August 2, 2025 • 26 mins
Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing discuss how the Ravens could pivot without Isaiah Likely. They also pick three standouts each from the three days of padded practices and discuss the winners and snubs in the 'Madden 26' ratings.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Ink
here with Garrett Downing, and there's been a lot of
news so far in training camp, and unfortunately, one of
the biggest headlines has been the injury to Isaiah Likely.
So we're going to talk about the impact of that
on this Ravens team, as well as who stood out
the three straight days of padded practices. We'll talk about
(00:25):
who looked good in pads, and then lastly, the Madden
ratings are out for Madden twenty six, so we'll break
down some of the highlights from that. Garrett, let's start
with Isaiah Likely, Big Bummer, suffered fracture in his foot,
a small fracture. John Harball said that it looks like
it's probably about a four week potential timeline that puts
(00:48):
him in play. They're not ruling him out to return
for Week one in Buffalo. Could potentially be a little
bit longer than that. We'll have to see. But the
good news is it happened early in camp, so he
has time to recover and be back early in the
season at least. The bad news is it's one of
the Ravens' top offensive weapons.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
I think it's when you see it happen. It happened
late in practice, last play, last play, and so he
goes down, takes the card into the training room, and
you're just thinking, like, man, this is really tough. It
doesn't look it doesn't look good anytime you see the
car come out and a guy going in, So you're
kind of thinking worst case. And so given the context
(01:31):
of that, with the news that he could be back,
potentially not even missing a game in the regular season,
you think, Okay, not.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
That bad, right, And I also didn't add he's having
a small surgery, having surgery on.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
He will need to have surgery, and so again, could
be back from the start of the season, could linger
into the season a little bit, but if you're talking
about a September return, most likely. I think that given
the optics of how it played out on the field,
I think that you're probably looking at it. I'm looking
at it from a glass half full standpoint and feeling like,
may have dodged a bullet with that one, and that's
(02:05):
actually not going to be that bad. I do feel
bad for Isaiah because this is a guy who's in
a contract year, who has shown the last two seasons.
When he has opportunities, he can make the most of them.
And he's an important piece for this Ravens offense. I mean,
go back to Week one last year. He basically single
handedly got the Ravens back in that game against Kansas
City and then almost won it at the end. So
(02:25):
huge game Week one last year is pretty important in
that game. So I'm not going to minimize the fact
that if he's not able to play like that is
a blow to this offense.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Well, I think also the versatility that he offers, you know,
I mean, he doesn't even call himself a tight end.
You know, he's a chess piece, and so I think
that you you miss something without that piece on the
field for sure. Now Mark Andrews can play the slot
and he can line up out wide and do a
lot of kind of similar things, but they're not exactly
(02:56):
the same player. You know, Isaiah moves a different way
than Mark. They play the game a little bit differently,
and so you know, it stings from that aspect, and
he's one of Lamar's quite frankly, you know, most trusted targets,
you know, especially extended plays things like that. Isaiah likely
has often made teams pay in that scenario.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Well, he's been on the receiving end of two of
the most iconic broken plays from Lamar. Last year in
Cincinnati threw him like a record all stiff arm and
then the one in Jacksonville the year before. They just
looked like heaved it up and Isaiah likely came down
in traffic.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, between two guys. That was ridiculous. He's had. His
portfolio of highlights is ridiculous. The one hander across the
field against Miami that he took for a touchdown on
fourth down, ridiculous play. Yeah, two years ago.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Yeah, that one was insane. I mean the and just
the being on.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
The r to Kansas City. You talked about Week one
last year, the one in Kansas City where he stopped
on a dime. Yeah, two yards short of the end zone.
Guy whiz passed and he pulled the Lamar. Yeah, he
did the Lamar step back, the Lamar step back high
school move, and.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Y had, Yeah, I had. That was a That was
an awesome player. Then of course almost had the iconic touchdown.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
He was wearing different color sheets, white cleats.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
We so so I'm not going to minimize the fact
that that that is honestly one of the things that
I think where it could have the biggest impact. And
this is hard to quantify exactly, but to me, a
question for the Ravens from a scheme standpoint is how
they're going to structure their last year. They did a
lot of two tight ends set. We talked about you
(04:27):
want to get Mark and Isaiah on the field a
lot last year. Like when we were having these conversations
a year ago, that was a big thing that we
were talking about. And then the Ravens did that in
a lot of situations and they found ways to get
both of them involved. Now it's the conversation that has
shifted a little bit because the Ravens have three really
good receivers and Zay Flowers or Seaan Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins,
and you're saying, could the Ravens go more three wide
(04:47):
this year?
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah? Plus den dis Walker's been one of those standouts
right just to that, Yes, I'm just fut to that.
You can't steal that, Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
So so it's like, should they go more three wide
receiver exactly?
Speaker 1 (04:58):
That's how I think they kind of pivot, right. I Mean,
they were really heavy twelve personnel one running back, two
tight ends last year, Yeah, and it was extremely successful.
So it hurts because now I like Charlie Kohler. I
think Charlie Cohler has been deserving of a bigger role
for a little while. He's just been blocked by two
really good players ahead of him. But Charlie Kohler is
a good player too, and so I think that he can.
(05:20):
Like he's definitely different than Isaia Likely, but I think
he'll step up and play well with more opportunities while
Likely is out. But I do think that probably they
back off a little bit of the twelve personnel while
Likely's out and lean more into three wide receiver formations.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Right, And I think that the question then becomes to me,
is that just something that happens for early in the
season if Likely a sidelined at all, or does that
to some degree become the offensive identity because that's what
they're practicing all summer, that's the direction that.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
They're moving, Like, how long of a lasting impact?
Speaker 2 (05:53):
What's the long term lasting impact of it because of
how you're structuring things in training camp or do they
just say, hey, likely it may not be there for
the first game or two, so we're gonna go more
three I think receiver sets in those games.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Again, looking at this optimistically, glass half fool, I think
that it's it to what you're saying. I think it
gives them a chance to get good at that stuff, right,
Like DeAndre Hopkins is kind of the new piece. Last year,
they really got good at twelve personnel. Let's get really
good at going three wide and see what that feels like.
(06:26):
Try that on size, including in games. And now I
think that they could run a lot of that twelve
personnel stuff. It's like the back of their hand. They
know it, right, They did it so much last year,
more than any team in league history. And so I
think that, like, yeah, let's get good at this other
punch and then once likely comes back. Now we have
(06:47):
both of those punches in our arsenal, you know, So
I think that there's some merit to that. I also
look at all Right, let's say Isaiah likely is gonna
if he misses the Bills game. We all know that's
gonna be a Mark Andrews game, right.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
That's I mean, I mean the storyline.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I mean, come on, Mark Andrews is gonna be on
another planet on that in that game. Just another dimension
of like his locked in this. So I don't know.
I mean, of course that's that's more of a narrative thing.
And I do think Mark Mark will be a dog
(07:27):
yeah that day, but uh, I don't know. If there's
one game for Isaiah likely to miss, maybe it's that one,
because because I think they're gonna want to get the
ball to Mark Andrews.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
I do think from a tight end standpoint, there's gonna
be games where you're like, this is the Isaiah likely game,
this is the Mark Andrews game. And I don't think
there will necessarily go into it with that strategy entirely.
I do think they could have games for like, hey,
this is a better matchup for Isaiah, or this is
a better matchup for Mark. I think within games you
could see who's who's got the hot hand and roll
with them a little bit. But yeah, I could see
(07:59):
that that first game and one that Mark has a
heavy target share. And also, I mean it's not like
he's ever not motivated or locked down. I mean he's
always he's like.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
One, it's another I think it's another dimension.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
It probably is level it probably is, and so I
think he certainly is up to that task and honestly,
like if we're looking at the tight end mixture as
a whole, Mark answers to me, has has been a
reminder early in training camp that like everyone was talking
about the trade possibility, everyone of course was talking about
the end of last season. That was like the conversation
(08:31):
with him this offseason, and he's looked really good in
training camp, and to me it's kind of been a
reminder of like, hey, guys, I'm still here. I am
still here. I'm still that guy. That's like a that
is a sense that I have gotten from Mark and
watching him in these practices.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
I thought tight ends, Kitch, George godsee put it well
yesterday think you asked a question to you is like basically,
how good is Mark? You know there's a lot surround him,
surrounding him this offseason, but you see Mark out here,
how good is he? And he was like, well, last
year he led league and touchdowns for the tight ends.
I think he's that's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Yeah, not bad, not bad, good, so like and I
think that he's playing still like that that Yeah, I agree.
I think everybody we've said it, both said it.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
He's very motivated. He's motivating shape. He is extremely motivated
and he's still moving well like last year. Even at
the beginning last year, Mark was pretty candid about this,
like he was kind of dealing with some stuff physically.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
He's banged up.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Yeah, he was banged up at the beginning last year,
and I think like he's in good shape this year.
I think he's going to come out strong.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
And then he just caught like a touchdown and never
game down the stretch exactly. I think the demise of
Mark Andrews was greatly exaggerated. I forget which historian instead
of that carves of harves of that one for him.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yeah. Also, by the way, I mean as if we
all we already were saying we liked that they didn't
trade Mark Andrews, but it's looking even better right now.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yeah, I mean, this is you know, this is why
when you go back to what Eric Tacosta said this offseason,
we're in the business of keeping as many great players
as possible. Yeah, this is why you're in that business.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Well, when we talk about all the Ravens, We've been
talking all off season about how many weapons the Ravens have,
and it's this embarrassment of riches. Well, this is why
you have it right, is if you have somebody go
down to it for an injury, then you have you
feel confident in the pieces that you have remaining. Like
you know, I you know me, I'm a huge fan
(10:22):
of Isaiah Likely's and think he's I just think he's awesome,
But I don't his injury does not change the calculus
for me that the Ravens are still the most loaded
team in the league.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Yeah, you know, yeah, And.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
To me, I think it depends when does he come back.
You look at the schedule. All right, Bills, that's a
huge game. But we just got told talking about how
Mark Andrews, you know, he might He's gonna want to
catch twenty balls in that game. Brown's following that in
the home opener. Then you get into Lions, Chiefs Texans Rams, Like,
(10:58):
I would really love to have Mark Andrews back for
that stretch. I mean like that, I'm sorry, isaa likely? Yes, exactly,
Like I mean, it goes beyond the Bills game of
Week one, that that first stretch of the season is
a gauntlet.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yeah, I want it back for that stretch.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Yeah, the raven of Week seven by and I'm just
really hope that we're not sitting here talking about do
you just wait until after the buye you know what
I mean, Like that would be way longer than what
the projections are. And but I just I hate foot injuries. Yeah,
and they just always make me feel cringy and uh,
(11:35):
but I mean, by all accounts, yeah, this is looking
like six weeks early September yep.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
So hopefully that there's projections and those reports from the
media are all accurate, and.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Who knows that, you know, John Harvell said, could it
be a little bit before then? You know, is he
a fast heeler. That's also been some of the reports
out there that maybe it's even a little fast than
six weeks.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
So we'll have to say, yeah, I think a lot
of it obviously depends on the rehab and all of that.
So also want to talk about who's looked good out
there in practice. This is the first week of padded practice.
As we always say, intensity dials up when you get
into these padded practices and you can start to get
a sense for who can kind of withstand the rigors
of NFL real practices and the heat. The heat several days,
(12:23):
I cannot. I'm not in that category. The heat failed.
I failed that test. It's been brutal out there, but
a lot of these guys looked pretty good. So we
each picked three guys that we want to highlight who
have looked good. We did not compare notes prior to
this conversation, so someone of it will have to think
on our feet if we take each other's guy. But
who do you have at the top of the list,
I'll give you first pick.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
All right, Well, I already already kind of hinted at
Devon tes Walker. I think has definitely been a standout.
And this is really carry over from OTAs in mini camp,
where I thought that tes was one of the strongest
players during that period of offseason as well. And to
see him go up and make a tough, contested grab
over Nate Wiggins for a touchdown for example, that's you know,
(13:05):
you know he has the speed and can pull away
from defensive backs, but to go up impads make a
play in the back of the end zone like that
was eye opening for me. He's just he's made a
lot of tough, tough hands catches and that's not something
that you really thought about with Devontez was like, oh man,
this guy's just got great hands. You know, it's calling
(13:26):
cards speed. So I think that he has definitely stood out.
And as we were entering train camp, one of the
questions was, all right, you know who your top three
wide receivers are, who's number four? And if somebody were
to go down, who would be kind of first called
upon to step up? And I think Tyler Wallace has
had a strong Camp two and I really like Talin
(13:47):
in a tough fourth quarter, third and four? Who do
I you know, I want the ball going to d
hot first, But you know, if he's not available, like
tailand Tyro on my list, you know what I mean, Like,
I just trust Tyler Wallace to make plays. But I'll
tell you Devantes Walker, he keeps playing like this, I
think he could be that guy that would be called
(14:09):
upon as the number four.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
I'll stick at wide receiver. You mentioned him, DeAndre Hopkins.
I thought he had a great week of practice. I
think that every step of the way since he's been here,
when there's more put on his play, or when the
stakes get a little higher in the pass, come on,
he just elevates. And like if you're talking about some
of the best plays of training camp, he had him
this week, he had the one hand to catch in
the end zone that was initially flagged at practice.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
He questioned up the flag, it was just a questionable flag.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Yeah, it was a questionable flag. I think it might
have got picked up after the fact.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Would you pick it up?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
I picked it up. But one hand to catch. Everyone
was talking about that play, and so I just think
that he's been awesome. He's making diamond catches, he's making
contested grabs, and when we had this whole conversation about
how you withstand the law, so Isaiah likely if that
were to extend it all like well, DeAndre Hopkins is
(15:04):
a huge piece in that receiving mix as well. So
and also Zay Flowers did not practice. He's missed some
practices this week. Did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
John Harwoods said it's a minor thing. I'm just gonna
miss a few days, but did not practice, and so
when he's out, that's open for Shan Bateman also missed
(15:25):
a practice this week being sick. That's opened the door
for DeAndre Hopkins to take on an even bigger workload
and he just continues to make plays. So he looked
awesome to me, he's one of my guys.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Okay, I'll move into the secondary here and I'm going
with Cheeto a Wuzia. I thought the last two days
of padded practices, at least Wednesday and Tuesday, I thought
Cheetah really stood out, especially Wednesday. And you know, he
hasn't gotten a lot of attention, especially after the signing
of JayR Alexander, you know, I mean that's such a
(15:57):
high profile name. And then Jayer gets on field and he's,
you know, buckling the seat belt on everybody, and and uh,
and he's been awesome. Jay Years has just been looked
really good in practice, so Cheeto's kind of flown under
the radar. He also is dealing with an ankle injury
that he had in OTA's mini camp, and so as
(16:17):
he's gotten healthier now in training camp. I'll tell you, man,
this guy can play. He can just cover. He's he's
really sticky. I think he's got a little physicality to him.
Made him a couple of diving plays breaking up balls
during Wednesday's practice, and I was just watching him. He's
got great feet. He can really change directions quickly. I
(16:37):
mean he was he was like glue on a sticky
day on Wednesday, and uh, I think Cheeto don't sleep
on what he can do in this secondary too.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
I'm with you on that. I feel like the conversation
about the secondary naturally shifted to JayR Alexander in his addition.
But like Cheeto is somebody who we were all excited
about when the Ravens got him this offseason, and he
was a guy that a year ago got a big
contract from the Titans. So really good player. Has dealt
(17:08):
with injuries, but I do I think that he's going
to be a huge piece of the secondary and it's
encouraging to see him playing well. I'll stay in the
secondary too. Guy who I thought caught my eye is
bo Braid. Okay, I thought that he had, particularly on
UH on Wednesday, a really nice day practice. I mean
he's he's flying around out there, he's physical. Pop keat
(17:28):
Mitchell at one point like.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
That was that was one of the better hits of camp. Yeah,
I mean bo Bow last year Mitchell Lounge. I didn't
really like that part of it, I know, but by
the friend.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Of yeah, go back and check out. We had keating
on the podcast dropped U yesterday morning, so check that out.
Really enjoyed talking with him. Keaton was almost on my
eye list too of guys that stood out, but but
bow last year in the preseason caught everyone's attention with
his physicality and he's doing a little bit in practice
and that play was one of them. And I just
(17:58):
think he was around the ball and in a competition
where him and sanoosy Kane. Sanouosy Kan's also been physical
in practice too, by the way, but those two guys
are competing trying to show this coaching staff you don't
need to go out and get another safety. We can
hold up here. That's play well. I think that he
had a good week in that regard.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Yeah, yeah, I would agree. All right, I'm gonna point
to another rookie and this really stood out on the
first day of camp. That's Mike Green. I thought that
the second round pick, the outside linebacker. You know, once
the pads came on, you saw, hey, this guy's he
has a much bigger repertoire than speed rushing. You know,
(18:39):
you think about him in seventeen Sackson College, You're like, man,
you know this guy can burn the edge, but he's
a physical player too, and not shine away from contact.
I think that his power game and even his runs
defense is something that he showed me a little bit
this week in pads.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Last guy at all point two is Tyler Loop.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Okay, and so.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
He had a rough practice on Monday and missed three kicks,
that's correct, And up until that point he hadn't missed
any field goals yep. So he like went ten for
ten to open camp, then missed a few kicks in
Monday's practice and you're like, oh, man, thinks for going
so great, that's a bummer, and so you start to think,
how's he gonna respond. Well, he came back and then
(19:24):
he hit every kick on on Wednesday, and it's just
like it's encouraging to see a guy who then has
a rough day come back and kick well. And like
when I watch him kick, like this guy's he bombs
the ball like he really he's got a huge leg
and he's like he kicked a fifty three yarder in
practice that like was so comfortably through the uprates with
(19:48):
so much room to spare, Like yeah, like it just
wasn't even a question of whether it's gonna get there.
And I was encouraged. The two things that stand out
like one bouncing back from a tough day, like to
see that second is performing well, it's just the it's
just the leg, just like the like strength that he
(20:09):
has really stands out to me. So I'm encouraged by
what I've seen from Loop.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Yeah, I agree, Yeah, I think that. Yeah. To me,
I'm not gonna go as far as to say he's
won the job because I think he needs a kick
well in preseason games, but he's making a good case.
And you know, we'll say John Hoylan's also went nine
for nine in his solo day kicking during during padded practice,
(20:35):
so he's also keeping the pressure on a little bit.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah, yeah, I just I'm with you on all that.
Those preseason games are gonna kind of decide that competition.
All this could change, But I'm encouraged by what I've
seen from Tyler Loop.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Are we loved the name? Any other guys were just
going with three.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
If you got a bonus, give me a bonus, Okay.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
I like, I'm gonna stick on the rookie train. I
like in es people's Okay, I think that. I think
the sixth round defensive ten is like flashing to me
some And I asked Chuck Smith about him, and he said,
I love Fubb. That's the nickname Fubb, which is a
great nickname, by the way. Yeah, he's he's flash, he's
got something.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Yeah, he's quick, he can get he can he can
shoot the gaps there in the middle of that defensive line.
So it's it's encouraging.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Past rush looks the past rushes look good in pads.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
I think David Jabos popped. I think Oway continues to
practice well. Dece Isaac has had some nice I'm just
going on on now.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yeah, fifteen guys, Yeah, let's keep going. So all right,
we're gonna take a quick break. When we come back,
we'll dive into Madden ratings yep, and give you our
takeaways on those. You're listening to the last podcast we
are coming to you from the Sea Geek Studio. We
also want to mention our partners at Draft King sports Book.
They are an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore
Ravens Draft King Sports Book. The Crown is yours. So
(21:47):
Madden ratings are out. The full ratings dropped today. Earlier
in the week, the big news was that we found
out Lamar Jackson is back in the ninety nine club
that was announced on Monday, so let's just start there
with them. He's in the ninety nine club, which certainly deserving.
He made it last year for the first time. Him
and Dereck Henry made it last year. In the middle
of the season, Lamar stayed at ninety nine. Derek Henry
(22:09):
came down to ninety eight. So robbery. So maybe over
the course of the year you can bump that back
up to a ninety nine.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Like last year's got the Adam Sandler movie and now
this so he's got a motivation, punny motivation.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yeah. I mean the two quarterbacks who are at ninety
nine this year are Lamar and Josh Allen. Uh So, look,
I first of all, anyone that plays Madden would know
that like Lamar at ninety nine, it's basically like a
creative player. It's unsoppable, it's unstoppid.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
I mean I went back in my heyday playing Madden.
I always played with Michael Vick. I mean it was
just like it was a cheek cooat. He has cheekot
esous So Lamar, that's preposterous. Yeah, why would you pick
any team other than the Ravens play with Honestly.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
I agree with that. I mean, be playing with him
is just so much fun. And it was cool he
got the chain and what I like to Zay Flowers
or Shaw Bateman gave him the chain surprising with that
from EA, and you could tell it meant something to him,
Like he's a guy that like he's a guy that
grew up playing Madden and playing with Michael Vick. And
so I think for guys who have grown up in
like the Madden generation, getting to that point where you're
(23:16):
getting you're in the ninety nine club, like it matters,
it's cool. Yeah, and and the Shaine is cool, and
it was it was awesome to have Zay and like chain. Yeah,
had to have those guys be part of the moment.
I thought was was really nice. So, uh, well deserved
for Lamar to be there. Henry, Again, he's ninety eight.
He's the Raven's second highest graded player, ninety nine stiff arm.
(23:37):
That so he's still in ninety nine and stith arm.
If he dropped in stiff Arm that we would have
to have beef with Matten.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Sure, but so he's ninety nine, Uh, stiff armed, So
let's go ahead and roll down the entire list of
guys here on the team who are ninety plus. Obviously
Lamar like I mentioned ninety nine, Derrick Henry ninety eight,
Rokwand Smith ninety four, Namd Mattabike ninety two, Marlon Humphrey
ninety two, Chair Alexander ninety one, Mark Andrews ninety one,
(24:06):
Ronnie Stanley ninety and Kyle Hamilton ninety. So those are
the eight guys who are rated ninety plus in this
year's game. I'm mad. I know we'll get to any
gripes that we have about any of the ratings, but
let's start with the positive and looking at that ninety
plus crew.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Yeah, those guys are all deserving. I mean, Jaire Alexander,
that's like the respect right there. You know, he's had
backpack seasons where he's played seven games and so like
that's respect for just how good he is when he's healthy.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Yeah, totally. Also, I think that similar conversation there, like
Mark Andrews and Ronnie Stanley you know, still obviously well
regarded coming off coming off really good seasons for both
those guys, still ninety plus and Rookwand Smith ninety four,
Like he's the rave of the third highest graded player,
and he's.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
He's a guy that be bumping that out the way
Roquon's playing out here at Trinky's looked awesome.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
He's I mean, he's All Pro last year, so it's
not like it was a bad season by any stretch
of the imagination.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
He makes like more plays, more picks, all that stuff,
He's gonna get the bump.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Yeah. He He was a guy like two years ago
when he first got here that we were like, could
he be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation
just about how good he was. And I still think like,
if he comes up with some takeaways, yeah, he could be,
because he's this he's a focal point of this defense,
and if in the middle of this thing, and there's
the other really good players around him now, but I
do still think like if he comes up with sax takeaways.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
And sacks, sacks, interceptions, force fumbles, that kind of stuff, Yeah,
he makes more splash plays.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
I would have dunked on you and men, by the way.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Uh in my heyday and my heyday, I was pretty
darn good.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
So's I like Kyle Bollard of Todd Heap ten yard
out was automatic.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
I'll be honest. I grew up more of a college fan,
just growing up in Columbus, Ohio, where Ohio State was
was anything and everything, and so I always skewed towards
the NCAA game, the college game that was like my
brain came backs and it came back, So I the
nostalgia piece when it came back.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Last How's Madden guy through and through?
Speaker 2 (26:05):
So maybe you would got would have gotten me in Madden.
But if we turn on n C double A, it's
lights out for you.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
I would, I would, I'll get it. I'll take that.
That's probably right.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
So uh to shout out to Madden and and congrats
to those guys who, uh, you know, got some well
deserved recognition there in terms of where they ranked. As always,
you can email us at the lounge at Ravens dot
NFL dot net. Another reminder that coming up on Sunday
is our open stadium practice at M and T Bank Stadium.
You make sure we want to make sure that you're there.
If you're not there, uh, you can watch it live stream.
(26:34):
We're gonna be carrying that for you on our Apple
website and our YouTube channel. So make sure you go
ahead uh and check that out. Thank you so much
for listening, and we will be back with you after
that stadium practice on Sunday,
Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Ink
here with Garrett Downing, and there's been a lot of
news so far in training camp, and unfortunately, one of
the biggest headlines has been the injury to Isaiah Likely.
So we're going to talk about the impact of that
on this Ravens team, as well as who stood out
the three straight days of padded practices. We'll talk about
(00:25):
who looked good in pads, and then lastly, the Madden
ratings are out for Madden twenty six, so we'll break
down some of the highlights from that. Garrett, let's start
with Isaiah Likely, Big Bummer, suffered fracture in his foot,
a small fracture. John Harball said that it looks like
it's probably about a four week potential timeline that puts
(00:48):
him in play. They're not ruling him out to return
for Week one in Buffalo. Could potentially be a little
bit longer than that. We'll have to see. But the
good news is it happened early in camp, so he
has time to recover and be back early in the
season at least. The bad news is it's one of
the Ravens' top offensive weapons.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
I think it's when you see it happen. It happened
late in practice, last play, last play, and so he
goes down, takes the card into the training room, and
you're just thinking, like, man, this is really tough. It
doesn't look it doesn't look good anytime you see the
car come out and a guy going in, So you're
kind of thinking worst case. And so given the context
(01:31):
of that, with the news that he could be back,
potentially not even missing a game in the regular season,
you think, Okay, not.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
That bad, right, And I also didn't add he's having
a small surgery, having surgery on.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
He will need to have surgery, and so again, could
be back from the start of the season, could linger
into the season a little bit, but if you're talking
about a September return, most likely. I think that given
the optics of how it played out on the field,
I think that you're probably looking at it. I'm looking
at it from a glass half full standpoint and feeling like,
may have dodged a bullet with that one, and that's
(02:05):
actually not going to be that bad. I do feel
bad for Isaiah because this is a guy who's in
a contract year, who has shown the last two seasons.
When he has opportunities, he can make the most of them.
And he's an important piece for this Ravens offense. I mean,
go back to Week one last year. He basically single
handedly got the Ravens back in that game against Kansas
City and then almost won it at the end. So
(02:25):
huge game Week one last year is pretty important in
that game. So I'm not going to minimize the fact
that if he's not able to play like that is
a blow to this offense.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Well, I think also the versatility that he offers, you know,
I mean, he doesn't even call himself a tight end.
You know, he's a chess piece, and so I think
that you you miss something without that piece on the
field for sure. Now Mark Andrews can play the slot
and he can line up out wide and do a
lot of kind of similar things, but they're not exactly
(02:56):
the same player. You know, Isaiah moves a different way
than Mark. They play the game a little bit differently,
and so you know, it stings from that aspect, and
he's one of Lamar's quite frankly, you know, most trusted targets,
you know, especially extended plays things like that. Isaiah likely
has often made teams pay in that scenario.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Well, he's been on the receiving end of two of
the most iconic broken plays from Lamar. Last year in
Cincinnati threw him like a record all stiff arm and
then the one in Jacksonville the year before. They just
looked like heaved it up and Isaiah likely came down
in traffic.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, between two guys. That was ridiculous. He's had. His
portfolio of highlights is ridiculous. The one hander across the
field against Miami that he took for a touchdown on
fourth down, ridiculous play. Yeah, two years ago.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Yeah, that one was insane. I mean the and just
the being on.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
The r to Kansas City. You talked about Week one
last year, the one in Kansas City where he stopped
on a dime. Yeah, two yards short of the end zone.
Guy whiz passed and he pulled the Lamar. Yeah, he
did the Lamar step back, the Lamar step back high
school move, and.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Y had, Yeah, I had. That was a That was
an awesome player. Then of course almost had the iconic touchdown.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
He was wearing different color sheets, white cleats.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
We so so I'm not going to minimize the fact
that that that is honestly one of the things that
I think where it could have the biggest impact. And
this is hard to quantify exactly, but to me, a
question for the Ravens from a scheme standpoint is how
they're going to structure their last year. They did a
lot of two tight ends set. We talked about you
(04:27):
want to get Mark and Isaiah on the field a
lot last year. Like when we were having these conversations
a year ago, that was a big thing that we
were talking about. And then the Ravens did that in
a lot of situations and they found ways to get
both of them involved. Now it's the conversation that has
shifted a little bit because the Ravens have three really
good receivers and Zay Flowers or Seaan Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins,
and you're saying, could the Ravens go more three wide
(04:47):
this year?
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah? Plus den dis Walker's been one of those standouts
right just to that, Yes, I'm just fut to that.
You can't steal that, Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
So so it's like, should they go more three wide
receiver exactly?
Speaker 1 (04:58):
That's how I think they kind of pivot, right. I Mean,
they were really heavy twelve personnel one running back, two
tight ends last year, Yeah, and it was extremely successful.
So it hurts because now I like Charlie Kohler. I
think Charlie Cohler has been deserving of a bigger role
for a little while. He's just been blocked by two
really good players ahead of him. But Charlie Kohler is
a good player too, and so I think that he can.
(05:20):
Like he's definitely different than Isaia Likely, but I think
he'll step up and play well with more opportunities while
Likely is out. But I do think that probably they
back off a little bit of the twelve personnel while
Likely's out and lean more into three wide receiver formations.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Right, And I think that the question then becomes to me,
is that just something that happens for early in the
season if Likely a sidelined at all, or does that
to some degree become the offensive identity because that's what
they're practicing all summer, that's the direction that.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
They're moving, Like, how long of a lasting impact?
Speaker 2 (05:53):
What's the long term lasting impact of it because of
how you're structuring things in training camp or do they
just say, hey, likely it may not be there for
the first game or two, so we're gonna go more
three I think receiver sets in those games.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Again, looking at this optimistically, glass half fool, I think
that it's it to what you're saying. I think it
gives them a chance to get good at that stuff, right,
Like DeAndre Hopkins is kind of the new piece. Last year,
they really got good at twelve personnel. Let's get really
good at going three wide and see what that feels like.
(06:26):
Try that on size, including in games. And now I
think that they could run a lot of that twelve
personnel stuff. It's like the back of their hand. They
know it, right, They did it so much last year,
more than any team in league history. And so I
think that, like, yeah, let's get good at this other
punch and then once likely comes back. Now we have
(06:47):
both of those punches in our arsenal, you know, So
I think that there's some merit to that. I also
look at all Right, let's say Isaiah likely is gonna
if he misses the Bills game. We all know that's
gonna be a Mark Andrews game, right.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
That's I mean, I mean the storyline.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I mean, come on, Mark Andrews is gonna be on
another planet on that in that game. Just another dimension
of like his locked in this. So I don't know.
I mean, of course that's that's more of a narrative thing.
And I do think Mark Mark will be a dog
(07:27):
yeah that day, but uh, I don't know. If there's
one game for Isaiah likely to miss, maybe it's that one,
because because I think they're gonna want to get the
ball to Mark Andrews.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
I do think from a tight end standpoint, there's gonna
be games where you're like, this is the Isaiah likely game,
this is the Mark Andrews game. And I don't think
there will necessarily go into it with that strategy entirely.
I do think they could have games for like, hey,
this is a better matchup for Isaiah, or this is
a better matchup for Mark. I think within games you
could see who's who's got the hot hand and roll
with them a little bit. But yeah, I could see
(07:59):
that that first game and one that Mark has a
heavy target share. And also, I mean it's not like
he's ever not motivated or locked down. I mean he's
always he's like.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
One, it's another I think it's another dimension.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
It probably is level it probably is, and so I
think he certainly is up to that task and honestly,
like if we're looking at the tight end mixture as
a whole, Mark answers to me, has has been a
reminder early in training camp that like everyone was talking
about the trade possibility, everyone of course was talking about
the end of last season. That was like the conversation
(08:31):
with him this offseason, and he's looked really good in
training camp, and to me it's kind of been a
reminder of like, hey, guys, I'm still here. I am
still here. I'm still that guy. That's like a that
is a sense that I have gotten from Mark and
watching him in these practices.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
I thought tight ends, Kitch, George godsee put it well
yesterday think you asked a question to you is like basically,
how good is Mark? You know there's a lot surround him,
surrounding him this offseason, but you see Mark out here,
how good is he? And he was like, well, last
year he led league and touchdowns for the tight ends.
I think he's that's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Yeah, not bad, not bad, good, so like and I
think that he's playing still like that that Yeah, I agree.
I think everybody we've said it, both said it.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
He's very motivated. He's motivating shape. He is extremely motivated
and he's still moving well like last year. Even at
the beginning last year, Mark was pretty candid about this,
like he was kind of dealing with some stuff physically.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
He's banged up.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Yeah, he was banged up at the beginning last year,
and I think like he's in good shape this year.
I think he's going to come out strong.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
And then he just caught like a touchdown and never
game down the stretch exactly. I think the demise of
Mark Andrews was greatly exaggerated. I forget which historian instead
of that carves of harves of that one for him.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yeah. Also, by the way, I mean as if we
all we already were saying we liked that they didn't
trade Mark Andrews, but it's looking even better right now.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yeah, I mean, this is you know, this is why
when you go back to what Eric Tacosta said this offseason,
we're in the business of keeping as many great players
as possible. Yeah, this is why you're in that business.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Well, when we talk about all the Ravens, We've been
talking all off season about how many weapons the Ravens have,
and it's this embarrassment of riches. Well, this is why
you have it right, is if you have somebody go
down to it for an injury, then you have you
feel confident in the pieces that you have remaining. Like
you know, I you know me, I'm a huge fan
(10:22):
of Isaiah Likely's and think he's I just think he's awesome,
But I don't his injury does not change the calculus
for me that the Ravens are still the most loaded
team in the league.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Yeah, you know, yeah, And.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
To me, I think it depends when does he come back.
You look at the schedule. All right, Bills, that's a
huge game. But we just got told talking about how
Mark Andrews, you know, he might He's gonna want to
catch twenty balls in that game. Brown's following that in
the home opener. Then you get into Lions, Chiefs Texans Rams, Like,
(10:58):
I would really love to have Mark Andrews back for
that stretch. I mean like that, I'm sorry, isaa likely? Yes, exactly,
Like I mean, it goes beyond the Bills game of
Week one, that that first stretch of the season is
a gauntlet.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yeah, I want it back for that stretch.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Yeah, the raven of Week seven by and I'm just
really hope that we're not sitting here talking about do
you just wait until after the buye you know what
I mean, Like that would be way longer than what
the projections are. And but I just I hate foot injuries. Yeah,
and they just always make me feel cringy and uh,
(11:35):
but I mean, by all accounts, yeah, this is looking
like six weeks early September yep.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
So hopefully that there's projections and those reports from the
media are all accurate, and.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Who knows that, you know, John Harvell said, could it
be a little bit before then? You know, is he
a fast heeler. That's also been some of the reports
out there that maybe it's even a little fast than
six weeks.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
So we'll have to say, yeah, I think a lot
of it obviously depends on the rehab and all of that.
So also want to talk about who's looked good out
there in practice. This is the first week of padded practice.
As we always say, intensity dials up when you get
into these padded practices and you can start to get
a sense for who can kind of withstand the rigors
of NFL real practices and the heat. The heat several days,
(12:23):
I cannot. I'm not in that category. The heat failed.
I failed that test. It's been brutal out there, but
a lot of these guys looked pretty good. So we
each picked three guys that we want to highlight who
have looked good. We did not compare notes prior to
this conversation, so someone of it will have to think
on our feet if we take each other's guy. But
who do you have at the top of the list,
I'll give you first pick.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
All right, Well, I already already kind of hinted at
Devon tes Walker. I think has definitely been a standout.
And this is really carry over from OTAs in mini camp,
where I thought that tes was one of the strongest
players during that period of offseason as well. And to
see him go up and make a tough, contested grab
over Nate Wiggins for a touchdown for example, that's you know,
(13:05):
you know he has the speed and can pull away
from defensive backs, but to go up impads make a
play in the back of the end zone like that
was eye opening for me. He's just he's made a
lot of tough, tough hands catches and that's not something
that you really thought about with Devontez was like, oh man,
this guy's just got great hands. You know, it's calling
(13:26):
cards speed. So I think that he has definitely stood out.
And as we were entering train camp, one of the
questions was, all right, you know who your top three
wide receivers are, who's number four? And if somebody were
to go down, who would be kind of first called
upon to step up? And I think Tyler Wallace has
had a strong Camp two and I really like Talin
(13:47):
in a tough fourth quarter, third and four? Who do
I you know, I want the ball going to d
hot first, But you know, if he's not available, like
tailand Tyro on my list, you know what I mean, Like,
I just trust Tyler Wallace to make plays. But I'll
tell you Devantes Walker, he keeps playing like this, I
think he could be that guy that would be called
(14:09):
upon as the number four.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
I'll stick at wide receiver. You mentioned him, DeAndre Hopkins.
I thought he had a great week of practice. I
think that every step of the way since he's been here,
when there's more put on his play, or when the
stakes get a little higher in the pass, come on,
he just elevates. And like if you're talking about some
of the best plays of training camp, he had him
this week, he had the one hand to catch in
the end zone that was initially flagged at practice.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
He questioned up the flag, it was just a questionable flag.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Yeah, it was a questionable flag. I think it might
have got picked up after the fact.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Would you pick it up?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
I picked it up. But one hand to catch. Everyone
was talking about that play, and so I just think
that he's been awesome. He's making diamond catches, he's making
contested grabs, and when we had this whole conversation about
how you withstand the law, so Isaiah likely if that
were to extend it all like well, DeAndre Hopkins is
(15:04):
a huge piece in that receiving mix as well. So
and also Zay Flowers did not practice. He's missed some
practices this week. Did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
John Harwoods said it's a minor thing. I'm just gonna
miss a few days, but did not practice, and so
when he's out, that's open for Shan Bateman also missed
(15:25):
a practice this week being sick. That's opened the door
for DeAndre Hopkins to take on an even bigger workload
and he just continues to make plays. So he looked
awesome to me, he's one of my guys.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Okay, I'll move into the secondary here and I'm going
with Cheeto a Wuzia. I thought the last two days
of padded practices, at least Wednesday and Tuesday, I thought
Cheetah really stood out, especially Wednesday. And you know, he
hasn't gotten a lot of attention, especially after the signing
of JayR Alexander, you know, I mean that's such a
(15:57):
high profile name. And then Jayer gets on field and he's,
you know, buckling the seat belt on everybody, and and uh,
and he's been awesome. Jay Years has just been looked
really good in practice, so Cheeto's kind of flown under
the radar. He also is dealing with an ankle injury
that he had in OTA's mini camp, and so as
(16:17):
he's gotten healthier now in training camp. I'll tell you, man,
this guy can play. He can just cover. He's he's
really sticky. I think he's got a little physicality to him.
Made him a couple of diving plays breaking up balls
during Wednesday's practice, and I was just watching him. He's
got great feet. He can really change directions quickly. I
(16:37):
mean he was he was like glue on a sticky
day on Wednesday, and uh, I think Cheeto don't sleep
on what he can do in this secondary too.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
I'm with you on that. I feel like the conversation
about the secondary naturally shifted to JayR Alexander in his addition.
But like Cheeto is somebody who we were all excited
about when the Ravens got him this offseason, and he
was a guy that a year ago got a big
contract from the Titans. So really good player. Has dealt
(17:08):
with injuries, but I do I think that he's going
to be a huge piece of the secondary and it's
encouraging to see him playing well. I'll stay in the
secondary too. Guy who I thought caught my eye is
bo Braid. Okay, I thought that he had, particularly on
UH on Wednesday, a really nice day practice. I mean
he's he's flying around out there, he's physical. Pop keat
(17:28):
Mitchell at one point like.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
That was that was one of the better hits of camp. Yeah,
I mean bo Bow last year Mitchell Lounge. I didn't
really like that part of it, I know, but by
the friend.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Of yeah, go back and check out. We had keating
on the podcast dropped U yesterday morning, so check that out.
Really enjoyed talking with him. Keaton was almost on my
eye list too of guys that stood out, but but
bow last year in the preseason caught everyone's attention with
his physicality and he's doing a little bit in practice
and that play was one of them. And I just
(17:58):
think he was around the ball and in a competition
where him and sanoosy Kane. Sanouosy Kan's also been physical
in practice too, by the way, but those two guys
are competing trying to show this coaching staff you don't
need to go out and get another safety. We can
hold up here. That's play well. I think that he
had a good week in that regard.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Yeah, yeah, I would agree. All right, I'm gonna point
to another rookie and this really stood out on the
first day of camp. That's Mike Green. I thought that
the second round pick, the outside linebacker. You know, once
the pads came on, you saw, hey, this guy's he
has a much bigger repertoire than speed rushing. You know,
(18:39):
you think about him in seventeen Sackson College, You're like, man,
you know this guy can burn the edge, but he's
a physical player too, and not shine away from contact.
I think that his power game and even his runs
defense is something that he showed me a little bit
this week in pads.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Last guy at all point two is Tyler Loop.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Okay, and so.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
He had a rough practice on Monday and missed three kicks,
that's correct, And up until that point he hadn't missed
any field goals yep. So he like went ten for
ten to open camp, then missed a few kicks in
Monday's practice and you're like, oh, man, thinks for going
so great, that's a bummer, and so you start to think,
how's he gonna respond. Well, he came back and then
(19:24):
he hit every kick on on Wednesday, and it's just
like it's encouraging to see a guy who then has
a rough day come back and kick well. And like
when I watch him kick, like this guy's he bombs
the ball like he really he's got a huge leg
and he's like he kicked a fifty three yarder in
practice that like was so comfortably through the uprates with
(19:48):
so much room to spare, Like yeah, like it just
wasn't even a question of whether it's gonna get there.
And I was encouraged. The two things that stand out
like one bouncing back from a tough day, like to
see that second is performing well, it's just the it's
just the leg, just like the like strength that he
(20:09):
has really stands out to me. So I'm encouraged by
what I've seen from Loop.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Yeah, I agree, Yeah, I think that. Yeah. To me,
I'm not gonna go as far as to say he's
won the job because I think he needs a kick
well in preseason games, but he's making a good case.
And you know, we'll say John Hoylan's also went nine
for nine in his solo day kicking during during padded practice,
(20:35):
so he's also keeping the pressure on a little bit.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah, yeah, I just I'm with you on all that.
Those preseason games are gonna kind of decide that competition.
All this could change, But I'm encouraged by what I've
seen from Tyler Loop.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Are we loved the name? Any other guys were just
going with three.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
If you got a bonus, give me a bonus, Okay.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
I like, I'm gonna stick on the rookie train. I
like in es people's Okay, I think that. I think
the sixth round defensive ten is like flashing to me
some And I asked Chuck Smith about him, and he said,
I love Fubb. That's the nickname Fubb, which is a
great nickname, by the way. Yeah, he's he's flash, he's
got something.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Yeah, he's quick, he can get he can he can
shoot the gaps there in the middle of that defensive line.
So it's it's encouraging.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Past rush looks the past rushes look good in pads.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
I think David Jabos popped. I think Oway continues to
practice well. Dece Isaac has had some nice I'm just
going on on now.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yeah, fifteen guys, Yeah, let's keep going. So all right,
we're gonna take a quick break. When we come back,
we'll dive into Madden ratings yep, and give you our
takeaways on those. You're listening to the last podcast we
are coming to you from the Sea Geek Studio. We
also want to mention our partners at Draft King sports Book.
They are an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore
Ravens Draft King Sports Book. The Crown is yours. So
(21:47):
Madden ratings are out. The full ratings dropped today. Earlier
in the week, the big news was that we found
out Lamar Jackson is back in the ninety nine club
that was announced on Monday, so let's just start there
with them. He's in the ninety nine club, which certainly deserving.
He made it last year for the first time. Him
and Dereck Henry made it last year. In the middle
of the season, Lamar stayed at ninety nine. Derek Henry
(22:09):
came down to ninety eight. So robbery. So maybe over
the course of the year you can bump that back
up to a ninety nine.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Like last year's got the Adam Sandler movie and now
this so he's got a motivation, punny motivation.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yeah. I mean the two quarterbacks who are at ninety
nine this year are Lamar and Josh Allen. Uh So, look,
I first of all, anyone that plays Madden would know
that like Lamar at ninety nine, it's basically like a
creative player. It's unsoppable, it's unstoppid.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
I mean I went back in my heyday playing Madden.
I always played with Michael Vick. I mean it was
just like it was a cheek cooat. He has cheekot
esous So Lamar, that's preposterous. Yeah, why would you pick
any team other than the Ravens play with Honestly.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
I agree with that. I mean, be playing with him
is just so much fun. And it was cool he
got the chain and what I like to Zay Flowers
or Shaw Bateman gave him the chain surprising with that
from EA, and you could tell it meant something to him,
Like he's a guy that like he's a guy that
grew up playing Madden and playing with Michael Vick. And
so I think for guys who have grown up in
like the Madden generation, getting to that point where you're
(23:16):
getting you're in the ninety nine club, like it matters,
it's cool. Yeah, and and the Shaine is cool, and
it was it was awesome to have Zay and like chain. Yeah,
had to have those guys be part of the moment.
I thought was was really nice. So, uh, well deserved
for Lamar to be there. Henry, Again, he's ninety eight.
He's the Raven's second highest graded player, ninety nine stiff arm.
(23:37):
That so he's still in ninety nine and stith arm.
If he dropped in stiff Arm that we would have
to have beef with Matten.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Sure, but so he's ninety nine, Uh, stiff armed, So
let's go ahead and roll down the entire list of
guys here on the team who are ninety plus. Obviously
Lamar like I mentioned ninety nine, Derrick Henry ninety eight,
Rokwand Smith ninety four, Namd Mattabike ninety two, Marlon Humphrey
ninety two, Chair Alexander ninety one, Mark Andrews ninety one,
(24:06):
Ronnie Stanley ninety and Kyle Hamilton ninety. So those are
the eight guys who are rated ninety plus in this
year's game. I'm mad. I know we'll get to any
gripes that we have about any of the ratings, but
let's start with the positive and looking at that ninety
plus crew.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Yeah, those guys are all deserving. I mean, Jaire Alexander,
that's like the respect right there. You know, he's had
backpack seasons where he's played seven games and so like
that's respect for just how good he is when he's healthy.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Yeah, totally. Also, I think that similar conversation there, like
Mark Andrews and Ronnie Stanley you know, still obviously well
regarded coming off coming off really good seasons for both
those guys, still ninety plus and Rookwand Smith ninety four,
Like he's the rave of the third highest graded player,
and he's.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
He's a guy that be bumping that out the way
Roquon's playing out here at Trinky's looked awesome.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
He's I mean, he's All Pro last year, so it's
not like it was a bad season by any stretch
of the imagination.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
He makes like more plays, more picks, all that stuff,
He's gonna get the bump.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Yeah. He He was a guy like two years ago
when he first got here that we were like, could
he be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation
just about how good he was. And I still think like,
if he comes up with some takeaways, yeah, he could be,
because he's this he's a focal point of this defense,
and if in the middle of this thing, and there's
the other really good players around him now, but I
do still think like if he comes up with sax takeaways.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
And sacks, sacks, interceptions, force fumbles, that kind of stuff, Yeah,
he makes more splash plays.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
I would have dunked on you and men, by the way.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Uh in my heyday and my heyday, I was pretty
darn good.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
So's I like Kyle Bollard of Todd Heap ten yard
out was automatic.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
I'll be honest. I grew up more of a college fan,
just growing up in Columbus, Ohio, where Ohio State was
was anything and everything, and so I always skewed towards
the NCAA game, the college game that was like my
brain came backs and it came back, So I the
nostalgia piece when it came back.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Last How's Madden guy through and through?
Speaker 2 (26:05):
So maybe you would got would have gotten me in Madden.
But if we turn on n C double A, it's
lights out for you.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
I would, I would, I'll get it. I'll take that.
That's probably right.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
So uh to shout out to Madden and and congrats
to those guys who, uh, you know, got some well
deserved recognition there in terms of where they ranked. As always,
you can email us at the lounge at Ravens dot
NFL dot net. Another reminder that coming up on Sunday
is our open stadium practice at M and T Bank Stadium.
You make sure we want to make sure that you're there.
If you're not there, uh, you can watch it live stream.
(26:34):
We're gonna be carrying that for you on our Apple
website and our YouTube channel. So make sure you go
ahead uh and check that out. Thank you so much
for listening, and we will be back with you after
that stadium practice on Sunday,
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