The Ravens might be with out rookie outdoors linebacker David Ojabo for not less than the primary half of the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon, however second-year participant Odafe Oweh appears ready to select up the slack.
Oweh, an outdoor linebacker and first-round choice out of Penn State in 2021, completed final season with 5 sacks and 33 tackles whereas taking part in in 15 video games, together with two begins.
He spent most of final season attempting to determine the NFL and, most significantly, develop extra pass-rushing strikes than counting on his sheer pace on the surface.
Via greater than three weeks of follow, Oweh has had a formidable coaching camp. The offseason work on his pace, hand utilization and leverage has been noticeable.
This might be his breakout season as Ojabo, a second-round choose from Michigan, heals.
“You’re always constructing, and the reply is once more, simply studying his keys, trusting what he's and hitting it again and again so he can play quick,” Ravens outdoors linebackers coach Rob Leonard mentioned. “Belief his instincts. I speak with Odafe rather a lot about matching his higher physique violence with the violence of his legs.
“He had God-given skill to run, and he can take off. So, working his palms, and all these varieties of issues is a giant a part of his development.”
New regular
Quarterback Lamar Jackson and kicker Justin Tucker routinely do such freakish issues in follow that it’s turn out to be the norm.
On one play Tuesday, Jackson rolled to his proper, stutter-stepped a defender, modified path and rolled again to his left. He then threw throughout his physique to the opposite facet of the sphere for a 20-yard landing strike to tight finish Mark Andrews.
Minutes later, Tucker kicked a 62-yard area purpose that hit the crossbar and fell brief. On the subsequent try, he made it with about 5-to-10 yards to spare.
Simply one other day on the workplace.
O-line is deep …
I’ve been to a lot of the staff’s coaching camp practices and Tuesday was the primary time I noticed a participant — second-year outdoors linebacker Daelin Hayes — beat guard-tackle Tyre Phillips in a one-on-one cross safety drill.
Phillips has been excellent, however so was heart Trystan Colon on Tuesday as he crammed in for injured rookie starter Tyler Linderbaum. He’s not going to supplant the first-round pick of Iowa, however not less than the Ravens have versatility and depth up entrance.
And so is the D-line
Talking of depth, the defensive position might need essentially the most after the secondary.
The Ravens will begin Michael Pierce at nostril deal with flanked by Calais Campbell and Justin Madubuike. Rookie Travis Jones will push Pierce for enjoying time, and Broderick Washington, Isaiah Mack, Brent City and Aaron Crawford might be part of the rotation.
Normal supervisor Eric DeCosta has mentioned that you would be able to by no means have sufficient cornerbacks, however his predecessor Ozzie Newsome used to subscribe to the idea of New England Patriots coach Invoice Belichick, who mentioned you may by no means have sufficient defensive linemen.
Beware the drops
I’ve been maintaining a tally of rookie receiver Shemar Bridges, particularly after the sturdy recreation he turned in Thursday evening in opposition to the Tennessee Titans (4 catches for 62 yards, one landing).
He will get higher day-after-day at operating routes, particularly with one-on-one consideration from the assistant coaches, however he nonetheless has to maintain engaged on his hand placement and lengthening his arms whereas catching the ball.
That T-Rex method gained’t work within the NFL. He’ll see fairly just a few cross makes an attempt get into his physique and bounce off his pads.
As for second-year receiver Rashod Bateman, he dropped extra passes than Bridges on Tuesday.
Don’t sleep on Steelers
I preserve studying all these tales about how the Pittsburgh Steelers may end final within the AFC North as a result of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retired on the finish of final season.
That is perhaps true if the Steelers didn’t have coach Mike Tomlin. He is among the best and feared coaches within the NFL with a profession file of 162-94-2 (.632).
He's like Belichick. Each time you write his groups off, they discover a method to win and keep in rivalry.
Return of Joe Cool?
The Ravens ought to disregard any rumors about New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson taking part in within the season opener Sept. 11 and put together for former Ravens starter Joe Flacco.
It is senseless for the Jets to place a second-year quarterback on the market after having current knee surgical procedure. It’s not definitely worth the danger.
And naturally, Flacco was “Joe Cool” about the potential for taking part in in opposition to his outdated staff of 11 years with whom he gained the Tremendous Bowl within the 2012 season. Professional athletes are extraordinarily aggressive and Flacco can’t wait to play in opposition to his outdated staff.
Will we see the Flacco of outdated or an outdated Flacco? He’s 37 years outdated, so you understand the reply, however Flacco will welcome the problem.
Roster report
The Ravens launched quarterback Brett Hundley and positioned outdoors linebacker Trent Harris on injured reserve forward of the NFL’s 4 p.m. deadline Tuesday for 85-man rosters.
Harris was signed Saturday however needed to be helped off the sphere Monday with an obvious damage.
Hundley’s launch leaves the Ravens with three quarterbacks: Jackson, Tyler Huntley and undrafted rookie Anthony Brown. Coach John Harbaugh declined to say Monday whether or not Jackson would play in Sunday’s preseason recreation in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.
“Let’s depart that for a pair extra days,” he mentioned.
Rookie offensive deal with Daniel Faalele left the sphere Tuesday below his personal energy about 75 minutes into follow and didn't return. It’s unclear what may’ve prompted the fourth-round choose’s departure. Harbaugh, who didn't converse Tuesday, is scheduled to deal with reporters after follow Wednesday.
Tight finish Nick Boyle, broad receivers James Proche II (smooth tissue) and Tylan Wallace (knee) and Linderbaum (foot) missed follow Tuesday, whereas offensive deal with David Sharpe and broad receiver Bailey Gaither returned.
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