Hard to believe pros unprepared for camp
Sometimes you just sit back and wonder what goes through the minds of pro football players.
It’s hard to believe that offensive linemen Orlando Brown Jr., left guard Jermaine Eluemunor and outside linebacker Shane Ray didn’t pass their conditioning tests and weren’t allowed to practice with the Ravens on Thursday.
Only weeks ago Brown, in his second year, talked about how hard he had worked during the off season to reshape his body. With Eluemunor, head coach John Harbaugh told him on the final day of the last practice during the offseason that he had to report in shape if he wanted to challenge for a starting position at left guard.
This season was supposed to be important for Ray because he wanted to prove to the rest of the league that he wasn’t injury prone and could be a top player in the league.
Well, all three had to be disappointing to Harbaugh, even though it was only Day 1 of training camp.
You would figure Brown had learned his lesson after the poor workout he had at the scouting combine before he was drafted. Eluemunor has great size, but I’m just not sure he has the desire or fire to maintain the intensity needed to be a starter in this league.
On the first day of training camp the Ravens were missing two starting offensive linemen simply because they had not prepared hard or well enough. That’s not a good sign.
Ferguson looks stiff
The Ravens drafted rookie outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson in the third round out of Louisiana Tech, but I’m still concerned about how stiff he plays.
It’s obvious the kid has talent, but he appears too rigid. He does have power with quickness; so it will be interesting to see how he performs when the pads come on.
Shedding 20
Defensive tackle Michael Pierce appears to have lost at least 20 pounds but might need to lose another 20 before he is in top playing condition again.
Last year Pierce ended the season as the Ravens’ top lineman and was a threat as both a run stopper and pass rusher. He is a player with tremendous pride, so the expectations are for him to be ready when the season starts.
“[I am] very impressed with the progress Michael Pierce has made,” said Harbaugh. “He has lost a lot of weight. It’s all been good weight loss. He’s maintained his muscle mass. He’s lost the bad weight, the fat weight. He still has a ways to go, but he passed the conditioning test. That’s quite an accomplishment, especially for a big man like that. I’m impressed with what he’s done, and I’m very confident he will get the job done.”
Boykin’s speed
Rookie receiver Miles Boykin can go up and get the ball but he needs to improve his route running. He is slow going in and out of breaks, which means he runs at the same speed all the time.
That’s a big no no in the NFL.
But he had some moments Thursday and it wasn’t a bad opening day performance for the third-round pick out of Notre Dame.
For what it is worth at this point, second-year player Chris Board started at weak-side linebacker Thursday and that could change with second-year performer Kenny Young pushing him for playing time.
But Board has always showed a knack for being around the ball and was one of the team’s top special team performers last season. It might be his time to shine.