Ravens Grapevine

[TL24x7]

News & Rumors from Owings Mills (http://www.ravens24x7.com/columns/GRAPEVINE/THE-GRAPEVINE-Ravens-News-and-Rumors-2)

Touching down on:

Cam Cameron
New DB's
Tight Ends
Matt Birk's successor
The one that got away & more...

[RavenScallywag]

to be honest, I like Pitta more at TE than I do Dickson. Don't get me wrong, Dickson's play in videos and from what I hear at OTAs has been good. But Pitta just seems like the more prolific TE. He caught crazy amounts of passes at BYU, seems like the stronger guy...My hope is that Dickson will be more like a WR/TE hybrid, seeing him move off the line a lot and work to the sidelines. A lot of people have said that Dickson seems more like a WR in a TE body.

I hope this team never lets Cam get a hold of our draft power...To know he wasn't backing the Rice pick, and looking at the draft he had in Miami...he's a good OC, but seems to be not so great at evaluating college talent. Let Ozzie and Eric keep that job.

[Jeremiah W]

to be honest, I like Pitta more at TE than I do Dickson. Don't get me wrong, Dickson's play in videos and from what I hear at OTAs has been good. But Pitta just seems like the more prolific TE. He caught crazy amounts of passes at BYU, seems like the stronger guy...My hope is that Dickson will be more like a WR/TE hybrid, seeing him move off the line a lot and work to the sidelines. A lot of people have said that Dickson seems more like a WR in a TE body.

I hope this team never lets Cam get a hold of our draft power...To know he wasn't backing the Rice pick, and looking at the draft he had in Miami...he's a good OC, but seems to be not so great at evaluating college talent. Let Ozzie and Eric keep that job.

How can you be picking a favorite before they put on pads?

Cam has done a great job with the O, and Oz and co. have struggled in the QB and WR area of the draft in the past. I am sure he had some valuable input in the last 2 drafts without any sort of Billick like power to pick unprudent players who fit within the parameters of a certain profile.

[RavenScallywag]

true, and after re-watching Dickson's video, I still like the pick we made. And Pitta's blocking is supposed to be worse than Dickson's, plus Pitta started as a WR at BYU. I'm just glad that both are impressing early.

[Jeremiah W]

I think Chester can be an above average starting C. He has pretty much always had the athletic ability and skill you are looking for, but getting NFL strong can take a while for undersized guys. As long as we have good Gs on both sides of him, who can stop a big NT from driving him back, his ability to get to the second level and make the block down reach blocks that allow the Gs to pull, can be a real asset. Vs 4-3 fronts you really need an athlete at C who can block the mike backer or SS in the second level.

Another guy to watch has to be David Hale, who I did not think should have made the roster as a rookie, but has developed into a big ugly interior lineman who loks like he could start.

Cousins also seems to be getting a lot more negative attention for a bad second half vs Woodley after turning a knee, than credit for how well he played vs Detroit and Chicago and for the first half before he got hurt. His pass blocking was not great, but his run blocking was actually great. He was getting to the second level and blocking down like a beeast. There was a series early on in preseason vs the skins where Orakpo abused him at LT, but Orakpo turned out to be pretty good, and then Woodley got him, but he gets a lot of guys. Woodley's highlight breakdown session with Sapp was very impressive, and Cousins was not the only guy he made look bad.

Demetrius Williams is almost impossible to cover or cut when healthy. I would not count him out of the WR battle and could even see him winning the #3 spot as the most dangerous vertical threat.

The vet DB thing is interesting. I thought we were pretty well set there with some of the slappies like Miller, but if in hte market for a vet I would like to see them make Atogwe an offer. He seems to be struggaling to get the contract he wants, but even a season here can do a lot for him like it did Jimmy Leonard.

[RavenScallywag]

The problem with Atogwe vs Jim Leonhard...

Jim Leonhard was a ST guy who was just looking for a job, we picked him up for cheap, he played well enough to merit some interest as a starter at SS.

Atogwe is already a pretty bonfide starter at SS. Signing him means spending some BIG bucks on him. If we tried to lowball his deal, he'll just wait until closer to TC and sign with someone else anyway. The only way we get him is to make him a big contract offer.

I think they are looking for someone who can play S and CB for pretty cheap. Atogwe wouldn't be cheap and he is pretty distinctly a S.

[baltimore_hokie]

D-Will is going to look like David Boston is he keeps "adding muscle"!!

[Jeremiah W]

The problem with Atogwe vs Jim Leonhard...

Jim Leonhard was a ST guy who was just looking for a job, we picked him up for cheap, he played well enough to merit some interest as a starter at SS.

Atogwe is already a pretty bonfide starter at SS. Signing him means spending some BIG bucks on him. If we tried to lowball his deal, he'll just wait until closer to TC and sign with someone else anyway. The only way we get him is to make him a big contract offer.

I think they are looking for someone who can play S and CB for pretty cheap. Atogwe wouldn't be cheap and he is pretty distinctly a S.

He played CB and RB in HS. He can hit like a SS, but at @205 can still run like a CB, at least like teh CBs they are trying out who can also play FS, the spot he got franchised at. With Reed thinking about retirement and Landry on a 1 year RFA tender, there should be more of a long term opportunity here than it may seem right now 4 deep at S.

As far as the money it does not look like it has to be anywhere close to Antrel Rolle money and I like Atogwe's game more than his. Both are turnover creaters, but I think Atogwe is much better in coverage and is more of a Cb even though Rolle was drafted as one.

[Lee Van Cleef]

Atogwe isn't going to sign for chump change. We're looking at guys we can sign for vet minimum or just above.

[psuasskicker]

Atogwe isn't going to sign for chump change. We're looking at guys we can sign for vet minimum or just above.

Good buddies with Ozzie? He told you that over drinks?

- C -

[Lee Van Cleef]

Good buddies with Ozzie? He told you that over drinks?

- C -

It's fairly evident by the guys they brought in.

[Lee Van Cleef]

Good buddies with Ozzie? He told you that over drinks?

- C -

It's seems fairly evident by the guys they brought in. I mean, yeah they could shell out $6mill a year for another free safety. Let's trade for Haynesworth while we're at it, I mean we don't have any high priced D-tackles of note. In fact I don't know what stopped us getting the best quality players for starting and depth at every position in the past, just think of all the superbowls we could have won if we'd done that!

[Jeremiah W]

It's seems fairly evident by the guys they brought in. I mean, yeah they could shell out $6mill a year for another free safety. Let's trade for Haynesworth while we're at it, I mean we don't have any high priced D-tackles of note. In fact I don't know what stopped us getting the best quality players for starting and depth at every position in the past, just think of all the superbowls we could have won if we'd done that!

We do not know what the budget is or what it would take to sign Atogwe. They had some DBs in for a tryout though, and O.J. is a DB. We do not know what Reed is going to do this year yet. We do not know what the Ravens will do after this year with Landry or Reed. Nakamura and Zibs are good looking prospects but they are not Atogwe.

Maybe he would be willing to take a 1 year below market deal to improve his stock the way Jim Leonard went from non tendered rfa of the Bills to cult hero for the Ravens and well paid free agent for the Jets. Maybe he is sick of playing for a team like the Rams or Lions who are also rumoured to be interested. It would be an interesting move by Oz, who we all agree pretty much knows what he is doing, and does not tell us much before he does it.

[psuasskicker]

It's seems fairly evident by the guys they brought in. I mean, yeah they could shell out $6mill a year for another free safety. Let's trade for Haynesworth while we're at it, I mean we don't have any high priced D-tackles of note. In fact I don't know what stopped us getting the best quality players for starting and depth at every position in the past, just think of all the superbowls we could have won if we'd done that!

I get what you're saying and I don't think we're looking to spend a lot on a guy. I'm just saying I don't think you can say we're completely unwilling to spend some money to get someone if they think he makes the team better. Not saying we're interested in Atogwe, just saying I don't think it's fair to say we're not interested because we're only willing to spend a couple bucks. No one here knows that for sure.

- C -

[AirFlacco]

I hope this team never lets Cam get a hold of our draft power...To know he wasn't backing the Rice pick, and looking at the draft he had in Miami...he's a good OC, but seems to be not so great at evaluating college talent. Let Ozzie and Eric keep that job.

Um, who said CAM didn't want Rice. He was the one who pushed for a
2d RB even though we have McGahee. With the tough marathon season
full of injuries CAM wanted two strong RBs and you saw how he mixed
them up in Rice's rookie year with all 3 of them and still last year using
McGahee when he did.

Just like the doctor ordered.

Also, after that draft Scott Paiola-sp, GM of NE and Ozzie's former aid called and said we
didn't think you would take Rice because you had McGahee. Aha, Oz fooled everyone
again but Oz said CAM wanted another RB to go with him.


CAM also gave the go head for Flacco after he worked him out.

DeCosta told us at Nest 1 that he asked CAM to take a look at Joe as soon
as he got here. CAM just arrived and was looking for a house to move
his family to and Eric drags him up to Delaware.

Once CAM worked him out and saw that arm and how coachable Joe was
he told Eric to get him.

That's when DeCosta put all the work on Joe.

DeCosta even told us, even if Matt Ryan had fallen to us, I'm not exactly
sure that we would have drafted him because of all the work my staff
did on Flacco.

And they said almost the same thing about DEZ this year.


MY NEW CAR ON A GOV'T PENSION.

[TL24x7]

Um, who said CAM didn't want Rice.

Me

[Lee Van Cleef]

I'm sorry for the sarky response.

I'd like us to snag Atogwe, but it seems that he wants decent money, and the guys we are bringing in are really not in the same league as him.

[RavenScallywag]

it's just not the Ravens MO to try to sign pretty high dollar free agents, especially in the middle of season prep. If the Ravens needed a major piece, ala Boldin, they bring them in early on. Granted, Atogwe wasn't really available until now, but it's just not the Ravens style to go out and court a big dollar talent when we've already made it clear we're happy with Ed Reed and Dawan Landry. If you are looking for depth, then the Ravens MO is to bring in a guy who's had a couple of rough years, looking for a nice season to boost that contract value (ala JIM LEONHARD)

Maybe Ozzie does take a look at Atogwe, maybe he's already talked to the agent and decided the price wasn't right yet. We don't know. But we do know the Ravens haven't brought him in for a look see, and we know generally that, even though at times we think Ozzie is sleeping on the job, he's really not and he's done his due diligence for any move he does or doesn't make.