Baltimore Ravens' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

2nd Round (#35) OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

2nd Round (#60) OT Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

Nfl 2012

3rd Round (#84) RB Bernard Pierce, Temple

4th Round (#98) G Gino Gradkowski, Delaware

4th Round (#130) FS Christian Thompson, South Carolina State

5th Round (#169) CB Asa Jackson, Cal-Poly

6th Round (#198) WR Tommy Streeter, Miami

7th Round (#236) DE Deangelo Tyson, Georgia

Analysis of Notable Selections:

Courtney Upshaw: The Ravens were able to add a 4th round draft choice by moving down six spots in a trade with Minnesota. Baltimore then selected Upshaw with the high 2nd round selection. Upshaw's lack of top athleticism did cost him a 1st round selection. However, the former Alabama defender is tough, physical and should fit in well with Baltimore. The team has been searching for an outside linebacker who can rush the quarterback to pair with Terrell Suggs for some time. Jarret Johnson (a better run stuffer than pass rusher) signed with San Diego. Paul Kruger has been average and Sergio Kindle may never recover fully from a fractured skull sustained in 2010. Upshaw plays the run well and with experience can be a decent pass rusher as well. Baltimore had to have been pleased to add Courtney Upshaw to their defense in the 2nd round.

Kelechi Osemele: This is another excellent fit for the Ravens. Ben Grubbs left via free agency for the Saints. Baltimore wants to run the ball with their best offensive player, Ray Rice. Osemele does not have the quickness to play offensive tackle in the NFL. However, his tremendous size and power are what Baltimore is looking for in a guard. Osemele is no Ben Grubbs at this point. He has to improve his technique and play tougher. The Ravens add a guard with excellent potential, but it may take him some time to reach it.

Bernard Pierce: The retirement of Ricky Williams led the Ravens to find a complement to Ray Rice. Pierce is a good-sized back (6' and 220 lbs) who can be a physical runner. His job will be to give Rice a breather. Pierce will have to improve his ball security and earn his coaches' trust. Lamar Miller has a superior burst to Pierce, but Baltimore was looking for a bigger and more physical back. Robert Turbin has a similar skill-set to Pierce. Turbin catches the ball more naturally than Pierce does. The former Utah State back may have been the better selection and Baltimore would not have had to trade up to secure his services. Bernard Pierce was a decent selection, but time will tell whether he or Robert Turbin was the way to go.

2012 NFL Draft Grade: B

Bottom Line: The Ravens added two starters (Courtney Upshaw and Kelechi Osemele) in the near future. The rest of their draft consisted mostly of adding potential backups at running back, offensive line and the secondary. Gino Gradkowski is the most appealing of Baltimore's 3rd day draft choices. The former Delaware offensive lineman played guard and center. His football IQ and dedication give him a chance to develop into a starting center down the road with a lot of work.

Baltimore Ravens' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

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2012 Baltimore Ravens Offseason Needs

The Baltimore Ravens was playing well enough last season to be in striking distance of the Super Bowl, but a dropped Lee Evans touchdown and a 32-yard missed field goal allowed the New England Patriots to sneak in and win the AFC Championship Game. Now the Ravens' fans have to wonder if Ray Lewis and the defense still have what it takes to make another run at a ring in 2012. With a 12-4 record last year, Baltimore took home the No. 2 seed in the AFC and won the AFC North, but all of that is irrelevant now. What the Ravens need to focus on is putting together a team that can contend in 2012. Here are some of the Ravens' big additions and subtractions so far in the offseason, plus a breakdown of their biggest needs heading into the NFL Draft.

Additions:

Super Bowl 2012

S Sean Considine

CB Corey Graham

Subtractions:

DE/OLB Jarret Johnson

G Ben Grubbs

DE/DT Cory Redding

SS Tom Zbikowski

WR Lee Evans

CB Domonique Foxworth

CB Chris Carr

NT Brandon McKinney

Top 5 Needs:

1. Wide Receiver

The Ravens expected too much from Lee Evans last season and he was a major disappointment. As a result, Evans and the team parted ways this offseason. Torrey Smith emerged as legitimate deep threat but, sadly, he isn't versatile enough for anything else. Veteran Anquan Boldin still has some juice left in his game, but his skills are on the decline. Baltimore needs to really shore up the offense by adding some wide outs. Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery should really be in consideration in the draft's first round.

2. Guard/Center

Although the Ravens were able to bring back center Matt Birk for 2012, they were unable to do the same with left guard Ben Grubbs, as he left for the New Orleans Saints in free agency. Birk could very well retire at season's end, so while the team needs to prioritize a replacement for Grubbs at guard, it also needs to look into adding someone who will be ready to take over at center.

3. Offensive Tackle

Bryant McKinnie is one of the older veterans of the team, as he will turn 33 in September, and his game is now on quite a decline. Right tackle Michael Oher looks to slide back into McKinnie's left tackle spot when the time comes for the Ravens to find a replacement, but the team is in dire need of added depth.

4. Outside Linebacker

When Jarrett Johnson chose to sign with the San Diego Chargers this offseason, the Ravens' need to find an outside linebacker who can put pressure on the quarterback became ultimately more pressing. Terrell Suggs can still be relied upon to do his part, but he needs some help. Sergio Kindle was drafted in the second round of the 2010 with the hopes that he could be the guy, but a freak injury derailed his entire rookie season and he was barely used last year.

5. Inside Linebacker

The Ravens can no longer avoid the inevitable any longer. Although Ray Lewis has played at a ridiculously high level despite coming up in age, the team needs to find a replacement for him at middle linebacker. He missed time due to injuries last year, and he might just miss time again this year if his usage doesn't drop. The Ravens were able to re-sign Jameel McClain, but he isn't the long-term solution. Arizona State's Vontaze Burflict could be the answer that the Ravens need if they are able to pick him in the first round.

2012 Baltimore Ravens Offseason Needs

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Taking A Look At The Baltimore Ravens' Ring Of Honor

The Baltimore Ravens began play in 1996 after Art Modell had left Cleveland with his Browns team to find a new home. Due to a settlement reached with the National Football League and the city of Cleveland, the Browns team history, colors, logos, and stats were all left behind. Though the 1996 Baltimore Ravens consisted largely of players that were members of the 1995 Cleveland Browns, as far as the NFL was concerned they were a brand new team. This new team was immediately successful and even won their first Super Bowl in the year 2000.

The Baltimore Ravens had only been playing five seasons when they established their Ring of Honor to give credit to some of the best players from the team and city's past. The first induction came in 2001 and they have been held nearly yearly ever since. Here is a look at men inducted into the Baltimore Ravens' Ring of Honor.

Super Bowl 2012

2001 - Running back Earnest Byner is inducted. Byner played in both Cleveland and Baltimore for Browns and Ravens owner Art Modell.

2002 - After the death of Baltimore Colts legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Johnny Unitas, the Ravens inducted both him and the Baltimore Colts team as a whole into their Ring of Honor. Some of the names specifically honored include those of Unitas, Lenny Moore, Art Donovan, Jim Parker, Raymond Berry, Ted Hendricks, John Mackey, and Gino Marchetti.

2003 - The original owner of the franchise, and the man responsible for getting a football franchise back in Baltimore, Art Modell is inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor.

2004 - Michael McCrary is inducted. McCrary, a defensive lineman, was one of the first big stars associated with the Ravens team.

2006 - Another of the early defensive stars on the team, linebacker Peter Boulware is inducted into the Ring of Honor.

2008 - The first player ever drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, offensive lineman Jonathan Ogden is inducted. Ogden played in 11 Pro Bowls during his time with the team.

Taking A Look At The Baltimore Ravens' Ring Of Honor

A great deal of interesting info can be learned from checking out Baltimore Ravens trivia wherever it can be found. True fans of the team crave learning everything there is to know about both the franchise itself and the great players that have played for them.

Football fans everywhere often hunger for a good chunk of football trivia, and that's exactly what they'll find at IQFB.com! Football trivia, interesting facts, little known information... it's all right there. IQFB... Get Football Smart!