Three years
ago, the Baltimore Ravens were known for having one of the worst receiving
corps in the NFL. Fast-forward to today, and the Ravens may have one of the
league’s next best.
Not one single
tight end or receiver from the 2009 Ravens team is on the current roster, which
is now full of youth and vigor. The days of Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, and
Todd Heap are now gone as numerous moves via free agency and the draft have
ushered in a new era for Baltimore football. Anquan Boldin remains the
experienced and savvy veteran of the group, as the only other receiver on the
roster to play in more than 16 games is Jacoby Jones.
Entering Friday
night’s game, we already knew that Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, and Jacoby
Jones had the first three receiver positions locked. However, the fourth
position is still up for grabs and the competition continues to be fierce.
LaQuan Williams
caught only two passes, but looked great doing so. Williams snagged a bullet
from Joe Flacco on a short slant early in the game and was able to pick up some
extra YAC as well. He also made an astounding toe-dragging sideline catch that
was very Santonio Holmes-like. Ever since he joined the team last year, he’s
been making plays. His quick hands and acrobatic maneuvers make Williams a
sight to see on game day and if he continues to perform well, don’t be
surprised to see plenty of number 15 during the regular season.
Tandon Doss is
one of the coaches’ favorites to win the fourth position. While he managed only
a single catch against Detroit, don’t doubt his skills. Doss has one of the
best pairs of hand on the team and rarely drops the ball. The former Indiana
Hoosier has been outstanding during training camp and will likely battle Williams
until the final preseason game for the fourth spot.
The two rookie
speedsters, Deonte Thompson and Tommy Streeter, out of Florida and Miami
respectively, have a lot of upside and talent. While Thompson may be a long shot
to make the team, he’s making a case to stay as he continually beats his man.
Deep safeties have trouble staying on top of him as his blazing speed proves to
be his biggest asset. Additionally, he would have had a kickoff return
touchdown against the Lions if he didn’t step out of bounds around midfield.
Streeter is a
very raw talent with a ton of upside. He can be something special one day with
proper coaching as his route running needs polish. But what he lacks in
technique, Streeter makes up for in athleticism, size, and speed. He made
numerous plays on special teams, against the Lions but didn’t see much action
on offense.
The way the
Ravens offense is moving is a step in the right direction. The transformation
to a pass-first league is well underway and it was only a matter of time before
the Ravens got the message and adapted. With quarterback Joe Flacco in place,
it’s about time the Ravens got a solid group of receivers to surround him.
