The Ravens’ revamped roster has fans excited. Baltimore’s front office, in recent weeks, has been able to fill big holes on the roster with quality talent through both the draft and free agency.
The additions of Breshad Perriman, Maxx Williams and Kyle Arrington were huge boons to the Ravens’ roster and their chances of winning the AFC North in 2015. Many analysts now have the Ravens as the favorite to capture the division this year. In order for these predictions to come to fruition the coaching staff will need immediate impacts from all three, which will be a bigger challenge for the rookies, Williams and Perriman.
Making the leap from the collegiate level to the NFL can be a major challenge for most rookies. For every Odell Beckham Jr. and Mike Evans, there are dozens of other players who don’t make the transition as seamlessly. Relying on athletic talent no longer translates to greatness on the field; everyone in the NFL is gifted physically. Preparation, extra time in the weight room, classroom work and studying film will often set great players apart. Just go ask Ed Reed – he’s often credited his success largely to preparation and film study, and being able to diagnose a play before the snap.
Fortunately for the Ravens there is a pretty good chance that this is something that Perriman and Williams already have an understanding of for one big reason: their bloodlines.
Both players come from NFL families. Breshad’s father Brett had a very successful NFL career. His contributions are best remembered as part of a potent passing attack that helped complement perhaps the best running back in NFL history, Barry Sanders. Perriman currently ranks third on Detroit’s all-time list with 428 receptions for 5,244 yards. He finished his career with 525 receptions, 6,589 yards, and 30 touchdowns. Breshad was taught a valuable lesson by his father.
“He taught me that hard work beats everything,” the younger Perriman says, per BR.com’s Ryan Mink. “You can’t rely on talent all the time, because everyone at this level is talented, so you have to beat your competitors with hard work.”
Maxx Williams’ father Brian was an NFL center for the New York Giants from 1989 to 1999. He was a first-round pick who understands the high expectations that go along with being an early-round selection. So what was Brian’s advice to his son after he was drafted?
“He said, ‘You know what, you have to earn respect,’” Maxx said, also per Mink. “‘You have to go in shut your mouth and go to work every day and earn the respect of your teammates and show who you are, because now you’re at the highest level where no matter what, everyone’s the best there is.”
While the Ravens obviously didn’t draft either player solely due to the fact that they came from NFL families, it’s invaluable experience and something that Ozzie Newsome himself acknowledged. Newsome said being the son of an NFL player is an advantage because “the game isn’t going to be too big.”
After their successful draft, there are high expectations for the Ravens going into 2015. In order for those expectations to be met the Ravens will be counting on both Perriman and Williams to contribute and play major roles in their offense right away. For both players the physical tools are already there, and it seems like both players are on the right track mentally. Their lineage has certainly given them a head start, and that’s good news for the Ravens.
