Preseason is all about player development, sure, but let’s be honest. Fans at least want to see the starters win. The Ravens managed to do that against the New Orleans Saints, and they even came out with a nail-biter of a 30-27 win to boot as Bryn Renner’s last-second touchdown run proved the difference.
Let’s take a look at some of the best and worst performances from the Ravens’ preseason opener.
Discuss in the BSL forums here…
Stud: Lorenzo Taliaferro
Ignore the stat line (12 carries, 36 yards and a touchdown), which was less than impressive. Rather, focus on how athletic Taliaferro looked, how decisive, and how powerful. On his touchdown run, Taliaferro pushed the pile into the endzone. And every time he touched the ball, he made the right read and showed great burst in getting upfield. Ground games are never quite as strong in the preseason, so his stat line is less important than how he looked.
Stud: Michael Campanaro
I have no idea what to call the route Michael Campanaro scored on. It looked like a drunken crossing route, but it certainly worked, as Campanaro found open field, made the catch and made a few guys miss en route to the endzone. He got into the game early and could be the favorite for the lead slot receiver role.
Stud: Crockett Gillmore
The things Crockett Gillmore did were simple yet effective. Simple quick hitters and quality blocking are Gillmore’s game, and he did both, catching two balls for 17 yards. Marc Trestman could make those quick hitters a big part of the offense this year, and considering the uneven (but exciting!) performance from Maxx Williams, Gillmore’s job seems safe
Dud: Asa Jackson
He nearly gave up a long touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks, but was saved when Cooks stepped out of bounds. On Cooks’ touchdown on a screen, though, Jackson was not so lucky, as he got knocked to the ground quickly. On that play, the oft-injured cornerback sustained a knee injury. We’ll see what his status is going forward, but not a great start.
Dud and Stud: Maxx Williams
One very nice snag aside, Williams didn’t play well. He got beat badly on a few blocks, and a dropped touchdown pass will be the lasting image of his first preseason game for most fans. Those that stuck around until the end of the game, though, saw Maxx do what he does best, make big plays. His huge catch and run on 4th and 20, including several broken tackles, gave the Ravens life down four and with less than a minute on the clock. An up and down performance isn’t shocking from a 20-year old, but some more consistency will be key for Williams to lock down a big role.
Dud: Albert McClellan
Close to the line of scrimmage, Albert McClellan had some nice moments. In coverage, though, it was a disaster for the veteran linebacker. He’s a two-down thumper at linebacker and special teamer, nothing more.
Dud: Backup Secondary
Along with the aforementioned Asa Jackson, the backup secondary as a whole struggled mightily. Anthony Levine was around the ball a few times and failed to make the play. Likewise for Kyle Arrington. Once the starters took the bench, the Saints started gashing the Ravens defense through the air, going 11-for-15 for 136 yards in the first half alone. That was after the Ravens held the Saints to two three and outs to start the game.
Stud: Carl Davis
Carl Davis’ three tackles don’t even begin to touch the impact he had on this game, as he penetrated the defense repeatedly and helped stuff the run. Though the backup defense struggled as a whole, Davis was not the issue. He looked stout enough to defend the nose and athletic enough to play some three-tech.
Shawn began his writing career with Bleacher Report as a Ravens featured columnist and Breaking News Team writer. He moved on to write for Yahoo! and work on the Ravens Central Radio podcast. Most recently, he was an Editor at the Baltimore Wire. Shawn is a 2013 graduate of the Catholic University of America.