Team insiders Ryan Mink and Clifton Brown discuss the team's cornerback depth following injuries, whether some other key position battles have been locked up, a potential surprise roster-spot contender, their concern levels at guard and backup quarterback, and how special rookie Mike Green could be.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink here
with Cliffton Brown, and we are going to talk about
some of the updated roster competitions, how things have changed
from what we saw at the beginning of training camp,
as well as some other news and notes items from
the first preseason game and what we want to see
moving forward into this Dallas second preseason game. So Cliff,
(00:29):
let's start here. Kind of the news of the weekend
was that the Ravens unfortunately put two rookie cornerbacks on
injured reserve and already the kind of mantra of you
can never have too many corners as being put to
the test, yes, and so Robert longerbeam six round corner,
and Balao Cone, another six round rookie corner who fans
(00:51):
saw injured in the preseason game, both placed on IR.
The Ravens signed MJ. Devonshire to the fifty three man
n s. They also signed a running back, Miles Gaskin,
because they are dealing with some bumps and bruises also
running back right now, but looking specifically at cornerback, Cliff,
(01:12):
how do you feel those injuries and placing two rookies impacts,
placing them on our impacts the fifty three.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Well, we don't know how big of a role both
those corners would have had, but looking at the total picture,
it definitely puts more of a premium now on other
players to stay healthy. Both of those rookies longer being
k could have had a role on special teams at
the very least. Who knows, with other injuries, or if
(01:41):
they played well enough, maybe they would have snuck in
somewhere in the rotation, because the Ravens do like to
play a lot of different combinations at corner and also
a safety. But you know, I feel badly for them
because young players have just set them back. You know,
they lost their rookie season and now in the bigger picture,
you know, if there are more injuries to some of
(02:02):
the veteran corners, it thins, it just stands it out
a little bit, so something you don't want to see.
It really shows you how quickly things can change, and
I think that it makes it even more important that
the Ravens went out, you know, and really beefed up
the corner position in the offseason, not just with the draft,
but with the veterans. They signed because it can get
(02:25):
thin really quick. Jea.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
You're Alexander obviously in Chidoh Woozie. Seeing this two veteran signings,
I think from a fifty three man roster perspective, I
don't know that it has a profound impact because you
look at it, they really had a logjam. I don't
know that a roster spot for bk or Robert long
Mean was a guarantee, certainly, and so you look at
(02:49):
it right now, I mean of the corners that are
gonna see snaps in games, especially defensively, Let's just say,
right you have Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, jay U, Alexander,
and Chiatou Wouzie. Those are your top four guys. It's
pretty well, No's that's solid. Then at five, I think
(03:10):
Jalen armor Davis and the way he's played in the
preseason game, the way he's practicing if he can stay healthy,
which you know, we talked to him over the weekend
on Saturday, and he talked about how he's doing more
intentional things to take care of his body, you know,
off the field, away from the game, Like it feels
like he has a very good plan for staying healthy
this year. So that's great news because I think he's
(03:32):
always been a talented guy who can just flat out
cover people. And if he can stay healthy, plus his
position versatility, he can play a little safety. You can
play corner, you know. Zach Worr said that he knows
every position on the defense in the secondary, and so
to me, Jalen armor Davis, especially in light of these
two injuries to the rookie quarnerbacks, may have locked up
(03:54):
his fifty three man Roger spot looks pretty cemented to me.
So that's five, and then TJ tamp it would be six.
It's like, how many corners can you really keep? I
don't think you could have kept eight corners on the
fifty three man roster, right, so if you're at six
with Tampa. But I think Tampa also his chances of
making the fifty three improved. And now if you want
(04:17):
to keep seven, somebody like a Ruben Lowry, Marquise Robinson,
one of these undrafted rookies. I think the injuries to
BK and Robert Longerbeam cracked the door upen more for
those guys.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Yeah, i'd be Lowry is that obviously an outstanding summer
and definitely has put himself squarely in the player who
could make the roster of conversation. Yes, for sure, and yeah,
I agree with your assessment about the top six. So
I'm not going to repeat what you just said, but
(04:52):
I will say that now, you know, we're only one
preseason game in. We've still got two more season games
a lot of practices. But between now and week one,
hopefully everyone stays healthy, but if not, then the picture
is gonna change even more. So again, I wasn't expecting
(05:14):
both six round picks to be seasoned over after one week.
So now, even though it may not affect a big picture,
there's a little more I don't know. I'm not gonna
say concerned, but there's a little more thinking that. Boy,
I hope, I hope everyone else. I hope we're done
with the corner corner. It's just because now if there's
(05:36):
more injuries, then you're gonna start talking about people who
you weren't maybe expecting to play as much playing more.
And it is a good sign that both jyl armor
Davis and Tampa have played well because they still have
a lot of talent at that position.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, I agree. The other guy, Devonshire, you know, would
be in that conversation, whether he you know, obviously signed,
you're signed midway through training camp, you're at a disadvantage
to guys who have been here a whole summer. But
he would be another person in that conversation. The other
thing I'll add with Ruben Lowry is, you know, there's
he's been playing corner end safety, so there's a little
position flexibility there where if you were to keep him,
(06:14):
Let's say everybody stays healthy at corner for the rand
or of the preseason and you keep Lowry as a
seventh corner slash safety kind of like Ardarius Washington has
been over his career. You know, maybe he helps. Do
you keep three true safeties Let's say Kyle Hamilton, Malachi Starks,
(06:35):
and then Snoocy Kane and then Ruben Lowry you could
take that fourth safety spot plus at give you a
little bit more depth at corner. I don't think it's impossible.
Bo Braid is also competing, you know, to make the
fifty three is that kind of third slash fourth safety.
And I think he's flash too. I think he led
the team and tackles in preseason one, so you know,
(06:58):
I think Bo's doing a good job. But it's something
I think Ruben's versatility helps him out. He reminds me
so much of Ardarius when he made the team. I mean,
here's a short statued guy who just has a nose
for the football and this position flexibility. So like, I
don't know, it's interesting. All right, let's move on to
left guard. That was probably the number one competition entering
(07:21):
training camp. Andrew Voorhees is, you know, was the guy
who started the first preseason game against the Colts. Do
you see any change there between he and Ben Cleveland?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
I don't. I'd be very surprised if Andrew Voorhees is
not the starting left guard. If he's healthy, I would
expect that. Maybe I'll even be announced soon that. I
don't think there's really any mystery there. He's played well.
He won a starting job last year before he got hurt. Yep,
So he's built on that to me and has done
nothing to lose that position. Okay.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Kicker Tyler Loop, you know, went one of two in
the preseason one game. John Harball said the miss does
not change his opinion of Tyler Loop, and it was
good to see him bounce back and make a long
feel goal after missing one, So how do you And
right now he's the only kicker on the roster, so
it's pretty darn clear who's leading there for the job.
(08:16):
Kind of how do you assess Tyler Loop and the
kicking situation.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
I feel good about it. I just feel that there's
going to be other challenges ahead that he's going to
have to pass because he's going through all of this
for the first time. Yeh. But up to this point
he's handled everything very well. I do agree with coach
Haarball that it was important to see him bounce back
after missing that first one, and that's part of what
lies ahead. He's not going to make every kick he's
(08:42):
going to just think of every stadium he goes to
is new. There's going to be game winning big kicks
that do you want to want him to make? If
he misses them, he's got to respond. The mental aspect
is as important to me with the kicker as the physical. Oh,
he's got a big leg, he's got excellent coaches working
(09:03):
with him, and he works really hard. So the town
is there to me. The only remaining question is, yes,
how's he going to handle the ups and downs of
the season. But up to this point, I do feel
good about it.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
I think that he's the guy. I think they're gonna ride.
I think they're gonna ride the ups and downs, and
you have to know that there's gonna be some downs.
He's not gonna be perfect as a rookie. But I
think he's the guy. I think they've like he's shown
them enough both from you know, his his work ethic,
the way he purchased a game obvious talent, the way
you know mentally, you know, bouncing back from missus, bouncing
(09:37):
back from tough days here in training camp and then
coming back and being perfect next day, and quite frankly,
in practice he's hitting ninety some low nineties percentage of
his field goals. Like that is extremely good. And so
I think he's the guy. I think they're just going
to ride it out and like that's what it is, right,
all right? So moving on returner. Punt returner was a
(10:01):
big competition coming into training camp and one that you
know kind of flies under the radar, but it's an
important position. Well, Jonty Western kind of you know, he
stake disclaimed for the job. You think you think that
one's over or what.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Yes, if that's not enough to win the job. Then
what else can he do? I mean, he you know, electric,
and I agree with everything you know the coaches say
about catching the ball's number one priority. But he looks
very comfortable doing it, and he's aggressive catching the ball.
I like the way that he is willing to move
up to catch the ball, won't let it bounce. The
(10:38):
Ravens led too many puns hit the ground last year.
Cast some field position, and then obviously what he does
once he catches the ball. He has the ability to
take it to the house at any time. And you
give the Ravens offense more short fields, better position field
position they had last season, that means they'll probably be
more explosive. I mean, so, yes, it's really been impressive
(11:01):
to me how confidently he's played as a rookie. But
you know, it's fun talking to him after the game.
He does not lack confidence.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
No, he's got that South Florida swag to him, the.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
South Florida flat swag. He's been around Deon Sanders a lot,
which you know will help your confidence. He coveted guy somewhat, so,
but hey, if you can back it up, which both
Dion backed, I think, Yeah, that's one of that's part
of Dion's secret sauce is that you give him a
player with talent, he'll give him the mojo. And yeah,
(11:36):
this kid's got it.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, I agree. Yeah, I think that's perfectly said. He's
got it. He's got something a little special about him
and uh and I like the way that he just
confidently comes up and gets that ball. You know, the
last year we did not see that down the stretch
and that makes a big difference. All right, last one
for you, Cliff Rashena Lee had the long kickoff return
(12:01):
against the Colts, and you know, I think that he's
looked certainly better than he did as a rookie here
in chain camp practice. This is running ball. Well, any chance,
I mean, Keith Mitchell, we've raved about all offseason. Any
chance of Rashina Lee could steal a fourth running back spot.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
There's a chance, but I say slim. They're so deep
and again it'll come down, as it always does when
you get down to those last two or three spots.
What's happening in another position has nothing to do with
running back could determine whether he makes it or not.
He certainly, as you mentioned, he's an improved player. To me,
he's an NFL player. But if you're ranking running back
(12:43):
rooms around the NFL, I mean I would think the
raven is a number one when you go three deep.
So this is the toughest prode, the toughest running back
room for young player to make. Yep. So it's no
reflection on him if he doesn't make it. I still
think that the chance of a slim But again, knock
(13:04):
on wood, if there were an injury at that position,
then he certainly would be a guy. Instead of thinking, well,
we've got to go out and get somebody, he's showing that, hey,
we have somebody right here who could do the job well.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
I think everybody also knows. Young players also know that
when you when you step on the field in preseason games,
you're not just trying to make your team's fifty three
man roster. You're trying to make a teams a team's
fifty three man roster. Everybody's watching the tape around the
league and Rashe and Lee. You know, if it doesn't
work here in Baltimore, you hope for him that it
(13:37):
could work somewhere else. You know, I'm sure the Ravens
would love him to continue to develop here and you know,
whether that be on the practice squad or whatnot. But
like we've seen other running backs, Tyler Bady, you know,
other guys go to other teams and have Bobby Rainey,
you know, comes to mind, and so obviously I would
love to see Rasheen continue to develop here in Baltimore.
(13:58):
But the Ravens also just signed Derek Henry to an extension.
Justice still got one last season. Geat Mitchell's in year three,
So we'll see. But I think that that's if he
continues to make more plays in preseason two and three,
he's gonna have some interested parties.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
We'll have a job somewhere he passes the eye test exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
All right, we'll take a break, and when we come back,
we're gonna talk about some other aspects of this team
from a roster composition and takeaways from the first preseason
game that could impact the Ravens in the second preseason game.
Thank you for listening to Lounge. We're coming to you
from the Seat Geeks Studio. We also want our listeners
to know that this week the DraftKings Sportsbook, an official
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(14:42):
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or call one hundred. Gambler must be twenty one or
older to play. All right, so, Cliff, One of the
(15:04):
talking points coming out of the first preseason game was
Daniel Foulolele's particularly one bad rep where he gave up
a sack and ended up on the ground. Do the
Ravens have a right guard? Question now is you know,
does Ben Cleveland start to factor into that? In your opinion?
(15:25):
How does that first preseason game impact Daniel faull Le.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
I think it's something to watch. I definitely wouldn't say
it's a problem, but it is something to watch. Obviously,
that was not Daniel's best effort. He, I feel, is
still a young player who's developing, and it's not like
(15:49):
an eight or nine year vet who you've seen. You've seen,
you know what the full package is. Daniels still growing
as a right guard, and yes, I mean I feel
like he needs to play with more consistency heading into
the season. That's something you want to see. If we
see that, then don't I don't think that, you know,
(16:09):
anything is going to change. So it's really up to Daniel.
I think that you know, he he rose the occasion
last year, won the job. He needs to show that
same type of you know, at tentatives and consistency. That's
what they want both as a unit overall and from him.
So we'll see what happens. But I think it's something
(16:30):
to keep an eye on. Yes, I would say that.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah, I don't think that a tough preseason one tough
preseason outing is going to sour the Ravens on you know,
he was a full game, full season started last year.
He's been the guy throughout the whole offseason this year.
I don't think that like a bad rep that goes
(16:53):
makes the rounds on Twitter is changing the Ravens. Like
overall opinion of Daniel Folele, I agree with you. I
think like you got to you got to minimize those
kind of reps. That's the name of the game. Everybody's
gonna have them. You're gonna get beat, but you got
to minimize those. And I think for Daniel like that
that one just looks really bad too. It's not like
you just got beat and like it, you know, whatever happens,
(17:16):
like when you end up on your back as a
man that's as big as Daniel follolele and like not
moving your feet, well it can be it can look
like that. It's not good. And so he just needs
to work at minimizing those kind of reps. Because I
do think that he can be I think he can
be a really good player. I honestly do, and I
don't I'm not ready and I don't think Ravens coaches
(17:38):
are ready to say, you know what, we got to
make a change here. But to your point, like worth moditoring, also,
I think that he's got to continue to improve, all right,
What about the backup quarterback situation? Is tough tough day
for the Ravens passing the ball against the Colts forty
nine passing yards from Cooper Rush and Devin Leary. Is
(17:59):
there any concern for you kind of moving into this
about the backup quarterback situation or what not?
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Really? I mean, Cooper Rush has a proven NFL player.
I think that well, I don't think he is coming
into a new system. I feel that it's still his
comfort level. He could speak to his better than eye,
but maybe isn't one hundred percent as it will be
as he keeps getting more reps and obviously preseason games
(18:28):
they're showing very very little of the passing game. So
I think Cooper Rush, I'm not worried at all that
if something were to happen with Lamar that he's a
type of quarterback that can come in and win games
for He's already proven that in Dallas. Devin Leary younger player,
great arm strength, has thrown it into traffic during practice
(18:51):
since he's been here more often than coaches would like
to see, and you know saw you know, interception. That's
what he needs to eliminate. Yep. If he just if
Leary just stops, if he cuts down on his mistakes,
then obviously he'll improve. And he's got some other tools
that I could see him being a backup quarterback, if
(19:11):
not here, somewhere else. But yeah, the mistakes with him,
you know he needs sometimes and he may trust his
arm too much. He's got the gun to try and
squeeze things in there. But these guys are really good
and those windows close quickly.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
So that's what T Martin when he was talking about
Devon Leary before the preseason game, was saying, like, that's
what he was really happy to see throughout training camp.
And I agree. Last year as a rookie at Leary
was getting picked off way too much. This year, we've
seen a lot less of that. Honestly in practice. He
I think he's done a much better job protecting the football.
But then when you try to force one in in
(19:46):
a preseason game, you're like, oh, man, like you know,
you just hope that you're not reverting, you know, to
that in a game situation. So you know, John Harball
has been clear like he needs to play better than that.
Devin will the first one tell you just wasn't a
great performance. But he's another player that I think I'll
be watching in these preseason games. Of course, you know,
(20:09):
he the Ravens aren't gonna keep three quarterbacks on the
fifty three man roster anyway, It'll be a practice squad
spot for him. Really. More, I think I want to
see Cooper Rush play play well, you know, intercepted on
his first pass. It was really short, a really short
stint for him. He got sacked another time on the
folly a miss. Roger Rosegarden, by the way, also got
(20:30):
beat on that play. On that sack. It wasn't a
great ret for him either, just by the way, and
so u to me, especially in Dallas where he used
to play, it's more about the more important thing for
this team is that Cooper Rush play well, because they
quite you know, the Ravens invested, they invested in a
(20:51):
backup quarterback more this year than they have in recent years.
And with the expectation of like, Okay, you know we're
gonna we're we're banking on high quality backup play here,
and so I want to see Cooper kind of show that. Yeah,
he's ready for that.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Right, I mean, the Ravens are going for all the marbles, yep.
So if even Lamar's out for two three games, that
Cooper Rush performance could make the difference between you what
seed you on the playoffs, whether you win a division
or not.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Yeah, exactly make the play and yeah, which.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Which obviously leads to other things, improving or decreasing your
chance of the winning the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
To me, quite Frankly, it was like, all right, well,
you know, Josh Jahnson was getting another year older. Eventually,
you're gonna have to make a move. And to me,
spending money, the money that they Ravens spent to get
Cooper Rush was an indication of like they felt like
they have the team and even if they even in
which they do right to win it all, and like
(21:51):
even if Lamar were to go down I hate even
knock on Wood that like, we we feel like we
could be good enough to still win it all, and
we want to make sure that the most important position
like that we're good enough there, you know what I mean.
So that was what that move told me. So Cooper
Rush has got to prove, like yeah, that that they're
right in making that big of an investment in backup quarterback.
(22:15):
Onto the better kind of stuff moving forward is this
young pass rush and Mike Green. There's been a lot
of chatter about the rookie pass rusher since the first
preseason game, and the film Don't Lie, Mike Green was
bringing it. He looked really good, and honestly, watching it live,
(22:35):
I was I was have my eyes on forty five
and I was telling other people around I said, watch
forty five. This is this is a show right now,
and this this pass rush looks this it looks really good. Right.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
They've got obviously a lot of young players at that position.
And yeah, Mike Green, the relentlessness that he plays with
is to me what has impressed me the most so far.
I mean, yeah, he's down and he's got great bands
and he's quick, but I'm in he plays through the
whistle every play. I mean he yeah, he has a
different type motor. So he played well. You know, des Isaac,
(23:12):
David Ajabo, A lot of guys showed up with Oway
and kylev Annoid getting the night off, it was their
chance to bring some noise and they did so. Yes,
I mean imagine if that continues, then you know, Van
Noyen always coming off statistically their best seasons, but the
(23:33):
low won't be on them. It'll be a group thing.
If you have four or five pass brothers and it
doesn't really matter which ones are in the game a lot,
then that's real trouble for the opposition. So I was
glad to see all those guys play well. I think
they'll continue to get a lot of time in the preseason.
It's just something that you want to continue to see
(23:54):
keep going.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Yeah to me, for Mike Green, you know, the effort
and all that stuff, I think is great. I will
one play he actually he almost he got put on
the ground if you pop back up quicker getting the
quarterback ended up scrambling out to his side and kind
of got past him. I think probably when he watched
the film he was like, I should have had better
effort on that way, to be honest. The thing that
(24:15):
flashed the most to me is I think this is
the most talented rookie pass rusher the Ravens have had
in a very long time. I'm saying since Terrell Suggs,
Peter bull Ware, those guys, the Ravens have drafted good
edge rushers who have developed into great players. Zidarius right,
I mean I think of Paul Krueger even you know,
(24:38):
eventually became that kind of guy pronoun with the whatever
like they Judon, you know, I mean Judon had like
a pretty good rookie year, but developed better, get developed
right and like oh way right, first round pick, like
he pretty solid rookie year, developed, kept getting better, like
they've developed, drafted and developed these guys. To me of
(24:58):
all those names I just meant, and I'm sure I'm
missing some guys. Mike Green's the most talented out of
all of those guys as a rookie coming in the
like right now, where he is the most polished, the moves,
the athleticism, I mean, and you're talking I always an
athletic dude, Mike Green. From a ben perspective, his ability
(25:22):
to drop his weight and bend that turn that corner
and bend is pretty special. I think as a rookie
coming in, he is the most talented guy since probably
twelve Suggs. And if you're talking pure moves and all that,
Suggs was a physical freak. I don't know. He bullied people. Mike, Yeah,
(25:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
I think Mike's pretty talented. You're looking at me like
I'm crazy. I think this He's pretty darn talented.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
When you talking Sugs now, I mean, yeah, they're different
type players, And.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Yeah, Sugs is like a bigger like he just different type.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Yeah, but Sugs like Green has shown in a small
sample times Suggs when the game started, Yeah, things started
happening all the time. Suggs was an unusual player in
a lot of ways, sure, for his body so smart, right, yeah,
I mean yeah, that's kind of my face. I mean
(26:18):
sugs right now, you're talking real all right, So I'm not.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Gonna put them above sugs. I'm not gonna put them
above sugs right now, I think I don't want to
get carried away. But outside of sugs and and Buoyar,
Boyar was pretty darn special too when he first came
into the league. I think Mike Green's right there from
what I see from a talent perspective immediately. And the
moves that was the other thing I thought from the game.
(26:42):
The assortment of different moves that he's using trying you know,
that is pretty rare I think for.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
A rookie, right, And obviously the players is the credit,
but I think we give a shout out to Chuck
Smith too, sure, I mean he he really, to me,
has done a terrific job with all of the rays
and ray his pass rushers since he got here. Yep.
And well, when you talk about moves, that's one of
his things, like have some sing you should have a
signature move or two that you can go to that
(27:10):
people are gonna have problems with. And when you're working
with the guys down at the green who already came here.
To me, I agree with you that he's already coming
here in an NFL looks like with things a lot
of pass rushers don't have, yep, yep.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
The other thing that I liked, just overall in stepping
back and looking at that first preseason game was Pro
Football Focus came out with their week one preseason rankings
of like how they're they compile all their grades and
compare them between teams. The Ravens were ranked first in tackling,
second in defense, fourth and run defense right like some
(27:45):
of those. I mean, that's the top of the heap
right there. I love first and tackling, Like that's what
I see from this defense is I'm honestly seeing a
defense playing with that kind of we talked about earlier, swagger,
run into the foot ball, hustle like, I just see
it from this defense, and we didn't have a lot
of the starters out there.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Well, the bar there has been said very high when
Marlons talking about the two thousand Ravens defense, that's the standard.
If that's true, then yes, you're supposed to be a
team that tackles well and moved and has four or
five guys flying to the ball. And John Harball's talked about,
you know, wanting to be one of the best teams,
the best team and getting bodies of the football so
(28:28):
even if you do miss a tackle, there's somebody right
behind you to clean things up. So yeah, I mean,
I agree that the Ravens defense on paper looks like
it can be special. It's just a matter of transferring
it to the field.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
But that's that's kind of my point is, like I
think they are transferring it to the field. Now we're
in the preseason. We haven't kicked off a regular season game,
so like, but but we're here to evaluate how it
looks in training camping in the preseason, and I'm here,
it looks really good. And like the stats, stats and
air quotes, these rankings, they're showing it, like, Yeah, it
(29:07):
looked great on paper before training camp started, and I
think we all said, like, this defense can be really good,
and off the paper it's looking really good. Like I
think it's I think it's coming together. I think the
vision for the Ravens defense and what they want to
see is coming together.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
I agree with that. I think definitely too. The run
defense is going to be a key that is. I mean,
if they.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
Saw in the joint practice it kind of got gashed
a little.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Bit of Yeah, and Jonathan Taylor is the heck of
a back. Yeah, and to me, he kind of took
advantage of their pursuit. He's patient enough and confident enough
that he can wait for them to react, then he
goes the other way. Matda Bigey talked about that. So
when you're facing those type of backs, that's when you
really see how good are we against the run. So
(29:54):
if that comes together and the Raves are consistently putting
teams in second and nine, you know, third they eat,
they're gonna.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Eat right with this pass rush, I agree.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
So, but I do think the run defense, which at
times wasn't what the Ravens wanted last year.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
Well it was number one in the league, it was,
but maybe yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Yeah, Well it's gonna be one double one. Yeah sure
if you just look at the numbers. But even the
Buffalo playoff game, I don't think they shut them down.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Oh yeah, it was not great in that game.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Yeah, And that's again, in those type situations, that's when
you want it to be yep, number one that I
can make the difference between you winning Super Bowl, moving
on the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Or not completely agree. Well, another fun week of training
camp ahead, capped by a preseason trip to Dallas on
Saturday night. We're gonna get a player interview for you
this week and have lots more coverage of course, make
sure you're subscribe, leave us a rating and review, thank
you for listening, and we'll be back later this week.
Welcome into Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink here
with Cliffton Brown, and we are going to talk about
some of the updated roster competitions, how things have changed
from what we saw at the beginning of training camp,
as well as some other news and notes items from
the first preseason game and what we want to see
moving forward into this Dallas second preseason game. So Cliff,
(00:29):
let's start here. Kind of the news of the weekend
was that the Ravens unfortunately put two rookie cornerbacks on
injured reserve and already the kind of mantra of you
can never have too many corners as being put to
the test, yes, and so Robert longerbeam six round corner,
and Balao Cone, another six round rookie corner who fans
(00:51):
saw injured in the preseason game, both placed on IR.
The Ravens signed MJ. Devonshire to the fifty three man
n s. They also signed a running back, Miles Gaskin,
because they are dealing with some bumps and bruises also
running back right now, but looking specifically at cornerback, Cliff,
(01:12):
how do you feel those injuries and placing two rookies impacts,
placing them on our impacts the fifty three.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Well, we don't know how big of a role both
those corners would have had, but looking at the total picture,
it definitely puts more of a premium now on other
players to stay healthy. Both of those rookies longer being
k could have had a role on special teams at
the very least. Who knows, with other injuries, or if
(01:41):
they played well enough, maybe they would have snuck in
somewhere in the rotation, because the Ravens do like to
play a lot of different combinations at corner and also
a safety. But you know, I feel badly for them
because young players have just set them back. You know,
they lost their rookie season and now in the bigger picture,
you know, if there are more injuries to some of
(02:02):
the veteran corners, it thins, it just stands it out
a little bit, so something you don't want to see.
It really shows you how quickly things can change, and
I think that it makes it even more important that
the Ravens went out, you know, and really beefed up
the corner position in the offseason, not just with the draft,
but with the veterans. They signed because it can get
(02:25):
thin really quick. Jea.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
You're Alexander obviously in Chidoh Woozie. Seeing this two veteran signings,
I think from a fifty three man roster perspective, I
don't know that it has a profound impact because you
look at it, they really had a logjam. I don't
know that a roster spot for bk or Robert long
Mean was a guarantee, certainly, and so you look at
(02:49):
it right now, I mean of the corners that are
gonna see snaps in games, especially defensively, Let's just say,
right you have Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, jay U, Alexander,
and Chiatou Wouzie. Those are your top four guys. It's
pretty well, No's that's solid. Then at five, I think
(03:10):
Jalen armor Davis and the way he's played in the
preseason game, the way he's practicing if he can stay healthy,
which you know, we talked to him over the weekend
on Saturday, and he talked about how he's doing more
intentional things to take care of his body, you know,
off the field, away from the game, Like it feels
like he has a very good plan for staying healthy
this year. So that's great news because I think he's
(03:32):
always been a talented guy who can just flat out
cover people. And if he can stay healthy, plus his
position versatility, he can play a little safety. You can
play corner, you know. Zach Worr said that he knows
every position on the defense in the secondary, and so
to me, Jalen armor Davis, especially in light of these
two injuries to the rookie quarnerbacks, may have locked up
(03:54):
his fifty three man Roger spot looks pretty cemented to me.
So that's five, and then TJ tamp it would be six.
It's like, how many corners can you really keep? I
don't think you could have kept eight corners on the
fifty three man roster, right, so if you're at six
with Tampa. But I think Tampa also his chances of
making the fifty three improved. And now if you want
(04:17):
to keep seven, somebody like a Ruben Lowry, Marquise Robinson,
one of these undrafted rookies. I think the injuries to
BK and Robert Longerbeam cracked the door upen more for
those guys.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Yeah, i'd be Lowry is that obviously an outstanding summer
and definitely has put himself squarely in the player who
could make the roster of conversation. Yes, for sure, and yeah,
I agree with your assessment about the top six. So
I'm not going to repeat what you just said, but
(04:52):
I will say that now, you know, we're only one
preseason game in. We've still got two more season games
a lot of practices. But between now and week one,
hopefully everyone stays healthy, but if not, then the picture
is gonna change even more. So again, I wasn't expecting
(05:14):
both six round picks to be seasoned over after one week.
So now, even though it may not affect a big picture,
there's a little more I don't know. I'm not gonna
say concerned, but there's a little more thinking that. Boy,
I hope, I hope everyone else. I hope we're done
with the corner corner. It's just because now if there's
(05:36):
more injuries, then you're gonna start talking about people who
you weren't maybe expecting to play as much playing more.
And it is a good sign that both jyl armor
Davis and Tampa have played well because they still have
a lot of talent at that position.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, I agree. The other guy, Devonshire, you know, would
be in that conversation, whether he you know, obviously signed,
you're signed midway through training camp, you're at a disadvantage
to guys who have been here a whole summer. But
he would be another person in that conversation. The other
thing I'll add with Ruben Lowry is, you know, there's
he's been playing corner end safety, so there's a little
position flexibility there where if you were to keep him,
(06:14):
Let's say everybody stays healthy at corner for the rand
or of the preseason and you keep Lowry as a
seventh corner slash safety kind of like Ardarius Washington has
been over his career. You know, maybe he helps. Do
you keep three true safeties Let's say Kyle Hamilton, Malachi Starks,
(06:35):
and then Snoocy Kane and then Ruben Lowry you could
take that fourth safety spot plus at give you a
little bit more depth at corner. I don't think it's impossible.
Bo Braid is also competing, you know, to make the
fifty three is that kind of third slash fourth safety.
And I think he's flash too. I think he led
the team and tackles in preseason one, so you know,
(06:58):
I think Bo's doing a good job. But it's something
I think Ruben's versatility helps him out. He reminds me
so much of Ardarius when he made the team. I mean,
here's a short statued guy who just has a nose
for the football and this position flexibility. So like, I
don't know, it's interesting. All right, let's move on to
left guard. That was probably the number one competition entering
(07:21):
training camp. Andrew Voorhees is, you know, was the guy
who started the first preseason game against the Colts. Do
you see any change there between he and Ben Cleveland?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
I don't. I'd be very surprised if Andrew Voorhees is
not the starting left guard. If he's healthy, I would
expect that. Maybe I'll even be announced soon that. I
don't think there's really any mystery there. He's played well.
He won a starting job last year before he got hurt. Yep,
So he's built on that to me and has done
nothing to lose that position. Okay.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Kicker Tyler Loop, you know, went one of two in
the preseason one game. John Harball said the miss does
not change his opinion of Tyler Loop, and it was
good to see him bounce back and make a long
feel goal after missing one, So how do you And
right now he's the only kicker on the roster, so
it's pretty darn clear who's leading there for the job.
(08:16):
Kind of how do you assess Tyler Loop and the
kicking situation.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
I feel good about it. I just feel that there's
going to be other challenges ahead that he's going to
have to pass because he's going through all of this
for the first time. Yeh. But up to this point
he's handled everything very well. I do agree with coach
Haarball that it was important to see him bounce back
after missing that first one, and that's part of what
lies ahead. He's not going to make every kick he's
(08:42):
going to just think of every stadium he goes to
is new. There's going to be game winning big kicks
that do you want to want him to make? If
he misses them, he's got to respond. The mental aspect
is as important to me with the kicker as the physical. Oh,
he's got a big leg, he's got excellent coaches working
(09:03):
with him, and he works really hard. So the town
is there to me. The only remaining question is, yes,
how's he going to handle the ups and downs of
the season. But up to this point, I do feel
good about it.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
I think that he's the guy. I think they're gonna ride.
I think they're gonna ride the ups and downs, and
you have to know that there's gonna be some downs.
He's not gonna be perfect as a rookie. But I
think he's the guy. I think they've like he's shown
them enough both from you know, his his work ethic,
the way he purchased a game obvious talent, the way
you know mentally, you know, bouncing back from missus, bouncing
(09:37):
back from tough days here in training camp and then
coming back and being perfect next day, and quite frankly,
in practice he's hitting ninety some low nineties percentage of
his field goals. Like that is extremely good. And so
I think he's the guy. I think they're just going
to ride it out and like that's what it is, right,
all right? So moving on returner. Punt returner was a
(10:01):
big competition coming into training camp and one that you
know kind of flies under the radar, but it's an
important position. Well, Jonty Western kind of you know, he
stake disclaimed for the job. You think you think that
one's over or what.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Yes, if that's not enough to win the job. Then
what else can he do? I mean, he you know, electric,
and I agree with everything you know the coaches say
about catching the ball's number one priority. But he looks
very comfortable doing it, and he's aggressive catching the ball.
I like the way that he is willing to move
up to catch the ball, won't let it bounce. The
(10:38):
Ravens led too many puns hit the ground last year.
Cast some field position, and then obviously what he does
once he catches the ball. He has the ability to
take it to the house at any time. And you
give the Ravens offense more short fields, better position field
position they had last season, that means they'll probably be
more explosive. I mean, so, yes, it's really been impressive
(11:01):
to me how confidently he's played as a rookie. But
you know, it's fun talking to him after the game.
He does not lack confidence.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
No, he's got that South Florida swag to him, the.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
South Florida flat swag. He's been around Deon Sanders a lot,
which you know will help your confidence. He coveted guy somewhat, so,
but hey, if you can back it up, which both
Dion backed, I think, Yeah, that's one of that's part
of Dion's secret sauce is that you give him a
player with talent, he'll give him the mojo. And yeah,
(11:36):
this kid's got it.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, I agree. Yeah, I think that's perfectly said. He's
got it. He's got something a little special about him
and uh and I like the way that he just
confidently comes up and gets that ball. You know, the
last year we did not see that down the stretch
and that makes a big difference. All right, last one
for you, Cliff Rashena Lee had the long kickoff return
(12:01):
against the Colts, and you know, I think that he's
looked certainly better than he did as a rookie here
in chain camp practice. This is running ball. Well, any chance,
I mean, Keith Mitchell, we've raved about all offseason. Any
chance of Rashina Lee could steal a fourth running back spot.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
There's a chance, but I say slim. They're so deep
and again it'll come down, as it always does when
you get down to those last two or three spots.
What's happening in another position has nothing to do with
running back could determine whether he makes it or not.
He certainly, as you mentioned, he's an improved player. To me,
he's an NFL player. But if you're ranking running back
(12:43):
rooms around the NFL, I mean I would think the
raven is a number one when you go three deep.
So this is the toughest prode, the toughest running back
room for young player to make. Yep. So it's no
reflection on him if he doesn't make it. I still
think that the chance of a slim But again, knock
(13:04):
on wood, if there were an injury at that position,
then he certainly would be a guy. Instead of thinking, well,
we've got to go out and get somebody, he's showing that, hey,
we have somebody right here who could do the job well.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
I think everybody also knows. Young players also know that
when you when you step on the field in preseason games,
you're not just trying to make your team's fifty three
man roster. You're trying to make a teams a team's
fifty three man roster. Everybody's watching the tape around the
league and Rashe and Lee. You know, if it doesn't
work here in Baltimore, you hope for him that it
(13:37):
could work somewhere else. You know, I'm sure the Ravens
would love him to continue to develop here and you know,
whether that be on the practice squad or whatnot. But
like we've seen other running backs, Tyler Bady, you know,
other guys go to other teams and have Bobby Rainey,
you know, comes to mind, and so obviously I would
love to see Rasheen continue to develop here in Baltimore.
(13:58):
But the Ravens also just signed Derek Henry to an extension.
Justice still got one last season. Geat Mitchell's in year three,
So we'll see. But I think that that's if he
continues to make more plays in preseason two and three,
he's gonna have some interested parties.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
We'll have a job somewhere he passes the eye test exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
All right, we'll take a break, and when we come back,
we're gonna talk about some other aspects of this team
from a roster composition and takeaways from the first preseason
game that could impact the Ravens in the second preseason game.
Thank you for listening to Lounge. We're coming to you
from the Seat Geeks Studio. We also want our listeners
to know that this week the DraftKings Sportsbook, an official
sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens has a limited
(14:42):
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at DraftKings Sports Book with promo code flock. Please play
responsibly and for help visit Marylyn Gambling heelp dot org
or call one hundred. Gambler must be twenty one or
older to play. All right, so, Cliff, One of the
(15:04):
talking points coming out of the first preseason game was
Daniel Foulolele's particularly one bad rep where he gave up
a sack and ended up on the ground. Do the
Ravens have a right guard? Question now is you know,
does Ben Cleveland start to factor into that? In your opinion?
(15:25):
How does that first preseason game impact Daniel faull Le.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
I think it's something to watch. I definitely wouldn't say
it's a problem, but it is something to watch. Obviously,
that was not Daniel's best effort. He, I feel, is
still a young player who's developing, and it's not like
(15:49):
an eight or nine year vet who you've seen. You've seen,
you know what the full package is. Daniels still growing
as a right guard, and yes, I mean I feel
like he needs to play with more consistency heading into
the season. That's something you want to see. If we
see that, then don't I don't think that, you know,
(16:09):
anything is going to change. So it's really up to Daniel.
I think that you know, he he rose the occasion
last year, won the job. He needs to show that
same type of you know, at tentatives and consistency. That's
what they want both as a unit overall and from him.
So we'll see what happens. But I think it's something
(16:30):
to keep an eye on. Yes, I would say that.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah, I don't think that a tough preseason one tough
preseason outing is going to sour the Ravens on you know,
he was a full game, full season started last year.
He's been the guy throughout the whole offseason this year.
I don't think that like a bad rep that goes
(16:53):
makes the rounds on Twitter is changing the Ravens. Like
overall opinion of Daniel Folele, I agree with you. I
think like you got to you got to minimize those
kind of reps. That's the name of the game. Everybody's
gonna have them. You're gonna get beat, but you got
to minimize those. And I think for Daniel like that
that one just looks really bad too. It's not like
you just got beat and like it, you know, whatever happens,
(17:16):
like when you end up on your back as a
man that's as big as Daniel follolele and like not
moving your feet, well it can be it can look
like that. It's not good. And so he just needs
to work at minimizing those kind of reps. Because I
do think that he can be I think he can
be a really good player. I honestly do, and I
don't I'm not ready and I don't think Ravens coaches
(17:38):
are ready to say, you know what, we got to
make a change here. But to your point, like worth moditoring, also,
I think that he's got to continue to improve, all right,
What about the backup quarterback situation? Is tough tough day
for the Ravens passing the ball against the Colts forty
nine passing yards from Cooper Rush and Devin Leary. Is
(17:59):
there any concern for you kind of moving into this
about the backup quarterback situation or what not?
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Really? I mean, Cooper Rush has a proven NFL player.
I think that well, I don't think he is coming
into a new system. I feel that it's still his
comfort level. He could speak to his better than eye,
but maybe isn't one hundred percent as it will be
as he keeps getting more reps and obviously preseason games
(18:28):
they're showing very very little of the passing game. So
I think Cooper Rush, I'm not worried at all that
if something were to happen with Lamar that he's a
type of quarterback that can come in and win games
for He's already proven that in Dallas. Devin Leary younger player,
great arm strength, has thrown it into traffic during practice
(18:51):
since he's been here more often than coaches would like
to see, and you know saw you know, interception. That's
what he needs to eliminate. Yep. If he just if
Leary just stops, if he cuts down on his mistakes,
then obviously he'll improve. And he's got some other tools
that I could see him being a backup quarterback, if
(19:11):
not here, somewhere else. But yeah, the mistakes with him,
you know he needs sometimes and he may trust his
arm too much. He's got the gun to try and
squeeze things in there. But these guys are really good
and those windows close quickly.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
So that's what T Martin when he was talking about
Devon Leary before the preseason game, was saying, like, that's
what he was really happy to see throughout training camp.
And I agree. Last year as a rookie at Leary
was getting picked off way too much. This year, we've
seen a lot less of that. Honestly in practice. He
I think he's done a much better job protecting the football.
But then when you try to force one in in
(19:46):
a preseason game, you're like, oh, man, like you know,
you just hope that you're not reverting, you know, to
that in a game situation. So you know, John Harball
has been clear like he needs to play better than that.
Devin will the first one tell you just wasn't a
great performance. But he's another player that I think I'll
be watching in these preseason games. Of course, you know,
(20:09):
he the Ravens aren't gonna keep three quarterbacks on the
fifty three man roster anyway, It'll be a practice squad
spot for him. Really. More, I think I want to
see Cooper Rush play play well, you know, intercepted on
his first pass. It was really short, a really short
stint for him. He got sacked another time on the
folly a miss. Roger Rosegarden, by the way, also got
(20:30):
beat on that play. On that sack. It wasn't a
great ret for him either, just by the way, and
so u to me, especially in Dallas where he used
to play, it's more about the more important thing for
this team is that Cooper Rush play well, because they
quite you know, the Ravens invested, they invested in a
(20:51):
backup quarterback more this year than they have in recent years.
And with the expectation of like, Okay, you know we're
gonna we're we're banking on high quality backup play here,
and so I want to see Cooper kind of show that. Yeah,
he's ready for that.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Right, I mean, the Ravens are going for all the marbles, yep.
So if even Lamar's out for two three games, that
Cooper Rush performance could make the difference between you what
seed you on the playoffs, whether you win a division
or not.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Yeah, exactly make the play and yeah, which.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Which obviously leads to other things, improving or decreasing your
chance of the winning the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
To me, quite Frankly, it was like, all right, well,
you know, Josh Jahnson was getting another year older. Eventually,
you're gonna have to make a move. And to me,
spending money, the money that they Ravens spent to get
Cooper Rush was an indication of like they felt like
they have the team and even if they even in
which they do right to win it all, and like
(21:51):
even if Lamar were to go down I hate even
knock on Wood that like, we we feel like we
could be good enough to still win it all, and
we want to make sure that the most important position
like that we're good enough there, you know what I mean.
So that was what that move told me. So Cooper
Rush has got to prove, like yeah, that that they're
right in making that big of an investment in backup quarterback.
(22:15):
Onto the better kind of stuff moving forward is this
young pass rush and Mike Green. There's been a lot
of chatter about the rookie pass rusher since the first
preseason game, and the film Don't Lie, Mike Green was
bringing it. He looked really good, and honestly, watching it live,
(22:35):
I was I was have my eyes on forty five
and I was telling other people around I said, watch
forty five. This is this is a show right now,
and this this pass rush looks this it looks really good. Right.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
They've got obviously a lot of young players at that position.
And yeah, Mike Green, the relentlessness that he plays with
is to me what has impressed me the most so far.
I mean, yeah, he's down and he's got great bands
and he's quick, but I'm in he plays through the
whistle every play. I mean he yeah, he has a
different type motor. So he played well. You know, des Isaac,
(23:12):
David Ajabo, A lot of guys showed up with Oway
and kylev Annoid getting the night off, it was their
chance to bring some noise and they did so. Yes,
I mean imagine if that continues, then you know, Van
Noyen always coming off statistically their best seasons, but the
(23:33):
low won't be on them. It'll be a group thing.
If you have four or five pass brothers and it
doesn't really matter which ones are in the game a lot,
then that's real trouble for the opposition. So I was
glad to see all those guys play well. I think
they'll continue to get a lot of time in the preseason.
It's just something that you want to continue to see
(23:54):
keep going.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Yeah to me, for Mike Green, you know, the effort
and all that stuff, I think is great. I will
one play he actually he almost he got put on
the ground if you pop back up quicker getting the
quarterback ended up scrambling out to his side and kind
of got past him. I think probably when he watched
the film he was like, I should have had better
effort on that way, to be honest. The thing that
(24:15):
flashed the most to me is I think this is
the most talented rookie pass rusher the Ravens have had
in a very long time. I'm saying since Terrell Suggs,
Peter bull Ware, those guys, the Ravens have drafted good
edge rushers who have developed into great players. Zidarius right,
I mean I think of Paul Krueger even you know,
(24:38):
eventually became that kind of guy pronoun with the whatever
like they Judon, you know, I mean Judon had like
a pretty good rookie year, but developed better, get developed
right and like oh way right, first round pick, like
he pretty solid rookie year, developed, kept getting better, like
they've developed, drafted and developed these guys. To me of
(24:58):
all those names I just meant, and I'm sure I'm
missing some guys. Mike Green's the most talented out of
all of those guys as a rookie coming in the
like right now, where he is the most polished, the moves,
the athleticism, I mean, and you're talking I always an
athletic dude, Mike Green. From a ben perspective, his ability
(25:22):
to drop his weight and bend that turn that corner
and bend is pretty special. I think as a rookie
coming in, he is the most talented guy since probably
twelve Suggs. And if you're talking pure moves and all that,
Suggs was a physical freak. I don't know. He bullied people. Mike, Yeah,
(25:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
I think Mike's pretty talented. You're looking at me like
I'm crazy. I think this He's pretty darn talented.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
When you talking Sugs now, I mean, yeah, they're different
type players, And.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Yeah, Sugs is like a bigger like he just different type.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Yeah, but Sugs like Green has shown in a small
sample times Suggs when the game started, Yeah, things started
happening all the time. Suggs was an unusual player in
a lot of ways, sure, for his body so smart, right, yeah,
I mean yeah, that's kind of my face. I mean
(26:18):
sugs right now, you're talking real all right, So I'm not.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Gonna put them above sugs. I'm not gonna put them
above sugs right now, I think I don't want to
get carried away. But outside of sugs and and Buoyar,
Boyar was pretty darn special too when he first came
into the league. I think Mike Green's right there from
what I see from a talent perspective immediately. And the
moves that was the other thing I thought from the game.
(26:42):
The assortment of different moves that he's using trying you know,
that is pretty rare I think for.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
A rookie, right, And obviously the players is the credit,
but I think we give a shout out to Chuck
Smith too, sure, I mean he he really, to me,
has done a terrific job with all of the rays
and ray his pass rushers since he got here. Yep.
And well, when you talk about moves, that's one of
his things, like have some sing you should have a
signature move or two that you can go to that
(27:10):
people are gonna have problems with. And when you're working
with the guys down at the green who already came here.
To me, I agree with you that he's already coming
here in an NFL looks like with things a lot
of pass rushers don't have, yep, yep.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
The other thing that I liked, just overall in stepping
back and looking at that first preseason game was Pro
Football Focus came out with their week one preseason rankings
of like how they're they compile all their grades and
compare them between teams. The Ravens were ranked first in tackling,
second in defense, fourth and run defense right like some
(27:45):
of those. I mean, that's the top of the heap
right there. I love first and tackling, Like that's what
I see from this defense is I'm honestly seeing a
defense playing with that kind of we talked about earlier, swagger,
run into the foot ball, hustle like, I just see
it from this defense, and we didn't have a lot
of the starters out there.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Well, the bar there has been said very high when
Marlons talking about the two thousand Ravens defense, that's the standard.
If that's true, then yes, you're supposed to be a
team that tackles well and moved and has four or
five guys flying to the ball. And John Harball's talked about,
you know, wanting to be one of the best teams,
the best team and getting bodies of the football so
(28:28):
even if you do miss a tackle, there's somebody right
behind you to clean things up. So yeah, I mean,
I agree that the Ravens defense on paper looks like
it can be special. It's just a matter of transferring
it to the field.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
But that's that's kind of my point is, like I
think they are transferring it to the field. Now we're
in the preseason. We haven't kicked off a regular season game,
so like, but but we're here to evaluate how it
looks in training camping in the preseason, and I'm here,
it looks really good. And like the stats, stats and
air quotes, these rankings, they're showing it, like, Yeah, it
(29:07):
looked great on paper before training camp started, and I
think we all said, like, this defense can be really good,
and off the paper it's looking really good. Like I
think it's I think it's coming together. I think the
vision for the Ravens defense and what they want to
see is coming together.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
I agree with that. I think definitely too. The run
defense is going to be a key that is. I mean,
if they.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
Saw in the joint practice it kind of got gashed
a little.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Bit of Yeah, and Jonathan Taylor is the heck of
a back. Yeah, and to me, he kind of took
advantage of their pursuit. He's patient enough and confident enough
that he can wait for them to react, then he
goes the other way. Matda Bigey talked about that. So
when you're facing those type of backs, that's when you
really see how good are we against the run. So
(29:54):
if that comes together and the Raves are consistently putting
teams in second and nine, you know, third they eat,
they're gonna.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Eat right with this pass rush, I agree.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
So, but I do think the run defense, which at
times wasn't what the Ravens wanted last year.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
Well it was number one in the league, it was,
but maybe yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Yeah, Well it's gonna be one double one. Yeah sure
if you just look at the numbers. But even the
Buffalo playoff game, I don't think they shut them down.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Oh yeah, it was not great in that game.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Yeah, And that's again, in those type situations, that's when
you want it to be yep, number one that I
can make the difference between you winning Super Bowl, moving
on the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Or not completely agree. Well, another fun week of training
camp ahead, capped by a preseason trip to Dallas on
Saturday night. We're gonna get a player interview for you
this week and have lots more coverage of course, make
sure you're subscribe, leave us a rating and review, thank
you for listening, and we'll be back later this week.
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