With the 2011 regular season freshly over it is time to go back and evaluate every team’s draft classes based on performance this year. I will use a formula to grade each pick and calculuate a final grade for each team. The Baltimore Ravens face the teacher today.
ROUND 1 – graded from a 0-5 scale
ROUND 2 – graded from a 0-4 scale
ROUND 3 – graded from a 0-3 scale
ROUND 4 – graded from a 0-2 scale
ROUND 5 – graded from a 0-1 scale
ROUND 6 & 7 – no scale, point awarded if player was productive
*I reserve the right to award a bonus point to any player who outperformed their draft position.*
FINAL GRADING SCALE
90-100 – A
80-89 - B
70-79 - C
60 – 69 - D
0-59 - F
2011 Draft Class
Round 1: Jimmy Smith CB, Colorado – 20 Tackles, 2 INTs
Analysis: Smith started just 3 games and appeared in 12. He did get better as the season progressed and was credited with 8 pass breakups, but a little more production would have helped the grade.
Grade: 2.5/5
Round 2: Torrey Smith WR, Maryland – 50 Receptions, 841 Yds, 7 TDs
Analysis: Smith burst onto the NFL scene by scoring 3 TDs in his first game. He became a deep threat that teams had to constantly plan against, and added a much needed explosive element to the Ravens offense.
Grade: 5/4
Round 3: Jah Reid OT, Central Florida - 0 Starts
Analysis: Reid didn’t start any games but he did appear in all 16 games as a rotational lineman.
Grade: 2/3
Round 4: Tandon Doss WR, Indiana – No Stats
Analysis: Doss played in a number of games but failed to haul in a single ball.
Grade: 0/2
Round 5: Chykie Brown CB, Texas – 4 Tackles
Analysis: Brown played in 7 games and made 4 tackles. Not great by any means.
Grade: 0/1
Round 5: Pernell McPhee DE, Mississippi St. – 23 Tackles, 6 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble
Analysis: McPhee played in all 16 games and proved to be a steal, using his quickness off the edge to register 6 sacks.
Grade: 2/1
Round 6: Tyrod Taylor QB, Va. Tech – 18 Pass Yds, 2 Rushing Yds
Analysis: Taylor completed the one pass he attmepted this year and saw a little action in some gimmick plays.
Grade: .25/0
Round 7: Anthony Allen RB, Ga. Tech – 8 Rush Yds
Analysis: Allen played in 3 games but his 8 rushing yards isn’t enough for any pointage.
Grade: 0/0
Undrafted: LaQuan Williams WR, Maryland – 4 Receptions, 46 Yds
Analysis: Williams played in 12 games and in addtion to his 4 receptions, he had 109 kick return yds, and even 4 tackles on defense.
Grade: .5/0
TOTAL SCORE: 12.25 / 16
FINAL GRADE: 77 % C+
Analysis: The Ravens found talent throughout the 2011 Draft. Jimmy Smith showed a lot of promise in year one, and got better as the season progressed. Torrey Smith was a great second round choice and was one of the better receivers to come out of this draft. Pernell McPhee was a steal in the fifth, and guys like Jah Reid, and undrafted WR LaQuan Williams showed a lot of potential that can be cultivated in year two. Overall, this was a solid draft for the Ravens even if the year one production was just average as a whole.
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