By now, if you’ve followed Baltimore’s offseason closely, you’re probably excited to see this new-look Ravens offense hit the field.
RAVENS POTENTIAL 2023 OFFENSE:
🔹QB Lamar Jackson
🔹RB J.K. Dobbins
🔹RB Gus Edwards🔹FB Patrick Ricard
🔹WR Odell Beckham Jr.
🔹WR Rashod Bateman
🔹WR Zay Flowers
🔹WR Nelson Agholor
🔹WR Devin Duvernay🔹TE Mark Andrews
🔹TE Isaiah Likely pic.twitter.com/mOzt8NamxD— Ravens Nation LIVE (@LIVERavenNation) May 5, 2023
As always, the Ravens have had some personnel changes on that side of the ball, and the consensus is that, on paper, this is one of the most potent offenses we’ve seen for Baltimore in a long time. A changing of the guard at OC coupled with the addition of major receiving threats in Odell Beckham, Jr. and Zay Flowers suggests that this offense could be extremely difficult to defend.
Zay Flowers’ ability to cut on a dime is something ELSE 😳
Flowers and Odell Beckham in the same WR room is going to be LETHAL. pic.twitter.com/3Iv0AaAmUP
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) May 8, 2023
OBJ's been in the lab. 👀 @Ravens
📹: via @obj, georgejefff/IG pic.twitter.com/MZSS1JyvyS
— NFL (@NFL) May 8, 2023
Despite the excitement, though, I’ve noticed a strange subplot emerging: the distinct absence of respect for Rashod Bateman, especially from national outlets talking about Baltimore’s offense. Look at the graphic below from BR Gridiron. Notice any omissions?
Ravens been upgrading on offense all offseason.
Where do their skill players rank in the AFC? pic.twitter.com/Q4laPjSQYV
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 28, 2023
How about when you listen to the dismissive attitude of former Bengals DB Pacman Jones when discussing… Rasheed Batman?
Mark Andrews (probably):
“Do it.
“Please, do it.”pic.twitter.com/H9cHGCsWWo
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) May 5, 2023
If you couldn’t tell from Pacman’s assertion that you could lock down the Ravens offense by doubling OBJ, he’s not the most astute football mind in the world. The point remains the same, though: despite being a legitimate offensive weapon, Bateman is being largely discounted by outsiders as a lesser factor, and I think it’s going to be at their peril.
Fun Fact
Rashod Bateman lead the AFC North in yards per reception last season. He averaged 19 yards per reception in a Greg Roman run heavy scheme
Todd Monken scheme should lead to a magnificent season for Bate. IF healthy🤞🏼🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/AOH7wjggB6
— RavensFlock20 (@Bateman_Szn7) May 7, 2023
Rashod Bateman only played 120 routes (injury). Albeit a small sample, we saw him flash the talent that made him a first-rounder.
23% targets per route (WR2-worthy since 2011)
2.38 yards per route (WR1-worthy)My favorite Ravens' WR at ADP.
— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland) May 5, 2023
The sticking point of both tweets above is, of course, injury. Injured players missing time has been ubiquitous the past few seasons for Baltimore, and some of the reason that Bateman’s impact might be getting downplayed goes back to that old football cliché of the greatest ability being availability. He seems to be on the mend following Lisfranc surgery, and now brings his first-round talent into a new offensive scheme flanked by legitimate weapons. For me, there’s no reason he can’t become WR1 in this offense.
Looks like Ravens WR Rashod Bateman, who underwent surgery on his Lisfranc (foot) injury in November, is back running.
All reports from the Ravens on his rehab have been positive.
(via IG/rashodbateman) pic.twitter.com/srjRHGY9br
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) April 19, 2023
From a national media (read: lazy) standpoint, it’s easy to look at the stat line in the absence of game footage and write a player off… but in year three? With the individual production he’s had despite two unrelated freak injuries? The lack of respect is baffling, and for a player who already has a chip on his shoulder…
"Us against everybody, for sure."
Watch @R_bateman2 on The Lounge ➡️https://t.co/Z9nGcNdCeD pic.twitter.com/vXet3uNLxA
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 22, 2022
…hopefully the offseason discourse will be the push that unlocks the peak of his potential.
One thing is for sure: if Bateman shows up 100% coming out of camp, look for him to make a massive impact in the red zone early and often. If teams aren’t respecting the offensive threat that he represents, he’s going to burn opposing CB2s league wide. With the hopeful transformation offensively from a system that struggled to execute…
total points scored on the 1st drive of either half last year:
113 – PHI
107 – CHI
104 – SF
100 – KC
93 – LV
92 – JAX
86 – SEA
85 – BUF*
82 – DET
81 – NO
80 – MIA
78 – LAC
77 – CIN*
75 – CLE
74 – DAL, NE
68 – MIN
67 – ATL, CAR
65 – TEN
57 – DEN
56…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 8, 2023
…to a system under Todd Monken that was deadly in red zone situations…
In 2022 Georgia was the #1 red zone offense in the country. UGA dominated this category in total conversions (81 – next closest Michigan w/ 65) & conversion % (.976).
Here are 4 red zone conversion plays from their win over Ohio State… RPO, Q Run, Pocket Mover & Dropback.. pic.twitter.com/esHLN1ZEcE
— James Light (@JamesALight) May 8, 2023
…teams are going to learn to put some respect on Rashod Bateman’s name, one way or another.
6 Responses
When Bateman spoke out against the FO he sealed his fate. This is a results based business in case you’ve forgotten. So that means your best ability is always availability. Folks like yourself don’t understand practice or adhere to fundamental football. For you it’s just what’s the next toy. You believe that the next WR off the board will fix everything. You continue to ignore the shortcomings of Lamar and just assume production will happen. Monken is installing an entirely new scheme with some old concepts. So when folks say Flowers is it, before he’s played a down of pro ball you’re just a hype machine. Real football sets in when you realize half your roster is on IR. Real football is when your on the 1 yard line and punch it in instead of fumbling for a 99 yard td return. But every time the draft comes around the purple kool-aid comes out. Good luck with your paper tiger team.
Weren’t you the same person saying Zay Flowers was going to a JaMarcus Russell-tier bust? So it’s fine to bury a player that hasn’t played a down of NFL football, but not to suggest that they might have success?
Far be it from me to trust All-22 film, a college résumé and consensus evaluations from league scouts when I could be taking your opinion as gospel.
This is all over the place.
The article is about has Bateman become the forgotten guy or overlooked.
you said he’s finished because a tweet, it’s more likely another injured plague year would seal his fate not an emotional tweet.
Until Bateman can play an entire season, it may be best to not depend on his output too much, there by the lack of respect.
Im a huge Bateman guy. If he plays 15 games he blows our other WRs out the water
Co-worker of mine (he’s a Saints fan) was saying he think Bateman will be the number 1.
My reply was simply if he can be healthy he can put up some reasonable numbers but I have to see him healthy to believe it.
I feel like Bateman and OBJ both need healthy campaigns. My biggest fear is those two combining to play only 17 games between them.