The "Tide" could be high on Ravens draft board

[TL24x7]

It’s no secret that Ozzie Newsome has an affinity for players who donned the colors of the Crimson Tide. But that said, opponents might play right into the hands of Newsome if they think he’ll maneuver a draft board based upon emotion.

The team’s organizational strength and depth in the scouting department won’t allow it. The Ravens infrastructure is built to encourage independent thought without the biases of peer pressure or a pecking order.

That’s not to say that a player under Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban won’t receive a little more attention from Ozzie and it would surprise no one if oft-overlooked CB Kareem Jackson is high on Newsome’s radar screen.

Saban has a solid track record of successfully graduating cornerbacks to the NFL. After all he was a defensive back during his playing days at Kent State University.

Jackson is projected as a late first round to mid second round pick. Don’t be surprised if the Ravens trade back in Round 1 as part of an effort to recoup the third round pick that they lost in the Anquan Boldin trade and then set their sights on this national champion.

Here’s the scouting report (http://www.profootball24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=63&id=4382&view=archive) on Jackson from Will Spencer of Draft Breakdown (http://draftbreakdown.com/home/).

[jonboy79]

As per usual with the natonal champs, there are plenty of interesting prospects from Bama.

This year, at the right value, I could be interested in:
Rolando Mclain
Kareem Jackson
Javier Arenas
Colin Peek
and maybe even Mount Cody.

[baltimore_hokie]

I really like Jackson and how he could fit in here, but look at how much talent that guy had around him! It's like looking at guys from Florida and Texas. No doubt that he is a good prospect, but I just can't see him being BPA at 25.

[jonboy79]

I really like Jackson and how he could fit in here, but look at how much talent that guy had around him! It's like looking at guys from Florida and Texas. No doubt that he is a good prospect, but I just can't see him being BPA at 25.

I like him better with a small trade back, similarly, I would trade up some for McLain.

[Jeremiah W]

They were good all the way accross the defense. It does make it easy to play well when everyone is solid, but they were all pretty well tested in the toughest C. I think they will put out more of a U like crop than USC or UT type.

[ravenmad71]

I wouldn't mind seeing Mt Cody lined up next to Haloti. Gregg and Pryce are getting long in the tooth ( football years) If we're to pick up an additional second round pick.. somewhere.

[willspencer]

something that's very important to remember about Jackson is that he locked up against the #1 receiver close to 100% of the time in the film I watched. When you talk to the casual college football fan, it's always Javier Arenas that gets mentioned as their play making corner. The reason for that is, Arenas was locked up on the slot receiver or #2 at best most of the time. Jackson completely locked down his side of the field.

Think of Kareem Jackson's numbers like you do Nnamdi Asomugha. Nnamdi has had only 1 INT in each of the past three seasons, but do you doubt he's a dominate corner? Absolutely not! QBs just don't throw to his side of the field!

Now, I'm certainly not saying that Kareem Jackson is the next Asomugha. I'm just saying that Jackson completely locked down his side of the field on most occasions and QBs didn't throw his way.

I can say with 100% certainty that the defensive scheme at Alabama is one of the most complex in the country, and Nick Saban is a secondary guy. I've personally seen Saban draw up secondary schemes and the amount of information he demands his corners to process is unreal.

I've talked to several NFL scouts about Jackson and all agree that he'd be a great selection at the bottom of round 1. He's physical, a sure tackler, good in run support and can play a variety of coverage styles effectively.

Put it like this, I would not at all be surprised if Jackson ended up going before Devin McCourty. I think the first round corners are actually rated much, much closer than some people think. I don't believe Joe Haden is that far in front of Kyle Wilson. And I don't believe that McCourty/Jackson are all that far behind Wilson.