Right Off Russell

NFL.com Draft Vignette

Position: OL
Height and Weight: 6′5″ 315lbs.
School: Mississippi

With their first pick in the NFL Draft the Ravens addressed the need to find a long term option at right tackle. The Ravens rated Oher as one of the top 15 players in this draft. The club feels they go a great value when he last until the 23rd pick. The Ravens did have to trade a 5th round pick to New England to move up from 26 to keep Oher from being selected by Buffalo.

In Oher, the Ravens have another large and physically gifted young tackle to play opposite LT Jared Gaither. Also, like Gaither, Oher has a basketball background that no doubt has helped him with his balance and footwork. Oher is stronger as a pass protector at this point in his career and will need to improve his push on run plays. Oher does have a good size in his lower body to become a capable run blocker, and he has the long arms to neutralize rushers on the edge. Oher does have the quickness and footwork to be effective pulling and in blocking for screen plays. Oher is hard nosed, very competitive and plays to the whistle. Read more »

Looking for a quick bite before the game? Our friend, Liz, at What’s to Eat Baltimore? did a nice writeup about Abbey Burger Bistro in Federal Hill. She assures me that it is within walking distance of both stadiums and well worth the effort…..

I have to admit I’ve been to The Abbey Burger Bistro a few times prior to this event. It always seemed though I was there for just drinks, or dessert, or even worst of all, I didn’t have my camera.

Well this time around  Read More>>

Rich Hill continued his rehab assignment with an appearance for the Norfolk Tides tonight.  this is Hill’s 2nd outing, first at Norfolk, and he was limited to 65 pitches.  Hill was pulled from the game after 3 and 1/3 innings after he reached his pitch limit. 

Hill had another solid outing striking out 5 and giving up only 1 hit and a walk.  The one hit was a 2 run home run which followed the base on balls.  Hill will have to work to limit his pitches per inning, but his command was fairly sharp while retiring the first 8 batters he faced before the 2 out walk in the third.

This has to be a good sign for the front office as well as O’s fans.  Hill has not been wild in his two rehab outings and is showing signs of returning to his 2007 form.  Should Hill continue to build on his first 2 outings one would have to think he would be a welcome addition to the Oriole’s rotation.  The club needs to learn what they have in Hill and whether or not he can be counted on a a piece of the rotation in ‘10 and beyond.

Which is the real Rich Hill?  The 2007 up and coming lefty prospect, or the guy who could not build on his start while struggling with injury and command issues in 2008.

Norfolk

• Waters struggles early, Tides lose one
• Reimold making a statement in Norfolk
• Rich Hill to start in AAA?
• Berken should be ok

Bowie

• It took 11 for the Wolves to get byPatton and the Baysox
• Abreu and Nowicki key offensive explosion
• Arrietta strong in shutout win

Frederick

• Billy Rowell getting the average up
• A nice home win for Matusz

According to the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens are planning on bringing in at least 5 un-drafted free agents.  Highlighting the group is Florida St. kicker Graham Gano.  Many believed Gano to have been the top place kicker in this draft class.  Gano will provide competition for Steven Haushcka for the kicking duties.

Georgia linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, Michigan defensive tackle Will Johnson and Mississippi fullback Jason Cook , make up the rest of the rookies the Ravens will bring to camps this spring and summer.  Other names could be added to that list.

I like that the Ravens are bringing in Gano and are taking a chance on Ellerbe who was highly regarded before injury concerns.

• Carroll County Times- B
• CBS Sports- B
• Baltimore Sun-  Overall Team Grades
• Consensus Grades on ESPN- B
• Fox Sports- B-
• USA Today- B-

Most often, as a Ravens fan, it is hard not to be excited right after the draft.  The Ravens and Ozzie Newsome have a successful draft history hitting many home runs with their first round picks and also finding starters and pro bowlers in the late rounds.  The Raven, like many other teams, also do a good job of talking up their draftees strengths and getting fans excited about why the club feels strongly why each pick fits what it means to be a Raven.

This year is no different  Ozzie and the boys came a away with players in the first 2 rounds that many thought would be drafted much higher in Michael Oher and Paul Kruger.  In Oher and Kruger, as well as, 5th round pick Jason Phillips, the Ravens 3 very tough and physical football players.  High motor guys who have a bit of nasty to them. Read more »

I had the chance to spend a Sunday afternoon at Harbor Park on Sunday. It was a chance to see the mighty Matt Wieters play before his imminent promotion in June. What I saw was a game dominated by Tides pitching and Nolan “Freaking” Riemold.

This was my first time to Harbor Park and it was definitley cool to be in a park overlooking a ship yard.

I was mostly impressed by the pitching staff who combined for a 3 hit shutout. Jason Berken started the game was was throwing a no-hitter until he left after the 3rd due to a soreness in his groin.

Then there was Nolan Riemold who calmly smacked two solo HR’s, one of them being against the highly touted David Price of Durham.

Post Draft Columns

• Carroll County Times
• Washington Times
• Baltimore Sun
• Old Miss Spirit
• Memphis Commercial Appeal

I was fortunate to get seats right behind the 3rd base dugout for Saturday night’s game.  It was a good night and location to have a camera.  Here are some of the pictures I snapped.  LeRon McClain threw out the first pitch, the Oriole Bird was sporting a Raven’s jersey, cheerleaders and the pep band were there and so was Poe.  I also snagged some good shots of the O’s and Rangers.

See all the pics here