Ravens Training Camp News and Notes

Yep. I was keeping a close eye on that one. I'm wondering just how long the Bengals will keep putting up with his crap. He is hurting the team more than helping it. I get they believe in second chances and all that, but when it is detrimental to your team sometimes you just have to cut bait.

 

FOr the IR roster stuff, I believe it is only the people you might want to bring back during the season. They probably take a wait and see approach to get an idea about potential timetables to come back just to make sure. For instance, I imagine Alex Lewis is done for the year, but because he's a key component, they might want to really, really make sure he's done.

With possibly White and Canaday as candidates, that's going to mess up the spread of players. Also, would you really want to bring White back in this season? As an undrafted rookie with an unusable hand, could you really immediately insert him as the top returner when he gets back?

 

The 53 every years a few final players that aren't easy cuts. This year they still have enough talent at RB and receiver to make choices tough especially with special teams being the kicker for the last spots. Fb will be interesting too. I think Ortiz should beat out Taliaferro, but Ricard playing both sides of the ball could be an unexpected selection too. Watched him block as a FB in practice and he looks as good as any we have and his far bigger too. The diluted talent on the OL makes for hard choices there too for virtually the entire interior save Yanda. Even b/u QB is up in the air - Woodrum or Mallet? Since Woodrum played up to Mallet's talent level and Mallet never distigusihed himself this preseason the Ravens may decide to save $1M and burn $1M in deadmoney to sign a cost effective rookie

Then you have to worry about who on the PS gets scavenged by another tam. Mizzell, Ricard and Woodrum likely won't last. Ortiz is on the bubble with FB being the least coveted position in the league.

Here's my 53 man roster:
OFFENSE
QB: Flacco, Woodrum - think that he's showed as much as Mallet BUT they've been know to stick with encumebents.
OL: Stanley, Hurst, Jensen, Yanda, Howard, Eleumenor, Skura, Wesley
RB: West, Allen, Woodhead, Mizzell
FB: Ortiz
WR: Maclin, Perriman, Adeboyejo
WR2: Wallace, Whelan, Moore
(Tim White will probably head to IR)
TE: Watson, Boyle, Williams, Donnell

DEFENSE
DL: Williams, Pierce, Kaufusi, Wormley, Davis, Ricard (b/c of his versatility)
LB: Suggs, Mosley, Bowser, Judon, Z. Smith, Onwuasor, Correa, Bradley (ILB is "all hands on deck" and OLB has too much talent to just cut)
CB: J. Smith, Carr, Humphrey, Hill
Safety: Weddle, Jefferson, Webb, Levine

S/T
Tucker, Koch, Cox (obvious)

 

Faulk, Levine is on IR.

I can't see 4 RBs kept. nor can I see Whelan getting a spot over Campanero. This team refuses to give up on Camp

 

Are you sure about Levine? He passed the concussion protocol 5 days ago. Something else happen I missed?

I think Camp showed something as a PR, but he's never healthy long enough. I just think Whelan will prove to be a more long term solution and is at least as good on the same screen play roles they're intended for. Further, Woodhead will scavenge these touches too.

I'm torn on the 4 RBs too, but as I said Mizzell won't last long on the PS and would be a big loss unless they can "IR stash" him. For all the talk about trading a DL player, there's none of a trade for Allen or Mizzell.

 

I'm wrong. I was thinking about McClellan. I mixed up our "do it all" guys for a second, My mistake

 

Seems really odd to keep 4 RBs, 4 TEs and only 4 CBs

 

I'm tuning in and out. Never really cared about the 4th preseason game, but I'm watching a decent amount tonight.

Davis has looked good. Urban seems to have locked up a starting spot along with Pierce on the d-line

 

If anyone on the starting OL gets hurt, the Ravens are in deep doo-doo.

Here's a thought. If Ricard is such a good blocker, why not make him an OL? Can't be any worse than what's out there now, and, they won't have to worry about who to keep on the DL.

 

Zuttah is really, really bad.

 

It may be the 4th game, but it showed a lot.

Mallet has given up. He was outplayed by Lewis and Woodrum. Maybe he already knows he has the job...? Even so, that shows he doesn't have a desire to win apart from doing just enough to keep his job. I doubt they move away from him, but I'd prefer another b/u take over for him - one with something to prove.

The OL pass-pro is trash. Zuttah was a wasted signing. He's worse now than before. I wish I put Skura on my 53 man roster over his now. What was I thinking...? If Joe needs better protection because of his injury, the Ravens haven't provided it. It's a matter of time before the back up QB will be in.

The run game is actually pretty good. The #2's and 3's acquitted themselves very well. Rainey made a case to be kept even though Mizzell has been a gem. It's all about player who can get wins and his veteran savvy seems to be a touch better right now. In my mind he needs to be on the roster now. If not, the Ravens will have made the same mistake with him they did in 2013. Now sure how they make that work.

Chris Matthews showed up today. Not sure if its enough. Moore had that nice grab from Mallet's bullet - perhaps one of just two Mallet had on the night. Camp had a nice grab from the slot position for 18, but we're used to at least one good play from him before he gets hurt. Ortiz had a nice grab and went for a first down even after contact. Not much else to say here though. The passing game is in trouble if Joe is out at any time.

Carl Davis with and INT and blocked kick (I know Lutz shanked it but it counts). He may become trade bait or a great rotational player this year. Humphrey forced the fumble on Lasco in a run play. They're always said he likes to hit and it showed. Otha Foster, David Payne and Bam Bradley all made cases, but 2 of those 3 is likely to be cut. All, that said an the defense didn't show their dominance. The Saints' score showed only 13 but they looked tired by the end of the 2nd when Chase Daniel orchestrated a TD drive. That is meaningful for the season to come especially if Flacco is out.

I hate to say it but as good as the defense looks I'm not sure we get more than 9 wins this year. In this division we probably won't make the play-offs. Flacco would he head and shoulders better than his back ups, but with that OL he may end up on IR sooner than later. If not, great. If so, we'll have all said we should've signed Kaep. On roster, Woodrum seems to be the best game manager mentality. Lewis has the legs to surprise defenses, but is an injury waiting to happen with his forward diving. And we all saw Woodrum show off some wheels himself. He's my fav, but I think Ozzie/Harbs may stick with Mallet anyway.

 

Let's remember, this was the backup game. The o-line wasn't good, but what should we expect without Yanda, Stanley, or even Jensen out there. Joe won't be behind that line unless an even bigger streak of bad luck hits the team

 

OK! The Chiefs released Jah Reid. There's the OL b/u we've been waiting for!

Kidding! But, knowing how the the Ravens love their former players.....

Let's hope not, otherwise I'd say that Ozzie was .

 

Watching the game last night, I think Bradley is in for sure. I also think Carl Davis cemented his case and Willie Henry is the odd man out there. I think Ricard is a lock as well, considering he played 3 different positions as well as special teams. I think Donnell is gone and Ricard is our 4th TE. I also think Mizell made the team with his effort.

Unfortunately, Adeboyjo is probably gone. Big in practice and a game no show does not bode well. Moore was involved again, that is nice to see.

The O line is a mystery. I can't tell, aside from our 3 or 4 locks (Stanley, Yanda, Jensen and Howard) who will be the back up players. They all looked terrible.

With this year's format of all 32 teams cutting 37 players at at the same time, there is going to be a feeding frenzy to grab guys and sign them to either the practice squad or to drop roster players and sign guys that are better than what we have tomorrow after 4.

I expect that we will get a few roster players from all that carnage, specifically a ILB or an Offensive lineman or 2.

It is going to be interesting.

 

Seeing that Rainey is probably going to make the team over Mizzell. Mizzell won't stay on the PS just like what happened to Rainey in 2013.

Adeboyejo looks like he's headed there too. Ravens may've decided to not show this kid off in games to make him a PS stash since he had no targets last night. He was impressive in practices.

Davis should remain on the team unless they can get a really good O-lineman in trade. The others are good enough to hold the line but they're not the same caliber imo.

 

looks like the early decisions are trickling in:

Released:
Donnell
Whalen
Rainey
Taliaferro
Thad Lewis
Otha Foster
J Zuttah
CJ Board

Also, we made a trade to get an offensive lineman.

"The Ravens traded for an offensive lineman, but it came on the interior of the line instead of tackle like some had predicted.

Baltimore dealt a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for veteran center/guard Tony Bergstrom.

The deal is not official until Bergstrom, 31, passes a physical, which he’s expected to do."

 

Latest:

"
The Ravens trimmed their roster by 24 players Friday afternoon.

Baltimore still has 13 more moves to make before getting down to 53 by Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline.

The Ravens waived the following players:

P Kenny Allen
LB Randy Allen
WR C.J. Board
G Jarell Broxton
DB Otha Foster
T Roubbens Joseph
C Derrick Nelson
LS Taybor Pepper
G Jarrod Pughsley
WR/RS Keenan Reynolds
FB/RB Lorenzo Taliaferro
G/T De’Ondre Wesley

Baltimore terminated the contract of the following vested veterans:

TE Larry Donnell
QB Thaddeus Lewis
RB Bobby Rainey
CB Trevin Wade
WR Griff Whalen
G/C Jeremy Zuttah

The Ravens placed the following players on injured reserve:

RB Kenneth Dixon (knee)
G/T Alex Lewis (shoulder)
LB Albert McClellan (knee)
G Nico Siragusa (knee)
WR Tim White (hand)
CB Tavon Young (CB)"

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news...-to-Make/914aba64-f454-47d9-932f-e409ccec1735

 

Shame about Rainey. He looked pretty good especially on ST's. Thank god they got rid of Zuttah! Same for Donnell. I'd like to see Foster and Board signed to the PS.

They also traded a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for veteran center/guard Tony Bergstrom. The deal is not official until Bergstrom, 31, passes a physical, which he’s expected to do. A third-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2012, Bergstrom has been a solid backup during his five years in the league. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound product has four career starts. He played in 15 games last season with the Houston Texans.

 

I like it. I think a quality veteran back up is a good way to go to help shore up the line.

 

I just saw a note that Matt Barkley is cut by the 49ers. Would you rather have him as a veteran back up or Mallett? I seem to think Barkley is better overall than Mallett.