It has been nearly two months since the end of an NFL Draft in which the Baltimore Ravens managed to surprise and confuse a sizable number of their fans. Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta did not pull the trigger on a big offensive tackle, tight end, or wide receiver in the first two rounds as many thought they would. They didn't pick up a safety with their first pick either, and they neglected to pick up a cornerback at any point in the draft. No, the Ravens didn't select picks the way a lot of fans wanted...they picked FAR more intelligently.
The natural reaction after an offensively abysmal 2013 season is to demand that the Ravens use their high draft picks on offensive pieces. The offensive line was absolutely atrocious, the running game was the worst in team history, and Joe Flacco threw for more interceptions than touchdowns with a patchwork receiving corps. Many fans forget, however, the major factors that combined to deliver such poor production, and virtually every single one of those factors has since been corrected during this off-season.
The most glaring offensive weakness of 2013 was the offensive line. The O
line's poor performance stemmed from both issues of scheme and
available personnel. Kelechi Osemele missed over half of the season
with back pain stemming from a bulging disk. Marshall Yanda had never
fully recovered from shoulder surgery he underwent during the 2013 the off-season, but he still opted to play. Michael Oher
suffered a leg injury in Week 1, and Gino Gradkowski simply wasn't up
to the task of replacing Matt Birk. Juan Castillo, meanwhile, attempted
to install an overly complicated set of blocking schemes that even he
admitted would take up to 9 weeks of the regular season to truly be
mastered by the offensive linemen.
The Ravens wasted no time finding solutions to problems with the
offensive line. The Ravens acquired center Jeremy Zuttah formerly of the
Tampa Bay Bucaneers. Zuttah is not a top ranked center, but he's a big, versatile,
experienced lineman who did not allow a single sack last season. The
Ravens also celebrated the return to health of Kelechi Osemele who is
reportedly in fantastic shape after rehabbing from back surgery.
Marshal Yanda is also fully recovered from his shoulder surgery in 2013,
and the Ravens managed to lock Eugene Monroe into a five year contract
to protect Joe Flacco's blindside through the prime of his career. Many fans may have been wary of replacing Michael Oher with Ricky Wagner as this is only the Wisconsin product's second year in the league, and he didn't blow anyone away with his performance in 2013. Wagner, nevertheless, has reportedly looked great in camp, and he has the full confidence of his coaching staff as the Ravens head into the summer months. As with any position, experience is paramount, and now Wagner has accrued some of it.
As for the schematic issues of the offensive line, many fans hoped
to hear that Juan Castillo would lose his job immediately following the
2013 regular season. John Harbaugh insisted that Castillo's job was
safe, but then proceeded to hire Gary Kubiak as offensive coordinator.
Kubiak brought with him his own blocking schemes which players have
already praised. Players reported
that they're never left guessing who they're supposed to block in
Kubiak's schemes, and Castillo's job is simply to help facilitate and teach this system--not force his own.
Not only was Joe Flacco's protection poor in 2013, but his stable
of receivers became frighteningly thin. The trade of Anquan Boldin and
injury of Dennis Pitta meant that Flacco, for the first time in his
career, had no sure-handed tight end or wiley, physical possession
receiver. Whether it was Todd Heap and Derrick Mason or Dennis Pitta and
Anquan Boldin, Joe always had at least a pair or dependable targets
until last season. Flacco did not even have one of his explosive deep
threats for a significant chunk of the season as a special teams blunder
left Jacoby Jones with a sprained knee in Week 1. Baltimore was left
with a often double-covered Torrey Smith and a handful of young,
unproven wideouts.
There is absolutely nothing young or unproven about Steve Smith.
When the Ravens signed Smith they got a veteran with quickness, amazing
hands, fantastic route running ability, and the physicality that the
Ravens receiving corps has lacked since the trade of Anquan Boldin.
Smith does everything that Boldin and Mason did, but he does it all a
little bit more explosively. He may not be built like Anquan Boldin, and as a result Smith may not be the devastating blocker that Q proved to be while in Baltimore. For his size, however, Steve Smith is surprisingly physical, and has already engaged in minor, highly publicized altercations on the practice field with defensive veterans. One important thing Steve Smith does that Boldin never could during his time in purple is separate from defenders. Smith's ability to change direction and accelerate makes him a nightmare for even some of the games top cornerbacks--just ask Aqib Talib.
In addition to Smith, the Ravens added
former Pro Bowl tight end, Owen Daniels, to form a dynamic pass-catching
duo with Dennis Pitta. Daniels is one season removed from a trip to the Pro Bowl, and any misconception that Daniels is old an on the decline is in for a pleasant surprise this fall. Daniels was injured for much of the 2013 season, and that led to his fall on the Texans' depth chart. Dennis Pitta might be two years younger with far less mileage on his body than Daniels, but Daniels is totally fluent in Gary Kubiak's offensive system, and he'll hit the ground running both literally and figuratively this September.
The changes and additions to the offensive line and receiving corps
should help to improve a Ravens rushing attack that was historically awful in
2013. I expect both Bernard Pierce and Ray Rice to be fully rehabbed
form their nagging injuries and in excellent condition with a lot to
prove in 2014. Rice has reportedly looked lean and explosive thus far in off-season team activities, and the only thing that will likely hold him back from posting his old usual amazing all-purpose yardage stats will be the suspension that has yet to be leveled by commissioner Roger Goodell.
I must address the recent reports that rice is staring down a 4-6 or more game suspension for his altercation with his wife in Atlantic City. Rice has never been involved in any off-the-field misbehavior, and no first time offender has ever been suspended for more than 2 games. With that said, it's entirely possible that the video of Rice carrying his fiance out of the elevator was inflammatory enough that Goodell feels pressure to make the punishment more severe than that of other first-time offenders. Some have brought up that Ben Roethlisberger received a 4 game suspension after being accused (not charged) of rape. One must remember, however, that the suspension came after Big Ben's SECOND rape allegation, not the first. Ben's original suspension was for 6 games, and he reduced it to 4 games during the appeals process. Because of the fact that Rice avoided trial with a pre-trial intervention program, I would bet that Rice will initially be suspended for 4-5 games, but that suspension will be reduced to 2-3 games through an appeal. Enough of this legal stuff, let's get back to football.
Because the Ravens were able to address nearly every offensive
issue that marred the 2013 season before the NFL draft, it makes perfect
sense that they used the draft to address major defensive departures
from the 2012 season and possible major departures in 2015 and 2016.
The retirement of Ray Lewis and loss of Ed Reed left the Ravens without a
middle linebacker of the future and a true free safety. Daryl Smith had
a fantastic 2013 season, but he recently turned 32 and can't be
counted on beyond 2-3 more seasons at most. Haloti Ngata has not yet
reached the end of his contract, but he has casually mentioned
retirement in the last two years, and his refusal to sign a contract
extension seems to indicate that he may simply plan to play out the
remainder of his contract and then hang up his giant cleats.
Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta found themselves in pleasant
circumstances in the 2014 NFL draft as they were fortunate enough to be
able to draft three defensive players of 1st-2nd round level talent with
their first three picks. As luck would have it, the first three picks
appear to be the successors to Ray Lewis and Ed Reed's positions, and one
will likely be the immediate replacement for Arthur Jones or possibly
the ultimate successor to Haloti Ngata.
Middle linebacker never crossed my mind as a position the Ravens
would draft first in 2014, but I'm certainly glad Ozzie Newsome pulled
the trigger on C.J. Mosley. This Alabama product was ranked far too
highly on the Ravens' draft board to pass up at #17. Middle linebacker
may not have seemed like a glaring need, but reports suggest that last
year's 2nd round pick, Arthur Brown, was progressing in his development
much more slowly that the Ravens had hoped. Mosley, on the other hand,
has reportedly hit the ground running in off-season Ravens practices,
and we should expect nothing less from a player that the Ravens ranked a
top ten pick on their draft board. Mosley covers sideline-to-sideline
extremely well against the run and proved quite effective in pass
coverage at Alabama. This young leader should see his fair share of Pro
Bowls.
I did not panic after the Ravens picked a middle linebacker with
their first pick because I assumed Ozzie would surely use his second
pick on one of the top free safeties left on the board. I cringed,
however, when I learned the Ravens picked a defensive lineman in the
second round. What was Ozzie thinking? How could he squander both of
the Ravens' first two draft picks on positions of comparative surplus
when free safety and right tackle were such positions of pressing need?
Nevertheless, with each subsequent pick I noticed that the free safety I
had ranked third on my Ravens Draft Wishlist, Terrence Brooks, remained
unpicked and available. Sure enough, the Ravens picked the national
champion FSU free safety with their third pick, and it dawned upon me
that the Ravens had just drafted the future core of their defense
without trading up, trading back, or picking based on need instead of
the best available talent.
Let's back up for just a moment. That defensive lineman the Ravens
picked in the second round could very well be the steal of the entire
draft for Baltimore in 2014. Timmy Jernigan was easily top 20-25 talent
based on his size, athleticism, and performance in an undefeated FSU
season that culminated in a national championship. Jernigan was easily
the best defensive player at Florida State in 2013. He demonstrated
excellent hand skills and strength as he made shedding blockers look
effortless and smooth. Jernigan displayed fantastic tackling ability
and deceptive speed for a 300+ pound defensive tackle. Jernigan may not be high on the depth chart for defensive lineman yet, but the Ravens love to frequently rotate in defensive lineman, and Timmy will undoubtedly have his chance to shine in 2014.
We won't know exactly how well the 2014 NFL Draft went for Baltimore
for at least another 1-3 seasons, but I don't think anyone can accuse
Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta of drafting poorly given the currently
available game film and information about each of their top three
picks. This is not a situation like that of 2010 wherein questionable
behavior from the likes of Sergio Kindle could leave some doubting Ozzie
Newsome's judgement. There are no major red flags in the character department for this bunch, and we should absolutely expect a new generation of leaders to emerge in the coming seasons.
I would be remiss if I didn't discuss the Ravens trading back into the seventh round of the 2014 draft in order to pick up River Hill High School's own Michael Campanaro. I watched this young man beat up on rival Howard County football teams for years before he went on to become the best receiver in Wake Forest history. Some have praised Campanaro as a Wes Welker or Julian Edelman style receiver, and they're correct...but Campanaro is simply faster than both of them. A 40 yard dash isn't necessarily evidence that one receiver will be more successful than another, but when all other factors are relatively comparable, it's nice to be the guy with the 4.46 official combine 40 time. Edelman's time was slightly slower at 4.52 seconds, and Welker's time was significantly slower at 4.65 seconds. Campanaro would be EXTREMELY lucky to have the success of Wes Welker, but that doesn't mean he can't be just as athletic, and even more explosive. The short, shifty receiver should fit right into Gary Kubiak's system which frequently involves the quarterback dropping back with fewer steps in order to get the ball out far more quickly than Joe Flacco had previously done in the offenses of Cam Cameron and Jim Caldwell. Campanaro has had injury issues and even recently suffered a hamstring injury, but if he can maintain relative health as a pro, we could could soon witness the ascension to stardom of a truly home-grown talent.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE IN WORLD CUP MODE AT THE MOMENT, BUT DON'T LET THAT PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING PUMPED ABOUT A MUCH IMPROVED BALTIMORE RAVENS ROSTER AND STAFF. WE HAVE ONLY 6 WEEKS UNTIL THE START OF THE PRE-SEASON--GET HYPED FOOTBALLTIMORE!
AS ALWAYS
GO RAVENS!!!
