Some War Room Buzz...

[TL24x7]

Some draft buzz…

The Ravens couldn’t find a trading partner to move up and get Dez Bryant. The Packers at No.23 were in love with Bryan Bulaga while the Patriots at No. 24, a frequent trading partner, wanted a third round pick just to move up one slot. The Ravens said no thank you! Keep in mind that the Ravens only had to give up a sixth round pick in 2006 to the Cleveland Browns in order to move up one slot (from No. 13 to 12) to select Haloti Ngata.

I would be very surprised if the Ravens don’t take a tight end with one of their three picks today. Word is if Jermaine Gresham was still on the board at No. 25 they would have chosen the Sooner. That said the organization, particularly the scouts and coaches are said to be very excited about the added picks. They’ll get value with their next tight end.

The surprise pick of the draft, Tim Tebow aside, has to be California Bears defensive tackle Tyson Alualu. A good player who fits a Jacksonville need may have been available in the middle of the second round. They could have picked up another pick or more to move back and get Alualu later. Jacksonville doesn’t pick again until No. 74 (3rd round). Their former second round pick belongs to New England.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Patriots at No. 24, a frequent trading partner, wanted a third round pick just to move up one slot. The Ravens said no thank you! Keep in mind that the Ravens only had to give up a sixth round pick in 2006 to the Cleveland Browns in order to move up one slot (from No. 13 to 12) to select Haloti Ngata.

You've got to be kidding me.

It makes sense though because they (The Pats didn't have a 3rd today before they swapped those picks with the Cowboys. One of their goals was to get a 3rd yesterday.

I wouldn't have given up more than that 6th or maybe a 4th or so next year.

A 3rd just to move one spot that late in the first is just rediculous.

[RavenScallywag]

My only concern is that by missing out on that player, does Ozzie still feel confident in his draft? I could live with not taking Dez if Ozzie felt like there was just as good options available by not picking Dez. I know NE asked way too much, but generally if Ozzie wants a guy, I like to think he finds a way to get him.

I'd be happy seeing a 2nd or 3rd round WR, addressing some other defensive needs around it, but I really just hope Ozzie's board had player near Dez's level that are also available. I know we're going to lose a little value on our first pick with dropping back, but I'd like to think Oz's plan is to get someone rated as a first rounder or close to it when we pick at 43.

[Rxdoxx]

Dallas gave up its 90th pick (in the third round) for New England's 119th (in the fourth round). So it wasn't a full value 3rd, just a swap up, but they did get their third.

At least our new 3rd is before theirs (as is our first 2nd) so they can't mess us up anymore.

[RavenScallywag]

and by before theirs, you mean by about 20 spots :)

[Ravenswarrior19]

This situation, much like the T.O. situation, will probably work out as a blessing in disguise.

Ozzie always has a plan B, C, and D. Flexibility is the key to solid drafting.

[Sgt CouchPotato]

first time ive ever felt like ozzie got punked in the draft, tried to trade up for bryant, then traded back thinking, mccourty,wilson,robinson, or hughes would fall into the 2nd....realizing they weren't he then tried to trade back into the first only to be turned down...

[RavenScallywag]

wouldn't say he got punked...still a lot of talent worthy of picks...Everson Griffin, Sergio Kindle, Brian Price, Mount Cody, Chris Cook, Taylor Mays...

The key is, trading back allowed him to pick up a LOT of "currency" in which we can either back fill some needed depth or use it to make a move up to get someone else who keeps falling.

[Sgt CouchPotato]

while trading back for extra picks can be a good move, it can also be a bad move... it's not like ozzie hits on every pick, just look at kruger last year, not much impact...i just worry about the nfl being locked out for a year or two, so i wanna win this year, i feel a first rd cb or dez bryant would've gave us the best chance to have a rookie who can make an impact this year....time will tell i suppose

[RavenScallywag]

if you wanted to win this year and not worry about down the road, might as well have just done a bunch of trades and gotten rid of all our draft picks.

No, this team is already good on paper, we're not going to make picks just to have a 1-2 year shot at the SB before we have huge holes which cause us to become mediocre. We're going to build our team smartly, which is what has made Ozzie one of the best.

[ravensnhokies]

I'd agree that CB can help out a lot the first year b/c they typically just have to do the same thing they did in college, cover a WR and react. Sure the zones are more complex but they can make the transistion quickly. A college WR making the successful mental transistion the 1st year is a rarity. An NFL WR must make multiple reads during a specific playcall which is only gained through game experience and mental reps. This is why great WR usually become great after the 3-4 year. Maybe a WR with Myron Rolle's intelligence could make the transistion quicker, but in the case of Dez, he doesn't appear to be the sharpest tack in the box. There are some WRs that have successful rookie years, but it is made on the 9 route where the can outrun DBs with their world class speed and get those jumpball TD bombs b/c of their height (ie. Moss' rookie year)

[Sgt CouchPotato]

paul kruger, ladarius webb, ray rice, tavares gooden, tom zbikowski, oneil cousins, yamon figurs, marshal yanda, chris chester, david pittman, dan cody, adam terry...

there is a list of the 2nd and 3rd rounders we've taken since 05....seems like a 50/50 chance of hit or miss on an impact players who can see significant starting time...

where as our first rd'ers since 05 have been mark clayton,haloti ngata,ben grubbs,joe flacco, mike oher...although clayton has been bust city, all those guys have been there wks 1-16 starting

[CRZA938]

This situation, much like the T.O. situation, will probably work out as a blessing in disguise.

Ozzie always has a plan B, C, and D. Flexibility is the key to solid drafting.

I could not agree more...

[Rayvens52]

while trading back for extra picks can be a good move, it can also be a bad move... it's not like ozzie hits on every pick, just look at kruger last year, not much impact...i just worry about the nfl being locked out for a year or two, so i wanna win this year, i feel a first rd cb or dez bryant would've gave us the best chance to have a rookie who can make an impact this year....time will tell i suppose

Are you not the same guy who started another thread about how you don't want Ozzie to draft a WR, yet you sit here and say that the guy with the most baggage and that 23 other teams past on will be one of Ozzie's mistakes??

I like you want every draft pick to pan out and start immediately, however I think it's time you put some trust in Ozzie who has built this team from 1996 on through the draft!

[baltimore_hokie]

Rotoworld has us getting Linval Joseph and Terrence Cody with our two picks in round 2. What a DL unit that would be...

[baltimore_hokie]

Some interesting tidbits off the Baltimore Ravens site:


When the Broncos were still on the clock at the 22nd slot, they called Ozzie. Newsome congratulated them for taking WR Demaryius Thomas, the WR from Georgia Tech, and offered that we also had Thomas high on our board.


Newsome, after a quiet conversation with Eric DeCosta, then turned to Bisciotti and said: "I'm going to see if I can get it sweetened a little."


e were now on the clock. Ozzie told Moriarty to report the trade to the league, asking the Broncos to do the same from their end. Steve put up his hand and said to Ozzie: "Let's wait. See if we get another offer." Oz politely told the Broncos, "I'll call you right back." Newsome smiled at our owner: "Steve, we're not going to get a better offer."

Scouts Inc has us taking Nate Allen, Taylor Price, and Anthony McCoy with our three picks. I wouldn't be too crazy about that.

Mel Kiper has us taking Linval Joseph and Eric Decker in the second.

[StingerNLG]

while trading back for extra picks can be a good move, it can also be a bad move... it's not like ozzie hits on every pick, just look at kruger last year, not much impact...i just worry about the nfl being locked out for a year or two, so i wanna win this year, i feel a first rd cb or dez bryant would've gave us the best chance to have a rookie who can make an impact this year....time will tell i suppose

Talking like Kruger is a bust or something? Did Ray Rice do anything his first year?

[AirFlacco]

Rice played in 13 games and gained 400 on a comittee of RBs. That was the year McClain was used
as a runner in addition to a blocking FB, so not bad for a rookie RB.

Better than spending half the year on the inactive list.


http://www.nfl.com/players/rayrice/profile?id=RIC154451


MOUNT NACODY: NO RUNNING ALLOWED.