ntclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBaltimore Beatdowna Baltimore Ravens communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpPodcastFilm ReviewFanpostsFanshotsRavensAboutOddsCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhitePodcast Film Review Fanposts Fanshots Ravens StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Ravens ReportYahoo Ravens Depth ChartYahoo Ravens TransactionsYahoo Ravens PhotosAbout Odds Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Filed under:NFL Draft2019 NFL DraftThe Ravens need to build around Lamar Jackson... ThursdayNew Stitched James Hurst Jersey ,37commentsTime to start playing bully ballEDTShareTweetShareShareThe Ravens need to build around Lamar Jackson... ThursdayLamar Jackson turned 22 years old a day after the Ravens suffered through a disappointing loss in the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Chargers. As a 21 year old, Lamar Jackson accomplished a great deal. 42 Louisville school records. a Heisman and a runner up. Jackson was a first round draft pick, the second youngest quarterback selected, and significantly outplayed most pundit’s expectations. L.J. posted the second highest QB rating, lowest interception percentage, and has played in more playoff home games than the Cleveland Browns have since the AFC North was created. Jackson has displayed flashes of brilliance and also showed areas that he desperately needs to improve.Jackson needs to keep two hands on the ball in the pocket. He needs to allow the running-back to take the ball on read options more, instead of hanging onto the ball for too long and causing a fumble. He needs to step into his short throws and follow through more (especially on outside screens). He needs to make sure he doesn’t short-arm the ball and deliver strikes. Finally, among other things, he needs to continue to develop his strong throwing base. Let’s take a look at how far Jackson has come since his early years at Louisville:Jackson had a tendency to stand with his feet too close together in the pocket. Power comes from a wide base. A narrow base causes overcompensation from the upper body, making the task harder than necessary. This translates to difficulty repeating the same motion. In the NFL, consistency is king. Lamar stated after voluntary OTA’s that “laziness” was the reason for some of his inaccuracy. Jackson has never seemed to be the lazy type. He’s a gym rat. That simply means that he isn’t practiced enough yet where his throwing motion is an afterthought, rather something that he still needs to focus on. With first team reps, more practice, and hard work... Jackson will improve. That improvement can’t happen overnight. Mike Vick completed merely 44% of his passes over seven starts during his rookie season. Dak Prescott completed 67%. They are not the same person, but if you gave Michael Vick Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin Youth James Hurst Jersey , and Ezekiel Elliott... that’s a scary thought. Translation— build the offensive line. Mark Chichester, PFFThe Ravens offensive lineman weren’t pushovers by any stretch of the imagination. Ronnie Stanley allowed the lowest percentage of pressure of any LT in the league. Yanda hasn’t let up a sack in years. Orlando Brown Jr. was doing this as a rookie:That’s all good news. However, there was much to be left desired at the center and left guard positions. Take a look at what happened when the Ravens faced some top tier defensive line talent:Geno Atkins is arguably the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL over the last ten years. It’s certainly no easy task to anchor him after snapping the ball. Lamar was still able to make a decent throw despite the interior pressure:Again, Lamar is able to make an accurate throw despite interior pressure:Jackson’s ability to reset in the pocket, keep his eyes downfield and continue to keep the play alive are elite. His fundamental consistency in his base and throwing motion is below average by NFL standards. Let’s look at some of Jackson’s worst moments from this past year:When Lamar Jackson feels rushed before he can read the coverage, he tries to snap his arm with a side-arm release, doesn’t point his toes to his receiver and essentially throws the ball away. Not pointing his body to his target to really debilitates his accuracy. However, the other rookie QBs also suffered from inaccuracy and were more turnover prone than Jackson. Lamar lost four fumbles and threw three interceptions over his seven regular season starts. He averaged one turnover per game. That was the lowest per game ratio of the five first round quarterbacks selected in 2018. Two of those lost fumbles were strip sacks as he was bringing the ball up to throw. Does Lamar need to hold onto the ball with two hands more often? Yes. Is it as bad as the average Joe makes it seem? No.With all of that being said, Lamar’s capability to escape the pocket, buy time, and keep his eyes downfield are exceptional. However, if the Ravens get more stout up front at center and left guard, it will only allow for elevated success. The three positions of need that fans and pundits alike mock the Ravens to draft are receivers, interior offensive lineman and edge rushers. Ravens’ Nation clamors for receivers because they’re flashy. However, it’s downright irresponsible to ignore the interior offensive line. If Marshal Yanda is injured (knock on wood) and heaven forbid Orlando Brown or Ronnie Stanley have to miss time, what becomes of the offensive line? Do we want some combination of Skura, Lewis Stitched Patrick Onwuasor Jersey , Hurst, Eluemunor protecting the 22 year-old who’s still developing into a consistent passer? Particularly one who has had some trouble keeping the ball off the turf? That’s why it’s systematically irresponsible for the Ravens to fail to address the offensive line in 2019’s NFL Draft. There are a few players who can play guard or center from day one:Erik McCoy- Center, Texas A&MErik McCoy is the most impressive power/pulling center I’ve seen in quite some time. He EXPLODES out of the blocks and possesses a wonderful combination of punch, footwork, IQ and power. He fared better than anyone else against ‘Bama and Clemson’s NFL caliber front-7’s, respectively.The reason I like McCoy over Garrett Bradbury is because he is more suited for a power running scheme with lots of pulls, traps, etc. Bradbury is also a stud, but seems to be a better fit for a zone rushing scheme. Greg Roman is notorious for his power concepts. I think McCoy has the slight edge as a pulling center, but both would be an upgrade at center or left guard in 2019. Plus... McCoy is just downright mean...Garrett Bradbury- Center, NC StateNFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah referred to Bradbury as “The Grim Reacher” because of his outstanding ability in reach and combo blocks. Bradbury is extremely mobile at getting to the second level to wall off linebackers, or to reach and seal a double team and open up a running lane. He is quick as lightening off the snap, and seems to be an extremely smart player. The ONE knock I have against Bradbury is that he doesn’t have the greatest “anchor” or ability to stonewall a bull rush by sinking his hips and using leverage. It’s not a weakness by any means, but some NFL strength and conditioning could certainly help the converted tight end continue to get stronger as he matures. With that being said, don’t be confused, Bradbury is a mean S.O.B. Cody Ford- Tackle/Guard, OklahomaFord is just a jerk. He’s mean. He’s your older brother. He’s bigger Youth Patrick Onwuasor Jersey , he’s stronger, and you annoy him. He’s that bouncer that keeps giving you dirty looks, but you wouldn’t dare say a word to because he just scares the crap out of you.Ford presents a little different ability than McCoy as he probably could be a quality tackle in this league. On the Ravens, he would kick inside to guard, as he did for the majority of his career. However, he would be a great option should injuries cause some rotation among the Ravens’ big men. He is better when pulling or running with the ball right behind him, rather than on outside zone plays as a tackle. His strong paws clamp down, then don’t stop until opponent is on the ground or the whistle is blown. He could take over once Yanda leaves, and the Ravens could continue to play bully ball for years to come. Dalton Risner- C/G/T, Kansas StateRisner is a rarity. He’s played all five positions over 42 starts at the college level. He isn’t quite as athletically gifted or powerful as the lineman previously mentioned, but he has smarts, heart and versatility. He uses good technique and is an able mover. He might not be as massive as some of the other lineman in this draft like Jawaan Taylor or Andre Dillard, but he would provide great versatility for the Ravens with his experience playing multiple positions. Some of the top tier talent at the college level got the best of Risner, but he also made sure to make an impact on them as well. He sort of reminds me of James Hurst with his versatility, but has much better footwork and could reach a Pro Bowl level.Chris Lindstrom- G, Boston CollegeLindstrom has a baby face, but don’t tell him that. He’s a technician who explodes off the ball. To me White Za’Darius Smith Jersey , he’s the best guard in this draft. He drives defenders off the ball with a combination of technique and strength. He’s also a better athlete than given credit for. I think Yanda would love to play with this dude, and show him the ropes. Not that Lindstrom needs that much help anyway...Elgton Jenkins- C, Mississippi StateDon’t be surprised if the Ravens trade back and add Elgton Jenkins the four year center from Mississippi State as well. Allowed 5 pressures in 2018. Extremely solid pass protector who won about half of his reps during the Senior Bowl.As previously stated, regardless whether the Ravens trade up, down, left, or right, they need to solidify the offensive line. In my opinion, Erik McCoy will be an All Pro player early on, and would give the Ravens exactly what they need moving forward. Any of these five lineman would ensure that regardless of injury, the Ravens can trot out a formidable offensive line to give Lamar the time to find receivers. Whether they catch the ball or not, offensive lineman win championships, not receivers. I would like to see them double dip to ensure the Ravens have the blockers they need to pound the rock. Everything else can fall in place later, Baltimore needs to address the line Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Baltimore Beatdown comments on the recent news"WhitePodcast Film Review Fanposts Fanshots Ravens StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Ravens ReportYahoo Ravens Depth ChartYahoo Ravens TransactionsYahoo Ravens PhotosAbout Odds Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Instant Reactions: Ravens cut WR Michael CrabtreeNew,51commentsBaltimore Beatdown comments on the recent newsESTShareTweetShareShareInstant Reactions: Ravens cut WR Michael CrabtreeCharles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsIn the wake of the Ravens’ most recent move Za’Darius Smith Jersey 2019 , Baltimore Beatdown decided to sit down and share their opinions on the team parting ways with WR Michael Crabtree.Kyle P. BarberIt’s good to see the Ravens make tough decisions. I’m riding high on the Eric DeCosta train after he makes his third big move in February alone. He traded QB Joe Flacco. He signed CB Tavon Young to a big extension and now he’s cut a big-name wide receiver. Watching DeCosta make big moves this early is something unique. Maybe I’m searching too hard here, but I wonder how many moves over the past year or two DeCosta wasn’t on board with. Now, with him in the general manager role, he’s shaping this team into his vision, rather than co-signing with Ozzie Newsome. I’m excited and looking forward to the DeCosta era in 2019 and beyond.Frank J. PlatkoAs I wrote about several weeks ago, I believe parting ways with Crabtree is the right decision. Not only is it a cap-friendly move, but Crabtree was simply not effective this past season. His tendency to drop passes was frustrating and he struggled to create separation regardless of who was under center. Crabtree’s game does not mesh well with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens need to begin investing in younger, more scheme-friendly talent at the position. Crabtree is a great veteran presence to have around, but the production didn’t match the salary and he’s only going to continue getting older. At least his short Baltimore tenure ended on a high note when he caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in the playoff loss to the Chargers.Jacob LouqueA disappointing, unsurprising, and necessary ending to this partnership. This is another good move for Eric DeCosta to start his tenure, but means little if he and the team yet again fail to properly invest in the position over the next couple of months.Dustin CoxThis is a move that was expected after a disappointing season from the veteran wide receiver which was filled with all-too familiar dropped pass after dropped pass. Quarterback Lamar Jackson never seemed to develop chemistry with Crabtree aside from his two touchdown performance in the playoffs. The goal should be getting younger, more explosive, cheaper playmakers at the position now.Kyle J. AndrewsMichael Crabtree was one the receivers that was brought in to fit the needs of soon to be former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. He ultimately was ineffective down the stretch with Lamar Jackson as the quarterback — outside of flashes during the playoff game against the Chargers. Flacco is practically gone, John Brown is also a free agent, so this points to a changing of the guard at wide receiver to coincide with Jackson’s arrival. Maybe this is Eric DeCosta actually making an attempt to break Baltimore’s abysmal record of drafting receivers in earlier rounds in this upcoming NFL Draft.