1. The Raiders never fail to leave people saying, "What just happened?":
With the 7th pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Oakland Raiders select...not Michael Crabtree...not Jeremy Maclin...but, Darrius Heyward-Bey, wide receiver from the University of Maryland. What? We all expected Heyward-Bey to go in the 1st round, but not in the top-10, or as the first receiver taken in the draft. Anyone who was watching the Draft on Saturday heard that pick, and turned their head to the side and looked at every person in the room as if to say, "Is that a joke?". I am a huge fan of DHB, I wish him the best in Oakland, and I hope he enjoys the fat paycheck coming his way; but, over Crabtree and Maclin? We will have to see if the Raiders know what they are doing.
2. The Ravens believe in their wide receivers:
Coming into this years draft, it was said by all that the Ravens top priority in the draft was wide receiver. Looking at the 6 players the Ravens selected: none of them are WRs. It looks like an Anquan Boldin trade is all but out of the question at this point, and that in 2009 the Ravens will most likely field the same receivers from last years AFC Championship team, maybe with the addition of a late free agency pickup. Mason will once again be the workhorse, with Clayton hopefully stepping up even bigger than he did last season, and we are all praying that Demetrius Williams finally stays healthy and has the break out year we've been waiting for. I'm content with them for the future, and with the job that they did last year, although I would still love to see that bona-fide #1 receiver wearing Ravens purple: for example, Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards.
With the 7th pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Oakland Raiders select...not Michael Crabtree...not Jeremy Maclin...but, Darrius Heyward-Bey, wide receiver from the University of Maryland. What? We all expected Heyward-Bey to go in the 1st round, but not in the top-10, or as the first receiver taken in the draft. Anyone who was watching the Draft on Saturday heard that pick, and turned their head to the side and looked at every person in the room as if to say, "Is that a joke?". I am a huge fan of DHB, I wish him the best in Oakland, and I hope he enjoys the fat paycheck coming his way; but, over Crabtree and Maclin? We will have to see if the Raiders know what they are doing.
2. The Ravens believe in their wide receivers:
Coming into this years draft, it was said by all that the Ravens top priority in the draft was wide receiver. Looking at the 6 players the Ravens selected: none of them are WRs. It looks like an Anquan Boldin trade is all but out of the question at this point, and that in 2009 the Ravens will most likely field the same receivers from last years AFC Championship team, maybe with the addition of a late free agency pickup. Mason will once again be the workhorse, with Clayton hopefully stepping up even bigger than he did last season, and we are all praying that Demetrius Williams finally stays healthy and has the break out year we've been waiting for. I'm content with them for the future, and with the job that they did last year, although I would still love to see that bona-fide #1 receiver wearing Ravens purple: for example, Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards.
3. Joe Flacco will be well protected and has a good chance at staying healthy for a long time:
Michael Oher, the 24th overall pick by the Ravens, will turn out to be a vital and valuable addition to this Baltimore team. At first, I was a critic of the pick. Me and B.J texted each other for an hour afterwards about how we were confused, and somewhat disappointed by the pick, and even how it could have been a pick to add to a package deal for Anquan Boldin. In my head all I was thinking was offense, offense, and offense, and I wanted to see Hakeem Nicks picked in the 1st Round by the Ravens, after Heyward-Bey and Pettigrew were off the board. But after thinking about it for a while, picking Michael Oher is an offensive pick, because it is a pick that helps to ensure the long term protection of our franchise quarterback, Joe Flacco. I now love the fact that the Ravens drafted Oher, and he seems to be a humble man with a great character; something that the Ravens stress. With Oher, Gaither, Birk, Anderson, and Grubbs forming the small army known as the Baltimore Ravens offensive line, Joe Flacco should have all the time in the world to find the best place to put the ball down field, and the running game will improve as well. I am now a huge fan of this pick, and I am looking forward to seeing Oher suit up in purple and perform on Sundays, hopefully as our new Jonathon Ogden.
J.F
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