With the 52nd ranked player available (Scouts) and a real need, TE Jared Cook, the Ravens take a light weight corner ranked 162. Sounds like Pittman II, preceded by Cody II. Why not just throw the pick away.

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Pete's reply: The only explanation may be that they were looking for a blocking tight end and went with the bigger guy in the fifth round. Isn't Cook really a bulked up WR?

I don't mind the first two picks but why draft a position that you spent nearly all of free agency getting instead of a wide receiver?

Too many college TE's are inadequete blockers because of prevalent spread offenses.

Think drafting Oher was made even more necessary when Pettigrew was picked by Detroit because of weakness on the right side; this shores up the right side since Heap isn't much of a blocker.

I think the worst pick was picking the ECU TE, I liked the guy out of Rice much better. I can't believe we didn't draft 1 receiver the entire time. I'm not sure about this draft, but then again what drafts are for sure?

Still no WR worth taken, huh? Oh well, maybe inthe 9th or 10th rd. Oh, that's right, only 7 rds and we have no 7th rounder. Entire draft filled with good wideouts, andRavens, who need one or two, draft none. We get another short, small school CB who will be released in 2 or 3 years, but no wr. And, they manage to get a TE no one has ever heard of. 5 of them available from the start of the day, but we let them go by the wayside. ?? Not sure what Oz is thinking. Or for that matter, is he actually thinking at all? Yea, he'll grab one or two undrafted free agents and let us believe he "stole on". Sorry, but not drinking the purple kool aid this year. Flacco will fail this year because the Ravens did nothing to help him. By the way, Browns just took Coyne Francis, a CB that should of been taken by the Ravens in rd 3 instead of this "Dubius Character", Webb. They also took a couple of prtty good WR's and I think they did a better job of drafting tis year then the Ravens, and that really p***es me off.

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Pete's reply: I'm curious. How did you feel about last year's draft on the day after?

So much for the blocking TE theory. The TE they drafted was a QB at ECU and is considered a receiving TE. I think that the "Best Player Available" stuff gets taken a little too far sometimes. You have to address need to a degree. You cannot just ignore the WR position as the Ravens have this offseason. Look at what the Giants did. They needed a receiver and they got two of them. Same with Tennessee. We lost out.

Pete, your right in saying that Cook is just a bulked up wide out, but isnt that what we would be looking for in the third? I mean, after drafting one of the top offensive tackles in the draft and not drafting a receiver in the second, couldnt we have atleast tried and help out Flacco with a big, athletic receiving tight end who ran a 4.5?

What a waste of time draft. Hope Flacco is for real, I doubt it, Go Boller at your new job. One good hit and Flacco is carried off. Hope not.Maby we can sign a 3rd string QB from Arerna.

I don't see the critical need at TE. We have Heap, LJ, Syp, and (wait and see) Adam Terry as the new blocking TE. I still think Oz is positioning for Boldin, and is sweating the Cards out. Still odd that he did not take one WR, though. Mason is aging by the second and Williams can't stay healthy. If not Boldin, he'll need to pick up another wideout regardless.

You forgot to mention the Ravens proclivity for shorties too. A 5'9" CB? Wow, so he ran the fastest of any CB at the combine. He will need the speed to try and catch up with receivers since he won't be able to intercept or block any passes. Regarding last years' draft, who did they get other than Flacco? Ray Rice? yet another tiny heralded RB who still hasn't proven anything. I sure hope Derrick Mason has another year in him because it looks like he will once again be the only WR on the team.

Hard to think this is a good draft for the ravens. WR was the biggest need and we failed to get one. I trust in Oz but I am not feeling good about this draft.

Looks like the usual good draft to me. Every year, Ozzie is chastised for making the wrong selections, and year after year , he comes up with winners, with few bad picks. And no one picks 100%.
Check back next year and see how we did.

I here a lot of criticism concerning Ozzie not picking a receiver...Call me crazy, but I still have faith in Clayton and Williams. Clayton made some big plays down the stretch last year, which don't always show up in the box score, and Williams was becoming a legitimate deep threat before he was hurt. In my humble opinion, our receivers are going to be better this upcoming year than they were last, and Oz will come out looking like he knows what he's doing (which he does.)

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Pete's reply: I don't think you're crazy.

I have to think Ozzie and co. have a plan to address the WR situation. Perhaps an aging free agent (Marvin Harirson), a convict (Plexico), or via trade (still hoping for Anquan). Who knows, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. A

Henry Gardner-
YOu sound like an absolute moron! I won't go into detail stifling your riveting commentary on the ineptness on Ozzie- cuz quite frankly, it's too easy and not worth it. I just wish I knew you so when things start to unfold, I could see you eat crow. I think you should read Pete's slogan next to his blog title the next time you feel like speaking out.

og by the way- Oher was indeed the BEST pick to help Flacco... AND the off season is not over yet- and we still have Demetrius Williams to help improve the wr corps. with Oher, Heap will be able to runs more routes... aww what the hell am i doing- u wont understand....

Does no one think before they post any more on here?!

First, because we picked up Oher, and if he shows up this season, our O-line wont need Heap to pass protect like we did last year. That immediately frees up another weapon in the middle, one that many football players still respect. Getting him out there frees up Mason and Clayton (who has great hands imo, remember that catch against the Bungles?) so they can get more catches. Plus, with LJ Smith, we get to use more two TE formations that Cameron loves so much. So, instantly, our offense becomes more versatile.

Second, look at Ozzie's track record overall. We have like 50% of our team from the draft. Not too many teams have that kind of success.

Third, you all forget the Golden Rule we all live by here: In Ozzie We Trust. If we really need a WR, he's going to make things happen so we get an upgrade. We might not get a Boldin character, but we still made it to the AFC championship last year with our receivers, right? Can't complain too much about that.

"Not sure what Oz is thinking. Or for that matter, is he actually thinking at all?: Henry G...What planet have you been living on lately? And...how many All Pros have you personally drafted? I think your comment about Ozzie is way, way....way outta line!!!

Drafting talent over need is overrated???? I think you're forgetting that philosophy just got us to the AFC championship game LAST season. And seeing as the entire NFL views Ozzie as one of, if not THE, best in the biz, I say he gets a little slack. So he didn't like any of the receivers that fell to them where they fell to them, oh well, they'll make do and I'll live somehow. I have a feeling Ozzie has a trick or two up his sleeve. I think he plans on getting Anquan or Braylon. Or at least making a serious run at them. He's gonna play with next season's draft to get it done too. Like I said, best in the biz.

JJ I was just wondering why you like the TE from Rice better? Was it something you saw while watching hours of game tape on the two of them. Or was it something he said when you met with him? Or did his college coaches tell you something to help you form your opinion? I assume you did all of the same due dilligence that the Ravens front office did when forming your opinion.

And Henry hw much time did you spend evaluating and meeting with corners before you decided the Browns took the better player.

Since I am not a pro football GM or scout I think I will take Ozzie's word over that of some fans who base all their info on what they read somewhere else.

I'm so glad none of you guys are the Ravens G.M...

Pete,
What is up with Itzuris' 3 errors this yer in 17 games? He committed but 11 in 160 last year....

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Pete's reply: I think one of those errors was questionable. If he had two, that wouldn't be all that far off last year's pace.

No premier burner to extend the field results in continuous use of 8 or 8+ defensive scheme. What good is a cannon arm if no one gets open, can consitantly catch the ball and get decent yaks?

No one on the Ravens, including Mason, sets the tone of the game or strikes the kind of fear as having a premier burner type. That type may be hard for a coach to handle - but they are golden on the field.

Are they saying that they don't have a coach who can handle a guy who is as difficult as a Plaxaco or Ocho type? I hope that is not the case.

I

According to 1 site, the Ravens signed Eron Riley, a WR from Duke, who allegedly runs a 4.29 40....a DHB clone, but nowhere near as expensive.

Really trying to figure out why there all these haters of the Ravens draft- you folks make no sense. First, Oher was a top 10 talent on most experts boards- they got him at 23. He could be an anchor of the line for a decade. Then, you get Kruger who was ESPN's #36 or 37th best player at 57. He will eventually replace Johnson, when he gets some silly contract elsewhere. Webb was the fastest DB in the draft and also while at Nichole St. won offensive, defensive, and special teams player of the week- in one season. When i woke up Sunday, guess who was in Kiper's top 10 available? Phillips and Peerman. So I think everyone needs to calm down a bit and understand the Ravens know what they are doing. And you know teams are gonna drop receivers as cap casualties in august.

i agree with Oz. Would you all like to see Flacco healthy or not? because with that o-line it was just a matter of time. When building a team both lines come 1st.

WHY IS EVERYONE GIVING THE OLINE A BAD REP? I DONT GET IT! ALL I KNOW IS THAT WE WON 13 GAMES BECAUSE DEFENSE PLAYED LIGHTS OUT AS USUAL AND OLINE WAS MUCH IMPROVED WITH GAITHER AND ANDERSON AT TACKLE. WHY DO YOU GIVE THESE GUYS SO MUCH FLACK

i heard a lot of chat about the undrafted free agent wide receiver eron riley from duke .... is he still with us i did not read about him when discussion is of our lack of depth at wide receiver ...

Pete please remember this. Pittsburg has the best 3 Qb's in all of football. Bar none. Hands down . Big Ben #1 of cource, #2 Dennis Dixon 2nd year Qb from Oregon, Came out with Flacco. Dixon is better then Flacco. Only played in 3 or 4 playes last year.They love him, Let's say he's a Vick but better. This year Dixon will be at full strength. Look out what I'm telling you.Let's say If the Ravens would ask to trade Troy Smith and Beck for Dixon . Pitt would hang up thev phone.

Pete please remember this. Pittsburg has the best 3 Qb's in all of football. Bar none. Hands down . Big Ben #1 of cource, #2 Dennis Dixon 2nd year Qb from Oregon, Came out with Flacco. Dixon is better then Flacco. Only played in 3 or 4 playes last year.They love him, Let's say he's a Vick but better. This year Dixon will be at full strength. Look out what I'm telling you.Let's say If the Ravens would ask to trade Troy Smith and Beck for Dixon . Pitt would hang up thev phone.

I know this is a little down the line but Herb youre an idiot.

love,
me

I realize this is unbelievably late, but you should probably add the Raven's new center to the list after cotton-pick'n Peerman, homeless Michael Oher, troubled Webb, stab-wound Kruger, and now a stroke victim.

Character is something this team certainly isn't lacking now, but at what point does collecting intangibles start to accrue some unwanted baggage?

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Pete's reply: That's a fair question, but I don't think any of those issues are the kind that impact the rest of the team.