Musa Smith and DVD

[ChrisQ]

Musa Smith and DVD both have sat on the roster for 3 years(?). Everyone saying get rid of the dead weight (myself included) and perplexed by the FO keeping them around injured so long.

Glad to be wrong on both counts.

w00t http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/Kraq/Coolaid.gif <--- the coolaid dude should be purple :)

[StingerNLG]

DVD looked really impressive in the second half. He wasn't so sharp the 1st half. But strides were made.

What can you say about Musa Smith? I never thought he'd even play again. I've got video clips coming for him this week, for sure.

[Dusty728]

I have been crossing my fingers that these two would bring it this season.
Having seen the flashes of great play from them in the past I wanted them to get the chance to shine and it made my night to see them both have a great game.
Musa is faster than Jlew and a beast!
DVD can and will go get the ball and has a passion for the game. Why Boller and him seem to be the ones hooking up lately in camp and last night is a mystery but I'll take it.

[Irishraven]

Delighted for both of them! We are looking damn good in moving the chains so far! I know its wrong to get our hopes up so high but with the D as solid as they are and the offence making serious progress its hard not to!!!

Rolle on the new season!!:D

[skimmy]

Guys where I work (Eagles fans) have heard me talk about Musa for a couple years now and have always rolled their eyes. They were introduced to him up close last night and they came into work today all raving about him. Now they're all wondering if he'll become available (they think Philly needs a "big back") or if the Ravens are considering trading him because of our depth at running back.

[Losac]

if the Ravens are considering trading him because of our depth at running back.
I'd trade Mike Anderson before Musa. At least with Musa he has the youth and a longer future ahead of him. Of course, with his injury-filled past - this is a risky move. I like where we are at RB with the 3 headed monster of Jamal, Anderson and Musa. :179422:

[Mobtown]

I know many are still high about last nights performance, but I didn't see anything "special" about DVDs catches. Nothing that I wouldn't normally expect from any professional WR.

Is it possible that we are all a little too excited because for once he didn't look like a total bust?

Some consistancy would go a long way towards convincing me that he is a better choice than Williams at the #3 spot.

[Dabruise]

The problem for Musa Smith still remains. He can't stay healthy. It's not a fluke that it has taken us 3 years to see him. Smith is an outstanding back. He's just been hurt more often than not even during his college days. So, don't cut Anderson just yet.

As to DVD, I've been pimping him since before that draft. Even through the lean times, I've still supported him. Unfortunately, Billick doesn't allow people out of the dog house this easily nor does he give up on his favorites. He loves Williams and he will be the #3. Darling did show his heart and physical ability, but the reason he got so much play was because he was the #1 receiver with that unit and Boller locks on #1. It was good that he proved he could get open though. I'm thrilled that he got a chance to shine and i expect great things from him throughout the preseason, but when he gets moved back to 3rd or 4th, we may not see much of him.

I do agree that it is really refreshing to have such quality depth at WR. - and a QB to get them the ball.

[Bez513]

I said it before its awesome that Musa made it back from that terrible injury. I'm excited to see him pan out!

Glad DVD is making good strides as well...finally.

[RavenScallywag]

Musa really only had the one injury...it ended his season and took him all of last season to rehab it. I wouldn't get rid of Mike Anderson just yet, but I don't know if we can say his career shows a tendency to injury...he's only had the one big one.

DVD is pretty much locked into that 4th WR spot...Clarence Moore would need to get his pair in order to beat him by this point. He'll probably be used sparingly, but we may go with some 4 WR sets and get Darling some time in the 3rd WR spot too.

[B-more Ravor]

Musa really only had the one injury...it ended his season and took him all of last season to rehab it. .

Well, he missed 1/2 of his rookie year because of injury as well.

He also had the dreaded "injury-prone" label coming out of college as missing most of his Soph. year due to injury (before having very good Jr. year and then entering the draft).

[hurting]

1st, Love the new board. I see alot of the old ravensinsiders here as well.

DVD - I have always thought this guy could eventually become a #1 receiver. His bigest problem has been injury issues. In hte past he was just not given the chance. Now with some time in the playbook, and now on the field, it looks like he should be the #3 receiver.

Musa - I know the team had drafted him to be Jamals eventual replacement, and now it looks like that could be the case.

I don't understand all of the previous negativity on thee guys.

Now onto a guy I have been down on for a couple of years, Dwan Edwards. Will he be able to make the turn around this year.

[jonboy79]

Great Play boys... Add Dwan Edwards... He seems worthy of a rotation spot.

[BaltimoreRon]

DVD has the edge over Moore because DVD also plays on special teams, Moore does not. I guess it's hard for him to tackle with his alligator arms. ;)

[lance1086]

I know many are still high about last nights performance, but I didn't see anything "special" about DVDs catches. Nothing that I wouldn't normally expect from any professional WR.
4 catches of 100+ yards in about a quarter. One of which was a helluva catch; yes, even for a professional WR. I was at the game, and figured it was well beyond his reach; but he layed out, and did an excellent job of controlling it when he hit the ground. It was a catch of the week, caliber play. I wouldn't ignore his display last night, as simply a "nothing that impressive for an NFL receiver" performance.

As far as Musa, I've never wanted to get rid of the guy. I was real high on him, when we drafted him (many had him higher than Larry Johnson). I was also high on Darling, but I also said get rid of him before TC. But anyway, I've just had just had my fingers crossed that he would be able to play again. With his play, the Ravens have turned from what was a huge liability last year, at the RB situation, into maybe one of the deepest in the NFL.

[lance1086]

Now onto a guy I have been down on for a couple of years, Dwan Edwards. Will he be able to make the turn around this year.
He looked great last night, albeit against 2nd teamers...

[Mobtown]

4 catches of 100+ yards in about a quarter. One of which was a helluva catch; yes, even for a professional WR. I was at the game, and figured it was well beyond his reach; but he layed out, and did an excellent job of controlling it when he hit the ground. It was a catch of the week, caliber play. I wouldn't ignore his display last night, as simply a "nothing that impressive for an NFL receiver" performance.


OK, I feel that Lance. I am going to wait and see if he can string a few good games together. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but it feels like we have been down this road before with DVD.

[StingerNLG]

Musa really only had the one injury...it ended his season and took him all of last season to rehab it.

Beat me to it. You didn't see a lot of Musa because he was a special teams ace. And I've always heard him being talked up as one of our best ST players. That leg injury could have ended his career. 18 months later he's not only back, but you can't even tell he was injured at all.

[Ravens0587]

When they drafted him they were going to take him in the second round but ended up trading that pick for Boller.

They ended up taking him with the third, and proceeded to say that he was a top 20 player on there board.

[bassgtrst]

One of which was a helluva catch; yes, even for a professional WR.

One of my favorites catches by a Raven reciever in recent memory. (Aside from Heap) Even if it was only preseason. In fact that catch made the SportsCenter #3 in the Top 10 plays.

I had really closed the book on Darling this year. He has gone from from a definate cut to a bubble player IMO. I'm sorry but one great preseason game doesnt earn you a spot on an NFL roster. Espically when you have as many regular season catches as you have seasons in the NFL.

[Ravens0587]

so if hes a bubble player and doesnt make it who do you want instead? Moore or Latrealsdfnlasndf whatever his name is maybe romney bryant

[bassgtrst]

0587,

You make a good point. Darling can make this team due to a lack of competition behind him. I guess my point was that there are a lot of guys that can do wonders on the preseason stage that dissappear when it counts.

Darling has to be solid for the rest of the preseason to win me back.

[PurpleRulz]

The great thing about Musa and Darling's performances are that they put these numbers up playing against the 1st and 2nd units. Unlike, Jaquai Thomas who got all of his sacks against a 3rd string tackle (Kracalik) who won't be on this team.

I want to see Darling follow this up next week, but Darling displayed talent against the Eagles. Musa also displayed talent.

[ChixDigLongBall]

Musa Smith and DVD's emergence this year can be attributed to them finally getting used to the NFL. These guys both came out early and they were raw. Every scout I knew of liked their abilities. That's why it's so hard to just let them go because It take a little while to get the feet under them.


I expect both to be solid contributors this year.


Musa goes from 0-70 in a blink. Who could honestly say they knew he moved like that? WHOA! You don't trade this guy unless you get a 1st in return, and that's a fact. I'd give Musa 10-12 touches a game and let him be a dynamic all-purpose back. I wouldn't let him be a heavy duty carries guy right now because he is fitting the change-of-pace duty to a T. Chester in his right mind could never move like that. We've never had a back move like this in our history.

Regarding DVD, I've been a big supporter of his. He's got everything you look for in a wideout. What is encouraging is the separation and his big-play ability. He's got really nice body control. He can definitely help us this season.


Once they get confidence in the form of nice games, that can sometimes get the ball rolling for nice things down the road.

[Drkraven]

Cuts are going to be hard this year. I expected DVD to go in the first round, but now I'm not so sure. I am so happy for Musa Smith, that legs injury was horrific.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Darling was not going to get cut for an undrafted rookie when he was having as good a camp as he has had this year.

This team does not give up on draft picks...

[RockyMRaven]

I was going to ask Mobtown if he was watching a different game from me, but your answer was a good as it gets, Lance. That one catch where DVD completely laid out, snagged the ball with one hand and kept it off the ground while rolling over was a highlight reel catch. The other catch where he came back for the ball, and the touchdown catch were the kind that make QBs want to throw the ball to that receiver again, and coaches want to give that receiver more plays.

Seems that the patients the coaches and FO have shown with DVD might finally be paying off. A new receivers coach is probably a factor too. David Shaw just sucked.