The Ravens will wrap their rookie mini camp today and John Harbaugh is happy with the progress he’s seen from his rookies and returning players.
It’s been all about acclimating. It’s showing the rookies the Ravens way and what’s in store for the rookies moving forward. It’s also about what will be expected of them day in and day out as they continue on to OTA’s.
“We just had a good practice,” said Harbs following Saturday’s open practice to the media. “It was our third practice with the rookies, and they have done a great job.
“It has been fun getting them out here,” continued Harbaugh. “They are beginning to get orientated to how we practice and what our schemes are and what our techniques are. I have been very pleased with them thus far.
“We have another practice this afternoon, and then a fifth practice tomorrow morning. We will get them a little weight room acclimation also tomorrow after practice. Meetings – all of the stuff that we do – we are getting them worked into our program.
“It has been very good.”
It’s a lot for the rookies to absorb particularly at the professional level but Harbaugh casually reminded those in attendance exactly what he and his staff look for during rookie minicamp.
“Well, of course we are curious about how they are moving around and how athletic they are and what they look like physically; that is all part of it and seeing what they do,” said Harbaugh. “But also, [it’s about] how they pick things up.
“We throw a lot of football at them, and we want to see how they learn and how they can take football from the meeting room to the practice field, react to situations and just see how quickly they pick things up.
“I will say as a group, they are picking things up well.”
This weekend will indeed tell whether the organization needs to comb the waiver wire if they are skeptical of what they see.
While it’s good news Harbaugh and company have been elated with the solid practices thus far, it’s only just begun. After all, this draft class is one many are keeping close tabs on given the fact the team failed to add any offensive skill position players. Instead, they opted to scoop up on defensive talent.
One group Harbaugh addressed however was the addition of undrafted wide receivers and the talent he sees, albeit in a limited role.
“Here is how it works: You are out there, and you do not get drafted,” Harbaugh stated. “You and your agent and your family are trying to figure out where you should go. Well, you should go where you have the best chance to make it.
“Well, a lot of time that is the team that has not drafted wide receivers”, added John. “It is a little tougher when you draft two or three guys at a position to recruit free agents at that position, obviously. So, these guys, they see it and they feel like they have an opportunity to make this team. We have some good guys. They have looked good so far out here. We had one guy sprain his ankle yesterday, but he will be back maybe tomorrow and certainly when we come back.
“It is true for the D-linemen as well. We have a couple good D-linemen. We really did not draft any defensive tackles, so it has been that way for those guys, too.”
The Ravens have found gems via the undrafted route and nothing would make Ravens fans happier than finding one of these diamonds in the rough at the receiver position for sure.
While it’s a long and winding road to week one, the Ravens rookies have passed their first test.
Next stop, OTA’s where the competition will begin…
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