The Ravens traded back, then up, in Round One to select Delaware QB Joe Flacco. He will push Kyle Boller to be Baltimore’s Week One starter. Flacco fits the mold of the classic drop-back passer: He is tall (a shade over 6-foot-6) and blessed with a very strong arm, but he will require a clean pocket and much-improved decision-making to become more than an adequate backup. In Round Two, the Ravens bolstered their RB depth, selecting Rutgers’ Ray Rice. He has very good strength for a 5-8, 199-pound back and figures to have the inside track on becoming the first back off the bench. Rice also boasts very good vision and balance and could be an effective, tackle-breaking complement to Willis McGahee. The Ravens’ first Day Two selection was Miami (Fla.) LB Tavares Gooden, who likely will play inside in the Ravens’ 3-4 scheme. Gooden is something of a project. Extremely athletic, but lacking the instincts needed at the position, the Ravens likely will lean heavily on veterans Ray Lewis and Bart Scott to provide guidance. Notre Dame SS Tom Zbikowski will contribute heavily on special teams as a rookie and could even push Dawan Landry for a starting job on defense. A Golden Gloves boxer, Zbikowski has ample reserves of confidence and toughness but is best in the box because of a lack of speed. UTEP OT Oniel Cousins may be tried inside at guard. A converted defensive tackle, Cousins has very good athleticism and flashed considerable potential playing left and right tackle in college. He must play with more power, though, and he could spend much of his first season on the bench learning the pro game. New Mexico WR Marcus Smith’s biggest impact as a rookie may come on the special-teams coverage units. As a receiver, Smith has promise because of his toughness and quickness out of his breaks. Weber State’s David Hale will compete for the backup job at right tackle. Hale moves well but must become stronger. Cincinnati S Haruki Nakamura could be an asset on special teams. Virginia Tech WR Justin Harper is a developmental prospect; he has the size (a shade over 6-foot-3) and body control to be a contributor as a possession catcher, but his hands and route running must improve if he is going to make it. The Ravens’ final pick, Oklahoma’s Allen Patrick, initially could make it as a special-teams coverage contributor.
