Baltimore Ravens Review

OWINGS MILLS — USC offensive guard Fred Matua blocked for three Heisman Trophy award winners, creating pathways for Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush. Now, the junior all-conference lineman would like to extend his football career in the NFL, possibly with the Baltimore Ravens.

 

 

Matua, who visited the Ravens’ training complex Sunday, is one of the fastest offensive linemen available in the upcoming NFL draft. At 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds, he ran the 40 yard dash in 5.06 and 4.98 seconds at the Trojans’ Pro Day which was attended by Ravens director of college scouting Eric DeCosta along with personnel from every NFL team.

 

 

“Hopefully, a lot of scouts will understand that I’m a fast guy,” Matua said in a telephone interview. “If you look at tape, there have been a lot of bigger guys that I’ve gone against, guys who were 6-foot-6, 300-plus.

 

 

“The key for me has been to be quicker and beat them down quarter after quarter until they quit. I play this game with a mean streak. I never back

POSTED BY Administrator ON 04.19.06 @ 4:25 am | 0 Comments

Baltimore Ravens Review

Leo Araguz is the Baltimore Ravens’ new punter, signing on for one year as a potential replacement for Dave Zastudil.

 

 

Araguz, 35, has a strong track record, but struggled so much early last season after beating out promising rookie Chris Kluwe in training camp that he was released after four games and replaced by veteran Tom Rouen. It’s likely that Araguz, who will make a $585,000 base salary, will face competition at training camp from a rookie, and Baltimore worked out two college punters last week at its training complex.

 

 

Araguz averaged 46 yards in the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but averaged only 33 yards per punt against the Washington Redskins. He averaged 40.2 yards last season on 18 punts with a long of 53 yards.

 

 

The Ravens auditioned Philadelphia Eagles restricted free agent Dirk Johnson last week along with free agent Toby Gowin before deciding to sign Araguz.

 

 

The Ravens pursued Carolina Panthers standout Jason Baker, who re-signed with Carolina for a two-year, $1.8 million contract that includes

POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 4:24 am | 0 Comments

Baltimore Ravens Review

The Baltimore Ravens will host Fresno State cornerback Richard Marshall and worked out Nebraska safety Josh Bullocks, according to their agent.

 

 

Meanwhile, UCLA running back Maurice Drew said he will visit the Ravens in his online diary. The 5-7, 207-pound runner is regarded as a potential second or third-round draft pick. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 and 4.47 seconds at the scouting combine.

 

 

Baltimore attended the workout of Cal-Poly defensive end Chris Gocong, who won the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defender in Division I-AA.

POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 4:24 am | 0 Comments