July 28, 2025 • 30 mins
Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing discuss what they've seen from two of the team's biggest free agent additions this offseason, as well as a handful of players who don't get a ton of buzz that look good so far at Ravens training camp.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm Ryan Mink here with Garrett Downing, and we are
gonna be talking today about a pair of the newcomers
to the Ravens, DeAndre Hopkins and Jaye Alexander, and what
we've seen from them and expect from them this season,
as well as some under the radar standouts. Okay, we
hit some of the big names in our last episode,
(00:27):
you know, Rokwan, some of those some of those big
guys who are playing really well. But we're gonna go
a little deeper to give you some under the radar standouts.
But Garrett, let's let's start with first with DeAndre Hopkins.
And uh, you know now he missed one practice because
he had landed on his knee or whatever out of
an abundance of caution. He missed one practice. But when
(00:47):
he's been out there on the field, I'll tell you
this guy looks like a difference maker. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I've been really impressed with DeAndre Hopkins.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
You might be leading, You might be like head of
the fan click. I think seriously, like you have not
stopped talking about DeAndre Hopkins.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Every time he makes a play out there on the field,
which has been often early in training camp, I got
to look around and just take notice of who is
now hopping on board by bandwagon.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
That is one of our favorite things to do in
training camp. Is like you kind of get your guys
that like you think you're going to do well or
you're rooting for to do well, especially of course do well.
But like you got your guys and you plant your
flag and then whenever that guy makes a play, you
look down.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
If you look down and make eye content, you see
he just making sure you saw that.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
But then your notebook, take out the pen and paper
right now, right in the notebook, you.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Do the whole the lick the pen thing right now, Hopkins?
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Is that for me? I really do think that he
is going to add an important element of this offense.
And the thing that everybody has known about him is that,
like throughout his career, just throw it in his direction
and he's going to make the catch even if he's
not open. He's open. That's like been his mo o,
the back shoulder stuff. He's as good as anybody in
the league that has been throughout his career at that
contest to catch nobody better. And we're seeing that early
(01:58):
in camp, like all of that stuff, it still seems
like he has all that ability.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Here's one thing about that is, you know, now DeAndre
posted his his stats like the role of numbers of
how fast he's moving and whatnot, and he's he's run
as fast as the guys that are a decade younger
than him, right, and he's so he's.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Moving really well.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
But on top of that, like if he's made is
he's his bread and butter has been contested catches that
never goes away, like if they're still contested, because if
he if he's a dick slower than he was five
or ten years ago, if it contests and guesses were
was always your thing, they can still be your.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Thing, right right, I totally agree with that, But I
also do think, like I was wondering, you always wonder
when you sign a veteran player, the question is like
how much do they have left? Are they still moving? Well,
they're still fast enough, like all that stuff, And he
does not seem at all to be a guy that's
like it's slowing down, that doesn't have juice anymore, that's
(02:59):
lagging by behind, like none of those things, like he's
still he's separating. He's accelerating after the catch, like when
he gets the ball in his hands, he turns up
field and he still has burst. And then he's still
making all those contested catches. Like there was a play
in practice on Friday on the contested catch front where
it looked to me like it was just gonna be
an incompletion a little too far outside of his reach.
(03:20):
He goes to the ground, makes a really tough catch.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
He came back, came back on the ball.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, Like it was just a veteran catch and and
a diving grab, right and he.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Just felt like one You're like, oh, that's gonna be off.
Whoa he ended up catching that one, Okay. I like that.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
And I just think his ability, like I think on
third and eight, if you're like right now it's it's
the fourth quarter and against Buffalo and you're you're you
need to throw at the d hot like he he
might be your your best guy in that situation. Like
on the a third and eight, you gotta have it
catch and there aways have a lot of good options
(03:53):
to be honest, there and that and that which I
think is going to help all of them.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Well, and here's the thing, right.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
You know, you're looking at Zay Flowers and we're bateman
out there on the field potentially to in addition to
the tight ends, and who are those safeties watching or
he's getting the double coverage. It ain't gonna be DeAndre Hopkins, right,
like you know, say Flowers exactly. They're gonna be worried
about getting beat over the top by one of those guys.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Yep. And so I think d Hop's gonna get a
lot of one on ones.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And I think he's he's been basically an impossible guy
to cover one on one in his career. And if
you can make these contested catches like we're talking about
eight situation, like that's that's easy money.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Yep. Yep. He just bullies.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
He just bullies cornerbacks like and he has that knack,
you know, that veteran nack if he knows when he
can get a little contact and break open and all
that stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Like he's just a pro.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
And I'll kind of go back, And the more I
think about this, the more I think it rings true.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Is like if you are.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
A veteran player an agent in your thirties or whatever,
but you have a calling card that is like uniquely
yours and it ain't going anywhere. I think you have
a really good chance of like continuing to have success.
Derrick Henry the physicality, right like, it ain't going anywhere.
He's still going to truck you when he's thirty five,
when he's forty, he's still probably truck people, right like.
(05:12):
And so if you if that calling card never leaves, like,
I think you can have an extended run of success.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Yeah, And that's what DeAndre Hopkins has.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I mean there's a throw of a catch he made
last year in Kansas City, like between three defenders.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
When I was watching that game on TV, I was like.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Oh my god, Yeah, it looks like the DeAndre Hopkins
you know of like twenty fourteen yea with the Texans.
Like it was an incredible play. And I think he's
definitely going to make those plays this year. He is
he is a quarterbacks. He's just a quarterback's best friend.
That's just what he is. And Lamar's had that in
like Mark Andrews and isaa likely is going into that
(05:50):
for Lamar and and like Lamar loves throwing to Day
and Bait and all those guys. But like it's just
different that having that trust, can touch it, can test
the skin. It's like a wide receiver security blanket quarterbacks
best front.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
To go back to your point about having a calling card,
I think that if you have a calling card as
a veteran, that can be great. But I think certain
calling cards go out of style quickly, Like if your
calling card is speed, then you're in trouble. Even like
being really physical, that gets harder when you get older
in your career. Just being able to hold up physically
like that becomes more challenging. But being able to catch
(06:26):
the ball in traffic like that's one that rings true,
Like that always works, that always plays, And I think
that he has that And and again, I've just been
impressed with the way that he's been moving, the acceleration
that he's shown. And I think that as a as
a the Ravens have a lot of talent in that
receiver room now, but bringing in a veteran player who's
done it at a high level, who has like the
(06:47):
mindset that we've talked about so far in camp, as
a veteran who wants to win a championship, I think
that all that stuff is going to help this offense.
And I could not have been more impressed with him
through the first week of camp.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Well, I mean he's not that far removed from a
thousand yard season. No, he topped a thousand yards in
twenty twenty three. Yeah here before last yeah, right, So,
like this guy was a very productive player. So last year,
you know, he put up six hundred and ten receiving
yards split between the Titans and Kansas City. But like,
(07:19):
I don't think it's anywhere. I don't think it's absurd
to say that. You know, we saw kind of the
decline in numbers with Derrick Henry and then he came
here and like the other way, right, Like, I think
that a lot of people sometimes assume with these thirty
year old offensive players that like, once they start to
decline in the numbers, it's going to keep going on
that trajectory. I don't think it's impossible to think for
(07:42):
DeAndre Hopkins that it could who just reverse. Now the
issue is the other weapons around him, right, Like, Kansas
City was extremely banged up and he was kind of
like he was a starter. He was like kind of
the guy for them down the stretch with Worthy, But
like here there's there's more mouths to feed and so
that's gonna eat into his numbers a little bit.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Well the other thing too, Like in Tennessee, you look
at the whole picture of his season last year. Tennessee
had major quarterback issues last year. There were teams that struggled.
They obviously finished with the number one overall pick and
drafted cam Ward. Then you get traded to Kansas City
and he ultimately ended up being like a go to
guy there along with David Worthy, like you mentioned, But
getting traded mid season and stepping into a big role
like that is a challenging role, learning a new offense,
(08:27):
new system and all that. He still came up with
a big place in Kansas City. But I think that,
like you look at his season on the whole, and
you can just look at the numbers, but if you
want to dig into it, you can understand why it
wasn't a thousand yard season. Like that's a pretty easy explanation, right,
And so I like, I'm just everything that I have
seen shows me that he still has gas left in
(08:48):
the tank and that he's going to be a difference
maker for this offense.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Yeah, and as we talk about how they're going to
change the team, I think it also schematically could change
what the Ravens want to do on offense. I think
that last year they really lived a lot in twelve personnel,
one running back, two tight ends. Now they were dynamic
in that formation and in that personnel, I should say,
(09:13):
and so they don't want to I don't think they
want to stray too far from that. You know, if
it ain't broke, don't fix it. But also I do
think that they have the capability of going three wide,
you know, playing more thirteen one running back, three wide
receivers and doing a lot of damage in that personnel
as well.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Now, yeah, it is tough because you start thinking about
it and you're going to have all these situations where
you're like, man, I'd love to get Andrews and Likely
on the field together. Man I would love to get Hopkins,
Bateman Ansey on the field together. Man I'd love Could
there be a way that you get Dereck Henry and
Keith Mitchell in the backfield with Lamar Jackson like that
is that's an exciting potential, And so it's an embarrassment
of Richie.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Here's the thing. Here's the thing. We go with three
offensive then there.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
We go all skill all speed, all flash. I like
you should pitch that to Monkey. Yeah, I think you'd
like that. So yeah, I think that like the Ravens
are going to figure all that out. But whatever, like
personnel groups they end up using, how and whatever the
scheme looks like. I just firmly believe that Hopkins is
going to be a difference maker for this team this year.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Completely agree.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
All right, let's flip it over the defensive side. I hear, Alexander.
This guy's just been fun to watch so far in
training camp. What what do you think he does for
the Ravens and how does he change them?
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Well, I think vibe and culture culture might be too strong.
I don't think he's changing the culture.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
I think that he's he is bringing energy plugged into
the culture the culture. Really is bringing his own swagger.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Yeah, he's bringing his own swagger and he's got this
like energy that's infectious. It's kind of fun. Even like
just there was a period of practice today where I
was like, I'm just gonna watch try e Alexander even
after the play, and even after the play when he's
not in, he walks up and down the sidelines, he's
talking to everybody. He has great energy and then if
something good happens, like he is celebrating, the first guy
(11:00):
out on the field celebrating. There was a point in
practice where him and Nate Wiggans are celebrating. They're doing
this the double seat belt. That was celebration.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
It was awesome. That was awesome.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
They broke up a pass intended for bait and it
was good play by Nate and.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Jayyar and him, just face to face.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Double big exaggeratedself seat belts. The biggest seatbelts is like
a mac truck seat belt.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
They gotta do it.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
They gotta do the combo. Put him in the box,
thumbs down seat belt. There's gonna be multiple steps here
to the celebration.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
To be honest, the only negative that I can say
about Jay Alexander is that I'm a little bit worried
about the box and does the box go away because
it gets replaced by the seat belt. I'm a little
concerned about that. The seatbelt's kind of taken over early
in training camp. So it's a storyline.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
It's a big storyline, which celebration of the ray was
gonna use it. You gotta talk to Nate about this. Yeah,
well he did the seat belt. He was, can you
go seat belt?
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Double thumbs down.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I think you've got to figure out a way to
do a combo. That's what where they're headed. Kyle, And like,
in all honesty, Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey both talked
about how JayR is bringing this energy and the swagger
to the secondary and like, I give him that it
kind of needed, it needed, they said, kind of needed.
And I give him credit because I don't think it's easy,
(12:19):
even for a player of his pedigree to come into
a new team and in three days everyone's talking about
this guy brought like the energy that we needed in
the secondary, especially when you have Pro Bowl first round picks,
all pro level players and a really good team. And
so for you to come in and have that type
of attitude and and and also do it in a
way that's not like overbearing, like.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
It's easy to in like a fun way like he's
it's just fun to watch him.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Yeah, and I know, it's great, it's great.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
What JayR said was he's like a I think he
very much expects himself to play at a high level.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
But he said, if if there's.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
One thing, you know, I'm gonna bring you can count
on I'm bringing the juice you. I will absolutely do that.
I can guarantee it. And uh and yeah, it really
is infectious. I mean you look at the secondary last
year and the people in it. Okay, Marlin's his own guy.
I mean Marlin's is a self proclaimed weirdo. J here
(13:16):
was like I thought I was weird, Marlon might have
me be yeah, right, And like Marlin gets is very
hype like when he's out on the field, like just
he just screams all the time.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
We've had him micd up a number of times and
he's just always yelling.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
And so like he brings the juice, but it's kind
of a different way, you know. Brandon Stevens last year
is a very cool call and collected guy.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Confident, but like not a he's a quiet, quiet guy.
Yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Kyle Hamilton very professional, quiet guy, like not a big
showy guy at all. Right, Marcus Williams not not a
showy guy. Ard Areaswashing not a showy guy at all.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Right.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Like so you kind of go down the list and
like there weren't a lot of those big personality guys
and it was a rookie and it was a rookie,
so you know, he had the box a few times,
but like also not like a big loud guy.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
You know, he's a pretty quiet, chill dude. You're ain't
a chill, quiet guy.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
And and so I really do think like that it
is bringing a different dynamic and swagger to this defense
that wants to have more of that edge.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Yeah, and in terms of the play, I similar to
the conversation we just had about DeAndre Hopkins certainly looks
like a guy who has plenty of plenty of gas
left in the tank.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
I mean he's not. I mean he's like it's still
in the prime age. He's in his late twenties, and.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
And he's like he's moving really well. The injuries that
he dealt with last year seemed like they're distant. Said,
he feels great. Didn't really want to get into when
we had a chance to talk to him, get into
like the whole injury history and all that stuff, but
which he just said. He's moving on. He's looking looking ahead,
not backwards, but like he's practicing. He's moving well. He
looks good, and I think that he's he's he had
(15:00):
some it's been kind of fun to watch him and
Hopkins have some some battles in practice on the On
the first day, Lamar tested Uh Jai with a back
shoulder throw to Hopkins. Hopkins caught it but might have
been out of bounce and then uh and then in
practice on Friday, Uh, there was another one where Hopkins
had a crossing route ended up catching that one against Jaire. Yeah,
(15:20):
but like they've had.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
About another back shoulder one where JayR kind of give
him a little bow, you know, JayR went up high
and broke up that the one intended for I think, wait,
Dan Wade. Yeah, so like he's he's playing well too.
And what I really like also is, you know, with
Cheeto out there, also, I think the Ravens can be
a little bit situational in how they want to deploy
(15:41):
these guys. You know, like just because they signed Jaiyir
doesn't mean that Cheeto is just.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Cast to the sideline.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
And like, you know, Cheetoh is a really good run defender,
Jahir is a really really good pass defender. Like is
there a combination there that you can kind of and
also if if if you can rotate them a little bit,
it keeps them both a little bit fresher. Maybe it
prevents it keeps them a little healthier potentially, you know,
for two guys that have dealt with injuries, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
You know, if you have six DB's on the field,
who with the six? In your mind?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
The six so it's Kyle Malachi uh and then the
four corners, I mean Marlon, Wiggy Cheeto and Jay yr Yeah,
it go six.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Of course, last year the Rave has had a different personnel,
but there were plenty of times that they used three
safe saties. Yeah, and so my point here is really
in that situation, then Marlon is plays a lot of
it plays a lot of slot this year, and so
you use him in there, and then you have the
three corners rather than extra safety on the field.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
The other possibility in that if you're having six, like
Jalen Armor Davis is another guy who's kind of cross
trained both a corner and safety, so he can kind
of play both roles as well.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Well, I mean Kyle, yeah, yeah, I mean they can.
I think there's also do you take a linebacker off
the field, you know, I think there's a lot of
questions there.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Yeah, So long story short on that, I think that
Jai year has shown that he is going to be
also a difference maker for this defense, and I love
the energy and I love what I'm seeing from him
on the fields from a football standpoint. So I like,
both of those guys have me fired up, and.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
They're the kind of signings.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I thought they were both really great signings when they happen,
but watching them on the field, I'm like, these are
the kind of additions, editions that could put you at
the top quite honestly.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Yeah, it feels that way, and the early returns are
all positive, yep on those two guys. So we're gonna
take a quick break when we come back, we'll dive
into some of the guys a little bit under the
radar that we're having a really strong start to training camp.
You're listening to the last podcast we were coming to
you from the Sea Geek Studio. We want to mention
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sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draftking Sports Book.
(17:54):
The Crown is yours. So the Ravens have wrapped up
the first week of training, can't practice. The pads come
on today, so they're gonna be putting the pads on,
and that's when things ramp up a little bit and
we get to see some more of the physicality that
we're all excited about in training camp. But we got
a good taste over the first the first week of
camp with what this team could look like at some
(18:14):
of the impact players. So we also want to talk
about guys a little bit under the radar. These are
guys that are potentially competing for roster spots, starting jobs,
or just looking for somebody that can take another step.
So one of the highlights of players who have caught
our attention in the first week, and the first one
that we'll mention is someone who I mentioned just a
minute ago is Jalen Armor Davis cornerback safety Combo, and
(18:39):
he's had a good start to training camp. He's in
his fourth season. This is a big year for him
on the roster bubble a little bit when you consider
pieces of the Ravens have added and his first three seasons.
But it's been a good start to him for training camp.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
You're coming around, You're coming around to my guy. Yeah,
that's one of my guys that when he makes a play, I.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Look down and make sure you saw it. Yeah, Uh, yeah,
I think.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
I think Jalen, like especially the first two days, multiple
plays on the ball, forcing incompletions.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Uh, just a tough cover guy and.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Like I felt that way about him before, like when
he when he's been healthy and on the field, like
he moves really well, he's big, can be, he's physical.
I think that uh, Jalen Armor Davis is making a
good case here early on that he's too good to
uh to pass up.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Yeah, I think the the I agree with everything you said,
and of course Jalen has shown that ability in his career.
I think now it's going to be a big test
for him. Now it gets more physical. The pass come on,
you get into the grind of training camp, but how
do you hold up physically in this next phase of
things as you get into preseason games and the joint
practices of the Ravens have like the physical nature and
(19:48):
that of these next three weeks are going to be telling.
But I think that it's been.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
You're not saying like the physicality of the play. You're
saying like how does your body like as days stack
and you're kind of getting to grinding and it's really
hot and all that stuff to you hold up.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Yeah, exactly, because I like the ability, and I think
that he's versatile, and I think that he's really smart,
and I think that he works hard. So all that
stuff I think is like positive. It's just you kind
of withstand the riggers as you get into the later
stage as a training camp.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Yep, all right.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
I'll point to another player who I'm sure I'm sure
you're gonna give you a hard time about this.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Okay, I'm sure you're going to say that Mar Jackson.
Here we go. What do you get, Derek Ander, give
it to me. What do you got going with?
Speaker 1 (20:30):
David Ajabo?
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (20:32):
I think that a Jaba has looked pretty good so far.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
And had a nice had a nice uh sack in
Friday's practice, followed by shortly after just his spin move.
I'll tell you, looks pretty darn good early on. And
I think I think he's practicing well. I mean, we're
talking about a former second round pick. We've all been
like hoping for man. You've been rooting for him to
be healthy and kind of put it together and stay healthy,
(20:55):
just like Jalen. We got done talking about that's part
of the equation here. But I think he looks good.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Or I'm with you. Actually I had him on my
list too. I think that he's someone he also is
like just physical at the point of attack, like he's
he's holding up well to blockers, like he's not getting
pushed around at all. I just think that it's been
a good start to him. And and you know, John
Harball kind of dis on Thursday, kind of dismissed a
question about a Jabo and made the point that that, like,
(21:21):
this is a highly touted guy and so plenty of
people have been doubting him and questioning whether it's going
to work out and all this stuff, and he doesn't
like that. And I think that he is. The Ravens
have confidence and belief in him. Like I remember, like
I go back to when we sat down with Eric
the Kosta after the draft and we were talking about
Mike Green and the you know, some of the additions
of the Ravens have made to this defense, and he
(21:43):
made the point that, like, we still have a lot
of faith in David A Jaba and what he can do.
And so I think the Ravens like his potential still
and I'm encouraged by what I've seen from him this
first week. I'm with you. I'm with you on that.
I am as well. Next guy that I'll go point
two is Lowry.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Okay, Now this is really off under the radar here, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Mean this is is off the radar, off the tradar.
Undrafted rookie defensive back had an interception. Uh, he's just
around the ball.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Where do you play college ball?
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Oh, well, I forget what is it? Chattanooga? And so
like he's we have talked about it before. I've said
this before, but like, if you just consistently make plays,
you're gonna put yourself in a position they can play
a day. And that's easier said than done. But if
you can do that, you can put yourself in position
(22:33):
to catch the attention of the coaches and the scouts
and and Acosta and where they say, like this guy
should should stick around either on the fifty three or
on the practice squad. The thing for him is gonna
have And John Harball talked about him at the end
of the week as well, uh, and talking about guys
in the secondary and he called him out and.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Well, you got a question.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Well the question was about Malachi and like, and then
Harball started talking about Ruben Lowry and the pick he made, Like,
I know you're asking.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
About the first round picks.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Yeah, I don't drave the guy, but he's I mean
he said like that was one of the best places
you can see. Yeah, like just a really good red
react cut right in front of receiver.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Yeah, great play, great.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Pick, catch the attention to the head coach. I mean,
I think that's a pretty good thing. Now. The thing
for like, the thing for anybody who's in like that
type of situation is you need to be consistent with it,
like you have you have the player early flash, but
can you sustain it over the course of the summer.
That's gonna be the question for him. Yeah, But I
mean he.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Was one of the I'll say that he was one
of the OTAs in mini camp standouts. So he sustained
it through that and now the beginning of training camp.
But he's far he's far from locking up a lot
a roster spot. Yeah, so far.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
And but but I like he's given himself a chance.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
And you know, hey, safety behind Kyle Hamilton, Malachi Starks,
I mean I would probably say Snoosy Kane would be
the next guy in line number three, and then it
would be Bo Braid and Rubin Lowry. You know, I
like Bo. I think he's a good player, and he
flashed during the preseason and like this and he's turped,
so I'm naturally going to root for him.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
But like he was an undrafted rookie. You made it
last year.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yeah, he was in the same position that Ruben Lowry
is right now, and he made it. So like that's
a that's an open competition. Really, Snoozy's in that too,
you know, like that is open behind Kyle and Malachi.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
The next guy at all point two is a late
round rookie from this year, a Nias Peebles defensive lineman,
six round pick out of Virginia Tech, undersized defensive lineman.
He's you know, he's looks a lot different than Travis Jones.
Uh but he is a guy that has like these
this quick twitch ability, quick hands, you can get into
(24:40):
the backfield.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
He always had a pick when you always got a
big man pick in your first trading gamp that you're
doing something good, you're doing something well. Yeah, so uh yeah,
I like Nias, Like I just think he's moving well.
You could you notice him every once in a while
and you say, oh, who's ad in the backfield pretty quick.
That's the nis peeples And that's what we saw in
when the Ravens drafted him, is this dude. He is
(25:03):
a gap shooter and he's quick feet, quick hands, like
you're saying.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
And yeah he can he can get you.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
You know, he'll surprise, he'll surprise an offensive lineman say whoa.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Yeah, guys buy me.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
And I think, like I mentioned earlier, the pads come
on that big time for him. I think that's like
he's one of the guys at the top of the
list that you really want to say, like how do
they handle things when the pads come on? Because the
knock on him is that he's a smaller guy, and
so how do you withstand physically when you're going up
against Tyler Linderbaumer, you're going up against Ben Cleveland or
Andrew Vorheeves or Daniel fall Lele like these much bigger guys.
(25:38):
Can you still have that type of success in getting
into the backfield?
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Pa, It might be twice the size.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
I mean, he's much bigger. But actually he's the next
guy that we have on our list here exactly.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
He looks good and he's definitely lost weight.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
Under the radar. That's where we're that's where we're stretching
a little bit under the.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Radar, and the pads haven't come on yet.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Okay, right guards, So I'll knock both of us for
having him on a right.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Guard, like I'm sticking by the foul A pick. And yeah,
he's lost weight, he absolutely has. Tyler Linderbaum talked about
it about how he kind of accepted the challenge of
losing weight this offseason and getting in better shape, and
he he won that challenge, and he's moving well. I
(26:22):
mean I noticed him on the first day a trading
camp practice just a little I think it was a
wide receiver screen or something like that, or running back
screen to a running back I think, and he got
out front of that thing.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
And was moving. I was like, look at down the field,
he's moving well.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
And look, we all know like fole A took way
too much heat last year in my opinion, and and
I think a lot of it was because of that
Week two game against the Raiders where he's matched up
against Max Crosby, who knock knock, He's one of the
best defensive lineman the league. He's made a lot of
people look bad and like Crosby, had some quick wins.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
And I'm not going to sit here and say those
were the only times.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
He got beat because whatever his first time starting, he
was a former tackle converted to right guard, who was
drafted as more a little bit more of a raw project,
and it was his first time in their starting But
like that guy took way too much heat.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
He just did.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
And I thought he improved over the course of the
season by year season's end, Like none of us were
watching those games and being.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Like, man, file Ale is the problem.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
Yeah, it just we weren't he.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Like And that's a comment to an offense line And
if you're not talking about him at the end of
the game, they did their job and we weren't talking
about File down the stretch.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
He was playing well well enough.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
In the Steelers game. When Derrick Henry ran wild in
that playoff game, no one was talking about, like, man,
this offensive lines problem with File the right guard exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
And so like I'm excited about Daniel going into year four.
It's a big year for him as a contract year,
and honestly, and he looks good. The guy also, by
the way, I think he was one of the only
players he might. I think he played the most snaps
of any player on the team last year. Like that's
(28:04):
part of the equation here, availability and credit to him,
and when he wasn't in the best shape of playing
the whole year, and like now he's in better shape.
I honestly look at him and I think, you know,
could could he be like a Makai Becton, you know,
like and and some of these guys who have converted
from these big tackles to guard and there's just a
(28:27):
big old guard and they get in good shape a
little bit and and they have a lot of success.
Like I'm excited for Faula and the kind of season
that he could have. And I'm just gonna say it now,
I'm not gonna be shocked if by year's end, at
the end of the season and we're going to the
free agency, if people were saying if is gonna get paid,
I ain't gonna be shocked.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Well, the Ravens have a really good, honestly track record
of guards who have left here and gotten paid exactly.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Like who was saying that about Ben Powers before he
had his last year?
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Ben Powers did it, John Simpson did it. And one
was saying about it either. Actually guys, Pat McCarey, that
was a different situation, but he just got a nice
contract yep in Jacksonville. So like there's been a number
of guys who have had that type of track record.
And when I compare last year to this year, for
a follow, like the early practices last year, like they
were a struggle. He was like he was struggling to
(29:18):
get through them where he was kind of wearing down
at the end.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
We were giving him props because like the year before that,
he would have to he would have to be pulled,
he'd be on the sideline on the knee getting the
fluids yea, and like it was like too much. Last year,
it was like, hey, give him credit, he's getting through practice.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
Huh.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
This year he's thriving through practice. Yeah, you know, like hey,
that's improvement.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Yeah. And so I'm encouraged by him. And if he
takes a step that you're talking about, then man, this
offensive line could be in really good shape.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Yeah, I'm all right, I'm all I thought I was
off my podium here. But one last thing is like
I'm just sick of tired of seeing like people being
like when are we going to bring in a new right, Gord,
we gotta sign somebody in free agency.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Still, that's the last piece, Like, it's not happening. It's
not happening.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
You can just give it, you can just stop, you
just stop, it's not happening.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
Is gonna be the starter and I think he's gonna
play well.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Yeah. So we're excited to see the pads come on
today and really dive into uh kind of the next level,
the next step of training camp, which should be really
fun to watch. So we're gonna continue breaking down everything
that happens over the course of camp. As always, you
can email us at the lounge at Ravens dot NFL
dot net. Thank you so much for listening and we
will be back with you again soon
Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm Ryan Mink here with Garrett Downing, and we are
gonna be talking today about a pair of the newcomers
to the Ravens, DeAndre Hopkins and Jaye Alexander, and what
we've seen from them and expect from them this season,
as well as some under the radar standouts. Okay, we
hit some of the big names in our last episode,
(00:27):
you know, Rokwan, some of those some of those big
guys who are playing really well. But we're gonna go
a little deeper to give you some under the radar standouts.
But Garrett, let's let's start with first with DeAndre Hopkins.
And uh, you know now he missed one practice because
he had landed on his knee or whatever out of
an abundance of caution. He missed one practice. But when
(00:47):
he's been out there on the field, I'll tell you
this guy looks like a difference maker. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I've been really impressed with DeAndre Hopkins.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
You might be leading, You might be like head of
the fan click. I think seriously, like you have not
stopped talking about DeAndre Hopkins.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Every time he makes a play out there on the field,
which has been often early in training camp, I got
to look around and just take notice of who is
now hopping on board by bandwagon.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
That is one of our favorite things to do in
training camp. Is like you kind of get your guys
that like you think you're going to do well or
you're rooting for to do well, especially of course do well.
But like you got your guys and you plant your
flag and then whenever that guy makes a play, you
look down.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
If you look down and make eye content, you see
he just making sure you saw that.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
But then your notebook, take out the pen and paper
right now, right in the notebook, you.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Do the whole the lick the pen thing right now, Hopkins?
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Is that for me? I really do think that he
is going to add an important element of this offense.
And the thing that everybody has known about him is that,
like throughout his career, just throw it in his direction
and he's going to make the catch even if he's
not open. He's open. That's like been his mo o,
the back shoulder stuff. He's as good as anybody in
the league that has been throughout his career at that
contest to catch nobody better. And we're seeing that early
(01:58):
in camp, like all of that stuff, it still seems
like he has all that ability.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Here's one thing about that is, you know, now DeAndre
posted his his stats like the role of numbers of
how fast he's moving and whatnot, and he's he's run
as fast as the guys that are a decade younger
than him, right, and he's so he's.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Moving really well.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
But on top of that, like if he's made is
he's his bread and butter has been contested catches that
never goes away, like if they're still contested, because if
he if he's a dick slower than he was five
or ten years ago, if it contests and guesses were
was always your thing, they can still be your.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Thing, right right, I totally agree with that, But I
also do think, like I was wondering, you always wonder
when you sign a veteran player, the question is like
how much do they have left? Are they still moving? Well,
they're still fast enough, like all that stuff, And he
does not seem at all to be a guy that's
like it's slowing down, that doesn't have juice anymore, that's
(02:59):
lagging by behind, like none of those things, like he's
still he's separating. He's accelerating after the catch, like when
he gets the ball in his hands, he turns up
field and he still has burst. And then he's still
making all those contested catches. Like there was a play
in practice on Friday on the contested catch front where
it looked to me like it was just gonna be
an incompletion a little too far outside of his reach.
(03:20):
He goes to the ground, makes a really tough catch.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
He came back, came back on the ball.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, Like it was just a veteran catch and and
a diving grab, right and he.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Just felt like one You're like, oh, that's gonna be off.
Whoa he ended up catching that one, Okay. I like that.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
And I just think his ability, like I think on
third and eight, if you're like right now it's it's
the fourth quarter and against Buffalo and you're you're you
need to throw at the d hot like he he
might be your your best guy in that situation. Like
on the a third and eight, you gotta have it
catch and there aways have a lot of good options
(03:53):
to be honest, there and that and that which I
think is going to help all of them.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Well, and here's the thing, right.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
You know, you're looking at Zay Flowers and we're bateman
out there on the field potentially to in addition to
the tight ends, and who are those safeties watching or
he's getting the double coverage. It ain't gonna be DeAndre Hopkins, right,
like you know, say Flowers exactly. They're gonna be worried
about getting beat over the top by one of those guys.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Yep. And so I think d Hop's gonna get a
lot of one on ones.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And I think he's he's been basically an impossible guy
to cover one on one in his career. And if
you can make these contested catches like we're talking about
eight situation, like that's that's easy money.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Yep. Yep. He just bullies.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
He just bullies cornerbacks like and he has that knack,
you know, that veteran nack if he knows when he
can get a little contact and break open and all
that stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Like he's just a pro.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
And I'll kind of go back, And the more I
think about this, the more I think it rings true.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Is like if you are.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
A veteran player an agent in your thirties or whatever,
but you have a calling card that is like uniquely
yours and it ain't going anywhere. I think you have
a really good chance of like continuing to have success.
Derrick Henry the physicality, right like, it ain't going anywhere.
He's still going to truck you when he's thirty five,
when he's forty, he's still probably truck people, right like.
(05:12):
And so if you if that calling card never leaves, like,
I think you can have an extended run of success.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Yeah, And that's what DeAndre Hopkins has.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I mean there's a throw of a catch he made
last year in Kansas City, like between three defenders.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
When I was watching that game on TV, I was like.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Oh my god, Yeah, it looks like the DeAndre Hopkins
you know of like twenty fourteen yea with the Texans.
Like it was an incredible play. And I think he's
definitely going to make those plays this year. He is
he is a quarterbacks. He's just a quarterback's best friend.
That's just what he is. And Lamar's had that in
like Mark Andrews and isaa likely is going into that
(05:50):
for Lamar and and like Lamar loves throwing to Day
and Bait and all those guys. But like it's just
different that having that trust, can touch it, can test
the skin. It's like a wide receiver security blanket quarterbacks
best front.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
To go back to your point about having a calling card,
I think that if you have a calling card as
a veteran, that can be great. But I think certain
calling cards go out of style quickly, Like if your
calling card is speed, then you're in trouble. Even like
being really physical, that gets harder when you get older
in your career. Just being able to hold up physically
like that becomes more challenging. But being able to catch
(06:26):
the ball in traffic like that's one that rings true,
Like that always works, that always plays, And I think
that he has that And and again, I've just been
impressed with the way that he's been moving, the acceleration
that he's shown. And I think that as a as
a the Ravens have a lot of talent in that
receiver room now, but bringing in a veteran player who's
done it at a high level, who has like the
(06:47):
mindset that we've talked about so far in camp, as
a veteran who wants to win a championship, I think
that all that stuff is going to help this offense.
And I could not have been more impressed with him
through the first week of camp.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Well, I mean he's not that far removed from a
thousand yard season. No, he topped a thousand yards in
twenty twenty three. Yeah here before last yeah, right, So,
like this guy was a very productive player. So last year,
you know, he put up six hundred and ten receiving
yards split between the Titans and Kansas City. But like,
(07:19):
I don't think it's anywhere. I don't think it's absurd
to say that. You know, we saw kind of the
decline in numbers with Derrick Henry and then he came
here and like the other way, right, Like, I think
that a lot of people sometimes assume with these thirty
year old offensive players that like, once they start to
decline in the numbers, it's going to keep going on
that trajectory. I don't think it's impossible to think for
(07:42):
DeAndre Hopkins that it could who just reverse. Now the
issue is the other weapons around him, right, Like, Kansas
City was extremely banged up and he was kind of
like he was a starter. He was like kind of
the guy for them down the stretch with Worthy, But
like here there's there's more mouths to feed and so
that's gonna eat into his numbers a little bit.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Well the other thing too, Like in Tennessee, you look
at the whole picture of his season last year. Tennessee
had major quarterback issues last year. There were teams that struggled.
They obviously finished with the number one overall pick and
drafted cam Ward. Then you get traded to Kansas City
and he ultimately ended up being like a go to
guy there along with David Worthy, like you mentioned, But
getting traded mid season and stepping into a big role
like that is a challenging role, learning a new offense,
(08:27):
new system and all that. He still came up with
a big place in Kansas City. But I think that,
like you look at his season on the whole, and
you can just look at the numbers, but if you
want to dig into it, you can understand why it
wasn't a thousand yard season. Like that's a pretty easy explanation, right,
And so I like, I'm just everything that I have
seen shows me that he still has gas left in
(08:48):
the tank and that he's going to be a difference
maker for this offense.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Yeah, and as we talk about how they're going to
change the team, I think it also schematically could change
what the Ravens want to do on offense. I think
that last year they really lived a lot in twelve personnel,
one running back, two tight ends. Now they were dynamic
in that formation and in that personnel, I should say,
(09:13):
and so they don't want to I don't think they
want to stray too far from that. You know, if
it ain't broke, don't fix it. But also I do
think that they have the capability of going three wide,
you know, playing more thirteen one running back, three wide
receivers and doing a lot of damage in that personnel
as well.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Now, yeah, it is tough because you start thinking about
it and you're going to have all these situations where
you're like, man, I'd love to get Andrews and Likely
on the field together. Man I would love to get Hopkins,
Bateman Ansey on the field together. Man I'd love Could
there be a way that you get Dereck Henry and
Keith Mitchell in the backfield with Lamar Jackson like that
is that's an exciting potential, And so it's an embarrassment
of Richie.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Here's the thing. Here's the thing. We go with three
offensive then there.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
We go all skill all speed, all flash. I like
you should pitch that to Monkey. Yeah, I think you'd
like that. So yeah, I think that like the Ravens
are going to figure all that out. But whatever, like
personnel groups they end up using, how and whatever the
scheme looks like. I just firmly believe that Hopkins is
going to be a difference maker for this team this year.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Completely agree.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
All right, let's flip it over the defensive side. I hear, Alexander.
This guy's just been fun to watch so far in
training camp. What what do you think he does for
the Ravens and how does he change them?
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Well, I think vibe and culture culture might be too strong.
I don't think he's changing the culture.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
I think that he's he is bringing energy plugged into
the culture the culture. Really is bringing his own swagger.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Yeah, he's bringing his own swagger and he's got this
like energy that's infectious. It's kind of fun. Even like
just there was a period of practice today where I
was like, I'm just gonna watch try e Alexander even
after the play, and even after the play when he's
not in, he walks up and down the sidelines, he's
talking to everybody. He has great energy and then if
something good happens, like he is celebrating, the first guy
(11:00):
out on the field celebrating. There was a point in
practice where him and Nate Wiggans are celebrating. They're doing
this the double seat belt. That was celebration.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
It was awesome. That was awesome.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
They broke up a pass intended for bait and it
was good play by Nate and.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Jayyar and him, just face to face.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Double big exaggeratedself seat belts. The biggest seatbelts is like
a mac truck seat belt.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
They gotta do it.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
They gotta do the combo. Put him in the box,
thumbs down seat belt. There's gonna be multiple steps here
to the celebration.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
To be honest, the only negative that I can say
about Jay Alexander is that I'm a little bit worried
about the box and does the box go away because
it gets replaced by the seat belt. I'm a little
concerned about that. The seatbelt's kind of taken over early
in training camp. So it's a storyline.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
It's a big storyline, which celebration of the ray was
gonna use it. You gotta talk to Nate about this. Yeah,
well he did the seat belt. He was, can you
go seat belt?
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Double thumbs down.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I think you've got to figure out a way to
do a combo. That's what where they're headed. Kyle, And like,
in all honesty, Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey both talked
about how JayR is bringing this energy and the swagger
to the secondary and like, I give him that it
kind of needed, it needed, they said, kind of needed.
And I give him credit because I don't think it's easy,
(12:19):
even for a player of his pedigree to come into
a new team and in three days everyone's talking about
this guy brought like the energy that we needed in
the secondary, especially when you have Pro Bowl first round picks,
all pro level players and a really good team. And
so for you to come in and have that type
of attitude and and and also do it in a
way that's not like overbearing, like.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
It's easy to in like a fun way like he's
it's just fun to watch him.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Yeah, and I know, it's great, it's great.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
What JayR said was he's like a I think he
very much expects himself to play at a high level.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
But he said, if if there's.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
One thing, you know, I'm gonna bring you can count
on I'm bringing the juice you. I will absolutely do that.
I can guarantee it. And uh and yeah, it really
is infectious. I mean you look at the secondary last
year and the people in it. Okay, Marlin's his own guy.
I mean Marlin's is a self proclaimed weirdo. J here
(13:16):
was like I thought I was weird, Marlon might have
me be yeah, right, And like Marlin gets is very
hype like when he's out on the field, like just
he just screams all the time.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
We've had him micd up a number of times and
he's just always yelling.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
And so like he brings the juice, but it's kind
of a different way, you know. Brandon Stevens last year
is a very cool call and collected guy.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Confident, but like not a he's a quiet, quiet guy.
Yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Kyle Hamilton very professional, quiet guy, like not a big
showy guy at all. Right, Marcus Williams not not a
showy guy. Ard Areaswashing not a showy guy at all.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Right.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Like so you kind of go down the list and
like there weren't a lot of those big personality guys
and it was a rookie and it was a rookie,
so you know, he had the box a few times,
but like also not like a big loud guy.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
You know, he's a pretty quiet, chill dude. You're ain't
a chill, quiet guy.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
And and so I really do think like that it
is bringing a different dynamic and swagger to this defense
that wants to have more of that edge.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Yeah, and in terms of the play, I similar to
the conversation we just had about DeAndre Hopkins certainly looks
like a guy who has plenty of plenty of gas
left in the tank.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
I mean he's not. I mean he's like it's still
in the prime age. He's in his late twenties, and.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
And he's like he's moving really well. The injuries that
he dealt with last year seemed like they're distant. Said,
he feels great. Didn't really want to get into when
we had a chance to talk to him, get into
like the whole injury history and all that stuff, but
which he just said. He's moving on. He's looking looking ahead,
not backwards, but like he's practicing. He's moving well. He
looks good, and I think that he's he's he had
(15:00):
some it's been kind of fun to watch him and
Hopkins have some some battles in practice on the On
the first day, Lamar tested Uh Jai with a back
shoulder throw to Hopkins. Hopkins caught it but might have
been out of bounce and then uh and then in
practice on Friday, Uh, there was another one where Hopkins
had a crossing route ended up catching that one against Jaire. Yeah,
(15:20):
but like they've had.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
About another back shoulder one where JayR kind of give
him a little bow, you know, JayR went up high
and broke up that the one intended for I think, wait,
Dan Wade. Yeah, so like he's he's playing well too.
And what I really like also is, you know, with
Cheeto out there, also, I think the Ravens can be
a little bit situational in how they want to deploy
(15:41):
these guys. You know, like just because they signed Jaiyir
doesn't mean that Cheeto is just.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Cast to the sideline.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
And like, you know, Cheetoh is a really good run defender,
Jahir is a really really good pass defender. Like is
there a combination there that you can kind of and
also if if if you can rotate them a little bit,
it keeps them both a little bit fresher. Maybe it
prevents it keeps them a little healthier potentially, you know,
for two guys that have dealt with injuries, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
You know, if you have six DB's on the field,
who with the six? In your mind?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
The six so it's Kyle Malachi uh and then the
four corners, I mean Marlon, Wiggy Cheeto and Jay yr Yeah,
it go six.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Of course, last year the Rave has had a different personnel,
but there were plenty of times that they used three
safe saties. Yeah, and so my point here is really
in that situation, then Marlon is plays a lot of
it plays a lot of slot this year, and so
you use him in there, and then you have the
three corners rather than extra safety on the field.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
The other possibility in that if you're having six, like
Jalen Armor Davis is another guy who's kind of cross
trained both a corner and safety, so he can kind
of play both roles as well.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Well, I mean Kyle, yeah, yeah, I mean they can.
I think there's also do you take a linebacker off
the field, you know, I think there's a lot of
questions there.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Yeah, So long story short on that, I think that
Jai year has shown that he is going to be
also a difference maker for this defense, and I love
the energy and I love what I'm seeing from him
on the fields from a football standpoint. So I like,
both of those guys have me fired up, and.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
They're the kind of signings.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I thought they were both really great signings when they happen,
but watching them on the field, I'm like, these are
the kind of additions, editions that could put you at
the top quite honestly.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Yeah, it feels that way, and the early returns are
all positive, yep on those two guys. So we're gonna
take a quick break when we come back, we'll dive
into some of the guys a little bit under the
radar that we're having a really strong start to training camp.
You're listening to the last podcast we were coming to
you from the Sea Geek Studio. We want to mention
our partners with Drafticking sports Book. They are an official
sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draftking Sports Book.
(17:54):
The Crown is yours. So the Ravens have wrapped up
the first week of training, can't practice. The pads come
on today, so they're gonna be putting the pads on,
and that's when things ramp up a little bit and
we get to see some more of the physicality that
we're all excited about in training camp. But we got
a good taste over the first the first week of
camp with what this team could look like at some
(18:14):
of the impact players. So we also want to talk
about guys a little bit under the radar. These are
guys that are potentially competing for roster spots, starting jobs,
or just looking for somebody that can take another step.
So one of the highlights of players who have caught
our attention in the first week, and the first one
that we'll mention is someone who I mentioned just a
minute ago is Jalen Armor Davis cornerback safety Combo, and
(18:39):
he's had a good start to training camp. He's in
his fourth season. This is a big year for him
on the roster bubble a little bit when you consider
pieces of the Ravens have added and his first three seasons.
But it's been a good start to him for training camp.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
You're coming around, You're coming around to my guy. Yeah,
that's one of my guys that when he makes a play, I.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Look down and make sure you saw it. Yeah, Uh, yeah,
I think.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
I think Jalen, like especially the first two days, multiple
plays on the ball, forcing incompletions.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Uh, just a tough cover guy and.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Like I felt that way about him before, like when
he when he's been healthy and on the field, like
he moves really well, he's big, can be, he's physical.
I think that uh, Jalen Armor Davis is making a
good case here early on that he's too good to
uh to pass up.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Yeah, I think the the I agree with everything you said,
and of course Jalen has shown that ability in his career.
I think now it's going to be a big test
for him. Now it gets more physical. The pass come on,
you get into the grind of training camp, but how
do you hold up physically in this next phase of
things as you get into preseason games and the joint
practices of the Ravens have like the physical nature and
(19:48):
that of these next three weeks are going to be telling.
But I think that it's been.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
You're not saying like the physicality of the play. You're
saying like how does your body like as days stack
and you're kind of getting to grinding and it's really
hot and all that stuff to you hold up.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Yeah, exactly, because I like the ability, and I think
that he's versatile, and I think that he's really smart,
and I think that he works hard. So all that
stuff I think is like positive. It's just you kind
of withstand the riggers as you get into the later
stage as a training camp.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Yep, all right.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
I'll point to another player who I'm sure I'm sure
you're gonna give you a hard time about this.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Okay, I'm sure you're going to say that Mar Jackson.
Here we go. What do you get, Derek Ander, give
it to me. What do you got going with?
Speaker 1 (20:30):
David Ajabo?
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (20:32):
I think that a Jaba has looked pretty good so far.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
And had a nice had a nice uh sack in
Friday's practice, followed by shortly after just his spin move.
I'll tell you, looks pretty darn good early on. And
I think I think he's practicing well. I mean, we're
talking about a former second round pick. We've all been
like hoping for man. You've been rooting for him to
be healthy and kind of put it together and stay healthy,
(20:55):
just like Jalen. We got done talking about that's part
of the equation here. But I think he looks good.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Or I'm with you. Actually I had him on my
list too. I think that he's someone he also is
like just physical at the point of attack, like he's
he's holding up well to blockers, like he's not getting
pushed around at all. I just think that it's been
a good start to him. And and you know, John
Harball kind of dis on Thursday, kind of dismissed a
question about a Jabo and made the point that that, like,
(21:21):
this is a highly touted guy and so plenty of
people have been doubting him and questioning whether it's going
to work out and all this stuff, and he doesn't
like that. And I think that he is. The Ravens
have confidence and belief in him. Like I remember, like
I go back to when we sat down with Eric
the Kosta after the draft and we were talking about
Mike Green and the you know, some of the additions
of the Ravens have made to this defense, and he
(21:43):
made the point that, like, we still have a lot
of faith in David A Jaba and what he can do.
And so I think the Ravens like his potential still
and I'm encouraged by what I've seen from him this
first week. I'm with you. I'm with you on that.
I am as well. Next guy that I'll go point
two is Lowry.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Okay, Now this is really off under the radar here, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Mean this is is off the radar, off the tradar.
Undrafted rookie defensive back had an interception. Uh, he's just
around the ball.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Where do you play college ball?
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Oh, well, I forget what is it? Chattanooga? And so
like he's we have talked about it before. I've said
this before, but like, if you just consistently make plays,
you're gonna put yourself in a position they can play
a day. And that's easier said than done. But if
you can do that, you can put yourself in position
(22:33):
to catch the attention of the coaches and the scouts
and and Acosta and where they say, like this guy
should should stick around either on the fifty three or
on the practice squad. The thing for him is gonna
have And John Harball talked about him at the end
of the week as well, uh, and talking about guys
in the secondary and he called him out and.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Well, you got a question.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Well the question was about Malachi and like, and then
Harball started talking about Ruben Lowry and the pick he made, Like,
I know you're asking.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
About the first round picks.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Yeah, I don't drave the guy, but he's I mean
he said like that was one of the best places
you can see. Yeah, like just a really good red
react cut right in front of receiver.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Yeah, great play, great.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Pick, catch the attention to the head coach. I mean,
I think that's a pretty good thing. Now. The thing
for like, the thing for anybody who's in like that
type of situation is you need to be consistent with it,
like you have you have the player early flash, but
can you sustain it over the course of the summer.
That's gonna be the question for him. Yeah, But I
mean he.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Was one of the I'll say that he was one
of the OTAs in mini camp standouts. So he sustained
it through that and now the beginning of training camp.
But he's far he's far from locking up a lot
a roster spot. Yeah, so far.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
And but but I like he's given himself a chance.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
And you know, hey, safety behind Kyle Hamilton, Malachi Starks,
I mean I would probably say Snoosy Kane would be
the next guy in line number three, and then it
would be Bo Braid and Rubin Lowry. You know, I
like Bo. I think he's a good player, and he
flashed during the preseason and like this and he's turped,
so I'm naturally going to root for him.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
But like he was an undrafted rookie. You made it
last year.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yeah, he was in the same position that Ruben Lowry
is right now, and he made it. So like that's
a that's an open competition. Really, Snoozy's in that too,
you know, like that is open behind Kyle and Malachi.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
The next guy at all point two is a late
round rookie from this year, a Nias Peebles defensive lineman,
six round pick out of Virginia Tech, undersized defensive lineman.
He's you know, he's looks a lot different than Travis Jones.
Uh but he is a guy that has like these
this quick twitch ability, quick hands, you can get into
(24:40):
the backfield.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
He always had a pick when you always got a
big man pick in your first trading gamp that you're
doing something good, you're doing something well. Yeah, so uh yeah,
I like Nias, Like I just think he's moving well.
You could you notice him every once in a while
and you say, oh, who's ad in the backfield pretty quick.
That's the nis peeples And that's what we saw in
when the Ravens drafted him, is this dude. He is
(25:03):
a gap shooter and he's quick feet, quick hands, like
you're saying.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
And yeah he can he can get you.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
You know, he'll surprise, he'll surprise an offensive lineman say whoa.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Yeah, guys buy me.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
And I think, like I mentioned earlier, the pads come
on that big time for him. I think that's like
he's one of the guys at the top of the
list that you really want to say, like how do
they handle things when the pads come on? Because the
knock on him is that he's a smaller guy, and
so how do you withstand physically when you're going up
against Tyler Linderbaumer, you're going up against Ben Cleveland or
Andrew Vorheeves or Daniel fall Lele like these much bigger guys.
(25:38):
Can you still have that type of success in getting
into the backfield?
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Pa, It might be twice the size.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
I mean, he's much bigger. But actually he's the next
guy that we have on our list here exactly.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
He looks good and he's definitely lost weight.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
Under the radar. That's where we're that's where we're stretching
a little bit under the.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Radar, and the pads haven't come on yet.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Okay, right guards, So I'll knock both of us for
having him on a right.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Guard, like I'm sticking by the foul A pick. And yeah,
he's lost weight, he absolutely has. Tyler Linderbaum talked about
it about how he kind of accepted the challenge of
losing weight this offseason and getting in better shape, and
he he won that challenge, and he's moving well. I
(26:22):
mean I noticed him on the first day a trading
camp practice just a little I think it was a
wide receiver screen or something like that, or running back
screen to a running back I think, and he got
out front of that thing.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
And was moving. I was like, look at down the field,
he's moving well.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
And look, we all know like fole A took way
too much heat last year in my opinion, and and
I think a lot of it was because of that
Week two game against the Raiders where he's matched up
against Max Crosby, who knock knock, He's one of the
best defensive lineman the league. He's made a lot of
people look bad and like Crosby, had some quick wins.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
And I'm not going to sit here and say those
were the only times.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
He got beat because whatever his first time starting, he
was a former tackle converted to right guard, who was
drafted as more a little bit more of a raw project,
and it was his first time in their starting But
like that guy took way too much heat.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
He just did.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
And I thought he improved over the course of the
season by year season's end, Like none of us were
watching those games and being.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Like, man, file Ale is the problem.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
Yeah, it just we weren't he.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Like And that's a comment to an offense line And
if you're not talking about him at the end of
the game, they did their job and we weren't talking
about File down the stretch.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
He was playing well well enough.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
In the Steelers game. When Derrick Henry ran wild in
that playoff game, no one was talking about, like, man,
this offensive lines problem with File the right guard exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
And so like I'm excited about Daniel going into year four.
It's a big year for him as a contract year,
and honestly, and he looks good. The guy also, by
the way, I think he was one of the only
players he might. I think he played the most snaps
of any player on the team last year. Like that's
(28:04):
part of the equation here, availability and credit to him,
and when he wasn't in the best shape of playing
the whole year, and like now he's in better shape.
I honestly look at him and I think, you know,
could could he be like a Makai Becton, you know,
like and and some of these guys who have converted
from these big tackles to guard and there's just a
(28:27):
big old guard and they get in good shape a
little bit and and they have a lot of success.
Like I'm excited for Faula and the kind of season
that he could have. And I'm just gonna say it now,
I'm not gonna be shocked if by year's end, at
the end of the season and we're going to the
free agency, if people were saying if is gonna get paid,
I ain't gonna be shocked.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Well, the Ravens have a really good, honestly track record
of guards who have left here and gotten paid exactly.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Like who was saying that about Ben Powers before he
had his last year?
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Ben Powers did it, John Simpson did it. And one
was saying about it either. Actually guys, Pat McCarey, that
was a different situation, but he just got a nice
contract yep in Jacksonville. So like there's been a number
of guys who have had that type of track record.
And when I compare last year to this year, for
a follow, like the early practices last year, like they
were a struggle. He was like he was struggling to
(29:18):
get through them where he was kind of wearing down
at the end.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
We were giving him props because like the year before that,
he would have to he would have to be pulled,
he'd be on the sideline on the knee getting the
fluids yea, and like it was like too much. Last year,
it was like, hey, give him credit, he's getting through practice.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
Huh.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
This year he's thriving through practice. Yeah, you know, like hey,
that's improvement.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Yeah. And so I'm encouraged by him. And if he
takes a step that you're talking about, then man, this
offensive line could be in really good shape.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Yeah, I'm all right, I'm all I thought I was
off my podium here. But one last thing is like
I'm just sick of tired of seeing like people being
like when are we going to bring in a new right, Gord,
we gotta sign somebody in free agency.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Still, that's the last piece, Like, it's not happening. It's
not happening.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
You can just give it, you can just stop, you
just stop, it's not happening.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
Is gonna be the starter and I think he's gonna
play well.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Yeah. So we're excited to see the pads come on
today and really dive into uh kind of the next level,
the next step of training camp, which should be really
fun to watch. So we're gonna continue breaking down everything
that happens over the course of camp. As always, you
can email us at the lounge at Ravens dot NFL
dot net. Thank you so much for listening and we
will be back with you again soon
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