More from the "Grapevine" @ 1 Winning Drive

[TL24x7]

Don’t be surprised if the Ravens pursue a free agent tight end. They have Todd Heap and L.J. Smith as proven options to go with Quinn Sypniewski and rookie Davon Drew. Neither Heap nor Smith has been a beacon of health during their careers and Drew is raw. His skills are more refined as a receiver than a blocker which then leaves Sypniewski and therein could lie a problem. Here's why (http://www.profootball24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=13&id=3468&view=archive)...

[math_geek]

That bit about Quinn was really surprising. Wasn't he taking snaps with the first team in minicamp? It would be really dissappointing to lose Q-Syp for another year.

[52decleetzu]

At first I couldnt see how an ACL injury could keep Syp out for that long,but did some research and it appears that his ACL got torn off the bone and it was more serious that your typical knee injury.

In that case we HAVE to get another big blocking TE in here for camp,need to get together a list of the available free agents out there.A big blocking TE is key to our running game and making sure Heap is out catching the ball and not blocking on the line.

[f7eleven]

or we could just keep using 3 tackles at the same time. no TE they bring in is gonna block better than that.

[jonboy79]

or we could just keep using 3 tackles at the same time. no TE they bring in is gonna block better than that.

NO, but he would provide more in the passing game, and thus would be less of a telegraph. When we went unbalanced we either were running, or passing with a foreknown blocker.

[Rxdoxx]

Unless Oher has better hands than anyone knows. I read The Blind Side, and he has point guard dribbling skills, and played Center so there is catching/rebounding ability there.
Be a lot for a rookie to learn, but unbalanced line with him as the tackle eligible might have some interesting possibilities.... but still probably could use a TE unless Jones has had a Pashos off-season,

[Jeremiah W]

Unless Oher has better hands than anyone knows. I read The Blind Side, and he has point guard dribbling skills, and played Center so there is catching/rebounding ability there.
Be a lot for a rookie to learn, but unbalanced line with him as the tackle eligible might have some interesting possibilities.... but still probably could use a TE unless Jones has had a Pashos off-season,

If you can catch the ball in the post with a guy on your hip trying to push you off balance, you should be able to get rebound style TDs over much smaller LBs if they even cover a T if he blocks before releasing. Cam will use 'em all. Troy Smith and Nagta got redzone looks, so eventually one of our T eligibles should too, and both Gaither and Oher have strong hoops backrounds and plenty of rebounding skills. Terry as the 6th man was a good run blocker but had almost no chance at even pass blocking against the OLBs he faced, much less pass catching.

Jones could still be unknown enough to stash on the P squad if we have to. The Ravens are going to have to get creative this year to keep from losing a guy they really regret letting get away, and I think Jones may be that guy, and if not, it will most likley be a 3rd -6th round draft pick (don't think we even had any 7th rounders on the roster last year with Harper and Patrick cut). He has gotten a lot of reps in practice and should be about to be all he can be in his 4th year as a pro though. He will be one tough slappy to beat for the last roster spot.

I can not think of a time where there was an intersting battle going into camp at literally every position on the roster, even the kicking comp is legit this year. The punter is not even completly safe even though he was close to all pro good.

[Mista T]

I can not think of a time where there was an intersting battle going into camp at literally every position on the roster

I don't think that Joe Flacco will be battling anyone.

[jonboy79]

I don't think that Joe Flacco will be battling anyone.

No but the backup is one of the more intersting camp battles out there.
I don't see much battling to be done at RB.
Or on either line.

[Brtnder81]

Unless Oher has better hands than anyone knows. I read The Blind Side, and he has point guard dribbling skills, and played Center so there is catching/rebounding ability there.
Be a lot for a rookie to learn, but unbalanced line with him as the tackle eligible might have some interesting possibilities.... but still probably could use a TE unless Jones has had a Pashos off-season,

Jared Gaither was an All State Power Forward in High School and was going to play basketball and football for UMD but the "Fridge" didnt want him to play 2 sports so he desided on football. so he could get a look at being tackle elligible

[Jeremiah W]

No but the backup is one of the more intersting camp battles out there.
I don't see much battling to be done at RB.
Or on either line.

Some spots the starter is pretty safe but could lose some pt to the back ups. The RB depth chart may be pretty well set but who gets how many carries is not. I also think Parmale will challenge for the roster spot. He was a 6th round pick the Ravens scooped up last year.

O line Cousins and Hale, will be fighting to make the team, and on D line I think Dwan Edwards will get a challenge from the slappies. Anyone who can be cut with no cap hit is going to have to fight off someone, maybe from another position.

The top 45 are pretty easy to find, but the last 10 roster spots or so will be very tightly contested and a lot of pt seems up for grabs under this coaching staff.