Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl Game

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl Game

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

C+

2009 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

Outside of their first pick and their last pick, I would have gone in different directions.  That is not to say that Baltimore didn't add quality players; they did.  However, I really liked some of the moves the Ravens did signing college street free agents.  A couple have very high ceiling, but are far from sure things.

DRAFT PICKS

Oher was solid value where he was selected and will be a good NFL player for a long time.  He'll start off on the right side but has the quickness and athleticism to move to the left side down the line if he does a bit more work in the weight room.

Kruger is a solid player.  However, I see him as a classic 4-3 defensive end.  He isn't athletic enough to play Suggs position, and isn't big enough to play Pryce's position.  Maybe without Scott, Baltimore will mix in different fronts.  With their current defensive alignment in mind, I would have drafted Jarron Gilbert.  He has the size, speed and athleticism to eventually replace Pryce.

Even before the Mason retirement (if it sticks), I had wide receiver as the major need area for the Ravens.  With Flacco's arm a consistent deep threat would bring a great dimension to Baltimore's offense.  So here I would have drafted wide receiver Mike Thomas, or even wide receiver Johnny Knox.  In addition, I liked cornerback Keenan Lewis more than Webb because he has the potential to be a top starting cornerback.  However, Webb has very good speed and quickness and will be a plus as a nickel corner. 

Phillips has good speed and quickness and will give Gooden a run for his money to replace Scott.  However, I believe Jasper Brinkley will be a special player and he could have slid in next Lewis immediately and down the line (after Lewis retires) could have been the Ravens' enforcer.  The kid is very strong and a big-time hitter.

The Ravens liked Drew more than me.  After signing L.J. Smith (and selecting a receiver in round three), I would have opted for cornerback Macho Harris here.  Drew is ca good receiver, but his workout was unimpressive and he may have a had time translating to the NFL.

The Raven's selection of the underrated Peerman was very interesting.  Despite his lack of height, he is solid as a rock, strong as an ox and has the speed to run outside and take it the distance.  The one knock on him is that he occasionally puts the ball on the ground. and because of his small hands that could be a problem that is difficult for him to overcome.  However, the kid is a good football player and the Ravens' drafting him could signal a quicker end to McGahee's stint on the Ravens than many think.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Jason Cook is a tough kid who is a willing and effective blocker.  However with Peerman and Parmele it is more likely the Ravens' will carry an extra running back than fullback.  He could land on the Ravens' development squad.

Ellerbe received a similar grade from me as Phillips.  It will be interesting to see how much of a chance he is given to compete with him for a roster spot.

Felix is a strong kid who can play center or guard.  He will most likely land on Baltimore's development squad and could grow into a solid sub down the line.

Will Johnson may have been the strongest player available in the draft.  He also is surprisingly quick and athletic for a kid his size.  He could be a nice surprise as an end in the Ravens' 3-4 defense or could be just a workout warrior.  I think he has a real chance and is certainly worth a long look in camp.

Riley is another nice signing by Baltimore.  The kid is smart, tall, fast and very athletic.  He was also productive at Duke.  He is one of my deep sleepers and, showing his smarts, signed with the perfect team.  He has a real chance to steal a spot on the roster in camp and, long term, could be a deep threat for Flacco. 

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

The Ravens had a nice draft up top, but I wasn't as crazy about some of their later picks.  Cousins was great value and, of the later picks, Nakamura could surprise.  However, there was excellent depth at cornerback and the Ravens didn't grab one, and instead reached for wide receiver Smith.  For free agents, watch Wheelwright who I actually like a bit more than Smith and Harper.

DRAFT PICKS

Flacco was my second-rated quarterback in the draft and the one who could have the highest upside of all the quarterbacks in the draft.  He has a big-time arm and a quick release when he decides to get rid of the ball.  He does hold it too long at times, but that is a correctable flaw as he gains more experience and learns his reads.  He isn't NFL-ready yet, so if rushed this year could get set back some.  There will be a temptation to get him on the field before he's ready because he will look great in practice and against b-players in exhibition games.

Rice is a better running back than the overrated McGahee.  I'll say it again, Rice is a better runner than McGahee.  The Ravens will start off with Rice as a change-of-pace, but he will soon eat into McGahee's touches and by the time Flacco is established (next year), Rice will be the Ravens' top runner.  He is a short man, not a small man.  He is tough, can run inside and has enough speed to bounce outside and pick up chunks of yards.  He has excellent quickness and can make make sharp cuts in the hole.  A great pick for Baltimore at a position I considered a greater need than most others.

Gooden is an active linebacker who can play inside or outside.  He could be a nice fit in Bart Scott's position down-the-line should he have to slide into Ray Lewis' position in a year or two.  Gooden is a very good athlete who will excel on special teams until he finds a spot on the base defense.

Zbikowski is a player I like a lot.  He is a tough guy who his defensive teammates will love.  Zbikowski is strong tough and quick, but is much better in-the-box than in coverage.  He could push Landry in a year or two and be a great fit with Reed.  He will excel on special teams and could become a Pro Bowl player as a special teams cover guy.  

Cousins was another excellent grab.  After the round one guys, Cousins was a player I liked later in the draft who could grow injto a starting left tackle.  He has the athleticism, but needs to hit the weight room.

The Ravens liked the potential of Smith more than me.  At receiver, Hawkins would have been my pick at this spot.  And that would not 

have even been a close call.  I like Hawkins much more than Smith.  In fact, I would have gone corner here and tried to draft Hubbard at receiver later in the draft.  Jack Williams, Wilhite, Bowman and Scandrick were all available at this spot.  Smith is not a great athlete, has some speed, but is not particularly quick, and has good hands.  Time will tell.

Hale is a tackle prospect who opened some eyes during the post-season.  His best asset is his quick feet.  His worst is his lack of athleticism.  He may be best kicked inside to guard.  To do that he may have to bulk up some.

Nakamura was an underrated prospect heading into the draft.  He is a smart kid who plays hard and gets the most out of his smallish frame.  He should be a solid special teams player, an intriguing option in the return game, and solid sub who can fill in for a starter and hold serve when called upon.  A nice get by Baltimore.

Harper was suppose to have more speed than he showed at the Combine.  However, as disappointing as his forty time was (4.52, not bad, but not as advertised), it was his Marcus-Smith like short shuttle time (a quickness indicator) that had me most concerned.  Based on the Ravens' drafting Smith and Harper, they obviously do not put much stock in the short shuttle for receivers.  However, I do.  Harper, like Smith, did show excellent hands at the Combine.  It's just that both may have trouble getting open and have limited YAC.

Allen Patrick is another player with disappointing workout numbers.  He is not overly big, not particularly fast, and not particularly quick.  He was productive in college, and knows how to run so could be a reliable #3 back.  Just don't expect too much.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Wheelwright has a good mix of size, speed and hands.  He is more fast than quick, and could find his way onto the Ravens' practice squad and even suit up for some games.  Down the line he could be a solid #4 receiver.

Kraus played at a big-time program and has the versatility to play all along the line making him potentially a valuable backup.  He is another candidate for the Ravens' practice squad in the short run.

McClain is a classic 3-4 inside linebacker.  Since the Ravens play a hybrid 3-4, 4-3 with Suggs as the swingman, McClain could find a role in some of the Ravens' defensive packages.