More On Bernard Pierce

When the Ravens traded up to draft running back Bernard Pierce a lot of fans were not happy with the move. However, drafting a running back early on makes a lot of sense for Baltimore. Besides Ray Rice the team has no one with any significant NFL experience on the roster. The only one with any is Anthony Allen, a seventh round pick a year ago.

Most of the negative buzz surrounding the pick of Pierce is centered around the move to trade up and get him. The team traded away a fifth round pick to get him. Ozzie Newsome must have had some inside information on another team ahead of us that had equal interest in the versatile Temple running back or he definitely would not have puled the trigger on the trade. I think we should all trust that he knows a bit more than we do about the inner workings of the draft.

The Ravens are in need of a solid back up for Ray Rice this season and Pierce could very well be that guy. He ran for a school record 53 touchdowns at Temple. He also showed power and speed in his pro day running a 4.34-40. Standing at 6'0" and weighing in at 218 pounds Pierce has ideal size for a running back and will have a grace period in the NFL while staying behind Ray Rice on the depth chart this season. whether he was drafted to be a career back up or to one day start he is in the perfect situation here in Baltimore with a pro bowler to learn from and a solid team with strong leadership to mentor him.

Although many will automatically pencil him in as the number two back, Pierce will have to earn his spot. Anthony Allen and Damien Berry have a head start on him with the team and already know the playbook and blocking schemes. It will be great for the Ravens to have this open competition in training camp as they will be sure to get the best out of all three players.

More on Pierce from Aaron Wilson at scouts.com

Temple University junior running back Bernard Pierce ran the 40-yard dash in 4.34 to 4.37 seconds today at his campus Pro Day workout today, according to NFL sources who attended the workout.

Pierce had a 7.07 in the three-cone drill at the NFL scouting combine.
"I had to prove to everybody that I’m not slow," said Pierce, a 6-foot, 218-pounder who ran a 4.49 at the NFL scouting combine, in a telephone interview. "Everybody thinks I’m slow. I finally got that out of the way."

Pierce scored a school-record 53 rushing touchdowns.

"I caught the ball well today," Pierce said. "The NFL are going to get a guy who's ready to play."

Pierce rushed for 3,570 career yards.

Pierce gained 1,481 yards and 27 touchdowns this past season.

In his final college game, Pierce gained 100 yards and scored two touchdowns in a New Mexico Bowl win over Wyoming.

Pierce rushed for 1,361 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman.

There is also a very cool website based on Pierce as a Heisman candidate. Check it out! http://pierce4heisman.com/