Thoughts and Observations on Ravens 1st Day of Training Camp

Yesterday I had the fortunate opportunity to attend the Ravens’ first day of training camp out at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mill. Though it is a far cry from having training camp held at McDaniel College in Westminster, the team is doing a nice job of providing the fans with a fun experience. They have provided more bleachers (albeit not under shade like out at Westminster) so that more fans can attend and there was a Fans’ Zone this year. The Fans’ Zone provided free popsicles on this hot afternoon, a food truck, and games and bouncy houses for the kids. The staff was very attentive and accommodating. It is a nice attempt to try and re-create the feel of training camp experiences out at McDaniel College.

Here are my observations from day one of training camp.

*The offense had some timing issues in 11-on-11 situations. Quarterback Joe Flacco was less January Joe, and more regular season Joe. Balls were a little off the mark, some double clutching took place, and there were a lot of check downs. That being said, many of the perceived check downs were clearly designed plays to get the ball to the running backs out in the flat in open space, a staple of offensive coordinator Marc Trestman’s attack.

Trestman is known to lean on the passing game, and I predict that we will see more shotgun formations this year than last year from Gary Kubiak’s offense. The Ravens, under Kubiak, ran plays from the shotgun at a league low, 24.1 percent. Under Trestman, I fear that the Ravens may lose some of that smash-mouth mentality and they will throw more often on 3 and short. Yesterday, it was nice to see the Ravens run many play from under center. 

The big story yesterday though was Lardarius Webb and his failed conditioning test. I hadn’t read anything about him that day (cell phones are prohibited) and it took until the wide receivers one-on-ones with cornerbacks until I noticed. I asked Aaron Wilson where he was and he gave me the scoop. Quite a bummer.  

*Steve Smith: He treated yesterday like it was the regular season. Everything he does is fast-paced and with purpose. He has to be great for the younger receivers.
*Breshad Perriman: He looks the part of a number one receiver. This dude is big and fast as advertized. He seems to be further ahead as a complete receiver than when Torrey Smith first arrived. Perriman might open the season as a primary deep target, but he will become more versatile as the season progresses. Let’s hope the knee injury he sustained at the end of practice is minor as coach John Harbaugh advertized yesterday after practice.
*Darren Waller: He had a couple of drops yesterday, but he is big and thick receiver. If his combine speed (4.46 40 yard dash) can translate to quickness, the Ravens may have something.
*DeAndre Carter: Carter is tenacious and a battler. Though he didn’t win much, it was fun watching him during one-on-one battles with the defensive backs.
*Michael Campanaro: He seems fully recovered from leg injuries during OTAs. He was the shifty receiver I remember watching last year at this time.
*Maxx Williams: He was unnoticeable. In fact, I had to search the field during individual position workouts to see if number 87 was even on the field.
*Nick Boyle: On the other hand, when Boyle ran with the twos and threes he was constantly finding holes underneath.
*Rick Wagner: Great to see him in action. He was eased back into the flow of things, with Jah Reid (a slimmed down, trim, and fit Jah Reid I may add) running with the ones at right tackle when Wagner wasn’t in.
*Matt Schaub: Let’s hope Flacco stays healthy. Yikes. Everything is underneath with him. The one time he had Jeremy Butler open deep on the outside, he under threw Butler which caused Butler to get an offensive pass interference penalty.

*Terrell Suggs: He may have lost weight since OTAs, but he has an obvious “muffin-top” in the midsection. He is the undeniable leader among the defense, coaching players up, and playfully messing with Flacco in a hurry-up field goal situation—grabbing his arm as Flacco tried to get off the field so the Justin Tucker et al could attempt a field goal (which he drilled, of course).
*Brandon Williams and Timmy Jernigan: Yes, losing Haloti Ngata and his veteran presence will be a loss, but these two are nasty. Williams blew up several running plays in the backfield and Jernigan had a relentless motor.
*Brent Urban: I loved the way this kid played last year before he injured his knee, and he is quite a physically impressive dude.
*Chris Canty: He looked in great shape.
*Kapron Lewis-Moore: He was very active in drills and 11-on-11’s. Great to see him healthy and bouncing around the field.
*Steven Means: A small play that not many may have noticed: on a nice mid-range catch and run by wide receiver Aldrick Robinson (one of his only bright spots of the day) Means forced a no-doubt-about-it fumble which someone in the secondary recovered. Great small play that proved Means' hustle and determination down field on the back end of a play. 
*Za’Darius Smith: He was very active on the edge, beating Eugene Monroe for what would have been a sack.
*Rashaan Melvin: Harbaugh may think Melvin is a pit bull, but it was like the Patriots playoff game all over again. Flacco picked on Melvin often and with great results.
*Matt Elam: First day was not kind to Elam. After a very well thrown ball by Flacco to Smith on a skinny post in between three defenders, Harbaugh was screaming, “I’ve told you five times!” over and over. Now, I can’t say for certain, but Elam was in on coverage, he came off the field after that play, and Harbaugh was clearly barking in his direction.

Personal Highlights:
*Steve Smith threw a pair of his Superman receiving gloves to a youth player from the Baltimore Golden Jackals, setting off cheers from the players and coaches and fans. I was standing about 10 feet away and these kids were ecstatic, rightfully so. I talked to one of the coaches after practice. It sounds like they are trying to build a solid, positive program for their community.

*After he overheard me say his name, Ryan Jensen gave a big smile and wave to my son. Very cool. The close proximity of training camp is still alive and well.

*My six year old son, upon watching Smith throw the gloves to the youth football player, said, “Dad, is that player who threw the gloves one of the kids too?” Smith is of smaller stature…

*Steven Means, the outside linebacker that I am rooting for to make the team, put in some extra reps after practice. From afar, I gave him a shout-out to keep at it. He stopped, turned in my direction, and flashed a smile. I am pulling for him!