Ravens close to a deal with Rolando McClain

Another typical Ozzie move. 23 years old, nutjob, but high potential. Cut, so it doesn't affect comps next year.
Ravens are quietly building another strong defense. With the additions of Canty and Spears to the D-line. Dumervil to replace Kruger. Huff to replace Reed and now with McClain in the middle. My guess is that they will add another ilb through the draft, and another safety to replace Pollard. With Ngata, Suggs and Webb back healthy, there is no doubt in my mind that they will have a very solid defense next year, my guess is much better than last year.
It will be hard to replace the leadership of Lewis and Reed though.


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...ando-mcclain-might-sign-with-baltimore-ravens

 

They will definitely target a WR. Hopkins, Allen, Austin, Harper, Patton are all some of the receivers they have been linked too.


Ozzie said that they actually like what they have regarding the O-line. They are really high on Osemele. Options for LT are Oher, Osemele and Harewood. My guess is Oher on the left, Osemele or Reid at RT. But Osemele was a beast at LG, so I hope they keep him there. They are also still talking to McKinnie. So they may bring him back. I still say that they should go for a guy like Faulk in the later rounds and groom him for the future. Personally I would like them to trade up in the second and get Armstead, but I have heard nothing about them being interested in him..

 

He's stout against the run. I read on some stats site that he's ranked as the 8th best run stopping ILB last year. Horrible against the pass though, so he's a 2 down linebacker at this point. But at 23 years old, he still has a lot of potential. And if there's one team that can untap that potential, I think it's the Ravens. They seem to have great evaluators and have figured out that position from a coaching and scheme perspective. See Bart Scott, Jameel McClain, Dannell Ellerbe etc. All undrafted free agents that shined. Now, we don't know if that was due to lining up to Ray Lewis or not. But we'll see.

I think he wanted to go to a class organization with strong ties to Alabama and run a similar defense as they do. And Ozzie and the Ravens do. I think he's highly motivated to turn things around. But his record off the field still leaves me nervous.

And yes, the receiving corps is quite porous. As Doss, who has been groomed as Boldins replacement has been quite disappointing in the few opportunities that he's gotten. He is also injured a lot. So jury is still out on him. You all know about Jacoby as a receiver. And the rest outside Torrey and Pitta is unknowns, but those two are solid. Dickson has not impressed me since he entered the league.

I heard that they have showed a lot of interest in Nuke Hopkins as a possible target in the first. And Chris Harper in the later rounds. I'm sure they will address it through the draft. I hope they double dip on WR's. One in the first or second round, and one in the fourth or fifth.

 

Was just about to post that.
If he stays out of trouble then the ravens have themselves steal. If he gets in trouble they can let him go with little to no cap hit. In Ozzie I trust. :grin:

 

http://whnt.com/2013/04/21/rolando-mcclain-arrested-again-in-decatur/

Fantastic...

 

I'm at a loss of words. Read an article/sob story where he claimed how he was going to turn his life around etc after signing with the Ravens. And now this.

Man.. some people...

 

A source tells Profootballtalk that retired ILB Rolando McClain "wants to focus solely on getting himself together before continuing his football career."
In other words, McClain will be back in the NFL -- perhaps next season -- if he can keep himself out of trouble and take care of all of his legal issues. The Ravens have offered to be a resource for McClain, and they'll stash him on the reserve/retired list in order to have him under contract once/if he returns. The tough part for McClain is going to be the whole staying out of trouble thing.
SOURCE: ProFootballTalk via Rotoworld.com