Thursday, April 9, 2009

On The Clock: Baltimore Ravens

Record: 11-5, 2nd In the AFC South
General Manager: Ozzie Newsome, Head Coach: John Harbaugh (2nd Year), Offensive Coordinator: Cam Cameron (2dn Year), Defensive Coordinator: Greg Mattison (1st Year/2nd Year With Ravens)

Offense Rankings: No. 18 Overall, No. 11 Scoring, No. 28 Passing, No. 4 Rushing
Defense Rankings: No. 2 Overall, No. 3 Scoring, No. 2 Passing, No. 3 Rushing

Last Five Years: 44-36; Last Playoff Appearance: 2008; Last Playoff Victory: 2008 (13-10 Over the Tennessee Titans)

2008 Draft: (1-18) QB Joe Flacco, (2-55) RB Ray Rice, (3-71) LB Tavares Gooden, (3-86) S Tom Zbikowski, (3-99) OG Oniel Cousins, (4-106) WR Marcus Smith, (4-133) OT David Hale, (6-206) S Haruki Nakamura, (7-215) WR Justin Harper, (7-240) RB Allen Patrick

Top Picks Last Five Years:
2008 – (1-18) QB Joe Flacco, Delaware
2007 – (1-29) OG Ben Grubbs, Auburn
2006 – (1-12) DT Haloti Ngata, Oregon
2005 – (1-22) WR Mark Clayton, Oklahoma
2004 – (2-51) DT Dwan Edwards, Oregon St.

Booms: C Jason Brown (4th Round 2005), DT Haloti Ngata (1st Round 2006), S Dawan Landry (5th Round 2006), P Sam Koch (6th Round 2006), OG Ben Grubbs (1st Round 2007), KR Yamon Figurs (3rd Round 2007), OT Marshal Yanda (3rd Round 2007), RB Le'Ron McClain (4th Round 2007), QB Joe Flacco (1st Round 2008)

Busts: DT Dwan Edwards (2nd Round 2004), WR Devard Darling (3rd Round 2004), OLB Dan Cody (2nd Round 2005), DB David Pittman (3rd Round 2006), WR Demetrius Williams (4th Round 2006)

Additions:
C Matt Birk (Free Agent)
CB Chris Carr (Free Agent)
CB Domonique Foxworth (Free Agent)
TE L.J. Smith (Free Agent)

Subtractions:
QB Kyle Boller (FA-St. Louis)
C Jason Brown (FA-St. Louis)
WR Terrance Copper (FA-Kansas City)
DE Marques Douglas (Released)
CB Corey Ivy (FA-Cleveland)
SS Jim Leonhard (FA-New York/AFC)
CB Chris McAlister (Released)
ILB Bart Scott (FA-New York/AFC)
DE Lee Vickers (FA-New York/NFC)

Keepers:
QB Todd Bouman
P Sam Koch
LB Rey Lewis
WR Marcus Maxwell
DT Brandon McKinney
OLB Terrell Suggs (Franchised)

2009 Picks:
Round 1, Selection 26
Round 2, Selection 25
Round 3, Selection 24
Round 4, Selection 23
Round 5, Selection 26
Round 6, Selection 25

Team Needs – Players of Interest (Day One):
1. Wide Receiver:
Percy Harvin, Florida; Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland; Kenny Britt, Rutgers; Hakeem Nicks, UNC; Brian Robiskie, OSU; Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma; Jarett Dillard, Rice; Mike Thomas, Arizona
2. Offensive Tackle: Eben Britton, Arizona; William Beatty, UConn; Jamon Meredith, South Carolina; Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma
3. Kicker: None.
4. Outside Linebacker: Clay Matthews Jr., USC; Brian Cushing, USC; Aaron Maybin, PSU; Connor Barwin, Cincinnati; Larry English, Northern Illinois; Clint Sintim, Virginia; Cody Brown, UConn
5. Defensive End: Tyson Jackson, LSU; Jarron Gilbert, San Jose St.; Evander Hood, Missouri; Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn; Fili Moala, USC

Photo Credit: Mark Campbell, UD Athletics Media Relations Photo, College Press Box (Maryland)

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Workout Watch: Sean Smith Has Several Visits

Utah cornerback Sean Smith has workouts with the St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, as well as visits to the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens this week.

Cornerback Sean Smith out of Utah is on his way to Philadelphia and Baltimore for private workouts with the Eagles and Ravens today. The Eagles traded Lito Sheppard to the New York Jets and Baltimore has released Chris McAlister and lost Corey Ivy to the Cleveland Browns in free agency, so each team could be looking to draft a corner come April.

Smith also has a visit to the Seattle Seahawks on the docket for this week, a tour that he will complete on Friday. The California native has workouts for the St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins as well. Miami lost Andre’ Goodman to the Denver Broncos in free agency, while the Browns (Cleveland On the Clock) and the Rams (St. Louis On the Clock) certainly have cornerback on their list of team needs. Cleveland owns a pair of second round picks.

Some teams may view Smith as a safety because of his size (6034, 214 pounds), adding to his potential value. Miami's Bill Parcells is known for liking players with size and Smith is most reminiscent of one of Parcells’ former players Marcus Coleman out of Texas Tech. Coleman came into the league as a safety, but was switched to cornerback by the then Jets Head Coach.

To learn more about Sean Smith, click to listen to his NFL Draft Bible Player Spotlight on All Access Football Radio.