Flowers Anyone?
Yesterday I took in my first day of Training Camp 2023 and with each new year there are subtle changes regarding how the media reports on and from camp. This year is no different. Upon entering the fields there’s this new plot of grass adjacent to Field No. 2 upon which the media gathers to take in practice. It’s a large swatch of grass reminiscent of the rough I often play from at Mountain Branch in Fallston. Watching it grow is sometimes more exhilarating than the action on the field.
Sometimes…
Be that as it may, the first bit of action that I observed from our assigned acreage was Justin Tucker warming up. Tuck used the tripod tee that you’ll see him put through the paces prior to any Ravens game. Thunderous explosions were the norm from Justin’s right foot as it swung through the air effortlessly like a Brooks Koepka pitching wedge. Thirty-two, 40, 46, 50, 55-yard attempts split the uprights with precision and if any attempt missed its mark, Tuck verbalized frustration with a word that rhymes with something those Royal Farms chickens might do while scampering through the hen house.
Tuck’s longest connection was from 70 yards – his own 40-yard line. An attempt from 75 yards out was a bit short and left. Time for Eric DeCosta to seek alternatives? 😉
Another day in pads at Ravens camp. Don’t see safety Geno Stone out here. He left practice yesterday with an apparent ankle injury, but John Harbaugh didn’t believe it was serious.
No other surprises, attendance-wise. pic.twitter.com/5Ois26AC8H
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) August 1, 2023
OTHER OBSERVATIONS
• I wanted to spend a little time focusing upon Outside Linebackers Coach, Chuck Smith. Smith emphasizes a few things to his corps of edge rushers. He wants them to be multiple. In other words, don’t tip your pitches. He stresses to the players to create winning leverage while working on hand technique to help his pass rushers disengage from would-be blockers.
Outside Linebackers Coach Chuck Smith (floppy hat, purple shirt) refining the technique of his edge rushers. pic.twitter.com/MbwEY9y4vr
— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) August 2, 2023
• On the far field closest to the indoor facility (Field No. 1), Zay Flowers had his way with DB’s during one-on-ones to the delight of fans. Flowers has suddenness and purpose with his route running. His change of direction skills are top shelf and during these drills, given his skill set and diminutive size, he clearly has the upper hand. He hauled in a couple of scoring strikes.
[Related Article: D-Line Camp Notes]
• Those pay dirt visits weren’t limited to one-on-ones. During 7-on-7 red zone scrimmaging, Flowers found the end zone twice. It’s worth noting that the line of scrimmage was the 10-yard line and therefore passing windows are more compressed. Despite that, Flowers created a sizeable window in the back left corner of the end zone to set up a very easy TD toss from Lamar Jackson. Flowers’ efforts were lauded by the coaching staff.
Get used to seeing this 🔥@Lj_era8 ➡️ @ZayFlowers | @Hyundai pic.twitter.com/HwqqpYTGdd
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 1, 2023
• During the same red zone scrimmaging Odell Beckham, Jr. found his way into the end zone a couple of times as well. OBJ beat Rock Ya-Sin twice. Once in the same back left corner as Flowers and then again just inside of the front left pylon showing vice-like hands, snatching the ball from Ya-Sin. Later during the session, OBJ beat Ya-Sin deep down the left sideline but failed to hold on to a beautifully thrown ball from Lamar. It should have gone for a 70-yard TD. But that aside, OBJ looks fantastic in his movements, burst and those famous mitts, save this one play.
• We’ve seen it done to the Ravens many times – particularly by the Tom Brady-led Patriots. Two receivers inside the 5-yard line, side by side. One executes a legal rub/pick while the other breaks free to the outside. Nelson Agholor and OBJ executed the play perfectly with Agholor latching on to the scoring toss from Lamar.
• Backup QB Josh Johnson shook off a shaky start that included a red zone pick 6 by LB Del’Shawn Phillips. JJ forced the pass in front of the right pylon intended for UDFA TE Travis Vokolek. Johnson settled later in practice during 11-on-11 scrimmaging, hitting WR Sean Ryan on back-to-back plays. The first on a deep crosser and the second on a comeback route outside the numbers to the left. That set up a scoring dart from Johnson to Laquon Treadwell running a 9 down the right sideline. During the same scoring drive Johnson just missed a back shoulder connection with a well-covered WR Tarik Black. Like this time last season, the back shoulder throw seems to be an emphasis.
.@DelShawnP3 snagged it @Hyundai pic.twitter.com/S1zwMJYYKf
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 1, 2023
• The Ravens second team offense ran into a tough patch for a while late in practice when there was a sequence of false starts. LG John Simpson and RT Daniel Faalele were the culprits. It was a rough afternoon for the second-year tackle out of Minnesota via Melbourne, Australia. Rookie Tavius Robinson had his way with Faalele during scrimmaging, delivering regular pressure on Tyler Huntley. Faalele was slow off the block which might explain, in part, his pre-snap twitchiness. He got away with a blatant hold on Broderick Washington who continues to impress.
• Among the young corners vying for a roster spot, Jalyn Armour-Davis and rookie Kyu Kelly stood out the most from my vantage point.
• The crowd was surprisingly sparse. While looking about at the fans in attendance, I couldn’t help but to think back to the days at McDaniel College and my friend Harry O’Sullivan who regularly worked the practices for SAFE Management. I miss my friend and still regret never taking him up on that post-practice dip in his Sykesville, MD pool.
• Defenders seem focused on stripping the ball ala Fruit Punch. I noted two success stories, one by newly acquired Arthur Maulet on OBJ and another by Ya-Sin on Devin Duvernay, both following short passes outside the numbers intended to provide opportunities for YAC. Instead, the receivers yacked it up.
The Ravens are back at it today at 1:20. Will they provide more Flowers?
