For the first time during the 2012 Training Camp the Ravens donned their full combat suits and engaged in some live hitting. The best shots of the day were delivered by Bernard Pollard and Emanuel Cook.
That said it wasn’t enough to please defensive line coach Clarence Brooks who was irate over the defensive line’s poor tackling. These eyes have never seen the mild-mannered Brooks so chapped and he delivered a tongue-lashing that Jon Gruden would have been proud of.
Corey Graham was brought to the Ravens for his plus special teams skills but yesterday he showed that he is a capable DB. During red zone drills he jumped a Joe Flacco pass intended for Tandon Doss at the 10-yard line and took it the distance for a pick 6. Later during practice, Jacoby Jones quit on a 9 route. Graham didn’t and made an outstanding catch deep in the end zone for the touchback.
Speaking of Jacoby Jones, just when you thought that he was settling in nicely and showcasing decent hands, a pass caroms off his mitts and into those of LB Albert McClellan who took it to the house for a pick 6.
Ryan McBean’s aggression had to be tempered a bit by the coaches. One Ravens source sees McBean as a solid replacement for Cory Redding who left for Indianapolis during the offseason. McBean will miss the first three games of the 2012 season due to violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy.
Tyrod Taylor has been solid thus far during camp. He does have to bail out on a play quicker than Flacco because of his below average height but for the most part he’s delivered crisp passes on the mark. On Saturday he hit LaQuan Williams with a 66 yard rainbow for a score.
Michael Oher is in outstanding shape and has held up well thus far during camp at left tackle. The Ravens coaching staff is quick to point out that they don’t see Oher as any less of a left tackle than Bryant McKinnie. They just felt that last year the combination of McKinnie at left tackle and Oher at right was the best combination of offensive linemen that they could field. We’ll see if they feel the same way this season. Should Oher get the nod at LT he will be challenged often taking on the likes of Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Trent Cole, Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali, Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith and outside linebacker Brooks Reed, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison, Washington Redskins outside linebacker Brian Orakpo and New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. That impressive array of edge rushers combined for 89 1/2 sacks in 2011.
OTHER QUICK HITS: Courtney Upshaw suffered a stinger in his right shoulder but appeared to be okay afterwards and didn’t require treatment. Upshaw’s teammates have been impressed by the former 2012 National Champion…Anquan Boldin looks very comfortable running from the slot and he and Flacco connected on several scores during red zone drills…Dennis Pitta is developing into a go-to guy for Flacco but he didn’t come close to duplicating his performance on Friday. He failed to hold on to a couple of catchable balls. Ed Dickson on the other hand made a spectacular diving catch to produce a 20-yard pick up… Billy Cundiff is the author of the only failed FGA so far this camp, a 48 yarder that was off to the left. Cundiff has connected on 18 of 19 field goals in three practices, while undrafted rookie kicker Justin Tucker has connected on all 20 of his attempts, the longest being from 57 yards out.
