ExtremeRavens Posted December 18, 2024 Posted December 18, 2024 The Ravens are back on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” for the first time since the venerable series’ 2001 premiere season, this time sharing each hour with their AFC North neighbors. The third episode of this in-season look at the division debuted Tuesday night, placing a spotlight on one leader from each team: Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. From now until the end of the season, we’ll recap each episode, highlighting striking moments, memorable characters and tasty Ravens-related nuggets. Key Ravens scene Smith dominated the first quarter of the episode, with a camera capturing his free-flowing thoughts as he drove to the Ravens’ practice facility in Owings Mills. “I’ve had the mentality — just try to embarrass a cat every chance you get,” he said, drawing a connection between himself and the greatest Ravens linebacker, Ray Lewis. Managing stress was a major theme of the segment. “Man, why does my mind feel so clear?” Smith said, reflecting on the benefits of his bye week. Then, we saw him enjoy a massage from therapist Sara Miranda. “She goes from scalp all the way to my big toe,” he said. Those scenes set up the contrast between Smith in preparation and Smith on game day when he’s an all-confident, yapping menace. “You told it, running back,” he taunted early in the Ravens’ 35-14 rout of the New York Giants, reading ball carrier Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s eyes. “You’re going that way.” Even on the sideline, Smith’s innate curiosity shined through. A glimpse at a bird flying overhead evoked an article he had read — maybe nonsense, he noted — about Chinese drones disguised as birds. Other Ravens tidbits Coach John Harbaugh stood before his players at the front of the team auditorium, laying out his message for the last four weeks of the regular season. “We had an opportunity to get a bye week late, heading into December football, heading into the real season,” he said. “It’s time, man. We get on a roll, this thing is going to look how it’s supposed to look, right on time.” The episode featured plenty of Lamar Jackson, from him lamenting the frigid air — “It’s cold!” — at a midweek practice to his five pristine touchdown throws against the Giants. As No. 8 used one hand to hold up his pants on a magic scramble, narrator Liev Schreiber commented, “If Jackson can juke himself out of his own pants, what chance do the Giants have?” “That was my play!” Harbaugh shouted with glee after Jackson rolled right, stopped suddenly and found rookie Devontez Walker in the back of the end zone. Apparently, the play is named “Harbs” for reasons “Hard Knocks” did not elucidate. Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker’s touchdown catch was highlighted on the latest episode of “Hard Knocks.” (Adam Hunger/AP) Best non-Ravens scene Steelers coach Mike Tomlin remains unmatched on this show at capturing the stakes of a given week’s matchup. He opened the episode telling the Steelers they’d be playing for the five-star Pennsylvania championship against cross-state foe Philadelphia. “I love playing good people because it brings out the best in us,” he said. “I always want to be the group that puts the fire out.” It wouldn’t be about schemes, he promised, so much as collective ferocity. “If you consider yourself kick-ass in any way, bring it everywhere you go,” Tomlin said. “That kick-ass travels.” Ravens fans no doubt found it satisfying to watch the Eagles turn that kick-ass around on Tomlin’s crew. Episode MVP The last segment of the episode offered a panoramic depiction of Wilson, who has revived his career and Pittsburgh’s deep passing game over the last two months. He ran through quarterback drops and sprints in a pool. He recounted a rookie-year conversation with a veteran teammate, who advised him to get three massages a week and promised the $6,000 he’d spend over a season would ultimately be worth $60 million in career earnings. He opened a Pittsburgh rec center with his pop-star wife, Ciara. He sat in an offensive meeting, hearing how Philadelphia’s two-deep defense was designed to “stop the shots” that are Wilson’s bread and butter. The Eagles did take those shots away and took the ball out of Wilson’s hands, leaving him to watch helplessly from the sideline. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a game where we got two possessions in a half,” he said as Philadelphia ground through more than 10 minutes of a clock-killing drive. Wilson has long been a divisive NFL figure, but this “Hard Knocks” offered a sense of why he has endured. The episode ended with him looking ahead to Saturday’s matchup with the Ravens and a golden chance to clinch the AFC North with two weeks to go. “We gotta go take it,” Wilson said. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article Quote
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