Ravens delighted with Oher
The Steelers ruined the 2008 season for the Ravens. Pittsburgh beat them twice to finish ahead of Baltimore in the AFC North, then defeated the Ravens in the AFC championship game before winning the Super Bowl.
Baltimores objective this offseason is to narrow the gap, and Newsome hopes his 2009 draft class will help get that done.
After taking the 6 Patrick Willis Kids Jersey foot 5 Oher and defensive end Paul Kruger on Saturday, the Ravens picked Nicolls State cornerback Lardarius Webb in the third round, then worked trades with New England and Denver to jockey for Patrick Willis Jersey position in the later rounds. Newsome selected TCU linebacker Jason Phillips and East Carolina tight end Davon Drew in the fifth round before finishing up with Virginia running back Cedric Peerman in the sixth round.
As a star at Mississippi, Oher hated Southeastern Conference teams such as Mississippi State and Alabama. With Baltimore, the enemy is Pittsburgh.
The reason that theyre the team we have to shoot at is they have the Lombardi Trophy, Newsome said. Thats our goal, to get another one of those trophies in this building.
The Ravens hope the addition of Oher was a big step in the process. The Ravens originally had the 26th pick in the draft and figured the Mike Iupati Jersey big tackle would go in the top 15. But Oher remained available way past that, so Newsome worked a deal with New England to snag him at 23.
That made this draft a successful one for the Ravens.
Going into the offseason, after I had a chance to get over the Pittsburgh game, when I looked at our football team I felt securing a tackle for the future was No. 1, Newsome said. I told (everyone) we had to get this tackle thing straightened out because of our quarterback. (Joe Flacco) is the franchise and we have to take care of that.
I came into this draft not thinking we could resolve that issue, and we did it with Michael, Newsome said.
The Ravens were excited about Oher and the other five draftees because of their talent and the personal obstacles some of them had overcome. Oher went from a homeless teen to a top draft pick, Kruger shrugged off the loss of a kidney and Webb bounced back after being thrown out of Southern Mississippi.
I think well look back two years from now and say, You know what? That draft really helped our football team. And we were a strong football team coming into this draft, Newsome said.
Eric DeCosta, director of player personnel for the Ravens, said, This is a draft about toughness. Mental toughness. Most of these guys have had some sort of adversity that theyve overcome in some way, shape or form. But also physical toughness. We got tougher across the board at every position.
The 5 10 Webb can play cornerback, safety and return kicks.
I get to play with my idol, my role model, (five time Pro Bowl safety) Ed Reed, Webb said. Baltimore has a great, great defense, and to be part of that is really breathtaking.
The 6 1, 239 pound Phillips had 84 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks as a senior Mike Iupati Youth Jersey at TCU and will compete to fill the void left by the departure of Bart Scott. Phillips will get a late start, however, after tearing the meniscus in his left knee at the NFL scouting combine.
Drew had 43 catches for 695 yards and three touchdowns as a senior, and the 5 10, 220 pounder Peerman ran 774 yards and seven TDs www.official49ersnflproshop.com/Nike-Justin-Smith-Jersey.html in his final season with the Cavaliers. Peerman, an ordained minister, was an honorable mention All ACC tailback official49ersnflproshop.com/Nike-Vernon-Davis-Jersey.html last year.
Anytime you can get size and speed toward the end of the draft, youre talking about someone who could come in and make his mark on special teams. Thats what attracted us to him, Newsome said of Peerman.
The Ravens didnt get a much needed wide receiver in the draft. Although the return of the injured Demetrius Williams could help in 2009, Newsome didnt rule out a free agent pickup before the season opener against the Chiefs.
Our job is never done as far as Im concerned, he said. Im sure between now and the time we play Kansas City that someone could become available that we would be attracted to.