Sponsor




Home  >  Columns   >  Letters 2 TL  >  LETTERS 2 TL FANS UPSET WITH RAVENS DRAFT

Columns

Letters 2 TL - LETTERS 2 TL: FANS UPSET WITH RAVENS' DRAFT

Posted On: 5/2/07
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi
LETTERS 2 TL: FANS UPSET WITH RAVENS' DRAFT LETTERS 2 TL: FANS UPSET WITH RAVENS' DRAFT
YOU’VE GOTTA PLAY TO WIN!
 
Tony,
 
Did you hear the Biscotti interview on WBAL [last week]?  I thought he said something that was interesting having to do with avoiding the window/rebuilding theory of player development.  I believe he cited the case of Casey Rabach and indicated that they had studied the matter and saw that the key to avoid the boom/bust thing is to ensure that the top 4 draft picks every year get into the lineup, so that they don’t run out the first part of their contracts on the bench, only to command big salaries in FA once their contract runs out.
 
If this is what he said, I think it’s great, and thought that perhaps is why we saw a lot more of the young Offensive Lineman in the lineup.  Although the #1 pick has always played, I don’t remember the lower picks getting up. 
 
Did I get right what he said?  What do you think? 
 
Thanks,
 
Bill from Northeast
 
Bill,
 
You absolutely got that right!  I think you will see more of this going forward.  What has really happened in the past is a minor breakdown between scouting and coaching.  The scouts bring in the collegiate talent and at times the coaches haven’t had the same faith in that talent as the scouts.  In the case of Casey Rabach, the team decided to pay Mike Flynn the big dollars instead.  When Rabach was forced into the lineup due to Flynn’s injury, the coaches finally witnessed what the scouts had believed and then when Rabach’s contract expired, the Ravens were not in position to keep the player they recruited and actually preferred.
 
The team will do its best to avoid these scenarios going forward and the only way that will happen is if the coaches give the players a chance to show what they can or cannot do.  They will have to play themselves off the roster.
 
If you pay ‘em, play ‘em,
 
TL
 
RAVENS TURN IN LOSING DRAFT CARDS
 
TL,
 
I know it's only Day 1, but the team could not have done much worse.  OK, so we take a 2nd round quality guard at the end of the 1st round after San Fran breaks their heart and takes Staley one spot ahead of them.  Let's be generous and call that a push.  But then Ozzie pulls his all time blunder and effectively trades a 2nd, a 4th, a 5th, and a 6th to get Yamon Hands of Stone Freakin Figurs (who will be useless as a WR but who might, repeat MIGHT, beat out BJ Sams as return man) and what looks like a career backup guard/tackle.  My God, what the heck is Ozzie thinking?  If you want those two guys, fine, but don't trade four picks for them, including your 2nd rounder.  They could have gotten the backup guard/tackle easily at pick 101. 
 
You watch now, they will waste a 4th rounder on a fullback.  I'm just apoplectic.  Please, no more fawning over DeCosta, either.  He has to be partly responsible for this mess.
 
Joe from Perry Hall
 
Joe,
 
Relax my man! This is the NFL draft.  No need for apoplexy around here.  Let them deal with that in Cleveland. 
 
For the record, I have blind faith when it comes to Ozzie and DeCosta.  Their track record is just too solid for me or you to question their draft maneuvering particularly when these players have yet to dress in purple and black.
 
Did you question the Bears’ selection of Devin Hester last year in Round 2? That worked out pretty well didn’t it?  Yamon Figurs fills a need and has explosiveness.  He has trained with Tom Shaw who has an extensive list of first round picks that have attended his camps.  He describes Figurs as a faster version of Deion Branch.
 
As for Marshall Yanda, the player you predict will be no more than a career back up, did you know that he is a Kirk Ferentz player from Iowa?  Ferentz, an offensive line technician, is known for his teaching skills and he has strong ties to the Ravens.  The trading of those picks in my opinion simply paves the way to players that are more likely to make the Ravens final roster.  And it remains to be seen if the growing list of undrafted free agents will yield any value but given the team’s track record, there is probably a diamond or two in the rough from that crop.
 
You were balls on regarding the fullback.  Did you know that Le’Ron McClain is compared to Lorenzo Neal?  I’ll take that in the fourth, how about you?
 
No worries here Joe.  The draft looks to be solid although admittedly not very sexy.  Time will tell how Ozzie and DeCosta did.  For the time being, your draft grade, mine and the hundreds of other meaningless grades we’ve heard and read about since Sunday don’t mean a thing. Productivity on the field does.
 
Keeping the faith,
 
TL
 
BACK TO THE FUTURE IV?
 
TL,

I'm a little disappointed with this draft, and because I have exams and spent 6 hours watching the first round anyway, this email will ramble a bit.

This draft felt exactly like the 2004 draft, when we drafted Dwan Edwards and Devard Darling.  Targeted players were taken right before we picked. Ozzie said as much recently about that draft.  It looked like we were going to get Staley, but San Fran jumped in front of us.  It looked like we were going to get Kalil, but the Panthers took him right before us.  The possibility of getting Beck, who could have been on the level of a Marc Bulger for many years for us, was also dashed early in the 2nd Round, as were the other QB possibilities: Kolb and Stanton.

Don't get me wrong.  I like Grubbs.  He'll do for us what Faneca has done for the Steelers.  It just feels like we missed the sexy picks this year.

But let's look on the bright side in regard to the QB situation: since everybody will be developing QBs, including the perennial losers who live early in the first round (Browns, Raiders, Arizona, Lions) we have a decent shot at a good QB.  Brohm?  Colt McCoy (he redshirted, played his freshmen year, and is eligible after his sophomore season, right?) I just really want a QB whom we can ride for a cool decade.

In Ozzie we trust, TL.

Regards,

Jacob G.
 
Jacob,
 
Your sign off says it all: “In Oz We Trust.”
 
It would be nice to have a franchise QB.  But it would be disappointing if we actual finish in a position to actually draft Brian Brohm in ’08.  Colt McCoy will be eligible for next year’s draft and looks to be a good one although he could stay in school if he isn’t projected to be a top 10 pick.
 
Another Colt that shows promises hails from Hawaii – Colt Brennan.  Brennan completed 72.6% of his passes for the Rainbows in ’06 and threw 58 TD passes while only being picked off 12 times on 559 throws.  His QB rating was an off the chart 186.00.
 
Maybe the ’08 draft will be a bit sexier but until then, we’ve got a lot of football ahead.
 
Let’s Go You Colts,
 
TL
 
SETTING UP THE SAVAGE BEAST
 
TL,
 
I believe the Ravens "set-up" Savage. Knowing his lust to out do Baltimore, I think they deliberately called Quinn so Savage would jump and over-pay for a 2nd tier quarterback.  He bit, and they lost next year’s 1st.
 
Also, I am dumbfounded that we didn't draft or even sign any free agent unsigned Corners.  We desperately need depth or actually someone to replace Samari Rolle.
 
Tony A., Baltimore
 
Tony,
 
Paybacks are….well, you know.
 
As for the corner, they did sign an undrafted corner out of Hampton named Calvin Bannister.  Here’s the low down skinny on Bannister:
 
Although undersized at 5-foot-7, 179 pounds, Bannister draws high marks for his closing speed, ability to block punts and backpedaling skills. Last year he intercepted three passes, returning one 61 yards for a touchdown, and blocked two kicks. Bannister posted a 4.43 40 time and a 39 1/2 inch vertical leap at his campus workout last month.
 
Keep in mind that they drafted two corners last year (David Pittman and Derrick Martin) and they brought in an UDFA (Ronnie Prude). These players will get a chance to compete and press Samari Rolle (who performed better once Reed settled down) for playing time.
 
Play me now, or play me later,
 
TL

Post your comment

Your Name:
Your Email:
Your Comment:
There are no comments. be the first to post a comment.


«Go back to the previous page.
Posted On: 5/2/07
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi

Polls

From the following list who will have the most sacks in 2012?


Twitter

Check us out on Twitter
  • 5/22/12: There's a Betemit Sandwich!
  • 5/22/12: Sox' Doubront reminds me of Andy Petitte

View all tweets & follow us!

Got Poker Face?

E-News

Sign up for Email Alerts and get the best deals and news in your inbox.



Copyright © 2012 24x7 Network, LLC, All Rights Reserved
Website Design by D3Corp Ocean City Maryland