyshawn Johnson. Mainly because he looks like him though.

But DHB in the first and maybe Barden in the 3rd or 4th, I would love it.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Mar 21, 2009 2:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Barden will be the next Vincent Jackson

I would like to have Barden in the 2nd or trade. I would rather have Hakeem Nicks in the 1st.

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Mar 21, 2009 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vicent Jackson took 3 years to be more than

just a tall fast guy.

They say "he's so arrogant, the cocky kind"
but they always lookin', 'cause I'ma shine,
-Lil Wayne & Birdman "Get Your Shine On"

by shake n bake on Mar 22, 2009 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that scenarion would be ideal...

"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 21, 2009 4:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm still on the Kenny Britt bandwagon

faster than Hakeem Nicks, more polished than DHB… I think Britt could be Plaxico Burress without the off the field stupidity, and that would make for a very good WR for Joe.

by math_geek on Mar 21, 2009 5:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Britt does have supposed character issues

Don’t really know the extent but I’ve heard there may be some red flags there

by DT711 on Mar 21, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think those are more attitude oriented, and not a very big deal

attitude can be coached. The kid after all is only 21. And he is dedicated to playing well.

by math_geek on Mar 21, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Mar 21, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Totally agree

Britt will be great for us.. He is fast, strong, has good hands and run good routes

He will be the perfect wr to grow with Flacco for next 10 years

THE MEXICAN RAVEN

by JORGE NITALES on Mar 22, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

harvin has injury issues and is small. not what we need. if he is the only one available, I go a different route and pick up a pass rushing DE or a MLB to replace Ray

by ppdoc on Mar 21, 2009 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Britt polished?

I watched his highlights, he did not look the slightest bit polished. Nor did he look fast. His whole highlight reel was him making easy catches. No going up for the ball in traffic, no going over the middle, just easy passes in the flat that he turned and caught and ran a few yards before getting tackled. I saw nothing in a 9 minute highlight video to make me think he is worth a 3rd round pick, let alone a 1st or 2nd.

by Rayisyourdaddy on Mar 22, 2009 2:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the ravens

could get both and make a trade fro britt and dhb that would work 4 us

by 2000 ravens on Mar 22, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Are you guys serious!?!?

First of all Percy Harvin is the best playmaker in the draft period. He played most of the year injured and had similar stats to others and got the ball in his hands half of the time as the others. Nicks would be the worst possible pick! He is too slow! I’m from Morgantown, WV and the DB’s that he was going up against in the bowl game were all basically first year starters and all of them are extremely slow! Nicks was the faster man in a race between multiple slow guys!!!! He has unbelievable hands though, I give him major props on that, but even his college coach said he was lazy and had an attitude issue and poor work ethic! There is one player in the NFL that I would compare Harvin’s NFL future to and that is Steve Smith! Now answer this question for me Raven’s fans….Would you draft Steve Smith as wr if you had the opportunity?
2nd pick we need to Connor Barwin from Cincy, he can play DE,LB, and/or TE at 6’-4" 240lbs! He also has a motor that doesn’t quit so he might be able to play all three positions in the same game!

by Sam Mancinotti on Mar 22, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gee, I'm glad

you are not going to be in the Ravens War Room on draft day. Sorry, but regardless of Harvin’s attributes, he is not what the Ravens need with their first round pick. They have enough of his type of skills and there are others in the draft of his ability with more to bring to the table that Baltimore covets in a wide receiver, namely size and strength, neither of which Harvin offers us.

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 22, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“what Baltimore covets in a wide receiver, namely size and strength”

Looking at the Raven’s draft history, when was the last time they really hit on a WR in the draft? Clayton? There’s some tall guys in our history and they’ve been busts. Ozzie is going to go BPA and that evaluation is based off talent, not size. If Percy Harvin is the most talented player on the board, then he goes. And it’s hard to deny his talent.

I’m a huge Hakeem Nicks fan but a player like Harvin is always exciting to have on your team.

by ello on Mar 23, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Nicks' size

but if the only guy around at 26 is Harvin, I wouldn’t be against getting him. It’s just that I value the other bigger guys over him.

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 23, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Harvin...

because I think we need a WR that makes an immediate impact. Heyward-Bay and Nicks will probably take a few years to do so. But I think Harvin could make an impact since the Ravens run the wildcat, and he has alot of experience with it in college.

Of course I think I proved to myself last year I know nothing about the draft. So I’ll trust in Ozzie to make the correct choice, whatever it might be.

by edsachs1 on Mar 23, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Wildcat uses two running backs, which we definitely don’t do. We occasionally throw both Flacco and Troy Smith in at the same time. I believe that’s technically known as a Double Wing formation. The majority of the time we send Troy Smith out there, we end up having to either take a time out or take a delay of game penalty. It doesn’t make sense to draft based on experience with gimmick formations.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Mar 23, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about trade up and get Crabtree...(thats the only wr that really fits)

Harvin is probably one of the strongest wr’s in the draft. So, are you telling me that it doesn’t matter how good the player is, we just need someone with size…? Obviously, if Anquan Bolden or L. Fitzgerald was available I’d say……GO GET HIM! But, no one in this year’s draft is like that. Oh by the way, the Ravens don’t have anyone on the team that is like Percy Harvin, if you think of one please let me know. Clayton is far from him. We don’t have anyone that if he gets the ball on the 5 yard line with no blockers he still has a chance of going 95 yards for a touchdown(except Ed Reed!)!!!!!!! Personally, I would rather have players that help win on the field, instead of ones that fit the prototype of a well rounded receiving core in the gym. If we are only looking for someone to run streak routes down the field then Heyward-Bey would be the choice, but does he have more intangibles than just speed? And it’s not like he has 4.2 speed either. Why not get Anquan Bolden and then take the best player available with the first two picks? Money shouldn’t be a thing as long as we get championships!

P.S. – Don’t mind me too much, I get excited over anything football. I am an ex-player, 30 years old(tore hamstring and tore acl that ended career before it started) and have a lot of built up aggression! I was also 5’-10" and ran a 4.34 forty and like to stand up for my other vertically challenged Flankers!

by Sam Mancinotti on Mar 22, 2009 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Crabtree would be great, but...

…we would have to sacrifice the next couple of drafts to go up to top five and get him. His injury shouldn’t be afactor but might scare people away. We do need a burner and DHB would fill that void as well as be the bigger target we need and lack.

I may not be an ex-football player, but did play ice hockey, lacrosse, hoops and every intramural sport imaginable. I am 51 and have had in the past six years, ACL, rotator cuff and labrum repairs. Guess that’s the price we pay as we age for being such world class athletes when we were younger!

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 23, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

media clueless

If you click on the mock draft of yahoo sports, they have the Ravens taking a LINEBACKER with our first round pick, and a CORNERBACK with their second rounder. How clueless is this???? The Ravens have at least 3 possible starters at linebacker after Lewis, JJ, and Suggs. They have answered CB needs with Washington, Foxworth, Carr, and Frank Walker. Meanwhile, they have done nothing to add to Flacco’s receiving corps (except LJ Smith.) I can guarantee that the picks will not be a LB or CB. These guys don’t do their homework.

by rvnmaniak on Mar 22, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Unless

one of the War Room’s top picks are still on the board at 26. If one of the USC LB’s are there when we pick, Ozzie will grab them. If Brandon Pettigrew is there, he grabs the TE. If Vontae Davis is still there, Oz takes him. Doubt any of those scenerios will happen but if they do, don’t be surprised.

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 23, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs