J5 on ESPN vs Atlanta 8-12-04

[Metz]

With Atlanta blitzing almost every play, I was hoping to see Josh take off scrambling down the field! Mr. Vick would have applauded that I'm sure

[hammb]

I think he looked better than you gave him credit for. His biggest challenge will be getting more consistent mechanically. He looked a lot more comfortable on that final drive in the 4th qtr. He was moving the team and looked like he was in charge. Too bad they went conservative on him and ran the ball inside three straight times.

He DEFINITELY looked more comfortable on that final drive. As I've said, it's VERY hard to draw any long term conclusions from one quarter of a preseason game against a 3rd string vanilla defense with a 3rd string surrounding cast. Especially when said quarter of play occurs in a monsoon.

Josh didn't really look any worse than I expected him to, I just didn't think he looked good. Fact is, he's not ready to play in the NFL. No surprises there. I do think he can still be good if he works on mechanics and accuracy, his 2 biggest issues right now. I was happy to see that he had pretty good reads on the defense last night, usually throwing into one-on-one coverage, and not forcing balls. Of course NFL teams use very vanilla coverage schemes in preseason.

I'm still confident in J5 to get the job done. He's a competitor, and won't go quietly into the night, for sure.

[Schadenfreude]

Clearly he didn't know what he was doing.

He was playing against the Falcons, and he was handing off to Chester Taylor.

I'd be confused too.

Funny stuff!

[bgsuman]

As much as I hate to even visit the Ravens web site, there was an article posted today on Josh and his progress in camp so far. looks like he will get a lot of PT against Atlanta (8-12-04 ESPN)

GO Josh!!

I hope Josh does great, wins the starting job, Ravens loose all their games, and he gets traded to Cleveland.

Did you hear the Ravens third jersey this year is an orange jump suit!!

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/template ... nt_id=4353

Oh yeah - Go Browns!!

well, he made it to Cleveland!

[ffejfalcon]

Just awesome....Now for my next wish...I wish the Browns would lose the rest of their games so they can get Reggie Bush...

[TG1996]

Just awesome....Now for my next wish...I wish the Browns would lose the rest of their games so they can get Reggie Bush...

Reggie Bush the O-Lineman, I hope you mean...

[bgbball31]

No OL will go that high, so Reggie Bush would be a fine Pick for #1.

[hammb]

No OL will go that high, so Reggie Bush would be a fine Pick for #1.

Reggie Bush is a SO and will not be eligible for the draft, unless he tries to pull the Maurice Clarett route. Even if he was eligible RB is so far away from the Browns' biggest need it's not even funny. Willie Green & Lee Suggs are both talented backs. Hell Green is averaging 4.0 ypc behind the worst OL in the NFL. That's saying something. What they need is an OL, and they have for 5 years now.

If you want to think OL at the top of the draft check out D'brickshaw Ferguson from UVA. He is rocketing up draft boards with a great senior year. He's oozing athleticism and has the height & long arms that NFL teams love. I've heard from some OL gurus that he's got super potential, his only question mark is that he's only 295 now and was only 225 2 years ago (was recruited as a TE). But he supposedly ahs the frame to put on the additional weight. Also as a true Jr (if he declares) he'd be among the younger prospects in the draft.

Reggie Bush would just be another in the line of talented skill players to get demolished behind a crappy OL.

[1987alum]

hammb:

My best-case scenario is that the Browns trade their #1 to one of the teams that have two #1s. Not sure of the particulars, but it stems from the fact that the Browns have so many holes they need to simply stock up on as much talent as possible. A package that includes their top pick should bring in a larger quantity of quality talent.

[hammb]

hammb:

My best-case scenario is that the Browns trade their #1 to one of the teams that have two #1s. Not sure of the particulars, but it stems from the fact that the Browns have so many holes they need to simply stock up on as much talent as possible. A package that includes their top pick should bring in a larger quantity of quality talent.

Unfortunately, '87, I just don't see that happening in this draft. I could be wrong, of course, but that sort of trade generally happens when there are a couple super top tier players. Like Last season's draft, where Taylor, Winslow, Gallery, Manning, and Fitzgerald were seen as HUGE potential prospects. Those are the sorts of guys that teams pay a huge sum to get up into the first round and grab one. Unfortunately there is not one single player this season that has that same level of prospect status As a result teams would be very hesitant to give up 2 first rounders for the chance to move up.

Right now I think the top prospects are likely Rogers from Cal, and Leinart from USC (I think Leinart is WAY overrated, FWIW). Both of those guys are QBs. The 2 teams w/ multiple 1st rounders this year are Dallas & San Diego. SD has their QB of the future (2, actually?). Dallas is in need of a QB, and they might be a decent bet for trading up to get either Rogers or Leinart. Even still I don't think either of them are considered among the type of talent of last year's draft. Winslow & Taylor were both tabbed as the best prospects EVER at their position. Fitz was seen as a surefire star at WR, and Gallery was on the level of Ogden, Pace, Boselli, etc at the LT position. Without that type of talent, I'm not confident that a team will want to trade down.

The one guy who could be a legit superstud prospect is Mike Williams. If he shows that he's still in great football shape he could become a chance for the Browns to pick up some extra picks too. I really think they'll end up staying at the position they finish though. From what I read of the D'brickshaw, he'd be a great pickup, but I have yet to see him play. Unfortunately the player who would get me most excited in this draft is probably Charlie Frye, but he will likely not be around for us in the 2nd round, and our 1st rounder will be way too high to pick him. QB isn't the Browns biggest need, but I think Frye is special.

In the grand scheme of the draft this year I don't think there's a single player that I'd really do cartwheels over the Browns drafting, and that's unfortunate when they need such an influx of talent to be competitive. In this draft of so little talent, I think I'll put my eggs in the D'brickshaw basket. He fills a need at a position where there is rarely a total bust.

[1987alum]

hammb:

Yes, that's my concern, too. That's why I don't think it would be straight-up. Sadly, we don't really have a lot of talent on the roster to package with the picks, otherwise I'd say the #1 plus (fill in good player here) and a #4 for their two #1s and a #3 or something like that.

[Warthog]

Unless of course they give up their #1 pick to get Ozzie to come over as the new GM. It would be just like the Browns to get a top three pick and then have to give it up.

[hammb]

Unless of course they give up their #1 pick to get Ozzie to come over as the new GM. It would be just like the Browns to get a top three pick and then have to give it up.

I seriously doubt they'll be giving up picks for any front office personnel. I don't think that they're in a position to do that. I think its more likely that they take Phil Savage from Baltimore, who is Ozzie's Right Hand man. I've read in multiple places that Savage is the real scout who makes the decisions, Ozzie simply gives the final nod, based largely on Savage's observations.

Either way you cannot go wrong with their personnel evaluation department, the Ravens continually find studs.

[Warthog]

Unless of course they give up their #1 pick to get Ozzie to come over as the new GM. It would be just like the Browns to get a top three pick and then have to give it up.

I seriously doubt they'll be giving up picks for any front office personnel. I don't think that they're in a position to do that. I think its more likely that they take Phil Savage from Baltimore, who is Ozzie's Right Hand man. I've read in multiple places that Savage is the real scout who makes the decisions, Ozzie simply gives the final nod, based largely on Savage's observations.

Either way you cannot go wrong with their personnel evaluation department, the Ravens continually find studs.

Except at QB. Boller that is.

[hammb]

Unless of course they give up their #1 pick to get Ozzie to come over as the new GM. It would be just like the Browns to get a top three pick and then have to give it up.

I seriously doubt they'll be giving up picks for any front office personnel. I don't think that they're in a position to do that. I think its more likely that they take Phil Savage from Baltimore, who is Ozzie's Right Hand man. I've read in multiple places that Savage is the real scout who makes the decisions, Ozzie simply gives the final nod, based largely on Savage's observations.

Either way you cannot go wrong with their personnel evaluation department, the Ravens continually find studs.

Except at QB. Boller that is.

Funny thing is most reports are that Boller was purely a Billick pick. Ozzie & the scouting department didn't want him and certainly didn't want to give up so much to get him, but Billick won out on that one. At least that's what I've read from Ravens fans on the issue.