ExtremeRavens Posted August 24 Posted August 24 LANDOVER — Trenton Simpson needed a performance like this. Once benched and doubted, the Ravens’ third-year linebacker stepped onto the field Saturday as the team’s lone projected Week 1 starter in uniform and reminded everyone why Baltimore’s coaching staff still believes that he can be the defense’s next playmaker alongside three-time All-Pro Roquan Smith. In the Ravens’ 30-3 blowout victory over the Washington Commanders in the team’s preseason finale at Northwest Stadium, Simpson turned a meaningless late-August exhibition into his personal showcase. It was perhaps his best performance as a Raven. He flashed active hands near the line of scrimmage, tipping a pass attempt that went skyward and floated into the arms of cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis. With just 36 seconds left in the first half, Simpson shot into the backfield and strip-sacked Commanders backup quarterback Sam Hartman. Both takeaways set up field goals from rookie kicker Tyler Loop and tilted early momentum squarely in Baltimore’s favor. For Simpson, it was more than just splash plays. It was part of a long response that’s helped define his summer. His sophomore season unraveled last year, when blown assignments and inconsistent play cost him his starting job by Week 13. Simpson was replaced by Chris Board and Malik Harrison, both of whom have since departed in free agency. Simpson, a 2023 third-round draft pick out of Clemson, went from promising rookie to serious question mark in less than a season. Baltimore’s burden at weak-side linebacker has only grown heavier after Patrick Queen’s departure to Pittsburgh in free agency in 2024. The Ravens desperately need Simpson to seize the spot next to Smith and evolve into the kind of dominant linebacker this franchise has always demanded from the position. “That [performance] meant a lot, going out there,” Simpson told The Baltimore Sun. “That’s the emphasis in practice, getting the ball back to the offense, getting shots on guys, getting picks. “I’m growing up. … Just improving and just coming into work every day trying to learn something new.” Simpson’s story was never conventional. He was an All-American running back at North Carolina’s Mallard Creek High School before Clemson converted him to defense, and he’s still learning the finer points of the position. For Simpson, athleticism has never been a doubt. The real challenge is whether his processing and instincts will catch up to his physical gifts. Coach John Harbaugh believes that’s been the case for Simpson this summer. “I think Trenton has taken a really big step this year,” Harbaugh said. “This year, he’s taken a big step in terms of keeping it simple. [The game] has slowed down, his brain is processing it faster. It seems like he’s very comfortable.” That comfort was clear against Washington, albeit with reserves on both sides of the field. Simpson wasn’t freelancing nor out of place. He was communicating and often in the right spots. Rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan, a sixth-round pick out of California who shared a sack with Simpson in the second quarter, said that he already feels Simpson’s mentorship. “It was cool to get home for that sack,” Buchanan said. “Coach [Zach Orr] put us in a great position, so it was just about executing. Getting home was cool especially because me and Trenton have been playing a lot together this preseason. It’s been great having Trenton. He’s a great player, a great friend. He’s growing into a leader on the team as he becomes the veteran.” Veteran? Simpson might only be entering Year 3, but the pressure is on. “I’m growing up," Ravens linebacker Trenton Simpson said. "Just improving and just coming into work every day trying to learn something new.” (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) After all, Baltimore has long relied on its inside linebackers to define and own its defense’s identity. From Ray Lewis with Bart Scott to Lewis with Dannell Ellerbe. Smith with Queen. This season, it’s supposed to be Smith and Simpson. Again. The preseason will soon be forgotten, but Simpson’s impact against Washington was a glimpse of the player Baltimore has been waiting to see. He was decisive, disruptive and dependable. After last season’s setback, the Ravens aren’t just hoping Simpson figures it out in Year 3. They’re counting on it. Because if Orr needs to make another midseason change, can the Ravens trust the rookie Buchanan? Simpson’s standout performance in the final exhibition might not have erased the doubts that emerged last season, but it showed a linebacker playing with urgency and confidence. If he can bottle that and carry this momentum into September, the Ravens’ defense might once again have the inside tandem it needs. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article Quote
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