Happy Hump Day, Flock! Of course, it doesn’t quite feel like Wednesday, thanks to the holiday on Monday, but here we are, already half-way to our next weekend, and now less than…
100 days until Ravens football baby pic.twitter.com/vWIWU8xEgg
— The Exit 52 Podcast (@Exit52Podcast) May 31, 2022
However, as you see in the comments there, not everyone is all about throwing away their summer and wishing fall was here that easily. I’m in that group, myself. Though I love me some Ravens football, I love summer and all it entails just a little bit more, and wishing away these three glorious months of sunshine, swimming, and yes, even Orioles baseball, never sat right with me.
A few guys who are hoping for a few more clouds and sub-80 degree days though, are the Ravens players participating in OTAs out in Owings Mills.
The #Ravens Week 2 OTA open to the media today. Afterward, coordinators Greg Roman, Mike Macdonald and Chris Horton are scheduled to meet with the media, as is new S Marcus Williams.
— Bo Smolka (@bsmolka) June 1, 2022
Not among said players, of course, is Lamar Jackson. Fans have been trying to figure out if they should read into this or not. Count RSR head honcho Tony Lombardi among those who think QB1 has plenty of reasons to be there.
If Lamar was returning to a familiar group on offense, concerns about missed #Ravens OTA's wouldn't be as salient. But w/ new RB's unfamiliar w/ the mesh pt. exchange, a new center & unproven WR's w/ which he hasn't spent enough time, the missed practices are opportunity costs. pic.twitter.com/2eFsJocA81
— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) May 26, 2022
One guy who many wouldn’t be surprised to see skipping the workouts is Chuck Clark. Following the signing of Marcus Williams and drafting of Kyle Hamilton, there have been rumors that Clark is on the trading block. Chuck isn’t the kind of guy to sulk though, and he’s putting in the work with his still-teammates.
Back at it‼️@MarcusWilliams @ChuckC36 @Patrickqueen_ @GenoStone22 pic.twitter.com/pbRtiGqnAc
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 31, 2022
Speaking of Hamilton & Williams, when you add them to the rest of the offseason signings (like this one, now official)…
CB Kyle Fuller has passed his physical and his 1-year deal with the Ravens is official.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 31, 2022
…that side of the ball should – on paper – be in for a much improved 2022 campaign.
#Ravens’ defensive additions downright scary:
• Marcus Williams
• Kyle Fuller
• Michael Pierce
• Kyle Hamilton (R)
• David Ojabo (R)
• Travis Jones (R)
• Jalyn Armour-Davis (R)
• Damarion Williams (R)
• Calais Campbell (re-signed)
• Josh Bynes (re-signed)😈🔒
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 31, 2022
Bringing in veterans (Kyle Fuller, Marcus Williams) combined with a youth infusion (Kyle Hamilton, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Damarion Williams) has reshaped the Ravens secondary.
"We’re in a position that I can’t recall we’ve been in before."
📚 @jeffzrebiechttps://t.co/XqQBNg4G4x pic.twitter.com/WnNdg3FO7Z
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) May 30, 2022
Of course, all this hinges on the majority of those dudes staying healthy, so let’s keep our fingers crossed for that.
Finally, since Richie asked me to fill in today, you all get to read about something that most of you probably don’t care about. Too bad! I started this post talking about Memorial Day, and I’m going to finish it that way. It won’t be anything about the spirit of the holiday itself, as Ron and Kevin already took care of things on that front.
No, I’m talking about another event that occurs each Memorial Day and that usually leaves people like me – University of Maryland lacrosse fans – feeling glum: the NCAA Championship game.
Maryland head coach John Tillman took over in 2011, and in 2021 he just appeared in his SEVENTH Championship game. Unfortunately, before this week, John’s Terps had fallen short in five of those previous six attempts to hoist the trophy, with their lone win coming back in 2017 against Ohio State. They’d lost in 2011 (to Virginia), 2012 (Loyola – s/o Tony Lombardi again), 2015 (Denver), 2016 (North Carolina), and 2021 (Virginia).
This year, the Terps steamrolled the competition on their way to an undefeated season, entering Monday’s matchup with Cornell 17-0. Despite taking a 9-2 lead early in the second half, they of course made us sweat things out before holding on for the 9-7 victory and cementing themselves in the conversation of greatest teams of all time.
Undefeated. Undisputed. Unstoppable.
On @TerpsMLax’s completion of college lacrosse’s first unblemished season since 2006. 👇https://t.co/yQnde1sd6l
— Kevin Brown (@kevbrown89) May 30, 2022
History for the Terps!
Maryland becomes the first undefeated D-1 national champ in men's lacrosse since 2006, and the first EVER to finish 18-0 or better 🐢 @TerpsMLax pic.twitter.com/Vedr7BstxF
— ESPN (@espn) May 30, 2022
A hearty congratulations to the hardshells!
While I’m talking lacrosse, I also need to mention Gino Pisano. Gino interned at RSR here a while back, and is the son of Bill, who helps keep the lights on here at RSR behind the scenes.
Gino played his freshman season for the Delaware Blue Hens in 2022, after a successful high school career at Hereford (s/o Bulls), and the Hens knocked off #2 seed Georgetown in the first round. Here’s Gino on the ESPN broadcast after that huge win:
Congrats to Gino from all of us here at RSR, and wishes for continued success!
