Training Camp Comments, Questions and Concerns

[hawkprey]

Yes, all true, especially Brown and Companaro. Brown is much more than just a redzone guy. Showed good range today. Has more speed than I thought.

That's good. I'm very skeptical about players and Marlon is my #1 target of that. For some reason, I really trust Campanaro though. Maybe it's because he's only projected to be a role playing slot guy. Which is fine. I think he could take advantage of WR screens if we actually start running them.

 

Any other observations from practice? I get really into the updates.

[arnie_uk]

Cb was a high position of concern for me in the draft. Was very disappointed we took mosley when dennard was on the board thought he'd be perfect to play outisde on nickel and slide webb in.

[Moderator 3]

Observations:

Our veteran players on defense (Ngata, Suggs, Dummervil, etc.) look to be in great shape and were setting the tone in drills. I don't think leadership will be an issue.

Eugene Monroe is huge and chiseled. I expect him to dominate regularly. Justin Tucker missed an attempted field goal...from 80 yards. Made the rest, though. Ryan Jensen (a personal favorite) was playing LG with the third string and looked very good there.

Punt returner drills were very interesting. They ran a bunch of different exercise to test/develop skills like spotting and tracking the ball, catching in traffic, catching one-handed, etc. Toussaint didn't seem to be very good at it, but the multitude of others all did pretty well. I think we'll have plenty of options.

Tyrod looked good in drills, but not when they went 11 on 11. Kept overthrowing receivers.

Suggs is still hilarious.

[Bruce_Almty]

Observations:

 

 

Thanks 3 for the observation; I'm hoping you will continue this type of post for the next few weeks. The 10~15 bubble guys are of interest to me.

Thaks.

[Moderator 3]

I only got to go today. We tried for more passes, but couldn't win them.

[flynismo]

Same. Either that or our deep passing offense is really just that good haha

It might be. From what I've heard, Steve Smith is back to his old self, with a vengance....for whatever that is worth this time of the year.

 

Chykie isn't the only one getting abused by the bombs.

[Static]

I'm not one for hype but Steve Smith is blowing up everything.

[pmr468]

Any news about Terrence Brooks?

[Static]

Any news about Terrence Brooks?

Third team reps and I honestly haven't heard anyone compliment him or mention him really.

[K-Dog]

I'm not one for hype but Steve Smith is blowing up everything.

Torrey and Steve on the field is going to frustrate DC's

[flynismo]

Anyone else getting the feeling this is the year Flacco destroys the league?

[rmw10]

Anyone else getting the feeling this is the year Flacco destroys the league?

Does 75000 yards constitute destruction? If so, no. I think Flacco will fall just short of that at 73481 yards.

In all seriousness, yes. I think he has a major breakout this year.

[DomMcRaven]

Does 75000 yards constitute destruction? If so, no. I think Flacco will fall just short of that at 73481 yards.

In all seriousness, yes. I think he has a major breakout this year.

75,000 yards? Really? Really. You gotta think bigger than that. That's a little too nice and that's not Flacco's style. Flacco is a bully and I believe that Flacco will be the first QB in NFL history to throw for 100,000 yards.

[1/28/01]

Anyone else getting the feeling this is the year Flacco destroys the league?

Why Fly? Why? You just love a little target on ya, huh? "Destroys the league"?

[dhstandard]

Why is it that every time I check Twitter, I see "(Insert player name here) beats Chykie Brown for a TD/deep pass/etc."  That's concerning.

 

Jamison Hensley ‏@jamisonhensley  5m

#Ravens CB Chykie Brown continues to get beat deep in training camp. He hasn't looked good while filling in for Lardarius Webb (back).

 

Aaron Wilson ‏@RavensInsider  7m

Steve Smith made a long leaping catch down the right sideline with Chykie Brown covering him

 

Aaron Wilson ‏@RavensInsider  8m

Jacoby Jones beat Chykie Brown for a long touchdown catch

 

Not surprising to me.  Jacoby Jones, Torrey, and Steve Smith....Our entire secondary should be getting beat deep.  Could be a safety issue as well.

 

And it's the first padded practice.  [profanity deleted] Cody was our star player last pre-season and he had a monster year didn't he?

[SecretAgentMan]

Anyone else getting the feeling this is the year Flacco destroys the league?

Considering we might finally have a coordinater capable of maximizing Flacco's talents for more than a 4 game stretch. If he doesn't go over 4,000, I'll hate him.

Because Kubiak had won SBs with his system... Granted, it was with one of the most talented qbs of all time, but he did it with elway and Flacco is the most physically talented qb he's worked with since John, and isn't too bad himself.

If Steve comes back 65% of the player he used to be.... Then our offense could put on a show

[ratedr]

Flacco's been primed for a "breakout" year for several years now so yeah I'm not really holding my breath for that if I'm being honest.

 

That said if the OL holds up (massive IF) I expect he and the offense as a whole to perform very well.

[ravefan52]

Yeah RB might he our top need next year and I'm an advocate for a WR. I'd love Gurley or Gordon(not you Gordy. Shut up). Pierce has the talent just not the durability.

*ozzie drafts TJ Yeldon*

I definitely see it being a big need. Still mad we drafted Gillmore over Devonta Freeman!

I love both those backs but I also have big questions that would need to be answered. Gurley really needs to stay healthy. For Gordon he needs to prove he can be a threat catching the ball(3 career receptions) because I don't see the point of spending a 1st rounder on a guy who only contributes on running downs. I think they can be great though and would love either here. Also right there with you on a WR. Oh and I don't care for Yeldon all that much.

[SecretAgentMan]

I definitely see it being a big need. Still mad we drafted Gillmore over Devonta Freeman!

I love both those backs but I also have big questions that would need to be answered. Gurley really needs to stay healthy. For Gordon he needs to prove he can be a threat catching the ball(3 career receptions) because I don't see the point of spending a 1st rounder on a guy who only contributes on running downs. I think they can be great though and would love either here. Also right there with you on a WR. Oh and I don't care for Yeldon all that much.

I'm more upset that we took Taliafero... I don't like him... At all lol.

Gilmore made sense. Daniels doesn't play a full season and we needed a blocker. He'll be here for a long time.

WR class next year is pretty decent.. We need a possesion WR.. Which Ozzie will refuse to take since he hates drafting WR. So I see us taking a Diggs or something.

Yeldon's backup is better than he is.... That's all. I don't think Yeldon would be a poor fit, but Gurley or Gordon would be good in our scheme(if Gordon can't catch passes then I wouldn't be surprised if we kept Forsett).

[ratedr]

Good read about our training camp from SI: http://mmqb.si.com/2014/07/25/2014-training-camp-report-baltimore-ravens/

 

Especially agree with this:

 

 

Joe Flacco, who had more interceptions (22) than touchdowns (19) for the first time, will be much better this season—and it doesn’t have much to do with the additions of Smith and Daniels, although that can’t hurt. Flacco, arguably for the first time in his career, is working with a true quarterback guru in Kubiak, and one who will coach him tough. Flacco has had a lot of backslappers among his coordinators and position coaches (Hue Jackson, Jim Zorn, Cam Cameron, Jim Caldwell). His experience with Kubiak will be entirely different. It’s something Flacco needs at this point in his career—he needs to take the next step in his decision-making, and Kubiak can get him there. Kubiak’s offense is also more structured than last year’s system under Caldwell, which gave Flacco too much power at the line of scrimmage. It’s obvious that Flacco is better when he’s uncluttered by the scheme.

[ravefan52]

I'm more upset that we took Taliafero... I don't like him... At all lol.

Gilmore made sense. Daniels doesn't play a full season and we needed a blocker. He'll be here for a long time.

WR class next year is pretty decent.. We need a possesion WR.. Which Ozzie will refuse to take since he hates drafting WR. So I see us taking a Diggs or something.

Yeldon's backup is better than he is.... That's all. I don't think Yeldon would be a poor fit, but Gurley or Gordon would be good in our scheme(if Gordon can't catch passes then I wouldn't be surprised if we kept Forsett).

Yeah honestly I wasn't impressed by Taliaferro, but I'm hoping Kubiak knows which backs will succeed in his system.

A blocking TE definitely made sense, I just felt we could have got Gillmore later. And if not there were others who would have been fine. Freeman would have been a better pick IMO.

I'd love to see a WR early, but Ozzie hates doing that so I'm not going to get my hopes up... again. It will probably just be more defenders. However there some receivers I do like.

Yeldon is another injury ridden Bama back. Don't hate him, but I wouldn't take him where he is projected to go.

[flynismo]

Why Fly? Why? You just love a little target on ya, huh? "Destroys the league"?

 

Alright, well how about gives the league a jolly good thrashing?

[flynismo]

Good read about our training camp from SI: http://mmqb.si.com/2014/07/25/2014-training-camp-report-baltimore-ravens/

 

Especially agree with this:

 

I wouldn't disagree with that at all. It's no secret the goon we had at OC held Flacco back.

 

And all the more reason I believe this is the year.

[arnie_uk]

Observations:

Our veteran players on defense (Ngata, Suggs, Dummervil, etc.) look to be in great shape and were setting the tone in drills. I don't think leadership will be an issue.

Eugene Monroe is huge and chiseled. I expect him to dominate regularly. Justin Tucker missed an attempted field goal...from 80 yards. Made the rest, though. Ryan Jensen (a personal favorite) was playing LG with the third string and looked very good there.

Punt returner drills were very interesting. They ran a bunch of different exercise to test/develop skills like spotting and tracking the ball, catching in traffic, catching one-handed, etc. Toussaint didn't seem to be very good at it, but the multitude of others all did pretty well. I think we'll have plenty of options.

Tyrod looked good in drills, but not when they went 11 on 11. Kept overthrowing receivers.

Suggs is still hilarious.

no harm to you but setting the tone in drills doesn't correlate to leadership.

Im personally baffled at eveyone expecting suggs to league. For almost 10 years he was the class clown, he just can't turn that off and lead like ray. Thats who he is.

He also seems to try to fob leadership off to joe every chance he get. Now I haven't seen the interviews, just quotes, so they could be totally out of context. But he did it last year as well

[redrum52]

no harm to you but setting the tone in drills doesn't correlate to leadership.

Im personally baffled at eveyone expecting suggs to league. For almost 10 years he was the class clown, he just can't turn that off and lead like ray. Thats who he is.

He also seems to try to fob leadership off to joe every chance he get. Now I haven't seen the interviews, just quotes, so they could be totally out of context. But he did it last year as well

Joe is the qb and should be a leader. Suggs time is coming to an end soon.

[Ravensfan23]

I'm going to be so upset if they cancel practice tomorrow because of the rain. I won that nice little contest on here. I'd love to be able to see guys myself and form judgment.

 

I won it too. Couldn't we all just move indoors.

 

Congrats to both of you guys. I know you guys will have a great time. Of course we expect full detailed reports from what you see. lol

[Ravensfan23]

no harm to you but setting the tone in drills doesn't correlate to leadership.

Im personally baffled at eveyone expecting suggs to league. For almost 10 years he was the class clown, he just can't turn that off and lead like ray. Thats who he is.

He also seems to try to fob leadership off to joe every chance he get. Now I haven't seen the interviews, just quotes, so they could be totally out of context. But he did it last year as well

 

Ray was a special leader and not many if any can fill his shoe. I'm not sure why it seems that people think the Ray Lewis style of leadership is the only form of leadership. I'm not sure if you've ever played sports or how high of a level you've played, but setting the tone in drills is a big part of leadership. We have a fairly young team and to see older guys like Steve Smith practicing like he's playing in a game is not only eye opening to younger players but also sets a standard. The same is said for Suggs and the other vets leading the way. They can't be Ray Lewis and don't have to be.

 

Yes Suggs is who he is, just as Flacco is who he is, but that doesn't mean those guys don't have leadership qualities and characteristics, just because they aren't Ray Lewis. These guys lead in their own ways.

[arnie_uk]

Ray was a special leader and not many if any can fill his shoe. I'm not sure why it seems that people think the Ray Lewis style of leadership is the only form of leadership. I'm not sure if you've ever played sports or how high of a level you've played, but setting the tone in drills is a big part of leadership. We have a fairly young team and to see older guys like Steve Smith practicing like he's playing in a game is not only eye opening to younger players but also sets a standard. The same is said for Suggs and the other vets leading the way. They can't be Ray Lewis and don't have to be.

Yes Suggs is who he is, just as Flacco is who he is, but that doesn't mean those guys don't have leadership qualities and characteristics, just because they aren't Ray Lewis. These guys lead in their own ways.

im played various sports snd various levels and training hard is a prerequisite, not a sign of leadership

[arnie_uk]

Joe is the qb and should be a leader. Suggs time is coming to an end soon.

if your not loud and in your face your not loud and in your face. Him changing his demeanour to try to pick up the mantel left by ray wouldn't be effective leadership. You can't follow someone thats "false" ie not being who he is.

I don't buy that your qb needs tp be angry and cuss players out like suggs says. Many people say unitas was the best qb in history and from what I've read of him, his deamenaour is more joe than it is cutler.

[arnie_uk]

You have various different kinds of leaders. The ray lewis in yours face cheerleader types, the suggs type that lighten mood, keep everyone uplifted, the joe types that never get flustered, stay level and remain a calming influence.

All are leaders in their own way, and all are needed to be successful. We just appear to be missing the ray lewis type.