dontari poe

Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is growing accustomed, though, to Jeremy Hill's end zone antics. That includes an unsuccessful attempt to jump into the stands during last Sunday's rout in Cleveland, where he was pushed aside by a Browns fan.

Every Tuesday, Baltimore Sun blogger Matt Vensel breaks down a critical play, sometimes with input from Baltimore Ravens players, from that week's game. Today, he looks at quarterback Joe Flacco's late 16-yard scramble against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ravens wide receiver LaQuan Williams is active for the first time this season for today's game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

On Sunday, it appeared the Chiefs¿ offensive strategy was to shoot themselves in the foot. They turned the ball over six times, including four times in the first half. Despite falling behind early, they were relatively balanced, giving the ball to speedy running back Jamaal Charles and throwing the ball all over the field, often times to physical wideout Dwayne Bowe.

There has been a lot of speculation the Pittsburgh Steelers would take Alabama inside linebackerDont'a Hightower, a player the Ravens covet, at No. 24, five spots ahead of the Ravens. But there are some members of the Ravens front office staff who believe the Steelers might take Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe, and move him to nose gaurd.

The Ravens have a handful of needs. Most are not pressing. They have yet to address the offensive line this offseason and will be forced to do it in the draft. Even with the emergence of Torrey Smith a year ago, they are looking for another game-changer at wide receiver. Terrell Suggs lacks a true sidekick. And then there is the annual question about whether this is the year they need to prepare for life after Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. In my fifth and final first-round mock draft, I give you a semi-educated guess at whom the Ravens will select with the 29th pick. Is it still Wisconsin center Peter Konz? Read on to find out.

The 2012 NFL draft is now just over a week away. Free agency has died down, and teams are shifting their focus to the draft to round out their rosters. The Ravens are no exception. Their primary needs are still the same as they were entering the offseason: offensive line help, a pass rusher and a receiver. This mock draft -- the fourth of five I will do before the draft -- doesn't account for trades. And remember, these are called "mock" drafts for a reason. Try not to take them too seriously, folks.

The 2012 NFL draft is three weeks away, and though most teams have solidified their draft boards barring a few tweaks after prospects visit, the "silly season" of draft rumors is really starting to heat up. Need an example? How about the rumblings that the Colts are undecided about the first pick? But hey, I love mock drafts as much as you do, so allow me to contribute to the silly season with my third mock draft of the offseason.

After a wild first week in free agency that was punctuated with Peyton Manning signing with the Denver Broncos, we have a better idea of what needs teams will address in April's NFL draft. So now seems like a good time for our second mock draft of the offseason. (This mock draft does not account for potential trades.) And remember, these are called "mock" drafts for a reason. Try not to take them too seriously.

This year's NFL scouting combine begins Wednesday, unofficially marking the start of draft speculation season. Before the prospects are poked and prodded, though, staff writer Matt Vensel has taken his first crack at predicting the first round of April's NFL draft.

The NFL scouting combine starts Feb. 22. In advance of the annual meat market in Indianapolis, staff writer Matt Vensel will examine each position and give Ravens fans the 4-1-1. In this post he looks at defensive linemen, including Michael Brockers, Fletcher Cox, Devon Still, Dontari Poe, Melvin Ingram, Quinton Coples and Chandler Jones.

We are less than three months away from the 2012 NFL draft. We have plenty of Ravens draft coverage in the works, but we are focused on tying up the loose ends from the 2011 season.