rmcjacket23
Ravens Ring of Honor
That came from DeCosta in his presser yesterday.
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The 2022 Offseason Thread
- Thread starter rossihunter2
- Start date
him training with duke would suggest to me that he's genuinely trying to transition to IOL more full-time...
i dont think duke works with any DL guys
He's had such an interesting career path. Played DL in college and was immediately switched to OL upon being drafted. Did that for a bit and then switched back to DL. Thought last year he was genuinely just included in the OL group so they could fuck around with the active roster numbers at some points, but seems OL might be the long term home. Just find it weird because he actually played decently when he got the opportunity on the DL. Just can't imagine all of this flip flopping is going to turn him into anything.
im with you - although the ravens probably look at isaiah mack etc. with even less opportunities who probably out-performed mckenzie fairly significantly in his opportunities
I wouldn’t go as specific as Ojabo, but I have a hard time believing right now that they don’t want to take an edge first. Just makes a lot of sense with how the draft class is stacked.
and with how EDC talked about having a good idea of the 2 or 3 prospects they'll likely be choosing from...
Yeah I don't disagree. More find it weird because our DL depth is putrid and we already have a bunch of eh Gs so you'd think we'd just follow the need for depth, but guess not. Not sure it ultimately matters regardless but just an interesting situation.
it's also possible he's just decided to continue to be a 2-way player and sought out Duke of his own accord to focus on the side he's had less experience with
I think everyone knows that the oline is one of the stronger position of the draft so he isnt really giving away anything.
ndub
Ravens Ring of Honor
You wouldn't gush over the prospects by specific names that much if you were really targeting one of them. He was attempting to sell them even more, hoping teams in front of him would scoop them up which would cause a player to fall. He's been known to do this before and go a completely opposite direction.
rmcjacket23
Ravens Ring of Honor
Right, BUT, I also think people will assume that means that like Olineman is 100% certain to be taken with our first round pick or even our second round pick. I don't. I think Eric telling people the strength of the draft is in those places also means he thinks he can get good players, likely starting caliber players, in the middle rounds at those position groups.
So its still entirely possible that we don't end up with a lineman until maybe round 3, and it will still mean the draft class is strong. Whereas I guarantee if we don't take a lineman by the end of round 2, many fans, especially on here, will be losing their minds.
I think LT is about the only position where I'd say you sort of "have to" use a first rounder on. Every other team in the league, including us, has found high quality starters in later rounds on the Oline. I can't say that we've drafted well on the Oline in recent years, but obviously Orlando Brown was a mid-3rd rounder, Bozeman was a 6th rounder, Rick Wagner was a 5th rounder, Ryan Jensen was a 6th rounder, etc.
for sure when he talks about the strengths he's not just talking about R1
but we should be a little wary about assuming the depth is evenly distributed throughout the class
- OT looks to be good through the first 2 rounds (maybe 3 depending on where some of these guys eventually go) and then fades significantly
- IOL on the other hand looks pretty strong and deep in R3-R4 (albeit worth pointing out that at least at C a lot of those guys aren't ravens scheme fits)
- EDGE is super heavy at the top but there also seems to be a wide gap (for me at least) between the top 7/8 and the next groups (i've got a whole round difference between EDGE 6 and EDGE 8 and another whole round between EDGE 8 and EDGE 9 (obviously still guys to scout but that's where i have it right now)
- S looks like there's a top 6 with only Hamilton as the consensus top guy at the position - after that top 6 it becomes a crap shoot/mess
- CB probably the only position ive come across that seems to have depth the whole way through the draft (WR might also but i havent done enough of those guys yet)
so i do think that if we do get out of R3 without an OL we should be somewhat worried/disappointed because the depth (at tackle especially) is going to be somewhat exhausted when we get into day 3 unless we're really lucky and someone slips - the sky won't be falling but it would definitely be disappointing
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Michael M.
Pro Bowler
I would like to see us get 2 OL, 2DB, 2DL, 1 DE and a Mark Andrews caliber WR as we still don't have a #1 .
we do have a #1... Mark Andrews
we also have a guy who could be that #1 type at WR too... Rashad Bateman
we also have a guy who, for half the season, was keeping pace statistically with the best WRs in the league and was in the top 7 or 8 in yards and just came of a season where he had 91 receptions... Hollywood Brown
seems ridiculous to think we dont have a dynamic receiving corps - im not sure what you think we're missing from it...
ndub
Ravens Ring of Honor
Agreed. We have plenty of quality targets for Lamar. It's much more about keeping him protected so he can shine as a passer and have enough time to make the throws than anything.
if somebody falls in the draft who's too good to still be there then fine we add him, likewise if there's a cheap vet who might add something to the room then that's fine too
but we absolutely do not need to
Michael M.
Pro Bowler
Sorry but I don't see Bateman or Brown as a #1 receiver. Chiefs not only have Kelce but Hill. I don't think we have that consistent one two punch, just my opinion. I'm sure a stronger O line will make some difference, but I still think we need another playmaker to take the heat off Andrews. I think the offense was better when we had an additional receiving TE threat. In addition to Stanley, I have concerns about Boyle returning to full strength. Once again, just my ipinions
