There is a legitimate question as to how much OTAs matter. I think it’s clear that there are some circumstances that matter more than others. Bringing in a new QB, having a new coaching staff or offensive scheme, big time FA adds all put more scrutiny on the camps than we’d typically expect. To some degree, I think there’s some of those some tenets going on with Ravens camp right now.
(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)
To some degree Trestman being here matters more than usual. This is Flacco’s 4th OC in 4 years. To some degree this shouldn’t matter to elite QBs, but this is the first time in the last 3 that we’ll essentially use the same system as the prior year. I think that merits attention, because the Ravens have managed to build success on past efforts and continuity in a lot of arenas. It’s about time the offense cracks that list. Without pads and contact we can’t tell how the zone blocking scheme will be implemented, but if it remains the same was we’ve been told, focus on the receivers, their routes and skills (along with the connection to Flacco) can become important. It sounds like the early returns are very good on Trestman. He’s been involved and in the huddle and maybe his animation and hyped up attitude can solve the “emotional and vocal” leadership fans seem to crave on offense.
And yet, this year we’re kind of talking about a brand new receiving corps for Joe. Yes, Aiken, Brown and Smith are still around, but I wonder if the main players from past years will eclipse the number of catches of the new guys. We’ve heard great things already about Perriman and Gilmore, I think both guys could really step up. I’m a bit disappointed that Marlon Brown hasn’t made himself stand out to those covering OTAs more. He’s a guy that seems to fit Trestman’s profile for what he likes to do and is a guy that has the sure hands that can make contested catches that Trestman talks about. But it sounds from early reports that Aiken is impressing again in OTAs, just like he did in camp next year is going to be a guy to keep an eye on.
The defense had some big losses by name as well, but I trust Pees to bring on some continuity. This year we could be seeing his best secondary combination yet. He’s always been well regarded by some and panned by others, I think with a full complement of guys in the secondary, we’ll finally find out this year if he it was personnel dictating decisions or is he just at his core a bit more passive/conservative. Without the contact and the hitting, it seems almost impossible to make any meaningful assessments of defenders.
It seems like the season is a long ways off, but we’re under 100 days now until we get started, it’s time to start paying attention a bit, and hope these guys can stay healthy through OTAs.
Believe it or not, it looks like Dennis Pitta is on the field and in uniform. This is a welcome surprise and led to ESPN’s Stephania Bell even posting this picture and lauding Pitta via Twitter today. Free Safety Terrence Brooks also worked out in team drills, reported by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley on Twitter on June 3.
It looks like Will Hill and Matt Elam are battling it out for the starting safety spot? The Ravens seem ready to hand the FS spot to newly acquired Kendrick Lewis, and that makes this a bad sign for Matt Elam’s role this upcoming year. Both Hill and Elam are getting reps with the first team.
Lorenzo Taliaferro also showed up at camp a bit thinner. And it was noticed by reporters and reported in a few different outlets. Good to see him come back with some drive to improve.
Hensley also posted about how, “Marc Trestman is very engaged with the players. He is always a few steps away from the huddle and could be heard speaking to players as they were running their routes. This is a different approach from Gary Kubiak, who took on more of an observer role in practices.”
It also appears there was a first round draft pick sighting. “Breshad Perriman easily got behind the secondary. On one play running from the left slot he ran a streak parallel to the hash marks and from jump street beat his man. He caught passes rather effortlessly and if you hadn’t seen the choreographed video lowlights of his drops at Central Florida, you would never know the guy has been labeled a player with bad hands. It’s early, and admittedly Perriman was running with the second team and therefore not against the best Ravens defenders. But it’s a start – and a good one.”
Sounds like there were some positive reports on Kamar Aiken and Kelechi Osemele across the board. Interesting to note that Aiken is working with the starters right now.
Ravens Analyst
Jordan Kough is a graduate of University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He’s a long standing Ravens and Orioles fan of many years. He grew up just north of Baltimore and likes the statistical analysis of games as much as watching games themselves.