Lamar Jackson has arrived.
A supply with direct information of the state of affairs confirmed to The Baltimore Sun that the Ravens quarterback is on the crew’s facility in Owings Mills on Tuesday, a day after the primary of what are 10 voluntary organized crew actions over the following three weeks. Jackson, who signed a five-year extension price a reported $260 million earlier this month, was absent the primary 5 weeks of the Ravens’ voluntary exercises and had not been on the sphere with the crew since struggling a PCL damage towards the Denver Broncos on Dec. 4.
The Ravens are one in all 20 groups that started organized crew actions Monday; one other 10 did so Tuesday.
Though “live” contact is just not allowed, seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 work is permitted. One Ravens session per week can even be open to the media, starting Wednesday, with the opposite organized crew actions scheduled for Thursday, subsequent Tuesday, and June 1-2, 5-6, 8-9.
The solely necessary portion of the offseason exercise program is a three-day minicamp from June 13 to fifteen, and whereas not each participant will probably be in attendance Wednesday or on the different voluntary periods, the practices will present essentially the most in-depth look of the offseason.
Here are 5 questions going into this 12 months’s organized crew actions:
How essential is Lamar Jackson’s participation?
The Ravens have a brand new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken and a number of other new large receivers with the free agent additions of Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor together with first-round draft decide Zay Flowers. Monken mentioned two weeks in the past that the crew has been in “constant communication” with Jackson and added that the quarterback has been “working hard.”
But nothing beats having him there as a participant — this week marks the primary time within the offseason program that the offense can line up towards the protection.
Last 12 months, Jackson skipped everything of voluntary offseason practices for the primary time in his profession. But that passed off whereas he was embroiled in a contract stalemate with the crew, and now he’s reportedly the highest-paid quarterback within the NFL.
What his participation within the voluntary actions will probably be stays to be seen, however the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, New York Jets’ Aaron Rodgers, New York Giants’ Daniel Jones, Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert and Seattle Seahawks’ Geno Smith had been among the many quarterbacks who confirmed up and took part on the primary day of their crew’s respective voluntary actions this week.
What about Odell Beckham Jr.?
Jackson was hardly the one participant not available for the Ravens’ “football school” and different voluntary actions. Beckham, whom the Ravens signed final month to a one-year deal price a reported $15 million, has been among the many notable absences.
Plenty of others labored out on their very own, too, together with working backs J.Okay. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, large receiver Rashod Bateman, tight finish Mark Andrews, linebacker Patrick Queen, security Marcus Williams and offensive linemen Ronnie Stanley, Morgan Moses and Kevin Zeitler.
At least a few of that group was in attendance on Monday, although. Bateman, who’s coming off season-ending foot surgical procedure, in addition to Queen, Williams and Moses had been among the many gamers proven on the crew’s social media feeds who participated within the apply.
As for Beckham, he hasn’t performed in a recreation since tearing his ACL in Super Bowl 56 in February 2022, and when he’ll take the sphere on the Ravens’ facility is unclear.
“I’m still in my process of getting ready for September, because we don’t play tomorrow, we don’t play a week from now, a month from now; we play in September,” Beckham mentioned final month. “So it’s about getting ready for that, being in the best physical shape I can be, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, all that.”
What will the brand new offense seem like?
Already, the variations between Monken’s persona and that of earlier offensive coordinator Greg Roman had been on show throughout “football school” with Monken taking a vocal and energetic function with the offense, in contrast with the way more reserved presence Roman had the earlier 4 years.
As for the product on the sphere, the Ravens aren’t going to disclose something important over the following few weeks. But Monken has talked repeatedly about his need to up the tempo and unfold the offense out extra.
“Everybody feels like we have to pick it up on offense this year,” offensive deal with Daniel Faalele instructed The Sun throughout a current volunteer day at Morrell Park Elementary/Middle School. “Our new [offensive coordinator] understands that as well. He’s been emphasizing communication and he’s made it a lot easier to understand the offense so we can play a lot faster. I’m excited going into this year, especially with the players we have.”
It’s additionally doable the Ravens’ reliance on Jackson’s means to run could possibly be lowered as a result of there’s extra expertise round him.
“I’m excited when they all get here to see that and see the competition,” Monken mentioned two weeks in the past. “And, our tight ends as effectively: Mark [Andrews] and Isaiah [Likely], our working again room. I’m excited to get began, however there is just one ball.
“I think the more talented you are around your quarterback, the less he has to take on that burden, shoulder the load because you’re excited about getting others the football where they can utilize their skill set.”
Who would be the beginning left guard?
One of the extra important choices nonetheless to be made is who will substitute beginning left guard Ben Powers, who left for the Denver Broncos in free company.
That will play out this summer season at coaching camp, however coach John Harbaugh beforehand talked about 4 prospects: Patrick Mekari, Ben Cleveland, John Simpson and Faalele. The Ravens additionally drafted Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu out of Oregon within the sixth spherical, Andrew Vorhees out of Southern California within the seventh and signed former Chicago Bears middle and Owings Mills native Sam Mustipher.
But Aumavae-Laulu is probably going a developmental prospect, whereas Vorhees will miss the season as he recovers from a torn ACL and Mustipher will more than likely again up beginning middle Tyler Linderbaum. In restricted motion, Faalele performed deal with final season, whereas Mekari’s versatility possible makes him extra worthwhile in a number of spots on the road.
That leaves Cleveland, a third-round decide in 2021, and Simpson, who joined the Ravens late final 12 months after three seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, because the more than likely candidates.
Both have struggled at instances, although.
“Every day is like competition,” Simpson instructed The Sun. “My greatest focus proper now’s specializing in move safety and leg drive within the run recreation.
“The biggest difference between last year and now, though, is now I feel like is a new start. Before, I just got thrown in and had to survive. Now I’m starting brand new with these guys.”
What about cornerback?
The beginning cornerback spot reverse Marlon Humphrey was one of many greatest query marks coming into the offseason. The Ravens addressed it by signing Rock-Ya Sin.
But Ya-Sin, who was traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Raiders final March, can be coming off a season-ending knee damage that he suffered in Week 13. Over the previous three years, he’s missed 13 video games due to accidents.
When wholesome, Ya-Sin has been pretty strong, together with his passer ranking allowed when focused in protection having steadily dropped the previous three seasons. But the 27-year-old has additionally been inconsistent in that timeframe, too.
While Ya-Sin will most likely be the starter, different cornerbacks will get loads of seems to be this offseason, together with Jalyn Armour-Davis and Damarion “Pepe” Williams, each fourth-round picks a 12 months in the past, and Trayvon Mullen, Jackson’s cousin who re-signed in March. There’s additionally rookie Kyu Blu Kelly, whom the Ravens drafted out of Stanford within the fifth spherical.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com