What a distinction quite a lot of months makes.
In March, the state of the Ravens was precarious. Uncertainty and acrimony swirled spherical franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson. There was a crucial dearth of experience at massive receiver with a gaggle that accomplished ultimate inside the NFL in yards. There had been questions on who would plug holes at edge rusher and cornerback. There was a failing grade for the vitality and conditioning program.
Now, as Baltimore transitions from the voluntary portion of offseason workout routines to the three-day compulsory minicamp that begins Tuesday in Owings Mills, quite a lot of these points have been addressed. As a consequence, the Ravens have gone from a ship with an uncharted course to 1 on the precipice of potential Tremendous Bowl rivalry.
Nonetheless, there’s a good way between now and subsequent February, and questions nonetheless loom. Listed here are the most important topics heading into the last word “dwell contact” portion of the offseason sooner than the Ravens take a six-week break ahead of the start of teaching camp in late July.
Lamar Jackson’s improvement in Todd Monken’s offense
Within the three practices all through voluntary organized crew actions which had been open to the media, two points have stood out: New offensive coordinator Todd Monken has been far more vigorous and vocal than predecessor Greg Roman, and Jackson has a further dynamic system at his disposal.
The execution of Monken’s scheme — which up to now has featured a combination of screens, transient throws, and additional footage to the sideline and downfield — has been mixed, nonetheless that’s to be anticipated at this stage. However there was progress, too. Final week, as an example, Jackson confirmed good chemistry with veteran Nelson Agholor, notably on back-shoulder throws. There’s moreover been an emphasis on Jackson’s footwork inside the pocket beneath new quarterbacks coach Tee Martin and additional administration given to the quarterback on the road of scrimmage.
“We’ve been in that world earlier than, however to not this diploma,” coach John Harbaugh talked about ultimate week. “Clearly, Todd is true in there with Tee teaching the offense to the quarterbacks; that’s been actually good. We’ve had quite a lot of one-on-one periods, by way of simply how we’re going to function and the way the quarterbacks must function. I feel you noticed at the moment [that] the communication might be higher than what you noticed final week, so we’ve simply bought to maintain constructing on that.”
This week, Jackson must have in all probability essentially the most full assortment of experience spherical him to this point this offseason. Harbaugh talked about he expects all individuals on the 90-man roster to report for the compulsory practices.
Will Odell Beckham Jr. and J.Okay. Dobbins participate?
It’s a question worth asking, considering neither took the sector all through voluntary organized crew actions.
Beckham, who signed his one-year, reported $15 million contract in April, has been understanding on his private and is predicted to be out there. Gamers who skip the compulsory practices incur a hefty efficient and usually accomplish that over contract factors (see: New York Giants working once more Saquon Barkley), nonetheless that’s not the precedence proper right here. How rather a lot Beckham — who hasn’t carried out in a sport since tearing his ACL in Tremendous Bowl 56 in February 2022 — does, though, is perhaps a level of intrigue.
The equivalent could possibly be talked about of working once more J.Okay. Dobbins, who likewise didn’t participate in any of the voluntary practices nonetheless for varied causes. He has stayed away since voicing his displeasure over his operate inside the Ravens’ wild-card loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Dobbins, who’s inside the final yr of his rookie deal, was in town Monday, though, and it’ll be important to say himself after having missed 27 of fifty regular-season video video games as a result of the Ravens drafted him inside the second spherical in 2020.
Receiver Rashod Bateman moreover hasn’t spoken to the media since his since-deleted tweet in March in response to frequent supervisor Eric DeCosta’s characterization of the crew’s receivers, though he was at two of the three voluntary practices that had been open to the media. Bateman solely did drills in these lessons nonetheless his restoration from season-ending foot surgical process has gone properly, the crew has talked about. In the meantime, working once more Gus Edwards might even see restricted movement this week; Harbaugh talked about ultimate week that Edwards acquired’t be “absolutely prepared” until teaching camp.
Which rookies will stand out?
The Ravens’ first-year avid gamers had been “ingesting from the fireplace hose,” as defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald put it ultimate month, as they obtained acclimated to life inside the NFL. However that was then. The group has progressed since, notably receiver Zay Flowers, inside linebacker Trenton Simpson and offensive take care of Sala Aumavae-Laulu, all of whom decide to be contributors this fall.
Harbaugh talked about ultimate week that he was trying to find what he observed on tape of the rookie class to carry over to the sector and that they’ve exceeded that.
“On this surroundings, they give the impression of being clean, they’re shifting properly, they’re studying,” he talked about. “All the blokes are studying properly. So, we’re pleased with these guys. All of the rookies are doing a great job. Now, it’s rehearsal proper now; it’s not likely aggressive, so we’ll see. As soon as the pads come on and as soon as it will get aggressive, we’ll know extra.”
That acquired’t come until teaching camp.
Large receiver group is all the sudden deep
A as quickly as weak place has turned one factor considerably higher, assuming everybody appears to be healthful.
Along with Beckham, Bateman, Flowers, Agholor and Devin Duvernay spherical out the crew’s prime 5 receivers. After which is perhaps third-year wideout James Proche, newly signed veteran Laquon Treadwell and 2021 fourth-round select Tylan Wallace.
One other participant that is perhaps worth watching is former Maryland standout and undrafted free agent Dontay Demus Jr. Although there are questions on his knee after a devastating harm in 2021, the 6-foot-3, 212-pound receiver was a stud sooner than he obtained harm.
In all, the Ravens have 5 former first-round picks at receiver (Beckham, Bateman, Flowers, Agholor, Treadwell), and there are nonetheless some questions on them, ranging from properly being to manufacturing. However how the group at large shakes out is perhaps worth watching.
Defensive backs are worth watching, too
Cornerback was one different concern going into this yr’s draft with Marcus Peters hitting free firm, nonetheless the Ravens found a starter reverse Marlon Humphrey with the signing of Rock Ya-Sin. But it surely stays to be seen the place the rest of the crew’s cornerbacks match.
Jalyn Armour-Davis and Damarion “Pepe” Williams every struggled ultimate season as rookies, whereas Brandon Stephens has moved to safety.
Armour-Davis can be recovering from a hip harm he suffered in November and to this point has seen restricted movement in observe. Daryl Worley is once more after re-signing earlier this yr, nonetheless he carried out sparingly all through eight video video games ultimate season. Trayvon Mullen, a former second-round select who joined the Ravens late ultimate season and re-signed in March, brings the experience of getting started 31 video video games, though most of those bought right here in his first two seasons. And there’s rookie Kyu Blu Kelly, whom the Ravens drafted inside the fifth spherical out of Stanford.
As for safety, Kyle Hamilton figures to start out out alongside Marcus Williams after Chuck Clark was traded to the New York Jets. However Hamilton may moreover see movement inside the nickel as soon as extra.
Stephens, as talked about, is predicted to return to safety, the place he started 11 video video games as a rookie in 2021 after 4 begins at cornerback ultimate yr. Geno Stone, now in his fourth yr in Baltimore, can also be a contributor after starting seven video video games ultimate season.
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