Day 3

[cravnravn]

Johnny Harbs up next on the NFL Channel

[vmax]

The Ravens added their second pass-catching tight end of the draft on Saturday, spending the 114th-overall selection on Brigham Young’s Dennis Pitta.

 

He joins Ed Dickson of Oregon, a third-round draft pick, as the newest members of the Ravens’ offense.

 

Heading into the draft, tight end was a critical position of need, considering only 2009 practice-squadder Davon Drew remained on the roster behind incumbent starter Todd Heap.

 

Pitta, 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, was impressively productive with the Cougars. After taking a two-year LDS mission to the Dominican Republic, he returned in 2007 to catch 59 passes for 813 yards and five touchdowns.

 

He followed that with an 83-catch, 1,083-yard and six-score campaign in 2008.

 

Last year, Pitta hauled in 62 balls for 829 yards and eight touchdowns.

 

Pitta was a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given to the top tight end in college football, and Dickson was a semi-finalist.

http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/?p=5174

 

I think they will use Dickson more like a WR....the TE depth was needed but everybody is right...they need a CB!

Perhaps Ozzie will score one off the trash heap of guys who get released...

[52isUnstoppable]

anyone got the skinny on pitta? Some inside info.

 

If dickson is the pass catcher does that make pitta the blocker? Wheres LJ smith fit in? Wheres heap fit in? Gonna be a hell of a TE battle in training camp.

 

Not as pressed on CB as everyone else, You're essentially looking for a guy to be our dime back.

 

Foxworth

Washington

Webb

Carr

drafted guy

[ravensfanatic77]

Pitta is a big time receiving TE...the knock on him is blocking. What did Harbs say on NFL network?

[ravensfanatic77]

From ESPN insider:

 

16(114) Baltimore Ravens (from Denver) Dennis Pitta TE Brigham Young

What he brings: Pitta is limited as far as overall athleticisim. However, he is a savvy zone-beater who should develop into a dangerous red zone threat for Joe Flacco. While he gives good effort as a run blocker, he needs to get stronger at the point of attack.

How he fits: Baltimore has taken yet another receiving tight end because Todd Heap is on the downside of his career. Ed Dickson will likely stretch the field and Pitta will be able to work underneath zones.

[colincac]

We aren't desperate for a corner next year per say, but we really need someone early in the season with Washington and Webb hurting. Because of that, I think Oz will grab a veteran to fill in early on as opposed to using a draft pick...Makes more sense that way.

[vmax]

Stats...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=156974

 

Tight End

BYU

6’ 5” 250 lbs.

 

Strengths: Size, Speed, Route Running, Strength, Hands, Clutch Play, Thick Upper Body

 

Weaknesses: Blocking, Age, Potential

 

As clutch a receiver as there is in the country, Dennis Pitta is one of college football’s most feared pass catchers for his combination of size, speed, hands and silky smooth route running. The senior TE is coming off a great season which saw him earn All-America 3rd-Team honours after catching 83 balls for 1,083 yards and 6 TD.

 

For his career, Pitta has 159 catches for 2,072 yards and 13 TD. He earned 1st-Team All-MWC in 2007 after leading all MWC TE with 59 catches. He set a conference record for TE with 213 yards against Northern Iowa to kick off the 2008 season and his 83 catches last year is a BYU and NWC record for TE. He currently sits 2nd in BYU annals for catches by a TE and is only 19 away from tying Clay Brown with 178.

 

 

Even as BYU’s 3rd option in the passing game opponents schemed against Pitta, collapsing coverage to the middle of the field to force the ball outside and often rolling double- and triple-coverage at Pitta. The presence of Pitta did wonders for Colts 4th round pick, WR Austin Collie, opening the field for the senior to catch 105 passes for 1,538 yards and 15 TD.

http://www.nfldraftdog.com/2010-nfl-draft/Dennis-Pitta.html

[vmax]

Brigham Young standout Dennis Pitta ran the 40-yard dash faster than expected, clocking a 4.63 time that ranked third at his position group behind Dickerson (4.4) and Jimmy Graham (4.56).

 

Pitta also ranked second in the bench press behind Clay Harbor, registering 27 repetitions of 225 pounds.

Pitta had the fastest three-cone drill by 0.18, the fastest 20-yard shuttle by 0.12 and the fastest 60-yard shuttle by 0.23. He tied for the fifth-beset broad jump and tied for the seventh-best vertical leap.

 

Pitta, who met with the Baltimore Ravens over the weekend, has drawn comparisons to Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark.

 

Pitta had a 9-5 broad jump, as did Iowa's Tony Moeaki.

About the only thing Pitta didn't do well is the vertical leap with a 33 1/2 inch effort.

 

At BYU, Pitta caught 221 passes for 2,901 yards and 21 touchdowns.

As a junior, he caught 83 passes for 1,083 yards and six touchdowns.

 

Last season, he posted 62 passes for 829 yards and eight touchdowns.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Dennis-Pitta-boosts-his-stock.html

[ravensfanatic77]

This is where I would like to see the Ravens trade up and try and grab one of the top WR or CB available. You could trade a player like Clayton or package one of our 5th's and our 6th rounder to get right into this area...

 

Carlton Mitchell, Dezmon Briscoe, David Reed, Owusu-Ansah, Perrish Cox, and Dominique Franks are all available

[ravensfanatic77]

Damn Cowboys again...scratch Ansah

[colincac]

GRAB MYRON ROLLE!

[ravensfanatic77]

Painful there goes the last of the better CB talent left! Guess we will be looking to sign a veteran. Please just don't bring back Frank "PI" Walker!

[ravensfanatic77]

I can't believe Cam Thomas, DT, from UNC is still on the board!

[ravensfanatic77]

So I can live with Donovan Warren or Syd'quan Thompson if they are still on board and best WR available...

[ravensfanatic77]

Quick for Chargers...they are going Cam Thomas to replace Jammal Williams

[RavenMad]

Really, really love the Pitta pick. I actually wanted him when we took Dickson but to get him a round later is oustanding value. With his work at the senior bowl and post season workouts some people had him going as high as the 2nd so to get him the 4th is great. Really nice pick up.

 

For our 5th round picks there a few options I would like to see us take not in any particular order:

 

Donovan Warren CB, Michigan

Syd'quan Thompson CB, Cal

Riley Cooper WR, Florida

Selvish Capers, OT WVU

Carlton Mitchell, WR South Florida

[ravensfanatic77]

I would love Mitchell and Warren! That would make my day!

[REEDPIXOFF]

WR David Reed

DT Art Jones

 

Who? Where's our corner?

[Keveeno]

Ramone Harewood? Anybody know anything about him?

[geo]

WR David Reed

DT Art Jones

 

Who? Where's our corner?

 

Hopefully Webb and Fabian will be more ready than we think. Or please.. welcome back to Walker, Ivy.. hmm.

 

Harbs told us that it after the top 100 was not really a very deep class.

[OutsideRzAcE]

Damn, I was hoping we'd grab that Pitt TE Dickerson late. I don't know why he fell so far but he is a playmaker.

[REEDPIXOFF]

Hopefully Webb and Fabian will be more ready than we think. Or please.. welcome back to Walker, Ivy.. hmm.

 

Harbs told us that it after the top 100 was not really a very deep class.

 

 

Even if they were healthy I'd say we need to add a corner. We have terrible luck with injuries in the secondary almost every year.

[SpearSrai]

David Reed, WR, Utah

 

Great pick... this guy has an amazing ability to adjust to the ball in the air, and consistently comes up with catches over the defensive back's heads. This is the kind of deep-threat you can throw the ball up for, and know that he'll come down with it (despite being "only" 6'0 tall) The guy also has dynamic after-the-catch moves, and can contribute as a returner if necessary. Just because other guys had 'larger frames' doesn't mean they'll come down with the ball any better than Reed... this guy is the total package.

 

Here's Reed destroying first-round-cornerback Kareem Jackson in the Sugar Bowl:

 

[Keveeno]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP6VxFbuDW0&feature=related

[SpearSrai]

Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz couldn’t contain his love for fifth-round selection David Reed on Saturday.

 

“I’m being honest, he was one of my favorite guys in the Draft,” Hortiz said.

 

Reed, a 6-foot, 190 pound wide receiver from Utah, could become the dynamic slot receiver the Ravens have been looking for.

 

Reed set a single-season school record with 81 catches for 1,188 yards and five touchdowns his senior year. Hortiz called Reed, who was taken with the 156th pick overall, a crafty route-runner with really good hands, really good body control and excellent toughness.

 

“He’ll get knocked back and snapped and he jumps right up and the next play he’s catching the ball over the middle of the field,” Hortiz said. “He’s just a really tough, aggressive wide receiver with some playmaking ability.”

 

http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/?p=5187