Plenty of potential star power
‘You’re awed every day’: Prospect Rutschman continues to turn heads
On the seventh day, Adley Rutschman homered.
For the past five weeks, that’s been how the Orioles top prospect has ended a series, no matter where the Double-A Bowie Baysox are, punctuating days of steady production with a big blast.
He’s not quite sure why — though his mom wants to know. Maybe it’s getting used to the surroundings, or how he’s pitched. Maybe it’s just a coincidence.
Whatever’s behind it, those Sunday blasts have been a big part of a season that’s reinforcing what kind of special talent the Orioles selected first overall in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. Before long, one of the game’s top prospects will be written in ink into the heart of their lineup every day for seasons on end.
“You kind of look up and you’re like, ‘Man, Adley is having a really good year,’” Bowie manager Buck Britton said. “It just seems like it’s been the same guy every day. You
New concepts in the passing game
The Ravens can help Jackson by improving and developing a more sophisticated passing game and attacking the entire field. During Jackson’s first three seasons in Baltimore, there was speculation that the Ravens were catering to his strengths by throwing short and intermediate passes across the middle, and offensive coordinator Greg Roman was criticized for a weak passing game when he was calling the plays in Buffalo. The Ravens have tried to downplay that, but then spent the offseason working on the passing game, even adding two new coaches in Tee Martin and Keith Williams.
If the Ravens can abandon their vanilla approach from a year ago, when they had the worst passing offense in the NFL, and move up to the No. 15-20 range, that could pay major dividends in the postseason. Look for the Ravens to get running backs J.K. Dobbins and Justice Hill more involved in the passing game.
Who’s the left guard?
In offseason practices, the Ravens used three starters at left guard, but the favorite is third-year player Ben Powers, who started at right guard late in the 2020 season. The left guard spot became available because the team is moving former starter Bradley Bozeman to center.
Powers has made significant gains in his first two seasons, especially moving down the line of scrimmage. He still plays and runs a little stiff, but so does third-round pick Ben Cleveland. The Ravens, though, like the massive rookie’s run-blocking ability, and that could move him into the starting lineup.
Second-year player Tyre Phillips has also taken some reps with the first team, but the Ravens appeared to be more focused on finding players with versatility than developing starters.
Ronnie Stanley’s health
If the Ravens want to have a complete and dominant offensive line, they need Stanley to return at left tackle healthy. Days after signing a massive contract extension, he was assisted off the field during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 1 and had two surgeries to repair a severe left ankle injury.
Coach John Harbaugh said Stanley appears healthy enough to return once training camp opens, but the Ravens will most likely hold him out of practice for awhile. The true tests come once he starts practicing on a regular basis and when he plays a game or two.
Pass rush development
We seem to talk about this weakness every year, and there might not be any immediate help. The Ravens are banking more on potential than production.
They drafted Penn State outside linebacker Odafe Oweh in the first round in April. He is a specimen but extremely raw. It might take a year or two to really develop his skill set, so the Ravens have to find a way to get him on the field in certain situations.
Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee can provide some pressure, but at 32 he isn’t a consistent threat and will most likely be on a snap count throughout the season. Tyus Bowser, entering his fifth season, has shown flashes but appears to be more comfortable in pass coverage, while thirdyear player Jaylon Ferguson needs to add more than just power to his repertoire of moves.
One of the team’s best pass rushers might be inside linebacker Patrick Queen on blitzes. Keep an eye on rookie outside linebacker Daelin Hayes, a fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame. He has a presence about him and is always around the ball.
Nickel back competition
The Ravens have several candidates to play nickel but are adopting a wait-and-see approach because of previous injuries to cornerback Tavon Young. If Young is 100% and stays healthy through training camp and the preseason, he is the likely starter.
Young doesn’t have great size but has enough athleticism and skill to cover almost any slot receiver. In offseason practices, second-year cornerback Khali Dorsey got most of the work with the first team, but fourth-year player Anthony Averett might get some playing time there as well, depending on Young’s recovery.
Veteran Jimmy Smith is also an option, but he appears more likely to be matched up against tight ends because of his size. Starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey could play over the slot if necessary.
Speed in the secondary
The Ravens have failed to stop the Chiefs offense recently because they couldn’t get consistent pressure on quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but they also couldn’t handle Kansas City’s speedy receivers. It’s questionable if the pass rush will materialize, but there is also a concern about having ample speed in the secondary.
Humphrey and Marcus Peters are outstanding cornerbacks, but the Ravens have to be able to cover the vertical and crossing routes. Rookie Shaun Wade was one of the fastest defenders in the country last season at Ohio State, which is part of the reason the Ravens made him a fifth-round pick. The Ravens also took cornerback Brandon Stephens out of SMU in the third round, and he can play safety as well.
The Ravens need a center fielder on the back end because starting safeties DeShon Elliott and Chuck Clark are better at going forward than backward.
Receivers stepping up?
There will be plenty of competition among the receivers, and Harbaugh is likely to keep six, possibly seven. It’s a versatile group, complete with speed.
Jackson will have two big targets on the outside in rookie Rashod Bateman and veteran Sammy Watkins, but Watkins could be interchangeable outside or in the slot with speedy third-year player Marquise Brown. Watkins, Brown and Bateman are penciled into the lineup.
Miles Boykin and Devin Duvernay will play important roles. Boykin is the team’s best blocking receiver and also a gunner on the punt coverage teams. Duvernay returns kickoffs but also can play in the slot or carry the ball out of the backfield if necessary.
Inside linebackers in pass coverage
The Ravens have said new linebackers coach Rob Ryan is one of the best around, and we will soon find out. Except for veteran L.J. Fort, the Ravens struggled to cover running backs and tight ends last season, and it has been a recurring problem through the years. Even in offseasons practices, middle linebacker Patrick Queen seemed a step slow or out of position. The same is true of weakside linebacker Malik Harrison.
With a year in the system and an offseason in the weight room, the Ravens have to get more from Queen and Harrison, as well as fellow inside linebacker Chris Board.
Age on the defensive line
This group is one of the most talented on the team but also one of the oldest, with starting ends Calais Campbell, 34, Derek Wolfe, 31, and tackle Brandon Williams, 32.
All three have shown a strong work ethic, but Harbaugh still might have to nurse them through training camp and monitor their reps. The team has good, young backups in Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington Jr., but even Justin Ellis, one of the top reserves, is 30. With 17 games this season, it might be tough keeping them all healthy.