The Ravens’ offense was lacking a handful of notable gamers Tuesday, however the quarterback play was higher than it was every week in the past.
There are anticipated to be some issues and delays in improvement as new offensive coordinator Todd Monken installs his scheme, however the Ravens appeared to choose up the tempo Tuesday afternoon.
Starting quarterback Lamar Jackson has developed some chemistry with extensive receiver Nelson Agholor, connecting with the veteran on a number of back-shoulder throws regardless of tight protection.
In years previous, Jackson seldom threw these forms of patterns. He additionally has his timing down on intermediate outdoors routes. Jackson’s passes had been excessive and tight Tuesday, and really seldom did he throw behind the receivers.
In the previous, the Ravens did not assault the surface of the sector on passing performs. It might need been due to Jackson’s inaccuracy or former offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s lack of belief in Jackson’s arm energy, however a minimum of Monken appears to be including these ideas.
Jackson additionally appears to have higher footwork than a yr in the past dropping again to cross, which ought to make him a simpler twin risk as a runner and a passer.
That, after all, might be nullified if the Ravens can’t run the ball successfully.
Defense delivers
The Ravens have a pleasant wrinkle with each defensive finish Justin Madubuike and out of doors linebacker David Ojabo lined up on the identical facet. Both have good velocity and quickness, which helps create mismatches on stunts in passing conditions.
Ojabo has a powerful spin transfer, and there isn’t a lot wasted movement when he’s operating towards a quarterback. A scary second occurred Tuesday, nevertheless, when each Ojabo and fellow outdoors linebacker Odafe Oweh executed spin strikes however then tripped over one another assembly on the quarterback.
Coach John Harbaugh wasted little time lecturing the workforce in regards to the significance of staying off the bottom in follow drills.
High reward for Andrews
Tight finish Mark Andrews didn’t stroll onto the sector till there have been 45 minutes remaining in follow. With some gamers, that may trigger concern, however Andrews is the one participant in Ravens historical past who may rival Hall of Fame center linebacker Ray Lewis with regards to work ethic.
They each follow onerous on each play. The largest distinction is that there’s restricted contact throughout practices now. Throughout most of his profession, Lewis was allowed to hit something that moved.
And he did.
Red zone goal
I’m beginning to see extra of tight finish Isaiah Likely on the surface matching up with smaller cornerbacks, and he had a kind of back-shoulder receptions from Jackson in follow.
This isn’t the primary time Monken has put Likely on the surface, and it received’t be the final. At 6 ft 4 and 241 kilos, he’s a giant goal contained in the crimson zone.
Left guard battle
It might be attention-grabbing to see if the Ravens signal one other offensive lineman earlier than the season begins. They want a starter at left guard, and proper now the highest candidate is likely to be second-year participant Daniel Faalele.
Faalele performed left sort out at Minnesota however he’s extra athletic than third-year guard Ben Cleveland, who performed for Monken at Georgia.
Wide receiver competitors heats up
Keep an eye fixed on the competitors among the many extensive receivers in coaching camp. General supervisor Eric DeCosta needed among the gamers he drafted lately comparable to Rashod Bateman, James Proche II, Devin Duvernay and Tylan Wallace to be extra concerned within the passing sport, however that hasn’t occurred.
This offseason, the Ravens signed free brokers Odell Beckham Jr., Laquon Treadwell and Agholor and drafted Zay Flowers out of Boston College within the first spherical.
Of the drafted gamers, solely Duvernay has performed nicely to this point in voluntary exercises open to the media, which suggests some careers might be on the road in coaching camp.
Future at linebacker
While on that topic, will probably be attention-grabbing to see what the Ravens do with fourth-year outdoors linebacker Malik Harrison. When the Ravens drafted Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson within the third spherical in April, there was hypothesis that it’d sign the tip of Patrick Queen’s profession in Baltimore after this season.
But Harrison, out of Ohio State, must step up his sport as nicely. Like Queen, he’s in his fourth season, which suggests it’s time to both step up or step again.
The prediction right here is that Queen goes to ball out and make some huge cash someplace as a free agent.
Somewhat pushing and shoving
There was a quick tussle late in follow when rookie extensive receiver Sean Ryan and rookie cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. bought into somewhat pushing contest because the Ravens ran their hurry-up offense.
It wasn’t a lot of a combat, but it surely’s good to see the competitors get somewhat heated. No Ravens made extra of a giant deal out of a combat than former outdoors linebackers Terrell Suggs and Jarret Johnson, who would usually rush in as if it was a significant brawl.
It by no means was.
The greatest coaching camp combat in Ravens historical past occurred in 1996, when particular groups ace Bennie Thompson threw three vicious uppercuts at operating again Earnest Hunter after which threw his helmet into orbit earlier than it landed on the following follow subject.
Ah, these had been the times.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com