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Offensive X-factors for all 32 NFL groups, from Giants’ new weapon to Browns’ Deshaun Watson returning to kind
Jared Dubin, CBS Sports activities
Baltimore Ravens: OC Todd Monken
I imply, the Ravens mainly informed us this was their X-factor after they made the transfer to fireplace longtime coordinator Greg Roman and rent Monken in his stead. Monken is charged with opening up and modernizing the passing-game ideas to enrich the varied, environment friendly run recreation the Ravens have constructed since Lamar Jackson assumed the beginning job. He’ll have assist in the type of Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor and Zay Flowers becoming a member of the receiving corps, however the ideas must put Jackson in much better place to succeed than those that the Ravens have been using over the previous few years. And that’s on Monken.
10 Questions: What Will the Run Sport Look Like?
Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will run much less.
Jackson has been the Ravens’ main rusher ever since he took over because the starter halfway by means of the 2018 season. He’s made it very clear that he desires to run much less and move extra transferring ahead, and Monken is on board.
The Ravens will nonetheless choose their spots to make the most of Jackson’s legs and can use him on play-action rollouts to get him to the perimeter. Jackson is greater than keen to nonetheless burn opponents if he can’t discover an open receiver. Even so, it could be shocking to see him lead the group in speeding once more.
Total, Baltimore is shifting from an offense predicated on the run to a extra unfold and balanced offensive assault. Working the ball and being bodily will nonetheless be necessary, however the Ravens will look to get the ball within the palms of their upgraded perimeter playmakers extra.
Ravens mailbag, half 2: Retooling the WR room, teaching and front-office questions
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic
It has been 10 years for the reason that Ravens received the Tremendous Bowl, and Stephen Bisciotti has been comparatively clear that he doesn’t need to personal the group perpetually. The Ravens point out that they all the time need to be a aggressive, playoff-caliber group that competes 12 months after 12 months, however given these two elements, do you anticipate them to be somewhat extra aggressive over the following few years to try to get to the Tremendous Bowl? — Anthony C.
It relies on your definition of aggressive. To me, we’ve already seen that with the deal for Lamar Jackson, with the vital overpay on Odell Beckham Jr., with the void years being added to so many contracts this offseason. The Ravens, underneath normal supervisor Eric DeCosta, have additionally been one of the vital aggressive groups within the NFL in making trades. There was a time when Baltimore hardly ever made pre-trade deadline offers of any significance. Now, nearly yearly, the Ravens are getting an impression participant earlier than the deadline. I don’t suppose their working process will change an excessive amount of. They’ll nonetheless take their photographs, however I don’t anticipate them to comply with the blueprint of the Rams hastily.
Roquan Smith Commerce Revisited: Who Have been the Actual Winners and Losers From Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears Commerce?
Arif Hasan, Professional Soccer Community
Winners and Losers From the Roquan Smith Commerce
Smith had quietly been falling off somewhat bit in his time in Chicago, and it was no secret that he couldn’t get together with the Bears’ entrance workplace. On each fronts, he’s a winner after the commerce.
Smith’s play in Baltimore was wonderful, and he secured a long-term deal at a place that not will get prime greenback within the free agent market. Smith now tops all off-ball linebackers in common annual wage.
Patrick Queen was additionally enjoying poorly for Baltimore regardless of his rookie accolades however has performed markedly higher since. One pretty clear instance of this could be by means of his PFF grade.
Whereas it’s an imperfect measure, the stark distinction makes the purpose fairly clear — Queen ranked forty eighth of 83 linebackers with a grade of 59.8 earlier than the commerce. After the commerce, he ranked twelfth with a grade of 80.4.
Having a linebacker subsequent to him with better vary and flexibility lowered Queen’s obligations sufficient that he might dial in on the issues he did greatest and carry out effectively there. That makes Queen a winner.
As for Baltimore themselves, they have been capable of spend a second-round choose, a participant, and a late-rounder to enhance two positions. That’s fairly uncommon, although it’s robust to declare them outright winners due to the talk surrounding LB positional worth. It may very well be the case that they overpaid for a place that doesn’t have a lot of an impression within the trendy NFL.
On prime of that, the Ravens spent greater than a second-round choose, a sixth-round choose, and a veteran — they gave Smith the largest contract at his place.
The Ravens have their very own well-developed analytics division, and it’s troublesome to enhance a number of positions with one transaction. Baltimore obtained higher, and that’s laborious to do, however they gave up quite a bit to do it. It is perhaps greatest to name this a wash for them.
2023 NFL season: Predicting every AFC group’s non-QB MVP
Eric Edholm, NFL.com
I assumed lengthy and laborious about Roquan Smith, who, admittedly, might be the odds-on favourite for this class. Nonetheless, I’m simply fascinated by Hamilton, who was a bit miscast in a heavy nickel position final season however battled admirably and made tangible strides.
The idea is that he’ll be capable to showcase extra of his playmaking capacity in a extra full security position this coming season — and don’t overlook, he’s nonetheless solely 22 years previous. I is perhaps a 12 months or two forward of myself right here, however I believe the 2022 first-round choose is able to a five-sack, five-interception sort of season.
Dealing with sturdy QB competitors within the AFC North, together with a couple of robust late-season video games, the Ravens are going to want Professional Bowl-level play from Hamilton, and it says right here they’ll get that this season.
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