How did we do?

[RavingMad]

Link?

Post draft news conference Decosta stated they had to get creative early since players they targeted got picked up.

[Justlovemybirds]

I like the way Hensley put it:

This was a solid yet unspectacular draft. Outside of Upshaw, none of these names jump out as future stars. What you have to like is how the Ravens addressed several needs without reaching for players. Upshaw should fill Jarret Johnson's void, Iowa State's Kelechi Osemele could step into Ben Grubbs' spot at left guard and Temple's Bernard Pierce (27 touchdowns last season) takes over Ricky Williams' backup role. Delaware guard Gino Gradkowski looks like the team's future center and might start there in 2013. A great low-risk, high-reward pick was Miami wide receiver Tommy Streeter in the sixth round. Ravens officials set the goal of upgrading their depth and they did it in workmanlike fashion.

Maybe folks are worried because there aren't any splash players that we drafted but the team quietly address all they're needs despite having to do some maneuvering after key targets were snatched up.

[Justlovemybirds]

Post draft news conference Decosta stated they had to get creative early since players they targeted got picked up.

getting creative doesn't mean they panicked.

[dandrews]

Post draft news conference Decosta stated they had to get creative early since players they targeted got picked up.

So where did he say he panicked and took Gradkowski and Thompson because he wasn't prepared?

[RavingMad]

No one said that Pittsburgh was going to draft Gradkowski just that they had him as the highest ranked Center in the draft. That and other teams known for drafting well had Gradkowski rated as a 3rd round talent.

Upshaw is a better talent than JJ and that is who he is tasked with replacing.

The Ravens have not improved their offense from last year. They lost one key player in Grubbs and have two young guys competing for the spot. The Ravens also added a RB that could lighten the load for Rice.

The Ravens offense may get better simply because the 2nd, 3rd and 4th wrs are no longer rookies this year. Also expecting their two TEs to improve as last year was their first years as starters/contributors. It would have been nice to get a good #3 wr but the Ravens have cap issues. The biggest concerns on offense are guard and center and the Ravens addressed those with young players. It is up to the coaches to get these guys ready to play.

All the more reason to question why he was taken with the third 4th round pick with so many higher rated C's still available.

Your logic is inconsistent when it comes to rookies. Anthony Allen was rookie last year as well.

[dandrews]

All the more reason to question why he was taken with the third 4th round pick with so many higher rated C's still available.

Your logic is inconsistent when it comes to rookies. Anthony Allen was rookie last year as well.

Gradkowski was the number 1 center on the board for the Ravens. So no, there weren't "so many higher rated centers available"

Unless of course you are talking about your rankings. If you are I'd love to see your scouting reports.

[RavingMad]

So where did he say he panicked and took Gradkowski and Thompson because he wasn't prepared?

1. I never referred to the Safety in my post. The RB and G/C pick specifically are the panic picks. More so when than who.

2. When the players targeted ( 2 guards and ILB) were taken ( 2 by division opponents) they feared more targets would be taken and they reached to get them. IE they panicked

[wickedsolo]

All the more reason to question why he was taken with the third 4th round pick with so many higher rated C's still available.

Your logic is inconsistent when it comes to rookies. Anthony Allen was rookie last year as well.

Well, considering prior to the draft the media had Brewster ranked as the 2nd center in this draft and he wasn't even drafted. So...just kind of goes to show you that the media and teams rank(ed) players very differently.

[RavingMad]

Gradkowski was the number 1 center on the board for the Ravens. So no, there weren't "so many higher rated centers available"

Unless of course you are talking about your rankings. If you are I'd love to see your scouting reports.

They may have loved the kid. That's not the point. The odds are he would have still been there later. And if not there were high quality centers still available.

[HoustonRaven]

Loving the revisionist history and the draft isn't even over for a full day.

Haters gonna hate I suppose, even if it means twisting the facts to suit their narrative.

[RavingMad]

Well, considering prior to the draft the media had Brewster ranked as the 2nd center in this draft and he wasn't even drafted. So...just kind of goes to show you that the media and teams rank(ed) players very differently.

Exactly. Have you seen Brewster play?

[wickedsolo]

Loving the revisionist history and the draft isn't even over for a full day.

Haters gonna hate I suppose, even if it means twisting the facts to suit their narrative.

Happens every year.

[wickedsolo]

Exactly. Have you seen Brewster play?

Yes, several games.

Solid player. Needs a lot of coaching though.

My point is that I'm sure the Ravens scouts watched a lot of Brewster as well and they liked what Gradkowski brings to the table more than what Brewster or other centers brought to the table.

[BigPlayReceiver]

I like the way Hensley put it:



Maybe folks are worried because there aren't any splash players that we drafted but the team quietly address all they're needs despite having to do some maneuvering after key targets were snatched up.

Dig it. We don't do splashes in FA and we don't view the Draft as an opportunity to make a splash either.

I think we can pretty much assume that a whopping 90+% of the fan base predicted 12.5% of this draft correctly.
None of the names past Upshaw (and to a much lesser extent, Streeter) was ever batted around these forums with any frequency or excitement. Therefore, many, many people are finding it hard to be excited about what we did this weekend. Essentially, it's a lot of "I really wanted X, Y or Z". But that's what happens when so many people these days watch a few hours of video, construct there own boards and lay out their own mocks. I actually get that.

No matter what though, from a needs basis, I think we pretty much nailed it (though I'd be the first to make a small argument on the WR choice), and I'm excited to see how each of these cats develop this summer.

[RavingMad]

Folks will misrepresent a poster to push their agenda.....I guess.

[Jayc00]

All the more reason to question why he was taken with the third 4th round pick with so many higher rated C's still available.

Your logic is inconsistent when it comes to rookies. Anthony Allen was rookie last year as well.

Higher rated by who's standard?

[redmike34]

They may have loved the kid. That's not the point. The odds are he would have still been there later. And if not there were high quality centers still available.

Well, what do you expect? I don't know how they break down the process of picking players, but I'm sure they stick to it as the draft unfolds. I'm sure that every pick they made followed the plan they went into the draft with, probably updated every night. Particularly in taking Gradkowski--he was the third pick off the board that day! Givens (WR) and Miller (RB) were taken before the Ravens picked, and since we'd already taken an RB, you can be sure we weren't targeting Miller. So that means that at worst, Gradkowski was the Ravens' #2 choice for that draft slot--they'd had all night to think about it...

Don't think they panicked at all--I think they stuck to their plan. It's just that the picks other teams made pushed them a lot farther from their ideal plan than they would have liked...

[wickedsolo]

Dig it. We don't do splashes in FA and we don't view the Draft as an opportunity to make a splash either.

I think we can pretty much assume that a whopping 90+% of the fan base predicted 12.5% of this draft correctly.
None of the names past Upshaw (and to a much lesser extent, Streeter) was ever batted around these forums with any frequency or excitement. Therefore, many, many people are finding it hard to be excited about what we did this weekend. Essentially, it's a lot of "I really wanted X, Y or Z". But that's what happens when so many people these days watch a few hours of video, construct there own boards and lay out their own mocks. I actually get that.

No matter what though, from a needs basis, I think we pretty much nailed it (though I'd be the first to make a small argument on the WR choice), and I'm excited to see how each of these cats develop this summer.

Something that a lot of folks forget or don't acknowledge is that there are 31 other teams picking in the draft too. Within those 31 other teams there are tips given and things of that nature based on professional and personal relationships among scouts, coaches, & GM's.

[JustaslowZ06]

I'd say a solid B.

We got JJ's replacement, a guy who can set the edge(Unlike Kruger) and also at least a threat to get to the QB.

Solid LG starter without having to rely on Reid, whom I'm hoping they put into competition with McKinnie more so than at G. A: It pushes McKinney, or he gets beat out. Either way win win for the Ravens.

Future C, who could also step in if Birk can't finish the season(Huge probability).

And some ST guys and backups, depth on the DL.

Streeter I mentioned way back when as someone I was interested in. Not concerned about his routes. Joe throws high, evryone knows this. T.Smith demands help on his side, leaving the possability of Streeter and Boldin manned up. Run a go or a 9 and let Joe put it up there. 6'5 and 4.4 speed is going to beat 95% of CB's in the league if the timing is right and the ball is high.

Sure there were "other" guys in the same positions that we may have liked better, but all in all it works for me. Still hating on not getting Jeffrey,lol.

[RavingMad]

Yes, several games.

Solid player. Needs a lot of coaching though.

My point is that I'm sure the Ravens scouts watched a lot of Brewster as well and they liked what Gradkowski brings to the table more than what Brewster or other centers brought to the table.

I'll buy that. Seen Brewster play myself. Tough/smart/talented and played against tougher opponents in the Big Ten.

Do you believe what he lacks can't be coached up or learned as a backup?

Do you believe the team is better with Gino than with the top WR available at the time of the pick and Brewster as an undrafted FA?