Ravens News 8/2: Earning Reps

Practice Report: Observations From Most Physical Practice Yet

Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com

On two seperate occasions, cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Arthur Maulet had their arms wrapped around Henry’s waist, looking like they were holding on for dear life. One outside run with Ronnie Stanley and Andrew Vorhees out in front blocking looked like a steam engine rolling downhill, which is exactly what the Ravens want to create with Henry.

Linebacker Malik Harrison had a leaping interception on a pass by Josh Johnson during 11-on-11 work and came clean up the middle for what would’ve been a sack later in practice. Harbaugh sung Harrison’s praises afterwards, calling him a “very valuable player” in large part because of his versatility.

Andrews had an impressive over-the-shoulder sliding catch versus safety Eddie Jackson during one-on-ones. Maulet continued his strong training camp, breaking up a pass intended for Malik Cunningham the same period, and undrafted rookie wide receiver Dayton Wade hit a couple deep plays from Jackson.

Inside linebacker Josh Ross forced a fumble on rookie running back Rasheen Ali. That was a bugaboo in college for Ali, who had 11 fumbles in his college career.

The good news is that Jackson and Rashod Bateman got to practice together after Jackson’s illness and Bateman’s soft-tissue issue kept them from getting much work together so far in training camp. However, the deep ball connection still needs work. Jackson threw a bit too deep on one with Armour-Davis in close pursuit. On a play later in practice, there seemed to be a miscommunication as the pass fell well short of Bateman and wasn’t catchable for Nelson Agholor coming across the field.

Ravens 2nd-round pick Roger Rosengarten earning more first-team reps at right tackle

Giana Han, The Baltimore Banner

In 11-on-11s, the defensive line easily found a path to Jackson around the right edge. Rosengarten, in his few starting reps, was taking on the likes of Pro Bowl defensive lineman Justin Madubuike, who had the most sacks of any interior lineman in the NFL last year, and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, who the Ravens say is poised for a big season.

They beat him with strength, and they beat him with speed.

But, when the pads came on and practices amped up, Rosengarten’s play amped up too. He was winning a lot of his one-on-ones, most of which were against Malik Hamm. Coach John Harbaugh said Hamm, who is now out for the season with an ACL injury, was having a strong camp.

Thursday marked the first time the division of first-team reps shifted to a more equal share. Mekari was the first one to go out with Jackson, but in the next drill Rosengarten was the first to head out with the starters. His one-on-ones were also against starters. He took on Madubuike and Oweh.

“I thought Roger’s been doing well, deserved a shot with the ones,” Harbaugh said. “You saw him get a shot with the ones today. So we’ll just keep working through that and let it play out.”

Ravens pass rushers worked out together in Atlanta. Now trainer Dez Walker has lofty expectations.

Sam Kohn, The Baltimore Sun

“I had to tap in,” Oweh said, after his own five-sack season. He peppered Madubuike for guidance, “What were you doing, man? [Was it] something that you were eating? What were you watching?”

The difference was his work with Walker, a pass rush savant. The former defensive lineman from Sterling College pivoted to training in 2018, shortly after graduation. He brings a unique tenacity to the positional instruction — often joking he talks so much that he should start a podcast — and comes from elite mentorship with equally excellent nicknames.

Walker worked under the tutelage of Chuck Smith, a.k.a “Dr. Rush.” Smith was hired as the Ravens outside linebackers coach in 2023 with a resume that boasted a starry clientele: future Hall of Famers Von Miller and Aaron Donald. Smith was tutored by the Hall of Fame defensive end dubbed the “Minister of Defense,” Reggie White.

“A lot of it is me putting in the hard work early, along with Chuck Smith being a mentor is what got me to where I’m at today,” said Walker, whose clients bestowed him the nickname “Samurai Sack” — a play on the old cartoon show, “Samurai Jack.”

Each day began with a discussion about the Vision, Get-off, Hands and Hips (VGHH) system, created by Smith and mastered by Walker as a way to break down the movement of pass rush into fragments and body movements. Then, throughout the 90-minute period, they’re repping more than 150 strikes — like a basketball player working on their jump shot, only more violent.

Monday was a good introduction to conversations about angles along with primary moves and counter moves. A lot of figuring out where the four Ravens can and want to improve: the cross chop and spin for Oweh or Robinson finding the quarterback particularly on play action.

Ranking 2024 NFL divisions by wide receivers: Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown help make NFC North No. 1

Garrett Podell, CBS Sports

7. AFC North

Notable wideouts:

Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins

Ravens: Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor, Rashod Bateman

Browns: Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore

Steelers: George Pickens

Ja’Marr Chase and Amari Cooper are two high-end talents, and George Pickens, who led the NFL with 18.1 yards per catch last season, is on his way to being one as long as he remains locked in. Tee Higgins struggled mightily with injuries in 2023, and no else in the division produced at a high-enough level to lift the AFC North any higher on this list. Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers had a nice season for a rookie (858 yards and five touchdowns on 77 catches), but it wasn’t jaw-dropping.

ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano On Why Ravens Could Take A Step Back

Colin McNamara, PressBox

“I don’t know the answers on the offensive line. Could that be a weakness?” Graziano said. “That’s three starters from last year gone. So, if they don’t effectively replace them, then I would imagine that could be a weakness. Is Derrick Henry the type of running back that can overcome that? Sure … but do you want him to be that at age 30?”

“Ojabo is a guy that they get who comes into the league hurt and hasn’t really been consistently healthy, so he’s still a projection,” Graziano said. “… I do think they’re going to need their young guys internally to produce on that front, and we don’t know yet until we see it.”

“So, the question is, are they going to be as good as last year? And I think there are enough questions to at least make you wonder,” Graziano said. “Especially in this division, where everybody had a winning record last year and the Bengals are going to get a fourth-place schedule and maybe [Joe] Burrow healthy.”