Ravens talk about Day 2 picks
Here's what the Ravens had to say about their third and fourth round picks:
General manager Ozzie Newsome on Miami linebacker Tavares Gooden: "The only thing I told him, he couldn’t have 52 when he gets here because that belongs to someone else. Anytime you get someone from the Miami Hurricanes, you know you’re getting someone who loves the game and runs to the football and understands how to play the game. It gives us depth but it helps us on special teams right away."
Newsome on Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski: "Physical, fast and can run to the football. We talked about getting bigger and faster in this draft, and both of those players have allowed us to do it. Zbikowski can also be a backup returner for us. Those are some areas that we got hit pretty hard last year and we ended up taking guys from the practice squad. We feel like we added some real good depth and, over the course of the next three or four years, guys that could become starters for us."
Ravens director of college scouting Eric DeCosta on UTEP offensive tackle Oniel Cousins: "Oniel is an outstanding athlete. We think he is a great prospect. We think he has a lot of upside and should develop over time. He probably needs to get a little stronger, but we think the tools are there. He’s got great feet. He’s a great kid. He’s a worker and has got the right temperment. He’s a nasty player and we think he competes right away at the right tackle spot."
DeCosta on New Mexico receiver Marcus Smith: "He’s a slot receiver who has good size. He blocks real well and catches the ball in traffic. We felt like we wanted to bring a more physical receiver in here to compete for balls inside the numbers. He’s a core special teams player. I think he adds a lot of value to the team."
DeCosta on Weber State offensive tackle-guard David Hale: "David Hale is a right tackle who can play tackle and also guard. He is very, very physical who is a mean, tough, nasty guy. He’s in the same mold as Marshal Yanda and Tony Pashos. We think he projects very well inside and also at right tackle. We feel very good about David."
Mike Preston has been with The Sun since 1983. Prior to becoming a columnist in 2000, he covered the Baltimore Ravens for four years. Preston is a native of Essex and a graduate of Towson State University, where he played football.
Jamison Hensley covers the Ravens for The Sun. 
Edward Lee covers the Ravens for The Sun. 
Don Markus covers the Ravens for The Sun. 
Comments
Great-the Ravens used all of their 3rd and 4th round picks on projects and special teams players
Posted by: Anonymous | April 27, 2008 4:05 PM
Well - starting lineups on both sides of ball (except QB, T, and CB) are set, so not too shabby. IT's not like Jonathon Ogden was available nor was Deion Sanders. Be happy we have a potentially high quality QB and a really good running back to add to O-fence. And if you have seen Gooden or Zbikowski play - they are bad mothers!! Special teams makes your season - better field position, pinning opposition within 20 - these are big deals in NFL - especially if you can't score 30 points/game - and ah, well, Ravens can't , so this is smart pickin'
Posted by: Rufus | April 27, 2008 4:51 PM
We should have went with Dan Conner from Penn State instead of Gooden from Miami. I would like to see the Ravens start distancing themselves from the stench of The U.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | April 27, 2008 5:04 PM
Cant wait for Zbikowski to knock someone out, preferably a steeler.
Posted by: Drew | April 27, 2008 5:24 PM
Ravens did well to pick up some depth on both sides of the ball. And Gooden is the heir apparent to Ray Lewis. He is super fast sideline to sideline! Overall, I'm happy with their selections. This is what you do on Day 2; sure up your roster.
Posted by: Jwills | April 27, 2008 5:43 PM
Um, Corner is set Rufus..... fabian Washington Brings the great speedy coverage that we need next to McAllister... I don't see him getting burned deep as much as Rolle does thanks to his catch up speed. But anyway this has been yet another great draft by the ravens...
Posted by: Marcel | April 27, 2008 5:50 PM
You have to love picking up Allen Patrick in Round 7.
Posted by: Rick | April 27, 2008 6:20 PM
Ravens had a smart draft with plenty of tools for the future. I'm very impressed. I think we made a few steals with Zbikowski and Gooden. I see Gooden being the anchor of the defense once ray-ray retires. He'll fit in quite well with the Suggs.
Posted by: Joshua | April 27, 2008 7:56 PM
2nd day picks usually are projects and special teams players. The Ravens have had a ton of success in the past with developing the 2nd day picks into quality STARTERS. ie. Adalius Thomas, Bart Scott, and a host of others. You aren't gonna get players on day 2 that you would expect to be studs as rookies, if they were expected to be, then they would be top ten picks.
Posted by: corey | April 27, 2008 9:12 PM
Hey, "anonymous," which pretty much explains your knowledge of football: Do the names "Adalius Thomas" and "Bart Scott" ring a bell?
The Ravens know how to draft quality players who will develop into starters. Just because you read "special teams" does not equate to mediocrity. Some of these guys the team drafted could one day be a star on defense. If you do any homework at all, which I doubt, you'll see that Baltimore takes players with tremendous upside and athleticism who earn their way on the field through "special teams" excellence.
It's easy picking big names in the first or second round. The real work and scouting comes with digging for the diamonds in the rough who prove to be great over the long-haul.
The Ravens are proven wizards at finding the hidden gems.
Posted by: Chris | April 27, 2008 10:24 PM
Getting Fabian Washington was probably the most pivotal part of the draft, as the Ravens didn't draft a CB.
I would've taken Dan Connor over Gooden and Peyton Hillis over Justin Harper.
I hope the Ravens invite Johnny Dingle, Adarius Bowman, and Glenn Sharpe to camp. I really like those players.
The tackles are basically depth for the offensive line. Gaither will get the start at tackle, IMO. Nobody else is ready at the moment.
Posted by: E-ROC | April 27, 2008 10:53 PM
excellent draft by the ravens. joe flacco won't disappoint, apparently he's very roethlisberger-esque. good thing we picked up ray rice, willis is pretty injury prone, so we have him at least as a solid backup, plus allen patrick, and musa smith if he is still here i dont remember. all these 2nd rounders are great players, nakamura and zbikowski will have very good careers, good thing we got that nastiness back in the o-line, reminiscent of the super bowl year o-line. overall excelllent
Posted by: reediddy | April 28, 2008 4:18 PM
Zbikowski is my boy, I can't wait to get a jersey once he starts knocking out recievers coming across the middle or going in to meet the running back at the line of scrimmage.
Posted by: DannyB | April 28, 2008 11:49 PM
Yeah Robert- If only Baltimore hadn't drafted Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and picked up Willis McGahee for PSU guys like Curtis Enis and Kerry Collins. Stench of the U???? When was the last time PSU football was relevant?
Posted by: Kenneth | April 29, 2008 11:45 AM