Washington Agrees...

[Marcel#52]

The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms with veteran free agent wide receiver Kelley Washington, according to Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com.

Per the report, a contract will be signed Friday upon successful completion of a physical.

We’ve separately confirmed with Washington’s agent, Chad Speck, that Washington has verbally agreed to terms with the Ravens following an impressive tryout at last weekend’s minicamp. Washington is expected to sign a one-year contract.

“He’s going to sign with Baltimore,” Speck said. “Kelley decided a few minutes ago. He views it as a great opportunity and a great orgaization. He’s excited to get started.”

Washington is a former Cincinnati Bengals third-round draft pick who caught one pass last season for the New England Patriots, blocking a punt.

:word

[psuasskicker]

Training camp fodder. It's hard for me to imagine him being higher than our #4 receiver...

- C -

[Jeremiah W]

Love it. Just like teh LJ Smith move it is no risk and a possible big reward.

The thing the Ravens lacked last year in the passing game, other than a guy that could block Woodley 1 on 1, was someone to go accross the middle go up into the seems and get the ball and just make a play through coverage despite not being open. You would almost never be able to get a rookie that is ready to fight for the football and take a hit from a linebacker over the middle, or would you get a rookie to come in and have the savvy on special teams, or the desire from a high draft pick.

Scrapheap street slappies that are still young and strong can be great depth chart fillers ready to play any role you give them gladly. This guy is most likley bigger, stronger and faster than any 3rd round Wr we could have got this year, and much more ready to contribute, and compared to even a 3rd round pick is most likley going to be a discount.

This seems like another Leonard kind of find, only this year we are not coming off 5-11 with a lot of questions and we are getting much more name brand slappies early in the proccess instead of at the last minute like with Lo Neal and Big Willy.

[Ravenatic20]

Training camp fodder. It's hard for me to imagine him being higher than our #4 receiver...

- C -
They way I see it is our depth will look like this, pending any trades ;):

Derrick Mason
Mark Clayton
Demetrius Williams
Marcus Smith
Kelley Washington
Yamon Figures (if he makes the final cut)

[Jeremiah W]

There are going to be some great traing camp practices battles at WR and Db both for depth chart and just to make the team.

We are going to put more talent on the street on final cuts that ever before it looks like. Most of the time the slappies are pretty easy to spot. This year almost any non starter's roster status is suspect.

[psuasskicker]

The thing the Ravens lacked last year in the passing game, other than a guy that could block Woodley 1 on 1, was someone to go accross the middle go up into the seems and get the ball and just make a play through coverage despite not being open.

What??? You just described Derrick Mason...

That's not even CLOSE to what we lacked in the passing game last year.

- C -

[Jeremiah W]

What??? You just described Derrick Mason...

That's not even CLOSE to what we lacked in the passing game last year.

- C -

No. Mason is nothing like Washington or LJ Smith. Mason does get himself open, mostly on the outside. i am talking about just big targets who will go accross the middle go up and get the ball over the coverage and take a hit. Heap used to be that guy but we broke him, and needed him to stay in and block more. Having multiple guys with some size we can thow out there in combinations will add a lot to what we already had in Mason and Clayton, but have not had since we had a healthy Williams, Heap and Wilcox at the same time.

[psuasskicker]

So, um, how many of the 73 balls that Kelly Washington has caught in his six year career would you describe as "Washington unopen over the middle, pulls down the catch?"

And why exactly do you want a receiver who you pretty much just described as a guy that can't get open? And more importantly, why do you want balls thrown to unopen receivers?

- C -

[Jeremiah W]

So, um, how many of the 73 balls that Kelly Washington has caught in his six year career would you describe as "Washington unopen over the middle, pulls down the catch?"

And why exactly do you want a receiver who you pretty much just described as a guy that can't get open? And more importantly, why do you want balls thrown to unopen receivers?

- C -

So you just like to argue to argue right?

NFL open, is more about position than seperation most of the time on quick throws accross the middle. Guys with size can be open even in heavy traffic if the throw is in a good spot.

Mason is not open unless he gets seperation. He is not big enough to really box out on a slant or seem pass unless he has a step , and then the guy may still be able to wrap around and swat the ball. If the Wr or TE was bigger, the QB can just throw it to a spot the DB can not reach without going through the body early, and all the WR has to do is hold on to the ball. Most of Todd Heap's grabs were that kind of throw and catch. He just extends and gets a little seperation more with his hands and shoulders than his feet, and takes alot of big hits after tough catches. Most of the time Mason is able to get far enough away from his Db to go down or get out of bounds before getting jacked, and ideally someone else besides Heap can continure to work the middle and Mason will continue to do what he does mostly outside and out of harms way.

[Mike B]

Love it. Just like teh LJ Smith move it is no risk and a possible big reward.

The thing the Ravens lacked last year in the passing game, other than a guy that could block Woodley 1 on 1, was someone to go accross the middle go up into the seems and get the ball and just make a play through coverage despite not being open. You would almost never be able to get a rookie that is ready to fight for the football and take a hit from a linebacker over the middle, or would you get a rookie to come in and have the savvy on special teams, or the desire from a high draft pick.

Scrapheap street slappies that are still young and strong can be great depth chart fillers ready to play any role you give them gladly. This guy is most likley bigger, stronger and faster than any 3rd round Wr we could have got this year, and much more ready to contribute, and compared to even a 3rd round pick is most likley going to be a discount.

This seems like another Leonard kind of find, only this year we are not coming off 5-11 with a lot of questions and we are getting much more name brand slappies early in the proccess instead of at the last minute like with Lo Neal and Big Willy.

Did you happen to notice # 85 last year??

[Dragz]

So um, Wheelwright and Harper are basically practice squad guys, period. Thats what it seems like to me. Figurs is done. At this point, I need Marcus Smith to step up his game and catch a few balls, or he's never gonna go anywhere. I heard all the good stuff about him from camp last year and then didn't do anything once he hit the field. I was anticipating seeing something good outta him, but I wonder when it'll show...

[Stealthbirds80]

Yeah this is a good signing I think. We forget for those enamored with Marcus Smith that he is a RB who changed to WR and is now learning to play WR at the NFL level. Some receivers with freak abilities can be successful thier first year, but most take some time. He may have "it" or not. I for one hope that Marcus Smith does. Again a good depth signing at the reciever position which I hope pushes some guys to emerge this year. I like how things are coming together for this team. I have a good feeling about it.

[xmradiodave]

They way I see it is our depth will look like this, pending any trades ;):

Derrick Mason
Mark Clayton
Demetrius Williams
Marcus Smith
Kelley Washington
Yamon Figures (if he makes the final cut)

I would have to think we should see Heap's name in the mix. last year seemed to have raised a lot of questions, but I feel that this seaosn, with the shored up O-Line, heap, although a TE, will be thrown into the mix and utilized as a receiver far more than a blocking TE. I know the names listed above reflect the WR's on the roster, and that is not Heap's official capacity, but if he comes back fully healthy, I would have to assume he would definitely contribute to receiving yards.

[James R(aven)]

Having a healthy Heap and LJ Smith will ensure one of them (Todd) will rack up some serious yards this season. Can't wait to see what Cam pulls out of his bag of tricks!

[srobert96]

Training camp fodder. It's hard for me to imagine him being higher than our #4 receiver...

- C -

He will be a key special teams contributor. he will definitely make the squad. I do agree that he will be the 4th or 5th wr.

[psuasskicker]

I would have to think we should see Heap's name in the mix. last year seemed to have raised a lot of questions, but I feel that this seaosn, with the shored up O-Line, heap, although a TE, will be thrown into the mix and utilized as a receiver far more than a blocking TE. I know the names listed above reflect the WR's on the roster, and that is not Heap's official capacity, but if he comes back fully healthy, I would have to assume he would definitely contribute to receiving yards.

Heap's a TE, he's on a different depth chart list.

- C -

[Bez513]

They way I see it is our depth will look like this, pending any trades ;):
Derrick Mason
Mark Clayton
Demetrius Williams
Marcus Smith
Kelley Washington
Yamon Figures (if he makes the final cut)

With the signing of Carr, drafting of Webb I don't see Figurs making the team.

[jonboy79]

Having a healthy Heap and LJ Smith will ensure one of them (Todd) will rack up some serious yards this season. Can't wait to see what Cam pulls out of his bag of tricks!

I think they will split under 1000 yards. probably 65/35 Heap on about 800-900 yards, so 5oo for Heap and 300 or a little more for Smith.

[jonboy79]

With the signing of Carr, drafting of Webb I don't see Figurs making the team.

He certainly has an uphill battle.

[psuasskicker]

I think they will split under 1000 yards. probably 65/35 Heap on about 800-900 yards, so 5oo for Heap and 300 or a little more for Smith.

Yeah I think this is about right, though injuries could play a huge part in which one gets the most touches. Heap's had a lot of injuries, so I could easily see those numbers reversed.

- C -

[jonboy79]

Yeah I think this is about right, though injuries could play a huge part in which one gets the most touches. Heap's had a lot of injuries, so I could easily see those numbers reversed.

- C -

very plausible.

[italianjoker]

i am interested to see what Washington can do and am looking forward to camp.

Marcus Smith is not impressive to me, but maybe he will be better this year. if Williams can stay healthy for a year i think this WR corp could do some really good things. Mason is a stud and if Clayton continues on the road he finished that would be huge.

now we just need Flacco to see a WR not wearing 85. maybe we can petition the league to suit all of our WRs up in 85??