Follow Report: Ravens Protection Relishes Elevated Physicality

Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com

The Ravens turned up the physicality in coaching camp apply Wednesday, and no one appeared extra keen or appreciative than inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen.

Smith and Queen every popped quite a few pads throughout a apply that included some full tackling. Even when it wasn’t full tackling, it appeared near it.

Smith put a pair jarring hits on undrafted rookie Keaton Mitchell and had one on Ben Mason that popped the ball out of the fullback’s arms. It was like Mason ran right into a brick wall.

Smith additionally got here excessive of tight finish Travis Vokolek for a bodily cross breakup, which Smith celebrated with an intimidating get-out-of-my-house-style leg kick. Smith mentioned he centered on bettering his cross protection this offseason and it confirmed.

Queen additionally acquired a pair licks on Mitchell, together with one slam into the turf and one other that brought about a fumble, which Queen wrestled away from the rookie. It was a welcome-to-the-NFL day for Mitchell.

One other participant who shined with the elevated physicality was security Kyle Hamilton. He’s so sturdy coming off the sting. Hamilton had two sacks final season and it wouldn’t be stunning to see him get some extra in 2023.

Ravens’ ‘small ball’ will suffice for now, however is it sufficient to complete the job?

Mike Preston, The Baltimore Solar

There are numerous enhancements within the passing recreation beneath new coordinator Todd Monken in contrast with predecessor Greg Roman. The ideas are totally different and straightforward to see. The Ravens run extra mixture and clearing routes. They run extra rubs and picks contained in the pink zone.

Shoot, on Monday they even had two receivers run slants on the identical facet of the sphere. That isn’t onerous to scheme up, but it surely wasn’t a part of Roman’s run-first assault.

However to this point, the Ravens play “small ball.” They run numerous brief patterns, together with crossing routes, and that’s nice when a workforce has a probably explosive participant similar to rookie extensive receiver Zay Flowers, the No. 22 total pick of Boston School.

However what occurs when an opposing workforce takes away the brief stuff and begins to jam receivers on the line of scrimmage? What occurs when a protection forces quarterback Lamar Jackson to throw downfield and outdoors the numbers?

That kind of passing assault hasn’t been on show in coaching camp, and it’s nonetheless the query that has haunted Jackson and the Ravens ever since he grew to become the beginning quarterback six years in the past.

It’s protected to imagine that it’s going to take time for this offense to jell.

Ravens’ Gus Edwards on New Todd Monken Offense: ‘I Love It!’

Timm Hamm, Sports activities Illustrated

As Monken’s offense is extra vertical, with the weapons out there to Lamar Jackson, they’ll stretch the sphere. However whereas all the main target has been on Baltimore’s receivers, what in regards to the operating backs?

“I adore it,” operating again Gus Edwards mentioned. “We’ve proven numerous flashes, acquired loads to work on. He’s discovering numerous methods to get guys open, methods to unfold the ball round, I’m excited to see the way it all pans out.”

“It’s a fantastic alternative to see some lighter field,” Edwards mentioned. “Up to now, we needed to run via some more durable packing containers, nice alternative to get our operating backs in house. I believe we’re going to make the perfect out of it.”

​“I’m able to do regardless of the offense permits me to do,” mentioned Edwards, who can also be in focus right here as a result of J.Ok. Dobbins appears concerned in a contract “hold-in’’ and has but to work at camp. “Able to make performs in numerous methods. I really feel like that’s one thing that I’ve all the time been in a position to do, and this offense goes to place me in that house to make these performs and get open in check-downs.”

NFL place battles to observe in joint practices: Raiders WRs, Packers CBs to be examined earlier than preseason debut

Josh Edwards, CBS Sports activities

Aug. 15-16: Commanders at Ravens

Washington CB vs. Baltimore WR

Choosing No. 16 total, the Commanders had the chance to pick Christian Gonzalez, Deonte Banks or Joey Porter Jr., however they needed Emmanuel Forbes and his ball manufacturing. Forbes recorded 14 interceptions, six of which have been returned for touchdowns, throughout his collegiate profession. Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste and Jartavius Martin present depth.

Washington has invested in its cornerbacks and Baltimore has invested in its extensive receivers; that’s what makes this matchup so interesting. The Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr. in free company after which used a first-round choose on Boston School’s Zay Flowers. These two, together with Nelson Agholor, Devin Duvernay and Rashod Bateman (when he returns from the PUP record) give the Ravens depth they’ve sorely lacked.

Ravens, DL Broderick Washington conform to three-year contract extension

Jonas Shaffer, The Baltimore Banner

The extension represents a major funding in a participant who has improved by leaps and bounds since an nameless rookie 12 months. A fifth-round choose in 2020, Washington performed simply 161 defensive snaps in 2020, a mark he practically doubled (293) in 2021. Final 12 months, he began 9 video games and performed 44% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps (483 whole). He additionally led all Ravens defensive linemen in run stops, in line with Professional Soccer Focus, with 23 tackles resulting in unsuccessful carries by an opponent. He additionally had six passes defended, among the many most at his place.

“I don’t know that there’s an individual on this constructing that works tougher than Broderick Washington,” assistant head coach and line of defense coach Anthony Weaver mentioned final week. “In case you even look [at] his physique from when he acquired [here] to how it’s now, he appears to be like utterly totally different. You discuss a man that’s taken each little bit of teaching after which some, it’s him. So I’m not stunned by any of his success, and I’d anticipate extra.”

With Washington’s extension, the Ravens can focus their efforts on re-signing their high inside cross rusher. Madubuike had 5 1/2 sacks final season, practically triple Washington’s profession whole (two), and has helped anchor one of many NFL’s greatest run-stopping traces since he was drafted in 2020.