Baltimore Ravens news and notes

	Baltimore Ravens Stories
	2010 NFL Draft in review: Baltimore Ravens It would appear that things worked out quite well for the Baltimore Ravens, they trade out of the first round, pick up three additional picks, and land a top ten talent because the other NFL teams were afraid of his injury history. Scoring Sergio Kindle with the 43rd overall pick is a genius move. He not only fits in well with what this team is about, he gets to learn to play defense from a group that will feature at least one sure fire hall of famer. If he plays to his ability and stays healthy this was one of the best picks in the 2010 NFL Draft.
	Draft Day decision makers: Baltimore Ravens The NFL Draft for the Baltimore Ravens is the Ozzie Newsome show, and why shouldn't it be. The first two draft picks this cat made went on to be future Hall of Fame players. This is a guy who has turned picking in the first round, especially the second half of the first round, into an art form. He has the final say all personnel issues, but is joined in the Ravens war room by VP of Football Administration Pat Moriarty, Director of Player Development OJ Brigance, Director of Player Personnel Eric Decosta, and Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz.
	What should the Baltimore Ravens do with their first round draft pick? With age, not need being the main concern of this team they could go several ways with the 24th overall pick. I have listed the age of their defensive line being their number one concern so let us start there.
	What are the Baltimore Ravens team needs heading into 2010? It seemed that the number one need of this team heading into 2010 was at WR, but after the signing of Donte Stallworth and the trade for Anquan Boldin we can hardly say that anymore. They feel like a team that still needs another WR option, but that will now become a secondary need.
	2009 NFL Draft one year later: Baltimore Ravens We can look at the 2009 Baltimore Ravens draft class in tow very different ways. Sure they scored with their picks in the top rounds, but their picks in later rounds made no impact at all, in fact most of them did not make the team. So we have to weigh three potential starters against the failure to land quality prospects in the later rounds. Of course that is pretty simply landing three starters in any one draft class is the standard and that is what the Ravens accomplished. One year ago I gave the Ravens pretty high marks for their draft, even though they did not address their need for a number one receiver. That is an issue they have filled vi trade and free agency now, but could have helped during the 2009 season.
	2009 NFL Season in review: Baltimore Ravens It is really hard to get a grip on what is going on with the Baltimore Ravens. On paper they look far better than they really are, with a 9-7 record in the regular season, they seem to have under achieve somewhat. However they did make it to the second round of the payoffs, and they play in a crazy tough division. It seems that the Ravens are a piece or two away from being just as good as, or better than the team that won the Super Bowl.
	Baltimore Ravens land WR Boldin While the first day of NFL Free Agency, in the first uncapped NFL season since 1993, was a little crazy, the best move made may just be by the Baltimore Ravens. They traded their 2010 third and fourth round draft picks to the Arizona Cardinals for WR Anquan Boldin. Boldin has been unhappy in Arizona, but without a doubt is one of the premier wide outs in the game today. In the second move of this off season, the Ravens have significantly upgraded their WR corps having already signed Donte Stallworth earlier this year.
	M&T Bank Stadium-Home of the Baltimore Ravens This stadium suffers from being born in the era of stadium naming rights deals, and it is short existence has had several names. Originally called Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards, since it is located adjacent to Camden yards home of the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. In 1999 ISP provider PSInet bought the naming rights for the stadium. When that firm declared bankruptcy in 2002 the stadium became Ravens Stadium once more.
	2009 Baltimore Ravens draft analysis Heading into the 2009 draft the Baltimore Ravens did not have all that many holes to fill. So they did not have the pressure heading into the draft that many of the other teams did. Over the past few years it has been the M.O. of this team to make a big splash with one player, and then use the later round picks to load up on picks of guys who can come in play special teams and develop into NFL players.