LET'S FIRST SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT OZZIE
If you listened to 105.7 The Fan after the first 5 rounds of the draft this weekend, you most likely heard an endless line of armchair GM's talking about what a disappointment the 2012 draft was for the Baltimore Ravens. I heard one caller whining about the fact that the Ravens had not drafted a wide receiver (they did 15 minutes later) and he complained that they should have traded up to get Donta Hightower and then taken Peter Konz in the second round. I heard one caller complaining that Ozzie was overrated as a general manager. This caller stated that Ozzie is good at picking pro-bowlers, but that he doesn't draft the right players at the right positions that would really push the Ravens over the AFC Championship hump and into the Superbowl. This particular caller wondered what it was that the Patriots, Steelers, and Giants were doing that the Ravens weren't.
While I do wish that the Ravens would have gone to and won the Superbowl in 2011, I also am not so shortsighted as to think that the Ravens drafting is what has held them back. On the contrary, the players that the Ravens drafted over the years were the reason that the Ravens did as well as they did in the AFC Championship. Lardarius Webb, Jimmy Smith, and Ed Reed played out of their minds and didn't allow the 2011 PATRIOTS TO SCORE A SINGLE PASSING TD, Ray Lewis looked good in pass coverage for a change and prevented a Wes Welker touchdown, Torrey Smith lit up the field with his speed, and Joe Flacco outplayed Tom Brady!
The players who ultimately let the team down were free agents, not draft picks. Lee Evans couldn't hold on to a perfect touchdown pass, and even more embarrassing, Billy Cundiff immortalized his last name into a verb by Cundiffing (heh heh) what would have been a game tying field goal to send the Ravens and Pats into overtime. Ozzie isn't perfect, but the last thing anyone can accuse him of is drafting poorly. He sometimes picks up disappointing free agent wide receivers (Stallworth, Houshmadzadeh, Evans) but he has also picked up some that proved to be quite good (Boldin, Mason). Bottom line: The Ravens are a great team and a big reason they are great is the draft, so STOP WHINING, BALTIMOREANS! Ok, got that out of my system. On to the draft picks!!
DRAFT ANALYSIS
I can honestly say that I wasn't worried after the Ravens traded out of the first round of the draft. Hightower had been picked up by the Patriots, but plenty of players originally projected as first round picks still remained on the board, and the Ravens had the 3rd pick in the second round. I wanted the Ravens to draft Stephen Hill as I stated in previous posts, but I also wanted and expected them to draft Courtney Upshaw. With that, let's get right into the Ravens' first pick of the 2012 draft:
COURTNEY UPSHAW, OLB- This Alabama has already been described by pundits as one of the best steals of the draft. This is entirely accurate as he was top 20 talent that fell to the Ravens in the second round after a fair number of teams made some headscratching decisions with their first round picks (yes Brandon Weeden and David Wilson...YOU ARE HORRIBLE MISTAKES!). And despite the fact that Donta Hightower could have become Ray Lewis' ultimate successor, Upshaw actually fills a bigger hole in the roster for the upcoming season. With the departure of Jaret Johnson, the Ravens needed a physical outside linebacker who can stop the run and terrorize QBs. They got exactly such a replacement in Courtney Upshaw. Sure, he has a girl's first name, but it'll only be that much funnier when Ben Roethlisberger gets physically dominated by someone with a girl's name for the sake of poetic justice. If you live under a rock and only just emerged, you may be one of the small number of people who haven't seen Upshaw play. Do yourself a favor and watch his highlights here: Courtney Upshaw Highlights.
KELECHE OSEMELE, G/T- I must admit that I hadn't paid as much attention to this impressive athlete before he was drafted at the end of the second round. I anticipated the Ravens going after Kevin Zeitler, but the Bengals snatched him up knowing full well that the Ravens wanted him. Osemele may prove just as useful as Zeitler since he has the longest arms of any offensive lineman in the draft, bench pressed the same number of reps as Zeitler (32), ran the 40 yard dash a hair faster than Zeitler, as well as a slightly better broad jump. On top of all of that, the Ravens got Osemele close to the end of the second round instead of end of the first round as the Bengals did with Zeitler. Osemele will most likely compete with Jah Reid for the start left guard spot, and will provide the versatility to step in if Marshall yanda or Michael Oher gets injured. This guy is a big, physical replacement for Ben Grubbs, and with his size, strength, quickness, and length, he'll be a big help in the Ravens' rushing attack.
BERNARD PIERCE, RB- I was surprised to see the Ravens take a running back in the 3rd round, and I initially thought that they should have gone after a wide receiver. I then considered that the Ravens lost Ray Rice's backup when Ricky Williams retired not long ago, and I can understand their hesitation to give a former seventh round pick (Anthony Allen) the back up spot without some competition from a more talented back. Pierce didn't have the best track speed of the combine (4.50 forty yard dash), but he displays impressive quickness with good speed burst and enough power to break through tackles. Give him an off-season in the weight room with Ray and the boys and we've got our new backup. Take a look at his highlights: Bernard Pierce Highlights
GINO GRADKOWSKI, C/G- I heard reports that Gradkowski was high on the draft boards of the Patriots and Steelers as well as the Ravens. So much attention was paid to Konz that few seemed to consider the possibility that the Ravens would choose a different center later in the draft. I like this pick a lot. The Ravens just resigned Matt Birk's decaying corpse for another short contract, so it would be stupid to use a first round draft pick on a player that wouldn't have to immediately step in and play. And yes I know that Konz may have been able to play guard as well, but he had injury concerns and that's not something I like to hear about a potential Ravens first round pick. Gradkowski ran a 5.25 forty yard dash and displayed better upper body strength than Konz with 29 reps on the bench. He'll need to add some muscle, but as he won't be an immediate starter, he has some time to develop behind Birk.
THIS DRAFT ANALYSIS WILL BE CONTINUED TOMORROW
AS ALWAYS, GO RAVENS!!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
REACTION TO THE FIRST ROUND
The first round of the 2012 draft went exactly as predicted early in the round. Andrew Luck went to the Colts, RG3 went to the Redskins, and Trent Richardson went to the Browns. After that, however, the draft was chock full-o-surprises. Exactly half of the 32 draft picks were traded in some fashion or another over the course of the night, and Roger Goodell dapped up Melvin Ingram with a rather elaborate handshake that suggested that someone in the NFL doesn't ACTUALLY HATE HIM!
For many Ravens fans, however, the first round of the draft may have been frustrating. The Patriots, in a rather uncharacteristic move for their organization, traded up to snag Donta Hightower before the Ravens would have almost certainly picked him in hopes of grooming Ray Lewis' ultimate successor. The Ravens then traded away the 29th pick of the first round for the 3rd pick of the second round and an additional 4th round pick. I understand the feeling of waiting over two hours to see who your team will acquire only to realize that you won't know until the following evening. The initial feeling isn't fun.
I, however, wasn't hoping the Ravens would pick Donta Hightower. He would have been a great pick-up and I'm sure he'll be trouble for the Ravens when they face the Patriots in week three this season. Nevertheless, if you followed my posts regarding the draft, you know exactly what I feel the priorities of this organization should be right now. Still on the board are Peter Konz, Cordy Glenn, Courtney Upshaw, Stephen Hill, and Rueben Randle. I firmly believe that the Ravens should draft Upshaw with their first pick and then trade the additional 4th round pick that they acquired from the Vikings last night and use it to move their second pick higher in order to secure Stephen Hill.
Consider for a moment how the Ravens fared at the end of the season. Dropped passes and an inability to bring pressure late in the season and in the playoffs left the Ravens losing to a team that they came about one inch away from beating. Now picture the Ravens with another high-motor physical pass rusher opposite Suggs bearing down on Tom Brady. Picture Torrey Smith lined up opposite an even faster deep threat wide receiver whose height and vertical leaping ability make him incredibly challenging to defend. In an increasingly pass-driven league, there are few pieces more valuable than talented wide receivers and pass rushers. Also, when Joe Flacco's cannon of an arm, it would seem fitting to have multiple targets that can get behind secondaries and catch his deep bombs. The point is that both Stephen Hill and Courtney Upshaw will likely be upgrades over Lee Evans and Jaret Johnson (I know JJ was a great run-stopper but Upshaw can stop the run and terrorize QBs).
At this point, I'm sure there are plenty of readers who would like to bring up the issue of the Ravens' offensive line. The Ravens just lost Ben Grubbs in free agency and plan to give a second year natural right tackle the chance to earn the left tackle spot. I wouldn't be unhappy if the Ravens took Cordy Glenn or Peter Konz with one of their second round picks, but I don't believe that Konz and Glenn would be an upgrade over the player they're replacing, and I'm fairly certain that the Ravens have a decent amount of faith in Jah Reid. Also, I KNOW the Ravens would regret passing on a wide receiver with a combination of height, speed, and athleticism reminiscent of a young Randy Moss. Yes, I know he's not Randy Moss, but like Moss, Stephen Hill is blindingly fast with great hands and stands 6'4". This could be the missing piece to push Flacco's production well beyond the 4000 yard mark!
Just some food for thought. Tune in to ESPN tonight at 8:00 to see who the Ravens pick in the 2nd and 3rd rounds! As always GO RAVENS!!!
For many Ravens fans, however, the first round of the draft may have been frustrating. The Patriots, in a rather uncharacteristic move for their organization, traded up to snag Donta Hightower before the Ravens would have almost certainly picked him in hopes of grooming Ray Lewis' ultimate successor. The Ravens then traded away the 29th pick of the first round for the 3rd pick of the second round and an additional 4th round pick. I understand the feeling of waiting over two hours to see who your team will acquire only to realize that you won't know until the following evening. The initial feeling isn't fun.
I, however, wasn't hoping the Ravens would pick Donta Hightower. He would have been a great pick-up and I'm sure he'll be trouble for the Ravens when they face the Patriots in week three this season. Nevertheless, if you followed my posts regarding the draft, you know exactly what I feel the priorities of this organization should be right now. Still on the board are Peter Konz, Cordy Glenn, Courtney Upshaw, Stephen Hill, and Rueben Randle. I firmly believe that the Ravens should draft Upshaw with their first pick and then trade the additional 4th round pick that they acquired from the Vikings last night and use it to move their second pick higher in order to secure Stephen Hill.
Consider for a moment how the Ravens fared at the end of the season. Dropped passes and an inability to bring pressure late in the season and in the playoffs left the Ravens losing to a team that they came about one inch away from beating. Now picture the Ravens with another high-motor physical pass rusher opposite Suggs bearing down on Tom Brady. Picture Torrey Smith lined up opposite an even faster deep threat wide receiver whose height and vertical leaping ability make him incredibly challenging to defend. In an increasingly pass-driven league, there are few pieces more valuable than talented wide receivers and pass rushers. Also, when Joe Flacco's cannon of an arm, it would seem fitting to have multiple targets that can get behind secondaries and catch his deep bombs. The point is that both Stephen Hill and Courtney Upshaw will likely be upgrades over Lee Evans and Jaret Johnson (I know JJ was a great run-stopper but Upshaw can stop the run and terrorize QBs).
At this point, I'm sure there are plenty of readers who would like to bring up the issue of the Ravens' offensive line. The Ravens just lost Ben Grubbs in free agency and plan to give a second year natural right tackle the chance to earn the left tackle spot. I wouldn't be unhappy if the Ravens took Cordy Glenn or Peter Konz with one of their second round picks, but I don't believe that Konz and Glenn would be an upgrade over the player they're replacing, and I'm fairly certain that the Ravens have a decent amount of faith in Jah Reid. Also, I KNOW the Ravens would regret passing on a wide receiver with a combination of height, speed, and athleticism reminiscent of a young Randy Moss. Yes, I know he's not Randy Moss, but like Moss, Stephen Hill is blindingly fast with great hands and stands 6'4". This could be the missing piece to push Flacco's production well beyond the 4000 yard mark!
Just some food for thought. Tune in to ESPN tonight at 8:00 to see who the Ravens pick in the 2nd and 3rd rounds! As always GO RAVENS!!!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
MY RAVENS DRAFT WISHLIST (ROUNDS 1-3)
Well, Ravens fans, we've reached the final week before the NFL draft. If you're anything like me, you've been anxiously counting the days until the Ravens hopefully select the missing pieces to their roster puzzle. The Ravens brass specifically stated that they are looking to add another quality wide receiver, a center, and pass-rusher during the 2012 off-season. Since then, the Ravens have seen some solid players leave such as Cory Redding, Haruki Nakamura, Jarret Johnson, Tom Zbikowski, and Ben Grubbs. Cory Redding and Jarret Johnson will be immediately and effectively replaced by young, talented players behind them on the depth chart in Pernell McPhee and Paul Kruger, but Grubbs, Nakamura, and Zbikowski all left the Ravens with serious depth issues in their respective positions.The Ravens set to work and acquired solid journeyman safety Sean Considine to replace one of the two spots vacated by Ruke and Zibby. The Ravens also looked to kill two birds (not ravens of course) with one stone by signing special teams standout Corey Graham. Graham had the 3rd most special teams tackles in the NFL during the last 5 years, and he has experience as a defensive back and could potentially add to safety depth. As for replacing Ben Grubbs, the Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stated that the Ravens are going to give Jah Reid a chance to earn the starting left guard position. Jah is enormous and more of a natural tackle, but he has the athleticism to play guard and will do so at far less money than the $36 million that the Saints are going to pay Ben Grubbs over the course of his newly signed contract.
PURPLE NIGHTMARE'S DRAFT WISHLIST
It's impossible to accurately predict who the Ravens will draft with every single pick. This, as many of you know, is due to the Ravens' draft philosophy of picking the best player available. The Ravens make a ranking system of usually about 150 draftable players. When it is their time to pick, they select the player still on the draft board who ranks highest on their list. This does not mean, however, that the Ravens don't still pick players to address need and depth, but they try to adhere to the best player available strategy. I cannot pretend to know who the Ravens will draft with their first pick as I do not know who will be available at #29, and I certainly won't know whether the Ravens will trade up to get a player they really covet or trade down to acquire more picks with confidence that the player they want to pick first in the draft will still be available later than pick #29. I will, instead, give a list of the players I believe the Ravens realistically SHOULD pick in the first 3 rounds assuming that they're available. Without further ado, here they are:
ROUND 1 (Pick #29)
Stephen Hill, WR Georgia Tech- Yes, yes I know every draft analyst has the Ravens picking the center from Wisconsin, Peter Konz, to address the Ravens' needs on the O line, but I simply can't get on board with that. Matt Birk is returning and the Ravens could resign Andre Gurode for cheap if they want depth at center for another season or two. Stephen Hill's height, blinding speed, hands, as well as his incredible average yards-per-catch (29.3) during college make him impossible to pass up if he's still on the board at pick #29. Having Hill and Smith lined up wide would give every secondary in the league nightmares. Who do you double team? Torrey Smith with the insane second gear breakaway speed? Or maybe you'd rather double team the speedy young receiver who's so tall with such a great vertical and hands that he can haul the ball with one hand when it's delivered to him 11 feet in the air: Stephen Hill Sick One-handed Catch. And like Torrey Smith, Stephen Hill can beat you deep and make diving catches down-field: Stephen Hill- DEEP CATCH! Hill brings speed, height, athleticism, and reliable hands that would perfectly compliment Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin as well as take advantage of Joe Flacco's cannon of an arm. If he's on the board at #29, the Ravens simply MUST PICK HIM!
ROUND 2 (Pick #60)
Kevin Zeitler, OG Wisconsin- The 2012 appears to be stacked with talent at offensive guard. David DeCastro and Cordy Glenn appear to be total locks for the first round, but Kevin Zeitler would be a great value pick if he falls to the Ravens at #60. That is a big IF, however, as Zeitler could easily go in the top 40-50 picks. This is, you must remember, a wishlist and not a prediction. Thus, the Ravens may not see Zeitler on the board, but I sure hope they do! Zeitler comes from a program at Wisconsin that has produced some notable offensive linemen recently: Gabe Carimi of the 2011 draft and also Peter Konz who is projected by many to be first round pick in 2012. Zeitler has prototypical guard size at 6'4" and 315 pounds. He has a great weight room work ethic and strength as he put up 32 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the NFL combine. He has respectable speed for his size with a 5.39 official combine 40 yard dash, but Zeitler isn't quite as fast and athletic as Cordy Glenn or David DeCastro, and that's what will keep him out of the first round. Combine numbers, as many are always quick to point out, never tell the entire story, and one always has to watch game tape to truly evaluate a player. Take a look: Kevin Zeitler Highlights.
ROUND 3 (Pick #91)
Mychal Kendricks, LB Cal- Kendricks would be an absolute steal in the 3rd round. He recorded the fastest 40 yard dash time (4.47) of any linebacker in the 2012 NFL draft , and he possesses the vision, and hands to add to the long list of Ravens ball-hawks. He also plays with the intensity and strength to bring down running backs, receivers, and quarterbacks with powerful hits--take a look: Mychal Kendricks Highlights- Cal Football. Clearly, Kendricks is not Donta Hightower. He's not first round material, but then again, it doesn't take a first round draft pick to become a great Ravens linebacker. Bart Scott and Jameel McClain both became very good linebackers under the tutelage of Ray Lewis and neither of them was drafted at all! Kendricks is obviously a talented player and has the potential to become a pro bowler after studying for a few semesters at Ball So Hard University. C'mon Ozzie, PICK THIS GUY!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
POST-COMBINE ANALYSIS
I found myself far more hopeful and excited during this combine than any in the last few years. Maybe it was the fact that the Ravens were a dropped pass away from a trip to the Superbowl, but the 2011 season gave me serious hope for the 2012 season and beyond. The Ravens gambled and got rid of a sizeable group of veterans that included Joe Flacco's two favorite receiving weapons who also happened to be the most productive receivers in franchise history. Before 2011, people frequently brought up the average age of Ravens players and hypothesized that their window to win a Superbowl was closing. The Ravens, responded by utilizing youthful draft gems to demonstrate that the Ravens' true strength lies in their ability to assess and develop young talent year after year, despite the loss of veteran stars.
Players drafted over the last few years made a HUGE splash during the 2011 season. Lardarius Webb solidified his status as an elite shutdown corner and a leading ballhawk in the AFC. Torrey Smith played almost the entire 2011 season with a hernia and torn groin muscle, but you wouldn't have known it with his shocking speed and spectacular plays. Dennis Pitta turned into the team's new Heap (he's even Mormon!), and with some offseason strength training he should improve his blocking ability to become a complete tight end. Pernell McPhee proved a fierce pass rusher and was a total STEAL as the Ravens selected him in the 5th round of the 2011 draft. Jimmy Smith missed a lot of the season early, but eventually got back into the mix and showed a lot of raw talent and finished the year with 3 interceptions including a jawdropping pick in the playoffs that few other players would have been able to haul in before the ball hit the turf.
The Ravens roster seems to be just bursting with talent. The best part, however, is that we've seen in the last two seasons the Ravens have played quite well with Ed Reed and Ray Lewis sidelined for significant chunks of the season. Now, of course, as soon as they return, Ed and Ray remind the world that they're still elite and the Ravens are simply better when they're both on the field. Nevertheless, as long as Ozzie Newsome is evaluating young talent, the Ravens will continue to find the next great defensive superstars long after Ravens are forced to bid a tearful farewell to their two most beloved leaders....makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about that...moving on.
The Ravens displayed one of the most complete teams in the league in 2011. They, like any other team, still have personnel needs to fill in order to finally become a team dominant enough to simply bully their way through the season and playoffs to the Superbowl. The Ravens need a big-bodied, speedy wide receiver with great hands (which team doesn't right?) to finally give Joe Flacco a complete, elite, wide receiving corps. The Ravens need interior offensive linemen, though it's not clear if they'll need a center or guard as the statuses of Ben Grubbs and Matt Birk or Andre Gurode are all questionable at this point. The Ravens could use a talented, intense middle linebacker to learn from Ray during the last couple of years Ray's career, and there's always room for more pass rushers as Cory Redding's status isn't entirely clear at this point either. With all of that said, let's take a look at some combine standouts that could be available to the Ravens at each of these positions!
WIDE RECEIVER:
Stehpen Hill- I had not heard of this guy before the combine, but this numbers speak for themselves. Hill ran an official 4.36 forty yard dash, he displayed excellent hands and agility, and at 6'4" he has the height to make catches even in tight coverage by cornerbacks. Hill didn't have standout statistical totals in college, but he averaged over 29 yards per catch...let me repeat myself: HE AVERAGED OVER 29 YARDS PER CATCH. His low totals can also be heavily attributed to being a part of the Georgia Tech offense that puts up massive rushing yardage and still somehow manages to produce incredibly talented receivers such as Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas. I would love for the Ravens to pull the trigger on this guy in the first round, but they may find him available in the second round instead.
Alshon Jeffrey- There has been recent criticism of Jeffery's speed and ability to separate from defenders. Reports that Jeffery had gained weight as of late left some wondering if he would even go in the first round of the draft. Jeffery did not even run his 40 yard dash at the combine, and that only further reinforced the point of critics who questioned his speed. I, however, am not one of critics. I watched Alshon Jeffrey's highlight video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fljiaojL5fM) and came to the conclusion that his physicality, catching ability, and height (he's 6'4" by the way) would be a fantastic compliment to Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin and could quite possibly prove the missing cog in the Ravens' passing game that could take them to a level that the team has never experienced. Alshon is another receiver that could possibly be available to the Ravens in the second round of the draft.
MIDDLE LINEBACKER:
Dont'a Hightower: If he falls to the 29th pick, the Ravens simply must select this man. He ran an official 4.68 forty yard dash, and that is made even more impressive by the fact that he weighed in at 265 pounds and stands over 6'2". Hightower has rather long arms and uses his superior anticipation to make up for being somewhat heavy. I have no doubt that Hightower could drop to the 245-250 range and get even better at covering sideline to sideline as well as pass coverage. This guy won't fall to the second round, so if you can get him at the end of the first, you damn well better do it!
Mychal Kendricks: If the Ravens don't select a middle linebacker in the first round, then it's entirely possible that they look for one in the second. Mychal Kendricks displayed incredible speed at the combine with an official 4.47 forty yard dash. He is exactly the same height as Ray Lewis (6'1") and about 10 pounds lighter at 240. Like Ray Lewis, Kendricks is a brutal tackler, and his speed would allow him to cover sideline to sideline the way that Ray did for the first decade of his career. Kendricks wasn't part of an elite college defense the way that Hightower was, but a player of his speed and intensity would almost certainly turn into an absolute animal under the tutelage of Ray Lewis. If this guy is available by the end of the second round, he absolutely needs to wear a purple draft hat.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN:
Peter Konz- Many mock drafts already have the Ravens selecting Konz in the first round. Konz has the size, strength, and leadership ability to put him ahead of the rest of the pack in this year's draft. Konz is 6'5" and 314 pounds. He may not be much of a bench presser as he only hit 18 reps with 225 pounds at the combine, but he derives his on-field strength from the power of his hips and legs. I wouldn't complain if the Ravens selected Konz in the first round of the draft, but with Matt Birk announcing that he's not retiring and fellow probowl center Andre Gurode as his backup, I don't feel that the Ravens are in as dire a need for a center as many have speculated.
PASS RUSHER:
Zach Brown- It wouldn't be right of me not to mention a talented young player from my own high school. Brown is an exceptional athlete with surprising speed for his size. He ran a official 4.5 forty yard dash at the combine and weighed in at 244 pounds. His athletic potential makes him almost a lock for the first round. With the guidance of Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, Brown could tap into all of his potential as an NFL athlete. After a great showing at the combine, I can't see Brown falling to the Ravens at the 29th pick. The Ravens have decent depth as far as OLB/DE type players are concerned so this isn't an area of dire need, but Ozzie Newsome made it clear that he's looking for pass rushers, and Zach Brown has the speed to chase down just about any quarterback whose name doesn't rhyme with Trychael Vick or Bram Newton. This Maryland native would look fantastic in purple and black, no doubt.
There are some more players that deserve to be mentioned, but sadly, I have run out of time to write for the day and will continue with more combine analysis tomorrow, so stay tuned! As always, GO RAVENS!
Players drafted over the last few years made a HUGE splash during the 2011 season. Lardarius Webb solidified his status as an elite shutdown corner and a leading ballhawk in the AFC. Torrey Smith played almost the entire 2011 season with a hernia and torn groin muscle, but you wouldn't have known it with his shocking speed and spectacular plays. Dennis Pitta turned into the team's new Heap (he's even Mormon!), and with some offseason strength training he should improve his blocking ability to become a complete tight end. Pernell McPhee proved a fierce pass rusher and was a total STEAL as the Ravens selected him in the 5th round of the 2011 draft. Jimmy Smith missed a lot of the season early, but eventually got back into the mix and showed a lot of raw talent and finished the year with 3 interceptions including a jawdropping pick in the playoffs that few other players would have been able to haul in before the ball hit the turf.
The Ravens roster seems to be just bursting with talent. The best part, however, is that we've seen in the last two seasons the Ravens have played quite well with Ed Reed and Ray Lewis sidelined for significant chunks of the season. Now, of course, as soon as they return, Ed and Ray remind the world that they're still elite and the Ravens are simply better when they're both on the field. Nevertheless, as long as Ozzie Newsome is evaluating young talent, the Ravens will continue to find the next great defensive superstars long after Ravens are forced to bid a tearful farewell to their two most beloved leaders....makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about that...moving on.
The Ravens displayed one of the most complete teams in the league in 2011. They, like any other team, still have personnel needs to fill in order to finally become a team dominant enough to simply bully their way through the season and playoffs to the Superbowl. The Ravens need a big-bodied, speedy wide receiver with great hands (which team doesn't right?) to finally give Joe Flacco a complete, elite, wide receiving corps. The Ravens need interior offensive linemen, though it's not clear if they'll need a center or guard as the statuses of Ben Grubbs and Matt Birk or Andre Gurode are all questionable at this point. The Ravens could use a talented, intense middle linebacker to learn from Ray during the last couple of years Ray's career, and there's always room for more pass rushers as Cory Redding's status isn't entirely clear at this point either. With all of that said, let's take a look at some combine standouts that could be available to the Ravens at each of these positions!
WIDE RECEIVER:
Stehpen Hill- I had not heard of this guy before the combine, but this numbers speak for themselves. Hill ran an official 4.36 forty yard dash, he displayed excellent hands and agility, and at 6'4" he has the height to make catches even in tight coverage by cornerbacks. Hill didn't have standout statistical totals in college, but he averaged over 29 yards per catch...let me repeat myself: HE AVERAGED OVER 29 YARDS PER CATCH. His low totals can also be heavily attributed to being a part of the Georgia Tech offense that puts up massive rushing yardage and still somehow manages to produce incredibly talented receivers such as Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas. I would love for the Ravens to pull the trigger on this guy in the first round, but they may find him available in the second round instead.
Alshon Jeffrey- There has been recent criticism of Jeffery's speed and ability to separate from defenders. Reports that Jeffery had gained weight as of late left some wondering if he would even go in the first round of the draft. Jeffery did not even run his 40 yard dash at the combine, and that only further reinforced the point of critics who questioned his speed. I, however, am not one of critics. I watched Alshon Jeffrey's highlight video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fljiaojL5fM) and came to the conclusion that his physicality, catching ability, and height (he's 6'4" by the way) would be a fantastic compliment to Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin and could quite possibly prove the missing cog in the Ravens' passing game that could take them to a level that the team has never experienced. Alshon is another receiver that could possibly be available to the Ravens in the second round of the draft.
MIDDLE LINEBACKER:
Dont'a Hightower: If he falls to the 29th pick, the Ravens simply must select this man. He ran an official 4.68 forty yard dash, and that is made even more impressive by the fact that he weighed in at 265 pounds and stands over 6'2". Hightower has rather long arms and uses his superior anticipation to make up for being somewhat heavy. I have no doubt that Hightower could drop to the 245-250 range and get even better at covering sideline to sideline as well as pass coverage. This guy won't fall to the second round, so if you can get him at the end of the first, you damn well better do it!
Mychal Kendricks: If the Ravens don't select a middle linebacker in the first round, then it's entirely possible that they look for one in the second. Mychal Kendricks displayed incredible speed at the combine with an official 4.47 forty yard dash. He is exactly the same height as Ray Lewis (6'1") and about 10 pounds lighter at 240. Like Ray Lewis, Kendricks is a brutal tackler, and his speed would allow him to cover sideline to sideline the way that Ray did for the first decade of his career. Kendricks wasn't part of an elite college defense the way that Hightower was, but a player of his speed and intensity would almost certainly turn into an absolute animal under the tutelage of Ray Lewis. If this guy is available by the end of the second round, he absolutely needs to wear a purple draft hat.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN:
Peter Konz- Many mock drafts already have the Ravens selecting Konz in the first round. Konz has the size, strength, and leadership ability to put him ahead of the rest of the pack in this year's draft. Konz is 6'5" and 314 pounds. He may not be much of a bench presser as he only hit 18 reps with 225 pounds at the combine, but he derives his on-field strength from the power of his hips and legs. I wouldn't complain if the Ravens selected Konz in the first round of the draft, but with Matt Birk announcing that he's not retiring and fellow probowl center Andre Gurode as his backup, I don't feel that the Ravens are in as dire a need for a center as many have speculated.
PASS RUSHER:
Zach Brown- It wouldn't be right of me not to mention a talented young player from my own high school. Brown is an exceptional athlete with surprising speed for his size. He ran a official 4.5 forty yard dash at the combine and weighed in at 244 pounds. His athletic potential makes him almost a lock for the first round. With the guidance of Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, Brown could tap into all of his potential as an NFL athlete. After a great showing at the combine, I can't see Brown falling to the Ravens at the 29th pick. The Ravens have decent depth as far as OLB/DE type players are concerned so this isn't an area of dire need, but Ozzie Newsome made it clear that he's looking for pass rushers, and Zach Brown has the speed to chase down just about any quarterback whose name doesn't rhyme with Trychael Vick or Bram Newton. This Maryland native would look fantastic in purple and black, no doubt.
There are some more players that deserve to be mentioned, but sadly, I have run out of time to write for the day and will continue with more combine analysis tomorrow, so stay tuned! As always, GO RAVENS!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
BRING ON THE DRAFT!!!! (Part 2)
So there have been some interesting recent developments in NFL news in the past few days. Ricky Williams announced his retirement from the NFL, Rob Gronkowski was seen dancing out at a club a day or two after losing the superbowl, fans in Boston demonstrated the definition of what it means to be poor losers, and Gisele Bundchen responded angrily towards criticism of her hubby's late-game Superbowl performance and placed the blame of the loss squarely in the hands of the Patriots' receiving corps.
Only one of those stories, however, is serious news that will have any effect on the NFL next season. The Ravens will have an important decision to make regarding their running back depth in light of Ricky Williams' retirement. Ricky provided exactly what the Ravens needed in a backup: he was experienced and proven, he was content to serve as the 2nd string back behind Ray Rice, and he provided good speed burst and substantial size to muscle through tacklers when necessary. The Ravens could opt to give Anthony Allen a try at being Rice's backup. Allen displayed impressive speed and size in the 2011 pre-season, and he rushed for over 1800 yards in his final season of college. Allen would be quite a cheap option on a team that could use all of the salary cap space in a year where the Ravens will be looking to sign and retain Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, Ben Grubbs, and Lardarius Webb. Ozzie Newsome also made it clear that the Ravens will be looking to improve at wide receiver. This could mean utilizing young receivers such as Tandon Doss and LaQuan Williams, or it could mean going after a big name free agent...and, maaaan, there are some big names out there to choose from!
The list of unrestricted free agent wide receivers is a who's who of NFL playmakers. Here are the top 13 options:
1. Vincent Jackson, Chargers
2. Marques Colston, Saints
3. Wes Welker, Patriots.
4. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
5. Laurent Robinson, Cowboys
6. Stevie Johnson, Bills
7. DeSean Jackson, Eagles
8. Reggie Wayne, Colts
9. Brandon Lloyd, Rams
10. Mario Manningham, Giants
11. Pierre Garcon, Colts
12. Jerome Simpson, Bengals
13. Robert Meachem, Saints
Clearly, Ravens fans will be begging their beloved team to pick up the likes of Vincent Jackson, Marques Colston, or Dwayne Bowe. A big receiver with proven hands and great speed would put the Ravens receiving corps into elite status. Suddenly the Ravens would be able to put Anquan back in the slot where he plays most naturally, they would have Torrey Smith to take the top off opposing defenses, and they'd have a wide receiver who can win jump ball situations and also spread the field. A Vincent Jackson type receiver could offer the speed, size, and hands to bring the Ravens into the top 10 in total offensive production as added firepower to the passing game would open things up further for Ray Rice and the Ravens' rushing attack. "GREAT!!! Where do we sign up?", you're probably asking. Well not so fast. Receivers of this caliber come with hefty price tags, and "the right player at the right price" has always been the motto of the Ravens' free agent acquisition process.
Nevertheless, the idea of Vincent Jackson in purple and black is an intriguing one. We've seen Philip Rivers launch bombs to Jackson for years, and one could only imagine that Flacco's arm strength would allow Jackson's role on the Ravens to be nearly identical. Only time will tell which of these many free agents will fall into the Ravens' price range and which will simply get re-signed by their current teams.
A big, speedy, sure-handed wide receiver would be an enormous piece to the puzzle of the Ravens' pass offense, but acquiring one won't mean much without an solid offensive line to give Flacco time to find his targets. The Ravens most likely will have to draft a center within the first 2-3 rounds of the draft, but more questions remain because of Ben Grubbs' free agency. Grubbs is a pro bowl lineman and one that the Ravens should do everything within their power to retain. Because of his performance, however, Grubbs will have the power to command a high salary and will undoubtedly entertain bids from other teams. Some have recently mentioned the possibility of Jah Reid moving from back-up tackle to guard and taking Grubbs' place. Guard is not an easy position for a tackle to play, and Grubbs has the speed and athleticism that Jah Reid may lack at that position. Reid is, after all, prototypical tackle size at 6'7" and roughly 340 pounds. Grubbs, by contrast, is 6'3" and much faster at 310 pounds.
Hopefully the Ravens will be able to free up enough salary cap room to sign Flacco, Rice, Webb and Grubbs to long term deals and still have enough left over to make a serious bid for a big name wide reciever. Ricky Williams departure will mean that the Ravens will most likely replace him with a much younger and cheaper back in Anthony Allen. Lee Evans will most likely become a salary cap casualty unless he agrees to play for FAR less money than was agreed upon in his original Raven contract. Paul Kruger may also take the starting position of veteran linebacker Jarret Johnson, but Kruger has mostly displayed pass rushing abilities and lacks strong run-stopping ability that JJ has provided for close to a decade. We'll know a lot more by the time the 2012 draft is over, but I have no doubt that Ravens fans across the state will excitedly ponder the possibilites!
As always, GO RAVENS!
Only one of those stories, however, is serious news that will have any effect on the NFL next season. The Ravens will have an important decision to make regarding their running back depth in light of Ricky Williams' retirement. Ricky provided exactly what the Ravens needed in a backup: he was experienced and proven, he was content to serve as the 2nd string back behind Ray Rice, and he provided good speed burst and substantial size to muscle through tacklers when necessary. The Ravens could opt to give Anthony Allen a try at being Rice's backup. Allen displayed impressive speed and size in the 2011 pre-season, and he rushed for over 1800 yards in his final season of college. Allen would be quite a cheap option on a team that could use all of the salary cap space in a year where the Ravens will be looking to sign and retain Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, Ben Grubbs, and Lardarius Webb. Ozzie Newsome also made it clear that the Ravens will be looking to improve at wide receiver. This could mean utilizing young receivers such as Tandon Doss and LaQuan Williams, or it could mean going after a big name free agent...and, maaaan, there are some big names out there to choose from!
The list of unrestricted free agent wide receivers is a who's who of NFL playmakers. Here are the top 13 options:
1. Vincent Jackson, Chargers
2. Marques Colston, Saints
3. Wes Welker, Patriots.
4. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
5. Laurent Robinson, Cowboys
6. Stevie Johnson, Bills
7. DeSean Jackson, Eagles
8. Reggie Wayne, Colts
9. Brandon Lloyd, Rams
10. Mario Manningham, Giants
11. Pierre Garcon, Colts
12. Jerome Simpson, Bengals
13. Robert Meachem, Saints
Clearly, Ravens fans will be begging their beloved team to pick up the likes of Vincent Jackson, Marques Colston, or Dwayne Bowe. A big receiver with proven hands and great speed would put the Ravens receiving corps into elite status. Suddenly the Ravens would be able to put Anquan back in the slot where he plays most naturally, they would have Torrey Smith to take the top off opposing defenses, and they'd have a wide receiver who can win jump ball situations and also spread the field. A Vincent Jackson type receiver could offer the speed, size, and hands to bring the Ravens into the top 10 in total offensive production as added firepower to the passing game would open things up further for Ray Rice and the Ravens' rushing attack. "GREAT!!! Where do we sign up?", you're probably asking. Well not so fast. Receivers of this caliber come with hefty price tags, and "the right player at the right price" has always been the motto of the Ravens' free agent acquisition process.
Nevertheless, the idea of Vincent Jackson in purple and black is an intriguing one. We've seen Philip Rivers launch bombs to Jackson for years, and one could only imagine that Flacco's arm strength would allow Jackson's role on the Ravens to be nearly identical. Only time will tell which of these many free agents will fall into the Ravens' price range and which will simply get re-signed by their current teams.
A big, speedy, sure-handed wide receiver would be an enormous piece to the puzzle of the Ravens' pass offense, but acquiring one won't mean much without an solid offensive line to give Flacco time to find his targets. The Ravens most likely will have to draft a center within the first 2-3 rounds of the draft, but more questions remain because of Ben Grubbs' free agency. Grubbs is a pro bowl lineman and one that the Ravens should do everything within their power to retain. Because of his performance, however, Grubbs will have the power to command a high salary and will undoubtedly entertain bids from other teams. Some have recently mentioned the possibility of Jah Reid moving from back-up tackle to guard and taking Grubbs' place. Guard is not an easy position for a tackle to play, and Grubbs has the speed and athleticism that Jah Reid may lack at that position. Reid is, after all, prototypical tackle size at 6'7" and roughly 340 pounds. Grubbs, by contrast, is 6'3" and much faster at 310 pounds.
Hopefully the Ravens will be able to free up enough salary cap room to sign Flacco, Rice, Webb and Grubbs to long term deals and still have enough left over to make a serious bid for a big name wide reciever. Ricky Williams departure will mean that the Ravens will most likely replace him with a much younger and cheaper back in Anthony Allen. Lee Evans will most likely become a salary cap casualty unless he agrees to play for FAR less money than was agreed upon in his original Raven contract. Paul Kruger may also take the starting position of veteran linebacker Jarret Johnson, but Kruger has mostly displayed pass rushing abilities and lacks strong run-stopping ability that JJ has provided for close to a decade. We'll know a lot more by the time the 2012 draft is over, but I have no doubt that Ravens fans across the state will excitedly ponder the possibilites!
As always, GO RAVENS!
Monday, February 6, 2012
BRING ON THE DRAFT!!
I'm pleased to announce that Purple Nightmare went 6-1 in playoff predictions this season. My lone incorrect prediction was regrettably that of the AFC Championship. Alas, what could have been...
Enough of all of that. Hats off to the Giants as they clearly earned their second ring in 5 years to become the hottest playoff team of the last half decade. The New York Giants and Green Bay Packers proved 3 out of the last 5 years that the best team of the year doesn't always win the Superbowl. It is, instead, the best team of the playoffs that wins the Superbowl. The Ravens, in their lone superbowl win, proved that very same statement to be true. The Ravens' 2000 regular season appeared almost completely hopeless at one point, but sometimes losses prove valuable learning tools on the road to late season success.
The Ravens didn't peak at the right time this year. Haloti Ngata had a nagging injury in the second half that prevented him from being the dominant force we've all come to know over the past 6 years. Without Ngata bulldozing his way through the middle of opposing offensive lines, Terrell Suggs was given more attention and was rendered almost completely ineffective as a pass rusher for the final 5 games of the season (Suggs had 1 sack during that time span). Matt Birk truly began to show his age when faced with the task of keeping Vince Wilfork off of Joe Flacco. Billy Cundiff's leg injury may or may not have had something to do with his missing what should have been one of the easiest field goals of his NFL career. Lee Evans took far too long to return to good form and, despite some solid catches in the playoffs, he dropped a perfectly placed touchdown pass that would have brought the Ravens to a game that both their organization and fanbase have been dreaming of for 11 years.
Because of such serious late season issues, the Superbowl simply wasn't in the cards for the Ravens this season. There were, however, some major bright spots that must be acknowledged and should have Ravens fans counting the seconds to the 2012 NFL Draft. Ed Reed and Ray Lewis remain elite players at their respective positions and will most likely continue to be big contributors and, at times, game changers next season. Lardarius Webb solidified himself as the best ball-hawking cornerback in the AFC and 3rd overall cornerback in the conference behind Jonathan Joseph and Darrell Revis. Jimmy Smith also displayed serious hands with numerous interceptions this year including one spectacular grab against Tom Brady in the playoffs. Ray Rice was the NFL's greatest all-purpose weapon this year with over 2000 yards from scrimmage and 15 regular season touchdowns. Pernell McPhee proved to be an absolute late round draft steal with 6.5 sacks in his rookie season. Dennis Pitta came out of his shell to establish himself as the most reliable pair of hands on the team. Joe Flacco got over a HUGE hump and swept the Steelers in grand fashion with Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu playing in both games. Aaaaand last but DEFINITELY not least, Torrey Smith went his first two games as an NFL receiver without a catch, only to answer his many critics with 3 touchdowns for his first 3 NFL receptions. Smith set a Ravens record with 7 touchdowns by a rookie.
With so many things going well in 2011, we must look back to the things that went wrong when discussing draft needs. In their "State of the Ravens" address, members of the Ravens organization mentioned addressing needs at wide receiver, offensive line as well as acquiring more pass rushers and possibly drafting a middle linebacker in the first or second round. The Ravens' draft policy has long been to draft the best player available so sometimes it's difficult to predict who they'll take. Along with weaknesses this past season, one must also take into account the Ravens that are now free agents and which players the Ravens can afford to release because of youth and depth behind them at their position.
THIS ARTICLE WILL BE CONTINUED TOMORROW WITH PART II
Enough of all of that. Hats off to the Giants as they clearly earned their second ring in 5 years to become the hottest playoff team of the last half decade. The New York Giants and Green Bay Packers proved 3 out of the last 5 years that the best team of the year doesn't always win the Superbowl. It is, instead, the best team of the playoffs that wins the Superbowl. The Ravens, in their lone superbowl win, proved that very same statement to be true. The Ravens' 2000 regular season appeared almost completely hopeless at one point, but sometimes losses prove valuable learning tools on the road to late season success.
The Ravens didn't peak at the right time this year. Haloti Ngata had a nagging injury in the second half that prevented him from being the dominant force we've all come to know over the past 6 years. Without Ngata bulldozing his way through the middle of opposing offensive lines, Terrell Suggs was given more attention and was rendered almost completely ineffective as a pass rusher for the final 5 games of the season (Suggs had 1 sack during that time span). Matt Birk truly began to show his age when faced with the task of keeping Vince Wilfork off of Joe Flacco. Billy Cundiff's leg injury may or may not have had something to do with his missing what should have been one of the easiest field goals of his NFL career. Lee Evans took far too long to return to good form and, despite some solid catches in the playoffs, he dropped a perfectly placed touchdown pass that would have brought the Ravens to a game that both their organization and fanbase have been dreaming of for 11 years.
Because of such serious late season issues, the Superbowl simply wasn't in the cards for the Ravens this season. There were, however, some major bright spots that must be acknowledged and should have Ravens fans counting the seconds to the 2012 NFL Draft. Ed Reed and Ray Lewis remain elite players at their respective positions and will most likely continue to be big contributors and, at times, game changers next season. Lardarius Webb solidified himself as the best ball-hawking cornerback in the AFC and 3rd overall cornerback in the conference behind Jonathan Joseph and Darrell Revis. Jimmy Smith also displayed serious hands with numerous interceptions this year including one spectacular grab against Tom Brady in the playoffs. Ray Rice was the NFL's greatest all-purpose weapon this year with over 2000 yards from scrimmage and 15 regular season touchdowns. Pernell McPhee proved to be an absolute late round draft steal with 6.5 sacks in his rookie season. Dennis Pitta came out of his shell to establish himself as the most reliable pair of hands on the team. Joe Flacco got over a HUGE hump and swept the Steelers in grand fashion with Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu playing in both games. Aaaaand last but DEFINITELY not least, Torrey Smith went his first two games as an NFL receiver without a catch, only to answer his many critics with 3 touchdowns for his first 3 NFL receptions. Smith set a Ravens record with 7 touchdowns by a rookie.
With so many things going well in 2011, we must look back to the things that went wrong when discussing draft needs. In their "State of the Ravens" address, members of the Ravens organization mentioned addressing needs at wide receiver, offensive line as well as acquiring more pass rushers and possibly drafting a middle linebacker in the first or second round. The Ravens' draft policy has long been to draft the best player available so sometimes it's difficult to predict who they'll take. Along with weaknesses this past season, one must also take into account the Ravens that are now free agents and which players the Ravens can afford to release because of youth and depth behind them at their position.
THIS ARTICLE WILL BE CONTINUED TOMORROW WITH PART II
Friday, February 3, 2012
SUPERBOWL PREDICTION!!!!
It's that time of the year again. A time where the Ravens are no longer playing football and yet somehow the season isn't over. That's right, it's the Superbowl. As much as it pains me to see the Patriots in the Superbowl, I have very little doubt in my mind that the Lombardi Trophy will not return to New England in 2012. Let's go over why:
The Gronk Factor (or lack thereof)
Rob Gronkowski is an enormous reason that the Patriots' offense achieved such a level of dominance this season. His presence gave Tom Brady a big, mighty, surehanded target in the endzone, and defensive backs and linebackers struggled to bring the 6'6" behemoth down. Statistically, Gronk had the greatest regular season of any NFL tight end in the history of the game...but the post season has been far less fortunate thus far.
Gronkowski obliterated the Broncos with 3 spectacular touchdowns in the divisional round of the playoffs. There appeared to be nothing that could truly stop him. Nothing, that is, until the Ravens came to down. The Ravens starting strong safety this season was a man who, in previous years, personally ended the season of the Patriots' biggest weapons in Tom Brady and Wes Welker. That trend, unfortunately for the Pats, continued in the AFC Championship as Bernard Pollard tackled Rob Gronkowski around the knees, causing Gronk to come down hard on a painfully bent ankle.
Since that injury, many fans and sports pundits have speculated that Gronk will play. The game-changing tight end practiced on a limited basis on Thursday, but his trainers still have yet to determine whether or not he will be healthy enough to suit up for the big game. The Patriots' staff could have Gronk's ankle reinforced with tape and/or a brace, and they'll undoubtedly shoot him with enough painkillers to bring down Robert Downey Jr., but Rob Gronkowski will still be injured and will NOT play at nearly the same level that fans are accustomed to seeing. He'll be slower, he'll be easier to take down, and more importantly, the Giants defensive backs will tackle him low frequently to key in on his weak spot.
The New York Giants, on the other hand, are relatively healthy and have seemingly unstoppable momentum. They already demolished a high powered Green Bay Packers' offense, and they showed they could even go toe to toe on the road with the NFL's stingiest defense. They ALSO showed, that they could beat a team with a giant, athletic (probably much moreso that Gronk) tight end, Vernon Davis. The Giants have taken down the best offense and the best defense in the NFL already, they'll now go up against another high octane offense, but THAT will be severly crippled without its biggest weapon playing at 100%.
In the end, the Giants already beat the Patriots in Foxborough earlier this season. They proved that, even before they hit their playoff stride, they could take down Brady and the mighty Pats. The Patriots were stronger back then, and the Giants were weaker. Now the Patriots will be much weaker, and with the recent surge in the Giants' pass rush, the G-Men will be stronger. I could go into a lot of statistical reasons why the Patriots will most likely lose, but I have a feeling that stats aren't required in this instance to back up my contention.
Prediction Time:
-The Giants will sack Brady 3 or more times and force at least 2 turnovers.
-With Rob Gronkowski either out of the game or slowed by his injury, Brady will have less than 300 yards passing and he'll be held to two passing TDs or less.
- Eli Manning, let's not forget, has had a career year throwing close to 5000 yards in the regular season, that that trend won't end tonight as the Giants will have 375+ passing yards and at least 4 passing touchdowns against the worst pass defense in the NFL this season. Manningham, Cruz, and Nicks will embarrass the Patriots' secondary.
FINAL PREDICTION: 38-20 GIANTS
AND AS ALWAYS, GO RAVENS!!!(Go get some great draft picks and free agents)
The Gronk Factor (or lack thereof)
Rob Gronkowski is an enormous reason that the Patriots' offense achieved such a level of dominance this season. His presence gave Tom Brady a big, mighty, surehanded target in the endzone, and defensive backs and linebackers struggled to bring the 6'6" behemoth down. Statistically, Gronk had the greatest regular season of any NFL tight end in the history of the game...but the post season has been far less fortunate thus far.
Gronkowski obliterated the Broncos with 3 spectacular touchdowns in the divisional round of the playoffs. There appeared to be nothing that could truly stop him. Nothing, that is, until the Ravens came to down. The Ravens starting strong safety this season was a man who, in previous years, personally ended the season of the Patriots' biggest weapons in Tom Brady and Wes Welker. That trend, unfortunately for the Pats, continued in the AFC Championship as Bernard Pollard tackled Rob Gronkowski around the knees, causing Gronk to come down hard on a painfully bent ankle.
Since that injury, many fans and sports pundits have speculated that Gronk will play. The game-changing tight end practiced on a limited basis on Thursday, but his trainers still have yet to determine whether or not he will be healthy enough to suit up for the big game. The Patriots' staff could have Gronk's ankle reinforced with tape and/or a brace, and they'll undoubtedly shoot him with enough painkillers to bring down Robert Downey Jr., but Rob Gronkowski will still be injured and will NOT play at nearly the same level that fans are accustomed to seeing. He'll be slower, he'll be easier to take down, and more importantly, the Giants defensive backs will tackle him low frequently to key in on his weak spot.
The New York Giants, on the other hand, are relatively healthy and have seemingly unstoppable momentum. They already demolished a high powered Green Bay Packers' offense, and they showed they could even go toe to toe on the road with the NFL's stingiest defense. They ALSO showed, that they could beat a team with a giant, athletic (probably much moreso that Gronk) tight end, Vernon Davis. The Giants have taken down the best offense and the best defense in the NFL already, they'll now go up against another high octane offense, but THAT will be severly crippled without its biggest weapon playing at 100%.
In the end, the Giants already beat the Patriots in Foxborough earlier this season. They proved that, even before they hit their playoff stride, they could take down Brady and the mighty Pats. The Patriots were stronger back then, and the Giants were weaker. Now the Patriots will be much weaker, and with the recent surge in the Giants' pass rush, the G-Men will be stronger. I could go into a lot of statistical reasons why the Patriots will most likely lose, but I have a feeling that stats aren't required in this instance to back up my contention.
Prediction Time:
-The Giants will sack Brady 3 or more times and force at least 2 turnovers.
-With Rob Gronkowski either out of the game or slowed by his injury, Brady will have less than 300 yards passing and he'll be held to two passing TDs or less.
- Eli Manning, let's not forget, has had a career year throwing close to 5000 yards in the regular season, that that trend won't end tonight as the Giants will have 375+ passing yards and at least 4 passing touchdowns against the worst pass defense in the NFL this season. Manningham, Cruz, and Nicks will embarrass the Patriots' secondary.
FINAL PREDICTION: 38-20 GIANTS
AND AS ALWAYS, GO RAVENS!!!(Go get some great draft picks and free agents)
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