FanHouse Jeff Blake

NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.

The Baltimore Ravens have already taken their first step toward 2008. John Harbaugh is the new coach and brings with him the expectation of a more disciplined team that takes better advantage of its resources. Some have argued that this team is close to playoff position but, truthfully, change is needed to restore this team to the level of a contender. As it has for years, the major obstacle for the Ravens to overcome is at football's marquee position.

1. Quarterback – Elvis Grbac. Randall Cunningham. Jeff Blake. Chris Redman. Kyle Boller. Anthony Wright. Steve McNair. Those are the men who have started at quarterback for the Ravens since Trent Dilfer won Super Bowl XXXV in 2001. Other than McNair in 2006, not a one of them has done anything to earn a second season on the job, and McNair went down in flames in year two. Boller didn't embarrass himself at the end of this season but he didn't do anything to warm the cockles of your heart either.

Billick was Boller's biggest champion and we don't know who will be running the offense in 2008, so it's anybody's guess as to who will be under center.

Michael David Smith does an excellent weekly column where he liveblogs college games and discusses the draft chances of certain players. He talked a bit about Troy Smith today:

If the 6-foot-1 Smith were a couple inches taller, everyone would talk about him as a sure-thing first-round pick. But he isn't going to get any taller, so a lot of NFL scouts will overlook him. That's a mistake. Smith can play quarterback in the NFL. He has become an increasingly accurate passer over the course of his Ohio State career, he makes good decisions, and he's probably the best quarterback in all of college football at throwing on the run. He would be perfect for any team that runs the Bill Walsh offense, which is to say at least half the teams in the league.

I hadn't really started thinking about where Smith would be drafted until this season started, but I think the NFL would be stupid to not take him in the first round. However, I'm guessing he won't go that early, because of his 6'1 height.

As a Bengals fan I saw a lot of Jeff Blake in the 90's. Blake was also 6'1, and questions about his size have dogged him his entire career. It's silly in a way, because it's not as if 6'1 is tiny. I've heard that quarterbacks have trouble seeing over the line, seeing downfield, and have trouble with getting passes knocked down, but I think in the end you've got to look at a quarterback's ability as much as their physical attributes. Michael Vick is 6'0, and I've never heard anyone mention his height.

I'll come right out and say it: Troy Smith is every bit as good a quarterback as Vince Young. He's actually probably a better passer. You're not going to hear that from the media unless Troy wins a national title, but it doesn't make it not true. The NFL would be stupid not to realize that. I think Troy will end up going in the second or third round, and whoever gets him will be getting a real steal.

More: Draft Notes: Live Blog - Michael David Smith, FanHouse (also mentions Quinn Pitcock, so make sure to click through and check it out)