OWINGS MILLS — Baltimore Ravens rookie offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele was activated from the physically unable to perform list after being sidelined this week with back spasms. The second-round draft pick from Iowa State practiced Friday for the first time since initially getting hurt during an organized team activity in May. Osemele lined up at right offensive tackle with the first-team offense and didn’t look that rusty, displaying a powerful hand punch and sound footwork. "This was a good day to get him back," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "We … Continue reading →

Ok, let’s get this out of the way because as a fan of the Ravens, I’m sick of the name Bryant McKinnie and the focus should be on the field and not his ample hind parts! McKinnie is a mess! He’s up to his ass in alligator creditors who he apparently intends to stiff; probably doesn’t want to come back to the team because his $200,000 game checks could all be handed over to said creditors; he’s allegedly partying in South Beach the day before he is supposed to report … Continue reading →

From time to time throughout camp we will post the results of one-on-one matchups as well as the results of the 2 minute offense. This can be fast and furious at times and from the vantage point given to the media, it is very difficult to be 100% precise with the yard markings. Back when camp was held in Westminster, the media could traverse the sideline and follow the play from the line of scrimmage. Now that there are roped off areas for fans we are no longer able to … Continue reading →

New additions to practice today at the Under Armour Performance center included pads and multiple loudspeakers. As sweat dripped off players and game conditions were simulated, songs such as Seven Nation Army, Thunder Struck and Teenage Wasteland echoed off the “Castle” walls and filled the muggy air. The Ravens hosted their first fully padded practice, subsequent iterations of which will begin to create separation between players in some of the more grueling position battles. Running backs and both offensive and defensive lines will be put to the test more thoroughly … Continue reading →

OWINGS MILLS — Baltimore Ravens All-Pro defensive tackle Haloti Ngata injured his hamstring during a mandatory conditioning test and placed on the active physically unable to perform list. Ngata was sidelined for the first full-team practice of training camp, but was at the Ravens’ training complex working out and rehabbing his leg. It’s unclear when Ngata will be back on the field. "Haloti tweaked his hamstring a little bit," coach John Harbaugh said. "We’re going to take it slow and make sure he’s OK." Ngata was noticeably heavier at a … Continue reading →

OWINGS MILLS — The lobbed throw from Joe Flacco arrived too late, a mistimed spiral that never reached its target. Instead of connecting with wide receiver Anquan Boldin along the sideline, the Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback was intercepted by $50 million shutdown cornerback Lardarius Webb. And Webb streaked in the other direction for the first unofficial touchdown of the season as the reigning AFC North champions opened training camp Thursday afternoon. In sweltering weather conditions that nearly reached the century mark for temperature, the defense applied most of the heat as … Continue reading →

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS Offense No wonder Curtis Painter never won a game as a starter. He probably completed more passes to the guys in the white shirts than he did to the guys wearing purple. The defense wears white. And to think that this guy beat out Kyle Boller – not that he’s all that but I can’t say that Boller ever looked quite as bad as Kurt Cobain did yesterday…Joe Flacco is carrying an air of confidence and swagger that we’ve yet to see and so far his passes, … Continue reading →

Cloud cover spared players and fans from scorching temperatures, as the Ravens took to the field for what was their second full team practice of the season. The mood of practice was livelier today as the team joked with each other and even looked to be in midseason form as players argued with stand-in officials, pleading for calls to go their way. Lardarius Webb was the only major surprise not on the field today as he was excused from practice to deal with a personal issue. Webb is expected to … Continue reading →

One of the reasons that NFL teams find it so difficult to stay alive during the post season on a regular basis is that successful teams have their rosters poached. Success breeds greater contractual demands and when teams can no longer afford the escalating salaries due to cap constraints they are forced to say goodbye to developing players looking to score on their second contracts. They then look towards the next man up. The quality of that next man up often is determined by the skill sets of the men … Continue reading →

It wasn’t Westminster, but 200 lucky Ravens fans received an invite to watch training camp at the Ravens practice facility in Owings Mills. Today marked the first official time the Ravens have practiced as a team for the 2012 season. The Under Armour Performance Center donned a few extra tents on the sidelines which accompanied cheering fans for some of their favorite Ravens. Players donned shells, helmets and shorts in a scortching 101 degree afternoon and the intensity of practice definitely increased as 37 players on the field will not … Continue reading →

Rookie outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw has passed a mandatory conditioning test and is now cleared to practice. Upshaw initially flunked the timed series of runs on his first try and was placed on the non-football injury list. Now, Upshaw has been activated along with undrafted rookie tight end Bruce Figgins. Figgins also failed the test. Upshaw indicated via his Twitter account that he missed one walk-through practice before passing the test on his second try. The conditioning test involves six 150-yard sprints run in 25-yard intervals akin to a suicide … Continue reading →

OWINGS MILLS — Blocking sleds recoiling from contact, the thud of kickers booting field goals and the familiar cadence of coaches exhorting players have returned. It’s the familiar sounds of an NFL training camp. As the Baltimore Ravens’ rookies, quarterbacks and injured veterans from last season hit the field today at team headquarters for the first practice of camp with the first full-team practice scheduled for Thursday, several jobs are at stake. One season removed from reaching the AFC championship game and losing to the New England Patriots, the defending … Continue reading →

Camp Notes & Injury Updates As rookies, quarterbacks and injured veterans from last season took to the field today at the Under Armour Performance Center, technically kicking off the Baltimore Ravens 2012 training camp, the fun really gets started tomorrow when most notable Ravens will arrive in Owings Mills around 9AM. John Harbaugh confirmed during his post-practice press conference that he has spoken to Ed Reed and it’s expected he will arrive on Wednesday and participate in the first full team practice set for Thursday at 2:30PM. While Reed’s work … Continue reading →

Today’s practice will be the last time the team is together before training camp begins on July 26th. Here are some important storylines to look for as mandatory mini-camp wraps up: Joe Flacco’s Fatherhood Update: In mini-camp things aren’t too serious and our lead story is one on a lighter note. Flacco left Owings Mills in a hurry yesterday morning to be with his wife, Dana, as she went into labor with the couple’s first child. The Flaccos were unaware of the sex of the child and at the conclusion … Continue reading →

As the Ravens wrapped up their final day of mini-camp the focus quickly shifted to Terrell Suggs as he took to the podium to address the media for the first time publicly since his Achilles injury. Earlier this week Suggs was given the green light to lose the crutches and replace them with a black walking boot on his right leg. The reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Year put the boot through the paces, hobbling through the Under Armour Training Center between team meets and rehab with Ravens trainer … Continue reading →

Sunday concluded the Ravens’ first mini-camp of the season as forty players – compiled from draft picks, undrafted free-agents and a few of last years practice squad players – took the field to try to earn a spot on the roster with the defending AFC North champions. For most NFL teams, these practices are considered a walkthrough with very few drills and even less contact being made. Head Coach John Harbaugh said on Sunday, “We don’t ever have walkthroughs. As a matter of fact, that term is forbidden around here.” … Continue reading →

I have gone through the Ravens’ roster as it sits today and I have circled who in my opinion are 38 lead pipe locks (list below) to make the Ravens’ final 53 man roster. The mix of those players goes like this: (2) QB’s; (5) WR’s; (3) RB’s; (2) TE’s; (5) OL’s; (8) DB’s; (5) LB’s; (5) DL’s; (3) Specialists. The rationale behind the players that I have NOT included among the 38 may stem from performance, salary cap issues; an abundance of talent at the position or there may … Continue reading →

OFFENSE One way to stave off a big pass rush is to run the football or execute screens. On Tuesday the Ravens spent a significant part of practice focusing on both. Working in the red zone while facing a third and 10 from the 15, Joe Flacco, Ricky Williams and the O-line executed a flawless screen to the right that resulted in a touchdown, Williams scampering in untouched. It’s interesting to watch Williams. He’s very professional and workmanlike seemingly speaking only when spoken to. He’s shown a burst in short … Continue reading →

The WBAL live coverage from the sidelines was cheesy, embarrassing, distracting, oftentimes annoying and mostly unnecessary. If they had given Qadry Ismail the day off and just allowed Gerry Sandusky to set up Stan White to explain the various segments of practice albeit briefly, it may have worked. But for the most part it seemed like someone playing a boom box featuring The Backstreet Boys over the live tunes of Jimmy Buffett. Throughout camp the Ravens have been emphasizing the back shoulder throw. When executed properly such a pass is … Continue reading →

OFFENSE Joe Flacco had a rough day on Wednesday seemingly rattled by Chuck Pagano’s aggressive blitz packages. The Ravens’ QB was handicapped in part by a few things: 1) A patchwork offensive line missing starters Birk, Grubbs & Yanda; 2) A less than impressive trio of receivers running with the first team (Boldin, Justin Harper & Brandon Jones); and the fact that the offense was practicing pass plays almost exclusively and Pagano’s unit knew it. That said, Flacco still struggled during 6 on 7 drills (as opposed to the more common … Continue reading →