The Ravens have not drafted as bad as thought.

[The Excellector]

I just think that they've relied on veterans for so long that having to play 'so many' young guys at one time tested the patience of the fanbase, because it's been a long time since we've had to wait for defensive players to produce. Dannell Ellerbe always had the physical talent. That was never in question, even with he came out of Georgia (?). He just needed to mature.

Terrance Cody is only in his third year. We have to remember that he was wildly out of shape coming out of Alabama. It took him two years alone to get into shape, let alone improve his technique, which he still has time to do.

Look at Paul Kruger, who probably had two years of his young career wasted, because the team tried to make him a 3-4 DE.

Chykie Brown is a guy who was just stuck behind a sudden pool of depth at the CB position. He is growing with experience. His mistake on the TD was a communication mistake. Otherwise, he has played well given the circumstances.

Arthur Jones really spent time behind Cory Redding. Now that Redding is gone, Jones has been able to get more time.

Pernell McPhee had a decent rookie season. They tried to make him a full time 3-4 DE. He didn't fit there, but could develop into a quality pass rush specialist.

Courtney Upshaw, especially opposite Terrell Suggs? Havoc in the making.

Torrey Smith is only in his second year. Pitta is not far ahead of Torrey.

Osemele is somebody who can develop at LG

Oher looks fine where he belongs, after knocking off some rust, at RT.

Bernard Pierce is like having a second starting RB.

I just think that we are so used to seeing immediate results from picks, because there are a few players ready to go early, sprinkled into a group of veterans, that having to sit back and watch an actual developmental process, from several young players, has brought us back down to earth.

[wickedsolo]

KO has the makings of an all-pro LG.

[GOTA]

I agree with everything except for Cody. In the Patriots game it really didn't look like he played that many snaps.

To me it's Jimmy Smith who is the work in progress. He needs to learn that trying to make an interception does not replace defensing the ball. The skills are there. His head just needs to catch up.

[wickedsolo]

I agree with everything except for Cody. In the Patriots game it really didn't look like he played that many snaps.

To me it's Jimmy Smith who is the work in progress. He needs to learn that trying to make an interception does not replace defensing the ball. The skills are there. His head just needs to catch up.

I still think Jimmy could be a hell of a corner. Cary won't be here next year, but a depth chart of Jimmy (Webb when he's healthy...hopefully), Graham, Asa JAckson, and Chykie is pretty damn sweet.

[The Excellector]

I agree with everything except for Cody. In the Patriots game it really didn't look like he played that many snaps.

To me it's Jimmy Smith who is the work in progress. He needs to learn that trying to make an interception does not replace defensing the ball. The skills are there. His head just needs to catch up.

And his body. I am with you though, you can see it. Put him in the press and he can do it. It will just take a little more time.

[pslholder96]

This is an organizational push to play young players right away to see what they've got right then and now instead of at the end of their rookie contract. This was something Steve B harped on at his end of the year press conference last year. So I think we're starting to see some of that here and yes the last two drafts are shaping up pretty good.

[Paintballguy]

I still think Jimmy could be a hell of a corner. Cary won't be here next year, but a depth chart of Jimmy (Webb when he's healthy...hopefully), Graham, Asa JAckson, and Chykie is pretty damn sweet.

I think Jimmy will be fine. Sometimes it takes awhile for a corner to develop, and he's had the setback with the hernia surgery this year.

[Justlovemybirds]

I was surprised (and happy) that after basically seeing no time on defense in the first two playoff games, Jimmy was on the field for what seemed to be a good portion of the second half and had a solid performance (still plays so damn far off).

[wickedsolo]

Dont know if you guys saw this or not, but there were a couple of plays against the Pats where Jimmy jammed the shit out of Lloyd and Lloyd fell down. One play in particular was Lloyd released to the inside and dropped a would-be 1st down pass because he was so off-balance from being jammed by Jimmy Smith.

That's what he is good at. That's what he was drafted for. I don't know why they would ask him to be or do anything else.

Shannon Sharpe said it during the half-time show regarding Kruger covering Hernandez:

Let them do what they do best. Kruger is a pass rusher, let him rush the passer.

Same thing with Jimmy. He's a press-coverage corner. Let him get up in the receiver's face at the LOS.

[CoverD]

I was surprised (and happy) that after basically seeing no time on defense in the first two playoff games, Jimmy was on the field for what seemed to be a good portion of the second half and had a solid performance (still plays so damn far off).

Totally agree, Brady kept throwing to the receiver (Lloyd I think) that Smith was covering in the second half and I dreaded every single time I saw Smith playing back that far from him late in the game.

[leachisabeast]

Jimmy played well in the snaps he got in the AFCCG too, as pointed out by birds.

Ex you are right, our drafts have bee a lot better than people origanally thought at the start of the year. People have to remember that its the first time the Ravens have made a push to play young players, so of course there are going to be set backs along the way. But if we continue to pick up at least two or three elite/solid/contributing players every year, we'll continue to be a very competitive team.

Since 08 we have done pretty well in the Harbaugh era, considering where we've been picking too.

08 Rice- Flacco, and Jameel McClain
Rice and Flacco are elite players, and this 08 draft was very much like the 96 draft where we picked two players who are going to be a huge part of the Ravens for decades to come. Jameel McClain has at least been a decent conrtibutor. We also had solid depth for a few years from Zibby at S.

09- Oher, Kruger, Webb, Ellerbe
Oher has potential to grow into a pro bowl caliber RIGHT TACKLE, but is serviceable at best at LEFT TACKLE. Its time that the FO just keep him where he belongs, and he can help strengthen a very solid Oline. Webb is an elite player when healthy, Kruger has shown down the stretch that he is an every down player who can get to the QB on a complimentary basis opposite Suggs, it will be interesting to see what the FO offer him after the SB. Ellerbe has also proven to be a very solid player we found out of UDRFA.

2010- Pitta, Art Jones, McClellan
All three of these players have been hard working guys, and have made a name of them selves on the roster. Pitta stands out to me, as I think he is on the cusp of being an ELITE TE. Art Jones can be an every down starter, is a solid run stuffer, and an underrated pass rusher as a 3-4 end. McClellan very well may be the starter next to Ellerbe at ILB next season, he has shown that he can set the edge very effectively at OLB, and can play ILB at a decent level too. This wasn't the best years tbh though given some of our key misses in the second and third rounds.

2011- Torrey Smith, Pernell McPhee, Jimmy Smith, Anthony Allen
Torrey Smith has turned out to be a steal in the 2nd round that year. I wouldn't put him in the ELITE category yet, but he may well be on the way to getting that status in a newly worked offense. McPhee has shown massive amounts of potential as a 3-4 end, and is a very good interior pass rusher. Jimmy Smith is still a work in progress and has shown glimpses of being a future shutdown corner, or being a bust. I still think Jimmy will get there eventually. He may even get moved to safety to replace Ed Reed next season, who knows? I put Anthony Allen down because he has shown that he's a very good special teams player, but could also potentially make a good goal line back too.

2012- Courtney Upshaw, Kelechi Osemele, Bernard Pierce, Gino Gradkowski
This is turning out to be a very good draft for us, and we've had a significant amount of contribution from nearly every single player from this class. To me, the most promising of the lot is Bernard Pierce, he has Arian Foster type potencial, and is now part of the best 1 2 punch in the league in only his rookie year. KO has shown absolute massive amounts of potential at both guard and OT, and Upshaw looks like he may be a solid replacement for Jarrett Johnson for years to come. Gradkowski had a promising game against Cincy, and came up against their first string Dline and held his own, he looks like a favorite to win the starting C job next season.

[The Excellector]

This is a Super Bowl team:

LT: McKinnie (FA)
LG: Osemele (Second Round Pick)
C: Matt Birk (FA)
RG: Marshal Yanda (Third Round Pick)
RT: Michael Oher (First Round Pick)
WR: Torrey Smith (Second Round Pick)
WR: Anquan Boldin (Trade)
TE: Dennis Pitta (Third Round Pick)
FB: Vontae Leach (FA)
RB: Ray Rice (Second Round Pick)
QB: Joe Flacco (First Round Pick)

NT: Maake Kemoeatu (The Ravens drafted him way back, but regained him as a FA)
NG: Haloti Ngata (First Round Pick)
DE: Arthur Jones (Fifth Round Pick)
OLB: Terrell Suggs (First Round Pick)
ILB: Dannell Ellerbe (UDFA)
ILB: Ray Lewis (First Round Pick)
OLB: Paul Kruger (Second Round Pick)
CB: Cary Williams (Practice Squad/FA)
CB: Corey Graham (Even though he plays more in the slot like Webb did, is really a starter) (FA)
SS: Benard Pollard (FA)
FS: Ed Reed (First Round Pick)

22 Starters: 15 Draftees/UDFA's.

[alienrace]

I think our drafts in the Harbaugh era have been solid to outstanding. Far better than the Steelers during that period, who seem to have had some poor ones.

[Iscull]

I still think Jimmy could be a hell of a corner. Cary won't be here next year, but a depth chart of Jimmy (Webb when he's healthy...hopefully), Graham, Asa JAckson, and Chykie is pretty damn sweet.

Corey Graham has been absolutely killing it this year. I love the fact that Oz was able to sign him. Hopefully we can get a long term deal worked out.

[ravenjoe]

I agree with everything except for Cody.

DITTO! The guy is a BUST!

[B-more Ravor]

This is a Super Bowl team:

LT: McKinnie (FA)
LG: Osemele (Second Round Pick)
C: Matt Birk (FA)
RG: Marshal Yanda (Third Round Pick)
RT: Michael Oher (First Round Pick)
WR: Torrey Smith (Second Round Pick)
WR: Anquan Boldin (Trade)
TE: Dennis Pitta (Third Round Pick)
FB: Vontae Leach (FA)
RB: Ray Rice (Second Round Pick)
QB: Joe Flacco (First Round Pick)

NT: Maake Kemoeatu (The Ravens drafted him way back, but regained him as a FA)
NG: Haloti Ngata (First Round Pick)
DE: Arthur Jones (Fifth Round Pick)
OLB: Terrell Suggs (First Round Pick)
ILB: Dannell Ellerbe (UDFA)
ILB: Ray Lewis (First Round Pick)
OLB: Paul Kruger (Second Round Pick)
CB: Cary Williams (Practice Squad/FA)
CB: Corey Graham (Even though he plays more in the slot like Webb did, is really a starter) (FA)
SS: Benard Pollard (FA)
FS: Ed Reed (First Round Pick)

22 Starters: 15 Draftees/UDFA's.

And, yet, there are some posters around here who continually repeat the mantra that we don't play our younger players!

[Shambla]

DITTO! The guy is a BUST!

I can really only think of one big play Cody has made and that was a forced fumble in the KC playoff game I believe.

[RavenScallywag]

Let's look at our drafts in the Harbaugh era...

2008 - The 2008 draft is basically carried by Flacco and Rice. Gooden was a bust, Zbi and Nakamura were okay, but left in FA. Cousins was a terrible pick. Smith, Hale, Harper, and Patrick were fodder...Smith provided some ST depth for a year or two, but that's it.

2009 - Oher is a tough one to grade, but he is a full-time starter. Kruger turned a corner this year, unfortunately will probably be a huge home run for someone else. Webb is really the star of this draft. The last three guys did nothing for this club.

2010 - Kindle was top 3 worst pick in club history. Cody was the right pick at the time, but hasn't paid off at all. Dickson and Pitta are solid picks here. Harewood and Reed drag the draft down here, but Art Jones has come on strong this year to potentially salvage this draft.

2011 - Jimmy Smith needs a year of full health to grade. Torrey already puts this draft in solid status. Reid, while maybe a downer of a pick, could be solid depth on the line at G. Doss needs to produce next year. Period. Brown has had rough spots, maybe he makes a big leap next year. McPhee has performed well, Tyrod and AA are probably okay picks right now, decent depth.

2012 - Upshaw is a solid pick right now, KO certainly notches this one up. Pierce could be HUGE. Gradkowski, jury is out, but all signs look promising. Thompson, Jackson, Streeter were all non-factors this year, but that's no big deal. For what it's worth, Tyson could be a real gem. Made it into DL rotation as a 7th round pick!

We have a number of solid top round pieces in place from the 5 drafts. 2010 is the glaring exception, can Pitta/Dickson/Jones salvage those terrible top two picks? I think 2008 was a rough draft, but Flacco and Rice are home runs, so it kind of excuses the rest. The key is, the last three years, we're starting to find some decent Day 3 picks to contribute. 2008, 2009, we had NOTHING from the bottom half of our draft.

[RavenScallywag]

And, yet, there are some posters around here who continually repeat the mantra that we don't play our younger players!

Where people are trying to get us is on D...

Ngata, Suggs, Ray, Reed...these are OLDER draft picks. But, Ellerbe and Cary really count as "developed" guys by us. So if you look at it that way, you have Kruger, Jones, Cary, Ellerbe as our "drafted" guys as of recently. Graham, Pollard, and Kemo are the FA additions. That's not a bad combo...

You can't ENTIRELY build your team through the draft. Just never going to happen that way. Ozzie has done an amazing job using CALCULATED FA moves to bring in the right contributors. People get so pissed that we don't play majorly in free agency, but that's not the equation that always works! Look at Pollard, Graham, Kemo. NOBODY was at their houses at midnight trying to sign them. Ozzie saw that these guys had special talent and made sure they knew they were wanted.

[organizedchaos21]

I think Jimmy will be fine. Sometimes it takes awhile for a corner to develop, and he's had the setback with the hernia surgery this year.

To me, Jimmy is maybe just entering his 2nd year. No OTAs his rookie year, ankle injury for half of last year, hernia this year. His biggest problem so far has been an inability to stay healthy, which takes him off the field for both games and practice. The theory I always heard was to judge a draft after 3 years (I'd assume this goes to judging a certain player as well). His rookie deal is 4 years. I'm plenty willing to wait until the end of next season (if not the season after) to get a better idea of what he's going to be. That said, if he continues to be injured and unable to get on the field...