Pros & Cons At Opening Of Ravens Training Camp
PROS
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Terrell Suggs Appears In Better Shape
He's not missing from camp and he had no trouble passing his conditioning test but there are some questions about "Sizzle's" physical condition. He looked heavy when he took the field for mandatory minicamp in June. He won't speculate how much weight he's lost in the last month or so but it was enough to notice and he's not done; "We shed some (pounds). Not quite at the weight, but we at good fighting weight." Terrell said, "We're going to use this time to shed some more."
Flacco Prepared For Primetime
As training camp began this week, NFL analyst Qadry Ismail said "he's looking like Wolverine$ #XMen." The rough and ready QB has a few new players to pass to, sprinkled in with a few of his go-to's and that is a good thing.
The back-up plan. Another move made in the off season was the addition of backup quarterback Matt Schaub. Schaub is an accomplished quarterback that has been to the playoffs before in Houston. His experience and similarities to Flacco would allow him to make an easy transition (if needed).
Youthful Exuberance
"I'm looking for the young guys to step up," coach John Harbaugh said. "We put our young guys in positions to compete for jobs." and rookies in the mix can be the Ravens will be poised for a return trip to the playoffs.
Trestman Keeping Kubiak's System
After Gary Kubiak left, Marc Trestman was hired to be Baltimore's fourth offensive coordinator. Trestman seems to be sticking with much of Kubiak's system, for good reason: The Ravens set franchise marks in 2014 for points and yards, and Flacco finished with a career-best 3,986 yards passing.
CONS
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Dennis Pitta Still In Question
Dennis Pitta dislocated and fractured his hip in 2014 against the Browns and he was lost for the rest of the season. Pitta only played in four games in 2013 after first injuring the hip during training camp that year. Dennis Pitta still hasn't been medically cleared from his career-threatening hip injury.
PUP List Grows With Addition Of Webb
More news from training camp, cornerback Lardarius Webb failed his conditioning test, which kept him off the practice field when training camp began this week in Owings Mills and earned him a spot on the physically unable to perform list until he passes.
Safety Terrence Brooks tore his ACL and MCL in December 2014 and he is still a big question mark to begin the season on the roster. Head coach John Harbaugh has said that he has no real timetable on Brooks' return to the field.
Defensive tackle Casey Walker, the former Patriot that the Ravens signed in December 2014, is dealing with knee tendinitis. He was also absent from training camp.
Joe's Thankful We Don't Play The Lions
In exchange for 4th and 5th round draft picks in 2015, the Ravens traded Haloti Ngata to the Lions on March 10th. They firmly believe that Brandon Williams and Timmy Jernigan can step into Haloti's big shoes. Jernigan was Haloti's replacement during Ngata's suspension and Williams had a breakout season in 2014 and they expect even more in 2015.
Are All Losses Replaceable?
Torrey Smith, Pernell McPhee, Jacoby Jones, Owen Daniels, Terrence Cody, and Tyrod Taylor all packed their bags this off-season. In Baltimore we always hear the phrase, "In Ozzie We Trust" but he sure made some eyebrows raise when he let a guy like Torrey Smith leave. Can Perriman be the fresher, younger version of Torrey for Baltimore? His hands were in question when he was selected in the 2015 Draft but then again, Torrey occasionally had hands of stone.
Filling the gaps won't be too bad (with the exception of Smith). McPhee was an expected loss as he built up the resume to the tune of a 5-year, $40 million contract with $16 M guaranteed. Baltimore seems to be a factory for guys like McPhee (see Dannell Ellerbe, Paul Kruger, Jared Johnson, etc.) so it's next man up. Jacoby Jones didn't do much for the return game in 2014 and his presence in the passing game is minimal to none, despite being the most electrifying guy in the 2013 Super Bowl run. Owen Daniels is replaceable with either Crockett Gilmore or newly drafted TE Maxx Williams. Tyrod had the easiest job in the NFL backing up Joe "Reliable."
Time will tell.
Overall: With 18 of 22 starters returning from a team that was close to beating the eventual Super Bowl champion and no off-the-field issues during the precarious summer break, the Ravens can focus on what's most important: football.
