Roster moves

**Aaron Wilson** · 09-01-2006, 08:11 PM

Rimpf placed on IR, Ravens cut 10
By Aaron Wilson
Contributing writer
OWINGS MILLS -- The Baltimore Ravens began trimming their roster down prior to Saturday's league-mandated 53-man limit, releasing 10 players and placing offensive guard Brian Rimpf on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
That leaves Baltimore with 11 more transactions to execute by 4 p.m., the NFL deadline.
In perhaps their most prominent move, the Ravens released linebacker Roderick Green, a fifth-round draft pick in 2004 who has performed well on special teams and as a situational pass rusher.
Last season, Green registered a career-high 17 special-teams tackles and two sacks while playing in all 16 games.
Meanwhile, Baltimore waived defensive tackle Remi Ayodele, tight end Bobby Blizzard, safety Robb Butler, linebacker Jimmy Cottrell, offensive tackle Rob Droege, kicker Aaron Elling, wide receiver Travis LaTendresse, center Thatcher Szalay and defensive back Duvol Thompson.
Elling’s departure would seem to be yet another signal that rookie Sam Koch will handle kickoff duties in addition to having clearly beaten out veteran Leo Araguz for the punting job.
Placing Rimpf on injured reserve after he started seven games last season at right guard and cutting Szalay likely means that the Ravens are counting on the versatility of reserve interior blockers Jason Brown and Chris Chester.

**crowdog89** · 09-01-2006, 08:21 PM

I sure hope the Ravens find some O Line help somewhere....they need decent depth bad.

**Mr.Boh** · 09-01-2006, 08:52 PM

While I can see why you cant have three kickers taking up roster spots, I thought Aaron Elling boomed the crap out of that ball. He would have been nice to have around on 50+ field goals.

**Drkraven** · 09-01-2006, 09:08 PM

Roderick Green???WTF?

**Derrick1** · 09-01-2006, 09:36 PM

Roderick will not make it to Sunday for the practice squad. Someone will take him. He's a freaking beast. I'm a little stunned on that one. The only thing I can figure is that he wasn't able to comprehend the playbook and missed more assignments then made plays. Screw it.... no one is promised anything! You have to earn it!

**Mr.Boh** · 09-01-2006, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by Drkraven

Roderick Green???WTF?

Man, what a crappy year this guy is having. I'm sure they have their reasons, but you have got to feel sorry for the guy after he got stabbed. Thankfully it wasnt too serious.

**Sephy** · 09-01-2006, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Bohlieve

While I can see why you cant have three kickers taking up roster spots, I thought Aaron Elling boomed the crap out of that ball. He would have been nice to have around on 50+ field goals.

Except he wouldn't hit any of them. He isn't a very accurate kicker.

Rod Green is hardly a "beast". He did nothing outside of special teams. Athleticism isn't everything.

**Gabrosin** · 09-01-2006, 11:49 PM

I think Green will catch on elsewhere. We simply have too many athletic guys to keep all of them around. I think we're trying to sneak LaTendresse onto the practice squad; it's clear each of our top five receivers have justified their spots, but LaTendresse has played well too and could have a future in the NFL.

I'm not surprised we let go of Elling and will soon let go of Araguz. We took Koch for a reason and we're not gonna let him go until we give him a full shot at playing for us. You can bet we'll have both Elling and Araguz on speed-dial if Koch sucks it up in the real games.

As much as I liked Green's raw talent, I wouldn't put him on the field ahead of Suggs, Pryce, Thomas, Scott, Cody... even Jarret Johnson and Gary Stills provide a better contribution. I would worry about Green's learning disability affecting this decision. Even as a pass rusher, you have to be smart enough to maintain your defensive assignment, and one guy out of position can lead to big plays. Hopefully he can continue his career with a needy team. As for the Ravens, I'm quite happy with our front seven and its depth. Our secondary is another story though.

You know, I've heard a ton of comments about how terrible the depth is on the Ravens. I think the weakness is isolated in two spots: defensive back and offensive line. We have a legitimate backup in Boller, a guy who has won games in the NFL with lesser talent than we have now. We have three guys behind Mason and Clayton who probably won't embarrass us on the field. We have one of the best trios at RB of any team, and might even carry four, because one of them can play FB as well; FB is not strong but is still deep, with Anderson, Green, maybe Mughelli, and even Wilcox getting playing time. Gregg, Ngata, Bannon, and Franklin isn't bad at DT, especially with guys like Pryce who can step in as needed; we have Mike Smith behind Ray Lewis at MLB and a ton of guys who play the DE/OLB attackers on the side.

We'll have a lot of young guys in our secondary behind the starters, and an injury to Rolle or McAlister will hurt us real bad. I like the aggressiveness I've seen from Landry, though I don't think he has the range we really need; he will get picked on as it is. Pittman, Prude, Sapp, Ivy... hopefully these guys won't see the field too much.

The only reason our depth worries me on the offensive line is that our backups SHOULD be beating out our starters, if they're gonna amount to anything. Yes, they're young and we have to be patient, but the old guys aren't getting it done. Flynn and Vincent should give way to Brown and Chester sooner rather than later; or else those draft picks aren't panning out for us. And it scares the hell out of me that Tony Pashos is one of our most irreplacable players. I hope we watch the wire for a veteran tackle to come free who can play the right side. Much as I love Clayton, seeing the emergence of our reserve receivers makes me really wish we could have gotten Jammal Brown in the draft that year.

**Kaven** · 09-02-2006, 12:00 AM

Rolling the dice, with this kicking situation.

**PurpleRulz** · 09-02-2006, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by Gabrosin

I would worry about Green's learning disability affecting this decision. Even as a pass rusher, you have to be smart enough to maintain your defensive assignment, and one guy out of position can lead to big plays..

1. LD does not mean that Rod Green is not intelligent. It just affects perception. (That is just the short of it, without going into detail).

2. Rod Green is just victim of a deep and talented LB/DE corp that we currently have. It is numbers, not talent. Green will catch on with someone else. He has value in the NFL to some team.

I wish him the best.

**PurpleRulz** · 09-02-2006, 01:24 AM

Just thought about this.

Rod Green will be a Brown in 5.....4.....3.....2......1.......

**RavenScallywag** · 09-02-2006, 08:04 AM

he can't go on the P Sq...As soon as a player has been on an NFL squad for a full 16 games, he is ineligible for P Sq.

He'll likely be signed somewhere as a backup tweener. Nice to know you Rod Green.

**B-more Ravor** · 09-02-2006, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Derrick1

Roderick will not make it to Sunday for the practice squad.

Green is not eligible for the PS since he's been on the 53-man roster for a couple of years.

As others have said, Green became a victim of the quality depth that this team now has. Basically, he a Gary Stills are the same player and Gary is the better ST player. Stills also showed that he is more than a ST player and IMO, pretty much played better than Green in the base defense as well.

I'm sure they didn't want to let him go, but he lost out in the numbers game. Someone will definitely pick him up. Several have mentioned Cleveland, but SF has a higher waiver priority, and I think Nolan may go after him as well (hopefully).

**Brandon** · 09-02-2006, 08:23 AM

Wow, I was a little shocked about Rod Green, but I heard that he was on the bubble.

Look at the other LBs that they have to choose from. I think out of those that are listed (Mike Smith, Gary Stills, Dennis Haley, etc) they are choosing one. Gary Stills is a great ST player too, but Smith has played very well. Hopefully, they can keep two somehow. I would rather not risk AD and Bart Scott out there on ST a whole lot.

**RavenScallywag** · 09-02-2006, 08:25 AM

we should be able to keep both Stills and Smith. Tim Johnson and Dennis Haley won't make the 53 man cut.

**B-more Ravor** · 09-02-2006, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

we should be able to keep both Stills and Smith. Tim Johnson and Dennis Haley won't make the 53 man cut.

I actually think one of them will. It obviously all depends on what other positions come into play at the back end of the roster, but right now, it looks like there would be room.

The likely roster issues affectring this decision are:

1. Do they keep more than 8 OLmen? Unless they pick one up from the outside, they really only have 8 that are deserving. Finding another OT would be great. I guess we can pray that Minn cuts Rosenthal and he finds his way here.

2. Do they carry 6 CBs? Usually it's only 5, but with so many young guys, they may not want to risk losing any of them. Obviously, CMac, Rolle and Ivy are in, but then it's either 2 or 3 of the rest - Pittman, Matin, Prude, and Olgesby. I really could see them carrying 6, especially if.....

3. Do they carry only 3 Safeties? With BL Ward gone - really gone with the injury settlement - do they keep Winbourne as the 4th Safety or just go with 3?

4. Do they risk cutting St. Pierre and talk Olsen into staying on the PS - if he passes through waivers - as essentially the 3rd QB. Let's face it, if McNair and Boller both get knocked out of a game, we're basically screwed whether we have a 3rd QB or not.

5. Does Ross make the team as the 4th RB/back-up return specialist?

**52decleetzu** · 09-02-2006, 10:03 AM

Who cares about Rod Green,he was a special teamer and every once in a while a 3rd down PR specialist,which we now have Cody for.The most alarming thing is the move of putting Rimph on IR.It looked like at the end last year he played decent,compared to the garbage that Vincent is right now.Lets hope some veteran O line men get the boot cause Im not confident in Chester or brown right now.

**PurpleRulz** · 09-02-2006, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by 52decleetzu

Who cares about Rod Green,he was a special teamer and every once in a while a 3rd down PR specialist,which we now have Cody for.The most alarming thing is the move of putting Rimph on IR.It looked like at the end last year he played decent,compared to the garbage that Vincent is right now.Lets hope some veteran O line men get the boot cause Im not confident in Chester or brown right now.

Some care about Green because he was a good special teams players and a good personality. He has the talent to play in this league, and someone will get him.

I would like for us to sign a backup at RT. Adam Terry is a LT.
Listening to the radio on yesterday, there was talk of why it is not easy to transition from LT to RT. The radio host mentioned that it is like going to Europe and having to adjust to driving on the leftside of the road instead of the right.

**PurpleRulz** · 09-02-2006, 10:27 AM

Aaron mentioned that we are not likely to see any additions and that the final 53 will be the team.

As a result, don't look for any OL or Safety signings. Looks like we will have 8 OL.

**Bez513** · 09-02-2006, 10:30 AM

People are shocked about Rod Green? I'm not. The kid never developed like expected. You never hear his name when he does play. We have other LBs that stepped it up like Mike Smith and deserve a spot. We drafted Green for his "potential" which never panned out.

TLT hopefully will make the PS. Elling may be resigned if Koch has a hard time with KO duty.