Preseason Games Await and The Players Can’t Wait
You’ve probably heard the credo, “embrace the grind”. It serves as a reminder to players that the sweat equity invested during the sweltering days of August upon the fields at The Under Armour Performance Center, are worthy. It’s during those moments when players get a little better, learn a little more and strengthen their bodies for the journey known as the NFL season.
The work can be mundane, redundant and perhaps at times boring, which can lead to a lack of focus, the results of which are unforced errors – errors that can be the difference between employment in the NFL or waiting at home for a call to join another team’s practice squad.
Embrace the grind.
It’s not always easy.
On Friday, the Ravens will host the Philadelphia Eagles during the first of three preseason games. Relative to another 150-minute practice in oppressive heat, these fake games represent a respite of sorts. They also represent an opportunity to compete, to capture the attention of positional coaches. To gain an edge in their quest to make the 53-man squad, or perhaps, impress the opposing coaches should their efforts fail to tantalize John Harbaugh’s staff.
These games represent a “next step” in the process.
Harbaugh said as much on Monday.
“No question. [It’s] very exciting. It gets to that point and time in camp where you really need to do that. It’s kind of part of the evolution – you have to take another step, you have to go tackle, you have to go play a game, you have to go feel and understand the tempo of a game, not a practice. So, we’re looking for it.”
The Illusion of Preseason Games
There was a time when you could count on starters playing a series or two during the first preseason game. Then in game two, they might play a full quarter. In preseason game 3 you might see the 1’s play a full half only to get the entire game off during the preseason finale. But things have changed.
Most starters won’t see the field on Friday, perhaps not even once throughout the three preseason contests. You will see eventual starters, particularly across the offensive line where Coach Joe D’Alessandris is still trying to uncover the right combination of players to keep Lamar Jackson upright and spring Derrick Henry for chain-moving runs.
Despite the changing dynamics of the preseason, one thing is certain. There will be players who capture your attention. Driven by survival instincts, some players will stand out and they will be the talk of the town for a week or two. Then by Week 1 of the regular season, you’re left wondering why they didn’t make the Final 53.
Names like Kaare Vedvik, Anthony Brown, Jr., Randy Hymes, Justin Harper – the list of preseason heroes that will surely expand over the next three weeks. When all is said and done, the best a preseason can do is to allow the coaches to secure the best 53; to get the players bodies prepared for the regular season grind; to emerge on September 5, 2024 in Kansas City with a healthy team.
Something to Watch
One element of Friday’s game which will be interesting to watch is the kickoff. With the new kickoff rules, it will be interesting to see how teams employ their personnel and what surprises they may have in store as they feel their way through this new special teams tinker toy. Special teams ace Malik Harrison concurs:
“Yes, definitely. Just out here, we’re just trying new things just to get a feel for it, but the real test is going to be when we play in a game, so we try to make it seem like it’s like game-night scenarios when we’re out here.”
Other Things to Watch
Without question the team’s strongest unit is its secondary. You know the big names. But it’s the bottom of the unit – those players in the trenches of the depth chart, that make the secondary formidable. They protect the unit against injury – the goal being to not have a noticeable drop off if a starter misses time. And in that regard, a couple of players to watch are Jalyn Armour-Davis and Ar’Darius Washington.
JAD has always had the ability to compete at the NFL level. He just hasn’t provided availability given the plethora of nicks and bruises that have placed him too often on the inactive list. But this season, fingers crossed, JAD is healthy and the results show. It is one of the best developments in camp for a class act like Armour-Davis.
Washington affords the team positional versatility. While he’ll never be a boundary defender, he’s a scrappy slot corner who has the skill set and experience to provide depth at safety. On Monday, the Ravens ushered him up to the podium to field questions from the media. And that’s something that is not haphazardly done. Washington at the podium suggests he’s in good standing with the coaching staff. He spoke about his duties at both SCB and safety.
“Well [with] safety, you’ve got to learn it. You are the quarterback back there, so you’re calling out the plays and everything like that and telling the other guys around [you]. At safety, you’ve more so got to know the defense and understand what [defensive coordinator] ‘Z.O.’ [Zach Orr] is going to call, and when he’s going to call it and everything like that, so that’ll help out the other guys and help yourself out.”
While on The Topic of Versatility
Positional versatility is a coveted trait by O-line Coach Joe D’Alessandris and with the recent injury to Tyler Linderbaum (it’s not expected to be serious) candidates to play center are needed. Patrick Mekari can handle the job but his snaps from the gun haven’t been all that consistent. Ben Cleveland has taken snaps at center but if you ask me, the Ravens are just looking for reasons to keep the 2021 3rd-round pick. But after a visit yesterday from Connor Williams, Cleveland was put on notice.
Free-agent offensive lineman Connor Williams visited the Ravens today. He is said to be considering both the Ravens and Seahawks proposals right now and “should make a decision soon.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 5, 2024
Again, on the subject of positional versatility, Williams provides it. The six-year vet has played both center and guard. He’s racked up 1,553 snaps at center and 3,312 plays at guard. Williams did suffer and ACL injury during week 14 of the 2023 season and it’s quite possible that he might not be available to the team for another month or so. But at this stage of the offseason, acquiring a player with Williams’ talent at a screaming position of need could represent another coup for the imaginative Eric DeCosta.
Depth Chart
The Ravens released their most recent depth chart and on offense, there’s a pleasant surprise given the uncertainties across the offensive front. Mekari is listed as the first-team right tackle – as he should be.
Mekari, the Ravens answer to Kevin McHale, the Boston Celtics outstanding 6th-man from those great 80’s teams, is the best answer for the moment at RT. Roger Rosengarten has struggled against bull rushes during camp and let’s face it, while Odafe Oweh can be menacing (and has had a terrific camp), he’s not T.J. Watt or Myles Garrett. Asking the rookie from Washington to protect Lamar from those two forces of nature, is like asking Ben Cleveland to make us all forget about Marshal Yanda.
Speaking of Marshal (and T-Sizzle)…
First-time eligibles for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 include:
🏈Eli Manning
🏈Terrell Suggs
🏈Marshawn Lynch
🏈Earl Thomas
🏈Aqib Talib
🏈Adam Vinatieri
🏈Luke Kuechly
🏈Marshal Yanda pic.twitter.com/Jo09t55ZNp— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 3, 2024
