Star quarterback Lamar Jackson wasn’t in attendance for the Ravens’ voluntary “soccer college” Wednesday on the workforce’s facility in Owings Mills. New offensive coordinator Todd Monken isn’t concerned.
“We’re excited concerning the guys which can be right here,” Monken said. “I do know Lamar’s working exhausting.”
It’s been six days since Jackson signed a five-year extension reportedly worth $260 million that makes him the easiest paid participant throughout the NFL yearly. However he was hardly the one big determine absent from the session.
Vast receiver Odell Beckham Jr., whom the Ravens signed to a one-year deal worth as a lot as a reported $18 million closing month, working backs J.Okay. Dobbins and Gus Edwards and linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen have been moreover among the many many notable avid gamers not in attendance.
When they’ll be is unknown, nonetheless the Ravens’ first apply all through offseason workforce actions is Could 22.
“I do know the blokes that aren’t listed here are working exhausting,” Monken said. “They’re professionals. After they’re right here, they’re right here. We sit up for getting them right here and getting them on top of things on what we’re doing offensively. That’s the most important problem.”
Within the meantime, Monken said he’s been in “fixed communication” with Jackson and Beckham and talking soccer with them.
“I do suppose we’ll have the ability to get these guys right here hopefully in a brief period of time,” he said. “However till that occurs we’ll rise up to hurry with the blokes we’ve bought.”
One among these avid gamers Monken did have on Wednesday was intensive receiver Devin Duvernay, who said that he’s once more to working after current course of season-ending foot surgical process in December. He said he likes the place he’s at bodily and took half throughout the media viewing portion of apply.
He’s moreover captivated with what is likely to be a very revamped offense beneath Monken. Greg Roman resigned in January after mounting frustration over what devolved proper right into a sputtering offense, notably throughout the purple zone and late throughout the season when Jackson was sidelined for the final word six video video games resulting from a knee harm.
Duvernay, Beckham, a healthful Rashod Bateman and first-round draft resolve Zay Flowers give the Ravens considered one of many league’s quickest receiving gadgets. Final season, Ravens receivers have been closing throughout the NFL in yards by a big margin.
“There’s a ton a alternative ways to emphasize the sphere,” Duvernay said. “Now we have a ton of various guys who can do a mess of issues.”
None further so than their dynamic 26-year-old quarterback.
Jackson’s 4,437 rushing yards over the first 5 years of his occupation are primarily probably the most by a quarterback in NFL historic previous. Twice he topped 1,000 rushing yards in a season, along with in 2019 when he ran for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns and threw for 3,127 yards and a league-high 36 touchdowns with merely six interceptions on his technique to being named the unanimous NFL Most Beneficial Participant.
For his occupation, Jackson has achieved 63.7% of his passes for 12,209 yards and 101 touchdowns. However after missing 10 video video games over the earlier two seasons resulting from accidents, it’s potential that Jackson might possibly run a lot much less beneath Monken.
“It goes again to the gamers that you’ve got,” Monken said. “The additional proficient you is likely to be spherical your quarterback, the a lot much less he has to sort out that burden because you’re captivated with getting others the soccer.
“However he has a novel trait, a novel ability set. You possibly can’t take that utterly out of his toolbox, as a result of that’s an enormous weapon for him and for us, utilizing his toes.”
Monken, who was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018, the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and two-time defending nationwide champion Georgia, moreover said earlier this yr that he plans to have the Ravens play at a sooner tempo.
The hope is that can lead to a far more explosive offense after the Ravens averaged 20.6 elements per recreation in 2022, which ranked nineteenth throughout the league, merely ahead of the Carolina Panthers. If nothing else, it ought to help Baltimore steer clear of having hassle getting the ball snapped sooner than the play clock expires, one factor that plagued the workforce closing season.
“Recreation dictates tempo, gamers dictate tempo,” said Monken, noting that the avid gamers who’ve been in attendance have solely been on the sphere for about 10 days and that the game plan is in its infancy stage. “As we transfer ahead, we’ll have higher concept the place that presents itself for us.”
Particularly as quickly as Jackson and the rest of the Ravens’ offense arrives.
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