The Ravens know exactly what they want as they gaze onto the fields at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
They have the model ingrained in their minds, carried down through the organization's drafting history.
"We were very fortunate with the players that we brought in in terms of them becoming prototypes or models for the particular position they played," said Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage.
"You draft Jonathan Ogden; that's what a left tackle is supposed to look like. You pick Ray Lewis; that's what an inside linebacker, the temperament, the demeanor is supposed to be. You pick Peter Boulware; that's what an outside linebacker in a 3-4 is supposed to look like. You pick Chris McAlister; he's your big, rolled up corner. You pick Duane Starks; he's your smaller, wide-side corner."
Savage was with the Ravens' scouting department in the very beginning as one of the executives who made the move from Cleveland. He was the Ravens' director of college scouting for seven years (1996-2002) and director of player personnel for two (2003-2004) before becoming the general manager of the Browns. Savage helped draft 12 Pro Bowlers during his time in Baltimore.
Now he believes the Ravens scouts, both old and young, have an advantage of knowing what it is they're looking for because they've seen it on their own practice fields, or heard many tales about it.
"A picture is worth 1,000 words," Savage said. "I think from the very beginning, they've been able to identify what a Raven is and what they want that player to be. It's been carried on through the rest of the scouting staff.
"I think as our scouting staff began to develop, you didn't have to have a lecture. You could say, 'If you want to see an offensive running back, go look at Jamal Lewis."
