Star quarterback Lamar Jackson wasn’t in attendance for the Ravens’ voluntary “soccer faculty” Wednesday on the crew’s facility in Owings Mills. New offensive coordinator Todd Monken isn’t involved.
“We’re excited concerning the guys which might be right here,” Monken stated. “I do know Lamar’s working arduous.”
It’s been six days since Jackson signed a five-year extension reportedly value $260 million that makes him the highest-paid participant within the NFL yearly. However he was hardly the one large title absent from the session.
Huge receiver Odell Beckham Jr., whom the Ravens signed to a one-year deal value as much as a reported $18 million final month, working backs J.Okay. Dobbins and Gus Edwards and linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen have been additionally among the many notable gamers not in attendance.
When they are going to be is unknown, however the Ravens’ first observe throughout offseason crew actions is Could 22.
“I do know the blokes that aren’t listed here are working arduous,” Monken stated. “They’re professionals. Once they’re right here, they’re right here. We look ahead to getting them right here and getting them in control on what we’re doing offensively. That’s the most important problem.”
Within the meantime, Monken stated he’s been in “fixed communication” with Jackson and Beckham and speaking soccer with them.
“I do suppose we’ll have the ability to get these guys right here hopefully in a brief period of time,” he stated. “However till that occurs, we’ll rise up to hurry with the blokes we’ve received.”
A type of gamers Monken did have on Wednesday was vast receiver Devin Duvernay, who stated that he’s again to working after present process season-ending foot surgical procedure in December. He stated he likes the place he’s at bodily and took part within the media viewing portion of observe.
He’s additionally enthusiastic about what can be a totally revamped offense below Monken. The Ravens and Greg Roman parted methods in January after mounting frustration over what devolved right into a sputtering offense, notably within the pink zone and late within the season when Jackson was sidelined for the ultimate six video games due to a knee damage.
Duvernay, Beckham, a wholesome Rashod Bateman and first-round draft choose Zay Flowers give the Ravens one of many league’s quickest receiving items. Final season, Ravens receivers have been final within the NFL in yards by a large margin.
“There’s a ton a alternative ways to emphasize the sphere,” Duvernay stated. “Now we have a ton of various guys who can do a large number of issues.”
None extra so than their dynamic 26-year-old quarterback.
Jackson’s 4,437 speeding yards over the primary 5 years of his profession are essentially the most by a quarterback in NFL historical past. Twice he topped 1,000 speeding yards in a season, together with in 2019 when he ran for 1,206 yards and 7 touchdowns and threw for 3,127 yards and a league-high 36 touchdowns with simply six interceptions on his method to being named the unanimous NFL Most Priceless Participant.
For his profession, Jackson has accomplished 63.7% of his passes for 12,209 yards and 101 touchdowns. However after lacking 11 video games over the previous two seasons due to accidents, it’s attainable that Jackson might maybe run much less below Monken.
“It goes again to the gamers that you've got,” Monken stated. “The extra proficient you're round your quarterback, the much less he has to tackle that burden since you’re enthusiastic about getting others the soccer.
“However he has a singular trait, a singular ability set. You'll be able to’t take that fully out of his toolbox, as a result of that’s an enormous weapon for him and for us, utilizing his toes.”
Monken, who was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018, the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and two-time defending nationwide champion Georgia, additionally stated earlier this yr that he plans to have the Ravens play at a quicker tempo.
The hope is that can result in a way more explosive offense after the Ravens averaged 20.6 factors per recreation in 2022, which ranked nineteenth within the league, simply forward of the Carolina Panthers. If nothing else, it ought to assist Baltimore keep away from having bother getting the ball snapped earlier than the play clock expires, one thing that plagued the crew final season.
“Recreation dictates tempo, gamers dictate tempo,” stated Monken, noting that the gamers who've been in attendance have solely been on the sphere for about 10 days and that the sport plan is in its infancy stage. “As we transfer ahead, we’ll have a greater thought the place that presents itself for us.”
Particularly as soon as Jackson and the remainder of the Ravens’ offense arrive.
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