In a busy Ravens offseason that included Lamar Jackson’s commerce request and eventual contract extension, the addition of huge receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and the declining of linebacker Patrick Queen’s fifth-year choice, amongst different information, Wednesday marked the primary time the workforce opened practiced to the media.
While a number of high-profile gamers weren’t in attendance on the voluntary “football school” — notably Jackson — it did present a chance to see offensive, defensive and particular groups gamers on the sector for the primary time for the reason that offseason packages started. Rookie minicamp ended over the weekend, so no first-year gamers had been current, however there was loads of intrigue among the many group that did arrive in Owings Mills. Here are a couple of observations:
Monken takes cost
The largest change on the teaching employees was the addition of offensive coordinator Todd Monken. He changed Greg Roman, who resigned in January amid frustration from gamers and criticism from followers over what had became a pedestrian offense.
The distinction in strategy between the 2 is apparent, with Monken, who was beforehand the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns and the University of Georgia, taking a hands-on and vocal function with the receivers and the remainder of the offense Wednesday.
“Just put in our system,” he stated of the message he was making an attempt to get throughout to gamers. “It’s always fun to get back out with the players. That’s what you do. As much as you enjoy meeting and putting the plan together and your playbook and what you want to do moving forward, there’s nothing like having the players around. … We’re excited about the guys who are here and the installation, and we’re working through it.”
One wonders whether or not that was a message to Jackson, who signed his five-year extension price a reported $260 million with the Ravens six days in the past however has but to take part in any of the workforce’s voluntary offseason packages. Overall, although, Monken was happy with what he noticed and is wanting ahead to constructing what figures to be a dynamic and probably explosive offense.
“I’m excited to get started, but there is only one ball,” he stated.
Missing items on offense
That “one ball” was sufficient Wednesday with so lots of the Ravens’ high offensive gamers absent. Among the workforce’s high three working backs, solely Justice Hill was there, with J.Okay. Dobbins and Gus Edwards not in attendance. Neither was Beckham nor fellow huge receiver Rashod Bateman. Wideouts James Proche II and Shemar Bridges attended however didn’t take part, no less than throughout media viewing.
With Jackson absent, backup quarterbacks Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown dealt with passing duties. Just a few throws to Isaiah Likely weren’t precisely on the mark and the second-year tight finish didn’t look thrilled, although Huntley did join with third-string tight finish Charlie Kolar on a 15-yard play-action move down the center.
It’s solely May, although, and the Ravens’ first observe of organized workforce actions isn’t for one more 12 days.
Evaluating the rookies
Speaking of receivers, particular groups coordinator Chris Horton, offered some perception on rookie Zay Flowers, who might be used to return punts, one thing he practiced throughout rookie minicamp and did a bit of at Boston College.
“I think a lot of the same things that you saw from him on offense — catching the football, with the ball in his hands, the after-the-catch running — all those abilities translate over to the punt return game,” Horton stated Wednesday. “But more importantly, you guys hear me say it every year: It’s about catching the ball first. And so, he did have some returns in college; it was good to see those on tape. And we’re just going to hone in on our fundamentals and make sure that when we do put him out there, that — you know what — secure the football first. But he did a great job in the rookie minicamp with that. It was easy for him.”
Horton additionally praised rookie inside linebacker Trenton Simpson, a third-round decide who must also see time as a part of the particular groups unit.
“When I had the privilege to evaluate that guy as a special teamer, it was a no-brainer for me,” he stated. “That guy has the traits — those Raven traits — that we look for; he was tough, he was fast, he was physical. He loved playing football, and his energy was just off the charts. That’s the kind of players we’ve had in this building, so I truly believe that guy’s going to do some good things for us this year.”
New coach on employees
On protection, outdoors linebackers coach Chuck Smith can also be new to the employees. Smith, who performed defensive finish for the Atlanta Falcons from 1992 to 1999 and the Carolina Panthers in 2000, spent a few of Wednesday’s observe engaged on drills with Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, with Oweh at one level executing a pleasant spin transfer. This might be Ojabo’s first full offseason with the Ravens after he tore his Achilles tendon at his professional day final March and didn’t observe till October.
The Ravens hope that Smith, who had 58 1/2 sacks in his profession and who has greater than 20 years of teaching expertise, together with because the line of defense coach for the Tennessee Titans in 2010, can have a major impression on the 2 younger edge rushers, each of whom coach John Harbaugh known as “critically important” earlier this offseason.
With Justin Houston (team-high 9 1/2 sacks final season) a free agent and Calais Campbell (5 1/2 sacks) now on the Falcons, the Ravens might want to change almost one-third of their 48 sacks final season. Both Oweh and Ojabo regarded largely clean and fast Wednesday, together with of their first step after the snap.
Other attendance notes
Several offensive linemen had been readily available, together with beginning heart Tyler Linderbaum and reserves Patrick Mekari, Ben Cleveland, John Simpson and Daniel Faalele, although beginning tackles Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses didn’t seem like in attendance.
On the defensive entrance, linebackers Jeremiah Moon, Josh Ross, Del’Shawn Phillips and Kristian Welch, and linemen Michael Pierce, Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington and Brent Urban had been amongst these noticed. Meanwhile, cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Jalyn Armour-Davis and security Geno Stone, who was alongside Brandon Stephens within the deep security spot throughout drills, had been among the many defensive backs in attendance.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com