Here's a roundup of national media coverage on the Ravens, part two.

For part one, click here.

CBSSports.com's Clark Judge offers his take on the Ravens' selection of Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco:

This is what bothers me about Baltimore's pick of Joe Flacco: The Ravens are putting him in the same position as another big-armed quarterback, Kyle Boller, when he was a rookie. Boller didn't have an experienced quarterback to school him, and neither will Flacco. You tell me who's going to mentor the guy: Boller or Troy Smith? Oh, and one other thing: When you saw that video of Flacco heaving the ball a mile, did it remind you of those pre-draft stories of Boller bombing 50-yarders from his knees? Yeah, me, too.

Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports gives the Ravens a C:

There’s a lot of excitement about Flacco, who has a cannon arm. But look at the history of the league: QBs who are taller than 6-5 generally aren’t very good. They can’t move fast enough to avoid hits. Flacco lumbers when he moves and he’s making a big jump from Delaware. Good luck. Rice is a very good backup to Willis McGahee, and Gooden is a much better player than he showed at Miami.

Too early for a 2009 mock draft? ESPN.com's Todd McShay doesn't think so. He has the Ravens picking 14th and taking Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis:

The Ravens need an upgrade at corner and a young playmaker like Davis, who possesses rare athleticism for his size, would be an ideal fit.

SI.com's Andrew Perloff has the Ravens picking ninth and taking Oklahoma offensive tackle Phil Loadholt in next year's draft:

At 6-foot-8 and at least 350 pounds, Loadholt could draw some comparisons to Jonathan Ogden. He's not that good, but certainly grades as a first-rounder.

ESPN.com's Gregg Easterbrook praises Ozzie Newsome for his moves in the first round:

Net of Ravens' first-day trades: The Nevermores gave up the eighth choice overall and a sixth-round pick for the 18th choice overall (used to grab Joe Flacco, whom they might have chosen had they stayed put), a third-round pick and two fourth-round picks. At a time when trading down is hard, credit Ozzie Newsome for pulling three midround choices out of the air.

John Czarnecki of FoxSports.com gives the Ravens an A- for the draft:

With Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan gone, the Ravens did the wise thing and traded down with Jacksonville, knowing they would be able to take Delaware's Joe Flacco later in the first round. Flacco was a definite need with Steve McNair retired and Kyle Boller never holding onto the job. Flacco is 6-foot-6 and has a solid arm. Rutgers RB Ray Rice was a steal with the 55th pick, and he'll give Willis McGahee a chance to rest. Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski is a former boxer and tough guy. David Hale of Weber State played well in the East-West Shrine Game and could develop into an offensive tackle, although he lacks athleticism.

CBSSports.com's Judge names the Ravens drafting of Flacco one of the five biggest gambles of the draft:

The Ravens moved up to take him with the 18th pick when they probably could've gotten him by sitting tight in the second round. That means they had a conviction about Flacco, and that's good. Here's hoping they have better luck with this move than the last time they traded up to take a quarterback.

ESPN.com's Floyd Reese praises the Ravens for their trades on Day One of the draft:

Even though many claim it was impossible for the Ravens to trade and improve their selection, they scalped Jacksonville and moved down to No. 26. Again, either due to intelligence or fear, they jumped up to No. 18 and were still able to draft their man. This is an outstanding example of the Ravens' working the board to ensure they get their choice and value for the pick. This maneuvering set the tempo for the entire weekend and a solid draft for Baltimore.

CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco hands out grades and gives the Ravens a C:

Best pick: Third-round pick Tavares Gooden was the best defender on a Miami defense that included two players picked higher than him. Ray Lewis has a fellow from The U. he can take under his wing.

Questionable move: Trading up to get quarterback Joe Flacco. They probably could have stayed at 26 and still landed him. Plus, Brian Brohm and Chad Henne were better options.

Second-day gem: Safety Tom Zbikowski, a third-round pick, is one of those players who will find his way onto the field. He will be a special-teams star -- bare minimum.

Overall grade: C. They reached for Flacco and I didn't really like the pick of Ray Rice in the second round.

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports names the Ravens one of his winners from the '08 draft:

Plan B was Joe Flacco of Delaware. He wasn’t worth drafting at No. 8, and there was no threat someone else would grab him – plus, why get stuck paying more money? So the Falcons dropped to 28th, then sprung back up to 18th and at the end of the day got the guy they wanted, for less money, and wound up with extra third- and fourth-round selections to boot. (They lost a sixth-rounder, but whatever). That’s fine draft maneuvering. The caveat here is how good is Flacco? Is he just the reincarnation of Kyle Boller? A number of player personnel directors who didn’t need a quarterback think Michigan’s Chad Henne was the best non-Matt Ryan option out there. But Baltimore made its decision and made it work in every imaginable way.

Wetzel says Flacco's draft party is one of his losers:

Through the years, one of the best parts of the draft is watching the video from the family parties. The legendary bash that LenDale White appeared to be throwing when Tennessee took him remains the stuff of legend. That was a crowd that was enjoying itself. Flacco needs to step up his game from I-AA to NFL starter. Even his family and friends wore silly “Let’s Go Joe” t-shirts. Marlo Stanfield will not allow him to represent Baltimore like that.

Clifton Brown of the Sporting News gives the Ravens a C+:

Getting Joe Flacco was important, but they took a major risk trading out of the No. 8 spot. Ray Rice is a small back, but he should form a nice combo with Willis McGahee.

Matt Hayes of the Sporting News looks at the Flacco pick from different perspectives:

Turning Leaf: OK, let's review: Flacco plays for Pittsburgh. Flacco can't beat out Tyler Palko for the starting job, despite the new coaching staff and a clean slate. Flacco transfers to I-AA Delaware and puts up huge numbers against inferior competition. The words "red flag" come to mind.

Hello, West Texas A&M: Prototype NFL size, rocket arm, no mobility. The exact description of a guy named Leaf. This has Arena League written all over it.

Bill Polian's perfect world: Let's see: Brian Brohm, John David Booty, Erik Ainge -- take your pick. Frankly, I want a guy who's not afraid to compete. Is that too much to ask?

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com and the Sporting News says the Ravens disregarded the trade chart when trading down with Jacksonville:

The picks Jacksonville gave up (a first-rounder, two third-rounders and a fourth-rounder) totaled 1,127 points under the chart. The pick the Jaguars received from the Ravens was worth 1,400 points. That's a 273-point difference. Ravens officials didn't care because they're not handcuffed to the concept of getting a certain number of points. They wanted to do the deal because they wanted to draft their quarterback of the future at a spot lower than No. 8. So they accepted the offer, landed three more picks and ultimately got their guy, Joe Flacco, at a much lower salary slot. The move gives other teams ammunition to criticize the Ravens, but none of it will matter if Flacco can play.

USA Today's Larry Weisman gives the Ravens a C:

Wanted a QB. They suspected Matt Ryan would not fall to them in the eighth spot and could not trade up. So they dropped down and grabbed a recent riser in Joe Flacco. Big arm, but how his skills translate from a smaller college program (Delaware) to the NFL is anyone's guess. Filling this position has been an intractable problem for years. Did not get an OT to replace Jonathan Ogden. Grade is higher if you like trade for CB Fabian Washington, a former No. 1 of Oakland's acquired for a fourth-round pick.

Vic Carucci of NFL.com characterizes the Ravens' draft as "solid":

If the Ravens finally found their franchise quarterback in first-rounder Joe Flacco, then this draft was a huge success. The strong-armed Flacco was a star at tiny Delaware, raising questions about whether he is up to the transition to the NFL. But the Ravens had enough of a conviction in him to deal down from No. 8, when it was clear they would not be able to get Ryan, and then back up to to land Flacco with the No. 18 pick. Although the Ravens already have a franchise running back in Willis McGahee, they made a key move to help their depth at the position by grabbing Rutgers' Ray Rice in the third round. The Ravens got some solid help at safety, by selecting Notre Dame's Tom Zbikowski in the third round, and at cornerback by sending a fourth-round choice to Oakland for Fabian Washington.

Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News gives the Ravens a C:

The Ravens needed a quarterback and probably overextended for Flacco. New head coach John Harbaugh didn't forget his special teams roots when he drafted safeties Zbikowski and Nakamura and WR Smith.

Mark Maske of The Washington Post says he didn't like the Ravens' draft:

Joe Flacco might end up being the answer at quarterback. He might end up being well worth the 18th pick in the draft. But at the moment the Ravens drafted him, they didn't need to use the 18th pick to get a quarterback of Flacco's draft-day value. They could have stayed put at 26th after trading down and, if Flacco was gone, taken Brian Brohm.

Tony Moss of The Sports Network gives the Ravens a C+:

Flacco was a bit of a reach and doesn't look to be game-ready, but Baltimore obviously rated him above of the likes of Brian Brohm and Chad Henne. Rice was drafted in order to take pressure off of Willis McGahee, and will have to prove he can withstand an NFL pounding. Gooden and Zbikowski are not immediate defensive starters, but will contribute on special teams and get a chance to learn from the best. Cousins and Hale offer much-needed o-line depth. In all, the team drafted five skill players in an effort to create some competition for the flagging offense, and also added ex-Raiders first-round corner Fabian Washington via a trade, but the pass rush went begging.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (24)
                    

The following is a roundup of national media coverage on the Ravens. Since there's so much draft coverage out there, I'm going to split this into two separate posts so check back later for another installment.

Also, in case you missed them, I put together shorter media roundups for several of the Ravens' draft picks. Click here for those.

Now, on to the links:

ESPN.com's James Walker says the Ravens had to work hard to land Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco, but they made all the right moves:

It's hard to pick a bone with what the Ravens did today. They didn't overreact to try to get Ryan, and didn't panic when he was taken off the board. Instead, they were smart, swift and organized. Much of the team's success could rest on the shoulders of Flacco next season. The Ravens are a veteran-laden team, but based on the production of previous signal-callers, Flacco has as good a chance as any rookie to win a starting quarterback job in 2008. 

ESPN.com's Mel Kiper Jr. gives the Ravens a B+ for the '08 draft:

The Ravens wanted Matt Ryan, but Joe Flacco was the next-best quarterback in this draft. The Ravens made a great deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars that got them three additional picks. They also traded down and still were able to get running back Ray Rice in the second round. The Ravens need to start bringing in young linebackers and Miami's Tavares Gooden had a very good 2007 season. Tom Zbikowski is a good third-round choice, but only if his play resembles what he did in 2006 as opposed to 2007. Oniel Cousins is a versatile offensive lineman and WR Marcus Smith will help on special teams in kick coverage and as a returner. Safety Haruki Nakamura and RB Allen Patrick might have to make this roster by performing on special teams.

SI.com's Peter King says the Ravens offered their first-, second- and fourth-round picks for '08 and a third-rounder in '09 to the Rams for the No. 2 pick, but St. Louis declined. The Ravens would have been making the trade to select Boston College's Matt Ryan. King says the Ravens could have got the deal done had they sweetened the pot, but it didn't happen for two reasons:

One: New offensive coordinator Cam Cameron loves Ryan, but he also likes Flacco and [Chad] Henne, and he thinks Flacco might have the traits and the arm to be special. Two: New coach John Harbaugh wanted picks. He wanted an influx of talent for this first-year coaching staff to coach, and if they had to spend a mint to get Ryan, three or four of those bright prospects -- like second-round back Ray Rice -- would never have been Ravens today.

Last week, King wrote that the Ravens were targeting Chad Henne. He explains what he thinks might have happened:

I think the Ravens' draft, obviously, will ultimately be judged on whether Joe Flacco can play or not. And if you've been reading this site, you know I thought the Ravens' guy was Chad Henne, not Flacco. Someday, maybe I'll get the truth on that one, but I think it came down to the Ravens having an internal debate on whether to pick Henne or Flacco, and the offensive coordinator thought Flacco's upside was significantly better. I think he might struggle. The edge Henne had was that he played quarterback for four years as a starter at a big program, Michigan, and Baltimore is a team that needs a quarterback to play now. How will Flacco be more pro-ready than Henne? He won't be. It'll be an interesting experiment.

ESPN.com's Walker breaks down the draft for AFC North teams and says the Ravens had the most surprising move in the division by trading twice in the first round:

It was a good yet surprising series of moves by the Ravens, who were organized enough to pull it all off. "We had a game plan,'' Ravens director of college scouting Eric DeCosta told reporters in Baltimore. "We thought about this scenario for a long time. Joe was a player that we've had a chance to spend a lot of time around.''

ESPN.com's John Clayton names the Ravens one of his winners:

If you believe in Joe Flacco, the Ravens are winners. If you don't, well, they go in a different category. Steve McNair's retirement blindsided the Ravens, so they had to get a quarterback in the first two rounds. They feverishly tried to trade up for Matt Ryan, but he went to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 3. To get Flacco, the Ravens traded back with Jacksonville from No. 8 and then traded up with Houston to No. 18. Most people thought Henne was the Ravens' No. 2 quarterback option because general manager Ozzie Newsome doesn't draft small-college players (Flacco is only the second small-college player taken by Newsome in the first day of a draft). Flacco has a great arm, and the Ravens are a solid organization. They won't rush him onto the field.

SI.com's Dr. Z offers his take on the Ravens' draft:

They wanted Ryan. Falcons got him. So we'll take our ball and go home, said Ozzie Newsome, and he packed up and pulled out of the pick. And there he was heading for the second round, when hello there, Joe Flacco, the big guy with the laser arm, was still aboard. So at 18 he became a Raven. I don't think Kyle Boller's in trouble -- yet. The kid is still too raw, and wild. And at the draft room in New York a great cheer went up when the Ravens, with their second-round pick, selected Rutgers star halfback Ray Rice, the greatest player to wear the scarlet since the great Paul Robeson.

ESPN.com's Walker says Fabian Washington, who the Ravens acquired via trade from the Oakland Raiders, could improve in Baltimore:

Washington was an athletic former first-round pick in 2005 with blazing speed and will add depth to an aging secondary that includes Chris McAlister (30) and Samari Rolle (31). Washington, 24, struggled in Oakland and has some off-the-field problems he's dealing with as well. A change of scenery could help.

SI.com's Don Banks examines how likely each rookie quarterback is to play in 2008. Here's what he says about Flacco:

The Ravens will play Kyle Boller and/or Troy Smith early because they've said all along this spring that Flacco might need some time to acclimate to the NFL game. But a lot will depend on how comfortable Flacco looks in training camp. If he's solid and smooth in his execution, he's going to get a shot at some point in his rookie season.

Banks says the Ravens have had their eyes on Flacco for quite some time:

Though I bought some of the buzz surrounding Michigan quarterback Chad Henne and the Ravens in recent weeks, I knew that Baltimore has been high on Flacco since late last fall, when the Blue Hen quarterback started elevating himself into first-round consideration. Ravens scouts who saw Flacco play against nearby Towson State and Navy gushed about the kid's potential. New Baltimore offensive coordinator Cam Cameron "loves'' Flacco, a league source said Saturday, and thinks he has a chance to be special in the NFL. With a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback in Baltimore, the Ravens have the kind of fresh start that's going to generate some positive vibes the remainder of this offseason.

Banks says Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski will be a perfect fit in Baltimore:

Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski is a tough, hard-hitting player with a name that sounds just as tough and hard-hitting. So it's perfect that he wound up going to Baltimore in the third round, 86th overall. The Ravens defense is as physical as any in the league, and that swagger that they're known for is a big part of their persona. Zbikowski, who is also a boxer in his spare time, is going to fit right in with the mindset in Baltimore.

ESPN.com's Matt Mosley says Flacco has been compared to another AFC North quarterback:

As I've said before, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and college scouting director Eric DeCosta see Flacco as a more athletic and accurate version of Derek Anderson. The organization drafted Anderson in the sixth round in 2005, but released him to make room for the great Kordell Stewart.

SI.com's King questions one part of Brian Billick's role during NFL Network's draft coverage:

I did see where the Network had Brian Billick talk about the "art of evaluating quarterbacks.'' Uh, isn't that the reason Billick is not the coach of the Ravens anymore? Because he didn't do a very good job of evaluating quarterbacks?

Michael Lombardi said Flacco is lucky to end up in Baltimore in an SI.com article:

Flacco is one lucky guy. He joins a team dominated by defense and gets an offensive coordinator in Cam Cameron who has a history of developing quarterbacks. Cameron will try and speed up Flacco's game, getting him to make quicker decisions and get the ball out of his hands. The Ravens are already used to winning games with a running game and their defense, so Flacco won't be rushed along.

That's it for this post, but there are plenty more opinions out there. Check back for the rest in the next 24 hours.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 10:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

Round 6 (206th overall): Cincinnati safety Haruki Nakamura

5 feet 10, 190 pounds

Nakamura kept a diary on BearcatInsider.com as he prepared for the draft. Here's an excerpt from one of his entries:

A shot at a dream, a dream that so many people out there feel is out of my reach because of my size, speed, or whatever else they can come up with. That fire inside that has brought me this far is beginning to fuel one more time, just to shut some mouths and open some eyes. The raging desire to establish my name in a league that people don't believe I will last in. If I were to truly listen to some of those things, I would have given up a long time, but that's not me, that's not how I was brought up and that's not how I play football.

Good profile on Nakamura in The Chronicle-Telegram. In high school at St. Edward (Ohio), he nearly quit football as a junior because he was a third-string quarterback. One of the players in front of him: Ravens quarterback Troy Smith. The article also talks about how Nakamura's mom forbid him to play football as a youngster, and how he's used his size as motivation:

“A lot of people assume that because I’m not that big of a guy, I wouldn’t be a physical player,” said Nakamura. “It’s true. I’m not 6-2 and 225 pounds. But in my eyes, that’s part of the fun. I like surprising people.”

The Chronicle-Telegram caught up with Nakamura after he was drafted:

“When I got the phone call, it was the biggest relief,” said Nakamura. “There’s a lot of weight off my chest. Now I can relax and get ready to play more football.”

NFL.com's scouting report on Nakamura:

Classic over-achieving blue collar free safety who simply makes too many plays to not get a shot at the next level. While Nakamura lacks the elite straight-line speed of some of the other higher profile athletes at the position, he plays with instincts, physicality and an ability to step up his level against top competition. Nakamura's versatility as a return specialist just adds to his value.

SI.com's scouting report on Nakamura:

POSITIVES: Productive, hard-working college defender with limited upside. Intelligent, displays good instincts, and quick diagnosing the action. Physical, works to get involved, and a willing volunteer in run defense. Displays a burst of straight-line speed, takes good angles to the action, and wraps up when tackling.

NEGATIVES: Undersized, has tackles broken, and struggles getting off blocks. Lacks top sideline-to-sideline range as well as speed to the flanks.

And finally, a couple of very well-done highlight videos on YouTube. Take note of Nakamura stopping No. 27 of Rutgers on a couple of occasions. That's Ravens second-round pick Ray Rice. Looks like Nakamura will see some familiar faces when he gets to his first minicamp.

Here's Nakamura's player page on Cincinnati's Web site.

And finally, a breakdown from The Sun:

2007 statistics: 85 tackles and four interceptions.

Strengths: Smart player who served as the defensive quarterback of the Bearcats. Led team to 10-win season. He's a sure tackler.

Weaknesses: Size. He might not be big enough to play safety in the NFL.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Round 4 (133rd overall): Weber State offensive tackle David Hale

6 feet 6, 308 pounds

Here's what NFL.com says about this pick:

Hale put himself on the map with a solid performance at the East-West Shrine Game. He has the size to play at the next level, but lacks athleticism. Coming from lesser competition, it could take a few years for him to develop.

Here's a Q&A with Hale on NFLDraftBlitz.com that was published in January. Here's what he said were his strengths:

Ahh, just knowing the game. I study the game. I got a little nasty streak. I will go all the way to the whistle.

Here is SI.com's scouting report on Hale:

POSITIVES: Hard-working blocker with adequate size. Quick in all aspects of the game, displays solid footwork sliding off the edge, and anchors in pass protection. Effectively works his hands throughout the action, shows the ability to adjust, and jolts opponents with good hand-punch. Nasty and shows a large degree of toughness to his game. Quick in his head picking up assignments and works well with teammates.

NEGATIVES: Not a dominant drive-blocker and marginally effective opening holes for the running game. Gets minimal results blocking in motion.

Here's Hale's player page on Weber State's Web site.

And video of Hale from the combine:

Finally, The Sun's breakdown:

2007 statistics: His team's offensive line allowed just 12 sacks in 11 games.

Strengths: Size and experience. He's huge and has the frame to add pounds. Four-year starter at Weber State.

Weaknesses: Not very athletic and played against Championship Subdivision competition like first-round pick Joe Flacco.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Round 4 (106th overall): New Mexico WR Marcus Smith

6 feet 1, 214 pounds

Smith had 91 catches for 1,125 yards and four touchdowns as a senior.

Here's a scouting report on Smith from NFLDraftCountdown.com's Scott Wright. Smith's weaknesses according to Wright:

Not very quick or explosive...May struggle to separate in the pros...Still has some work to do in the route running department...Does not use his hands well...Not a finished product and still needs to work on mastering the nuances of the position.

Interesting profile of Smith by ESPN.com's Chris Low. Smith's mother died of a brain aneurysm during his senior season, but that wasn't the first time he faced tragedy:

His father had never been a part of his life. His oldest brother, Maurice, had already been dead for 13 years. He was shot and killed near the San Diego apartments they lived in while riding his bicycle. Smith was only 9 at the time, and it was the start of a tragic seven-month stretch in 1994 that taught him at a young age how fleeting life can be. Maurice's drive-by shooting occurred in March of that year. His grandmother (Sheila's mother), Barbara Lewis, died in August of cancer. A day after her funeral, Smith's uncle, William Lewis, was shot and killed following an argument just down the street from where they all grew up. The only reason he was in town was to bury his mother. Smith has a second brother, Alex, who's currently in prison and isn't scheduled to be released until later this year.

"I know she's watching, so I'm not about to take any plays off, whether it's a game or a practice," Smith said of his mother in the article. "I can feel her right there on my shoulder. I know she'll always be with me."

Here's an article from The Albuquerque Tribune about Smith. It talks about how he didn't start playing football until the ninth grade and was originally recruited as a running back:

When Smith arrived, he found a crowded field of running backs, led by star DonTrell Moore, stealing all the playing time he wanted. "I was mad," he said. "I pouted, I got angry, I wanted to give up. I thought I deserved to have the ball in my hands, and I couldn't let go of the idea that I was the star." Smith wanted to quit when UNM coaches moved him to wide receiver, but his mother told him to stick with the Lobos.

Here's Smith's player page on New Mexico's Web site.

And finally, a breakdown from The Sun:

2007 statistics: 91 catches, 1,125 yards, four touchdowns.

Strengths: Good size and speed, ideal for a slot receiver in the NFL. Also can play on special teams right away.

Weaknesses: Experience. Started his college career as a running back, so like Cousins, he's still learning how to play his position.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 4:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
                    

Round 3 (99th overall): UTEP offensive tackle Oniel Cousins

6 feet 4, 308 pounds

Here's what NFL.com says about Cousins:

At this point in the third round, Cousins is a good value. He's a converted defensive tackle that has solid skills along the offensive line and is a decent depth player at the pro level.

Pro Football Weekly's take on the Cousins pick:

UTEP OT Oniel Cousins is at least a year away from contributing but has all the physical attributes needed to start in the NFL. It may take a year to absorb a playbook and learn protection schemes, but if the light comes on, he could turn out to be a steal for the Ravens at the back of the third round.

Cousins was born in Jamaica before moving to the U.S. as a teenager. According to CBSSports.com, he never saw a football game until his sophomore year of high school. In college, he started out as a defensive tackle before switching to the offensive line. Cousins struggled as a left tackle starter in '06 and was replaced in the lineup. But he improved drastically as a senior when moved to right tackle.

Here's Cousins' player page on UTEP's Web site.

Some YouTube highlights of Cousins:

And finally, a breakdown from The Sun:

2007 statistics: Earned All-Conference USA first-team honors. Had 78 knockdown blocks and allowed just three sacks on 440 pass plays.

Strengths: Versatility. Has played both tackle positions and can play guard. Has a big upside because he's still learning to play on the offensive line.

Weaknesses: Experience. Played his first two seasons at UTEP on the defensive line.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Round 3 (86th overall): Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski

5 feet 11, 210 pounds

Here's what NFL.com says about Zbikowski:

A hard-nosed safety who can hit and play strong in run support. Also a special teams return man who can be a valuable contributor in the kicking game, something new coach John Harbaugh will love in Baltimore. Not extremely quick, but has a good sense of the game.

Here's Scott Wright's scouting report from NFLDraftCountdown.com. Zbikowski's weaknesses according to Wright:

Shorter than you would prefer...Does not have great timed speed...Is not a great athlete...Can be too aggressive at times...Does not have fluid hips and could be a liability in coverage...Is prone to biting on fakes...Will need to work on his tackling fundamentals...Might be a one dimensional in-the-box type...Has a limited upside.

You're going to hear a ton about Zbikowski's career as a boxer. Here's a link to an SI.com in-depth profile about Zbikowski in the ring. Here's a snippet:

As he got older, Tom gravitated toward football and boxing. He still has scars on his hands from breaking into whatever E.J. [his brother] told him to break into. He once banged his head against a brick fireplace because it was the most efficient way to prove how hard his head was. Tom was, to put it one way, active.

And here's what he says in the article about why he boxes:

"It's just that feeling," Zbikowski says. "It's a whole 'nother world in there, than watching it from the outside. It's hard to explain what it's like. That feeling that you have what it takes to step into the ring. There's not too many people that can say they've stepped into any ring with a serious partner. That one-on-one battle, you can't blame anyone else, it's just you and him. That's it."

A five-minute YouTube video of Zbikowski's football highlights:

And footage from one of his boxing matches:

Here's Zbikowski's player page on Notre Dame's Web site.

And finally, a breakdown from The Sun:

2007 statistics: Had a career-high 80 tackles (42 solo) with a sack and two interceptions. He also returned 23 punts for 234 yards (10.2-yard average).

Strengths: A big-time playmaker. Has seven career touchdowns - two on interceptions, two on fumble recoveries and three on punt returns. Should make big contribution on special teams.

Weaknesses: Freelances too much in the secondary. Goes for the big hit or big interception, leaving the defense exposed.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 2:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Round 3 (71st overall): Miami linebacker Tavares Gooden

6 feet 1, 233 pounds

Gooden was a big-time recruit coming out of high school, picking the Hurricanes over schools like Ohio State, LSU and Tennessee. The people over at NFL.com really like the pick for the Ravens:

Looking back in a few years, Gooden might be the best player taken on the second day. He has great athletic ability and gives the Ravens depth in a linebacker corps that is aging.

This South Florida Sun-Sentinel article says Gooden improved his draft stock at Miami's Pro Day. He played outside linebacker for most of his career, but switched to the middle as a senior because of injuries to other players. Gooden was named the team's defensive MVP.

"I don't think I've started to peak yet," Gooden said in the article. "I can't wait to show my skills at the next level."

Here's Scott Wright's scouting report on NFLDraftCountdown.com. Here's what Wright says about Gooden's weaknesses:

Instincts and awareness are questionable...A tad undersized...Is not stout at the point...Doesn't necessarily play with a nasty demeanor...He is not much of a pass rusher or blitzer...Did not make a lot of impact plays behind the line of scrimmage.

ESPN.com's Mel Kiper Jr. had Gooden ranked as the second-best outside linebacker in the draft.

NFL.com's Mike Mayock had Gooden ranked as his third-best outside linebacker.

Here's Gooden's player page on Miami's Web site.

And a short YouTube video of Gooden:

And a breakdown from The Sun:

2007 statistics: Led team with a career-high 100 tackles (60 solo), including three stops for losses, an interception and three pass deflections.

Strengths: Athleticism. Should be able to make his mark on special teams right away. Can play inside and outside.

Weaknesses: Before last season, he missed time with injuries in the previous three seasons.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

With the 24th pick in the second round (No. 55 overall), the Ravens added Rutgers running back Ray Rice.

Rice, 5 feet 8 and 199 pounds, had 2,012 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior last season. He was a true workhorse, piling up 380 carries, second-most in the nation. Rice had 335 carries as a sophomore in 2006. According to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., Rice runs a 4.42 40-yard dash.

Here's a YouTube clip of Rice

The Sun's breakdown of Rice:

2007 rushing statistics: 2,012 yards, 380 carries, 24 touchdowns.

Strengths: Excelled in big games. Got better each season. Durable.

Weaknesses: Size. He could take a beating, but if used right could provide a good 1-2 punch with Willis McGahee. Wasn't asked to catch the ball much out of the backfield. Had just 37 catches in three seasons.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
                    

Sheil Kapadia will be posting on this entry throughout the first round of the NFL draft. Refresh your browser for updates.

Welcome to the first annual Moving the Chains NFL draft running blog. I'll be here for the entire first round, updating picks and offering commentary as I follow the action on ESPN. And like I said yesterday, no Mel Kiper hair jokes.

Ravens fans, the news today, as reported by The Sun's Jamison Hensley is that the Rams wanted the Ravens' first-, second- and fourth-round picks in exchange for the No. 2 pick overall and Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. That asking price was too much.

1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long, OT, Michigan

Roger Goodell just announced the first pick. Count me among those who don't like the No. 1 selection being announced days before the draft. It ruins some of the suspense, doesn't it? Anyway, can't argue with this pick for Miami. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said earlier in the week that Long will play left tackle, despite some concerns about him as a pass blocker.

Meanwhile, the cast of characters for ESPN: Chris Berman, Steve Young, Keyshawn Johnson, Mel Kiper Jr. and Chris Mortensen. This blog should practically write itself.

The crowd seems pretty rowdy. What's the alcohol situation there? Are these fans ripped because of the 3 p.m. start? It would appear so. I'm getting very excited.

ESPN's Suzy Kolber is interviewing Chris Long for what I believe is the fifth time today. He says he can't wait "to get it over with." It's unclear if he's talking about the interview or the draft process. Long also rips his mom for not turning her phone on vibrate.

2. St. Louis Rams - Chris Long, DE, Virginia

Nice embrace between Chris and father Howie as the Virginia defensive end gets selected second. "The guy has a motor." I've heard that phrase roughly 2,364 times in the past couple months when people talked about Long. Another safe pick. This guy will be a quality player for a decade.

ESPN's Rachel Nichols is reporting from Atlanta's draft headquarters. My buddy C-Nast made a great point about Nichols. You ever notice how all her reports sound the same: "I talked to [insert name of player or coach] and he told me [insert important quote/piece of information]." Keep an eye on this the rest of the draft. It never fails.

3. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College

Well, I guess we wasted a lot of time in the past week talking about Ryan in a Ravens uniform, huh? But that's the fun part about the draft. By the way, I'm loving the 10-minute rule between picks. This thing is really moving along. Is it just me, or does Ryan's dad look a little like Tony Sparano?

It's as tough as ever to take Berman seriously after all those YouTube videos popped up where he was cursing up a storm and hitting on the makeup lady. Who's with me here?

"When I say Atlanta, what's the first thing that comes to mind?" That's the question Kolber posed to Ryan. I would have given anything to hear him respond "Michael Vick." Instead he said "Winning football games."

4. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

In the same way you can't say "Chris Long" without "motor." It seems you can't say "Darren McFadden" without "character issues." McFadden could have the most impact of any player in this draft for the 2008 season.

Meanwhile, the story so far is LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey slipping. Some consider Dorsey the best player in the draft.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU

I usually reserve the term "value pick" for my fantasy drafts, but I think it fits here. Analyst Kirk Herbstreit calls Dorsey the best DT he's seen in college football over the last 13 years, and Kiper calls him the best player in the draft. Not bad for the No. 5 selection.

Meanwhile, the Jets are on the clock. This is the best part of the draft. The fans look like they're each about 12 beers deep. A sign reads "The Jets draft blunders end today." It looks like Ohio State's Vernon Gholston is the guy the New York faithful are targeting. Let's hope that they go in a different direction just for entertainment purposes.

6. Vernon Gholston, OLB/DE, Ohio State

The Jets fans are happy. They got their man. ESPN's Mortensen tells us that Gholston looks like Tarzan with his shirt off. Tarzan? This is why I love the draft.

Several analysts have criticized Gholston for his inconsistent play, saying he disappears at times during games. He bench pressed 225 pounds 37 times at the combine, tying him for the top mark. But my favorite piece of information about Gholston is that he had a female roommate in college. No lie. Check out the Dayton Daily News article "Gholston, female roommate just friends."

"It's a good living situation," Gholston said in the article. "I know my role, and she knows her role. I take out the trash, and she does the dishes."

7. New Orleans Saints (trade from New England) - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

The first trade of the draft! Very exciting. New Orleans moves up to get Ellis, who Ravens director of college scouting Eric DeCosta said could be a top-three pick in any other year. Meanwhile, ESPN's Steve Young uses the word "hubris," confusing at least half of the viewership.

Adds Berman: "It will be interesting to see if they march again on offense." Boomer strikes again.

A trade for the Ravens. Baltimore deals the No. 8 pick to the Jaguars, who were slotted at No. 26. The Sun's beat guys will have the latest on this development shortly. It will be interesting to see what the Ravens got in this trade. You gotta think they'll pick up either Chad Henne or Joe Flacco with the 26th pick.

8. Jaguars (trade from Baltimore) - Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida

Kiper calls this the first reach of the draft. It's still unclear what Jacksonville gave up to land this pick. It's clear that teams want pass rushers after what the Giants did to win the Super Bowl. Five of the first eight picks are defensive linemen. Meanwhile, the Under Armour prototype commercial just ran for the 43rd time. Someone please keep count on this the rest of the way for me.

Awkward exchange between Berman and Kiper. Not sure if there were technical difficulties or if Kiper was confused by Berman saying "Sacco" when referring to Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco.

9. Cincinnati Bengals - Keith Rivers, LB, USC

By all accounts, Rivers is a great character guy. Should fit in perfectly in Cincinnati. No word on whether he's already demanded a trade. Funny moment when the cameras went to the Bengals draft party. The Cincy fans looked like they had never heard of Rivers. Not sure what was going on there.

10. New England Patriots - Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee

I'll be honest. I didn't catch this pick. Was updating the site with the details of the Ravens trade, but I'm pretty sure Berman made a "Hold the Mayo" joke in there somewhere. New England definitely needed some linebacker help so this pick isn't really a surprise.

11. Buffalo Bills - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy

Interesting that the first cornerback didn't go off the board until now. There were four cornerbacks grouped together in this draft, but no real consensus on who the best one was. I like this pick. McKelvin is considered a dynamic playmaker. The camera shows one Bills fan in the crowd wearing what I believe is an Andre Reed jersey, but I could be wrong. He doesn't seem too happy. Cheer up big fella.

12. Denver Broncos - Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State

I'm typing like a madman to keep up here. Mavis Beacon would be proud. As Berman says, "A Bronco becomes a Bronco." Clady had been considered the second or third rated offensive tackle in the draft.

13. Carolina Panthers - Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon

Maybe the biggest surprise of the draft so far, along with the Jaguars taking Harvey. Stewart had toe surgery, and it's unclear when he'll be ready to go, but make no mistake about the guy's talent. He was probably the biggest recruit in the history of Oregon's program and set a school record with 1,722 yards last season. If you don't believe in drafting running backs early, then you hate this pick, but definitely a gutsy move.

By the way, I am the new prototype. The future is our's...

14. Chicago Bears - Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt

Here go the tackles. What happened to Virginia's Branden Albert? His name was flying up the draft charts this week. Williams postponed his honeymoon for the draft. "She's happy because I'm going to get a job soon," Williams told the Associated Press. It's funny how a multi-million dollar pay check can make your significant other more accommodating.

15. Kansas City Chiefs (from Detroit) - Branden Albert, OG/OT, Virginia

There he goes. I'm not sure what the Chiefs gave up for this pick, but some had Albert tabbed as a top seven or eight talent. They've picked up players for both the offensive and defensive lines so far. Albert, a Glen Burnie product, is pictured in Edgewood, Md.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to make the "Which wide receiver will the Lions take?" joke.

Question: Where is Todd McShay? I've heard from the guy everyday for the past two months, but he's nowhere to be found in ESPN's draft coverage. Where are you Todd?

16. Arizona Cardinals - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State

The second cornerback goes off the board, and he only has one kidney. Is this relevant? I have no medical background so I couldn't tell you, but it seems weird that every analyst mentions it even though we have no clue if it has any effect on the guy.

We are more than halfway through by the way. This thing is flying by. I'm a little winded, but I think I still have a strong run in me. Remember, only 31 picks in the first round since the Patriots lost their real first-round selection from Spygate.

17. Detroit Lions - Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College

Kiper says it's a slight reach. That's gotta make Lions fans happy. I was holding out hope that they'd take Michigan State wide receiver Devin Thomas. Too bad. By the way, we didn't even see this pick live. ESPN was at commercial. I was going to blog off NFL Network's coverage, but I'm still not sure how many of you get that channel.

Uh-oh. The Ravens have now traded up to No. 18 to select Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco.

18. Baltimore Ravens - Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware

There's your quarterback of the future Baltimore. The Ravens traded for the second time today, moving up to No. 18 to take Flacco, the strong-armed quarterback from Delaware, At 6 feet 6, Flacco is said to have the strongest arm in the draft. The Sun will have complete details of this pick shortly.

Flacco puts his hat on before the pick is announced.

19. Carolina Panthers (from Philadelphia) - Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh

For the second year in a row, the Eagles trade their first-round pick. Maybe they'll take another quarterback in the second round? Meanwhile, the Panthers pick up an offensive tackle to go along with Oregon RB Stewart. The price was pretty steep though as they gave up this year's second-round pick and next year's first rounder.

20. Tampa Bay Bucs - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

Just don't let Talib go on Michael Irvin's radio show like Mavericks forward Josh Howard. The Kansas cornerback, of course, admitted to failing three drug tests for smoking pot while in college.  

Meanwhile, the Falcons trade for the Redskins' first-round pick. "I feel strongly that it's not gonna be a quarterback," says Berman. Meanwhile, Steve Young makes some reference to Cam Cameron running the Falcons' draft. I'm getting very confused.

21. Atlanta Falcons (from Washington) - Sam Baker, OT, USC

I'm not comfortable with the Redskins having a first-round pick and the Lions not selecting a wide receiver. A new era is truly upon us in the NFL. The 'Skins trade the pick to Atlanta. Kiper says Baker has short arms. Ouch. My favorite college football writer, SI.com's Stewart Mandel, says Baker is one of the more underrated prospects in the draft:

Let's see here. Baker was the starting left tackle -- most important position on the line -- for the most dominant program in the country for four straight years. When Baker got injured last season, quarterback Mark Sanchez (filing in for Booty at the time) suddenly found himself running for his life. Based purely on Baker's college track record, I assumed he would be one of, if not the top, tackle on the board; instead, I see he's barely in the top 10. Baker reportedly did not test well at USC's pro day, which means, of course, that those four years never happened.

22. Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas

Well, the Cowboys ended up with a running back from Arkansas, but it wasn't the one everyone thought they might trade for. Jones is considered a "home run hitter." Remember, this is the pick Dallas got from Cleveland when the Browns took Brady Quinn last year.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois

Mendenhall was considered the No. 2 running back in the draft by some pundits, but he ended up being the fourth RB taken. Further proof that teams are continuing to screw fantasy football owners by playing two backs. If Mendenhall's legit, he and Willie Parker will provide the Steelers with a scary backfield.

24. Tennessee Titans - Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina

I don't remember seeing many mock drafts that had five running backs going in the first round. I think Kiper was so excited he almost fainted upon telling us that Johnson ran a 4.24 40-yard dash at the combine. So, the good news for Titans fans is that they have a thunder and lightning combo in the backfield. The bad news is Vince Young still has no one to throw to. No wide receivers taken yet in the first round.

25. Dallas Cowboys (from Seattle) - Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida

Another trade. I'm having trouble keeping up here. That makes eight deals in the first round. Jenkins was part of the four cornerbacks considered to be among the elite at the position. Now all four are off the board. Hopefully Jenkins will have Pacman Jones to mentor him at some point this season.

But that's not the biggest news in regards to Dallas football. An ESPN commercial just informed us that the Dallas Desperados play the Philadelphia Soul on Monday. Will Dallas come to its senses?

26. Houston Texans - Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech

Funny moment here in the office. It's been a busy day, and senior sports producer Pete Sweigard, who's been updating the site with all the Ravens news, just let out a yell when he heard Goodell say: "In a trade with the Baltimore Ravens..." before announcing this pick. Pete thought the Ravens were making their third deal of the day at first, before realizing what was happening.

27. San Diego Chargers - Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona

I mentioned SI.com college football writer Stewart Mandel earlier. He also had Cason ranked as one of the more underrated players in the draft:

Four-year starter. Three-time All Pac-10 honoree. Fifteen career interceptions, including three touchdowns. And a signature, nationally televised performance last season against then second-ranked Oregon in which he scored on both a 42-yard interception return and a 56-yard punt return. I'm not sure you could ask for a more solid, consistent four-year career by a major-conference cornerback (Aqib Talib turned pro early), yet he's only considered a second-rounder, well behind a guy from Troy (Leodis McKelvin) and a guy from Tennessee State (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie). What more did the guy need to do?

28. Seattle Seahawks - Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC

I've read about 2,000 mock drafts in the last month, listened to everything Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have had to say and been tuned into sports talk radio. Yet I don't remember seeing Jackson going in the first round anywhere. This is right up there with any of the surprises in the first round.

29. San Francisco 49ers - Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina

Steve Young had the 49ers thinking cornerback, but they went with a defensive lineman. Heard Balmer interviewed on ESPN Radio yesterday, and he seemed like a good guy (although I'm not one to judge a guy's character based on interviews with the media).

The Jets have made a trade for the 30th pick. The fans are excited, and quite possibly drunker than they were three hours ago when New York made its first pick.

30. New York Jets (from Green Bay) - Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue

Tough to gauge the fans' feeling on this one. One guy started pumping his fist wildly, but he also had a look on his face like he had no clue who Keller was. Another Jets fan stood in shock with his hands on his head. They look like a fun group. Maybe next year I can live blog from New York city and sit with the Jets fans.

31. New York Giants - Kenny Phillips, S, Miami

Giants fans are pretty entertaining as well. One guy is waving a video camera around wildly. Another in a Plaxico Burress jersey is just staring at the camera with his mouth wide open. And a third in a Giants bandanna is just yelling "NUMBER ONE!" over and over. The Giants take the first safety off the board.

And that concludes the first round. It's been a wild ride. Several trades, two that included the Ravens, and no wide receivers taken. Thanks for the comments. I'll obviously have much more draft content later tonight and tomorrow, but that'll do it for the first-round running blog.

And remember, you are the new prototypes. The future is now...

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 2:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
                    

Before we get to the links, let me first tell you what to expect this weekend on baltimoresun.com.

Here on Moving the Chains, I'll be writing a running blog during the entire first round, watching the draft on TV like most of you. And no Mel Kiper hair jokes. I promise.

Meanwhile, Sun reporters will be filing updates on Ravens news throughout the day, including Ravens Central blog reports from The Castle.

Don't forget to check out our draft prospects photo gallery and our new Ravens draft database where you can search past Ravens draft picks using different parameters. A good way to kill time at work on a Friday afternoon.

Now on to the links:

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was on the Mike Tirico Show on ESPN Radio and had a couple interesting things to say about the draft. Note: To listen to the interview online, you have to be an Insider subscriber. When asked about the team's biggest need, Harbaugh said: "Well the number one thing probably is quarterback, but we’ve got needs everywhere."

Harbaugh was then asked if he'd be willing to start a rookie at quarterback this season. Here's what he said:

I think so, you know if you look at the history, it’s better that thos