Ravens met with Florida State OT - Menelik Watson from England

**AirFlacco** · 02-24-2013, 02:43 PM

Our pals across the pond will love this guy from England but he sounds like a project to me whichis why he would probably be there at bottom of 1st round. He has only played 20 games of football
after playing college basketball at Marist.

He has great size at 6'6 and 320 lbs and only allowed 1 sack at Fla St last year but Ravens have met with him so they seem interested. I just don't know about taking a project so high but they did it with Kruger on the 2d round so they might here too. Like Ngata, he played rugby. Sounds like a tough sob-lol.

Anyone want him in the frist round? This is from our pal Aaron Wilson.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/r...,3365151.story

**leachisabeast** · 02-24-2013, 02:50 PM

He wont go in the first round. I think he may even be there in the 2nd for us, and we may trade up in the 2nd to get him. I would love him in the 2nd round, I've watched his Florida games, and he only gave up one sack in 2012 playing RT, he is also a very physical run blocker. Would probably sit on the bench for a year and provide depth, then start at LT eventually.

**JCroUSAF** · 02-24-2013, 02:53 PM

When people talk about drafting a developmental LT this is the guy you want. I would love for the ravens to get him in the second. He doesn't have enough experience or production to warrant a 1st round pick, but we could also go after terron armstead. Both guys have great feet and are good pass protectors

**AirFlacco** · 02-24-2013, 03:01 PM

Thanks guys. Great posts and info. I'm just getting started on researching college players for the draft. I'm still giddy from the SB-lol. I don't watch college football so I'm depending on you guys for info. I hope you don't mind a PM from me once in a while with a question or two.

Thanks in advance.

**leachisabeast** · 02-24-2013, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by AirFlacco

Thanks guys. Great posts and info. I'm just getting started on researching college players for the draft. I'm still giddy from
the SB-lol. I don't watch college football so I'm depending on you guys for info. I hope you don't mind a PM from me once
in a while with a question or two.

Thanks in advance.

NP man, I'm a college football junky, watch it over here on ESPN, but have to pay extra for it on my TV package deal for the American channel haha. There are a lot of posters who know so much stuff about players in college so you are in the right place for sure.

**Mista T** · 02-24-2013, 03:10 PM

Sounds intriguing ... as a 3rd rounder!

Good find, Trap.

**leachisabeast** · 02-24-2013, 03:16 PM

Supposedly this guy didn't even like football or know much about it in the UK, he played rugby, and was pretty much forced into football when he moved over to the states. What an amazing story for this kid. There seems to be a lot of brits going over to play college ball, and some appear to be good enough for the pros now. I have a friend who plays at Boise state and may be someone to look out for in a few years, a 6'5 290 lbs DT/DE.

**JoeCool5** · 02-24-2013, 03:58 PM

I know it is off-topic, but we have also met with WR Connor Vereen, from Duke. He looked great during drills and ran a respectable 40. I think we target a WR fairly early, and this would be a good to draft. Mayock loves him.

**Bigfish** · 02-24-2013, 04:06 PM

He sounds promising. You can't teach size and I've had a preference for huge left tackles after being spoiled by JO for years. If they get him I hope they keep McKinney for another year. If I recall correctly, Gaither was a 5th round pick and considered a project at the time. At least we got one good year out of him.

**JoeCool5** · 02-24-2013, 04:08 PM

I meant Conner Vernon. Sounds like a promising wideout.

**HKusp** · 02-24-2013, 04:49 PM

Gaither was a 5th rounder in the supplemental draft. He became academically ineligible and went into the supplemental. His work ethic and heart were questioned from the onset.

**AirFlacco** · 02-24-2013, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

NP man, I'm a college football junky, watch it over here on ESPN, but have to pay extra for it on my TV package deal for the American channel haha. There are a lot of posters who know so much stuff about players in college so you are in the right place for sure.

I watch the bowl games but if I want 100 point games I watch basketball-lol. I like some defense.

And thanks for the comment T. This kid sounds like a beast. I wouldn't be surprised if Oz took him in the first if he doesn't want to trade up in the 2d round. This is where Oz excells and afterall, the bottom of the 1st round is really the same as the top of the 2d round. Oz could trade down to the 2d round and pick up an extra body like he as done ala Pitta and Dickson which worked out well. It would be nice to sit him on the bench as posted above so Mc Kinney could groom him at LT but Mac has trouble grooming himself so who knows?

Speaking of Gaither, I remember that Ozzie met with the Fridge in College Park and the Fridge warned him but said he'll be a steal if he gets his work ethics together.

He's still playing in SD and played vs us.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 02-24-2013, 05:52 PM

I really like him.

I've been reading that he is a RT only, but with his athletic ability, I see no reason why he can't eventually be at LT.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

**Ravenblue** · 02-25-2013, 03:24 AM

Apologies for hijacking a Menelik Watson thread, but this is sort of related- What do people think about English Linebacker from Oklahoma, Tom Wort. He seems a little undersized but could be a good project in the vein of Watson, and in a position of need. Particularly if we don't take one of the higher rater inside linebackers like Minter or T'eo.

Although I don't watch much college football as I'm usually out and about on Saturday evenings, from what I have seen he's very good in run defence (which we all know was a weakness for the Ravens last season), but playing in the Big 12, he's also had to improve his pass coverage. I'd love to take him in a low round, but no idea what's a realistic expectation.

**ctulb** · 02-25-2013, 03:41 AM

I know our draft position forces our hand somewhat, but do we really want another developmental project guy? I think I'd rather take average but consistent at this point, we haven't had too many "projects" shake out well recently

**Filmstudy** · 02-25-2013, 05:50 AM

Arm length?

**wickedsolo** · 02-25-2013, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by Filmstudy

Arm length?

34.08"

Not too bad.

**Filmstudy** · 02-25-2013, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

34.08"

Not too bad.

I was going to say "Not too good."

I'm sure you can find 15 examples of good LTs going back a decade or 2 who had as short arms or shorter, but 34.5" is the starting point as far as I am concerned.

The Ravens don't need another RT that they hope will become a LT.

**wickedsolo** · 02-25-2013, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by Filmstudy

That's a pass at LT.

I'm sure you can find 15 examples of good LTs going back a decade or 2 who had as short arms or shorter, but 34.5" is the starting point as far as I am concerned.

The Ravens don't need another RT that they hope will become a LT.

There aren't too many guys in this draft that meet that profile...(at least that we have a shot at...so no Lane Johnson, Eric Fisher, or Luke Joeckel)

Alvin Bailey, Arkansas, 6'3" 312lbs, 34.68"
Nick Becton, Virginia Tech, 6'6" 323lbs, 35.48"
Travis Bond, UNC, 6'6" 320lbs, 35.48"
Chris Faulk, LSU, 6'5" 331lbs, 34.3"
Roger Gaines, Tennessee State, 6'6" 334lbs, 36.28"
Luke Marquardt, Azusa Pacific, 6'8" 315lbs, 34.5"
David Quessenbary, San Jose St, 6'5" 304lbs, 34.4"

I like Quessenbary a lot. I think he has nice footwork, but he is pretty raw.

Marquardt and Nick Becton are kind of dark horse prospects.

**bmorecareful** · 02-25-2013, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

There aren't too many guys in this draft that meet that profile...(at least that we have a shot at...so no Lane Johnson, Eric Fisher, or Luke Joeckel)

Alvin Bailey, Arkansas, 6'3" 312lbs, 34.68"
Nick Becton, Virginia Tech, 6'6" 323lbs, 35.48"
Travis Bond, UNC, 6'6" 320lbs, 35.48"
Chris Faulk, LSU, 6'5" 331lbs, 34.3"
Roger Gaines, Tennessee State, 6'6" 334lbs, 36.28"
Luke Marquardt, Azusa Pacific, 6'8" 315lbs, 34.5"
David Quessenbary, San Jose St, 6'5" 304lbs, 34.4"

I like Quessenbary a lot. I think he has nice footwork, but he is pretty raw.

Marquardt and Nick Becton are kind of dark horse prospects.

I would personally add Terron Armstead and David Bakhtiari to that list even if both have only 34" flat arms. The longer the arm length the better, but IMO it's more of a "necessary but not sufficient" quality. You're going to have real trouble if you've got 32" T-Rex arms, but 34" and change is average in the NFL and adequate when combined with good hands. Armstead and Bakhtiari both have good hands with room to improve in that respect as well.

Joe Thomas has 33 3/4" arms, but his hand speed, placement, and technique are textbook and that's why he's the best pass protector in the NFL. Joe Staley and Duane Brown are also right around 34" IIRC and those are 2 other guys with phenomenal use of hands. The ideal is still both 36" arms AND great hands but you can't have the ideal all the time.