This week's Ravens links
A roundup of national media coverage on the Ravens:
SI.com's Peter King says don't rule out Jonathan Ogden for the 2008 season just yet:
John Harbaugh's a really impressive man. So impressive that I hear Jonathan Ogden is having some fleeting thoughts about playing in 2008. I'm not saying anything other than he's thinking about it, but that's more than he was doing two months ago, when he was certain he'd retire.
ESPN.com's Matt Mosley says Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib could go to the Ravens at No. 8:
I also think that Talib could surprise a lot of people and actually be the second corner off the board. Look for him to go to the Ravens at No. 8.
Mosley names Talib as the Ravens' pick in his latest mock draft:
I butchered this one in the second mock draft. There's no way the Ravens take Rodgers-Cromartie. Talib is a big cornerback who moves amazingly well. This is a lot higher than other mockers have him, but I need you to trust me on this one.
In a Sporting News article, ProFootballTalk.com's Mike Florio names Ogden as one of 10 NFL players who should retire:
Ogden is another guy who should quit talking about retirement and just do it. For the future Hall of Famer, however, it’s not about whether he loves the game. It’s about whether he can continue to use a constantly injured toe to push off his 345-pound frame. (Then again, it’s likely the toe is constantly injured from all those years of doing just that.)
FoxSports.com's Alex Marvez says the Ravens' iron men are guard Jason Brown and safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry. Marvez's picks are based on percentage of snaps played in 2007.
SI.com's King writes about a 3-D IMAX film on the band U2 that had Art Modell's son David as one of its executive producers. Could a similar experience be coming for NFL fans?
David thinks the technology is there to do live NFL games in 3-D and broadcast them in theaters. I asked him if he thought we'd see it sometime in the next 10 years. "It can be done a lot earlier than that,'' he said. "Can you imagine the experience?'' I can. Imagine a Giants' playoff party in the lobby of the Manhattan IMAX theater, then moving upstairs to watch the game. Would that be worth $25 per person? Or $50? Even if the game were on live TV, I'd say it just might be.
And finally, in case you missed this link from the weekend, SportingNews.com's Florio lists 10 general managers who need to deliver on draft day, including the Ravens' Ozzie Newsome:
With coach Brian Billick finally out the door, the accountability shifts squarely to Newsome. Though Newsome has drafted incredibly well, he needs to solve the quarterback problem once and for all. Now is the time to begin to develop a guy from scratch, and Newsome needs to guess right.
Comments
J.O. is the best LT in NFL history and he is not very old. If his toe feels good and he is in shape there is no doubt in anyone's mind who has ever seen him play, that he can still dominate all pro DEs. Even on 1 leg he was getting it done.
The last game he played against the Steelers he was moving very well and dominating the game. The Cory Ross TD was aided by J.O. literally blocking 3 defenders on the play. He shoved the first guy way wide, turned back and crushed a LB in the hole, then doubled back again as Ross cut off that block and got a hand on the saftey as Ross broke free basically untouched.
Just look back at week 13 and 17 last year and there is every reason to believe the Ravens will be good enough to entice J.O. off the golf course even if it is not until after camp ala Mike Strahan.
Posted by: Jeremiah | April 8, 2008 11:49 AM
after thinking a little more about the draft and who the Ravens might take at #8... it seems like Ryan and Gholston would be slam dunks but probably won't be there and we need a corner more than anything, so how about a trade down. There are 4 decent corners in this draft worthy of top 20 picks and we would do well to get any of them, plus we could save a lot of money by trading down. Our picks value will be determined on who is available at that point, maybe Ellis, one of the OT's or McFadden if teams feel his off the field issues are a real problem.
Here are some teams that we might be able to trade with:
Saints: could move up two spots to get Ellis before the Bengals.
Denver thru Detroit could move up to get the OT they most covet.
Minnesota might want Harvey that bad but I don't think they need to go all the way up to 8 to get him.
Dallas could jump up to grab a falling player like McFadden and this would be great as we would get their two first round picks. We could use the first pick on a guy like Jerod Mayo, the second on which ever QB is ranked the highest and then use our second round pick on a decent CB like Cason or King. I think I might be dreaming a little bit with this scenario but that's the fun part of the draft.
Posted by: Peter | April 8, 2008 12:27 PM
Just an interesting side note: the other way the U2-3D film is connected to Baltimore and foootball is the director, Mark Pellington. He's the son of former Colt Bill Pellington.
Posted by: bmh | April 8, 2008 2:00 PM
No matter what is written in any blog or column, come draft day we have got to come out of there with a starting CB or we're in big trouble next year. I'd rather we take care of it with the first pick and go either go after a QB with the second or roll with Troy and fill other needs, like the replenishing the offensive tackles or WR. As questionable (putting it nicely) as the play at QB has been, we cannot afford to let the secondary get any worse than it did last season, and now is the time to go after one of these guys. Their impact (or the impact of not getting them) will be felt far more than that of the rookie QB in the first round.
Posted by: David21009 | April 8, 2008 9:35 PM
how do these sports authorities get their jobs? i think the last 3 ozzie drafts have been exceptional look at the depth and look at both of our lines. need another pass rusher-dan coty(healthy). i don't think the ravens have ever been in a more qualified position to draft a qb or a wr with cam on the job. while ozzie can field a super d and handle all the other offensive positions, qb and wr have been a challenge. cam knows what they look like-we are very fortunate. this should be a special draft.
Posted by: charlie | April 10, 2008 12:11 AM
In the upcoming draft, I see the priorities as follows:
1. CB or monster pass rusher
2. QB of the future
3. J.O. replacement
4. WR--a Plexico Burress type
5. LB
Numbers 1 and 2 are absolutely necessary!!! GO OZZIE!!!
Posted by: walt holman | April 10, 2008 11:14 AM
I'm surprised Troy Smith isn't getting much respect. I thought he played pretty well in limited action last year. Is he ready yet? Probably not. But he's more ready than a rookie would be, and he might have more upside than anyone the Ravens could get in this draft. I think he should be viewed as the QB of the future, at least for now.
Posted by: Austin Wall | April 10, 2008 7:57 PM