ExtremeRavens Posted Tuesday at 11:13 PM Posted Tuesday at 11:13 PM It’s hard to predict if the Ravens’ secondary has made significant progress, but the unit already looks better this offseason. The Ravens had their first of two straight mandatory minicamp practices Tuesday, and the secondary has been nowhere near as bad as a year ago when it gave up the deep ball consistently and allowed 244.1 passing yards per game, second worst in the NFL. Those Ravens couldn’t find tight ends or running backs, much less receivers. But the team has used several different combinations in practices thus far, mixing safeties Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks, the team’s first-round draft pick out of Georgia in April, along with cornerbacks Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, Jalyn Armour-Davis and Reuben Lowery. Keep an eye on Lowery, a rookie free agent out of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is only 5-9 and weighs 204 pounds, but the 22-year-old continues to make plays and is always near the ball. It will be interesting to see what the Ravens do with Hamilton and Humphrey this season. Hamilton is an impact player near the line of scrimmage and Humphrey can play inside or outside but is better playing over a slot receiver. He still has decent speed, but isn’t as fast as he used to be. Jackson watch Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw the ball reasonably well in his first appearance in two weeks. His short passes were tight and most were thrown to the outside, which is the perfect location. His long ball had some touch and he even threw some high and tight passes to the outside around 12 to 15 yards down the field, which hasn’t been a strength throughout his career. But as general manager Eric DeCosta continues to negotiate with Jackson about a contract extension, I wonder what would happen if the Ravens changed directions and stopped pampering him. For instance, schedule practices in the morning instead of allowing Jackson to sleep in. Maybe stop allowing him to miss practices in the middle of the week and practice like other players on the roster. After eight years, it’s worth trying something else, but maybe the Ravens believe this is their year to reach the Super Bowl despite Jackson’s 3-5 record in the postseason. Well, it’s just a thought. Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman jogs behind LaJohntay Wester during Tuesday's practice. Bateman received a contract extension earlier this offseason. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Intrigue on offense It will be interesting to see what offensive coordinator Todd Monken dials up this season. So far, we’ve seen waggles, throwback screens, rollouts, straight drop-backs, tosses to running back Derrick Henry and quick hitters to running back and speedster Keaton Mitchell as well as passes over the middle to Mark Andrews and even the long ball to fellow tight end Isaiah Likely. So far, receivers Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace have made plays, but the most improved might be second-year player Devontez Walker out of North Carolina. His route running has taken a step forward, so the potential is still high for the 2024 fourth-round pick. D-line dealings The more I watch rookie defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles play, I like his technique. He is small at 6 feet and 289 pounds, but has good technical skills. If you aren’t overly big, it helps to have good technique, especially if you are fast. Peebles has a good explosion and gets off the ball well. If he can get into the backfield early, the sixth-round pick out of Virginia Tech might cause some problems, especially for slower developing plays such as counters or traps. While on the subject of defensive linemen, second-year player C.J. Ravenell works too high and veteran nose tackle John Jenkins appears to be a perfectionist. Jenkins can get sloppy at times, but always works hard to improve. Undrafted rookie John Hoyland, shown Tuesday, is battling with sixth-round pick Tyler Loop to be the Ravens' kicker. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Just for kicks The best moment of the day belonged to a Ravens security officer who stopped the media and fans from walking behind the goal posts when rookie John Hoyland was attempting a field goal. Really? Do you think Steelers fans in Pittsburgh won’t be screaming and yelling obscenities among other things if Hoyland or fellow rookie Tyler Loop are attempting a field goal in crunch time during the last game of the regular season? Get low Here’s a suggestion for outside linebacker David Ojabo, the fourth-year player and 2022 second-round pick out of Michigan: If he stayed low and wasn’t so stiff coming out of his stance, he would have more success. When you watch outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, they usually stay low, even though Oweh gets too high at times. Mike Green, the rookie second-round pick and outside linebacker out of Marshall, stays low and works the leverage game. Pressure’s on With the additions of Green and veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins, it’s apparent that the Ravens are loading up for the season. Owner Steve Bisciotti also gave coach John Harbaugh a three-year contract extension in late March, but that’s all meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Bisciotti gave former Ravens coach Brian Billick a four-year extension at the end of the 2006 season but fired him a year later after the Ravens went 5-11. Of course, Harbaugh is more polished and a better overall coach then Billick, but anything is possible in the NFL if there aren’t enough wins. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article Quote
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