If the Ravens can't get Vontaze Burfict...

**wickedsolo** · 01-23-2012, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Lime in the Coconut

I like both guys to be honest. I've noticed Hightower for quite some time and he would add instant size and he can hit! He seems overall like a beast. Only thing I could see with him is his athleticism in the open field.

Personally, I think he'll be long gone by the time the Ravens pick. His size, speed, and performance in the BCS National Championship - IMO - will make him the #1 MLB taken in April. I think Hightower goes somewhere between 11-16. That could push Luke Kuechly into striking distance for the Ravens. Might be something to think about.

**Ravenswintitle** · 01-23-2012, 03:31 PM

In Mel Kiper's draft he has Upshaw (Al Linebacker) going 10th and Hightower is not in the first round at all.

**Jeremiah W** · 01-23-2012, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Lime in the Coconut

I like both guys to be honest. I've noticed Hightower for quite some time and he would add instant size and he can hit! He seems overall like a beast. Only thing I could see with him is his athleticism in the open field.

I think he has it, and will do very well vs these big athletic TEs. His height may be a bit of a negative when taking on Gs, but it should help a ton in covering the 6'5" and up TEs.

**BleedPurple92** · 01-23-2012, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by RedSkins Fury

God no..

Burfict is a disaster.

Honestly 3 months ago, i would have called you crazy. But seeing as he basically got his head coach fired, and watching the national championship seeing how Dominant Hightower was.

I would honestly take Hightower over Burfict at this point. Burfict is high risk high reward, he could be a dominant player. Hightower is low risk, and still a pretty high reward. I mean the guy is 6'4 260, if he runs a good 40, he will open a lot of eyes. I think he could turn out to be the best player out of the two.

Hightower's 40 time will be very important, if he runs a 4.6 or so, he will be a first round lock.

**BleedPurple92** · 01-23-2012, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

Personally, I think he'll be long gone by the time the Ravens pick. His size, speed, and performance in the BCS National Championship - IMO - will make him the #1 MLB taken in April. I think Hightower goes somewhere between 11-16. That could push Luke Kuechly into striking distance for the Ravens. Might be something to think about.

I would be you money that Keachley doesn't get out of the top 20. If he shows his athleticism, at the combine, he will most likely be the first MLB Taken. I cant see Hightower or Burfict going ahead of him, unless one of them just kills it at the combine.

**EdReedDaGawd** · 01-23-2012, 05:17 PM

Just finished watching some highlights of Burfict. With how high class our organization is and with Ray coming back I feel like Burfict could fit into our system perfectly without any mental breakdowns. Just let him go under the wings of Ray, Ed, Suggs, etc. and this man will be a STUD.

**srobert96** · 01-23-2012, 05:41 PM

Hightower's weakness is pass coverage. I would only take Hightower if he fell to us in the 2nd. I would rather roll the dice on Burfict and go Oline if he is not available. Hightower is a good player but his skills are not what the Ravens need right now. I would not put too much stock in the BCS MNC game as Les went more conservative and predictable than Cam.

**The Excellector** · 01-23-2012, 05:44 PM

Hightower is the type of guy who can develop in coverage though. Terrell Suggs was a complete coverage liability when he entered the draft, but is now the most complete OLB in the league.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 01-23-2012, 06:05 PM

Hightower is not going to time well...in fact, most considered him overrated to a degree before that championship game performance.

I don't think he is going to be a first rounder...

**The Excellector** · 01-23-2012, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

Hightower is not going to time well...in fact, most considered him overrated to a degree before that championship game performance.

I don't think he is going to be a first rounder...

Getting him in the second round would be, yet another highway robbery by Ozzie. Ray Rice was the last one.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 01-23-2012, 06:11 PM

Hightower is similar to Brandon Spikes and will probably be drafted around that point in the draft.

**BleedPurple92** · 01-23-2012, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

Hightower is similar to Brandon Spikes and will probably be drafted around that point in the draft.

Like i said his 40 time will make or break him. If he runs a good 40 he will be a first round lock. If he runs a slow 40, you're right, he has brandon spikes written all over him.

**BleedPurple92** · 01-23-2012, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by EdReedDaGawd

Just finished watching some highlights of Burfict. With how high class our organization is and with Ray coming back I feel like Burfict could fit into our system perfectly without any mental breakdowns. Just let him go under the wings of Ray, Ed, Suggs, etc. and this man will be a STUD.

Burfict's highlights are out of this world, i remember watching it for the first time, and thinking, 2nd coming of Ray Lewis.

He has his issues, but they are all on the field issues. The pre draft process with him will be huge, talking to his coaches, seeing if he's a hard worker.

He was a huge reason, ASU fired Dennis Erickson. Just saying, i read an article that called him a coach killer.

I love our staff, because we go the extra mile, we talk to the coaches, teammates. We have to spend a lot of time with him work him out, see if he picks things up quickly... That's the key.

If we do our Job, and he turns out to be a hard working guy, with good football habits, who wants to get better, and loves football, that's the key, do they love football? If we can get all that stuff figured out, then by all means please draft this guy, because talent isn't the issue.

Another thing is his 40 time, really curious to see what he runs.

If we draft, or even want to draft burfict or not, it will be because of the pre draft work we do, with talking with his coaches, and doing our homework on him.

**EdReedDaGawd** · 01-23-2012, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by BleedPurple92

Burfict's highlights are out of this world, i remember watching it for the first time, and thinking, 2nd coming of Ray Lewis.

He has his issues, but they are all on the field issues. The pre draft process with him will be huge, talking to his coaches, seeing if he's a hard worker.

He was a huge reason, ASU fired Dennis Erickson. Just saying, i read an article that called him a coach killer.

I love our staff, because we go the extra mile, we talk to the coaches, teammates. We have to spend a lot of time with him work him out, see if he picks things up quickly... That's the key.

If we do our Job, and he turns out to be a hard working guy, with good football habits, who wants to get better, and loves football, that's the key, do they love football? If we can get all that stuff figured out, then by all means please draft this guy, because talent isn't the issue.

Another thing is his 40 time, really curious to see what he runs.

If we draft, or even want to draft burfict or not, it will be because of the pre draft work we do, with talking with his coaches, and doing our homework on him.

Yeah I definitely hear what you're saying. If this guy wants to play football more than anything and checks out with the coaches and whatnot like you stated I say draft this man. This is most likely Ray's last year so to get a guy who's been compared to Ray himself and have him actually mentor him would be phenomenal imo. We need to take advantage of having a guy like Ray because if we don't draft a LB this draft we won't have a guy to be able to learn from the greatest LB of all time. Would just seem like a huge missed opportunity to me.

**BleedPurple92** · 01-23-2012, 11:59 PM

Another thing is if you believe the notion that Red Flags are real, and they are good signs of the future, then this kid has more Red Flags than the blood gang.

**BleedPurple92** · 01-24-2012, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by EdReedDaGawd

Yeah I definitely hear what you're saying. If this guy wants to play football more than anything and checks out with the coaches and whatnot like you stated I say draft this man. This is most likely Ray's last year so to get a guy who's been compared to Ray himself and have him actually mentor him would be phenomenal imo. We need to take advantage of having a guy like Ray because if we don't draft a LB this draft we won't have a guy to be able to learn from the greatest LB of all time. Would just seem like a huge missed opportunity to me.

The thing i love about Ray is, he's the type of guy, that even after he's retired. If we do draft burfict he can call Ray anytime he wants to get pointers, workout with him in the offseason. Trust me even after Ray Retires if we draft another MLB, he wont be more than a phone call away, so that bodes well for whoever we get as his replacement.

**Iscull** · 01-24-2012, 12:04 AM

Wicked: do you really think Devon Still will be a good Pro? For some reason Penn State has produced some real bust defensive players as of late. (Maybin, Odrick, etc.)

**Justlovemybirds** · 01-24-2012, 12:06 AM

Bowman and Sean Lee turned out well, seems to be the D-line that's not reliable to Draft.

**EdReedDaGawd** · 01-24-2012, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by BleedPurple92

The thing i love about Ray is, he's the type of guy, that even after he's retired. If we do draft burfict he can call Ray anytime he wants to get pointers, workout with him in the offseason. Trust me even after Ray Retires if we draft another MLB, he wont be more than a phone call away, so that bodes well for whoever we get as his replacement.

Yeah I agree with that, but having Ray on the field next to him in practice, in the game and etc. would just be huge in my opinion. If there's any team that Burfict can excell with it's the Ravens.

**goodandfast** · 01-24-2012, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by BleedPurple92

Burfict's highlights are out of this world, i remember watching it for the first time, and thinking, 2nd coming of Ray Lewis.

He has his issues, but they are all on the field issues. The pre draft process with him will be huge, talking to his coaches, seeing if he's a hard worker.

He was a huge reason, ASU fired Dennis Erickson. Just saying, i read an article that called him a coach killer.

I love our staff, because we go the extra mile, we talk to the coaches, teammates. We have to spend a lot of time with him work him out, see if he picks things up quickly... That's the key.

If we do our Job, and he turns out to be a hard working guy, with good football habits, who wants to get better, and loves football, that's the key, do they love football? If we can get all that stuff figured out, then by all means please draft this guy, because talent isn't the issue.

Another thing is his 40 time, really curious to see what he runs.

If we draft, or even want to draft burfict or not, it will be because of the pre draft work we do, with talking with his coaches, and doing our homework on him.

I guess that's really the thing at the end of the day. We an debate who'd we'd rather them take, but whoever they do take will have been extremely well researched.

If Burfict is there and they take him, then they are confident that either his issues are non issues, or are correctable by strong peer leadership. Peer leadership is the difference between the pro locker rooms and the college locker rooms.

If he's there and they pass over him for another backer, then we'll know they likely had concerns.

If he's there and we pass over him for an O-lineman or another position then it's inconclusive because they probably just had that player graded out higher.

I can't wait for the draft.

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