July 25, 2025 • 27 mins
Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing talk about the vibes at practice, how team leaders are setting this year's tone, and what players have stood out to them in the first couple practices of training camp.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welkman's a Lounge presented by Draft Kings. I'm Ryan Ink
here with Garrett Downing, and we are through the first
two days of training camp. We've heard from a lot
of star players, and we've seen a lot of star
players on the field, and so we're here to give
you our practice takeaways as well as our thoughts on
what players and coach Harball have been talking about. So, Garrett,
(00:24):
two good days of training camp practice, and you know,
let's start with just kind of the themes the narratives
around this team, and the one that is really just
stood out to me so far in these first couple
of days is just how about their business kind of
the Ravens are and like just everybody feeling like there's
(00:46):
a different tenor a different tone with this year's team.
And John Harball, he talked about it during our interview
with him that he feels like this is a really
mature team and really determined team, and hearing from the
players and like seeing the way they're practicing, you do
feel that.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
It feels competitive, it feels focused, and like I remember
we talked after Mini camp, after one of the mini
camp practices and we said this felt like a mid
October practice, just in terms of how sharp it was
and how efficient it was, how good it looked like.
That was what we felt like back in the spring,
and I think it's gone to even another level. And
(01:25):
I think that like there is a real both of
these things I think are true. The Ravens are well
aware of how they have been a great team the
last few years and they have not been able to
make it to the super Bowl or win it. Okay,
so they're very hyper aware of that fact. They've been
reminded of that and basically every press conference and if
they get on social media they get reminded of it
as well. So they're aware of that fact, and so
(01:47):
they are focused on getting over that hump. However, they
are also like incredibly focused on like the minute details
and the process in order to get there. You don't
just wave a magic wand and put yourself back in
Buffalo in January. Starts now, and I really think that
they're they are taking the approach of of course they
know that that's there and that's the goal, but we
are focused on today now, getting better right now, and
(02:09):
focusing on those things and not worrying about what is
to come.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Down the line. Yeah, and they're also very aware of
the opportunity that they have given the players that they have. Yeah,
like this they hear it like this is the most
loaded roster in the NFL, the best starting lineup, all
that stuff, and and people predicting the Ravens are gonna
win the third straight AFC North title and and all
that stuff, and yet like and they feel it. Like
(02:34):
the funny, they know they know that this team is
really good. They see it all around them. They see
in practice and it feels like the defense feels like
it's playing really well in practice, and the offense feels
like it's it's got playmakers gloring and d hops making
plays and all day. You know, it's got playmakers everywhere.
Like they know that they have what it takes, but
(02:55):
they also know, like they we're all asking them basically,
like so what do you you know, how do you
handle it when everybody's saying you're gonna go to the
super Bowl? And and do you think this is the
most towns roster? And they're like, yeah, but like we
can say that, it doesn't mean anything. Yeah, we can
say that all we want. We can say that, like
we want to get to the super Bowl and this
is the year, right, and like you don't know until
(03:17):
you're in that position. And like so I think to
your point, like they're also.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
That.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
I think that they're just in the right head space,
like top to bottom. I just really do like and
and and that's been intentional, you know that, Like they're
grading everything, and they're they're harping it on the fundamentals
and the details of everything, and and it's like you
can't just say, yeah, we man, we are so hungry
to get to the super Bowl. You can say that
(03:44):
all you want, but it doesn't mean anything.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
What's about hunger?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
What's about action? Exactly? What's the action item? And like,
you know, I thought that Kyle van Noy, who we
heard from UH today, he's a two time super Bowl
champion for the New England Patriots. It's just which is
a franchise that is known for Bill Belichick was known
for stressing the minute details, fundamentals, Do you have to
plan diligence all those situational like mastery, like we're gonna
(04:10):
win the situations and like that's that is in large
part and Tom Brady and they had other great players,
but that like fundamental like, performing your best and not
making mistakes in the most high critical situations is what
led the Patriots to have it win as many Super
Bowls as they did, And the Ravens are taking that
approach and like, I just I like it.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Another good example, we had a chance to hear from
Marlon Humphrey and he talked about how there's kind of
a breakfast club group of guys that are working out
at six am, six am on the dot and it's
led by him, Say Flowers and Rashad Bateman, they're kind
of the leaders of that group.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
I'll tell you what I'm not doing at six o'clock
am working working out?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Are you working out at six pm, seven pm, you
name a time any of the twenty four hours it's
gonna be.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
What is it less to do at the time? Well,
my point is like, I'm not even coherent. I'm asleep.
I'm a sleep at six am, regardless of what time
they have to wake up to get in here to
be ready to work out at six am.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, you're not making You're not joining the breakfast No,
I'm not part of the breakfast workout for the breakfast
club led by those key guys on this team starts
at six am, and Marlin was being kind of funny
about it, but he said, if you're here at six
oh one year out, you're booted. You got to wait
till the seven o'clock lift starts. And and the point
he made, and this quote stood out to me, he said,
we're trying to create an environment where everything matters. Does
it really matter if you're here at six oh one
(05:27):
not six o'clock, No, it doesn't really matter. But you
let that slip, what else are you gonna let slip?
And like, that's the accountability, accountability that these team leaders
are stressing, and I think that everybody has that type
of attitude, and like that's I think the maturity, the accountability,
the focus. And I really think when we sat down
(05:47):
with coach Harball earlier in the week and he laid
some of that stuff out, like now we're seeing it
in action. And that's the thing I think that's so
encouraging about this team is that it goes beyond just
saying the right things. You have to then do the
right things and be intentional about the details. And the
Ravens are doing that.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Right Because if you have as talented of Ross, the
talent is there, clearly. It's just like, are you going
to play the best and play clean football when the
lights are the brightest? Yeah, that's the question, you know.
And if you're doing all those right things and making
that a habit, then I think you set yourself up.
It doesn't guarantee anything, of course, you know, but you
(06:28):
set yourself up. You give your best, yourself the best
chance of success. The other guy who.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I think really did a good job in talking about
this is Lamar, because Lamar, since the moment he was drafted,
just talked about the Super Bowl and like it's no
question that he badly wants to win and everybody knows it.
And he's been asked about the super Bowl a million
times and he talked about it openly. Yeah, and so,
but I think that he went kind of the other
direction in his press conference where he said multiple times
(06:55):
I'm trying to just take care of the here and
now and be president in the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
And trying to have a good training case.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
It's the first day of training camp, Like that's what
I'm focused on, the first day of training camp. Like
this isn't We're not playing the super Bowl today, We're
not playing the playoffs today, Like I'm trying to be
focused on everything that we can do as a team
in training camp to get ready for the season, and
that's where his mind is. He's not thinking, of course,
that's like the goal for everybody. It's there, it's it's
of course it's there. But like that's not that's not
the driving motivation factor today and these practices.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
And his quote was, I'm not really trying to think
about the super Bowl yet. Yeah, Like there's there's time
for that, and everybody knows that Lamar Jackson's tree, everybody
knows his motivation. Yeah, But like I like that from
your leader, you know. I like that, like, you know what,
let's have Let's have a good training camp here, Let's
finish it the right way. Let's do all those things
before we start worrying about the super Bowl. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I think it's a I think it's a it's a
mature way of looking at it, and I think it
it speaks to the team's mindset and where they are
right now. And I think that, like some fans can
confuse that, but I think that that's like the most
the focus and the message there is that like you
have to do the little things throughout the entire process.
You can't rush the process. You just can't rush the process.
(08:07):
You have to be good the entire process in order
to get to that end goal. And the Ravens are
focused on that process, not the end goal that everybody
wants to talk about, right.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
And the other news item I thought from yesterday was
Brokwon Smith. You know, we talked about the talented roster
that the Ravens have. Brokwon Smith said, I think this
is the most talented defense that I've been on, which
says a lot. I mean, the Ravens had the number
one defense in the league two years ago. Yeah, right,
last year they were number one down the stretch. But
(08:36):
like again, also everybody going into last year, myself included,
was like, man, this secondary is absolutely loaded, you know,
and like it's going to be so great, and then
it was not. It was thirty second in the league
for the good chunk of the season. And so like
saying it and I and we heard this from Brokwon
(08:57):
and Kyle van Noy, and you know, the defensive leaders
is like saying, it is one thing, you know, but
like playing together is another thing. You can have all
these talented pieces and you can have five first round
picks in your secondary, but if you're not playing together,
then you're not going to play well. And another level
of it that Marlon Humphrey spoke to is like, also
if you're not getting turnovers, then you're not playing up
(09:19):
to your potential. You can go you know, like he said,
like you can be a good defense. He said, the
Ravens had a good practice. The Ravens defense had a
good practice on day one, but they didn't get any turnovers,
so it wasn't a great practice. Yeah, Day two, great practice,
multiple interceptions and so yeah, I think that like this
defense is looking very good at the start.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Well, you mentioned rokwand Smith. He is a guy that
has caught my eye these first two days. Like he
plays with his hair on fire, but and he doesn't
take practices off, like whenever he steps between the lines,
like he plays hard. But man, he looks good. He's
flying to the football. A play that to me shows
the examp of this. He was running one on one
on a wheel route with Justice Hill in today's practice
(10:04):
and there aren't many linebackers that could cover Justice Hill
out of the backfield and he ultimately broke out the
pass and was running step for step for step with
step for step with him. Yep, And that is an
incredibly difficult task. And I think that that just shows
like that's and that wasn't the only one. Like he's
been flying to the football. He's everywhere. They're not tackling
to the ground in these first two practices, but he
(10:24):
is in the action on everything, and that play to
me just showed like how good a position and how
well he's moving. He talked about getting his body and
like and like he focused on his body this offseason
and so like that to me, that play was an
indication of just well, how well he's moving early in camp.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah. A couple other just news items. DeAndre Hopkins didn't
practice on Thursday. John Harball said that was out of
an abundance of caution after he landed on his knee
during a play on Wednesday. Jake Hummel, Ravens linebacker had
a non football cut on his hand, so that's why
he's not practicing. Save Flowers seem to have some kind
of foot and something happened on the first day. Then
(11:04):
he came back, so no no concerns there. So on
the injury front, the Ravens are a pretty darn good shape.
Emery Jones, the rookie hasn't practiced yet, and of course
everybody knows are areas. But just as the news component
of what's going down in training camp. All right, now,
let's take a break. You talk about Roguan looking good
out there. I want to talk about some other players
who have caught our eye in the first two days
of practice.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
You're listening to the Lounge podcast we are coming to
from the Sea Geek Studio. We also want to mention
our partners are Draft King Sportsbook. They are an official
sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King Sportsbook.
The crown is yours, So I'll kick it off here.
I don't know who you have on your list, but
the player who I have at the top of my
list who has stood out to me in these first
two days is the new coverage.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
I you're out, Ah, you're stole a guy? Did I
take him right? I stole a guy.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
That's that's what I get. That's the benefit of reading
the break, reading the ads come out of the break
at the first I get a talk first. But man,
he has really impressed me. I think both in terms
of how he's looked and moved, his attitude. We had
a chance to talk with him. His personality is gonna
drive perfectly, gonna he's gonna fit in perfectly in this
secondary and I think he's gonna be a fan favorite.
(12:09):
And and honestly, like I knew he had like swagger
and energy and charisma, but it's even to another level
that I was not aware of.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
I was.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
I was standing on the field when he walked out
to the practice field for his first practice. He walked
out with DeAndre Hopkins. They dapped each other up, and
then Jaiir did the seat belt celebration right to the
camera as he made his way onto the field for
his first practice. And I'm like, that is the kind
of energy that I love, Like doing the seat belt
celebration before you before you even take the field. That
(12:39):
is the energy that that I that I love, and
like he he maintained that throughout practice these first two days,
and I just think I thought he was a good signing, like,
go man, this is exciting. But in a limited amount
of practice work here two days, I'm like, he's gonna
be even better than I expected.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
You know, all there's like click it or ticket, you know,
seat belt advertising to get to Oh my god, he's
going to be the poster boy. It's gonna be seat
belt Central. Ill but hear this, I think we're going
to see that a lot. Uh yeah, I mean after
practice just talking to him, it's such an engaging personality.
And you know, he said one thing I'm always going
to do, I'm going to bring that juice and like
(13:17):
you see it in practice. I mean he made a
really nice play in his first practice, covering Dayton Wade
and going up and kind of make breaking up a
deep pass along the sideline and just you know, seat
belt to the crowd. And you know, I thought it
was funny. His comment today about how he's said, I
think I'm a pretty weird guy, but I think Marlin's
(13:37):
got me beat. He might be more weird than I am. Yeah,
you know, coming he's part of the breakfast club, coming
in at the six am workouts, except he's got a
huge boombox and his blast of music right in his ears.
He's doing it, yeah, like honestly, And and he said this,
he said, I'm in love with with Baltimore with the Ravens,
and like I'm in the right place. And he just
(13:59):
seems like a perfect thing in every way so far,
and got how many how many guys like, can we
say this right? Derek Henry last year perfect fit? Yeah,
Malachi Starks check every box, a perfect fit, you know.
I mean, DeAndre Hopkins seems like a perfect fit. Jiyu
Alexander seems like a perfect fit.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Well, he said, like when he came here to sign,
before he signed.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
He wasn't so sure he was signing. He was like,
it was a visit. It was a true visit.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Yes, it wasn't like, all right, just come in here
and put your name on the paper and that's make
this ficial. Like it was a visit. And he said
that he's big on vibes and and said the vibes
don't lie. And when he was in the building, he
just felt like this was the place he wanted to
be and that had come to Lamar factor was obvious.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
That was a big factor. Also got him in the
door to a degree. I mean a the Ravens are
a great team. He was a free agent looking for
a team. Uh see, I don't know what order this is,
but Lamar and then he got in the door and
was like, yeah, I'd like to play with Lamar and
the Ravens and all this stuff. And then he got
in the door and he felt like it was just
like a great place to be, Like it just they
wanted him. He he liked it here, and I think
(15:02):
that he's going to continue to fit in very well
here on and off the field.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Another example that stood out to me there was a
play in practice on the first day and balal Kone,
the rookie, kind of broke up a pass down the field.
Him and tes Walker went up for it, and Jai
Year from like thirty yards away starts running down the
field kind of lasso and celebrating the pass breakup. And
(15:26):
like it's not like it was a huge moment in
practice or something, but like as he said, like one
thing about him, he's he's going to bring that energy
and like that is real. He is doing that in
these practices and talking to everybody like he is active.
For one period, I was just watching him and like
he's talking to everybody. He's talking to Marlin, he's talking
to Kyle, he's talking to the rookies. He's celebrating other
(15:47):
players coming up with big plays. Like that's the kind
of energy that is exciting to see.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
And now this is a little bit of a tangent here,
but honestly that's a credit to the Ravens organization John Harbaugh,
and the culture that is set here is like, and
that's why so many of these guys fit in well
and are perfect fits, is because there really is an
intentionality about letting people and players be who they are
and like, you know, Marlon Humphrey, for example, is a
(16:15):
unique cat. Yeah right, and like letting him show his
personality and be himself, and like, that's why so many
guys who have signed here like it here and why
it's worked out for So that's part of the reason
why it's worked out for so many of these thirty
plus year old signings, where like other teams like, eh,
I don't know how much this guy's got left and
he comes to Baltimore and a, yeah, he still has
(16:36):
some left and you get the best out of him
in part because they just like being here.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Yeah, I think it's a culture thing. There's a lot
of examples of that. Like Steve Smith was one of
the first ones that really stood out to me in
that regard, is like a huge personality. Yeah, who came
here with like, you know, obviously a great resume, but like,
how's he gonna fit in, Like what's the dynamic gonna be?
And then like he fit in great, and he said,
like he talked a lot about that. Eric Weddle was
(17:00):
another one, big personality like Wallace, you know, Mike Wallace,
but like those guys came in and they said that
they allow you to be yourself here. And honestly, Steve
and Weddle were the two that stood out to me
as like guys that that came in here and felt
like this was a place where they could be themselves
home and they could it could be the best version
of themselves.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
And I see that with Ja and he said it
even today, you know. I mean he's pretty new around here,
and he's like, yeah, the culture is different in Green Bay.
And look, we don't know what the culture is like
in Green Bay, so we can't speak to that. I'm sure,
you know, they're a great franchise, they probably have a
great culture, but it's different here according to Jaiir, who
does know, and you know, he just said like, yeah,
it's it's a little bit different. And part of that
(17:40):
was like we work like yeah, he works that. Yeah,
we're working and and so I just I just think
that it's been like a plus across the board for Jay. Yeah,
really excited about that. Another guy who stands out to.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Me, Oh, you gotta take my guy.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Now we'll see flowers.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Ah, now you returned the favorite. We did not compare
notes before the podcast. Yeah, Zay has been like really active.
I mean the first ball that he caught at training
camp he probably took for what it's.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Taken for a touchdown. I mean it was like a
I don't know, ten to fifteen yard crosser and he
just got that thing and then just hit another gear
and ran away and threw everybody. And he looks fast
as ever, explosive, Uh yeah, and active like getting the ball.
He's gotten the ball a lot, and honestly, like more
(18:29):
so than I remember him, more balls than I remember
him catching last year in training camp and that whatever.
It's not like, you know, I don't know how indicative
of that is of what's going to happen during the season,
because they're gonna spread out the targets. But like I'll
tell you, he looks good. And Tory Smith tweeted, Yeah,
if you haven't gone to watch it, watch our one
on one, yeah with a legend, and he and Tory
(18:50):
Smith sat down and Tory Smith said, it's going to
be a big year for Zay Flowers.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, that was a really cool conversation. We've got that
posted on YouTube and it's just a two great players
talking about what it means to play receiver here and
so go check that out. But I agree with you say,
has has jumped out to me and he's catching balls
down the field as well, like some of these like
play action over the middle of the field. It's not
just like catching runs like he's come up with some
(19:16):
big plays now. He also has had some nice catching
runs like the one that you're talking about where he
caught it was more of a crosser and he just
made it, taken that seventy yards to the house and
outran everybody. So it's a little bit of everything with him.
But I really do like what I'm seeing from him.
Pro Bowl receiver last year, and it's like he could
be even better. And it's funny we're talking and we're
(19:36):
out there at practice watching today and it's like it's
been kind of a quiet start for Bateman. Then boom,
Bateman next play, big play down the field, like Bateman
had the biggest play of the day today, perfect ball
from Lamar Jackson dropped in a bucket between Nate Wiggins
and and Kyle Hamilton and Bateman got openside.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
It was fretty.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
I mean, that was a big play touchdown down the field,
and that was just a great throw from Lamar and
a great route and catch by bait Yep.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Yeah, I think both side, the offense and defensive look good.
I wouldn't say that there's been one that's really like
run the show, yeah, which is what you want to see, honestly. Yeah,
all right, I'm gonna now I have a little bit
of a sleeper pick for you, Okay, Alex sleeper picks
is an undrafted rookie.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Okay, that's a sleeper pick.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Defensive back Ruben Lowry. Okay, Okay, yeah, I see I
didn't take this one from this got a pick today.
Undrafted rookie. He's he flashed during OTAs, he flashed during
mini camp. Like this guy just like keeps making plays.
And so look, we've talked about how tight this roster is.
(20:39):
Can can undrafted rookie make the team, especially when you
have eleven drafted rookies. It's tough. It's gonna be very,
very tough. But I'm telling you, you make a play
a day. As John Harball says all the time, make
a play a day, give yourself a chance. And you know,
you look at Rubin on the field five to nine.
You know, two hundred and four pounds eat the biggest guy, certainly,
(21:01):
you know, but Arders Washington won the biggest guy either
he made the team.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Kind of a long history of late round or undrafted
safety is making the team. You don't have to look
too far. I mean Sonoosy Kane and Bo Braid both.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Made it last year. Darius was seventh round.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
But you know what I'm saying, late round around drafted.
Gino Stone was another example. Ar Darius Washington another example.
Like there's been a lot of guys and and a
lot of times. If you can prove yourself and make
plays like that, and then you can also prove yourself
on special teams. We're like this guy could play special teams.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
That would be the kind of the question, you know,
five nine, Like he's not the big physical guy that
you really want, but yeah, if he's got enough speed
to be a gunner, if he can get off of
you know, out of the Clampson as a gunner, We're
getting in the weeds now a little bit, but you know, like, yeah,
if he can play especial, seems he's got a chance.
How did he look to see Chattanooga?
Speaker 2 (21:45):
How did he look a gunner? I know you were
really paying attention to his gunner.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Of course I was, because I'm big Jay journalists. Of
course it was.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
I'll go with another safety and that's the first round pick,
Malachi Starks. I thought today's practice was one of his best,
maybe his best. He came up with an interception. It
was hard to tell if he got he was inbounds,
but like, it was weird.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
There's no reaction from the team or the fans, but
we were all like, I'm pretty sure that was like
clearly in bounds. It was a weird.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
It was tough to tell, but it was during full
team drills eleven on eleven. It was kind of an
overthrow in the end zone and Malachi came down with
the ball. And also earlier in the day he made
a nice play breaking on a ball it was Charlie
Kohler over the middle and seven on seven that he
batted down.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
It's just like a quick break on it. I mean,
not a short pass, Like you gotta be reading and
reacting pretty darn fast to make that play, especially seven
on seven.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
And that's what what I'm liking is that I'm seeing
him have good instincts and be in the right place
and then make a play on the ball when he's there.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
And we saw the ball.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Making, you know, playmaking ability when he was in college.
But I think a big piece for a rookie who's
into the situation that he is, you want to see
him being in the right place at the right time,
and then clearly saw that in today's practice and that
was really that was encouraging for him.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Yep, I agree. All right. Another player for me, Keaton Mitchell.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
I'm he's on my list too, dude.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
He looks crazy fast. Again.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Well, there was one play where he ran right in
front of us and both you and I took out
the pen and paper on that piece and was like,
Mitchell is fast right.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
The right side turned the corner on that one. Yeah, Like,
I mean, the more I watch him, and this is
again a carryover from ot as a mini camp, where
I thought he looked really good and when I first
talked to him, and he feels like he's back, and
he said, even his speed numbers, the stats show it
like I'm running back at my top speeds again, if
not even a little bit faster, is what he said.
And so this is a carryover. And honestly, like, the
(23:36):
more that I watch him practice, and if he can
stay healthy and knock on wood and like and keep
on this trajectory, like he's gonna be He's gonna be
a piece in this offense. I think that a while ago,
we were all kind of saying, man, can they get
him a few touches and you know, he'll be the
kick returner, and like, can you sprinkle him in? And like,
the more I watch him, I'm like, it ain't a
(23:58):
running back duo anymore. It's a three headed monster. Uh huh.
I mean, like he could be a piece.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yeah, And as we've said every time we talk about him,
he doesn't. He doesn't need ten carries to make an impact,
Like he has the ability to take it to the
house every time, and so I don't think that he
needs to be a volume player in order to have
an impact. Yeah, But I get your point, which is like,
but it might be so good you want some volume.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah, I mean, but maybe you do want him to
get ten carries, you know, Like I mean, we all
see Justice and what he can do as a receiver,
and I think he will continue end as a blocker,
pass protector, all that stuff, like he's so good in that.
But like, you know, I think that Keaton could take
a chunk out of the carries that Justice got last season.
Not that Justice got a ton. Derrick Henry's a bell cow,
but also like he could take a little bit off
(24:44):
of Derek Henry's plate potentially. I mean, Dereck Henry's a machine,
you know, he's unlike any other, But like, can you
keep him a little bit fresher a little bit and
give this speedster some carries? Like it's whatever's best for
the team. And and honestly, the way that Keaton Mitchell
is practicing right now, having him on the field and
(25:04):
giving him some chances is going to be best for
the team.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
It reminds me of when he was a rookie when
we all said, like that guy is faster than everybody else.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Give the ball.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
That guy, he is faster, and like he's going to
be somebody to watch and he earned himself a spot
that year, and I think it's a similar type of
thing right now. Another guy that I'll point to is
kind of been a forgotten man when we talk about
the secondary is a Cheetoh Woozier. I think that he's
looked pretty good to me. He's taken a lot of
he's running with that first team and getting an opportunity
to go out there like prove himself. He was nicked
(25:32):
up at times during the off season programs like we
didn't see a ton of him and we just spent
all the time talking about Jay Year. I'm like, not
backtracking on any of that is awesome, but I just
think that, like the Ravens signed Cheeto this offseason, they
feel like he's going to be a nice piece in
this defense. He's going to play a big role, and
I've been encouraged by what I've seen from him out there.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Yep, Trent and Simpson all right as well. Got an
interception in today's practice. Goodness, call it kind of a
tip ball and good to see him make a play
on the ball. And I just think like he does
look more decisive, he looks better. I thought he just
had a really good practice. Roquan Smith just sung his
praises after working with him for a lot of the
(26:09):
offseason and and really feels like Trenton is primed to
make a big jump in year three. Yeah, totally.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
One other note is that kicker obviously a big competition
in training camp between the rookies, Tyler Loop and John Hoyland.
On Wednesday, they both kicked. On Thursday, Tyler Loop did
not kick. John Hoylan kicked, and so there's gonna be
a rotation between them over the course of camp. Not
sure exactly what that's going to look like, but they
are going to rotate days. Loop didn't miss a kick
(26:36):
at all on Wednesdays, six for six yeah, so good
start for him.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Soylan missed one on the first day. I think it
was a forty yarder. Yeah. Then Hoyland came back today
and made all of his kicks yep. So good start
for the rookie kickers yep.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
And again that's there's gonna be a rotation there and
so it's gonna be day by day, but that's gonna
be when we're watching closely.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Yep. Well, thank you for listening. As always, you can
reach us at the lounge at raven nfl dot net.
A lot more practice to watch, and we will have
all the takeaways for you to keep it right here
Welkman's a Lounge presented by Draft Kings. I'm Ryan Ink
here with Garrett Downing, and we are through the first
two days of training camp. We've heard from a lot
of star players, and we've seen a lot of star
players on the field, and so we're here to give
you our practice takeaways as well as our thoughts on
what players and coach Harball have been talking about. So, Garrett,
(00:24):
two good days of training camp practice, and you know,
let's start with just kind of the themes the narratives
around this team, and the one that is really just
stood out to me so far in these first couple
of days is just how about their business kind of
the Ravens are and like just everybody feeling like there's
(00:46):
a different tenor a different tone with this year's team.
And John Harball, he talked about it during our interview
with him that he feels like this is a really
mature team and really determined team, and hearing from the
players and like seeing the way they're practicing, you do
feel that.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
It feels competitive, it feels focused, and like I remember
we talked after Mini camp, after one of the mini
camp practices and we said this felt like a mid
October practice, just in terms of how sharp it was
and how efficient it was, how good it looked like.
That was what we felt like back in the spring,
and I think it's gone to even another level. And
(01:25):
I think that like there is a real both of
these things I think are true. The Ravens are well
aware of how they have been a great team the
last few years and they have not been able to
make it to the super Bowl or win it. Okay,
so they're very hyper aware of that fact. They've been
reminded of that and basically every press conference and if
they get on social media they get reminded of it
as well. So they're aware of that fact, and so
(01:47):
they are focused on getting over that hump. However, they
are also like incredibly focused on like the minute details
and the process in order to get there. You don't
just wave a magic wand and put yourself back in
Buffalo in January. Starts now, and I really think that
they're they are taking the approach of of course they
know that that's there and that's the goal, but we
are focused on today now, getting better right now, and
(02:09):
focusing on those things and not worrying about what is
to come.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Down the line. Yeah, and they're also very aware of
the opportunity that they have given the players that they have. Yeah,
like this they hear it like this is the most
loaded roster in the NFL, the best starting lineup, all
that stuff, and and people predicting the Ravens are gonna
win the third straight AFC North title and and all
that stuff, and yet like and they feel it. Like
(02:34):
the funny, they know they know that this team is
really good. They see it all around them. They see
in practice and it feels like the defense feels like
it's playing really well in practice, and the offense feels
like it's it's got playmakers gloring and d hops making
plays and all day. You know, it's got playmakers everywhere.
Like they know that they have what it takes, but
(02:55):
they also know, like they we're all asking them basically,
like so what do you you know, how do you
handle it when everybody's saying you're gonna go to the
super Bowl? And and do you think this is the
most towns roster? And they're like, yeah, but like we
can say that, it doesn't mean anything. Yeah, we can
say that all we want. We can say that, like
we want to get to the super Bowl and this
is the year, right, and like you don't know until
(03:17):
you're in that position. And like so I think to
your point, like they're also.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
That.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
I think that they're just in the right head space,
like top to bottom. I just really do like and
and and that's been intentional, you know that, Like they're
grading everything, and they're they're harping it on the fundamentals
and the details of everything, and and it's like you
can't just say, yeah, we man, we are so hungry
to get to the super Bowl. You can say that
(03:44):
all you want, but it doesn't mean anything.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
What's about hunger?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
What's about action? Exactly? What's the action item? And like,
you know, I thought that Kyle van Noy, who we
heard from UH today, he's a two time super Bowl
champion for the New England Patriots. It's just which is
a franchise that is known for Bill Belichick was known
for stressing the minute details, fundamentals, Do you have to
plan diligence all those situational like mastery, like we're gonna
(04:10):
win the situations and like that's that is in large
part and Tom Brady and they had other great players,
but that like fundamental like, performing your best and not
making mistakes in the most high critical situations is what
led the Patriots to have it win as many Super
Bowls as they did, And the Ravens are taking that
approach and like, I just I like it.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Another good example, we had a chance to hear from
Marlon Humphrey and he talked about how there's kind of
a breakfast club group of guys that are working out
at six am, six am on the dot and it's
led by him, Say Flowers and Rashad Bateman, they're kind
of the leaders of that group.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
I'll tell you what I'm not doing at six o'clock
am working working out?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Are you working out at six pm, seven pm, you
name a time any of the twenty four hours it's
gonna be.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
What is it less to do at the time? Well,
my point is like, I'm not even coherent. I'm asleep.
I'm a sleep at six am, regardless of what time
they have to wake up to get in here to
be ready to work out at six am.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, you're not making You're not joining the breakfast No,
I'm not part of the breakfast workout for the breakfast
club led by those key guys on this team starts
at six am, and Marlin was being kind of funny
about it, but he said, if you're here at six
oh one year out, you're booted. You got to wait
till the seven o'clock lift starts. And and the point
he made, and this quote stood out to me, he said,
we're trying to create an environment where everything matters. Does
it really matter if you're here at six oh one
(05:27):
not six o'clock, No, it doesn't really matter. But you
let that slip, what else are you gonna let slip?
And like, that's the accountability, accountability that these team leaders
are stressing, and I think that everybody has that type
of attitude, and like that's I think the maturity, the accountability,
the focus. And I really think when we sat down
(05:47):
with coach Harball earlier in the week and he laid
some of that stuff out, like now we're seeing it
in action. And that's the thing I think that's so
encouraging about this team is that it goes beyond just
saying the right things. You have to then do the
right things and be intentional about the details. And the
Ravens are doing that.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Right Because if you have as talented of Ross, the
talent is there, clearly. It's just like, are you going
to play the best and play clean football when the
lights are the brightest? Yeah, that's the question, you know.
And if you're doing all those right things and making
that a habit, then I think you set yourself up.
It doesn't guarantee anything, of course, you know, but you
(06:28):
set yourself up. You give your best, yourself the best
chance of success. The other guy who.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I think really did a good job in talking about
this is Lamar, because Lamar, since the moment he was drafted,
just talked about the Super Bowl and like it's no
question that he badly wants to win and everybody knows it.
And he's been asked about the super Bowl a million
times and he talked about it openly. Yeah, and so,
but I think that he went kind of the other
direction in his press conference where he said multiple times
(06:55):
I'm trying to just take care of the here and
now and be president in the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
And trying to have a good training case.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
It's the first day of training camp, Like that's what
I'm focused on, the first day of training camp. Like
this isn't We're not playing the super Bowl today, We're
not playing the playoffs today, Like I'm trying to be
focused on everything that we can do as a team
in training camp to get ready for the season, and
that's where his mind is. He's not thinking, of course,
that's like the goal for everybody. It's there, it's it's
of course it's there. But like that's not that's not
the driving motivation factor today and these practices.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
And his quote was, I'm not really trying to think
about the super Bowl yet. Yeah, Like there's there's time
for that, and everybody knows that Lamar Jackson's tree, everybody
knows his motivation. Yeah, But like I like that from
your leader, you know. I like that, like, you know what,
let's have Let's have a good training camp here, Let's
finish it the right way. Let's do all those things
before we start worrying about the super Bowl. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I think it's a I think it's a it's a
mature way of looking at it, and I think it
it speaks to the team's mindset and where they are
right now. And I think that, like some fans can
confuse that, but I think that that's like the most
the focus and the message there is that like you
have to do the little things throughout the entire process.
You can't rush the process. You just can't rush the process.
(08:07):
You have to be good the entire process in order
to get to that end goal. And the Ravens are
focused on that process, not the end goal that everybody
wants to talk about, right.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
And the other news item I thought from yesterday was
Brokwon Smith. You know, we talked about the talented roster
that the Ravens have. Brokwon Smith said, I think this
is the most talented defense that I've been on, which
says a lot. I mean, the Ravens had the number
one defense in the league two years ago. Yeah, right,
last year they were number one down the stretch. But
(08:36):
like again, also everybody going into last year, myself included,
was like, man, this secondary is absolutely loaded, you know,
and like it's going to be so great, and then
it was not. It was thirty second in the league
for the good chunk of the season. And so like
saying it and I and we heard this from Brokwon
(08:57):
and Kyle van Noy, and you know, the defensive leaders
is like saying, it is one thing, you know, but
like playing together is another thing. You can have all
these talented pieces and you can have five first round
picks in your secondary, but if you're not playing together,
then you're not going to play well. And another level
of it that Marlon Humphrey spoke to is like, also
if you're not getting turnovers, then you're not playing up
(09:19):
to your potential. You can go you know, like he said,
like you can be a good defense. He said, the
Ravens had a good practice. The Ravens defense had a
good practice on day one, but they didn't get any turnovers,
so it wasn't a great practice. Yeah, Day two, great practice,
multiple interceptions and so yeah, I think that like this
defense is looking very good at the start.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Well, you mentioned rokwand Smith. He is a guy that
has caught my eye these first two days. Like he
plays with his hair on fire, but and he doesn't
take practices off, like whenever he steps between the lines,
like he plays hard. But man, he looks good. He's
flying to the football. A play that to me shows
the examp of this. He was running one on one
on a wheel route with Justice Hill in today's practice
(10:04):
and there aren't many linebackers that could cover Justice Hill
out of the backfield and he ultimately broke out the
pass and was running step for step for step with
step for step with him. Yep, And that is an
incredibly difficult task. And I think that that just shows
like that's and that wasn't the only one. Like he's
been flying to the football. He's everywhere. They're not tackling
to the ground in these first two practices, but he
(10:24):
is in the action on everything, and that play to
me just showed like how good a position and how
well he's moving. He talked about getting his body and
like and like he focused on his body this offseason
and so like that to me, that play was an
indication of just well, how well he's moving early in camp.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah. A couple other just news items. DeAndre Hopkins didn't
practice on Thursday. John Harball said that was out of
an abundance of caution after he landed on his knee
during a play on Wednesday. Jake Hummel, Ravens linebacker had
a non football cut on his hand, so that's why
he's not practicing. Save Flowers seem to have some kind
of foot and something happened on the first day. Then
(11:04):
he came back, so no no concerns there. So on
the injury front, the Ravens are a pretty darn good shape.
Emery Jones, the rookie hasn't practiced yet, and of course
everybody knows are areas. But just as the news component
of what's going down in training camp. All right, now,
let's take a break. You talk about Roguan looking good
out there. I want to talk about some other players
who have caught our eye in the first two days
of practice.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
You're listening to the Lounge podcast we are coming to
from the Sea Geek Studio. We also want to mention
our partners are Draft King Sportsbook. They are an official
sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King Sportsbook.
The crown is yours, So I'll kick it off here.
I don't know who you have on your list, but
the player who I have at the top of my
list who has stood out to me in these first
two days is the new coverage.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
I you're out, Ah, you're stole a guy? Did I
take him right? I stole a guy.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
That's that's what I get. That's the benefit of reading
the break, reading the ads come out of the break
at the first I get a talk first. But man,
he has really impressed me. I think both in terms
of how he's looked and moved, his attitude. We had
a chance to talk with him. His personality is gonna
drive perfectly, gonna he's gonna fit in perfectly in this
secondary and I think he's gonna be a fan favorite.
(12:09):
And and honestly, like I knew he had like swagger
and energy and charisma, but it's even to another level
that I was not aware of.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
I was.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
I was standing on the field when he walked out
to the practice field for his first practice. He walked
out with DeAndre Hopkins. They dapped each other up, and
then Jaiir did the seat belt celebration right to the
camera as he made his way onto the field for
his first practice. And I'm like, that is the kind
of energy that I love, Like doing the seat belt
celebration before you before you even take the field. That
(12:39):
is the energy that that I that I love, and
like he he maintained that throughout practice these first two days,
and I just think I thought he was a good signing, like,
go man, this is exciting. But in a limited amount
of practice work here two days, I'm like, he's gonna
be even better than I expected.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
You know, all there's like click it or ticket, you know,
seat belt advertising to get to Oh my god, he's
going to be the poster boy. It's gonna be seat
belt Central. Ill but hear this, I think we're going
to see that a lot. Uh yeah, I mean after
practice just talking to him, it's such an engaging personality.
And you know, he said one thing I'm always going
to do, I'm going to bring that juice and like
(13:17):
you see it in practice. I mean he made a
really nice play in his first practice, covering Dayton Wade
and going up and kind of make breaking up a
deep pass along the sideline and just you know, seat
belt to the crowd. And you know, I thought it
was funny. His comment today about how he's said, I
think I'm a pretty weird guy, but I think Marlin's
(13:37):
got me beat. He might be more weird than I am. Yeah,
you know, coming he's part of the breakfast club, coming
in at the six am workouts, except he's got a
huge boombox and his blast of music right in his ears.
He's doing it, yeah, like honestly, And and he said this,
he said, I'm in love with with Baltimore with the Ravens,
and like I'm in the right place. And he just
(13:59):
seems like a perfect thing in every way so far,
and got how many how many guys like, can we
say this right? Derek Henry last year perfect fit? Yeah,
Malachi Starks check every box, a perfect fit, you know.
I mean, DeAndre Hopkins seems like a perfect fit. Jiyu
Alexander seems like a perfect fit.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Well, he said, like when he came here to sign,
before he signed.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
He wasn't so sure he was signing. He was like,
it was a visit. It was a true visit.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Yes, it wasn't like, all right, just come in here
and put your name on the paper and that's make
this ficial. Like it was a visit. And he said
that he's big on vibes and and said the vibes
don't lie. And when he was in the building, he
just felt like this was the place he wanted to
be and that had come to Lamar factor was obvious.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
That was a big factor. Also got him in the
door to a degree. I mean a the Ravens are
a great team. He was a free agent looking for
a team. Uh see, I don't know what order this is,
but Lamar and then he got in the door and
was like, yeah, I'd like to play with Lamar and
the Ravens and all this stuff. And then he got
in the door and he felt like it was just
like a great place to be, Like it just they
wanted him. He he liked it here, and I think
(15:02):
that he's going to continue to fit in very well
here on and off the field.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Another example that stood out to me there was a
play in practice on the first day and balal Kone,
the rookie, kind of broke up a pass down the field.
Him and tes Walker went up for it, and Jai
Year from like thirty yards away starts running down the
field kind of lasso and celebrating the pass breakup. And
(15:26):
like it's not like it was a huge moment in
practice or something, but like as he said, like one
thing about him, he's he's going to bring that energy
and like that is real. He is doing that in
these practices and talking to everybody like he is active.
For one period, I was just watching him and like
he's talking to everybody. He's talking to Marlin, he's talking
to Kyle, he's talking to the rookies. He's celebrating other
(15:47):
players coming up with big plays. Like that's the kind
of energy that is exciting to see.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
And now this is a little bit of a tangent here,
but honestly that's a credit to the Ravens organization John Harbaugh,
and the culture that is set here is like, and
that's why so many of these guys fit in well
and are perfect fits, is because there really is an
intentionality about letting people and players be who they are
and like, you know, Marlon Humphrey, for example, is a
(16:15):
unique cat. Yeah right, and like letting him show his
personality and be himself, and like, that's why so many
guys who have signed here like it here and why
it's worked out for So that's part of the reason
why it's worked out for so many of these thirty
plus year old signings, where like other teams like, eh,
I don't know how much this guy's got left and
he comes to Baltimore and a, yeah, he still has
(16:36):
some left and you get the best out of him
in part because they just like being here.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Yeah, I think it's a culture thing. There's a lot
of examples of that. Like Steve Smith was one of
the first ones that really stood out to me in
that regard, is like a huge personality. Yeah, who came
here with like, you know, obviously a great resume, but like,
how's he gonna fit in, Like what's the dynamic gonna be?
And then like he fit in great, and he said,
like he talked a lot about that. Eric Weddle was
(17:00):
another one, big personality like Wallace, you know, Mike Wallace,
but like those guys came in and they said that
they allow you to be yourself here. And honestly, Steve
and Weddle were the two that stood out to me
as like guys that that came in here and felt
like this was a place where they could be themselves
home and they could it could be the best version
of themselves.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
And I see that with Ja and he said it
even today, you know. I mean he's pretty new around here,
and he's like, yeah, the culture is different in Green Bay.
And look, we don't know what the culture is like
in Green Bay, so we can't speak to that. I'm sure,
you know, they're a great franchise, they probably have a
great culture, but it's different here according to Jaiir, who
does know, and you know, he just said like, yeah,
it's it's a little bit different. And part of that
(17:40):
was like we work like yeah, he works that. Yeah,
we're working and and so I just I just think
that it's been like a plus across the board for Jay. Yeah,
really excited about that. Another guy who stands out to.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Me, Oh, you gotta take my guy.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Now we'll see flowers.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Ah, now you returned the favorite. We did not compare
notes before the podcast. Yeah, Zay has been like really active.
I mean the first ball that he caught at training
camp he probably took for what it's.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Taken for a touchdown. I mean it was like a
I don't know, ten to fifteen yard crosser and he
just got that thing and then just hit another gear
and ran away and threw everybody. And he looks fast
as ever, explosive, Uh yeah, and active like getting the ball.
He's gotten the ball a lot, and honestly, like more
(18:29):
so than I remember him, more balls than I remember
him catching last year in training camp and that whatever.
It's not like, you know, I don't know how indicative
of that is of what's going to happen during the season,
because they're gonna spread out the targets. But like I'll
tell you, he looks good. And Tory Smith tweeted, Yeah,
if you haven't gone to watch it, watch our one
on one, yeah with a legend, and he and Tory
(18:50):
Smith sat down and Tory Smith said, it's going to
be a big year for Zay Flowers.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, that was a really cool conversation. We've got that
posted on YouTube and it's just a two great players
talking about what it means to play receiver here and
so go check that out. But I agree with you say,
has has jumped out to me and he's catching balls
down the field as well, like some of these like
play action over the middle of the field. It's not
just like catching runs like he's come up with some
(19:16):
big plays now. He also has had some nice catching
runs like the one that you're talking about where he
caught it was more of a crosser and he just
made it, taken that seventy yards to the house and
outran everybody. So it's a little bit of everything with him.
But I really do like what I'm seeing from him.
Pro Bowl receiver last year, and it's like he could
be even better. And it's funny we're talking and we're
(19:36):
out there at practice watching today and it's like it's
been kind of a quiet start for Bateman. Then boom,
Bateman next play, big play down the field, like Bateman
had the biggest play of the day today, perfect ball
from Lamar Jackson dropped in a bucket between Nate Wiggins
and and Kyle Hamilton and Bateman got openside.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
It was fretty.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
I mean, that was a big play touchdown down the field,
and that was just a great throw from Lamar and
a great route and catch by bait Yep.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Yeah, I think both side, the offense and defensive look good.
I wouldn't say that there's been one that's really like
run the show, yeah, which is what you want to see, honestly. Yeah,
all right, I'm gonna now I have a little bit
of a sleeper pick for you, Okay, Alex sleeper picks
is an undrafted rookie.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Okay, that's a sleeper pick.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Defensive back Ruben Lowry. Okay, Okay, yeah, I see I
didn't take this one from this got a pick today.
Undrafted rookie. He's he flashed during OTAs, he flashed during
mini camp. Like this guy just like keeps making plays.
And so look, we've talked about how tight this roster is.
(20:39):
Can can undrafted rookie make the team, especially when you
have eleven drafted rookies. It's tough. It's gonna be very,
very tough. But I'm telling you, you make a play
a day. As John Harball says all the time, make
a play a day, give yourself a chance. And you know,
you look at Rubin on the field five to nine.
You know, two hundred and four pounds eat the biggest guy, certainly,
(21:01):
you know, but Arders Washington won the biggest guy either
he made the team.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Kind of a long history of late round or undrafted
safety is making the team. You don't have to look
too far. I mean Sonoosy Kane and Bo Braid both.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Made it last year. Darius was seventh round.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
But you know what I'm saying, late round around drafted.
Gino Stone was another example. Ar Darius Washington another example.
Like there's been a lot of guys and and a
lot of times. If you can prove yourself and make
plays like that, and then you can also prove yourself
on special teams. We're like this guy could play special teams.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
That would be the kind of the question, you know,
five nine, Like he's not the big physical guy that
you really want, but yeah, if he's got enough speed
to be a gunner, if he can get off of
you know, out of the Clampson as a gunner, We're
getting in the weeds now a little bit, but you know, like, yeah,
if he can play especial, seems he's got a chance.
How did he look to see Chattanooga?
Speaker 2 (21:45):
How did he look a gunner? I know you were
really paying attention to his gunner.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Of course I was, because I'm big Jay journalists. Of
course it was.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
I'll go with another safety and that's the first round pick,
Malachi Starks. I thought today's practice was one of his best,
maybe his best. He came up with an interception. It
was hard to tell if he got he was inbounds,
but like, it was weird.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
There's no reaction from the team or the fans, but
we were all like, I'm pretty sure that was like
clearly in bounds. It was a weird.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
It was tough to tell, but it was during full
team drills eleven on eleven. It was kind of an
overthrow in the end zone and Malachi came down with
the ball. And also earlier in the day he made
a nice play breaking on a ball it was Charlie
Kohler over the middle and seven on seven that he
batted down.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
It's just like a quick break on it. I mean,
not a short pass, Like you gotta be reading and
reacting pretty darn fast to make that play, especially seven
on seven.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
And that's what what I'm liking is that I'm seeing
him have good instincts and be in the right place
and then make a play on the ball when he's there.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
And we saw the ball.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Making, you know, playmaking ability when he was in college.
But I think a big piece for a rookie who's
into the situation that he is, you want to see
him being in the right place at the right time,
and then clearly saw that in today's practice and that
was really that was encouraging for him.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Yep, I agree. All right. Another player for me, Keaton Mitchell.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
I'm he's on my list too, dude.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
He looks crazy fast. Again.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Well, there was one play where he ran right in
front of us and both you and I took out
the pen and paper on that piece and was like,
Mitchell is fast right.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
The right side turned the corner on that one. Yeah, Like,
I mean, the more I watch him, and this is
again a carryover from ot as a mini camp, where
I thought he looked really good and when I first
talked to him, and he feels like he's back, and
he said, even his speed numbers, the stats show it
like I'm running back at my top speeds again, if
not even a little bit faster, is what he said.
And so this is a carryover. And honestly, like, the
(23:36):
more that I watch him practice, and if he can
stay healthy and knock on wood and like and keep
on this trajectory, like he's gonna be He's gonna be
a piece in this offense. I think that a while ago,
we were all kind of saying, man, can they get
him a few touches and you know, he'll be the
kick returner, and like, can you sprinkle him in? And like,
the more I watch him, I'm like, it ain't a
(23:58):
running back duo anymore. It's a three headed monster. Uh huh.
I mean, like he could be a piece.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yeah, And as we've said every time we talk about him,
he doesn't. He doesn't need ten carries to make an impact,
Like he has the ability to take it to the
house every time, and so I don't think that he
needs to be a volume player in order to have
an impact. Yeah, But I get your point, which is like,
but it might be so good you want some volume.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah, I mean, but maybe you do want him to
get ten carries, you know, Like I mean, we all
see Justice and what he can do as a receiver,
and I think he will continue end as a blocker,
pass protector, all that stuff, like he's so good in that.
But like, you know, I think that Keaton could take
a chunk out of the carries that Justice got last season.
Not that Justice got a ton. Derrick Henry's a bell cow,
but also like he could take a little bit off
(24:44):
of Derek Henry's plate potentially. I mean, Dereck Henry's a machine,
you know, he's unlike any other, But like, can you
keep him a little bit fresher a little bit and
give this speedster some carries? Like it's whatever's best for
the team. And and honestly, the way that Keaton Mitchell
is practicing right now, having him on the field and
(25:04):
giving him some chances is going to be best for
the team.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
It reminds me of when he was a rookie when
we all said, like that guy is faster than everybody else.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Give the ball.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
That guy, he is faster, and like he's going to
be somebody to watch and he earned himself a spot
that year, and I think it's a similar type of
thing right now. Another guy that I'll point to is
kind of been a forgotten man when we talk about
the secondary is a Cheetoh Woozier. I think that he's
looked pretty good to me. He's taken a lot of
he's running with that first team and getting an opportunity
to go out there like prove himself. He was nicked
(25:32):
up at times during the off season programs like we
didn't see a ton of him and we just spent
all the time talking about Jay Year. I'm like, not
backtracking on any of that is awesome, but I just
think that, like the Ravens signed Cheeto this offseason, they
feel like he's going to be a nice piece in
this defense. He's going to play a big role, and
I've been encouraged by what I've seen from him out there.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Yep, Trent and Simpson all right as well. Got an
interception in today's practice. Goodness, call it kind of a
tip ball and good to see him make a play
on the ball. And I just think like he does
look more decisive, he looks better. I thought he just
had a really good practice. Roquan Smith just sung his
praises after working with him for a lot of the
(26:09):
offseason and and really feels like Trenton is primed to
make a big jump in year three. Yeah, totally.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
One other note is that kicker obviously a big competition
in training camp between the rookies, Tyler Loop and John Hoyland.
On Wednesday, they both kicked. On Thursday, Tyler Loop did
not kick. John Hoylan kicked, and so there's gonna be
a rotation between them over the course of camp. Not
sure exactly what that's going to look like, but they
are going to rotate days. Loop didn't miss a kick
(26:36):
at all on Wednesdays, six for six yeah, so good
start for him.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Soylan missed one on the first day. I think it
was a forty yarder. Yeah. Then Hoyland came back today
and made all of his kicks yep. So good start
for the rookie kickers yep.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
And again that's there's gonna be a rotation there and
so it's gonna be day by day, but that's gonna
be when we're watching closely.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Yep. Well, thank you for listening. As always, you can
reach us at the lounge at raven nfl dot net.
A lot more practice to watch, and we will have
all the takeaways for you to keep it right here
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