After each preseason game we will take a look at how many of the Ravens’ rookies are performing as they acquaint themselves with the NFL. Here’s how a few looked in their very first preseason game (sometimes referred to as a baptism of fire) against the Philadelphia Eagles:
Jared Gaither
Overall Assessment: Worked mostly out of a two-point stance all night… Kept his head on a swivel and seemed in-sync with his assignments… On the first touchdown score, he did a nice job of delaying the end’s rush, but once the end changed direction and dipped inside, Gaither lost his footing and let the end slip by him…Was able to consistently keep any defensive end from extending his shoulders… He did not over-extend… At times, Gaither did not use his hands as actively as he should have, but when he locked up his man, the opponent was unable to disengage… His grip is vise-like…Was able to keep himself parallel to the defender most of the time… Surprisingly nimble in run-blocking situations…There were a couple of times he missed his punch on draw blocks… In the third quarter, he got tremendous forward movement on a block off the left side… Showed that he can handle playing a lot of snaps.
Antwan Barnes
Overall Assessment: Operated out of a three-point stance on every snap… On the first sack, he used an initial jab step to the left to get the right tackle to slide too hard to protect the edge, only to drive hard passed the tackle’s inside shoulder… On the next snap, he used a hard jab step toward the inside, but then curved to the outside off the tackle’s shoulder… Showed terrific shiftiness on his rush moves… He was able to cut sharply when he needed to without losing much acceleration… Displayed impressive power for a first-year player… He showed no hesitation to crash inside against the interior line on a stunt.
Prescott Burgess
Overall Assessment: Whenever he had a chance to lay the lumber, he did so violently… Burgess’ lone sack came on a play in which he showed great technique by yanking the quarterback by his jersey to bring him down to the ground… Overall, he did a sound job of wrapping up in tackling situations… On one particular play, he was able to collide into a guard and a fullback simultaneously to disrupt a running play… In coverage, he showed decent awareness of where he had to slide, but his hips were somewhat stiff… He had some trouble moving laterally to close on the ball against the pass.
