ExtremeRavens Posted August 16 Posted August 16 The NFL season is almost here. On Saturday, the Ravens host the Atlanta Falcons in their second preseason game. After a final tune-up in Green Bay and a much-anticipated season opener in Kansas City, the next time Baltimore takes the field at M&T Bank Stadium will be its home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 15. There’s still much to be decided until then, including the Ravens’ final 53-man roster ahead of the Aug. 27 cut-down deadline. Only two more preseason games and a handful of practices remain for veterans to sharpen their skills and roster hopefuls to make their final case. Baltimore Sun reporters Brian Wacker and Childs Walker and columnist Mike Preston answer questions about what to watch against Atlanta, the backup quarterback situation, the battle for starting spots on the offensive line and the biggest surprises thus far. What are you most interested in watching when the Ravens play the Falcons? Wacker: Will outside linebacker David Ojabo play? And will the wide receiver group make an impact? Ojabo wasn’t cleared by doctors for the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, though he has been practicing — not an unusual circumstance for a player working his way back from ACL surgery nine months ago. But he needs game reps at some point after being injured essentially all of his first two years in the NFL. Those would preferably come in the preseason as part of the continued ramp up to see how quick he is off the edge and how effective his moves are. As for the receivers, there are question marks beyond the top three of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor along with tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. Rookie fourth-round draft pick Devontez Walker, who has been dealing with rib issue, has been a nonfactor in training camp. Tylan Wallace has been steady but is valued more for his special teams ability and only has seven career catches over three seasons. Sean Ryan, Keith Kirkwood, Malik Cunningham and Dayton Wade, among others, are practice-squad caliber at best, though newly added Anthony Miller has shown juice in practice. If that continues, Miller could push to make 53-man roster if Walker, for example, starts the season on injured reserve. Walker: Is Ojabo cleared to play and will he look explosive coming off the edge? Doctors did not give the third-year outside linebacker, who’s returning from ACL surgery, the nod to play last week against the Eagles. But he has flashed in recent practices, highlighted by a strip-sack on Lamar Jackson. Ojabo needs productive game reps to get his career untracked after serious injuries wiped out most of his first two seasons. The Ravens are counting on him to help mitigate the loss of Jadeveon Clowney. They and he would love that forward motion to begin sooner rather than later. Preston: The Ravens aren’t a complete team yet. They are hampered by the same problems they’ve had for the past couple of years, with the exception of last season. They need to develop a consistent pass rush from their outside linebackers, a group that includes Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh, Ojabo and Tavius Robinson. On the flip side, I want to see more rhythm and cohesiveness from the offensive line. Before Wednesday, I thought the running game would be in great shape, but after offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris was hospitalized with an illness, I’m not quite as confident. Pass protection has been a problem for this team over the past five years, and it’s suspect again. It’s definitely something to keep an eye on. Josh Johnson and the rest of the backup quarterbacks struggled against the Eagles. Should the Ravens consider adding a veteran free agent? Wacker: The problem is it’s easier said than done. Given Jackson’s contract, and soon needing to pay big money to other players such as All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, the Ravens simply can’t afford to invest any real money for a backup. Johnson isn’t any worse than former No. 2 Tyler Huntley. Meanwhile, free agent Ryan Tannehill, who played with Ravens running back Derrick Henry on the Tennessee Titans, would have a better chance of getting on the field with another team. Johnson, as bad as he has been, at least knows the offense and has a good relationship with Jackson. Their best option would be to continue to draft a quarterback every year or perhaps trade a late-round pick for another backup who would be only marginally better than Johnson. Walker: The Ravens made an offseason choice to stick with Johnson, whom they and Jackson trust, instead of using precious cap space on a more decorated backup. One disjointed preseason game — let’s face it, not many of them are pretty — should not change their calculation. Given Jackson’s salary, they can’t spend on all facets of the roster, and even with a more expensive backup, they’d probably be doomed by a significant injury to their franchise quarterback. It’s a reasonable spot at which to embrace a bargain solution, even if a Johnson-led Ravens offense wouldn’t be a work of art. Meanwhile, they need to keep drafting young quarterbacks with later-round picks, as they did with Devin Leary this year, and see if one of them sticks. Preston: Johnson showed me little against the Eagles. In fact, for a player who has been in and out of the NFL since 2009, he looked lethargic and hesitant in his decision-making. The 38-year-old wasn’t very effective during the several days Jackson missed early in training camp. If Jackson goes down, Johnson isn’t the answer. The Ravens should keep an eye on what is going on in Cleveland. The Browns have Deshaun Watson listed as the starter with Jameis Winston at No. 2 followed by former Raven Tyler Huntley and second-year player Dorian Thompson-Robinson. If the Browns release one of them, the Ravens should pick them up. Winston or Huntley would be fine additions. Huntley already knows the offense, having been the backup here last season under then first-year coordinator Todd Monken. Patrick Mekari has experience on his side in the battle to start at right tackle, but the Ravens like his versatility as a sixth man. (Amy Davis/Staff) Is it clear who should start at both guard spots and right tackle, or is more time needed? Wacker: The Ravens likely won’t make an official decision on these positions until perhaps as late as after the third preseason game, but the race largely looks over. Andrew Vorhees was fine at left guard against the Eagles in the preseason opener and doesn’t seem to have anyone challenging him. Baltimore seems to be content with sticking with the massive Daniel Faalele at right guard over Ben Cleveland. At right tackle, Patrick Mekari is the best option in the vacuum of a singular game, but the Ravens prefer him as a sixth-man plug-and-play option off the bench anywhere along the line. That makes Roger Rosengarten, who was solid against the Eagles, the favorite, and as such he’ll get an increase in snaps against the Falcons. Walker: Vorhees wasn’t great in the preseason opener but seems to have a grip on left guard. The other two spots are far from set. The Ravens seem determined to continue the Faalele experiment at right guard, and he played fairly well against the Eagles, especially as a run blocker. Another solid performance against Atlanta might solidify him as the favorite given coaches’ apparent reluctance to go with Cleveland. Rosengarten and Mekari are waging the most interesting position battle on the team at right tackle. Mekari would start if the Ravens had to win a playoff game next week, but the Ravens probably still prefer him in a super-utility role. Rosengarten held his own against the Eagles and will get more snaps against Atlanta. The rookie would help this group’s depth if he seizes the job and allows Mekari to rove. Preston: More time will be needed, but it all starts once center Tyler Linderbaum returns from injury. When that happens, the guess here is that Mekari starts at right tackle and Vorhees become the permanent starter at left guard. Mekari has more experience than Rosengarten, and that should help in the season opener against Kansas City. Faalele appears to be the starting right guard, even though his technique can be sloppy at times. Regardless, this offensive line needs time to jell. That might not happen until Week 4 or 5 of the regular season. Who or what has been the biggest surprise so far during training camp and preseason? Wacker: Two players have stood out for different reasons: veteran offensive lineman Josh Jones and undrafted rookie tight end Qadir Ismail. Jones, a 2020 third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals, has played every position up front except center and appeared in 60 games, including 24 starts. Yet he hasn’t been in competition for any of the three openings and has barely even been mentioned by coaches. He played 30 snaps against the Eagles and drew an 80.6 mark for his run blocking and 63.9 grade for pass blocking from Pro Football Focus, but otherwise seems destined for a backup role. Ismail, meanwhile, had only slightly more catches (16) than games played (14) in his two years at Samford, yet he has shined consistently throughout training camp for a player with such a limited college resume. At 6 feet 6, he’s tall and rangy and has made several terrific catches. He’s also been a surprisingly good blocker in coach John Harbaugh’s eyes. He won’t make the 53-man roster, but he’s a fascinating prospect. Walker: Ismail, son of former Ravens wide receiver and Baltimore institution Qadry, seemed the epitome of a nice camp story when the Ravens signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Samford. But the 6-foot-6 pass catcher has made so many plays this summer, with his proud dad watching every step, that he feels like a strong candidate to stick on the practice squad. Given his huge frame and willingness to block, Ismail is an interesting developmental prospect at tight end. The team’s top offensive players, Jackson included, see something in him. Preston: There have been no big surprises, only some minor ones. Running back Derrick Henry has shown some speed to the outside, which bodes well for the running game. I thought receiver Rashod Bateman would show more, especially after he got a contract extension in the offseason, but he still can’t escape the injury bug and hasn’t developed much chemistry with Jackson. Defensively, the secondary has been outstanding, and it’s going to be interesting to see which players make the roster. I wasn’t impressed with the defensive line and how the Eagles handled that group in the first preseason game. Of course, the Ravens were playing without end Justin Madubuike and middle linebacker Roquan Smith, but they did have Travis Jones and Broderick Washington on the field. That effort was embarrassing. It was a preseason game, but there is still the pride factor. What did you learn about the new kickoff rules now that you’ve seen it in action? Wacker: The aesthetics are going to take some getting used to. Beyond that, there should be a lot more action surrounding the play, though it doesn’t seem to lend itself to big or exciting returns. Don’t be surprised if the league tweaks it further. Remember, it’s only in place for this season and will get voted on again. Walker: That the play looks downright weird to anyone who’s spent a lifetime watching pro football? It’s still difficult to draw any sweeping conclusions about a rule change that will certainly lead to more returns but perhaps not to more thrilling plays. Harbaugh, who knows and cares as much about special teams as any coach, seems concerned about how the new kickoff, with so much chaos unfolding at once, will be officiated. That’s not a great sign. Preston: The new kickoff is nothing other than a running play. I expected more. If the returner can hit the hole quickly and make one cut, there is a chance he might break it open, but there is so much congestion at the point of attack. It looks like the NFL wanted to add some excitement with the return, but there isn’t a lot to it. I have been disappointed so far. View the full article Quote
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