Quite a lot of issues go on throughout an NFL follow.
One of them on Thursday included Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey often sidling as much as workforce proprietor Steve Biscotti because the 63-year-old noticed the proceedings from a close-by golf cart. The two have develop into shut since Baltimore drafted the previous Alabama standout and future All-Pro sixteenth general in 2017.
What had been they speaking about?
“If I’m really being honest, we were talking about ladies, specifically my lady,” Humphrey mentioned. “He was giving me some advice on love, actually, believe it or not. At football practice, we were talking about love. So, he gave me some good advice there.”
It was a second of levity on the finish of the offseason and conclusion of the three-day necessary minicamp in Owings Mills, the final time gamers will likely be collectively till the beginning of coaching camp in late July.
Of course, there have been many extra pertinent issues to be gleaned from the ultimate practices of the offseason, with the periods offering a wholesome dose of perception and intrigue. Here are the seven issues we realized.
1. More drama might be brewing
Just when the Ravens received by one drama (Lamar Jackson’s eventual contract extension), one other one might be on the horizon. Running again J.Okay. Dobbins, who skipped three weeks of voluntary organized workforce actions, didn’t take part within the necessary minicamp, both.
While he didn’t explicitly say why, it didn’t take any squinting to learn between the strains: Dobbins is within the final yr of his rookie contract and needs a brand new deal.
“The business side is very hard,” he mentioned in an interview with WJZ-TV’s Mark Viviano on Thursday afternoon, shortly after the conclusion of the follow that he didn’t attend. “The thing I can say is I would love to be a Baltimore Raven for the rest of my career. … I hope that happens.”
While the 2020 second-round select of Ohio State declined to say if he’s been battling a soft-tissue damage, coach John Harbaugh didn’t decline to share his ideas, saying he anticipated the operating again to follow that day, however that it “wasn’t in the cards.”
Coordinator Todd Monken additionally mused earlier within the week about not having Dobbins on the sector to work within the new offense.
“Would we love him to be out here? Of course,” mentioned Monken, who was employed in February. “Would we love him to be able to go through practice and be able to see that? As I told him today, I’m excited. ‘Give me something. Run a swing route. I don’t care. Just jog down the field. Do something. Give me something to get excited about.’ It’s what we do.”
It’s comprehensible that Dobbins would really like a hefty long-term contract — he has a profession common of 5.9 yards per carry for one of many league’s finest dashing assaults. But he has additionally missed 27 of fifty regular-season video games due to accidents, and the market is virtually nonexistent with regards to groups spending prime greenback on the place.
Will Dobbins maintain out, or will the 2 sides come to a peaceable accord?
Harbaugh made it clear he expects everybody at coaching camp. That contains Dobbins.
2. Is operating again depth a difficulty?
With Dobbins not taking part and Gus Edwards restricted to drills, Justice Hill received the majority of the work throughout minicamp and carried out effectively, with Harbaugh noting that he made probably the most of his alternative.
Likewise, Ben Mason noticed all of the motion at fullback with Patrick Ricard headed for the physically-unable-to-perform checklist as he continues to get well from offseason hip surgical procedure.
But even when all of the backs are wholesome and pleased, it appears doubtless the Ravens would wish to add one other one, notably given the damage historical past of Dobbins and the 28-year-old Edwards, who tore his ACL in September 2021 and didn’t return till October of final yr. They’ll have choices if that’s the case.
One of them — undrafted free agent Keaton Mitchell, a 5-foot-8, 179-pound shifty speedster out of East Carolina who ran the 40-yard sprint in 4.37 seconds on the NFL scouting mix — is already on the roster. His father Anthony was additionally a member of the 2000 Ravens’ workforce that received the Super Bowl.
Though Mitchell flashed his velocity throughout camp, he’s one thing of an extended shot. There are additionally loads of cheap veterans on the free-agent market, together with Kenyan Drake, who was on the workforce final yr.
3. There might be a shock at left guard
One of the extra fascinating developments was that sixth-round draft choose Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu took the majority of first-team snaps at left guard.
It mentioned as a lot concerning the competitors on the place because it did concerning the skill of Aumavae-Laulu, who performed proper sort out nearly completely at Oregon. At 6-foot-5 and 317 kilos, he’s not as large as Ben Cleveland and even John Simpson, however that is perhaps the purpose with Monken’s offense needing linemen who’re fleet a foot greater than straight energy blockers.
Cleveland, in the meantime, shifted to proper sort out and struggled there, too.
The beginning job received’t be decided till coaching camp, however Aumavae-Laulu may need emerged as a doable favourite.
“He has done a great job, and he’s in the mix right now,” Harbaugh mentioned. “One thing we always try to do, and I think this is a little bit rare, we want to see what guys look like with the first group. You can speculate all you want, but if they start doing a good job with the second group or the third group and you feel like they’re up to it, I want to see how that fits. And it looked like it fit well.”
4. Nelson Agholor stood out amongst receivers
When the Ravens signed veteran Nelson Agholor this offseason, it was hardly the splash that including Odell Beckham Jr. or drafting Zay Flowers was. After all, the 30-year-old’s profession has been marked by inconsistency and he’s had fewer than 500 yards receiving in 5 of his eight seasons and has by no means topped 900.
But the 2015 first-round select of Southern California, whose resume contains stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Raiders and New England Patriots, was spectacular.
On the primary day of minicamp, he received previous Humphrey with an inside transfer and beat him down the sideline, although Jackson missed on the throw. The subsequent day, he beat Rock Ya-Sin on a 10-yard fade to the nook of the tip zone, and this time Jackson did join.
“Nelson is looking great,” Ya-Sin mentioned.
Added Harbaugh earlier within the month: “He has been on point … he’s a talented guy. Former first-round pick; he looks it — rangy, big catch radius. All the things you saw today, I feel like he’s been doing all along.”
Though the pecking order of the highest three receivers between Beckham, Rashod Bateman and Flowers remains to be to be decided, Flowers did have some drops and that must be cleaned up. Agholor, in the meantime, had good chemistry with Jackson and figures to be proper there with Devin Duvernay, who additionally had a great camp in his return from a damaged foot, for the fourth spot.
From there, issues get fascinating. The Ravens aren’t going to hold greater than six receivers, so the ultimate spot figures to be up for grabs between Tylan Wallace, Laquon Treadwell, James Proche, Shemar Bridges, Andy Isabella, Tarik Black and Dontay Demus.
Wallace didn’t see plenty of motion in camp however has already confirmed a strong particular teamer. Treadwell is a veteran and had some sturdy catches. Bridges wasn’t cleared for workforce drills, whereas Isabella’s finest work got here on the final day of camp when others had been absent. Black and Demus are lengthy photographs.
As for Proche, he struggled at instances. If that continues, he might ultimately be the odd man out.
5. Ravens might be skinny within the secondary
The Ravens addressed one in all their largest wants this offseason with the addition of Ya-Sin, who labored principally on the outdoors cornerback spot reverse Humphrey throughout minicamp. The prime two security spots are additionally clear: Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton.
But there are myriad questions past that.
Simply put, the Ravens don’t have plenty of depth at defensive again.
Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis will likely be within the combine for the third spot, however he was restricted in minicamp as he continues to work his manner again from a hip damage from final yr. Damarion “Pepe” Williams didn’t take part and in addition is coping with an damage. And Kyu Blue Kelly is a rookie who didn’t face plenty of starters.
Brandon Stephens, in the meantime, was moved to security however might be everywhere in the area once more given his versatility. He’s the most definitely to begin at nickelback, and Geno Stone will likely be a contributor once more. But it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Ravens herald a veteran to bolster the secondary, notably at cornerback.
What the Ravens have in versatility, they lack in depth.
“It’s great to say that we’re interchangeable parts, and that is true, and in the beginning part of the offseason, we do teach everything conceptually, so that guys are just learning X’s,” defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald mentioned. “But as we get going into the autumn, we’re going to wish to begin to slot these issues, form of, extra full-time, so guys get used to taking part in subsequent to guys that they’re going to be [next to] within the recreation.
“There are some things that are definitely up for competition out there. I think you know the usual suspects out there, and we’re just trying to really just kind of let them cook in there and get used to playing with one another.”
6. There’s strain on younger edge rushers
There’s little query that expectations are excessive for outdoor linebackers David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh this yr, particularly with regards to producing a move rush.
They confirmed flashes by minicamp, too. Expect them to have extra freedom to assault the backfield in the course of the preseason.
“We’ve definitely been holding those guys back; it’s a pass-rushing technique camp, but we’re staying away from the quarterback — and we will be in training camp, too, but we’ll have one-on-ones and things like that,” Harbaugh mentioned. “I can’t wait to see those guys roll for the games. Preseason games are going to take on a big-time added interest [with] watching those guys rush the passer.”
As for Tyus Bowser, he labored off to the facet on the ultimate day of minicamp with a sore knee, however he’s anticipated again for coaching camp.
A 2017 second-round choose, the 28-year-old tore his Achilles tendon in January 2022 and didn’t return till November. Having him again wholesome will likely be vital to the move rush.
That mentioned, the Ravens may also doubtless have an curiosity in including one other edge rusher.
Justin Houston had a team-high 9 1/2 sacks final season and stays a free agent. Bringing the 34-year-old again would make sense in plenty of methods — if he needs to return.
7. Ravens aren’t missing confidence
The Ravens enter the summer time, at the very least on paper, as a “very scary” workforce, as Humphrey put it.
Harbaugh was extra tempered in his evaluation, however nonetheless proud of the place they’re at — for the second.
“The roster is good enough to go play — with no changes — and it’s never so good that it can’t be improved,” he mentioned. “So, if there’s an opportunity, I’m sure that — because that’s how [general manager] Eric [DeCosta] thinks — we’ll make the most of it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com