How did we do?

**DarkHorse** · 04-28-2012, 07:25 PM

a pass throwing machine = jugs
kind of like a baseball pitching machine

**Boulderraven** · 04-28-2012, 07:33 PM

Check back in 3 years. What I did notice was in the early rounds was physicality. Upshaw is a top 20 talent and versatile. KO physical and versatile. BP physical also will see plenty of action good for short yardage and RZ, Gino versatile can play G/C-late riser. The S is a great athlete a project and ST depth guy. The Cb- fast good athlete and can return kicks. 6th rounder Streeter is lots of upside, needs work- great athlete again and a real tall burner- I like this pick. 7th rounder DT played with back and leg injuries (headed to IR for develomental project). Front part of draft are physical hitters, back half athletes need grooming. Grades are dumb and pointless.

**Jayc00** · 04-28-2012, 07:56 PM

I think we did pretty good. I'll go with the instincs on one of the top GM's in football before message board GM's who think they know everything, any day of the week.

**RavingMad** · 04-28-2012, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by sandiegosean

Hard to grade a draft the day of. It was a fail if you take into account what our AFC comp. got. Pitt, Cincy, NE, and even Houston had better drafts, that makes it scary.

**runrayrun27** · 04-28-2012, 08:12 PM

I like the potential we gained today. I love Streeter, he brings physical gifts and lacks the things he can be coached, I love seeing that in prospects, whether or not he responds is the question, but I'm incredibly pleased with that pick

Other than taking Gradakowski so early I was very pleased. I give it a B+

**Corey** · 04-28-2012, 09:09 PM

It just seems like we drafted a lot of projects, where some other teams in the AFC have more pro ready players. We probably got some solid depth but I don't really see that one special player that will be an impact player for the next decade.

But I am holding out judgement until we get them on the field. But this was really a "meh" draft. Probably the least excited I have been during the Harbaugh era.

**alien bird** · 04-28-2012, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by sandiegosean

It was a fail if you take into account what our AFC comp. got. Pitt, Cincy, NE, and even Houston had better drafts, that makes it scary.

Originally Posted by AirFlacco

One Sun writer said all the AFC-N teams improved themselves but the Ravens. Even Bruce said he was trying not to get discouraged with the draft.

No offense meant (because we all do it) but this is really flawed thinking, and here's why.

First, Everyone predicts what the Ravens greatest needs are and then ranks them in some fashion. Then, we rank players according to what we think are the best ones. Finally, we judge the success of the draft based on those two factors.

The problem is that what we think are the greatest needs of the Ravens may not at all be what the Ravens see as their greatest needs, so they are operating on a different set of criteria from the get-go. Then, the players we think are the best are not necessarily who the Ravens think are the best, so our perception becomes even more skewed. So, essentially, we are judging the success or failure of a team's draft based on criteria that may not even be valid.

Maybe the Ravens got most every player they really wanted, and maybe the players those other teams got aren't going to pan out at the NFL level. We really don't know for sure, so to say one team did great and another team did poorly is silly, really.

I think Cincinnati knocked it out of the park, but it could be that those guys don't do jack in the pros. I think Seattle had a really weird draft, but those guys may be just the players they needed to fit their schemes and get into the playoffs.

So, did the other teams have a better draft? By whose standard? It's all a guess.

**steelerhater** · 04-28-2012, 09:39 PM

Don't like the running back pick in the 3rd round. I think we had bigger needs.

**alien bird** · 04-28-2012, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by steelerhater

Don't like the running back pick in the 3rd round. I think we had bigger needs.

Exactly my point. You think that, but maybe the Ravens didn't think that way. If you grade the draft based on your criteria, it may be that the Ravens aren't operating under that premise in the first place.

**bbazn** · 04-28-2012, 09:51 PM

Im personally felt Tommy Streeter was a big steal especially considering the need at WR. I feel like out of all of the players the ravens drafted he has the most potential to become something.

**jhoff66** · 04-28-2012, 09:53 PM

Yea I mean look at the last couple of drafts we had. LaDarius Webb and Pernell Mcphee what bums. We def. should have picked those other guys available.......

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 04-28-2012, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by steelerhater

Don't like the running back pick in the 3rd round. I think we had bigger needs.

Like...?

I mean we filled the main glaring holes...LG and OLB with our first 2 picks. No other guy at another position would be starting this year.

No other QB/RB/FB/WR/TE/OG/C/OT/DE/DT/OLB/ILB/S/CB drafted late in the third would start THIS year.

After the first 2 picks...it was about depth and future starters...which we may need considering the real possibility that this is Ray's last year.

**Terpsfan82** · 04-28-2012, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by jhoff66

Yea I mean look at the last couple of drafts we had. LaDarius Webb and Pernell Mcphee what bums. We def. should have picked those other guys available.......

I liked both of those picks when they were made. I liked our draft, the only head scratcher being the guard from Delaware. He's only listed at 300 and I worry about how he'll fare against the more physical DT's in the AFC. Overall I would give it a B-, could go to a B plus.

**jhoff66** · 04-28-2012, 10:21 PM

Alex Mack only weighs 311 lbs and he manages just fine in the AFC North/NFL. Is not about how much you weigh being a line man its all technique. Using technique to best utilize your strength. Bottom line whether you like a guy or not you know nothing on how the player is going to play until training camp/ preseason comes. Then you can judge.

**Raven Maniac** · 04-28-2012, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by sandiegosean

Hard to grade a draft the day of. It was a fail if you take into account what our AFC comp. got. Pitt, Cincy, NE, and even Houston had better drafts, that makes it scary.

Yeah, but we took a lot of under the radar guys Sean and some actually scored pretty high marks according to some of the "experts".

**Crow1994** · 04-28-2012, 10:32 PM

Being a Cal Poly grad, kinda proud to see someone get drafted by our team. i don't follow college ball, but i'll try and post some info on him. But going to go with "in Oz we trust". Good draft with alot of potential.

**Terpsfan82** · 04-28-2012, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by jhoff66

Alex Mack only weighs 311 lbs and he manages just fine in the AFC North/NFL. Is not about how much you weigh being a line man its all technique. Using technique to best utilize your strength. Bottom line whether you like a guy or not you know nothing on how the player is going to play until training camp/ preseason comes. Then you can judge.

I just thought the pick was a reach; I thought Ben Jones was a better fit for the zone blocking scheme we employ. Apparently the Ravens and others had him rated higher than Jones. We'll see. Ironically Jones was snapped up by the Texans not long afterwards.

**AirFlacco** · 04-28-2012, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by alien bird

No offense meant (because we all do it) but this is really flawed thinking, and here's why.

First, Everyone predicts what the Ravens greatest needs are and then ranks them in some fashion. Then, we rank players according to what we think are the best ones. Finally, we judge the success of the draft based on those two factors.

The problem is that what we think are the greatest needs of the Ravens may not at all be what the Ravens see as their greatest needs, so they are operating on a different set of criteria from the get-go. Then, the players we think are the best are not necessarily who the Ravens think are the best, so our perception becomes even more skewed. So, essentially, we are judging the success or failure of a team's draft based on criteria that may not even be valid.

Maybe the Ravens got most every player they really wanted, and maybe the players those other teams got aren't going to pan out at the NFL level. We really don't know for sure, so to say one team did great and another team did poorly is silly, really.

I think Cincinnati knocked it out of the park, but it could be that those guys don't do jack in the pros. I think Seattle had a really weird draft, but those guys may be just the players they needed to fit their schemes and get into the playoffs.

So, did the other teams have a better draft? By whose standard? It's all a guess.

By the Ravens standards. Another reporter who was on the 105 fm tonight said the
Ravens weren't as excited this year as they were last year with Jimmy and Torrey.
He also said Ozzie rated Chandler Jones and Hightower amongst the highest on their
board - higher than Upshaw.

Piss improved their o-line, Cinci did well and even Cleve improved their offense although
they have a lot more holes to fill.

We don't know about Upshaw who was originally rated in the top 15 but dropped all the
way down to #35 in the second largely because he has short arms and NFL scouts
believe he'll be wrapped up by bigger OTs. We're not sure about the Guard we got
who will compete with another young one, Reid, so there's no improvement there and we got a Center who won't play this year.

Joe's gonna get killed again.

The original reporter was right.

**sandiegosean** · 04-28-2012, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by Raven Maniac

Yeah, but we took a lot of under the radar guys Sean and some actually scored pretty high marks according to some of the "experts".

That's why i said it's too early to grade us, or anyone for that matter. However, our main compitition in the AFC, had scary drafts on paper. Obviously Eric and Ozzie even sounded bewildered, about losing the players they wanted. Not to mention there are usually 25 leftover players from their boards, for UFA, and only 3 in this draft. Eric already referenced less successful drats being close to this.
Hey it happens sometimes, other teams get it right once in a while. I'll take our guys anyday, and i love the Pierce move. We'll need to replace Rice next year.

**Raven Maniac** · 04-28-2012, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by runrayrun27

I like the potential we gained today. I love Streeter, he brings physical gifts and lacks the things he can be coached, I love seeing that in prospects, whether or not he responds is the question, but I'm incredibly pleased with that pick

Other than taking Gradakowski so early I was very pleased. I give it a B+

It's not like Ozzy to jump the gun early on a guy that he knows will be there in later rounds, he tries to stretch as much value from a pick as possible. Gradkowski is known as a gritty, tough player that stresses the fundamentals of the game. He has strong leadership abilities and very good blocking technique. He's a Pittsburgh native and the feeling was that the Steelers were going to grab him in the 4th before we picked. It's true that he was slated to go more toward the 6th, but in the end I think that GG is going to be considered one of the steals of the 2012 draft.