UKRavenStockers
03-30-2008, 12:04 PM
Ok, so the traffic in the forum is down with the off-season and we just seem to being round in circles discussing just the #8 pick and what's to be done with it and the players that we deem to be available and value there so I feel like opening things up a bit. I'd be interested to see (and I'm gonna share mine) which prospects you like are, how you see them fitting for the Ravens, whether you think it's just the raw talent, they fit our systems, we're lacking that type of player, they're an upgrade on what we've got, whatever, have at it.
Here's my list (might get a little long):
- Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida - He is my favourite 4-3 DE in this draft and I think he has the best pass rushing skills as well, better than Gholston. He's got the bulk (271lbs) to be strong at the POA, he's got speed off of the edge, he's got a range of pass rush skills, he reads plays well, he stepped up as a leader on a young Florida team this year (team captain in his junior season) and he stepped up with an MVP performance in the biggest game of his life (MVP of the 2007 BCS Title game win for Florida). To me he's got everything you look for in a DRE in a 4-3. I'd love to take him at #8 and use it as pressure on Suggs to sign a long term deal, but also for us to be able to say to Suggs that if he wants Freeney money then he can go elsewhere for it, because good as he is, he's not worth that much.
- Anthony Alridge, HB/WR/Gadget, Houston - Speed to burn from either the backfield or the slot. He's under sized (5'8, 175) and won't fit as a conventional running back or wide receiver, but as a second day luxury type of pick he can make a real impact IMO if you let him line up in a variety of places on the defence. He'll out run linebackers out of the backfield, he's got the short area quickness to get away from defensive backs, give him the ball around 5 times a game and he could come up with some big plays.
- James Hardy, WR, Indiana - OK so wideout isn't the pressing need it was in Baltimore for around 5 years or so but I'm still a little uneasy about the lack of separation that our receivers seem to be able to get at times, and the fact that with Williams hurt, we're very samey with our guys split wide, they're all very small. Hardy provides something completely different, the ability to go vertically both down the field and in the air. At 6'6 he's a mis match for any DB on a jump ball and he can be a better version of what Clarence Moore looked like he might become when he first came into the league. Seen him compared to a Harold Carmichael and Plaxico Burress type of receiver, not sure how apt those comparisons are but I certainly liked what I saw from him in the college ranks to add another dimension to our receivers.
- Craig Stevens, TE, California - The blocking from our tight ends is not good enough in my opinion, Stevens provides an immediate upgrade in that respect and would really help out our young tackles blocking on the edge.
- Jordan Dizon, LB, Colorado - Undersized for playing in a base defence but he just tackles everything that moves. I think he was the Big XII defensive player of the year this past season, I think he'd also fit in well with the new coach's ability to improve our special teams (I should imagine that as an ST oriented HC he'll want his unit to be amongst the best in the league), great energy, great form tackler, not a great deal of upside as a player on a base defence is the only real downside.
- Charles Godfrey, CB, Iowa - Versatility personified. He played CB and safety for the Hawkeyes and contributed on special teams as well. He'll upgrade our depth in the secondary and with the ability to play both numerous positions in the secondary can also open up a roster spot for another pass rusher (you can never have too many) or another offensive weapon, or whatever.
- Andrew Crummey, G, Maryland - Got to have a Terp in the list somewhere. Crummey is coming off of a broken leg that he fought back from at the start of his senior season to play in the Terps' final two games this year. Unfortunately he re-aggravated in the bowl game defeat to Oregon State which has left him unable to participate in pre-draft workouts and may well rule him out for his entire rookie season. As a result he could well be available as an undrafted free agent. I'd love for us to sign him as a UDFA, stick him straight on injured reserve and just wait for him to get healthy. Were it not for the broken leg he'd have been one of the top guards in the draft and would add great depth and competition for a starting job on our interior line when he gets healthy probably for the 2009 season.
Don't like what you see? Say so, agree, ditto, more suggestions, fire away. Interested to see what prospects everyone else is looking at.
Here's my list (might get a little long):
- Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida - He is my favourite 4-3 DE in this draft and I think he has the best pass rushing skills as well, better than Gholston. He's got the bulk (271lbs) to be strong at the POA, he's got speed off of the edge, he's got a range of pass rush skills, he reads plays well, he stepped up as a leader on a young Florida team this year (team captain in his junior season) and he stepped up with an MVP performance in the biggest game of his life (MVP of the 2007 BCS Title game win for Florida). To me he's got everything you look for in a DRE in a 4-3. I'd love to take him at #8 and use it as pressure on Suggs to sign a long term deal, but also for us to be able to say to Suggs that if he wants Freeney money then he can go elsewhere for it, because good as he is, he's not worth that much.
- Anthony Alridge, HB/WR/Gadget, Houston - Speed to burn from either the backfield or the slot. He's under sized (5'8, 175) and won't fit as a conventional running back or wide receiver, but as a second day luxury type of pick he can make a real impact IMO if you let him line up in a variety of places on the defence. He'll out run linebackers out of the backfield, he's got the short area quickness to get away from defensive backs, give him the ball around 5 times a game and he could come up with some big plays.
- James Hardy, WR, Indiana - OK so wideout isn't the pressing need it was in Baltimore for around 5 years or so but I'm still a little uneasy about the lack of separation that our receivers seem to be able to get at times, and the fact that with Williams hurt, we're very samey with our guys split wide, they're all very small. Hardy provides something completely different, the ability to go vertically both down the field and in the air. At 6'6 he's a mis match for any DB on a jump ball and he can be a better version of what Clarence Moore looked like he might become when he first came into the league. Seen him compared to a Harold Carmichael and Plaxico Burress type of receiver, not sure how apt those comparisons are but I certainly liked what I saw from him in the college ranks to add another dimension to our receivers.
- Craig Stevens, TE, California - The blocking from our tight ends is not good enough in my opinion, Stevens provides an immediate upgrade in that respect and would really help out our young tackles blocking on the edge.
- Jordan Dizon, LB, Colorado - Undersized for playing in a base defence but he just tackles everything that moves. I think he was the Big XII defensive player of the year this past season, I think he'd also fit in well with the new coach's ability to improve our special teams (I should imagine that as an ST oriented HC he'll want his unit to be amongst the best in the league), great energy, great form tackler, not a great deal of upside as a player on a base defence is the only real downside.
- Charles Godfrey, CB, Iowa - Versatility personified. He played CB and safety for the Hawkeyes and contributed on special teams as well. He'll upgrade our depth in the secondary and with the ability to play both numerous positions in the secondary can also open up a roster spot for another pass rusher (you can never have too many) or another offensive weapon, or whatever.
- Andrew Crummey, G, Maryland - Got to have a Terp in the list somewhere. Crummey is coming off of a broken leg that he fought back from at the start of his senior season to play in the Terps' final two games this year. Unfortunately he re-aggravated in the bowl game defeat to Oregon State which has left him unable to participate in pre-draft workouts and may well rule him out for his entire rookie season. As a result he could well be available as an undrafted free agent. I'd love for us to sign him as a UDFA, stick him straight on injured reserve and just wait for him to get healthy. Were it not for the broken leg he'd have been one of the top guards in the draft and would add great depth and competition for a starting job on our interior line when he gets healthy probably for the 2009 season.
Don't like what you see? Say so, agree, ditto, more suggestions, fire away. Interested to see what prospects everyone else is looking at.