Early Look at Roster Shake-Out

[leachisabeast]

There is no way the Ravens are putting Streeter on the practice squad, they very rarely put any of their draft picks on the PS, and they are especially not going to do that to a 6'5 deep threat receiver.

[rharris1986]

Not specifically responding to this - just quoted for reference to issue.

I personally am tired of picking up other teams' receiver cast-offs - Housh, Evans et. al. - it NEVER WORKS OUT. The Ravens should bring in young players (draftees and UDFAs) and give them a chance - THROW TO THEM. The did a good job of this last year (with Smith, L Williams and Doss) and have a leg up on it this year with Streeter. Bring in one or two more and let them compete. Let Joe throw to them. We don't have to practice running in the preseason - we know we can do that. Lets put on a passing exhibition in training camp and the preseason and lets see what the Doss, Williams and Streeter, etc can do.

Even if Reed doesn't make the cut, I'm still not sold Streeter will be given a roster spot while not contributing on special teams. There is already another thread with my fellow fans in support of signing Jabar Gaffney, who was just cut, with additional chatter about other veterans Ozzie should look to pick up. Lee Evans and TJ Housmandzadeh were both late additions. I fully expect that sort of signing to happen again.

[Shas]

One of the things you hear scouts and coaches talk about is that wide receiver may be the most difficult position to learn in the NFL. The learning curve can be even steeper than with a QB when it comes to understanding what the defense is doing, reacting properly to the read, and getting in the right spot. That's why it's so hard to project and pick receivers. I think it also explains why you see veterans getting chances to hook up with another team, because they at least have the mental part figured out. There is no way to explain how Brandon Stokely, for instance, kept getting jobs, except that he knew how to play the position.

[Corey]

Nobody in this thread is saying or believes that Reed is going to be cut. Where is that coming from?

Being put on PUP is not being cut...it's just a temporary type of IR with the option to activate or put on IR after 6 weeks. That is where Reed is heading and should be after coming off of the ACL so late.

I didn't read the rest of the thread but I am also not making the claim that anyone in this thread thinks Reed will get cut. I think it was pretty clear after that game Reed had at Seattle, most Ravens fans thought it was over for him because of that game. I am just agreeing with Shas point that just because the fans think a player is out of chances does not mean that the team feels the same way.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

We should revisit the question in September. I'll be happy to say I was wrong if Streeter grabs a spot.

Yup

I didn't read the rest of the thread but I am also not making the claim that anyone in this thread thinks Reed will get cut. I think it was pretty clear after that game Reed had at Seattle, most Ravens fans thought it was over for him because of that game. I am just agreeing with Shas point that just because the fans think a player is out of chances does not mean that the team feels the same way.

Most of that was an immediate reaction to 2 straight poor games. I think for the most part, we've all calmed down regarding Reed.

I do think he will be shut down eventually this year though so that will probably open a spot.

[bmorecareful]

One of the things you hear scouts and coaches talk about is that wide receiver may be the most difficult position to learn in the NFL. The learning curve can be even steeper than with a QB when it comes to understanding what the defense is doing, reacting properly to the read, and getting in the right spot. That's why it's so hard to project and pick receivers. I think it also explains why you see veterans getting chances to hook up with another team, because they at least have the mental part figured out. There is no way to explain how Brandon Stokely, for instance, kept getting jobs, except that he knew how to play the position.

I think this whole theme is something that USED to be true, but I'm not sure how true it is anymore. Even with a lockout and no offseason last year, rookie receivers all the way from AJ Green (top 5 pick) to Torrey Smith (2nd rounder) to Doug Baldwin (undrafted) had big years last year. There were even more 2nd year WRs who had huge years, all the way from Jimmy Graham (basically a WR, 3rd round pick, only played college football for a year,) to Victor Cruz (undrafted FA who didn't play at all in 2010.)

So, having said that, I think the whole theme of WR being one of the most difficult positions to learn might be going away, or perhaps it might just be evolving as the NFL is evolving to still allow rookies to make big contributions right out of the gate. (It's not impossible that these last few years have just had a lot of aberrations, too.) I think it's still true that WR is a very hard position to evaluate and project, though.

[LukeDaniel]

If I had to project, here would be our initial week one roster

*= a lock
+= one of the last six to make the team


QB (2)
Joe Flacco*
Tyrod Taylor*


RB/FB (4)

Ray Rice*
Bernard Pierce*
Vonta Leach*
Anthony Allen


TE(3)

Dennis Pitta*
Ed Dickson*
Davon Drew

WR (5)

Anquan Boldin*
Torrey Smith*
Tandon Doss*
Laquan Williams*
Tommy Streeter

OL (8)

Michael Oher*
Marshall Yanda*
Matt Birk*
KO* (still need to learn how to spell that one)
Gino Gradkowski*
Jah Reid*
Bryant McKinnie*
Justin Boren+

DL (6)

Haloti Ngata*
Terrence Cody*
Art Jones*
Pernell McPhee*
Bryan Hall
DeAngelo Tyson+

LB (10)

Ray Lewis*
Terrell Suggs*
Jameel McClain*
Courtney Upshaw*
Brendan Ayanbadejo*
Paul Kruger*
Albert McClellan*
Sergio Kindle
Josh Bynes+
Michael McAdoo+

CB (7)

Lardarius Webb*
Cary Williams*
Jimmy Smith*
Corey Graham*
Asa Jackson*
Danny Gorrer
Chykie Brown+

S (5)

Ed Reed*
Bernard Pollard*
Christian Thompson*
Sean Considine
Emmanuel Cook+

ST (3)

Sam Koch*
Morgan Cox*
Billy Cundiff

PUP (1) David Cook



It's a little imbalanced in terms of having 28 defensive players and 22 offensive players, but that's not out of whack with what the Ravens have done in the past. I believe in the 2010 season, the Ravens started the season with 22 players for opening week. I think the 53 players above are the 53 guys on the roster right now. If any more veterans are added, Brown, Cook, Bynes, McAdoo, and Tyson have to be the closest to the door.

[CodyPKA]

Provo will be the 3rd TE. You heard it here first

[runrayrun27]

Reed had his chance and he blew it, he is not a good football player, nor would any good team keep him over a rookie. Rookie trumps shitty player 9 times out of 10.

[leachisabeast]

Provo will be the 3rd TE. You heard it here first

Agreed, he looks very explosive.

Why don't they bring in that full back from Clemson Chad Dielh to be the blocking tight end.

[Peterman]

If Streeter has stone hands in practice and preseason, why wouldn't he be placed on the practice squad? The Ravens are going to load the roster with the best players possible. We don't have room for projects on the active roster. I guess you all have crystal balls that tell you how the guy is going to perform? Everyone is open to an opinion, but saying that Streeter won't be put on the PS just because he was a draft pick is pretty asinine IMO. Let's see how he plays on this level.

[TheJoeFlaccoShow]

I think this whole theme is something that USED to be true, but I'm not sure how true it is anymore. Even with a lockout and no offseason last year, rookie receivers all the way from AJ Green (top 5 pick) to Torrey Smith (2nd rounder) to Doug Baldwin (undrafted) had big years last year. There were even more 2nd year WRs who had huge years, all the way from Jimmy Graham (basically a WR, 3rd round pick, only played college football for a year,) to Victor Cruz (undrafted FA who didn't play at all in 2010.)

So, having said that, I think the whole theme of WR being one of the most difficult positions to learn might be going away, or perhaps it might just be evolving as the NFL is evolving to still allow rookies to make big contributions right out of the gate. (It's not impossible that these last few years have just had a lot of aberrations, too.) I think it's still true that WR is a very hard position to evaluate and project, though.

Nope, still true.

All the players you listed are exceptions not the rule.

I could list 100 other guys who were useless, which is what rookie WR's are for the most part.

That said I think Streeter will still have a spot on the team, even if we sign someone else.

[Rxdoxx]

Couple of thoughts.

Last year in preseason I had no idea that Danny Gorer would step up like he did. I think that puts a little more "bubble" on Chykie, he is going to have to have stepped up significantly.

Something that is puzzling me in this thread is Josh Bynes. Some of us loved him last pre-season. I wasn't shocked when he didn't make the roster, but I was really shocked when Chavis Williams made the PS instead of him. What am I missing that people are moving him ahead of Chavis???? gotta be something I'm not aware of....

[blacknpurplepain]

If Streeter has stone hands in practice and preseason, why wouldn't he be placed on the practice squad? The Ravens are going to load the roster with the best players possible. We don't have room for projects on the active roster. I guess you all have crystal balls that tell you how the guy is going to perform? Everyone is open to an opinion, but saying that Streeter won't be put on the PS just because he was a draft pick is pretty asinine IMO. Let's see how he plays on this level.

I think most are saying if he is placed on the PS that another team will sign him

[Shas]

How many teams snarf up and give roster spots to sixth round WRs who demonstrate stone hands in the preseason?

[bmorecareful]

Nope, still true.

All the players you listed are exceptions not the rule.

I could list 100 other guys who were useless, which is what rookie WR's are for the most part.

That said I think Streeter will still have a spot on the team, even if we sign someone else.

Is that so?

I don't necessarily disagree that LATE round WRs are not going to make big contributions, but very few late round rookies at any position are going to make big contributions.

How many exceptions do you need to show the "rule" is struggling? Of the 11 WRs taken in the first 3 rounds of the 2011 draft, 8 of 11 had at least 20 catches, injury notwithstanding. 5 had at least 40 catches! The 2010 draft is very similar. See for yourself. I'm aware we didn't take a WR in the first 3 rounds, but the point remains true. I don't think you can just wave it off cuz you feel like it.

Nobody is saying rookie WRs are going to come in and dominate, but you are clearly incorrect that rookie WRs are "useless for the most part." If that was ever true, it certainly isn't true anymore.

[JustaslowZ06]

I'm in the camp of Streeter making the roster and Reed going on PUP.

Initially I thought Drew would be the 3rd TE, but now not so sure. That will be a serious comp in camp and the preseason and reall the largest except for where the WR's shake out on the depthchart. The rest is pretty much already set.

[duffybr]

Thanks for all teh work on this

[LukeDaniel]

If Streeter has stone hands in practice and preseason, why wouldn't he be placed on the practice squad? The Ravens are going to load the roster with the best players possible. We don't have room for projects on the active roster. I guess you all have crystal balls that tell you how the guy is going to perform? Everyone is open to an opinion, but saying that Streeter won't be put on the PS just because he was a draft pick is pretty asinine IMO. Let's see how he plays on this level.

Unless Streeter has Justin Harper hands, he's going to make the Raven roster, whether it be active or in the form of one of those mysterious IR injuries. If he is put on the practice squad, he'll be scooped up in an instant. There have been undrafted rookies with less promise and less actual production at any level who get stolen off practice squads every day during the season. Let's not underestimate how awful some of these other teams' rosters are. I seem to recall that the 2008 Kansas City Chiefs had 35 of their 53 players not make an NFL roster the following year (mindboggling). That's a rarity in ineptitude, but it goes to show how eager some of these bottom feeding NFL franchises are to scavange talent off the top-tier teams.

Also, let's not forget about the 7 inactives we have every week too. Even if Streeter was not one of the 53 most ready to help the Ravens in 2012, it really wouldn't matter because the bottom 2-3 guys on the roster, whether NFL-ready or not, rarely play. Anthony ALlen was active for...what....3 games last year?