Ravens CB Nate Wiggins joins team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to talk about his trademark celebration, how he improved over his rookie season, his focus this offseason in training, and what he anticipates for the 2025 season.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Ink here
with Garrett Downing and we are thrilled to sit down
with cornerback Nate Wiggins. So, Nate, I'll start here because
Garrett and I do this in our office all the time.
We always give each other the like he screwed something up,
I give it to him. I want to don't call
him so. So your celebration, it's the bestselling team. I
(00:27):
gotta say, you wear the crown. Uh when did that start?
How did you how did you go with that celebration?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
It started Uh probably my tenth grade year in college.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Okay, Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
First it was just a box animation and my twelfth
grade year I added the thongs down it just like
uh before I before I dated the box. Uh, they
used to call me like. We used to say box
like and Clemson we say box them up. So before
with the box, he used to say bought him up.
We say yelled it out out.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Damn came.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I came up with the box emote. So no, A
lot of people in the lead around doing it. So
I feel like it's going it's going.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
To still It's spread through the rest of the team
even last season. I mean you had I think Ronnie
Stanley this was my.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
Favorite when Ronnie was hitting the I think it was
maybe like the Steelers bench.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, he boxed them up.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
He boxed up the pass rushing.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Yeah, he can do it from whatever man like past
rushing a defensive line.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
You are knocked down the.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Ball like so's it's going on for what position?
Speaker 5 (01:29):
Well not be kind of has one too, he like
kind of draws the door and then kicks it down. Okay, yeah, yeah,
so it's kind of a similar line to it, but
you don't do it all that often, like you save
it like you're pretty selected ever use it. You don't
want to go crazy with it. We're pretty selective with it.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I feel like each reflectioning it's not like a celebration.
So when I get like I locked somebody up, like
if I'm pressing he can't get out for gym and
they throw the past break it up, like I just
put him in a box like the whole play. So
I really don't like to use it like each play
because like each player, I didn't put him in the
box time I just catch up to find it out.
(02:03):
I feel like I use it. I use it as
a good at a good man.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
It's almost like when you use it, it's almost like
when the ball doesn't come his direction. It's almost like
that's almost for a guy like you who can just
lock up some of these wide receivers, Like that's almost
the best play. If it doesn't even ball doesn't even
come towards you.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah, if it does come towards them where you get
a pick or something, then it turns into the coffin
to keep adding to it, keep adding to it has
any like wide receiver? Have they gotten salty when you
when you box them when you did the celebration?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Uh no, I don't. I don't recall nobody again about it.
I don't recall like.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
You don't got anything to say, you just got boxed.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, I don't feel like, yeah, you can't say nothing
after you just got box Like, yeah, I feel like that.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I'll be saying that. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So so, I mean, awesome rookie season for you.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Now you're going into year two.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
What what lessons do you primarily take from rookie year
to year two?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Really? Just uh my technique? Really? Could?
Speaker 3 (02:57):
I feel like some plays last year I was uh
like getting tired or some of my technique. I just
feel like this year I just want to be technical
sound catching a bar too. Like for I dropped like
five six pitch last year. I feel like our older
team some picks. So this year it's all about catching
the ball, looking it through.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yeah, I feel like corner.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
I mean obviously physically demanding. You have to be a
premier athlete as you are, super fast, all these things, right,
you're like some of the best athletes on the field,
but also the mental side of it of just like
having to stay locked in every single time with the
technique like you're talking about, because the ball isn't always
gonna come your way, right, and if you kind of
get like lacks of day's goal like in baseball, Oh
they're not hitting it to me whatever, then it's easy
(03:39):
to lose focus.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Is that kind of what you're talking about.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Yeah, it just really just like having meant like you said,
mental focus and having next play mentality like playing corner.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
They gonna like, you're not gonna deflect the bar each time.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
The receiver like the see you get paid to like
they hide some highest paid too, so they're gonna catch
the ball. It's just really having a strong mental focus
on next play mentality like so yeah, so.
Speaker 5 (04:02):
It became pretty obvious to me like when you got
here last year, like, oh, he can play like he
can play with these guys in training camp. That was evident.
I'm just curious for you, like was there a point
where it clicked for you and you were like, oh,
like I'm ready for the NFL game, Like I can
I can hold my own at this level.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
I feel like going to my probably like week six,
week seven, that's when I really like clicked in my head.
Like I know it sounded like pretty like pretty late
because I was doing you had that, Yeah, I know
I was doing, but like like a wee see we said,
it really clicked on my in my head like okay,
I can guard like all these like East receiving lead.
(04:40):
I can really like just sit down and watch film
on get the technique and like just really lock them down.
So that's when I really just like really it really clicked,
Like we we see week seven.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
And what was it that made you feel that way?
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Was it?
Speaker 5 (04:52):
Like I'm just curious why, Like why was it at
that point that you started to feel a difference in
how you were playing and how you can you the
game and all of that.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Oh, it really just I was getting I was getting confident,
just like we each week, I was playing better and
better and better, and they were just I was just
like at every game, I just watched most of my
plays and I like see like I was getting more confident,
like in my stand you know, I was just playing
like I was just out there playing.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
So I was just like, yeah, I'm ready, like it's time.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
By the end of the year, it felt like to me,
it was.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Like we got Nate over there.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
We don't got to worry about that, you know what
I mean, Like you were playing at that level and
it seemed like you were playing with that confidence. How
did you feel down the stretch of last season and
into the playoffs and then even coming into this year,
How much more confidence do you feel in your game?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Like like you said, like throwing down the stretch, like
I said, like we were sick and seven, That's when
I knew when it had so after them we ate,
we na we ten. It was just now like just
watching film and because I already knew, like my confident
was there, so I already it was just not like
getting plays down, getting a just getting the concepts getting
(06:04):
like how they run route now because I can do
everything physical I can do in it like with these guys,
so now they just getting technique down again.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
How how we play the defense?
Speaker 1 (06:14):
So you had some premiere matchups last year for a rookie.
I mean, Ceedee Lamb in your third game, right, Melik Neighbors,
Shamar Chase. There's guys who is the most fun guy
to match up?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I feel like CD Lamb probably was, probably was the best.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
It was fun. Probably was fun. Okay, why is that
just because I feel like he gave me the most work.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Rooie year.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
I fly out of that game. It really like set
me down. I really had to tone in on my
technique because I think I had like two pr pr
that game. So I feel like that game I really
just had to sit down, just tone in.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
You got the force fumble, the trip there. So it
was like kind of mixed bag a little bit.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Did the Melik Neighbors.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
It felt like that Giants game and the Melik Neighbors
game was on a so in a way a turning
point for you, Like you had a number of good
plays against him. He had awesome season, super talented player
with that game and that matchup against the form another
first round pick.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
It was just really like, uh, I mean you know
we got drafted. It was just really showing, uh, showing
the lead like I could play too, Like I know, uh,
I slipped a thirty last year in the draft because
you know my doubts. So I was just showing everybody that,
showing the leader, like yeah, I'm here.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah, that's what that game was about.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
It's interesting like hearing you say I slipped because like,
you know, your first round pick, but it seems like
the draft in your mind is almost like you look
at it like it's I'm sure it's a great moment
you get drafted, but also like it seems like there's still
a little bit of a chip on your shoulder about
the draft.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah, I mean it still is because you know, it
was a lot of doubters, a lot of teams.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
You thought of me.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I was saying I wasn't ready, was too small. So
I mean, yeah, it's definitely still gonna be a tip
on my shoulder.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
Interesting you mentioned the picks. That's something that you're working on.
How do you do that? Like what do you how
do you go to work as a junxt machine Like
what are you trying to do to improve and coming
up with those picks?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, just moving off for speed on the drug because
like most of the time, like you said, I play cornerbacks,
so we're not just like receiving our eyes not on
the ball at all the time, you had to flip.
So just get on the drug. Get my eyes off
the jaw back on the drug. So stuff like that,
just to get my eyes on the ball.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
I'm curious about technique because we talked about that just
a couple of minutes ago. And you're like such a
great athlete. You ran you know the forty what four
two for two nine eight for two eight, No, I
don't want a short change, and so like you run
the four two eight, you got this great speed, sticky
in coverage. But like the technique, I gotta believe that
(08:40):
most of the guys that you're gonna come up against,
especially the college level, you're just a better athlete then
and then you get to the NFL and everybody's an
even better athlete and so, but so you can't lean
on like just the talent as much as you could
at the college level. Was that part of the learning
process for you when you got to the NFL.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Yeah, that's what I was going there, boy, like we
see we seven. Yeah, Like the first couple games, I
was just playing on streetly like talent and my athletic ability,
so it really wasn't given like great technique, so down
the skirts, I had to like learn everybody good, everybody fast,
but you beat other people up, the good people with
great technique because like it's hard to have great technique
(09:18):
every play, every place. So that's what I'm working on.
This show just happened, great technique every play.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
With that pick six in the regular season finale with
that through for you.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Uh yeah, I mean I wish I would have had
it earlier, but I mean I got it.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
I got it, That's what. That's what it was.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
One of my goals on my rookie season was yeah,
so I got that one.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
So that one fair good? It felt great?
Speaker 5 (09:39):
What's going through you when you catch it?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
There's green?
Speaker 5 (09:41):
Grass? I mean like as soon as you call it that,
it was like just taking this to the house, Like
what are you thinking?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Oh yeah, soon I called it.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
He threw it right to me, so I'm like, yeah
soon I look, I look, and I just seen like
nothing but grass I knew I was going like I
knew I was going to house it.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
You talk about that being one of your rookie season goals.
What's on the goal sheet for your you?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
For you, uh just really get ten plus uh turnover
no't matter like interceptions and forced fumbles.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
I need to.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Yeah that's a that's a I want to and really
just uh keep on what I did last year, just
coverage wise and be uh be all around cornerback showing
up in the run covering. So this year I feel like, uh, yeah,
it's gonna be it's gonna be good.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Well, Zach Orr told us on this podcast that he
expects you to become one of the best cornerbacks in
the league in the year two. It's just more lofty
goals for you. What goes to your head when you
hear your d C say that.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I mean, it just gives me not like another chip
on my shoulder, uh knowing like one of the top
Tophick guys in the building saying, uh, you wanted to
give you the uh best he got. I got the
chance to be the best cornerback. So that's only give
me the ability just to push and even.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Scott for more.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
What motivates you.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Uh just I love I love playing football.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
I mean my family, Uh, I mean just coming out
here and compete. I mean just I don't like losing.
So I feel like that's what drives me the most.
I feel like receive a kids, and the ball on
me is just I mean taking it taking away from me.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
So yeah, I feel like yeah.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
So, you mentioned in the draft process one of the
questions that a lot of teams and media had for
you with size, and you answered that question about a
million times during the pre draft process and as a
rookie just being a leaner guy. You talked even about
as a rookie in this offseason looking for ways to
kind of bulk up and add muscle. How have you
gone about that and where does that stand? Uh?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
No?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Uh Ever, since I got back again like ten pounds.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
No, so okay, I feel like you got back here
for the conditioning for.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Off season since last season to know, I gained ten pounds.
So I'm feeling I'm feeling great right now. I feel like, uh, well,
I can't.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
I could have.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
I did it last year too, but I feel like, no,
this year is just gonna be like one more power,
more screen. So I feel like, uh, I'm still like, uh,
trending to gain more pounds. So yeah, how do you
go about it? I'll just be in I've been eating
last year. I really like, I'm not a big fan
of forcing myself to eat.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
So you gotta hang out more. I can teach you
a thing or two about eating.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
I live to eat, eat live, right, so I can.
I can teach you some.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
You spend a lot of time with Sarah Snyder, you know,
the nutritionists, just looking for ways to Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
We talked most of it. Every day.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
She just texts me like what I how many ground cars?
How many grounds I need today? Like what I need
to eat on the weekend? What I need to do
is so she she a big party.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
Is that part of just kind of becoming a pro?
I guess like just learning the diet piece of that.
A lot of times here veteran players talk about like
how they learn the nutrition and the dog in the
sleep like that type of stuff.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Yeah, I feel like that's all that's all coming. What
part of part of a pro? Uh, you gotta learn
how to sleep? I learn how to eat?
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
I mean that transition was like the feel on your body.
I feel like if you eat, If you eat better,
your body gonna produce better.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
So you mentioned the film study.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
How much did you did that become part of your routine?
How much did you really embrace that as a rookie
and you more?
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah, I mean beginning I really didn't do that much.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
But like like I said, like week six, week seven,
it got picked up on it.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
And not even doing more.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
No, like even when before the season start, I'm already
watching film now. So I feel like I just had
to learn how to watch film. Like what I'm what
I'm watching.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Is there was there a vet that kind of helped
you with that?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Oh yeah, Marlon, Yeah, Marlin is sitting down. I asked
Marlon Kyle, like to just sit me down and teach
me how to, like how to watch film, because like
I really never watched film because, like you said, in college,
I was like basically better than everybody.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Right, I mean that's kind of what I see is
the exciting part about you, right, is that you're a competitor,
You love playing football, like you said, you're a great athlete,
all these things. And when as you become more of
a pro and your body fills out and you learn
how to you know, study film even better and the
technique and all that stuff, like it really feels like
in Ericskassa said it that really the sky's the limit
and he always says and it's on Nate. It's it's
(14:25):
on Nate to like realize that potential. Yeah, you know
when you hear that and that kind of motivation from
the GM and from zach Orr, like we talked about,
like how much does that kind of inspire you to
be like man, Like, you know, I want to fulfill
this great potential that I have.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Yeah, Like like you said, uh, every since I talked
to uh a man, he was uh. He always telling
me like disguis the name? Uh, Like I could beat Abyss.
It's just up to me. So every day I come in,
I just think about being Abyss. What can I do
to be a Byss? Like what I need to work
on what?
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Like?
Speaker 5 (15:00):
So, Yeah, I think when you talk about Eric, I
think back to the phone call that you had with
him when he when the Ravens drafted you, and you
just kept saying to him you got the best one,
you got the best one. And looking back at this
year's draft, we pulled up that clip and I was like,
you know that was a pretty strong statement from you,
Like where does that confidence come from? And why did
you feel that way in that moment?
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Just I feel like planning playing cornerback, I mean you
got to have h some type of confidence. You can't
be going out there with like no confidence, So I
mean you gotta have some type of confidence. I mean
I just feel like on the best. I mean I
put it on I put it on tape, like my
colleague college. I don't feel like nobody can well really
(15:40):
covering like me. So that's why I like I felt
like I was a bit so.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Yeah, No, at Clemson, I'm sure there's a number of
DeAndre Hopkins pictures up around the facilities there. Now you're
out in the practice field and you're covering the guy.
What's that like for you covering d hop.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
I mean is that's crazy?
Speaker 3 (15:57):
I mean that's crazy because I mean that's just make
me even better knowing he uh twelve years, thirteen years
in the league, so he got a lot of knowledge.
And uh, I mean going to get a Clemson probably
probably like Clinton Hall of Famer at some point.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
So I mean, yeah, that's.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Starting to get a Clemson contingent up in here you
trenton d Hop, now take it over.
Speaker 5 (16:23):
That's great. You you mentioned that Marlin has helped you
with watch film. I notice in the locker room now
you and Marlin are right next to each other.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
At that corner.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yeah, they put it.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Was that a request or your party just come in here?
This year you said, hey, my locker got moved to the.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Yeah, I want to recuit moved. I came in and
Marlow was right next to me. So it's good and
it's better than this year. So we can get we
can have better, like we can talk to each other
about like the defense that you can let me know things.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
So I feel like it's even better.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
You and Marlin have different energy, so I feel like
this is good and bad to have Marbo right next.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah, my little hen one he won one man, there's
only one of my level man.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
All right, Well, last question for me is the mouthguards.
You know, I think that you caught fans attention with
how many mouthguards you wear on a game day. And
they're all, well, I shouldn't say you wear them. They're dangling.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
I don't know how often.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
They really actually make it into your mouth. What's the number, like,
how many mouthguards. Can we get up to this year
because I'd like to see like eight of them, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I'm gonna just keep it with. I'm gonna keep it with.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Just keep What if you added one for every pick
you get?
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Yeah, that'd be crazy. And I don't think I have
on my face. Man, that'd be crazy. And I might.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
I might.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I might have it in my in my at my
playing book, my playing book.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
How did that one starts? We had the box and
then how the mouthguard things starts? College too?
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:48):
I was actually I was doing that like my brother. Wow,
my brother he died. He used to He did it first.
He used to play football, so he was doing it first.
So I just do it like just for him because
he's yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Yeah, Well that's awesome, seful. Well, keep up the celebrations
and the tributes and we hope to see a lot
of more people in boxing.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
He gonna see you gonna see it what it is?
Are you gonna see it?
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Work?
Speaker 5 (18:12):
Said it man, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
Welcome back to the Lounge podcast. We are coming to
you from the Sekiek Studio. We also want to mention
our partners with Draft King Sports book. They are an
official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King
sports book. The Crown is Yours. So really enjoyed the
conversation with Nate. I think he's a guy that is
just gonna take a big step this year. It's interesting
to hear him say he's packed on, you know, ten
pounds of muscle and you know, just a guy that
(18:36):
I think the sky really is the limit for him.
I think that he's got so much potential. We saw
a glimpse of that last year. And I do not
at all think it's like hyperbole to say he could
be a pro bowler this year. I think that that
is it's hard for cornerbacks.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
There's a lot of good corners in the league, but
he's one of them. Yeah, I mean there's not many
guys that are more talented than Nate uh. And so
I think that he's also a player that is just
gonna continue to get better and better and better, you
know what I mean. Like as he just you know,
as you said, he's still developing his his body is
still developing, Like he's still in this process of finding
(19:11):
exactly where he wants to be weight wise and all
those things, and but yeah, I think that he's gonna
play at a very high level for.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
The Ravens this year.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
And and honestly, you know, you look at the Ravens
schedule and there's just great receivers everywhere. That's just how
it works in the NFL. And and even in this
you know, we got DK Metcalf just came into the division,
Jamar Chase c Higgins resigned. You know, there's no shortage
of guys, and so Nate's gonna see a lot of
that action. He's gonna be really relied upon. Really is
(19:41):
it looks like the Ravens top outside corner, you know.
I mean, I think that Marlin's gonna play a lot
in the slot this year and then cheataway. Ouzia will
be on the other side. But they it's kind of
the guy.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
I think that as I look at the Ravens defense,
I think the ideal scenarios that it's basically, Okay, Nate
just take away half the field and he's going to
be out there and just be a guy that can eliminate.
As a potential to eliminate half the field, Marlin could
play in the slot, move all over the place, and
you know, and then yeah, Cheetoh most likely is stepping
into that spot from Brandon Stevens from last year. Also,
(20:15):
Jalen armor Davis is somebody who've seen here in these
Ota practices. It was going into his fourth season, So
this is a big opportunity for him. Who's going to
challenge for reps and snaps there. But I think that like,
as you're looking at it, you just say, Okay, Nate,
you got this side of the field, and he can
go out there and play against number one wide receivers,
you can feel really good about that matchup.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, I mean yeah, from a talent standpoint,
he can stand toe to toe with any of those guys. Yeah,
And so it's he how he plays this season for
a Ravens secondary that, as we all know, struggled out
of the gates last year. But then you know, Nate
talked about weeks five, six seven when he kind of
was the turning point. Well, he was, Hey, that was
(20:55):
kind of the turning point around that area for the
Ravens defense as a whole. So as Nate was for
the solution exactly exactly. And so as Nate goes to
a degree, is how this Ravens secondary is going to go.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
Yeah. I totally agree with that, and I just it's
it's interesting to hear him say like he learned as
a rookie some of the some of like the soft
skills that are required as we talked about film, diet, nutrition, sleep,
all like all that kind of stuff that you don't
necessarily think of at top of mind, but it is
really important. And he learned that rookie year, and I
(21:27):
just think he's coming into this year and such a
such a better spot having that year of experience, and
I think that, uh, he's gonna have a great season. Obviously,
he's got lofty goals. I mean ten, ten takeaways. It's
a big number.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I like the idea behind that that is, Yeah, so
that that would be pretty you land in the Pro Bowl.
He has ten takeaways, He's going to the Pro Bowl.
Speaker 4 (21:45):
I can tell you that much. Yeah, by being Defensive
Player of the Year running.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
Seriously, seriously, I don't think it's outside of the question.
So that'd be awesome to see that kind of fruition.
So we had another chance to watch Ota practice uh today,
and you know, we want to give you some of
our takeaways a little bit of a different day compared
to the last OTA practice that we watched. Lamar Jackson
was not out there today, handful of other guys weren't,
but still really good attendance overall when you look at
(22:10):
it across the board. Also, after practice, had a chance
to talk with Todd Munkin and Za Flowers. So what
was the big thing that stood out to you in
watching and hear from those guys today?
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Yeah, well, really, I think it was mostly what was
set afterwards, and Todd Munkin was pretty clear that he
wants to get the ball to the Zay Flowers more
this year. And now there's a lot of mouths feeding
this offense, but just going out there and saying like
Zay's an unbelievable player and we want him catching the
ball more, that's noteworthy fantasy football. I'm sure managers are
going to be picking up on that. And so that
(22:40):
was pretty cool. I mean, the Ravens first homegrown Pro
Bowl wide receiver. He can do it all, and so
even with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, he's the featured
guy and bait you know is gonna get his and
all the tight ends and all that stuff. But it
was pretty clear hearing from TODM Monkin just how special
he thinks say Flower is. Zay Flowers is going into
(23:01):
year three.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
The thing about Zay is that he can beach in
so many different ways, Like they can use them underneath
some of the gadgety stuff, but they can also press
the ball down the field on deep shops.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Well, and that's kind of the where even Zay talked
about the room to grow is a little bit deeper
down the field, and that's always been part of his
game where I'm like, man, this guy's so fast, I'd
like to see more. Now, obviously he's not the size
of DeAndre Hopkins. He's not the big body, go up
contested ball, you know guy. But if he can and
Zay feels also like that's the part where he can
(23:31):
still unlock his game is hitting more of those big
play opportunities. And if he does that, who it's it's
gonna be real big headache for defenses.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
One of the things I remember when The Raven, when
Todd Munkin came here, one of his main points on
his first day on the job was I want defenses
to have to defend every blade of grass, and I
want to really be I want to be a space team,
get the ball to players in space, and so you
stretch out the field and you force defenses to cover
the entire width and length of the field, and adding
(24:00):
the deep shot component to the offense overall with the
Rave has had plenty of deep shots last year. But
also you add to the equation with Zay in the mix,
and I think you add the outside game with DeAndre
Hopkins a little bit more of the back shoulder.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Stuff, yep, test to catch sideline, yes, Like so.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Now you have and Rashond Bateman can do that really
well too. But the Ravens are so good I think
over the middle of the field. They're good with Zay
coming out of the backfield in creative ways. But now
you add, like if you can get eight yards easy
to DeAndre Hopkins along the sidelines, that just opens up
things even more over the middle. And so I think
that that's going to be really a focus for this offense,
is just finding ways to get the ball to guys
(24:37):
in space and defend the entire length of the field.
And also I said all that didn't even mention the
running game. So like you do all that and then
and then you also can just turn a hand the
ball to the big fellow and let Derek Hennery go
to work.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Yep, yep, absolutely, And I think also was great to
hear from Zay Flowers that his knee is totally behind
him so that he feels one hundred percent limitations.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
You know, obviously that knocked him out for the playoffs
last year, which I think people don't talk about enough.
Actually he is the now. The Ravens were very healthy
last year overall, but the fact that he lost a
Pro Bowl wide receiver going into the playoffs was a
big deal. And and so you know, great to hear
that he's back on the field and feeling great.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
He did.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
However, I will say fans might be disappointed about this
save Flowers did say I'm not going to the Olympics
basically basically said I played professional football, not too interested
in the whole Olympics thing. You would have been a
first round pick, you would have been a high pick
for the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
I think he would have been for that flag. Every
team gets one player that can go and Jay I
think would have been hot, And of course Lamar would
be very high on that.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Lamar has said that he also doesn't think that he
would play, so we're down the top two guys.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
Kyle Hamilton is indicated that he might want to.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
That's true, he would be a really.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
High I could see Isaiah likely playing. You would also
be pretty darn good.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
Isaiah likely had a really nice catch. He just continues
to impress. He had a really nice cat today's practice
from Cooper Rush. You know, I like going back to practice.
I think it's good to get Cooper Rush, you know,
some some snaps and reps like we haven't seen him. Like,
that's good opportunity for him to run with the ones
and see just to build chemistry with these targets. You know,
certainly hope that Lamar Jackson is healthy, of course all
(26:18):
the season long, but it's a backup quarterbacks is an
important position, so I think it's good for him to
just kind of get his feet under him in this offense.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Yeah, yeah, I definitely agree. And Todd Munkin talked about
him after practice. Obviously a different skill set than Lamar's,
but a guy who you know, with the experience, they
really feel confident that he'll pick up this offense pretty quickly,
and really, you know, he's gonna get a lot of
preseason action because the Ravens have not played Lamar Jackson
at all. So yeah, I think it's a good thing
for Cooper Rush to kind of get those those reps
(26:46):
like you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
Then the other just not from practices, is kicking competitions underway. Yeah,
we're gonna get a chance to see here. It's either
two rookies and Tyler Loop and John Hoyland. Loop of
course made a six round pick and Hoyland undrafted. These
these guys are going to battle it out of the
course of the spring and summer and see who ends
up winning that job.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
It went six for six today each with three attempts,
and so they were rotating kickers today. We saw both
rookie kickers kick the ball.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
So six for six.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
It's a good start in front of reporters, and yeah,
that was good. Another note for me, Jalen Armor Davis.
We mentioned him. I think you know, don't forget about
him in this cornerback rotation. Cheeto was not practicing again.
We didn't see him last week during OTAs because of illness.
John Harball said he was not out there again today,
but so Jalen Arma Davis got a lot of run
(27:36):
time with the starting defense and made a nice plague
broke up a pass intended for DeAndre Hopkins in the
end zone. And you know me, I don't know if
there's a bigger stand Jalen armor Davis stand than me.
I just think the guy can play, and he has
to stay healthy. But I think he's a professional guy
and man, if he can stay on the field, I
(27:57):
think that he.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Could push Cheeto, you know, for reps. I don't know
that it's going to be.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
You know, Cheeto is playing one hundred percent of the
of the reps out there at outside corner. I think
that obviously, Marlon if you're only running with two corners,
so he could be outside. But Jalener rmber Davis could
be a key piece on this defense.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
Look a big year for him. Year four.
Speaker 5 (28:18):
It is ye or four for him, different players. But
I go back to when Jalen Arbor Davis was drafted.
At the time, the Raves had Anthony Averrett cornerback from
Alabama who had a very similar trajectory to what Jalen
Arbor Davis had. Yep, so much so that that Jalen
said at that point, like as a rookie. People used
to tell me all the time when I was at
Alabama how much we reminded each other, reminded people of
(28:39):
each other. And then like their paths at Alabama were
similar where it took a little while to get on
the field, and they got on the field and played well.
Anthony Averrett had his best season and his last season.
They're just starting job.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
You know, Lenn left in front agency, got a nice contract.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
But like, could that same thing happened to Jalen Arbor?
Davis would not rule that out. I think that, like, hey,
the history could repeat itself here with an Alabama cornerback.
You know, they know each other well, so root for
that to be the case. And I think he has
a potential and it's really been injuries that have held
him back. But he's got a lot of ability and
it'd be awesome to see him be able to stay healthy,
put her all together this year and and carve out
(29:14):
a nice role for himself on this defense.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
Yep, absolutely well.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Two more days of practice will be open to reporters
during OTAs here in this second week, Garrett and cliff Don,
we'll be bringing you all of the breakdowns from those practices.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
Thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
As always, you can reach us at the lounge at
ravenst NFL dot net and we'll be back with you
later this week.
Welcome into lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Ink here
with Garrett Downing and we are thrilled to sit down
with cornerback Nate Wiggins. So, Nate, I'll start here because
Garrett and I do this in our office all the time.
We always give each other the like he screwed something up,
I give it to him. I want to don't call
him so. So your celebration, it's the bestselling team. I
(00:27):
gotta say, you wear the crown. Uh when did that start?
How did you how did you go with that celebration?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
It started Uh probably my tenth grade year in college.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Okay, Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
First it was just a box animation and my twelfth
grade year I added the thongs down it just like
uh before I before I dated the box. Uh, they
used to call me like. We used to say box
like and Clemson we say box them up. So before
with the box, he used to say bought him up.
We say yelled it out out.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Damn came.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I came up with the box emote. So no, A
lot of people in the lead around doing it. So
I feel like it's going it's going.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
To still It's spread through the rest of the team
even last season. I mean you had I think Ronnie
Stanley this was my.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
Favorite when Ronnie was hitting the I think it was
maybe like the Steelers bench.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, he boxed them up.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
He boxed up the pass rushing.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Yeah, he can do it from whatever man like past
rushing a defensive line.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
You are knocked down the.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Ball like so's it's going on for what position?
Speaker 5 (01:29):
Well not be kind of has one too, he like
kind of draws the door and then kicks it down. Okay, yeah, yeah,
so it's kind of a similar line to it, but
you don't do it all that often, like you save
it like you're pretty selected ever use it. You don't
want to go crazy with it. We're pretty selective with it.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I feel like each reflectioning it's not like a celebration.
So when I get like I locked somebody up, like
if I'm pressing he can't get out for gym and
they throw the past break it up, like I just
put him in a box like the whole play. So
I really don't like to use it like each play
because like each player, I didn't put him in the
box time I just catch up to find it out.
(02:03):
I feel like I use it. I use it as
a good at a good man.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
It's almost like when you use it, it's almost like
when the ball doesn't come his direction. It's almost like
that's almost for a guy like you who can just
lock up some of these wide receivers, Like that's almost
the best play. If it doesn't even ball doesn't even
come towards you.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah, if it does come towards them where you get
a pick or something, then it turns into the coffin
to keep adding to it, keep adding to it has
any like wide receiver? Have they gotten salty when you
when you box them when you did the celebration?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Uh no, I don't. I don't recall nobody again about it.
I don't recall like.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
You don't got anything to say, you just got boxed.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, I don't feel like, yeah, you can't say nothing
after you just got box Like, yeah, I feel like that.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I'll be saying that. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So so, I mean, awesome rookie season for you.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Now you're going into year two.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
What what lessons do you primarily take from rookie year
to year two?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Really? Just uh my technique? Really? Could?
Speaker 3 (02:57):
I feel like some plays last year I was uh
like getting tired or some of my technique. I just
feel like this year I just want to be technical
sound catching a bar too. Like for I dropped like
five six pitch last year. I feel like our older
team some picks. So this year it's all about catching
the ball, looking it through.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yeah, I feel like corner.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
I mean obviously physically demanding. You have to be a
premier athlete as you are, super fast, all these things, right,
you're like some of the best athletes on the field,
but also the mental side of it of just like
having to stay locked in every single time with the
technique like you're talking about, because the ball isn't always
gonna come your way, right, and if you kind of
get like lacks of day's goal like in baseball, Oh
they're not hitting it to me whatever, then it's easy
(03:39):
to lose focus.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Is that kind of what you're talking about.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Yeah, it just really just like having meant like you said,
mental focus and having next play mentality like playing corner.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
They gonna like, you're not gonna deflect the bar each time.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
The receiver like the see you get paid to like
they hide some highest paid too, so they're gonna catch
the ball. It's just really having a strong mental focus
on next play mentality like so yeah, so.
Speaker 5 (04:02):
It became pretty obvious to me like when you got
here last year, like, oh, he can play like he
can play with these guys in training camp. That was evident.
I'm just curious for you, like was there a point
where it clicked for you and you were like, oh,
like I'm ready for the NFL game, Like I can
I can hold my own at this level.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
I feel like going to my probably like week six,
week seven, that's when I really like clicked in my head.
Like I know it sounded like pretty like pretty late
because I was doing you had that, Yeah, I know
I was doing, but like like a wee see we said,
it really clicked on my in my head like okay,
I can guard like all these like East receiving lead.
(04:40):
I can really like just sit down and watch film
on get the technique and like just really lock them down.
So that's when I really just like really it really clicked,
Like we we see week seven.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
And what was it that made you feel that way?
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Was it?
Speaker 5 (04:52):
Like I'm just curious why, Like why was it at
that point that you started to feel a difference in
how you were playing and how you can you the
game and all of that.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Oh, it really just I was getting I was getting confident,
just like we each week, I was playing better and
better and better, and they were just I was just
like at every game, I just watched most of my
plays and I like see like I was getting more confident,
like in my stand you know, I was just playing
like I was just out there playing.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
So I was just like, yeah, I'm ready, like it's time.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
By the end of the year, it felt like to me,
it was.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Like we got Nate over there.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
We don't got to worry about that, you know what
I mean, Like you were playing at that level and
it seemed like you were playing with that confidence. How
did you feel down the stretch of last season and
into the playoffs and then even coming into this year,
How much more confidence do you feel in your game?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Like like you said, like throwing down the stretch, like
I said, like we were sick and seven, That's when
I knew when it had so after them we ate,
we na we ten. It was just now like just
watching film and because I already knew, like my confident
was there, so I already it was just not like
getting plays down, getting a just getting the concepts getting
(06:04):
like how they run route now because I can do
everything physical I can do in it like with these guys,
so now they just getting technique down again.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
How how we play the defense?
Speaker 1 (06:14):
So you had some premiere matchups last year for a rookie.
I mean, Ceedee Lamb in your third game, right, Melik Neighbors,
Shamar Chase. There's guys who is the most fun guy
to match up?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I feel like CD Lamb probably was, probably was the best.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
It was fun. Probably was fun. Okay, why is that
just because I feel like he gave me the most work.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Rooie year.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
I fly out of that game. It really like set
me down. I really had to tone in on my
technique because I think I had like two pr pr
that game. So I feel like that game I really
just had to sit down, just tone in.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
You got the force fumble, the trip there. So it
was like kind of mixed bag a little bit.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Did the Melik Neighbors.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
It felt like that Giants game and the Melik Neighbors
game was on a so in a way a turning
point for you, Like you had a number of good
plays against him. He had awesome season, super talented player
with that game and that matchup against the form another
first round pick.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
It was just really like, uh, I mean you know
we got drafted. It was just really showing, uh, showing
the lead like I could play too, Like I know, uh,
I slipped a thirty last year in the draft because
you know my doubts. So I was just showing everybody that,
showing the leader, like yeah, I'm here.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah, that's what that game was about.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
It's interesting like hearing you say I slipped because like,
you know, your first round pick, but it seems like
the draft in your mind is almost like you look
at it like it's I'm sure it's a great moment
you get drafted, but also like it seems like there's still
a little bit of a chip on your shoulder about
the draft.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah, I mean it still is because you know, it
was a lot of doubters, a lot of teams.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
You thought of me.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I was saying I wasn't ready, was too small. So
I mean, yeah, it's definitely still gonna be a tip
on my shoulder.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
Interesting you mentioned the picks. That's something that you're working on.
How do you do that? Like what do you how
do you go to work as a junxt machine Like
what are you trying to do to improve and coming
up with those picks?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, just moving off for speed on the drug because
like most of the time, like you said, I play cornerbacks,
so we're not just like receiving our eyes not on
the ball at all the time, you had to flip.
So just get on the drug. Get my eyes off
the jaw back on the drug. So stuff like that,
just to get my eyes on the ball.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
I'm curious about technique because we talked about that just
a couple of minutes ago. And you're like such a
great athlete. You ran you know the forty what four
two for two nine eight for two eight, No, I
don't want a short change, and so like you run
the four two eight, you got this great speed, sticky
in coverage. But like the technique, I gotta believe that
(08:40):
most of the guys that you're gonna come up against,
especially the college level, you're just a better athlete then
and then you get to the NFL and everybody's an
even better athlete and so, but so you can't lean
on like just the talent as much as you could
at the college level. Was that part of the learning
process for you when you got to the NFL.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Yeah, that's what I was going there, boy, like we
see we seven. Yeah, Like the first couple games, I
was just playing on streetly like talent and my athletic ability,
so it really wasn't given like great technique, so down
the skirts, I had to like learn everybody good, everybody fast,
but you beat other people up, the good people with
great technique because like it's hard to have great technique
(09:18):
every play, every place. So that's what I'm working on.
This show just happened, great technique every play.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
With that pick six in the regular season finale with
that through for you.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Uh yeah, I mean I wish I would have had
it earlier, but I mean I got it.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
I got it, That's what. That's what it was.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
One of my goals on my rookie season was yeah,
so I got that one.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
So that one fair good? It felt great?
Speaker 5 (09:39):
What's going through you when you catch it?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
There's green?
Speaker 5 (09:41):
Grass? I mean like as soon as you call it that,
it was like just taking this to the house, Like
what are you thinking?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Oh yeah, soon I called it.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
He threw it right to me, so I'm like, yeah
soon I look, I look, and I just seen like
nothing but grass I knew I was going like I
knew I was going to house it.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
You talk about that being one of your rookie season goals.
What's on the goal sheet for your you?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
For you, uh just really get ten plus uh turnover
no't matter like interceptions and forced fumbles.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
I need to.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Yeah that's a that's a I want to and really
just uh keep on what I did last year, just
coverage wise and be uh be all around cornerback showing
up in the run covering. So this year I feel like, uh, yeah,
it's gonna be it's gonna be good.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Well, Zach Orr told us on this podcast that he
expects you to become one of the best cornerbacks in
the league in the year two. It's just more lofty
goals for you. What goes to your head when you
hear your d C say that.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I mean, it just gives me not like another chip
on my shoulder, uh knowing like one of the top
Tophick guys in the building saying, uh, you wanted to
give you the uh best he got. I got the
chance to be the best cornerback. So that's only give
me the ability just to push and even.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Scott for more.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
What motivates you.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Uh just I love I love playing football.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
I mean my family, Uh, I mean just coming out
here and compete. I mean just I don't like losing.
So I feel like that's what drives me the most.
I feel like receive a kids, and the ball on
me is just I mean taking it taking away from me.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
So yeah, I feel like yeah.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
So, you mentioned in the draft process one of the
questions that a lot of teams and media had for
you with size, and you answered that question about a
million times during the pre draft process and as a
rookie just being a leaner guy. You talked even about
as a rookie in this offseason looking for ways to
kind of bulk up and add muscle. How have you
gone about that and where does that stand? Uh?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
No?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Uh Ever, since I got back again like ten pounds.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
No, so okay, I feel like you got back here
for the conditioning for.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Off season since last season to know, I gained ten pounds.
So I'm feeling I'm feeling great right now. I feel like, uh, well,
I can't.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
I could have.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
I did it last year too, but I feel like, no,
this year is just gonna be like one more power,
more screen. So I feel like, uh, I'm still like, uh,
trending to gain more pounds. So yeah, how do you
go about it? I'll just be in I've been eating
last year. I really like, I'm not a big fan
of forcing myself to eat.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
So you gotta hang out more. I can teach you
a thing or two about eating.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
I live to eat, eat live, right, so I can.
I can teach you some.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
You spend a lot of time with Sarah Snyder, you know,
the nutritionists, just looking for ways to Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
We talked most of it. Every day.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
She just texts me like what I how many ground cars?
How many grounds I need today? Like what I need
to eat on the weekend? What I need to do
is so she she a big party.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
Is that part of just kind of becoming a pro?
I guess like just learning the diet piece of that.
A lot of times here veteran players talk about like
how they learn the nutrition and the dog in the
sleep like that type of stuff.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Yeah, I feel like that's all that's all coming. What
part of part of a pro? Uh, you gotta learn
how to sleep? I learn how to eat?
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
I mean that transition was like the feel on your body.
I feel like if you eat, If you eat better,
your body gonna produce better.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
So you mentioned the film study.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
How much did you did that become part of your routine?
How much did you really embrace that as a rookie
and you more?
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah, I mean beginning I really didn't do that much.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
But like like I said, like week six, week seven,
it got picked up on it.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
And not even doing more.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
No, like even when before the season start, I'm already
watching film now. So I feel like I just had
to learn how to watch film. Like what I'm what
I'm watching.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Is there was there a vet that kind of helped
you with that?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Oh yeah, Marlon, Yeah, Marlin is sitting down. I asked
Marlon Kyle, like to just sit me down and teach
me how to, like how to watch film, because like
I really never watched film because, like you said, in college,
I was like basically better than everybody.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Right, I mean that's kind of what I see is
the exciting part about you, right, is that you're a competitor,
You love playing football, like you said, you're a great athlete,
all these things. And when as you become more of
a pro and your body fills out and you learn
how to you know, study film even better and the
technique and all that stuff, like it really feels like
in Ericskassa said it that really the sky's the limit
and he always says and it's on Nate. It's it's
(14:25):
on Nate to like realize that potential. Yeah, you know
when you hear that and that kind of motivation from
the GM and from zach Orr, like we talked about,
like how much does that kind of inspire you to
be like man, Like, you know, I want to fulfill
this great potential that I have.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Yeah, Like like you said, uh, every since I talked
to uh a man, he was uh. He always telling
me like disguis the name? Uh, Like I could beat Abyss.
It's just up to me. So every day I come in,
I just think about being Abyss. What can I do
to be a Byss? Like what I need to work
on what?
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Like?
Speaker 5 (15:00):
So, Yeah, I think when you talk about Eric, I
think back to the phone call that you had with
him when he when the Ravens drafted you, and you
just kept saying to him you got the best one,
you got the best one. And looking back at this
year's draft, we pulled up that clip and I was like,
you know that was a pretty strong statement from you,
Like where does that confidence come from? And why did
you feel that way in that moment?
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Just I feel like planning playing cornerback, I mean you
got to have h some type of confidence. You can't
be going out there with like no confidence, So I
mean you gotta have some type of confidence. I mean
I just feel like on the best. I mean I
put it on I put it on tape, like my
colleague college. I don't feel like nobody can well really
(15:40):
covering like me. So that's why I like I felt
like I was a bit so.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Yeah, No, at Clemson, I'm sure there's a number of
DeAndre Hopkins pictures up around the facilities there. Now you're
out in the practice field and you're covering the guy.
What's that like for you covering d hop.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
I mean is that's crazy?
Speaker 3 (15:57):
I mean that's crazy because I mean that's just make
me even better knowing he uh twelve years, thirteen years
in the league, so he got a lot of knowledge.
And uh, I mean going to get a Clemson probably
probably like Clinton Hall of Famer at some point.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
So I mean, yeah, that's.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Starting to get a Clemson contingent up in here you
trenton d Hop, now take it over.
Speaker 5 (16:23):
That's great. You you mentioned that Marlin has helped you
with watch film. I notice in the locker room now
you and Marlin are right next to each other.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
At that corner.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yeah, they put it.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Was that a request or your party just come in here?
This year you said, hey, my locker got moved to the.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Yeah, I want to recuit moved. I came in and
Marlow was right next to me. So it's good and
it's better than this year. So we can get we
can have better, like we can talk to each other
about like the defense that you can let me know things.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
So I feel like it's even better.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
You and Marlin have different energy, so I feel like
this is good and bad to have Marbo right next.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah, my little hen one he won one man, there's
only one of my level man.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
All right, Well, last question for me is the mouthguards.
You know, I think that you caught fans attention with
how many mouthguards you wear on a game day. And
they're all, well, I shouldn't say you wear them. They're dangling.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
I don't know how often.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
They really actually make it into your mouth. What's the number, like,
how many mouthguards. Can we get up to this year
because I'd like to see like eight of them, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I'm gonna just keep it with. I'm gonna keep it with.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Just keep What if you added one for every pick
you get?
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Yeah, that'd be crazy. And I don't think I have
on my face. Man, that'd be crazy. And I might.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
I might.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I might have it in my in my at my
playing book, my playing book.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
How did that one starts? We had the box and
then how the mouthguard things starts? College too?
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:48):
I was actually I was doing that like my brother. Wow,
my brother he died. He used to He did it first.
He used to play football, so he was doing it first.
So I just do it like just for him because
he's yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Yeah, Well that's awesome, seful. Well, keep up the celebrations
and the tributes and we hope to see a lot
of more people in boxing.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
He gonna see you gonna see it what it is?
Are you gonna see it?
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Work?
Speaker 5 (18:12):
Said it man, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
Welcome back to the Lounge podcast. We are coming to
you from the Sekiek Studio. We also want to mention
our partners with Draft King Sports book. They are an
official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King
sports book. The Crown is Yours. So really enjoyed the
conversation with Nate. I think he's a guy that is
just gonna take a big step this year. It's interesting
to hear him say he's packed on, you know, ten
pounds of muscle and you know, just a guy that
(18:36):
I think the sky really is the limit for him.
I think that he's got so much potential. We saw
a glimpse of that last year. And I do not
at all think it's like hyperbole to say he could
be a pro bowler this year. I think that that
is it's hard for cornerbacks.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
There's a lot of good corners in the league, but
he's one of them. Yeah, I mean there's not many
guys that are more talented than Nate uh. And so
I think that he's also a player that is just
gonna continue to get better and better and better, you
know what I mean. Like as he just you know,
as you said, he's still developing his his body is
still developing, Like he's still in this process of finding
(19:11):
exactly where he wants to be weight wise and all
those things, and but yeah, I think that he's gonna
play at a very high level for.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
The Ravens this year.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
And and honestly, you know, you look at the Ravens
schedule and there's just great receivers everywhere. That's just how
it works in the NFL. And and even in this
you know, we got DK Metcalf just came into the division,
Jamar Chase c Higgins resigned. You know, there's no shortage
of guys, and so Nate's gonna see a lot of
that action. He's gonna be really relied upon. Really is
(19:41):
it looks like the Ravens top outside corner, you know.
I mean, I think that Marlin's gonna play a lot
in the slot this year and then cheataway. Ouzia will
be on the other side. But they it's kind of
the guy.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
I think that as I look at the Ravens defense,
I think the ideal scenarios that it's basically, Okay, Nate
just take away half the field and he's going to
be out there and just be a guy that can eliminate.
As a potential to eliminate half the field, Marlin could
play in the slot, move all over the place, and
you know, and then yeah, Cheetoh most likely is stepping
into that spot from Brandon Stevens from last year. Also,
(20:15):
Jalen armor Davis is somebody who've seen here in these
Ota practices. It was going into his fourth season, So
this is a big opportunity for him. Who's going to
challenge for reps and snaps there. But I think that like,
as you're looking at it, you just say, Okay, Nate,
you got this side of the field, and he can
go out there and play against number one wide receivers,
you can feel really good about that matchup.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, I mean yeah, from a talent standpoint,
he can stand toe to toe with any of those guys. Yeah,
And so it's he how he plays this season for
a Ravens secondary that, as we all know, struggled out
of the gates last year. But then you know, Nate
talked about weeks five, six seven when he kind of
was the turning point. Well, he was, Hey, that was
(20:55):
kind of the turning point around that area for the
Ravens defense as a whole. So as Nate was for
the solution exactly exactly. And so as Nate goes to
a degree, is how this Ravens secondary is going to go.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
Yeah. I totally agree with that, and I just it's
it's interesting to hear him say like he learned as
a rookie some of the some of like the soft
skills that are required as we talked about film, diet, nutrition, sleep,
all like all that kind of stuff that you don't
necessarily think of at top of mind, but it is
really important. And he learned that rookie year, and I
(21:27):
just think he's coming into this year and such a
such a better spot having that year of experience, and
I think that, uh, he's gonna have a great season. Obviously,
he's got lofty goals. I mean ten, ten takeaways. It's
a big number.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I like the idea behind that that is, Yeah, so
that that would be pretty you land in the Pro Bowl.
He has ten takeaways, He's going to the Pro Bowl.
Speaker 4 (21:45):
I can tell you that much. Yeah, by being Defensive
Player of the Year running.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
Seriously, seriously, I don't think it's outside of the question.
So that'd be awesome to see that kind of fruition.
So we had another chance to watch Ota practice uh today,
and you know, we want to give you some of
our takeaways a little bit of a different day compared
to the last OTA practice that we watched. Lamar Jackson
was not out there today, handful of other guys weren't,
but still really good attendance overall when you look at
(22:10):
it across the board. Also, after practice, had a chance
to talk with Todd Munkin and Za Flowers. So what
was the big thing that stood out to you in
watching and hear from those guys today?
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Yeah, well, really, I think it was mostly what was
set afterwards, and Todd Munkin was pretty clear that he
wants to get the ball to the Zay Flowers more
this year. And now there's a lot of mouths feeding
this offense, but just going out there and saying like
Zay's an unbelievable player and we want him catching the
ball more, that's noteworthy fantasy football. I'm sure managers are
going to be picking up on that. And so that
(22:40):
was pretty cool. I mean, the Ravens first homegrown Pro
Bowl wide receiver. He can do it all, and so
even with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, he's the featured
guy and bait you know is gonna get his and
all the tight ends and all that stuff. But it
was pretty clear hearing from TODM Monkin just how special
he thinks say Flower is. Zay Flowers is going into
(23:01):
year three.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
The thing about Zay is that he can beach in
so many different ways, Like they can use them underneath
some of the gadgety stuff, but they can also press
the ball down the field on deep shops.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Well, and that's kind of the where even Zay talked
about the room to grow is a little bit deeper
down the field, and that's always been part of his
game where I'm like, man, this guy's so fast, I'd
like to see more. Now, obviously he's not the size
of DeAndre Hopkins. He's not the big body, go up
contested ball, you know guy. But if he can and
Zay feels also like that's the part where he can
(23:31):
still unlock his game is hitting more of those big
play opportunities. And if he does that, who it's it's
gonna be real big headache for defenses.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
One of the things I remember when The Raven, when
Todd Munkin came here, one of his main points on
his first day on the job was I want defenses
to have to defend every blade of grass, and I
want to really be I want to be a space team,
get the ball to players in space, and so you
stretch out the field and you force defenses to cover
the entire width and length of the field, and adding
(24:00):
the deep shot component to the offense overall with the
Rave has had plenty of deep shots last year. But
also you add to the equation with Zay in the mix,
and I think you add the outside game with DeAndre
Hopkins a little bit more of the back shoulder.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Stuff, yep, test to catch sideline, yes, Like so.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Now you have and Rashond Bateman can do that really
well too. But the Ravens are so good I think
over the middle of the field. They're good with Zay
coming out of the backfield in creative ways. But now
you add, like if you can get eight yards easy
to DeAndre Hopkins along the sidelines, that just opens up
things even more over the middle. And so I think
that that's going to be really a focus for this offense,
is just finding ways to get the ball to guys
(24:37):
in space and defend the entire length of the field.
And also I said all that didn't even mention the
running game. So like you do all that and then
and then you also can just turn a hand the
ball to the big fellow and let Derek Hennery go
to work.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Yep, yep, absolutely, And I think also was great to
hear from Zay Flowers that his knee is totally behind
him so that he feels one hundred percent limitations.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
You know, obviously that knocked him out for the playoffs
last year, which I think people don't talk about enough.
Actually he is the now. The Ravens were very healthy
last year overall, but the fact that he lost a
Pro Bowl wide receiver going into the playoffs was a
big deal. And and so you know, great to hear
that he's back on the field and feeling great.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
He did.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
However, I will say fans might be disappointed about this
save Flowers did say I'm not going to the Olympics
basically basically said I played professional football, not too interested
in the whole Olympics thing. You would have been a
first round pick, you would have been a high pick
for the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
I think he would have been for that flag. Every
team gets one player that can go and Jay I
think would have been hot, And of course Lamar would
be very high on that.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Lamar has said that he also doesn't think that he
would play, so we're down the top two guys.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
Kyle Hamilton is indicated that he might want to.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
That's true, he would be a really.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
High I could see Isaiah likely playing. You would also
be pretty darn good.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
Isaiah likely had a really nice catch. He just continues
to impress. He had a really nice cat today's practice
from Cooper Rush. You know, I like going back to practice.
I think it's good to get Cooper Rush, you know,
some some snaps and reps like we haven't seen him. Like,
that's good opportunity for him to run with the ones
and see just to build chemistry with these targets. You know,
certainly hope that Lamar Jackson is healthy, of course all
(26:18):
the season long, but it's a backup quarterbacks is an
important position, so I think it's good for him to
just kind of get his feet under him in this offense.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Yeah, yeah, I definitely agree. And Todd Munkin talked about
him after practice. Obviously a different skill set than Lamar's,
but a guy who you know, with the experience, they
really feel confident that he'll pick up this offense pretty quickly,
and really, you know, he's gonna get a lot of
preseason action because the Ravens have not played Lamar Jackson
at all. So yeah, I think it's a good thing
for Cooper Rush to kind of get those those reps
(26:46):
like you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
Then the other just not from practices, is kicking competitions underway. Yeah,
we're gonna get a chance to see here. It's either
two rookies and Tyler Loop and John Hoyland. Loop of
course made a six round pick and Hoyland undrafted. These
these guys are going to battle it out of the
course of the spring and summer and see who ends
up winning that job.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
It went six for six today each with three attempts,
and so they were rotating kickers today. We saw both
rookie kickers kick the ball.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
So six for six.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
It's a good start in front of reporters, and yeah,
that was good. Another note for me, Jalen Armor Davis.
We mentioned him. I think you know, don't forget about
him in this cornerback rotation. Cheeto was not practicing again.
We didn't see him last week during OTAs because of illness.
John Harball said he was not out there again today,
but so Jalen Arma Davis got a lot of run
(27:36):
time with the starting defense and made a nice plague
broke up a pass intended for DeAndre Hopkins in the
end zone. And you know me, I don't know if
there's a bigger stand Jalen armor Davis stand than me.
I just think the guy can play, and he has
to stay healthy. But I think he's a professional guy
and man, if he can stay on the field, I
(27:57):
think that he.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Could push Cheeto, you know, for reps. I don't know
that it's going to be.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
You know, Cheeto is playing one hundred percent of the
of the reps out there at outside corner. I think
that obviously, Marlon if you're only running with two corners,
so he could be outside. But Jalener rmber Davis could
be a key piece on this defense.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
Look a big year for him. Year four.
Speaker 5 (28:18):
It is ye or four for him, different players. But
I go back to when Jalen Arbor Davis was drafted.
At the time, the Raves had Anthony Averrett cornerback from
Alabama who had a very similar trajectory to what Jalen
Arbor Davis had. Yep, so much so that that Jalen
said at that point, like as a rookie. People used
to tell me all the time when I was at
Alabama how much we reminded each other, reminded people of
(28:39):
each other. And then like their paths at Alabama were
similar where it took a little while to get on
the field, and they got on the field and played well.
Anthony Averrett had his best season and his last season.
They're just starting job.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
You know, Lenn left in front agency, got a nice contract.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
But like, could that same thing happened to Jalen Arbor?
Davis would not rule that out. I think that, like, hey,
the history could repeat itself here with an Alabama cornerback.
You know, they know each other well, so root for
that to be the case. And I think he has
a potential and it's really been injuries that have held
him back. But he's got a lot of ability and
it'd be awesome to see him be able to stay healthy,
put her all together this year and and carve out
(29:14):
a nice role for himself on this defense.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
Yep, absolutely well.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Two more days of practice will be open to reporters
during OTAs here in this second week, Garrett and cliff Don,
we'll be bringing you all of the breakdowns from those practices.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
Thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
As always, you can reach us at the lounge at
ravenst NFL dot net and we'll be back with you
later this week.
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