If Not for a Few Misses in the Draft, the Ravens Could Have the Best WR Corps in the NFL

[nfldraft2010]

See for yourself...

http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=1986

[camdenyard]

Yeah, and if my aunt had balls she's be my uncle, etc.

[purplepoe]

Drafting players involves alot more luck than many people would like to admit.

PP

[Benny8444]

Drafting players involves alot more luck than many people would like to admit.

PP

I agree,

This is easy to say now, but in the draft room there are a lot of factors that go into taking a player.

We have hit on enough players late in the draft and every team misses on some top players. WR has been our week link for ever since we took Travis Taylor. But we have almost hit on every LB we have taken in the draft along with almost every RB as well as DT/DL.

The time is now to add two WRs and yes luck has a lot to do with drafting players especially in rounds 3-7

[edreedisgod20]

If not for a Few Misses in the Draft, Any Team in the NFL Could Have the Best WR Corps in the NFL

Fixed.

[nfldraft2010]

Haha very true. It's always interesting to look back at what could've been though.

[Dave Lap]

It's interesting but ultimately useless because you could do the same thing for every NFL team for every position on the football field: i.e. name the guys they missed who were better than who they took.

[RAVENOUS52]

I agree,

This is easy to say now, but in the draft room there are a lot of factors that go into taking a player.

We have hit on enough players late in the draft and every team misses on some top players. WR has been our week link for ever since we took Travis Taylor. But we have almost hit on every LB we have taken in the draft along with almost every RB as well as DT/DL.

The time is now to add two WRs and yes luck has a lot to do with drafting players especially in rounds 3-7

Musa Smith was notably our Dan Cody of RBs...:(

[RavensDomination]

Drafting players involves alot more luck than many people would like to admit.

PP

Without a doubt. Especially in the later rounds. I feel like with our scouting department we have increased our chances of finding that late round gem, but at the end of the day it's all a crap shoot.

[Purpleguy]

There is a reason we hit on almost every LB and RB. Our scheme has a lot to do with our LBs performing at a high level. Look at how many guys have left for big money and never came close to the performance they had here. We hit on RBs because our line has always been pretty good at run blocking, but are very inconsistent with pass blocking. This team has never been able to build a good passing scheme, and I'd like to say that could be part of the reason our receivers have always sucked so bad, but all of these busts have left and continued their sucktitude with other teams. I think the reason our passing scheme sucks is because Ozzie can't find a receiver.

[baltimore_hokie]

There is a reason we hit on almost every LB and RB. Our scheme has a lot to do with our LBs performing at a high level. Look at how many guys have left for big money and never came close to the performance they had here. We hit on RBs because our line has always been pretty good at run blocking, but are very inconsistent with pass blocking. This team has never been able to build a good passing scheme, and I'd like to say that could be part of the reason our receivers have always sucked so bad, but all of these busts have left and continued their sucktitude with other teams. I think the reason our passing scheme sucks is because Ozzie can't find a receiver.

Think it may have anything to do with the fact that we have never had anyone to throw to the WR's we have had?

Ozzie will find a WR soon and people will think he is a genius for being able to find them, but really it boils down to having a guy that can throw to them now. Flacco will make any WR Ozzie takes look better.

[Dave Lap]

There is a reason we hit on almost every LB and RB. Our scheme has a lot to do with our LBs performing at a high level. Look at how many guys have left for big money and never came close to the performance they had here. We hit on RBs because our line has always been pretty good at run blocking, but are very inconsistent with pass blocking. This team has never been able to build a good passing scheme, and I'd like to say that could be part of the reason our receivers have always sucked so bad, but all of these busts have left and continued their sucktitude with other teams. I think the reason our passing scheme sucks is because Ozzie can't find a receiver.


I think we simply do a good job of finding running backs and linebackers. Yeah, Adalius Thomas tailed off after he went to NE and got a big contract but I think he just had an exceptional season or two here and didn't at NE. I'm sure how we used him in our scheme helped how he performed here but I don't think it was the main factor.

I'm not real high on Tavares Gooden. I think we may have whiffed with him (hope he proves me wrong) but made up for it with Ellerbee. Kruger will be good in years to come as well.

Priest Holmes and Chester Taylor did real well when they went to other teams and Bart Scott is doing well too. I think they were just talented players. Musa Smith was a good runner. I think his leg break hampered his development.

Jamal Lewis was an absolute beast in his prime.

[Dave Lap]

I feel like with our scouting department we have increased our chances of finding that late round gem, but at the end of the day it's all a crap shoot.

The draft IS a crap shoot. That's why the best way to maximize the chance of having a successful draft is to take the best player on the board when it's time to pick. Do that with every pick and let the pieces fall where they may and that team will do better year in and year out than teams that draft for need.

[baltimore_hokie]

From today's press conference:


For Ozzie, are you tired of always being asked about the wide receiver position, and would you consider trading a No. 1 draft pick for a premier wide receiver?

(NEWSOME) “You know, having sat here for 14 years, I think every year I’ve come in here [and] there has been some need that we needed. When we first got here, to Baltimore, we couldn’t play defense. I mean, we could light it up, and we couldn’t stop water when it came to playing defense. (laughter) So, we put a concerted effort into building a defense that some people say may go down to be one of the best defenses in the history of our game. So, now then, what else is next? We [didn’t] have an offensive line, and now you look at our offensive line, and we’ve got youth, we’ve got depth, and they’re pretty good. [Then] quarterback – each year it’s going to be something, and that’s a challenge that my staff and the coaches, we look forward to. Yeah, it’s a challenge for us to continue to meet those needs, but I can say that we need a playmaker outside, yes, but we need some other things to help us to make sure that we can compete to be in the Super Bowl, also. But, if we’re able to answer that question, then you’ll be standing here next year saying we need something else. And I’m going to go, ‘Yes, we do.’”


Another quote that has nothing to do with this thread, but is awesome:


On what level of agreement are you and the other NFL owners with this possibly being an uncapped season?

(BISCIOTTI) “I can’t speak to the other guys. All I know is that we needed 24 votes to opt out of the deal. If you look at baseball, where the [New York] Yankees have three times the payroll of the [Baltimore] Orioles, and the [Boston] Red Sox have two times, or plus, the payroll of the Orioles, there’s a… It certainly doesn’t show up in the standings, because if I’m a Yankees fan, I’d be upset we’re not winning 130 games with the roster that they have and the money that they pay out. I think it’s a disgrace that they only beat the average team by 10 games in the standings for three times the money. I’d fire that [General Manager]. (laughter) You don’t need a GM, all you’ve got to do is go buy the Cy Young Award winner every year, no matter where he shows up.

[Fanman]

OMG...you have got to be kidding me. A few near misses?
This is like saying Hitler was just a little cranky.

Randy Hymes...BUST
Clarence Moore...BUST
Travis Taylor...BUST
Mark Clayton...BUST

The list goes on and on and on...

:taz:

FM

[Fanman]

Here is ALL the inf you need:

1996:
5 153 Jermaine Lewis, choice from Atl. for G Gene Williams WR Maryland
6 186 James Roe, choice from Jax. (supplemental) along with Jaguars' 1995 5th-round pick for Cle. 1995 4th-round pick WR Norfolk State

1997: None

1998:
2 42 Patrick Johnson WR Oregon (BUST)

1999:
4 105 Brandon Stokley WR SW Louisiana (decent...but short term and injury prone when here)

2000:
1 10 Travis Taylor WR Florida (BUST)

2001: None

2002:
4 123 Ron Johnson WR Minnesota (BUST)
6 206 Javin Hunter WR Notre Dame (BUST)

2003: None

2004:
3 82 Devard Darling WR Washington State (BUST)
6 199 Clarence Moore WR Northern Arizona (BUST)
7 244 Derek Abney, compensatory WR/RS Kentucky (BUST)

2005:
1 22 Mark Clayton WR Oklahoma (HUGE BUST)

2006:
4 111 Demetrius Williams WR Oregon (BUST)

2007:
3 74 Yamon Figurs WR Kansas State (BUST)

2008:
4 106 Marcus Smith WR New Mexico (no return so far)
7 215 Justin Harper WR Virginia Tech (ditto above)

2009: None

[RAVENOUS52]

Here is ALL the inf you need:

1996:
5 153 Jermaine Lewis, choice from Atl. for G Gene Williams WR Maryland
6 186 James Roe, choice from Jax. (supplemental) along with Jaguars' 1995 5th-round pick for Cle. 1995 4th-round pick WR Norfolk State

1997: None

1998:
2 42 Patrick Johnson WR Oregon (BUST)

1999:
4 105 Brandon Stokley WR SW Louisiana (decent...but short term and injury prone when here)

2000:
1 10 Travis Taylor WR Florida (BUST)

2001: None

2002:
4 123 Ron Johnson WR Minnesota (BUST)
6 206 Javin Hunter WR Notre Dame (BUST)

2003: None

2004:
3 82 Devard Darling WR Washington State (BUST)
6 199 Clarence Moore WR Northern Arizona (BUST)
7 244 Derek Abney, compensatory WR/RS Kentucky (BUST)

2005:
1 22 Mark Clayton WR Oklahoma (HUGE BUST)

2006:
4 111 Demetrius Williams WR Oregon (BUST)

2007:
3 74 Yamon Figurs WR Kansas State (BUST)

2008:
4 106 Marcus Smith WR New Mexico (no return so far)
7 215 Justin Harper WR Virginia Tech (ditto above)

2009: None

So let me get this straight:

Mark Clayton qualifies as a (HUGE BUST), but Travis Taylor is just a (BUST)?

Child, please...:laugh:

[Fanman]

Agreed....Taylor was a huge bust too.

But don't even try to say the post as a whole was bad b/c of that minute oversight. The draft results are loud and clear.

FM

[baltimore_hokie]

Hold on, so the egg came first? I thought it was the chicken...

[Jeremiah W]

Agreed....Taylor was a huge bust too.

But don't even try to say the post as a whole was bad b/c of that minute oversight. The draft results are loud and clear.

FM

That is pretty much how it goes with drafting WRs, especially if you do not have a great QB. Look at NE. Even they have struggled to draft Wrs. They solved the WR issue by trading for Moss and Welker but burned a lot of draft picks before and after trying to suppliment the position.

WR is just one of the hardest positions to scout and project from one level to the next. There are too many factors and variables.

To me though a "huge bust" is a guy that does not even play. Gets cut before his contract expires and is out of football within a year from that. Mike Williams, Freddie great hands Mitchell, Charles Rodgers, guys like that were Huge Busts, whereas guys like Clayton and Taylor were just huge disapointments. They were taken a round or two too high, but did belong in the NFL. Compared to other teams total busts, the Ravens' really bad picks look pretty good.

The draft is still the way to go to get the guy we have been looking for. Almost all of the guys we wish we had right now were drafted and never become UFAs.

[Fanman]

I agree WR might be the toughest position to draft...but other teams have multiple WRs in the last decade that blow us away.

Pittsburgh comes to mind w/ Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
Cincy had Chad Johnson and Housmandzadeh.

I think it's a little more a reflection of a gap in the Ravens drafting prowess an less "total crap shoot...just bad luck".

FM

[RAVENOUS52]

Best.
Player.
Available.

[Fanman]

BPA...yeah, yeah, yeah....that is so slanted.

So if the BPA is a QB in the first round...they will draft a QB...right.

FM

[Fanman]

Any GM that says they never draft for need is just blowing smoke.

Granted their BPA mantra works more than it fails, but it's not bullet proof like so many give it credit to be.

FM

[Jeremiah W]

BPA...yeah, yeah, yeah....that is so slanted.

So if the BPA is a QB in the first round...they will draft a QB...right.

FM

Obviously it is not as simple as BPA.

They make a list of all the guys there are and put a mark next to the ones they want, would take, and would not take.

No team is more likley to move up or down 5 spots to get the player they targeted.

If Bradford is still on the board and he was the 5th best player in the draft on the Ravens board, I can see them taking him. Maybe they would trade him before they ever signed him or just trade out of the pick, but I doubt they would just pass on a guy like that just because they do not need a QB right now.


The early mocks I saw all have us taking a WR and passing on guys like Dan Williams, Brian Price and others that are much higher rated by the folks making the mock draft.

Oz has proven that he will trade up for a player they like at a position of need, but also that they would not take a player way higher than they have him rated. Look at how they landed on Flacco. They wanted him bad enough to take at 8, but knew he was more like a 18-26 type of prospect. He also passed on Rice and traded down at least once before taking him. The undrafted guys they know can play, like Ellerbe still go undrafted. Gaither was another guy I knew they were looking at, but maybe because they were scouting him so close, they knew no one else was and he could be had for a 5th rounder and not a 3rd or even a 4th. as impressive The Ravens seem to put the proper value on talent in the first place so often, they can come out of the draft with both the BPA and most of the needs filled.

[RavensDomination]

When Ozzie says "best player available" he means best player on his board that is available. He has said in the past that need is a factor in the board.

And Jeremiah, we got Gaither in the supplemental draft.

[Jeremiah W]

When Ozzie says "best player available" he means best player on his board that is available. He has said in the past that need is a factor in the board.

And Jeremiah, we got Gaither in the supplemental draft.

I know, but they knew they could get him in the 5th round, even though they thought he was going to be a good prospect.

That was also the last of the supplimental draft I think because teams complained. Teams wanted to get in but did not have draft pool money left or some junk, and the Ravens may have known they were the only team to work him out or talk to Fridge about him and whatnot or they would have used maybe a 4th rounder.

[edreedisgod20]

I agree WR might be the toughest position to draft...but other teams have multiple WRs in the last decade that blow us away.

Pittsburgh comes to mind w/ Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
Cincy had Chad Johnson and Housmandzadeh.

FM

Interestingly, of those four, only Holmes was a first round pick. Johnson was a second round pick, Ward a third round pick, and Who'syourmama a seventh rounder.

[elland]

I know, but they knew they could get him in the 5th round, even though they thought he was going to be a good prospect.

That was also the last of the supplimental draft I think because teams complained. Teams wanted to get in but did not have draft pool money left or some junk, and the Ravens may have known they were the only team to work him out or talk to Fridge about him and whatnot or they would have used maybe a 4th rounder.

Hmm, Skins picked up Jarmon in this years (2009) third rd.

Found this from ESPN: Jarmon is only the fourth supplemental choice on an active roster this year. The Chargers have two -- defensive tackle Jamal Williams and safety Paul Oliver -- and the Ravens have one -- left tackle Jared Gaither. Jarmon is the first supplemental pick selected since 2007.

[psuasskicker]

We totally botched our whole franchise history by not drafting Tom Brady in the 5th round.

- C -