Ravens Insider: Ravens observations: Developmental players flash upside; backup QBs improve

ExtremeRavens · August 11

After two straight days in full pads, Ravens coach John Harbaugh went to lighter shells and shorts Monday in a 2-hour, 15-minute practice.

Nothing special occurred, and there wasn’t much hitting, but the Ravens spent a lot of time going through plays and preparing for Saturday’s second preseason game against the Cowboys in Dallas.

Harbaugh said that he liked the tone.

“It was a good practice,” he said. “It was hot. I thought the guys did a really good job of pushing through in terms of execution, focus and trying to take care of the details. That’s really what we were trying to do.

“It’s a fast, mental practice, and we did a good job with that. So, we’ll have a different practice tomorrow, more of a mental practice, and then we’ll be pointing toward the Dallas game on Saturday.”

No Hamilton, no problem for safeties

The Ravens were without starting safety Kyle Hamilton for the second straight day and inserted second-year player Sanoussi Kane in his spot to start with cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Nate Wiggins and rookie safety Malaki Starks.

The Ravens can play with this group, especially mixing in cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis and Marlon Humphrey. Despite several injuries in the secondary, the Ravens still have enough talent to play well.

In a short-yardage situation, Stark intercepted a pass by quarterback Lamar Jackson and would have returned it for 100 yards for a touchdown. The first-round draft pick from Georgia has had an outstanding camp and played as advertised.

Preparing for blitzes and stunts

The Ravens offensive line spent most of Monday’s first practice period working on stunts and slants, something it saw last week in the scrimmage and preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts.

In previous years, teams would complain about other defenses blitzing and running different games up front. Opposing teams always criticized former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan about his various packages, but a lot of teams run different blitzes in the preseason.

In fact, it’s the style in the NFL because teams no longer run read-and-react defenses anymore. Defenses are now attacking offenses, so a team might as well prepare in the preseason.

Wiggins and Lowery make mistakes

The Ravens have been working in safety Reuben Lowery, a rookie free agent out of Tennessee-Chattanooga. During organized team activities, he was always around the ball and appeared to make an interception in every practice.

But Lowery has given up some big plays in training camp, even though defensive coaches have been impressed. Another starter, Wiggins, has also given up several big plays. It’s a little disturbing because the Ravens were counting on the 2024 first-round pick to have a strong season in 2025.

Wiggins still might have one, but he gave up a roughly 35-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins near the end of practice, and Wiggins had perfect position. Then he whiffed in an attempt to knock down the pass.

Baltimore Ravens guard Ben Cleveland zig zags in front of offensive line coach George Warhop during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

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Baltimore Ravens guard Ben Cleveland zig zags in front of offensive line coach George Warhop during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

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Marlon Humphrey still has it

It’s always interesting to watch slot receiver Zay Flowers go against Humphrey. Because of various injuries, some thought Humphrey had slowed down years ago, and maybe he has, but he still can make big plays.

With the ball at the 7-yard line heading into the end zone, the Ravens seemed to run a perfect pick play to Flowers who had gone in motion and then seemingly sprinted past Humphrey in the back of the end zone. Humphrey, though, ran with Flowers and knocked away Jackson’s pass at the last second.

Everyone knows Humphrey guesses a lot, but most of the time he is correct.

Backup quarterbacks improve

The Ravens’ backup quarterbacks have struggled thus far in training camp, but there are times when both Cooper Rush and No. 3 Devin Leary have thrown some great passes.

Rush dropped in a 40-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Andrews and later threw another one to Scotty Washington and another to receiver Devontez Walker minutes later.

Leary had his moments, too, but a short pass in the right flat thrown behind the running back was downright ugly. In fact, is was so far behind the intended target that he fell down trying to make the catch.

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Highlight interception

The best interception of the day came on one of the final plays of practice. As Rush lofted a long pass to Walker, Armour-Davis had great position and attempted to knock the pass down, but then safety Keyon Martin intercepted the pass in the end zone.

It showed great concentration by Martin.

Jaw-dropping throw

The best pass of the day might have been a dart across the middle from Jackson to Walker, who made a back-shoulder catch for a 20-yard gain. The pass had a lot of velocity on it.

Making big strides

It’s hard to miss 6-foot-6, 370-pound nose guard C.J. Okoye. He didn’t play football in college and is from Agbogugu, Nigeria. But this kid has great potential.

“C.J. Okoye is more of a nose guard, probably,” said Harbaugh. “I think he could play three-technique a little bit, or he can play over the guard. You talk about a head-up, two-technique [player], but [he’s] really more of an A-gap player probably. He’s 370-plus pounds, but he’s really learning. He’s really learning how to come out of his hips and strike and shed, stay square in there and play the run. He’s gotten some push in pass rush. He’s going to be a pocket pusher. [He’s] making good use of all that size he has. He’s come light years.”

A tackle with potential

Carson Vinson is a rookie and a fifth-round pick from Alabama A&M. He reminds me a lot of Orlando Brown Sr., the late offensive tackle who played with the Ravens and went to college at South Carolina State.

Vinson is still raw at 6-7 and 320 pounds, but Brown was 6-7 and 360 as a rookie. Vinson will get better in the weight room.

Bateman discusses former roommate, Faalele

Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman had some interesting comments about former University of Minnesota tackle Daniel Faalele, who roomed with him when they were teammates in college.

The 6-8, 370-pound Faalele who now plays guard, had a huge appetite and his wardrobe could have used an upgrade, too. Faalele used to weigh more than 400 pounds.

“When I was in Minnesota, he was over 400 pounds, so [there is] a big difference,” said Bateman. “He was my roommate, so all the food was gone a lot. Has been quite a difference to see him come to the NFL and go through what he’s been through, being from Australia and all of that. It was kind of crazy that we got drafted to the same team, but he has worked extremely hard to get to where he’s at, so I’m definitely proud of him.”

Any fashion tips for Faalele?

“[There is] not much you can do there,” Bateman said, laughing.

High upside for one edge rusher

Like Armour-Davis, outside linebacker David Ojabo is in his fourth season, so it’s show time for him as far as his development. He got an endorsement from Harbaugh at the end of Monday’s practice.

Ojabo did not play his first year at Michigan in 2019. He played in six games as a sophomore and took over the starting role in 2021. While working out at Michigan’s pro day, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon and sat out his rookie season.

“I think he is playing in a very direct way,” Harbaugh said of Ojabo. “The thing about David Ojabo — it’s important to remember — he’s not a guy that played a lot of football. He was late to football in high school, might’ve played one year of high school football. He really only played one year of college football, really, is what he ended up playing as far as a full season. And then he got hurt coming out.

“So, football is kind of one of these games where the more you play it, the better feel you have for it. It’s like any sport, probably, but I think his upside is really there, and I believe that we’ll see it. I think we’ve seen it already in camp. I’m looking forward to the games so [that] everybody can see it, really. But yes, he’s an upside guy.”

Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun.

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Ravens Insider: Ravens observations: Developmental players flash upside; backup QBs improve

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