Ravens coach John Harbaugh will likely be affected person in attempting to pick out a aggressive group of receivers, however that could possibly be laborious.
The Ravens had their second day of voluntary minicamp apply Wednesday, which was open to the media. There isn’t a lot inventory to be put into Day 2, however there was a silent alarm of warning that went off due to a number of drops by the receivers, together with two by Rashod Bateman, the staff’s 2021 first-round decide from Minnesota.
After buying and selling Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals, the Ravens are relying on younger gamers like Bateman, James Proche II, Devin Duvernay and Tylan Wallace to play main roles within the passing recreation this season. Wallace, a second-year participant out of Oklahoma State, was famous for his robust arms in faculty, however he dropped two passes throughout the center Wednesday. Proche additionally had a drop on a fast out. The timing was clearly off between the receivers and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, which is to be anticipated this early into OTA practices.
“We’re excited we get to our guys out there,” Harbaugh stated. “They’ve been working really hard and they understand the situation. They’ve been here for months [working out].”
The Ravens have most likely regarded over the listing of obtainable free brokers and need to give all their younger receivers an opportunity. Plus, it’s laborious for the staff to lure a top-notch receiver to Baltimore due to its run-first mentality on offense. But it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how this unfolds as a result of Wallace and Proche have comparable talents and Duvernay is taken into account a velocity man, although the Ravens have underutilized him in his first three seasons. Bateman is perhaps probably the most full of all of them.
But the clock is ticking. If this group of receivers doesn’t distinguish itself within the subsequent two to a few weeks, Harbaugh should look elsewhere, ideally a veteran.
No Jackson? No downside.
Starting quarterback Lamar Jackson missed his second day of minicamp.
Yawn.
Jackson is getting into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract and to this point hasn’t been capable of attain an settlement on an extension in negotiations which have lasted greater than a 12 months. At this level, who cares?
The drama is getting outdated, particularly for a quarterback who has gained just one playoff recreation in 4 years. It was nice that he gained the NFL MVP in 2019, however he has to indicate he can elevate his recreation and the Ravens within the subsequent two years, or it’s time for the staff to maneuver ahead.
The Ravens picked up the fifth-year choice of his contract price $23 million for 2022, they usually have publicly stated they’re permitting Jackson to set the tempo for negotiations. Maybe there may be some sort of rift between Jackson and the group, however it’s not as if he’s in the identical class as Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
He is the centerpiece of a working offense that lacks a complicated passing recreation. The Ravens is perhaps getting irritated about all of the questions surrounding Jackson.
“I’ll let Lamar speak for himself on this topic,” Harbaugh stated Wednesday.
Tight finish Mark Andrews wasn’t involved.
“I know Lamar. I’ve talked with him. I know how hard he’s working,” Andrews stated. “I do know he’s extraordinarily motivated, extraordinarily hungry. So, there’s no worries over there.
“I know what he’s doing and we’re all working to do our job here and getting ready for him. We’ll be ready to go and I’m confident that he’ll be ready and show everybody what he’s got and the type of hunger he has right now,” stated Andrews.
Taking attendance
There had been fairly a number of no-shows for the Ravens, however a number of these had been damage associated as working backs J.Okay. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, outdoors linebackers David Ojabo and Tyus Bowser and cornerback Marcus Peters work their approach again.
But there have been some notable veterans who did present up, equivalent to guard Kevin Zeitler, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, working again Justice Hill and security Chuck Clark.
With the addition of Marcus Williams in free company and the collection of Kyle Hamilton within the first spherical of the draft, Clark is in a battle for enjoying time or a doable roster spot. But he has at all times been a consummate skilled. Humphrey, who missed the ultimate 5 video games final season with a torn pectoral, took a number of repetitions Wednesday.
Harbaugh stated he was elated concerning the return of Humphrey and the progress of Peters, who missed all of final season with a torn ACL.
Hamilton has that look
Unless you might be within the huddle or assembly rooms, it’s laborious to inform precisely what the Ravens are working on protection. But Hamilton’s physique language confirmed how comfy he’s studying the system.
Plenty of rookies have that perplexed look on their face, however this child appeared to know the place he was going more often than not. It’s laborious to imagine he’s a security at 6 toes 4 and 220 kilos.
Steal of the draft?
One of the primary stuff you discover about rookie cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis, taken within the fourth spherical out of Alabama, is his quickness and how briskly he can flip his hips.
He can play outdoors over any receiver, in addition to over the slot. If the Ravens can hold him wholesome and he doesn’t irritate Harbaugh with holding penalties, he is perhaps Baltimore’s steal of the draft.
Running again battle
Hill, a fourth-year working again, missed final season due to a torn Achilles tendon, however he appears to be like match and had some good cutback runs Wednesday. He also can play on particular groups, which makes him helpful.
He will battle rookie Tyler Badie, a sixth-round decide, for enjoying time as a doable third-down again. Badie has already proven he could make catches out of the backfield. The former Missouri star and Friends School product was spectacular Wednesday regardless of restricted repetitions.
Oweh one-on-one
Odafe Oweh spent a number of time working with outdoors linebackers coaches Rob Leonard and Ryan Osborn on go speeding strikes. Osborn will get a number of credit score for serving to flip Ojabo right into a star final 12 months at Michigan, and a few one-on-one time with Oweh may velocity up the 2020 first-round decide’s growth.
Despite the Ravens’ projections for Oweh as a rookie, he was and nonetheless is taken into account a mission.
Rookie offensive linemen overview
Here are two fast observations on rookie offensive linemen Tyler Linderbaum (first spherical) and Daniel Faalele (fourth spherical).
Linderbaum, a middle, has excellent quickness however appears to be like higher pulling on movie than in particular person. However, the child soaks up data like a sponge.
As for Faalele, he has respectable knee bend and is fast, particularly for a 6-8, 384-pound deal with, however permits go rushers to get into his physique. Once he improves his approach, he might grow to be a pressure.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com