The Ravens could possibly be with out rookie outdoors linebacker David Ojabo for no less than the primary half of the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon, however second-year participant Odafe Oweh appears ready to select up the slack.
Oweh, an outdoor linebacker and first-round choice out of Penn State in 2021, completed final season with 5 sacks and 33 tackles whereas taking part in in 15 video games, together with two begins.
He spent most of final season attempting to determine the NFL and, most significantly, develop extra pass-rushing strikes than counting on his sheer velocity on the surface.
Through greater than three weeks of observe, Oweh has had a powerful coaching camp. The offseason work on his velocity, hand utilization and leverage has been noticeable.
This could possibly be his breakout season as Ojabo, a second-round choose from Michigan, heals.
“You’re constantly building, and the answer is again, just reading his keys, trusting what he is looking at and hitting it over and over again so he can play fast,” Ravens outdoors linebackers coach Rob Leonard stated. “Trust his instincts. I discuss with Odafe loads about matching his higher physique violence with the violence of his legs.
“He had God-given ability to run, and he can take off. So, working his hands, and all those types of things is a big part of his progression.”
New regular
Quarterback Lamar Jackson and kicker Justin Tucker routinely do such freakish issues in observe that it’s change into the norm.
On one play Tuesday, Jackson rolled to his proper, stutter-stepped a defender, modified course and rolled again to his left. He then threw throughout his physique to the opposite facet of the sphere for a 20-yard landing strike to tight finish Mark Andrews.
Minutes later, Tucker kicked a 62-yard discipline aim that hit the crossbar and fell brief. On the following try, he made it with about 5-to-10 yards to spare.
Just one other day on the workplace.
O-line is deep …
I’ve been to a lot of the workforce’s coaching camp practices and Tuesday was the primary time I noticed a participant — second-year outdoors linebacker Daelin Hayes — beat guard-tackle Tyre Phillips in a one-on-one go safety drill.
Phillips has been excellent, however so was heart Trystan Colon on Tuesday as he crammed in for injured rookie starter Tyler Linderbaum. He’s not going to supplant the first-round pick of Iowa, however no less than the Ravens have versatility and depth up entrance.
And so is the D-line
Speaking of depth, the line of defense may need essentially the most after the secondary.
The Ravens will begin Michael Pierce at nostril sort out flanked by Calais Campbell and Justin Madubuike. Rookie Travis Jones will push Pierce for enjoying time, and Broderick Washington, Isaiah Mack, Brent Urban and Aaron Crawford will probably be part of the rotation.
General supervisor Eric DeCosta has stated which you can by no means have sufficient cornerbacks, however his predecessor Ozzie Newsome used to subscribe to the speculation of New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who stated you’ll be able to by no means have sufficient defensive linemen.
Beware the drops
I’ve been maintaining a tally of rookie receiver Shemar Bridges, particularly after the sturdy sport he turned in Thursday night time in opposition to the Tennessee Titans (4 catches for 62 yards, one landing).
He will get higher day by day at working routes, particularly with one-on-one consideration from the assistant coaches, however he nonetheless has to maintain engaged on his hand placement and lengthening his arms whereas catching the ball.
That T-Rex strategy received’t work within the NFL. He’ll see fairly a number of go makes an attempt get into his physique and bounce off his pads.
As for second-year receiver Rashod Bateman, he dropped extra passes than Bridges on Tuesday.
Don’t sleep on Steelers
I maintain studying all these tales about how the Pittsburgh Steelers may end final within the AFC North as a result of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retired on the finish of final season.
That is likely to be true if the Steelers didn’t have coach Mike Tomlin. He is among the best and feared coaches within the NFL with a profession document of 162-94-2 (.632).
He is like Belichick. Every time you write his groups off, they discover a technique to win and keep in rivalry.
Return of Joe Cool?
The Ravens ought to disregard any rumors about New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson taking part in within the season opener Sept. 11 and put together for former Ravens starter Joe Flacco.
It is unnecessary for the Jets to place a second-year quarterback on the market after having latest knee surgical procedure. It’s not well worth the danger.
And after all, Flacco was “Joe Cool” about the potential of taking part in in opposition to his previous workforce of 11 years with whom he received the Super Bowl within the 2012 season. Pro athletes are extraordinarily aggressive and Flacco can’t wait to play in opposition to his previous workforce.
Will we see the Flacco of previous or an previous Flacco? He’s 37 years previous, so you understand the reply, however Flacco will welcome the problem.
Roster report
The Ravens launched quarterback Brett Hundley and positioned outdoors linebacker Trent Harris on injured reserve forward of the NFL’s 4 p.m. deadline Tuesday for 85-man rosters.
Harris was signed Saturday however needed to be helped off the sphere Monday with an obvious harm.
Hundley’s launch leaves the Ravens with three quarterbacks: Jackson, Tyler Huntley and undrafted rookie Anthony Brown. Coach John Harbaugh declined to say Monday whether or not Jackson would play in Sunday’s preseason sport in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.
“Let’s leave that for a couple more days,” he stated.
Rookie offensive sort out Daniel Faalele left the sphere Tuesday underneath his personal energy about 75 minutes into observe and didn’t return. It’s unclear what may’ve triggered the fourth-round choose’s departure. Harbaugh, who didn’t communicate Tuesday, is scheduled to handle reporters after observe Wednesday.
Tight finish Nick Boyle, broad receivers James Proche II (smooth tissue) and Tylan Wallace (knee) and Linderbaum (foot) missed observe Tuesday, whereas offensive sort out David Sharpe and broad receiver Bailey Gaither returned.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com