When the final of the Ravens veterans reported to coaching camp Tuesday, the vibe across the workforce’s facility was acquainted. “Like the first day of school,” defensive lineman Calais Campbell mentioned.
The circumstances surrounding their 2022 season, nonetheless, are decidedly overseas. After a 12 months so riddled with accidents that former defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale likened it to Netflix’s gory “Squid Game” collection, the Ravens know they’ve to maneuver previous the dismal finish that outlined their 2021.
Six straight losses, together with 4 with out injured quarterback Lamar Jackson. An 8-9 document, solely the second shedding season throughout coach John Harbaugh’s tenure. And no postseason look for the primary time since 2017.
“It makes you hungry,” inside linebacker Patrick Queen mentioned Tuesday. “I don’t like having a bad taste in my mouth. I know the last game of the season [a 16-13 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers], it didn’t end how we wanted to, and we didn’t make the playoffs. So the only thing on our minds right now is just getting ready for these preseason games. Go in there and just get off on the right foot and just get off on the right foot and just be better than what we were last season.”
A much less crowded harm listing will assist. Jackson, sidelined final season by a bone bruise in his ankle, is wholesome and anticipated to take part absolutely amid ongoing contract negotiations. But left deal with Ronnie Stanley (ankle), working backs J.Ok. Dobbins (knee) and Gus Edwards (knee), outdoors linebacker Tyus Bowser (Achilles tendon), cornerback Marcus Peters (knee) and security Ar’Darius Washington (foot) are on the physically-unable-to-perform listing, that means they haven’t been cleared to follow. Edwards is already thought of questionable for Week 1.
Rookie tight finish Charlie Kolar, in the meantime, is coping with a doable sports activities hernia that would require surgical procedure, and rookie outdoors linebacker David Ojabo (Achilles), an unsigned second-round decide, gained’t be prepared till a minimum of midseason. And regardless of the Ravens’ revamped method to coaching camp — a later begin time, extra stretching, fewer one-on-one periods — coaching camp accidents are inevitable.
But inside and out of doors Owings Mills, there’s religion within the workforce returning to the playoffs. According to DraftKings, the Ravens are slight favorites to win the AFC North, forward of even the Cincinnati Bengals, who swept the Ravens final season and stormed to a Super Bowl look.
“If [missing the playoffs] don’t give you a little bit of edge, I don’t know what will,” Campbell mentioned. “There’s a foul style in your mouth the entire offseason, so whenever you’re getting ready and coaching, you form of have that style in your mouth the entire time. When you lose within the playoffs, you’ve got a foul style in your mouth. But you knew, like, ‘OK, we were close.’ But whenever you don’t even make the playoffs, I imply, it’s a little bit completely different. It offers you a little bit bit extra of an edge whenever you’re going by means of your coaching camp — and never simply coaching camp, however the preseason exercises and simply attempting to prepare for this second.
“So I think we’re in a good place, though. I think we know what we can be. And that’s what’s most important, is, OK, the pieces are there. Now it just comes down to execution, our development, from now until the season starts, and then just going out there and earning our way. So we’re in a position where we know it’s going to be a lot of work. It’s not going to be easy. We’re going to have to roll our sleeves up and get dirty. But I look in the guys’ eyes and I see a whole lot of guys who are ready and willing. So I’m excited.”
The subsequent step comes Wednesday, when the workforce will maintain its first full-team follow. On Saturday, the Ravens return to M&T Bank Stadium for an open follow. On Aug. 11, they’ll welcome the Tennessee Titans to Baltimore for his or her preseason opener. After final 12 months’s disappointments, the workforce is aware of it will probably’t afford to skip any steps in its path again to prominence.
“The word that comes to mind is excitement,” tight finish Mark Andrews mentioned. “It’s kind of the start of getting down to the real business. We have a lot of goals and aspirations, and for us, it’s being the most disciplined team, being focused on the details during this time and being a hungry team, which we will be.”
Preseason, Week 1
TITANS@RAVENS
Thursday, Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m.
TV: Chs. 11, 4
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com