Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will reply followers’ questions all through the Ravens season. Coming off Baltimore’s 28-3 win in Week 4 in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, loads of questions stay heading right into a Week 5 street matchup in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Here’s Preston’s take:
(Editor’s notice: Questions have been edited for size and readability.)
Unfortunately, it looks like Ronnie Stanley has not been the identical since his ankle harm in 2020 after he signed his new contract. Of most concern, he appears to lack reliability, which is essential for a key place like left deal with. Do you assume it’s time for the Ravens to make a commerce for one more LT this season, and/or transfer on from Stanley after this season?
— Paul
A commerce isn’t essential. The Ravens have two succesful backups in Patrick Mekari and Daniel Falalele, despite the fact that I’m unsure both is able to enjoying two or three high quality video games in a row to get the Ravens deep into the postseason.
Stanley is a brilliant participant, and I believe he is aware of he won’t ever be pretty much as good as he was earlier than the harm and the main surgical procedures that adopted. After this season, Stanley has two years remaining on his contract, so I imagine the Ravens will look to the draft to pick out a top quality left deal with in April.
Mike, as somebody who has watched each Ravens sport, did Greg Roman’s offense maintain Lamar Jackson and firm again from reaching their full potential, or did it showcase their actual strengths and conceal their weaknesses?
— Marty
The primary goal of each offensive coordinator is to showcase the strengths of his gamers, notably the quarterback. Roman did that, as his offenses have been primarily based round Jackson’s working talents and a powerful working sport. Everyone agreed with the philosophy, from proprietor Steve Bisciotti to educate John Harbaugh.
The downside was that it was antiquated, and the Ravens couldn’t sustain with the high-powered passing assaults within the postseason from groups such because the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.
The Ravens introduced in Todd Monken to exchange Roman and jazz up the passing sport and provides the offense extra stability.
Did Roman maintain again Jackson and the remainder of this offense?
No, he catered to Jackson’s strengths, in addition to the expertise he was given. Roman didn’t have a classy passing sport, however the Ravens didn’t imagine they wanted one throughout his years in Baltimore.
What is happening with John Harbaugh and the media? How is he getting away with probably not being forthcoming about accidents? One can by no means actually imagine if a participant has or doesn’t have “a long term injury.”
— Marty
Welcome to the NFL, Marty. Harbaugh is not any completely different from some other coach within the NFL. It’s all a part of the “gamesmanship.”
Let’s flash again to final week. Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson wasn’t anticipated to play after being restricted in observe all week with a proper shoulder harm. On Sunday morning, there have been studies that he was going to play, however he was dominated out 90 minutes earlier than kickoff.
That’s the best way accidents play out within the NFL.
I don’t take note of harm studies anymore. If the participant is in full gear and out on the sphere 90 minutes earlier than the sport, then I count on him to play. If not, he received’t play.
It’s all a part of the thoughts video games performed by NFL coaches.
What’s stunned and disillusioned you in regards to the Ravens as far as we attain the season’s first quarter mark?
— Ed Helinski
I’m stunned by how dominant the Ravens have been in opposition to division opponents. I do know they haven’t performed in opposition to a top quality quarterback but, particularly with Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow enjoying via a calf harm, however the Ravens have been bodily dominant on either side of the ball. That’s a superb signal.
As for disappointments thus far, I assumed the Ravens would get extra out of their two younger go rushers, Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo. Both have been injured and performed little or no. Even within the preseason, I wasn’t impressed with Ojabo. He has the bodily expertise, he simply hasn’t put it collectively but. At least after they return, each could have recent legs.
Overall, the season continues to be younger and there’s a lot of soccer left.
Are my Ravens Super Bowl contenders, coach?
— Andrew Grandinetti
They have been playoff contenders earlier than the season began and nothing has modified. As for Super Bowl contenders, I solely put one workforce in that classification, and that’s Kansas City with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Overall, there is perhaps about eight or 9 high quality groups within the NFL, and the Ravens are one among them.
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.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com