The Ravens set their official roster yesterday, here is the breakdown by position:
Flacco, Smith, Beck (3)
Gaither, Grubbs, Birk, Chester, Oher, Yanda, Cousins, Hale, Moll (9)
McGahee, Rice, Lawrence, Parmele, McClain (5)
Mason, Clayton, Williams, Washington (4)
Heap, Smith, Jones (3)
Ngata, Gregg, Pryce, Bannan, Edwards, McKinney, Talavou (7)
Suggs, Lewis, Gooden, Johnson, Kruger, McClain, Barnes, Ayanbedejo, Ellerbe, Burgess (9)
Washington, Foxworth, Reed, Landry, Zbikowski, Nakamura, Webb, Carr, Walker (9)
Hauschka, Koch, Katula (3)
I was pretty close on the final roster. I had Harper, Peerman, and Drew making the team, and did not have Moll, Lawrence, Burgess.
I like the addition of Moll. Getting a player that has 18 starts at Guard and Tackle during the past 3 seasons, is good depth off the bench.
I feel good about Lawrence, and his ability to produce if needed. I am surprised he made the team over Peerman. Peerman opened a lot of eyes with his 4.45 40-yard dash speed at the NFL combine.
Harper missed some catches he should have had, but I do not see how you keep Burgess over him. The team has talked this summer about using Ayanbadejo more at LB anyway, so you already had 8 LB’s. Did you really need to carry a 9th?
Kelley Washington has shown flashes that he can help the receiving core, but he still has just 20 catches combined the last 3 years. Clayton has dealt with his hamstring all of camp, D.Williams has missed 8 games each of the last 2 seasons. Having a 5th WR seems more like a need vs. a luxury for this team.
On the plus-side, the Ravens were able to sign Harper to the practice-squad.
I am surprised that Drew did not make the team. I know he came to camp not in the shape the Ravens expected, but with injury concerns with both Heap, and Smith – I find his cut puzzling. If the team was already high on Edgar Jones as their 3rd TE, why did they spend a 5th round draft-pick on Drew?
The Ravens other 5th round draft-pick Jason Phillips was placed on IR with a knee-injury. Anyone else doubting the severity of his injury? Sounds like an opportunity to hide Phillips for a year, and bring him back to compete for a roster-spot in 2010.
If you add up the roster spots, you see that 52 roster spots have been claimed, with 1 spot available. With the addition of Moll for the offensive-line, it is pretty clear the Ravens are seeking a 5th receiver, and believe they can add a waiver-wire WR that can be counted on more than Harper.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.