Training Camp 2025

[papasmurfbell]

Green is a requirement if they want this d to work right.

[oldno82]

Well they got him now. I expect a lot from him and hope he delivers.

[papasmurfbell]

Yep.  A guy who can get home with his own can allow for others to get pressure with overloads.  

[tsylvester]

This kid has the potential, yes, why not go there, to be Peter Boulware level good. I see, in his college play, similarities; let us hope

With this secondary and the ability of the interior linemen to collapse a pocket, qbs will have to either throw early, leading to pick potential or hold for a step longer giving the edge rushers that half second to get home.

This will be key to slow down the Bengals

[papasmurfbell]

My concern is run d without pierce.  If I want to beat the ravens I run them into the ground.

[oldno82]

They sure could use a big body in the middle. But the league is so pass happy now, we may get away with it.

[papasmurfbell]

I agree they are pass happy.  But buf and Detroit are built to do it.  Both are early games.  If they set up the blueprint others will follow if they can.  Come January we will get it broken off in us.

[tsylvester]

Travis Jones made some big strides last year, he could be, nay, should be a key piece in run stopping. Jenkins also another big body, albeit long in the tooth.

Revenell may be a good sleeper in the rotation along with Okoye, both young and a little inexperienced, but with this group, should add very good depth in the middle.

"If" these very large young men pan out, teams will not be able to run.

Jones and Madds have shown a great ability to collapse pockets, this year they should be even better.

[papasmurfbell]

The crazy thing is.  In a yr when there were tons of dt potential in the draft we grab the smallest guy.

[tsylvester]

Kelly Gregg was small too, huh?

They have a couple undrafted and late rounders 6-3 300+ pounds 

[papasmurfbell]

Kelly was also a wrestler.  He was short and could get under ol.  If you are 63 and 290 your fram is slight.

[tsylvester]

Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday! Rookies in camp, vets tomorrow, then the fun really begins!

https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/mike-green-jaire-alexander-deandre-hopkins-lamar-jackson-players-to-watch-training-camp-2025

[oldno82]

I know I'm really looking forward to it. I'm ready for some football!

[oldno82]

Well, Day One is over...takeaways included all members of the O & D lines coming to camp already in shape, Flowers tweaking something in leg but returning to play at full-go (hopefully OK tomorrow with no swelling), and in general, just good vibes from the team about how and where they want to go.

 

[oldno82]

This sums it up:

https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/jaire-alexander-ravens-standouts-training-camp-day-1-practice-report

[oldno82]

And a little more from Jeff Zebreic:

 

"The Ravens’ notoriously difficult conditioning test has delayed the training camp debuts of many players over the years. However, it didn’t hold anyone out of action this year. Eighty-eight of the team’s 91 players participated in the first practice.

The only exceptions were third-round offensive tackle Emery Jones Jr. (shoulder), defensive back Ar’Darius Washington (Achilles) and inside linebacker Jake Hummel (hand). Jones is on the non-football injury list and is expected to miss the first couple of weeks of camp. Washington will miss most, if not all, of the regular season after tearing his Achilles during an offseason workout. Hummel cut his hand in a non-football accident and will likely miss at least the first week of camp."

[papasmurfbell]

Just ir jones.

[tsylvester]

A lot of plays on both sides of the ball, no real injuries, and perhaps the best news of the day

Right guard Daniel Faalele looks a bit trimmer than last year and showed off his mobility as a puller on a screen.

[tsylvester]

Desmond Watson, Tampa, the real big fella in the draft, 464 pounds, has been put on the non football illness list as a precaution, to help him get down to a healthier weight 

[tsylvester]

According to some dude on the X, Fruit Loop went 10 for 10 including a 63 yarder that had plenty of height and depth left.

Yep, just practice and game pressure is real, but practice makes perfect and prepares one for the pressure.

[oldno82]

The 63 yarder was witnessed by the press. The team also reported he hit one from 68 yards later on another field that wasn't open to the media.

Yes it's only practice but it shows his potential.

[tsylvester]

Players reported in tip-top shape, practices have been crisp, and injuries have been few.

Optimism rules at this time of year when every NFL team is undefeated. However, the early impressions of training camp have done nothing to change popular opinion that Baltimore has ample talent to win a Super Bowl.

Here are some early thoughts on training camp, all in 50 words or less:

Keaton Mitchell is leaving people with his acceleration and looks poised to be a homerun threat again as a running back/kick returner. Mitchell's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield makes him even more dangerous. His 2023 knee injury is clearly behind him.

The 20 pounds of muscle that Odafe Oweh added seems to be helping his power rush moves. More will be revealed once the pads come on, but it wouldn't be shocking to see Oweh top his career-high 10.0 sacks of last season.

Jaire Alexander has already raised the energy level in practice. A fresh face can add positive energy to a veteran group that's been together. "I think we probably needed some of that," Kyle Hamilton said. "I'm more even-keeled, so I need to have that brought out of me a little bit, and Jaire does that."

Alexander said during his press conference that he's willing to play any role. The Ravens have enough secondary talent that Alexander doesn't have to start or play every defensive snap. That could help Alexander stay healthy after playing just seven games each of the last two seasons.
Chidobe Awuzie is another cornerback who has looked impressive early. Awuzie isn't one of the five former first-round picks in Baltimore's secondary. But he's tracking like someone who's going to have a role in the cornerback rotation.

Any talk about impressive corners wouldn't be complete without Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey. Both have looked very good, and Humphrey is leading the "Breakfast Club's" 6 a.m. workouts. "Marlon is in a great place," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "I mean, he's setting a really high standard."

Zay Flowers looks ready to build off his first 1,000-yard season. He gave people a brief scare Wednesday when he limped to the sideline, but he returned quickly and kept cooking. Rookie Malaki Starks is learning that Flowers may zig when you expect him to zag.

Tyler Loop's 63- and 68-yard field goals Friday were another sign of his potential, as his competition with John Hoyland continues. Loop was hitting them high and far, like a golfer in a groove at the driving range. It figures a kicker from Arizona would love a 100-degree afternoon.

Defensive tackle Travis Jones was having his best season in 2024 until an ankle injury in Week 7 hampered him. Jones looks healthy and stronger than ever and could join Nnamdi Madubuike to form a wrecking crew up front. Jones will be a player to watch during Monday's first padded practice.
Hamilton is setting a high bar, wanting the Ravens' defense to look like the 2000 Ravens' defense. "We're nowhere close to that right now, but I wouldn't say that if I didn't think we had the potential," Hamilton said. "That's the ultimate top of the mountain. They obviously won the Super Bowl."

https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-training-camp-start-in-shape-sync-keaton-mitchell-odafe-oweh-jaire-alexander-nate-wiggins-marlon-humphrey

[oldno82]

I'm impressed with all the good vibes being generated by what the players themselves are saying. You expect the coaches to be fired up every year at this time, but the players are indicating that they have a really good chemistry building throughout this team and chemistry is probably more important in football than any other sport.

So yes, it is only the early days of practice, but I'd rather have our team than any other in the AFC North right now. Look at all the messiness in Cincinnati, for example.

Of course, we have yet to hear any of the players or team management talk about necessary extensions and re-negotiations of contracts, but I am very happy at this moment.

[tsylvester]

Saturday practice Devontez Walker, More Backups Earn the Spotlight to Conclude Week 1 of Camp | Practice Report https://share.google/0CE1AdYiU3jgnRZ9V

 

With a roster as loaded as the Ravens have, every day of training camp provides an excellent opportunity for ascending players to make their mark. Several did so in the final practice of the week on Saturday.

Second-year wide receiver Devontez Walker had a strong showing in OTAs and minicamp, and he has continued to flash during training camp.

Walker was a magnet when it came to finding the football Saturday, hauling in multiple grabs from different quarterbacks. He and Lamar Jackson had the play of the day early in 11-on-11 work, when Jackson heaved a pass down the middle of the field as Walker separated from Nate Wiggins and ran 

under the ball for an explosive play.

In a one-on-one battle with Jaire Alexander, Walker made a nice play on a comeback route when he undercut Alexander to complete a catch from Jackson. Walker also had a few other sideline grabs, including a sliding catch, throughout the day.

Here are other notes from Saturday's practice:

Second-year players Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade each had impressive plays as they compete for the No. 3 safety spot. Kane leapt and tipped a Cooper Rush pass intended for Malik Cunningham, allowing Jalyn Armour-Davis to secure the interception off the deflection. Brade followed that play up in seven-on-seven drills with an athletic pass breakup on tight end Charlie Kolar downfield, swiping the ball out of Kolar's hands. Jackson tried to extend the play and lob a pass over the top to his big-bodied tight end, but Brade remained plastered on Kolar.

Rush threw his best pass of training camp thus far. The backup signal-caller dropped the ball into a bucket to running back Rasheen Ali deep down the left sideline between Mike Green and Kane. Ali caught the ball in stride and cut past Kane for what would've been a touchdown.
Rookie kickers Tyler Loop and John Hoyland shared kicking duties. Loop went 7-for-7 while Hoyland went 3-for-4 on field goals for the afternoon. Loop's longest make was 42 yards as the two continue to compete for the starting spot.

Jackson and DeAndre Hopkins have continued to establish rapport with each other and connected for several sideline grabs throughout Saturday's practice.
Alexander continues to practice at a high level. He was tested several times with deep passes, but none were completed.

Nnamdi Madubuike swatted down a pass after Jackson pump faked in his own end zone during 11-on-11 drills.

[oldno82]

And the good vibes just keep on flowing! Let's keep it going!