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There are a number of storylines because the Baltimore Ravens open coaching camp Wednesday morning, however none extra prevalent than the event of quarterback Lamar Jackson and the passing recreation, in addition to enhancing the cross rush.
Sadly, these have been the key problems with the earlier two seasons, which resulted within the group’s early spherical playoff losses.
The Ravens have labored laborious within the offseason making an attempt to enhance in these areas — particularly within the passing recreation — by signing free agent receiver Sammy Watkins and offensive linemen Alejandro Villanueva (proper sort out) and proper guard Kevin Zeitler, in addition to drafting receiver Rashod Bateman and outdoors linebacker Odafe Oweh within the first spherical.
Now, we’ll get to see if what appears to be like good on paper can produce on the sector.
Within the case of Jackson, it’s time for him to placed on his large boy pants. The NFL Most Beneficial Participant Award received in 2019 and all these yards, wins and explosive performs are nice, however getting into his fourth season it’s time to point out he’s an entire quarterback who can lead his group to the Tremendous Bowl.
The Ravens have pampered and defended Jackson from Day 1. The nationwide media has carried out the identical claiming Jackson has the arm energy however wants higher receivers round him and a extra elaborate passing scheme. Effectively, the personnel has improved and we’ll discover out extra in regards to the scheme as soon as coaching camp opens.
Jackson has plenty of the correct intangibles. His ego is in examine and he’s powerful, accountable, a self-motivator and very athletic.
However can he throw precisely and persistently exterior the numbers? Nope, not but.
The Ravens had the very best working and worst passing offenses within the NFL final season, and so they have failed within the postseason as a result of groups crowd the road of scrimmage to cease the run. After which they both play zone or at the least pretend it to remove Jackson’s large play capability within the working recreation in addition to shut down the center of the sector. The target is to make Jackson throw to the surface, which he hasn’t been in a position to do persistently.
Including receivers: The Ravens did an excellent job of discovering receivers for him within the off season.
They most well-liked to have Indianapolis’ T.Y. Hilton or Pittsburgh’s JuJu Smith-Schuster over Watkins, however Watkins’ addition was nonetheless an improve for the Ravens. With Watkins, Marquise Brown and Bateman within the combine together with tight finish Mark Andrews, the group has plenty of choices so far as transferring gamers round, which might create mismatches — particularly with their velocity.
However, even when these receivers can bail Jackson out with a few clutch catches and the offensive line can cross block higher than a 12 months in the past, that’s not sufficient to push this group deep into the playoffs. Even with a extra subtle scheme, the underside line is that Jackson nonetheless has to throw higher.
There was loads of discuss inside the group about Jackson getting a brand new contract, however the Ravens should be cautious and this deal must be structured the place some huge cash isn’t assured till Jackson can show this offense received’t go to sleep within the playoffs.
Move rush considerations: The Ravens have comparable considerations on protection in regards to the cross rush. They struggled in that space final season earlier than shedding exterior linebacker Matthew Judon and defensive finish Yannick Ngakoue in free company.
The scary half is that the Ravens drafted the 6-foot-5, 251-pound Oweh within the first spherical after Bateman and he didn’t actually have a sack for Penn State final season. No, not one. It appears to be a pattern now within the NFL the place groups are drafting extra on potential than manufacturing. To complicate issues, the Ravens have just one established exterior linebacker on the roster in Pernell McPhee, who has 37 profession sacks, however Tyus Bower, about to enter his fifth season, has solely 10.5 and Jaylon Ferguson, about to enter his third, has 4.5.
Rookie exterior linebacker Daelin Hayes, a fifth-round decide from Notre Dame, was spectacular in OTAs and minicamp however there are solely so many miracles that defensive coordinator Don Martindale can carry out. Plus, all these blitzes and pressures work within the common season — however opposing groups determine these out within the postseason.
That’s when it comes all the way down to one-on-one matchups.
A gifted group: Total, this can be a gifted Ravens group. Due to the brand new inflow of expertise and the rehabilitation of left sort out Ronnie Stanley (ankle), it’s going to take a while for the offensive line to jell, however the Ravens have ample depth on the working again positions with J.Ok. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, and Andrews will lead a stable group of tight ends.
On protection, the road has expertise, depth and can characteristic at the least a five-man rotation of Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams, Derek Wolfe, Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington.
The secondary lacks velocity and a cover-type security, however it’s laborious to discover a higher tandem of cornerbacks than Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, and two more durable hitting safeties than Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott.
It is a group with two main weaknesses, and that’s been an issue for 2 straight years. You’d suppose the Ravens would have overcome these by now, however apparently they haven’t.
If they’d, we wouldn’t nonetheless be writing or speaking about them.
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