Five Standouts From First Week Of Ravens Training Camp

[papasmurfbell]

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2019/07/30/five-standouts-from-first-week-of-ravens-training-camp

 

TE Mark Andrews

Andrews has been the best offensive player in camp thus far, and after leading all rookie tight ends with 552 receiving yards last year (on 34 catches), he appears primed for a big year again. The 6-foot-4, 256-pounder is physical, he's playing with confidence and he has been a matchup problem for Ravens safeties and linebackers in drills.

Jackson and Andrews built rapport last year as rookies, and the former third-round pick looks like he will be one of Jackson's most trusted targets again this year.

WR Miles Boykin

The third-round rookie was slowed earlier this spring by a hamstring injury, but he is quickly moving up the wide receiver depth chart, using his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame to full advantage. Boykin beat Jimmy Smith twice on deep balls at the open stadium practice, and he has drawn praise from defensive backs and fellow wide receivers alike.

"I keep telling him every day, 'Dude, you look like Michael Thomas,'" said Willie Snead, who was Thomas' teammate with the New Orleans Saints. "He was built the same, had the same mentality, just trying to get better every day."

DL Willie Henry

After a strong spring last year, Henry's season was derailed by an umbilical hernia and later a back injury, as he played in just three midseason games. So far this summer, Henry looks much like he did last spring, when he shed 20 pounds and became a quick force inside. He's been winning a lot of one-on-one battles at the line of scrimmage and could be a major factor in the Ravens' defensive line rotation.

"That hurt us last year not having him," defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale said. "Obviously he gets after the passer. ... We're expecting big things from Willie."

OLB/DE Pernell McPhee

When the Ravens signed McPhee this spring, there were questions about how much more football he had left. At 30 years old, McPhee had battled injuries since leaving Baltimore after the 2014 season. He played 13 games with the Washington Redskins last year without registering a sack. But in the first week of camp, McPhee has been working as a starting outside linebacker, and he has impressed coaches as well as owner Steve Bisciotti.

"I was back there with Steve and (McPhee) had a rush on the left side over there," Harbaugh said after the team's open stadium practice. "And Steve even commented. People talk about how (McPhee) is getting older and can't move. He can move. He looked really explosive. He looks good to me."

OL Ben Powers

The Ravens don't expect the rookie to jump into a starting spot right away, but a series of circumstances led to the fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma getting the lion's share of the starting reps at left guard in the first week.

Alex Lewis, who started 10 games last year, remains sidelined while he recovers from shoulder surgery. Jermaine Eluemunor, another candidate to start, failed his conditioning test and has missed the past two practices with what Harbaugh called a minor muscle issue. And James Hurst, who started the final four games at left guard, has been starting at right tackle with Orlando Brown Jr. relegated to the backup role for now after failing his conditioning test.

All of that has pushed Powers into a starting role early in camp. He has looked like a rookie at times, such as when Willie Henry blew by him during one drill, but the extended audition with the starters certainly helps his stock.

I expected Andrews to keep being stellar.

 

Boyken has been a surprise so far. I like what I am hearing.

 

Henry might steal Pierce's snaps.

 

Need to wait and see on McPhee.

 

Powers I hope wins the LG spot.

 

 

[vmax]

I'm hearing the same good reviews on these players.

 

 

Add Lamar to this list. I hear his mechanics are 100%. He looks like and throws like a pure pocket passer.

 

This is nice and something to get excited about, but I hear 0 about the Ravens pass rush.

[oldno82]

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2019/07/30/five-standouts-from-first-week-of-ravens-training-camp

I expected Andrews to keep being stellar.

 

Boyken has been a surprise so far. I like what I am hearing.

 

Henry might steal Pierce's snaps.

 

Need to wait and see on McPhee.

 

Powers I hope wins the LG spot.

 

 

 

 

I'm hearing the same good reviews on these players.

 

 

Add Lamar to this list. I hear his mechanics are 100%. He looks like and throws like a pure pocket passer.

 

This is nice and something to get excited about, but I hear 0 about the Ravens pass rush.

 

 

Yep...good news abounds. Really looking forward to seeing Boykin in action along with Henry and McPhee.

 

If all this news is more than just smoke, the Ravens will be a force to reckoned with.