LaQuan Williams and Nigel Carr looking good at camp (for what it's worth)

**Kyle Cactus** · 05-31-2012, 10:48 AM

You can't take much from OTA's but I'm hearings good things about both these guys. If we continue to here good things in minicamp and training camp, then maybe there's something to it.

LaQuan Williams
From Aaron Wilson:
"Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron praised wide receivers LaQuan Williams and Tandon Doss. In particular, Williams had a sharp practice."

From www.BaltimoreRavens.com:
"Second-year receiver LaQuan Williams, who believes he is still fighting for a roster spot after becoming the Ravens’ Cinderella story last year, reportedly had one of the highlights of the day with a beautiful catch on a fade in the corner of the end zone and a one-handed snag on a laser over the middle.

The former undrafted free agent was even making plays against Lardarius Webb, beating the Ravens top corner along the sidelines on more than one occasion, according to The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec."

I know some of the drills they run will favor the offense, but it's encouraging to hear that he was able to make some plays against Webb.

They also shared some tweets in the same column:
- “LaQuan Williams has amazing hands,” wrote WBAL’s Gerry Sandusky.
- “Jacoby Jones had a rough day as far as catching the football,” added RavensInsider Aaron Wilson. “In contrast, LaQuan Williams looked very sharp.”

It will be interesting to see if he can overtake Jacoby Jones for the #3 receiver spot. I keep reading about dropped passes from Jones.

Nigel Carr
Apparently he's an undrafted free agent LB out of Alabama State. Not as much to read about, but he was mentioned in the Ravens "OTA #5 quick hits" column here on Ravens 24x7 and Glenn Younes was singing his praises yesterday evening on The Fan. Maybe another undrafted LB success story? This would be a great time for it with the injuries at OLB, Ray getting way up there. Anyone know if he projects as an ILB or OLB? He's just listed as LB on the team's site.

Edit:
Should have said looking good at OTA's in the title.

**Justlovemybirds** · 05-31-2012, 10:54 AM

Carr played at Florida State so he definitely possesses the talent

**Tucker: M&T Sec 527** · 05-31-2012, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Kyle Cactus

LaQuan Williams
From Aaron Wilson:
"Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron praised wide receivers LaQuan Williams and Tandon Doss. In particular, Williams had a sharp practice."

From www.BaltimoreRavens.com:
"Second-year receiver LaQuan Williams, who believes he is still fighting for a roster spot after becoming the Ravens’ Cinderella story last year, reportedly had one of the highlights of the day with a beautiful catch on a fade in the corner of the end zone and a one-handed snag on a laser over the middle.

The former undrafted free agent was even making plays against Lardarius Webb, beating the Ravens top corner along the sidelines on more than one occasion, according to The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec."

I know some of the drills they run will favor the offense, but it's encouraging to hear that he was able to make some plays against Webb.

They also shared some tweets in the same column:
- “LaQuan Williams has amazing hands,” wrote WBAL’s Gerry Sandusky.
- “Jacoby Jones had a rough day as far as catching the football,” added RavensInsider Aaron Wilson. “In contrast, LaQuan Williams looked very sharp.”

Am pulling for LaQuan: POLY PRIDE deep inside - my kids go/went to Poly. But the role that will make or break him is special teams, which gives him separation from Doss on the roster scramble.

#3 WR is Jones' to lose; any catches LaQuan makes will be gravy, but it doesn't hurt to have his speed available @ WR

**flraven** · 05-31-2012, 11:12 AM

Yes, and was a pretty good player at FSU but got into some legal troubles and I guess got booted off the team. Perhaps that is why he is from Alabama State.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...arges-burglary

**Shas** · 05-31-2012, 11:20 AM

Yeah, he was kicked off the FSU team after he broke into two different cars in the summer of 2010. He had just been named the top LB on the team after spring practice, going into his junior year. (He's an OLB)

So he finished his college career in the minor leagues. He was a four-star recruit out of high school with a lot of high major offers.

The ironic thing is that if you look up what the FSU website said about him just prior to the incident, it says...

2010 OUTLOOK
Steps into the role as the weakside linebacker starter, replacing All-ACC performer Dekoda Watson. Has set new standards of excellence with his work ethic and accountability on and off the field and is poised for a big season after earning most dependable honors among linebackers at the conclusion of spring practice.

So you want to believe he is a good kid who made a bad mistake.

**Benny8444** · 05-31-2012, 11:52 AM

I do agree that the #3 WR spot is Jacoby Jones to lose, i think LaQuan Takes it from him. Then Jones goes to 4 and Doss is 5.

Like last year Cary williams went into OTA/Camp/Pre Season as a long shot to make the team. he ended up being a starter so that is what camp and pre season is for. If jones keeps dropping balls he wont be the #3 but yes it is his job to lose.

I belive Carr makes the team as we usually keep one or 2 UDFAs its hard to tell who the other will be, maybe this year we just keep him and keep an extra OL by signing a vet close to the season or one of the young guys who show a lot during camp/pre season.

**leachisabeast** · 05-31-2012, 01:23 PM

Nigel Carr is an interesting player, and he could really challenge Dannel Elerbee for the #3 LB spot should he make the roster. He brings something to this team that we haven't had for a while, and that's being a coverage LB who can drop back and possibly cover TE's. From what I seen of him at Florida state, he was very talented as a coverage LB. Could be an option as a LB when we go into the nickel. Although I have heard reports that Elerbee is in great shape, has lost some bad weight, and looks a lot leaner than he did in 2011.

**flraven** · 05-31-2012, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Shas

Yeah, he was kicked off the FSU team after he broke into two different cars in the summer of 2010. He had just been named the top LB on the team after spring practice, going into his junior year. (He's an OLB)

So he finished his college career in the minor leagues. He was a four-star recruit out of high school with a lot of high major offers.

The ironic thing is that if you look up what the FSU website said about him just prior to the incident, it says...

So you want to believe he is a good kid who made a bad mistake.

And that is what the Ravens are thinking as well, IMO. I hope they are right.

**wickedsolo** · 05-31-2012, 02:19 PM

He's a pretty quick LB.

**chicagoravensfan** · 05-31-2012, 08:31 PM

Hopefully Carr can prove out -- after stinking up the AFCCG Ellerbe is dead to me.

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**Rxdoxx** · 06-01-2012, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by Shas

So you want to believe he is a good kid who made a bad mistake.

Truth, but what I more than believe is that the Ravens FO always does due diligence. If they have brought him in, they did enough homework to be comfortable with how he currently is, and we can relax and hope we give him a Bart Scott award in a couple of years.

**wickedsolo** · 06-01-2012, 09:34 AM

I wouldn't be surprised if they carried 6 receivers this year at all. LaQuan is a good ST's player as well. So, if the potential is there for a WR and he's a good ST'er...win/win.

Boldin, Torrey, Jacoby, Tandon, LaQuan, Streeter.

Reed to IR.

**GOTA** · 06-01-2012, 09:44 AM

I hope LaQuan sticks around. That kid always seems to work very hard. His attitude is also supposedly great. He's the kind of guy you want to succeed with this team.

**wickedsolo** · 06-01-2012, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by GOTA

I hope LaQuan sticks around. That kid always seems to work very hard. His attitude is also supposedly great. He's the kind of guy you want to succeed with this team.

I agree.

I think the competition is good for him though. It's only going to make him better as a player.

**saintmatthew** · 06-01-2012, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

I agree.

I think the competition is good for him though. It's only going to make him better as a player.

But can he run end-arounds?

**wickedsolo** · 06-01-2012, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by saintmatthew

But can he run end-arounds?

That's why they drafted Courtney Upshaw.

**NOLARavenFAN** · 06-01-2012, 11:59 AM

LaQuan was looking good last year, even got on the field for a few downs......glad to hear that he is seemingly progressing. I still think they bring in a vet LB......losing Suggs would be enough, but losing JJ and Suggs, nope.

**wickedsolo** · 06-01-2012, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by NOLARavenFAN

LaQuan was looking good last year, even got on the field for a few downs......glad to hear that he is seemingly progressing. I still think they bring in a vet LB......losing Suggs would be enough, but losing JJ and Suggs, nope.

If there is no one available and they don't have the cap room, then it may not be an option. Kruger was slated to start anyway and they obviously see Courtney Upshaw as someone who can potentially start.

**Carey** · 06-01-2012, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

I wouldn't be surprised if they carried 6 receivers this year at all. LaQuan is a good ST's player as well. So, if the potential is there for a WR and he's a good ST'er...win/win.

Boldin, Torrey, Jacoby, Tandon, LaQuan, Streeter.

Reed to IR.

Exactly how i see it going

**Shas** · 06-01-2012, 02:21 PM

Well, I'm still at five, with Streeter getting parked on the mystery IR or the practice squad. I know that a few heads explode every time I say this, and that I will once again get told I'm crazy to think that the Ravens can sneak him onto the practice squad without another team immediately placing such a valuable player on their 53-man. But I'll stick with my prediction. If LaQuann plays well, and I continue to believe he will, then you have to say that Streeter is the sixth man within the receiving corps. And if you are the sixth receiver on an NFL roster, you damn well better be a big contributor on special teams. And I just don't see Streeter being that guy. This also causes a few heads to explode, because I have no basis to characterize him this way, except that he didn't do it in college. But, hey, we're all just going off hunches, right?

When it comes to tallying the number of players they carry at a position stretching out that number is almost always going to come down to special teams. They stay lean on the offensive line, for instance, because those guys don't contribute. They give the last spots to guys who can play multiple positions on the line. Doing multiple things -- like special teams on top of a positional contribution -- is what you look for when you're rounding out the final spots of the roster. To me, Streeter is the very definition of a uni-dimensional player. A guy who, for now at least, is just a red zone jump ball guy. Randy Hymes and Clarence Moore redux.

The kind of guys who get those final spots are guys like Nigel Carr as a matter of fact. It's why so many of the UDFA's who made the roster in the team's past are LBs...because they can play special teams for a few years before they work their way into the defensive rotation.

Defensive backs are another prime example. Harbaugh has always said you can't get enough of them. They've carried a lot in the past. And there are a bunch who can project as special team contributors.