ExtremeRavens Posted August 3 Posted August 3 The dynamic between Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and wide receiver Rashod Bateman has been an important, yet polarizing one since Baltimore selected Bateman with the 27th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. To wit, the injury-hampered Bateman has yet to have the expected production of a first-round receiver. His 46 catches and 515 yards his rookie year remain career highs, and he’s scored just four touchdowns across three seasons. Last season — Bateman’s first fully healthy one — figured to mark a shift in the paradigm, but alas the quarterback and receiver seemed to rarely be synchronized as Bateman had one touchdown and 367 yards on 32 catches while not often being Jackson’s first or second option. Bateman’s 56 targets were fourth-most on the team and little more than half that of rookie Zay Flowers and five fewer than tight end Mark Andrews, who played six fewer games. It’s only the first week of August, but Saturday’s simulated scrimmage offered a glorious glimpse of the possibilities when Bateman and Jackson are aligned. Bateman finished the day with four catches on five targets for 62 yards, including two that went for at least 20 yards. The most intriguing of them came on a crossing route in which he caught a 15-yard pass from Jackson in the middle of the field, stopped, faked and cut back to the outside to leave a trail of defenders in his wake as he picked up about 5 more yards. Then he had another big catch down the field that went for around 30 yards. Last season, Bateman’s best performance included four catches for 54 yards in a Week 17 blowout of the Miami Dolphins. “It was great to see [him] building a rapport with him and Lamar,” wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said. “To see ‘Bate get out there, making moves, making catches, the sky’s the limit for him. “It was awesome to see just plays being made, contested catches, going up grabbing the ball, by all the guys out there.” For whatever reason, the connection between Jackson and Bateman has been inconsistent at best through the early part of camp in what seemed like a carryover from last year. But they looked terrific Saturday. Jackson, who played against the first- and second-team defenses, unofficially finished 10-for-16 for 107 yards with one touchdown, a 4-yard pass to Andrews. Offense vs. defense Overall, the defense still got the better of the offense Saturday, but that’s to be expected this time of year. Outside linebacker Malik Harrison stuffed Derrick Henry on a fourth-and-1 to end one possession, though the star running back did have a couple of long carries, including one around 50 yards for a possible touchdown that got called back for holding. Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike was also disruptive, and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh got near Jackson on at least one throw that forced the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player to get rid of the ball quickly. On another possession, Jackson slammed his helmet to the turf (and was flagged for it) after he overthrew running back Justice Hill on a third-and-short on what appeared to be some sort of miscommunication. Afterward, Jackson was engaged in a spirited conversation on the sideline that coach John Harbaugh eventually joined in on as well. Unlike previous practices, however, the defense did not force any turnovers. Wright stuff There’s no question who Baltimore’s top two running backs will be this season, with Henry and Hill expected to get the bulk of the touches. Beyond that, however, there’s something of a question mark, with second-year undrafted free agent Owen Wright and fifth-round rookie Rasheen Ali competing for the No. 3 job. So far, Wright has outperformed Ali. That was the case again Saturday, when Wright ran with the second team and showed good vision on his cuts as well as his speed on a couple of chunk runs. “He’s grown so much from last year,” running backs coach Willie Taggart said of the former Monmouth star and Bethesda native. “What we’re seeing now is a young man playing with confidence.” Wright has also grown in his understanding of the offense, something that has at times slowed Ali because he’s thinking his way through a play. Both backs have good speed, but at this point Wright, whose best game came in last year’s preseason finale when he had 89 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, appears to be next in line. Special teams standouts The Ravens have one of the best kickers in the NFL in Justin Tucker. Punter Jordan Stout was inconsistent in his second season but showed flashes of a big and accurate leg. Tucker had an up-and-down day, however, while Stout shined. Tucker connected on field goal attempts from 33, 42 and 48 yards but missed from 54 (wide right) and 68 (short). Stout, meanwhile, boomed one punt after another and on several occasions flipped the field with his length and placement. Attendance and injuries Center Tyler Linderbaum, who missed Friday’s practice with a soft tissue injury, was also held out Saturday as expected. Also missing were receiver and returner Deonte Harty (soft tissue/lower leg) and cornerback Trayvon Mullen (shoulder). Newly absent was rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker. View the full article Quote
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