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Barry: Everyone is debating whether the Ravens should try to acquire Anquan Boldin but is there any chance they start the season with their current top-three wide receivers? Also, what does Joe Flacco need to improve on in 2009?
Jamison Hensley: There is a good chance that the Ravens will start the season with Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams. The problem is the lack of depth. If one goes down, the Ravens can't depend on a second-year player like Marcus Smith. Even though the Ravens think it's , I still think there is a chance that Arizona will decrease their trade demands because the Cardinals have to get rid of Boldin at this point.
The biggest improvement I want to see out of Flacco is his ability to throw over the middle of the field. It seemed like he worked to the outside most of the time, which decreased the chances of interceptions. But with tight ends like Todd Heap and L.J. Smith, the Ravens should go across the middle more this season.
Tyler: Aside from quarterback, are there any positions that the Ravens wouldn't take in the first round, even if they had a player graded as the best available?
Jamison Hensley: I would say running back (even though the Ravens have looked at Ohio State's Chris Wells), defensive tackle (the Ravens are stocked with Haloti Ngata, Kelly Gregg, Brandon McKinney and Dwan Edwards) and safety (they are loaded with Ed Reed, Dawan Landry, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura).
Brummie_Raven: With Kelly Gregg coming back from an injury and Trevor Pryce getting up there in age, do you think the Ravens will address the defensive line in the early part of the draft?
Jamison Hensley: The Ravens have to think about who will eventually replace Trevor Pryce. He might only play for one more year, which means the Ravens need to look at defensive ends either this year or next. It wouldn't surprise me if the Ravens drafted a pass rusher or defensive end in one of the first three rounds.
Bill: What are your thoughts on the current salary levels and guaranteed money for top draft picks? It sounds like teams are becoming less willing to trade up into the top 10 due to the current salary structure, or is that just due to this year's draft class?
Jamison Hensley: The NFL seriously has to fix the current system of paying so much guaranteed money to prospects who haven't even played a down in the league. I think it would be in the players union's best interest, too. If the league cut down on some of the money given to first-rounders, then more could be given to the veterans who have already proven themselves. Of course, no one was complaining about giving all that money when the likes of Carson Palmer and Eli Manning were sitting there at No. 1.
John: Do you think we'll ever see Brian Billick back as an NFL head coach?
Jamison Hensley: After eight years of covering Billick, I have yet to have a one-on-one conversation with him since he was fired from the Ravens. So, I might not be the best one to answer this question. But Billick is still getting paid by the Ravens and doesn't have any real incentive to get back into coaching right now. I also hear that Billick has done a really good job as a Fox analyst. With the current NFL trend of hiring young coaches, I could see Billick staying in television long term.
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Jamison Hensley: There is a good chance that the Ravens will start the season with Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams. The problem is the lack of depth. If one goes down, the Ravens can't depend on a second-year player like Marcus Smith. Even though the Ravens think it's , I still think there is a chance that Arizona will decrease their trade demands because the Cardinals have to get rid of Boldin at this point.
The biggest improvement I want to see out of Flacco is his ability to throw over the middle of the field. It seemed like he worked to the outside most of the time, which decreased the chances of interceptions. But with tight ends like Todd Heap and L.J. Smith, the Ravens should go across the middle more this season.
Tyler: Aside from quarterback, are there any positions that the Ravens wouldn't take in the first round, even if they had a player graded as the best available?
Jamison Hensley: I would say running back (even though the Ravens have looked at Ohio State's Chris Wells), defensive tackle (the Ravens are stocked with Haloti Ngata, Kelly Gregg, Brandon McKinney and Dwan Edwards) and safety (they are loaded with Ed Reed, Dawan Landry, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura).
Brummie_Raven: With Kelly Gregg coming back from an injury and Trevor Pryce getting up there in age, do you think the Ravens will address the defensive line in the early part of the draft?
Jamison Hensley: The Ravens have to think about who will eventually replace Trevor Pryce. He might only play for one more year, which means the Ravens need to look at defensive ends either this year or next. It wouldn't surprise me if the Ravens drafted a pass rusher or defensive end in one of the first three rounds.
Bill: What are your thoughts on the current salary levels and guaranteed money for top draft picks? It sounds like teams are becoming less willing to trade up into the top 10 due to the current salary structure, or is that just due to this year's draft class?
Jamison Hensley: The NFL seriously has to fix the current system of paying so much guaranteed money to prospects who haven't even played a down in the league. I think it would be in the players union's best interest, too. If the league cut down on some of the money given to first-rounders, then more could be given to the veterans who have already proven themselves. Of course, no one was complaining about giving all that money when the likes of Carson Palmer and Eli Manning were sitting there at No. 1.
John: Do you think we'll ever see Brian Billick back as an NFL head coach?
Jamison Hensley: After eight years of covering Billick, I have yet to have a one-on-one conversation with him since he was fired from the Ravens. So, I might not be the best one to answer this question. But Billick is still getting paid by the Ravens and doesn't have any real incentive to get back into coaching right now. I also hear that Billick has done a really good job as a Fox analyst. With the current NFL trend of hiring young coaches, I could see Billick staying in television long term.
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