The Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers kicked off their first of three joint practices together under sunny conditions at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills on Saturday.
With both teams donning full pads, practice began with joint warm-ups before players broke down in to individual drills with their respective teams.
The Ravens’ first team offense picked up where they left off on Thursday night, moving the ball with ease against the 49ers first team defense. While neither team was hitting hard it was easy to see how Gary Kubiak’s new offense is progressing from day to day.
Notes & Observations
Wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. caused various problems for the 49ers’ first string secondary. Smith Sr. exploited cornerback Chris Cook and safety Jimmie Ward. Smith recorded several nice catches on the afternoon including a Joe Flacco bomb that was perfectly placed for a big gain on a deep post route, and a ten yard touchdown reception.
The second team and third team offense struggled at times on Saturday afternoon, failing to protect back-up quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Keith Wenning. 49ers veteran linebacker Aldon Smith feasted on Jah Reid and David Mims, getting into the offensive backfield on numerous plays disrupting both Taylor and the Ravens running game.
Marshal Yanda and Rick Wagner did a nice job against the 49ers blitzers once again. Yanda and Wagner also did a solid job in creating run gaps for Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce throughout first team reps. On one play during 11-on-11 drills, Yanda drove his man seven yards downfield.
Tight end Owen Daniels stood out in pass catching drills and during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. The former Houston Texan made some nice recepetions across the middle of the field in traffic.
Rookie wide receiver Michael Campanaro had perhaps his best practice yet, the highlight being a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch on a ball thrown by Taylor. The speedy wideout saw reps with both the second and third team offenses and had no problems getting open against the 49ers defense.
For all the talk about potential fights leading in to today’s practice, it went off without incident. Throughout the day the players were anything but feisty, shaking hands after plays and tapping each other on the helmets.
Kicker Justin Tucker was good from 56 and 64 yards today.
The Ravens and 49ers will hit the practice field tomorrow beginning at 12 p.m. John Harbaugh and Terrell Suggs will take the podium following practice.
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