ExtremeRavens Posted September 4 Posted September 4 Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions throughout the Ravens season. Baltimore begins its season Thursday night against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Here’s Preston’s take: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) There is an agreement among fans and pundits that the offensive line will be the biggest question mark for the Ravens this season. Which position group will have the second most “make or break” influence on this year? — zot on X It will be the edge rushers or outside linebackers. Neither Odafe Oweh nor David Ojabo are proven, and in recent years the Ravens have shown they can’t win without a strong pass rush from the outside. Nnamdi Madubuike had a team-leading 13 sacks a year ago, so they’ll get good pressure up the middle. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy had nine sacks last season, but he’ll have to play without Jadeveon Clowney, who had 9 1/2 sacks but is now with the Carolina Panthers. Both Oweh and Ojabo played well in college, but they haven’t played their best games in the NFL yet. The Ravens are hoping the young group rises to the occasion along with outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, a second-year player out of Mississippi. Two questions: 1. Ben Cleveland seemed to have played well at right guard last season. In your eyes, is he a backup at this point? 2. What are your thoughts on Travis Jones? People seemed high on him as a rookie, but it seems like there’s little excitement today. — Words of Josh on X Jones has played well in training camp, but he was pushed around in preseason games. I was disappointed with his performance, but the Ravens are in a modest rebuild with young players. The 2022 third-round draft pick has great size at 6 feet 4 and 338 pounds, but Jones is in Year 3, so it’s time for him to step up. Cleveland has great size and is a space eater as a run blocker, but his pass blocking has always been suspect. He has gotten better through the years. I think he is a good stop-gap player, but not a full-time starter in the NFL. We can expect some regression on defense from last year because of lost players and coordinator Zach Orr’s debut. On the other hand, it is Year 2 for Todd Monken’s offense and the Ravens added Derrick Henry. Which will have a bigger impact this season? — zot on X I’ve been impressed with Monken’s offense so far in training camp. I can’t go into detail, but I’ve seen some good stuff. With both Monken and quarterback Lamar Jackson entering a second season, I think things will be a lot smoother. I hope Monken gets on Jackson more this season because coach John Harbaugh coddles Jackson too much and I think that has been a problem since Day 1. Monken, on the other hand, appears to get on everyone, even though both coaches should have been harder on Jackson in the AFC championship game. As for Orr, I don’t know what to expect and who he will listen to the most, Harbaugh or the players. One thing for sure, he is one of the most well-liked coaches that has ever walked through The Castle. He is well-respected by everyone. Almost anyone you speak with expects him to be a head coach one day, and that’s sooner than later. It is always exciting when a new season starts, but I am concerned that the Ravens will regress this season. Will they win the division again? — Yaye Essayas I think the Ravens win the AFC North. It’s a quarterback-driven league, and the Ravens return Jackson, who won his second NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 2023. Both Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson are attempting to come back from injuries and no one knows for sure how Russell Wilson will fit into the Pittsburgh offense. By the end of last season, the Ravens had the best team in the NFL. But they panicked offensively in the AFC championship game and have a lot of young players who need to step up this season. The key will be getting off to a strong start because the second half of the schedule is brutal with all those games played in a short amount of time. But just like most teams in the NFL, the Ravens have a shot. They just have to stay healthy and get hot at the right time like Kansas City did a year ago. In your opinion, what’s the worst scenario for a pro player? The MLB, NHL or NBA trade deadline or NFL cutdown day? My money’s on the NFL. The other leagues have minor league affiliates and overseas options, whereas lots of NFL players have nowhere to go besides home. — Ed Helinski Sorry, Ed, when you are playing a sport at the highest level there is no worst scenario. Players waived by NFL teams have several options around the league, or they can continue to play on the semi-pro level or in Canada. Regardless, none of the players cut from any of the major leagues make those big salaries, but that’s the risk for anyone attempting to play pro sports. It’s the dream world. Some players make it, some don’t. It’s great to dream big, but the reality for most of these guys, especially coming from small colleges in football, is in the back of their minds. Of the sports you mentioned, the NFL is the toughest. Have a question for Mike Preston? Email sports@baltsun.com with “Ravens mailbag” in the subject line and it could be answered in The Baltimore Sun. View the full article Quote
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