The 2012 NFL Draft Thread -- LIVE Discussion on Picks, Moves, etc.

[Boulderraven]

http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/201...ect-rb-pierce/

From Ozzie:

Wicked- that's what I have been pointing out for months about the major flaws in Rices game. Short yardage!!

[leachisabeast]

When we turned the card in, my very first words to my girl were that I didn't like the pick because it was a sign that Ray was not likely to stay a Raven much longer. (Which is not to say I didn't like the player, obviously I'm very high on Pierce, I just really hope Ray can stay with the team through his prime at a reasonable price.)

But there is also nothing wrong with getting a great player who fits our scheme perfectly as a compliment to Ray Rice. Seriously if he really progresses, nothing is stopping us from taking a significant load from Rice, even more than what McGahee or Williams was offering. If Rice doesn't sign for the Foster deal, you don't sign him IMO. I love Rice and really want him to stay, but not at a crazy price.

As for Pierce IMO, there is possibly not a better fit RB in this draft for our blocking scheme. He is big, can run between the tackles, but is a one cut down field zone runner, so a great pick for our power to zone scheme IMO.

[ActualSpamBot]

Oh, I love the pick now. I just meant my first reaction was to consider what it signified about our current running back. Sad to say but the signs are pointing to Ray playing the second half of his prime with someone else. (I wish he would just take the deal Foster got... He has to realize that he's never going to get AP money. AP wouldn't get AP money under this reduced salary cap.

[AirFlacco]

I think a lot of the people questioning the trade up were probably unaware of how aggressively Pitt had scrutinized Pierce this offseason. They had him come out to Pitt, they visited him at Temple, I believe they met with him at the Combine, and they are certainly in the market for a quality RB.

I have little doubt that Ozzie wanted to guarantee that not only would he get this kid, but Pitt wouldn't. From that point of view, it's a great trade because it strengthens our team on the field and in the negotiating room with Rice, while at the same time it weakens our greatest foe in an area where they have a critical need. To get all those benefits in the third round and only give up a late fifth rounder to do it feels like a no-brainer to me.

This is a great point because I posted a link that said Piss doesn't tip off their hand before the draft but a sign is, they draft the people they brought in for
visits.

So if they brought Pierce in like Spammy said you can be sure they were
going to draft him,
so Oz moved up just like Bellicheat did to block us from getting Hightower.

BTW, for any of us still pissed about that, I spoke to some Squeelers fans at
the water hole tonight and they are pissed too. They all wanted Hightower
and he was there but took the lineman DeCosta.

The Ravens fans I spoke to tonight aren't crazy about this draft either.
There's a lot of pissed off fans in Bmore and Pissburgh tonight.

I guess nobody likes o-linemen on the first round unless his name is Orlando
Pace or Jonathan Ogden.

[GOTA]

Oh, I love the pick now. I just meant my first reaction was to consider what it signified about our current running back. Sad to say but the signs are pointing to Ray playing the second half of his prime with someone else. (I wish he would just take the deal Foster got... He has to realize that he's never going to get AP money. AP wouldn't get AP money under this reduced salary cap.

The Ravens control Ray for the next 2 seasons. There is plenty of time for him to figure it out

[GOTA]

Halftime of the draft and we're doing okay. Really glad they took Upshaw. When they passed in Round 1 I figured that Ozzie flat out didn't like him. If that was true he wouldn't have taken him in Round 2 either.

Like the big Guard and yes I think he's a Guard in the NFL. Osemele is almost as big as Glenn. Playing next to a big McKinnie is going to make a giant wall on the left side for Ray to run behind.

Not so thrilled about Pierce but that's more because who was still available at that pick, Toon, Ronnell Lewis, Philip Blake, than the player. I also don't get why DeCosta talks about drafting healthy players and then they take a running back who missed games every year and had concussions. Hoping it works out

[AirFlacco]

That's DeCosta. At least he didn't want Konz who has durability
issues.

Mel liked our picks.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft...ons-rounds-2-3

[Lee Van Cleef]

I'm hoping someone steals up and snags that Ta'amu bloke before the inbred Stryper fans swipe him.

[JAB1985]

I trust ozzie. Imo i would have rather had ronnell lewis than upshaw which i think is doubtful now, osemele is alright by me although glenn i still feel is a better prospect and i preferred turbin to pierce but honestly theyre very simar players just a preference at that point. I reallywish we would have traded back again at 35 but well see after the draft and tc what we really have. Something tells me this will be a talked about draft class for awhile. Its very rare i even question ozzies choice.

[Terpsfan82]

I think Flacco's targets are inconsistent, but they're not untalented or bad players. Torrey will get better, Pitta is one of the better young TE's in the NFL as far as I'm concerned, Boldin can still take over a game when put in the right position (slot), and Dickson has a lot of athleticism and upside, but is inconsistent. Four of those QB's are on teams that had to be picking in the top 10 to get guys like AJ Green and Megatron. I'd rather be picking in the bottom of the 1st round instead of in the top 5.

Again, fix the obvious inconsistencies in the top 3-4 targets (Torrey, Boldin, Dickson, Pitta/Rice) and I think you'd see a vastly improved passing attack.

With a full offseason of OTA's and training camp I'm excited to see what Torrey Smith and Pitta will do. As for Boldin I'd like to see him line up in the slot or sent in motion more often so he can work to his strengths. Hopefully Dickson worked on his hands. With Rice in the fold at least for this year I see no reason why this cant be a top 10 or 12 offense.

[HoustonRaven]

Good Morning everyone ....

I am catching up on some of the back and forth from last night.

If you want to disagree with Ozzie or one another about the draft, please do so, but do so in a respectful manner. Name calling never flies here.

[Lee Van Cleef]

Want Marvin Jones!

[Mad Puppy]

Well I see there being a few O-line prospects left (I think we will end up with one of those centers)
Bobbie Massie OT
Phillip Blake C
Ben Jones C
David Molk C
Mike Brewster C

Would love to see two WR's also (better odds in numbers?)
But our history with WR's this late is not good.

[Terpsfan82]

I'd like to see them make a play for Jones then grab a return specialist.

[purplepoe]

The Ravens targetted Pierce months ago and made their move to get him. Preventing Pitt from getting him might be a periperal benefit but that's it.

Every year this thread is the same. The extremes on both ends bicker about Ozzie. Pretty funny actually. He's not perfect but he's better than most.

People mention the cap as a reason that the Ravens are in the position they are in. Of course, they fail to mention that the GM is ultimately responsible for a team's cap situation. However, drafting well naturally leads to more expensive contracts after players' rookie deals are up.

The bottom line is Upshaw fell to us and Konz didn't (in the 2nd of course which was wishful thinking IMO). I'm not thrilled with the KO pick but I understand why they made it.

The Pierce pick was made for numerous reasons (all have been mentioned). Every pick the Ravens have made can easily be explained because quite honestly they fill specific needs.

I just hope the KO pick doesn't go the way of Terry/Cousins/Hale.

There are only so many picks a team has. The draft is extremely unpredictable. I thought a big WR was a huge need but you can't change on the fly in the war room after you've done 1000s of hours of scouting to set your board. It just doesn't make sense.

PP

[Iscull]

Just to play a little devils advocate here, I honestly think oz traded out because he knew we would be able to get a first round rated player at the top of the 2nd round. He did so while garnering more picks. I don't think it was exactly a case of not liking anyone, I feel it was just there were so many guys they liked with the same grade that they knew they would get one in the 2nd. I love this draft so far. Pierce was a great pick and after watching him for the last couple years at Temple I think Bmore fans will be pleasantly surprised. Osmele is a monster at LG who may allow us to go to man blocking scheme, while Upshaw gives us an immediate starter opposite Suggs.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

The Ravens control Ray for the next 2 seasons. There is plenty of time for him to figure it out

Did Ray sign an extensions sometime last night I wasn't made aware of?

[kronusthebonus]

Hoping Toon might be there at 3 when we pick in the fourth. He's got size and pedigree.

[ActualSpamBot]

Did Ray sign an extensions sometime last night I wasn't made aware of?

What he meant was that Ray's tag number is manageable for this year and next. It's 7ish now and 9ish for 2013. 16 to 17 million for two seasons of Ray Rice's prime is probably something Biscotti is willing to swallow.

After that though he'd be a back about to turn 28 who I'm sure will have been ridden hard and put away wet for 4 straight seasons at which point we would be unlikely to want to give him a long term deal.

That assumes A. We can't sign him long term before that, and B. That there isn't a more valuable player coming into free agency who we need to spend the tag on. (CoughFlacooCough)


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[Raveninwoodlawn]

What he meant was that Ray's tag number is manageable for this year and next. It's 7ish now and 9ish for 2013. 16 to 17 million for two seasons of Ray Rice's prime is probably something Biscotti is willing to swallow.

After that though he'd be a back about to turn 28 who I'm sure will have been ridden hard and put away wet for 4 straight seasons at which point we would be unlikely to want to give him a long term deal.

That assumes A. We can't sign him long term before that, and B. That there isn't a more valuable player coming into free agency who we need to spend the tag on. (CoughFlacooCough)


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Oh ok.

Personally though, IMHO, Flacco is not going to get done this season and will be tagged next year.