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As we put the finishing touches on the 2011 NFL draft, I wanted to pass along some final notes from Day Three of the madness. I'll have plenty of information on each of the Ravens' picks in the coming days, and will provide an in-depth look at how the front office members and head coach John Harbaugh feel each player will be able to make
The Ravens capped their 2011 draft by selecting Anthony Allen, a running back out of Georgia Tech. Allen is a load at 6-foot-1, 230 lbs. He transferred from Louisville after the 2007 season and made the All-ACC First Team in 2010, rushing for 101 yards per game. I'm stepping into the Ravens' final press conference of the draft right now. Back with more in a
Now that things have calmed down here for a couple minutes as we wait for the Ravens to make their seventh-round, and final, selection in the draft, I wanted to pass along some comments from Tyrod Taylor, the Virginia Tech quarterback whom the Ravens selected with their sixth-round pick (180th overall). Taylor's known as a quarterback that often looks to escape the pocket and make
With last year's backup quarterback, Marc Bulger, not expected to return next season, the Ravens wanted to select a quarterback at some point in the 2011 draft. They got one, but the question is whether he'll stay a quarterback at the pro level. Said quarterback is Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor, a pure athlete who could evolve into a wide receiver in the NFL. Taylor went
The Ravens looked to the defensive side of the ball with back-to-back picks in the fifth round, taking Texas cornerback Chykie Brown and Mississipi State defensive end Pernell McPhee with the 164th and 165th overall picks, respectively. Brown - whose first name is pronounced "SHOCK-ee" - measures 5-foot-11, 190 lbs. He started nine games for Texas this year before suffering a season-ending forearm injury against
In the second round, the Ravens added speedy wide receiver Torrey Smith, giving them a vertical threat. In the fourth, they added Tandon Doss, a wideout who has size, speed, great hands and can do a little bit of everything offensively. Doss caught 63 passes for 705 yards and seven touchdowns last year at Indiana. He ran the ball 28 times for 163 yards and
You wanted wide receivers? You're going to get wide receivers. With their fourth-round pick (123rd overall), the Ravens selected Indiana WR Tandon Doss. Doss is a big guy (6-foot-2, 201 lbs.) and has great hands. He's more of an underneath receiver, while Torrey Smith, the Ravens' second-round pick, will stretch the field. The former Hoosier is a versatile guy, who can line up in the
For a team that insists that they draft based on best player available, the Ravens sure are filling a lot of needs in the 2011 Draft. Big, physical cornerback - check. Speedy wide receiver who can stretch the field - check. Burly offensive tackle - check. It might very well be a coincidence that all three players selected by general manager Ozzie Newsome thus far
In an effort to give you every single possible angle of this Ravens-Bears story, I wanted to pass along a fresh take on the situation, which comes from Chicago general manager Jerry Angelo. Angelo spoke to Chicago reporters tonight, who questioned him about the botched first-round trade between the Ravens and Bears. The Bears' GM confirmed a report that the NFL had suggested Chicago give
In scouting circles, Central Florida offensive tackle Jah Reid is viewed as a fast riser, a guy who has moved up draft boards quickly over the last couple months. Now, he has a chance to move into the Ravens' starting lineup. Those in the Ravens front office consider Reid, who they acquired with the 85th overall pick after making a trade with the Eagles, somewhat
The Ravens hoped to receive compensation stemming from their trade snafu (I just love using that word) with the Bears, but that won't be happening. According to reports, the NFL recommended that the Bears give the Ravens some reparation for the failed trade last night, but Chicago declined. They were not obligated to hand anything over, and thus, did not do so. Ravens general manager
The Ravens didn't want to wait around for their 90th overall pick to come up and risk losing a player they had their eyes on, so they made a deal with the Eagles to move up five spots. With the 85th pick, they then selected Central Florida offensive tackle Jah Reid, who checks in at 6-foot-7, 327 lbs. Baltimore gave up their original sixth-round pick
It had been reported that the Ravens were planning on contacting the NFL and making the claim that the Bears owe them a draft pick as a result of last night's botched trade toward the end of the first round. The league had declined comment on the matter, other than to say they were looking into the situation, and the Ravens had yet to officially
When Ravens director of college scouting Joe Hortiz came in to team headquarters this morning, he saw head coach John Harbaugh in the stairwell and came forward with a prediction. "I looked at him and I told him Torrey Smith was going to be there at 58," Hortiz said. Harbaugh didn't believe him. "I was a skeptic," Harbaugh said. "I think my comment was, 'There's
A Smith fell to the Ravens in Round One. That script repeated itself in Round Two. Maryland wide receiver Torrey Smith will be staying in the area, as he was the Ravens' selection with the 58th overall pick. Smith gives the Ravens a vertical threat in the passing game that they've lacked for years. The Maryland product had an unofficial time of 4.37 in the
I'm back at Ravens headquarters for Day Two of the rollercoaster ride that is the NFL Draft. Too bad I just ate. Don't I have to wait half an hour after eating before riding the rollercoaster? Or does that rule apply to swimming? I forget. In any event, the Ravens currently hold the 58th and 90th picks, which fall in the second and third round,
While the Ravens' cornerbacks put together a pretty solid 2010 season despite being without No. 1 corner Domonique Foxworth - who missed the entire campaign with a knee injury that came in training camp - there has always been one knock on this group: They need to grow a few inches. Ever since Chris McAlister left town, the Ravens have had a clear need for
When they were on the clock with the No. 26 overall pick last night, the Ravens thought they had a deal in place with the Bears that would bring back the 29th overall pick as well as Chicago's fourth-round selection. As we're all well aware by now, that deal didn't happen. The Bears never called the trade in to the league, and so it never
Every conversation about Jimmy Smith, the Colorado cornerback who the Ravens selected last night with the 27th pick in the NFL draft, contains a Part A and a Part B. Part A is a string of positive assessments about his football ability. Smith has great size. He's physical. He's got speed. He plays the game the right way. Part B is the reason why a
With 2 ½ minutes left to decide what to do with the 26th overall pick, the Ravens thought they had a deal in place to trade that selection to the Chicago Bears. In return, a team source tells me the Ravens were set to receive the Bears' 29th overall pick as well as Chicago's fourth-round selection, No. 127 overall. In accordance with draft procedure, the
Well, this isn't how Ozzie Newsome drew it up. Apparently thinking they had a trade in place to move down from their No. 26 overall selection, the Ravens let the clock expire on that pick. The Chiefs then jumped in and picked Pittsburgh wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin at 26. Scrambling, the Ravens got back in, and at No. 27, selected Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith. In
We're five picks away from the Ravens' No. 26 spot, and partially thanks to the run on quarterbacks early on, there are plenty of talented guys for GM Ozzie Newsome to sift through. If he wants to look at defensive ends to bolster the pass rush, he has a few top rushers to pick from. Cal's Cameron Jordan, Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers and Temple's Muhammed Wilkerson
I'm all set up at Ravens HQ in Owings Mills, have had my fill of buffalo wings, and am ready to settle in for the long haul. Let's get to business. The Ravens have a new big-bodied, athletic wide receiver wearing a Bengals jersey that they'll have to defend. Chad Ochocinco is likely on his way out of Cincinnati, but A.J. Green is on his
After a few days of chaos, Tom Zbikowski's boxing world is settled. For the time being, at least. Zbikowski had his 45-day boxing suspension for testing positive for marijuana lifted today, his attorney/manager told MASNsports.com. Zbikowski had tested positive on Saturday, following a fight in Thackersville, Oklahoma, but his camp sent a clean "more in-depth" drug test in to the boxing commission, and the suspension
- I know all Cam Newton has done the last two years is win, both at the Junior College and D-I level, but I'm still not convinced the likely No. 1 overall pick will ever be anything more than an average NFL quarterback. He's got the size, the athleticism, the ability to extend plays and make things happen with his feet. Yes, I'm aware of
Here's the news - or at least part of it - that you've been waiting for. The NFL has issued a statement announcing that it will allow teams to open their doors to players at 8 a.m. Friday morning. Players will be handed their playbooks, and they will be allowed to workout, get treatment, watch film and meet with coaches. The league has not yet
Welcome to draft day, folks. After all the film sessions, spandex workouts and mock drafts (none of which will end up being anywhere near correct, by the way), we're finally ready for commissioner Roger Goodell to step to the podium and kick off the 2011 NFL draft. The first round of the draft is tonight, and the Ravens will enter the proceedings with the 26th
Tom Zbikowski's camp was shocked when they were informed that the Ravens safety and professional boxer had tested positive for marijuana after his victory in a fight Saturday night. So, they went and got a second, more in-depth test taken. And this time, according to Zbikowski's boxing manager and attorney, the test came back clean. "I guess the test they took wasn't sent to the
Up until today, Tom Zbikowski's professional boxing career had been a pretty smooth ride. The Ravens safety is 4-0 as a boxer, he'd been dominating his opponents (he has three first-round TKOs in those four fights), and he had Hall of Famer Emmanuel Steward in his corner training him. This afternoon, however, reports came out that Zbikowski failed a drug test prior to a fight
Two days from the start of the NFL Draft, and we finally have some non-draft news to discuss. The only problem is, I'm not sure anybody really knows what this news means for the players, the league, or the future of the 2011 season. As you've heard by now, Judge Susan Nelson ordered an immediate end to the lockout last night and ruled that the
I can't say that I made the trek down to Thackerville, Okla. over the weekend to watch Tom Zbikowski's latest boxing match. Well, I could, but I'd be lying. Anyway, even though the location of his fourth professional fight didn't exactly live up to the first three - New York City's Madison Square Garden, Las Vegas and Atlantic City - Zbikowski still took care of
Ozzie Newsome has proven he isn't shy about making a trade in the first round of the draft, either to move up and snag a player higher on his board, or to accumulate picks by moving down. Nope, he isn't shy at all. If you dig into the NFL draft history books, you'll find that Newsome has made trades in the first round each of
Is the NFL lockout causing you to have trouble sleeping at night? Has food lost its taste? Are you unable to see colors or get out of bed in the morning, knowing that there's a chance that NFL games will not be played this upcoming season? Well, I might have something for you to calm your nerves just a tad, bring you back in off
Yesterday was a pretty big day in the Baltimore sports world. The Ravens held their annual pre-draft luncheon, the 2011 regular season schedule was released, and the Orioles snapped a losing streak with an 11-0 beat down of the Twins. Not too shabby, if you ask me. Prior to us learning last night that the Ravens will have five prime-time games this season, including one
The Ravens' 2011 regular season schedule has been released, and there will be plenty of chances for fans to see John Harbaugh's squad in prime time. Harbaugh's Ravens will play in five nationally televised games - three on NBC's Sunday Night Football, one at home on ESPN's Monday Night Football, and a Thanksgiving night clash on NFL Network. The Thanksgiving night game will be the
The Ravens' preseason schedule has been finalized. Now, the only question is whether there will be a preseason at all. If the lockout eventually ends, and the owners and players are able to reach terms on a new collective bargaining agreement before too much of the summer has passed by, the Ravens will open up the preseason by driving up I-95 to face the Eagles.
If you've seen any of the mock drafts that have been kicked around the past couple months, you've noticed a vast majority of them have the Ravens taking a cornerback or a wide receiver in the first round. While both of those positions are areas of need for Ozzie Newsome, I feel like a more likely scenario has the Ravens' GM looking at an offensive
