thundercleetz

Well, that is obviously what to shoot for, but like you state, it is a crapshoot finding one of those guys. I am a lot more optimistic than you max that Ozzie will solve this WR problem. How about this: we sign/trade for a guy like Malcom Floyd or Antonio Bryant, bring back D-Mase, then draft a couple of receivers (possibly a tight-end as well) in the 2-4 round range. Mason is a solid #2, you have a big guy like Floyd or Bryant who can stretch the field, then hopefully you wind up with a Mike Wallace with one of those two draft picks. Look at what a team like the NY Giants did. They have three guys in Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks. None of these guys are the true #1 type receiver you explain, but Nicks was a first rounder who produced as a rookie and has potential to be the guy. Smith was a second rounder and Manningham was a third rounder. They worked really well together as a group. You give me Mason, Floyd/Bryant, a rookie like Wallace/Nicks/Maclin/Britt/Harvin, and Mark Clayton as a #3/4 guy, and Joe will make this thing work! The 2009 draft class was loaded at WR. Look what Mike Wallace, Hakeem Nicks, Jeremy Maclin, Kenny Britt, Percy Harvin, and Michael Crabtree did. ALL of these guys produced near or over 700 yards of receiving. There were six WRs taken in the first round, FIVE of them I would consider a hit. There is talent to be found at WR. Everyone says how hard it is to find a stud receiver. It might be rare to get that Fitz/Andre Johnson-type guy, but finding quality receivers I believe is dependent upon finding the right guy for your system and the other weapons you have. We just need to find receivers with specific talents that we can use in different ways to keep the offense fresh. It took us awhile to find a QB, but Ozzie got him. I have confidence that Ozzie will get some quality receiver whether through free agency, the draft, or trade. We have the QB, we have the line, we have the running backs, Ozzie knows what is next. He has no choice but to improve the WR core, and I fully believe he will do so.

I think you made Spear's point, max. One guy is not going to solve the problem, but if we draft two, three quality receivers then Joe can help these guys contribute. While getting a #1 receiver is nice, getting two #2 guys (with one of these guys maybe having the potential to grow into a #1) and maybe a #3 slot type, and this offense will be ready to role.

Man, he is a big guy. He looks like Vernon Davis on the field. Go to 4:50, shades of Mark Clayton!

That makes sense.

As far as I am concerned Ozzie set the bar for our first round pick last year: find someone how can have the type of immediate impact Michael Oher had for this team. I do not care what position that is, if we find a guy like that our team will be better. Unless we trade up for Dez Bryant, I do not see us going receiver in the first round. It is still early though, but I could definitely see us taking two receivers from rounds 2-4. At that point, a receiver in rounds 2-4 is just as likely to produce as a WR in round 1. I do think that Ozzie will address WR somehow through FA/trade.

How is Boller a douche? I know he sucked at QB, but I never really thought of him as a douche. He seemed like a nice enough guy.

Hahah you are completely right Dee, no drinking tonight. I learned my lesson from when the Saints won the NFC Championship game. I am sure downtown is insane, I don't even want to bother with the crazyness. Uptown is pretty nuts right now as well.

What did I tell you max, that defense is scrappy, isn't it?

Here is a good piece on what Zorn is going to try and do:

I agree with this. Floyd is a RFA, and the Chargers obviously want him back. A second round pick is a little much, but I would do a third rounder. I guess it comes down to how much the Chargers are willing to spend on their WR core. They are definitely going to pay V-Jax, if they do not want to pay Floyd, maybe they would get what they can for him in the form of a third round pick? We should really just hope there is a new CBA, I have heard it is not as bleak as people think.

Ummm... Floyd did not start on the Chargers until mid-way through this past season. Before that he played heavily on special teams. No way he will cost a first round pick. He is being coveted for his skill set and potential, it is simply one of those lets get this guy before he blows up type of deals. Sure, it is a big risk, but so is any rookie WR.

I earlier compared Webb to Duante Robinson's injury back in the 2007 season. Robinson tore his ACL and hamstring in late October. He opened the 2008 season on the PUP list, but hit the ground running in week six. This is probably the plan for Webb. Webb sounds like he is going to put in the work, so he will definitely be back when he is supposed to be.

I have mixed feeling on Floyd. On one hand this was his first year getting extensive playing time and he really excelled as a downfield threat averaging 17.2 YPC on 45 receptions. On the other hand he is certainly a risk. However what he brings to the table at 6'5", 225-pounds being able to stretch the field and be a redzone threat he could be worth it. Cam has coached him before, so if we do go for Floyd, Cam had to have said something positive to Ozzie. I will say this though, Floyd is certainly less of a risk than bringing in a rookie receiver. Here is the point, Floyd alone is not going to solve the problem. However, get a guy like Floyd, bring back Mason, and draft a rookie pretty high or sign an additional guy like Antonio Bryant/Chris Chambers, and suddenly Joe has a lot to work with. Trading for Floyd and signing Bryant would be a good start.

You have to assume that Ozzie is going to do something through free agency/trade. We could get a guy like Malcom Floyd through trade then draft a corner in round one or two. It is still early, the plan will be more clear come draft time.

If we get a player who can make impact like Oher did this past season, I do not care what position he plays.

I do not think the purpose of this article was to grill Ozzie, just point out some interesting picks and to show that a team can have success drafting receivers in the later rounds. If anything, this article should give us hope that we will be able to find a stud receiver in the mid-rounds this year.

Good stuff, thanks for posting! Your videos are excellent as well. What do you think of Riley Cooper though? I did not see him on your list. He is someone who I think would be a great fit for us. I am not a big Golden Tate fan, I think he is too similar to Mark Clayton when he was coming out of Oklahoma for the draft. Oh yeah, good catch on Tulane WR Jeremy Williams. I am a student at Tulane and was a manager of the football team Jeremy's redshirt junior year (2008). He was our whole offense this season. We did not have any consistency at QB but Jeremy still made plays. You are right, he is not the fastest or quickest guy out there, but he has a very sturdy build, runs solid routes, and has reliable hands. I hope you keep posting here regularly as the draft rolls around, it seems like you know your stuff!

I completely agree, the value for WRs in this draft (unless we trade up for Bryant ala Oher last year) is in rounds 2-4. I am not as worried about the WR position as I was when the season first ended, we just need to get talent in there. If we can draft a couple of WRs, and possibly a TE in rounds 2-4, Joe should have some weapons to work with.

Here is a very interesting topic from an insider over on the Ravens board at the Orioles Hangout: http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92846 Apparantly "Brandon Graham told everyone at the Senior Bowl that he wants to come to Baltimore."

We passed on Wallace for Ladarius Webb, both guys are going to be studs if you ask me.

LOL, yeah I love that video!!

I like the move. Zorn is not a good HC, but he is a great QB coach, just ask Matt Hasselbeck. As bad as Jason Campbell was, Zorn definitely had progress with him. Campbell's footwork, accuracy, and mechanics improved dramatically under Zorn. Zorn could not help that Campbell is just not a smart guy. Now pair Zorn with an intelligent individual in Joe Flacco and it could be Matt Hasselbeck all over again. I see Zorn here as a good thing, this offense could use some West Coast elements in it, such as quick slants to counter the blitz. As a QB coach, Zorn emphasizes flexibility, quickness, and a focus on footwork with his QBs. Zorn makes sure his QBs are in shape. The first week Zorn took over as HC with the Redskins Campbell had to take a couple of days off of practice because he was not used to the high pace Zorn was putting him through with his 3- and 5-step dropbacks. It is about efficiency, and Campbell was simply using muscles he had never really used before as a QB. Like I said, Joe is already an established QB. No one is going to mess him up. Zorn is a former NFL QB who will be another set of eyes for Joe to come to. At the very least, Joe will be more durable against injury.

You ever hear of the phrase "fair is fair"? If you are going to ask how is the Saints defense going to stop the Colts offense, you have to ask: how is the Indy defense going to stop the number one offense in the league? Late round draft picks like Jerraud Powers, Jacob Lacey, and Tim Jennings might have been able to stop the pitful Ravens receivers, but to go against big, fast, physical receivers in Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, and Jeremy Shockey (you can throw Reggie Bush in there too)? Good luck Colts secondary. We saw it last week, the Colts left their corners in plenty of man-to-man coverage on the outside and paid for it. They will not be able to do that against the Saints receivers. And if they try to stop the pass, Pierre Thomas will run all over them. Do not short Drew Brees, he is every bit of a great QB that Peyton Manning is. Once he wins this Super Bowl he is finally going to start getting the credit he deserves. I understand if you pick the Colts to win max, but to say they "ain't got a prayer"... well you are going to be very surprised my friend.

James Walker seems to think differently than you guys: Zorn will be great for Flacco

Sure, if they are willing to give us a 2nd/3rd round pick, give them Troy Smith. Former OSU teammate Donte' Whitner of the Buffalo Bills is lobbying for the Bills to trade for Troy Smith.