In a brand new characteristic, Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will reply followers’ questions all through the Ravens season. Fresh off Baltimore’s 37-26 Week 3 win over the New England Patriots, loads of questions stay with the Buffalo Bills, a Super Bowl favourite, coming to city Sunday.
Here’s Preston’s take:
(Editor’s observe: Questions have been edited for size and readability)
Can we simply write off now Ronnie Stanley taking part in this 12 months?
— Robert Scheerer
Mike Preston: It’s method too early to write down Stanley off, however he’s positively wanted after Ja’Wuan James went down with a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1 and Patrick Mekari suffered an ankle damage in Week 3. Mekari’s substitute, rookie Daniel Faalele, began slowly in opposition to New England on Sunday however bought higher as the sport went on to show in a strong effort. However, Faalele, a fourth-round pick of Minnesota, will battle many of the season with pace rushers if he isn’t given assist, and that hurts the passing sport.
Sunday’s sport in opposition to Buffalo is the best time for Stanley to return, not simply due to Mekari’s damage, but in addition as a result of the Bills have a powerful, aggressive defensive position.
Coming out of Notre Dame, Stanley was criticized for not having a powerful work ethic and there have been instances in his seven seasons in Baltimore when he didn’t apply though he ought to have been on the sphere. There are some throughout the group who imagine he didn’t work laborious sufficient throughout rehabilitation final offseason, which led to him solely taking part in one sport in 2021.
With all that stated, he’s reportedly had a number of surgical procedures on his ankle. Because of his weight (315 kilos) and the character of his place, which places a number of strain on the ankles, it’s going to take him longer to return to the sphere than most gamers at different positions.
But the right time is now with the Bills coming to city.
How does [Eric DeCosta] escape criticism for the crew’s obvious roster weaknesses? Ronnie Stanley has been injured since 2020 they usually haven’t introduced anybody in to fill his spot by the draft, trades or free company. They’ve had no go rush since 2019 and EDC’s [outside linebacker] draft picks have been [Odafe] Oweh, who doesn’t register sacks, [Daelin] Hayes, who was injured and is now gone, and [David] Ojabo, who gained’t play till 2023. As for his No. 1 picks, [Marquise] “Hollywood” Brown wasn’t nice and is now gone, [Patrick] Queen can’t shed blocks, sort out within the open area, or cowl, [Rashod] Bateman seems like a mean NFL receiver. The jury remains to be out on [Kyle] Hamilton and [Tyler] Linderbaum, however the final Pro Bowl-caliber participant the Ravens drafted within the first spherical was Lamar, and that was Ozzie [Newsome]’s name. What different GM may get away with this?
— Jesse D. Marr
Preston: Wow, Jesse, that basically isn’t a query however a press release and your opinion. But I wrote about this being a key 12 months for DeCosta again in February and that he wanted so as to add some affect gamers.
Since changing into basic supervisor 4 years in the past, DeCosta’s drafts have been common at greatest, with a number of the notable disappointments you talked about. But on the identical time, I’m giving him ample time to enhance, similar to the gamers he selects within the draft who get three to 4 years, and in some instances 5 (see outdoors linebacker Tyus Bowser).
DeCosta’s critics will say he doesn’t deserve that period of time as a result of he labored below former basic supervisor Ozzie Newsome for the reason that crew moved right here from Cleveland in 1996, however it’s one factor to offer enter on gamers and one other to be the man who makes the choices.
Of course, there have been some issues that I might have executed in a different way, like choose a go rusher within the first spherical, an issue space for this crew the final 4 years. I might have beefed up the inside of the offensive and defensive strains within the draft, as a result of that’s the place video games are gained and misplaced within the NFL, and definitely added extra “tough guys,” which this crew lacks.
But this 12 months’s draft class seems promising with Linderbaum, Hamilton, defensive sort out Travis Jones, tight finish Isaiah Likely and cornerback Damarion “Pepe” Williams.
DeCosta deserves some criticism however the Ravens have been to the playoffs yearly however one since he turned basic supervisor. So, to place it in perspective, contemplate him a draft choose who deserves one other 12 months or two earlier than some attempt to run him out of city.
Should the Ravens’ first-round choose in 2023 be a left sort out or center linebacker? Also, do you assume Lamar is the front-runner for MVP proper now?
— @Royce90246855 on Twitter
Preston: It’s method too early to invest concerning the draft, however the Ravens have a number of obvious wants on protection, significantly at edge rusher and inside linebacker. As far as left sort out, it stays to be seen when or if Stanley performs and the way efficient he’s on the sphere. Ask me that very same query about two months from now.
As far as Jackson, the front-runner for the MVP modifications week to week, however it actually doesn’t matter as a result of Jackson is all the time in that class.
All the speaking eggheads on these 24/7 sports activities channels hype up this MVP race after each sport. It’s virtually as unhealthy as somebody stating each week that Jackson can win a sport along with his arm, or that he can spark a comeback win.
Really.
One of the issues I like greatest about Jackson is that he doesn’t discuss concerning the accolades or awards. He simply retains specializing in successful a Super Bowl.
In Year 5, Jackson is a confirmed expertise. The solely questions that stay about him are, can he lead the Ravens deep into the playoffs, and might he win a Super Bowl?
Front-runner for MVP? It is dependent upon the week and which groups gained and misplaced.
My query is: do you assume the previous three video games, defensively talking, is trigger for concern over the Ravens’ rent of Mike Macdonald? A follow-up query is do you imagine Odafe Oweh is being correctly utilized on this scheme?
— William Kang
Preston: I might not level the finger at Macdonald, however the lack of success means the Ravens are nonetheless adjusting their philosophy, scheme and personnel.
That’s regular below these making an attempt circumstances after the crew invested a lot cash and introduced in high expertise throughout the offseason. One downside was that almost all of the starters by no means bought on the sphere collectively throughout preseason video games as a result of coach John Harbaugh feared accidents.
If you mix that with a brand new defensive coordinator and several other new defensive assistants, there may be going to be an adjustment interval, particularly with communication.
Harbaugh was a defensive backs coach when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles, so I assume he has been huddling with Macdonald and secondary coach Chris Hewitt to work some issues out.
I don’t assume the Ravens are involved about Macdonald at this level, however that may change in the event that they maintain permitting receivers just like the New England Patriots’ DeVante Parker to place up large numbers like he’s Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill.
As far as Oweh, what else can the Ravens do with him? He’s been on the sturdy facet and weak facet and nonetheless can’t get strain, and he’s had issues holding the sting in opposition to the run. Oweh had a powerful coaching camp, which led a number of us to imagine he would have a powerful season. But looking back, the second-year participant was thought-about a undertaking when the Ravens drafted him within the first spherical.
What do you make of Jerry Rosburg now teaching with the Broncos? Surprised to see him unretire and never come again to Ravens?
— David Jacob
Preston: No David, not likely. I’ve seen a number of assistant coaches come again from retirement, resembling former Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who’s now in that very same capability with the Atlanta Falcons. These guys are passionate, they usually miss that competitors on Sunday afternoons. Rosburg was well-liked and revered right here in Baltimore. If he wished to return, some crew was going to discover a place for him, which Denver did as its senior assistant this season.
With the potential of getting go rush assist again in some unspecified time in the future this season with the return of Bowser and Ojabo, for those who had been DeCosta, would you place the next precedence on buying some center linebacker assist? Or deliver in additional go dashing assist? I used to be a bit of stunned they didn’t signal Blake Martinez when he visited.
— Paul in Orlando
Preston: It’s all based mostly on want. The return of Bowser and Ojabo could be an improve, however most likely not important since each are coming back from Achilles tendon accidents.
In the phrases of Newsome, all of it is dependent upon proper participant, proper value. For occasion, the Ravens not too long ago signed Jason Pierre-Paul. At age 33, his greatest years are behind him, however the Ravens want go rushers. If Pierre-Paul had been that good, Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles, revered for placing collectively high defenses, definitely would have signed him to a brand new deal. Instead, the Ravens are keen to take an opportunity with Pierre-Paul, hoping he has sufficient left within the tank.
It’s a chance, however I just like the transfer. If a veteran linebacker just like Martinez turns into obtainable, I assume the Ravens is not going to hesitate in signing him.
Have a query for Mike Preston? Email sports [email protected] with “Ravens mailbag” within the topic line and it might be answered in The Baltimore Sun.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com