ExtremeRavens Posted 21 hours ago Posted 21 hours ago Zay Flowers’ second season was everything the Ravens could have hoped. The former first-round pick became Baltimore’s first Pro Bowl wide receiver, had over 1,000 yards and emerged as a quality No. 1 wideout. But if Flowers is going to evolve into an elite NFL receiver, it’ll require continued development and a more intentional effort from the Ravens to feature him like a top-tier wideout. The team seems to be using him as such early in training camp. By increasing Flowers’ usage in the slot, the Ravens could unlock another element in their offense and the wideout’s game. He’s been more effective from that position in his brief NFL career and would allow for offensive coordinator Todd Monken to move Flowers around the field and use his top wideout as a matchup playmaker. “I just know how to create separation going across the field … I’m explosive out of breaks,” Flowers said Monday. “I feel like I can run every route in the route tree.” Baltimore moved on from wide receiver Nelson Agholor in the offseason, who was the team’s primary inside option the past two seasons. But Flowers played over 40% of his snaps from the slot last season, a 7% increase from his rookie year, according to Pro Football Focus. He had 26 catches for 374 yards from that position. Flowers’ 14.4 yards per catch from the slot were the seventh-highest in the NFL last season (among players with a minimum of 75 total targets). That mark was ahead of star wideouts Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Puka Nacua. The wide receiver’s 2.10 yards per route run out of the slot was better than his 1.85 yards per route run when he was lined up out wide, according to PFF. His game fits well inside, as his shiftiness and run-after-the-catch ability are among the best in the league. At Monday’s practice, Flowers repped more inside than outside during team drills. He’s been the beneficiary of several explosive plays in practice. Flowers said he’s gotten even faster after running on hills during the offseason. “Zay is a matchup problem anywhere on the field. If you can get him the ball, something special is going to happen,” wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said. NFL offenses are increasingly moving their top wide receivers around formations to find stronger matchups. Seven of the NFL’s top 10 receivers last season spent over 30% of their snaps in the slot. In the nine games in which Flowers lined up in the slot on more than 40% of his snaps, he totaled 689 yards on 66 targets and 44 catches. In the other games — when his slot usage dipped below 40% — he managed just 370 yards on 46 targets and 30 receptions. “We just gotta get him the ball more,” Monken said in June. “He’s not only an outside receiver that has elite route running skills, but he’s unbelievable with the ball in his hands, so you have a guy who fits two positions, plays two positions. “You can use him in a variety of roles to get him the ball, which allows your volume to go up. … I expect him to take another leap in terms of his consistency.” Part of the numbers disparity stems from the Ravens’ personnel packages. When they throw more, Flowers naturally sees more snaps in the slot. But in heavier formations, he often shifts outside or comes off the field entirely. The Ravens also have a dearth of options to play inside. Tight end Mark Andrews has been one of the NFL’s best slot options over his career, as he played nearly half of his snaps from that spot last season. Tight end Isaiah Likely is a mismatch problem across the field. Tylan Wallace and sixth-round draft pick LaJohntay Wester also have experience inside. But DeAndre Hopkins, who’s spent a majority of his career on the outside, joined the team this offseason, and Rashod Bateman has rarely shifted from his role as the X receiver. “I believe our offense has no limits because we got guys that can play any position,” quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “Like [Flowers] going inside, got [Hopkins] on the outside, [Bateman] outside, it’s no roof.” If coach John Harbaugh wants Flowers to take the next step toward becoming “the best,” using the third-year player in several ways is the next step for him to become a premier No. 1 wide receiver. The fans are certainly treating him that way. The calls for “Zay” at training camp are more than almost any other Raven. He rewarded a young boy with a high-five during Monday’s practice, and the kid walked away with a proud smile on his face. If Flowers can take another leap, he’ll become even more of a household name. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article Quote
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