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December 3, 2022 18 mins
On this episode of "The Snap," Sydney Jones is joined by Baltimore Ravens social media manager and digital host Cassie Calvert to discuss the threat that Lamar Jackson poses this Sunday, the Ravens run defense and who she wants to see step up for Baltimore this weekend. Calvert also details her role with the Ravens, her favorite part about the job and more. Want more of "The Snap"? Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher or wherever you find your podcasts. Make sure to leave a rating and review.

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, this scorning the Sudden. Hey listen, Tim Patrick. Are

(00:02):
you listening to The Snap with Sidney Dones on Broncos
Podcast Network Year What's the Broncos Country? Welcome back inside
the uc Hell Training Center for another episode of The Snap.
As always, I'm your host, Sidney Jones, and this week
thirteen of the regular season. Here in the Denver Broncos
are back in the road as they're set to face
the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday at M and T Bank Stadium.

(00:25):
So joining me for this week's episode up the Snap
to take a look at this matchup is Ravens social
media manager and digital host Cassie Calvert. Cassie, so nice
to see you again. Thanks so much for joining me today.
I'm so excited. Thank you for having me. I'm excited
for this game. This weekend we were talking, I mean
a little chilly here in Baltimore, but that's nothing Denver
isn't customed to, so it should be good. Yeah, it'll

(00:47):
be nice and warm for us. I'm excited to head
to Baltimore. You know, it's hard to believe it's already
week thirteen of the season. You know, how how's this
season been going over there for you guys in Baltimore. Yeah,
it's it's sady. This season goes by so quickly. You know.
The Ravens have kind of been on a good street
here recently. Obviously, they took a tough loss in Jacksonville
this past Sunday, but overall have won four out of

(01:08):
their last five. I think they kind of felt going
into this season that the first half the season was
going to be really challenging and so kind of hoping
to build on that momentum going forward as they feel
like the last the second half the season could be
a little stronger for them. However, that was not the
case this Sunday in Jacksonville. I think, um, you know,
the red the red zone offense has been a sticking

(01:28):
point of late, you know, game penalty, delay of game penalties,
just getting a play calls in faster. That was a
big point of emphasis coming out of the game Sunday,
and obviously the Bronclists have a very strong red zone defense,
so that was a big talking point all week long,
both from our offensive coordinator Gregg Roman to head coach
John Harball. I think that's something that they're definitely focused
on this week. You mentioned that, you know, tough loss

(01:51):
in Jacksonville this past weekend. I know the Ravens are
seven and four heading into this matchup, but what's kind
of been the mood or really the energy in the
locker room this week now as they're getting ready to
face the Bronco's here. Yeah, I think the sentiment was,
you know, you don't let a game beat you twice.
You know that's a veteran plays Campbell obviously it's spent
time in Jacksonville said after the game. Sunday was a
little more personal for him obviously, But I think the

(02:11):
Ravens feel like they're in a good place. You know,
we've got some key pieces back at practice to speak.
We were without left left tackle All Pro Ronnie Stanley
this past Sunday and he was at practice this week.
You know, Rookie safety Kyle Hamilton's also returning to practice
this week. We were without him and Isaiah Likely as
rookie Titan on Sunday, So hoping to get some big
pieces back. Marcus Williams, um starting safety, is also returned

(02:33):
to practice. He we're not expecting him to play this Sunday,
but hoping to kind of get healthy as the season
rolls on. They also had running back j K. Dobbins
returned to practice again as he kind of ramps back up,
and Gus Edwards was back in action for the first
time this past Sunday, so kind of building him up
there too. So it feels like, you know, this team
is getting healthy again at the right time. And so
I think that this roster really feels that as they

(02:54):
kind of get pieces back and start to gel. You know,
we just added Roquan Smith a few weeks ago, right
before the tree deadline, and he's obviously been a huge
piece to this Ravens defense. UM really jelled immediately, and
so I think kind of as he starts to get
more accustomed to this defense, UM more into the playbook.
You know, I think that that will continue to prosper
for the Raven's defense. Looking at the injury report, you know,

(03:17):
I saw quarterback Lamar Jackson. He was limited earlier in
the week with that quad injury. I know, he was
back to a full participant on Thursday. He's good to go. Yeah,
I think I don't think we're worried. You know, he's
scheduled to talk to the media today, so that's always
a good time. You know, we don't like to put
guys on podium if we're a little nervous about their
games that as you know, he's just popped up on
the injury part a few times this season and has

(03:37):
always ended up playing on Sundays. You know, they're really
careful with him. Obviously, he takes a lot of hits.
You know, that's been a talking point throughout his career,
so they are protective of him during the practice week
if there is anything flaring up. But I think, yeah,
I think we all expect to see him Sunday. Well, Cassie,
we all know just how talented Lamar Jackson is. I mean,
such a dynamic quarterback with such a unique skill set.

(03:58):
I know it's going to be a really tough to
ask the Sunday for this Broncos defense to try and
slow him down, but because he would have been just
your overall thoughts of Lamar's performance so far this season, Yeah,
like you mentioned, it's just it's just more fun when
Lamar Jackson is on the field. You know, he's without
his top five fever, Yes, exactly, and it's funny, like
we I love when we have ards evens the players
miked up and they're sitting on the bench when Lamar's

(04:19):
just going on some crazy run. They're like, Wow, I'm
so glad I don't have to block their I don't
have to play against that guy, line up against him
every day. They're like, we see enough of him in
practice every week. Um, but yeah, I mean, he's just
a dynamic playmaker. I think, you know, I think he's
been frustrated with his performance in the red zone. Like
I mentioned before, you know, that's definitely a focus this week.
You know, we did have some technical issues this past
Sunday with just him being able to hear the play

(04:40):
calls and the headsets and all of that, and so
you know, I think that's something they're definitely focused on
this week. He wants to be more efficient there. He's
not happy when Justin Tucker is four for four on
field goals in the red zone. He wants you want
six every time he's down there. And he would be
the first to say that, like he that definitely frustrates him.
You know, he loved winning. Um, He's very motivated, and
so I think that definitely got to him this past Sunday.

(05:01):
But you know, he when he's on the field, you know,
he elevates the play of the guys around him. And
like I mentioned before, you know he is without his
top bide receiver right now, Shod Bateman going on season ending,
I R and so kind of getting building chemistry with
these new pieces we've added. DeShawn Jackson saw actually so
I had a big game this past week. You know,
getting him involved in some of those deep plays down
the field really help open things up for Lamar as well.

(05:23):
You know, he loves his tight ends. Mark Andrews has
always been up there, and we started to see Josh
Oliver breakout. He had probably one of the best games
with his career this past Sunday. Um, the rookie Titan
Isaiah like they mentioned before, another t piece in that
tight end room. So he loves those. He loves those
tight ends. So I think kind of as he gets
those guys back, gets a little more familiar with guys
like Sean Jackson, DeMarcus Robinson who joined the team in August. UM,

(05:46):
kind of getting all those pieces together that will continue
to improve going forward. Yeah, I could chack at joke
this week. A reporter asked him in one of his
press conferences, how he tries to stimulate Jackson's simulating Lamar Jackson.
How do you how do you prepare that we did
a photo gallery one year. I think of all the
people that people put as Lamar Jackson in practice that season,

(06:07):
and it's it's hysterical, like trying to combine different skill sets.
You know, He's obviously one of the kind um and
I think the Ravens is really fortunate to have him obviously. Yeah,
well you mentioned Sean Jackson. I know he was a
bright spot for the Ravens this past Sunday, you know,
had that sixty two yard reception. How do you hope
to see him in Lamar You kind of touched on this,
but really continue to build that chemistry and see Deshaun

(06:30):
continue to build off that game this past weekend. Yeah, definitely.
I think the big takeaway from this past Sunday was
he still has that speed. You know, he just celebrated
a birthday this week. Obviously, he's our season bet. In
a very young wide receiver room, I think that leadership
often goes unstated too. You know, we have a receiver
room that's just so young. Having a guy like that,
he's such a veteran presence in this league who knows

(06:52):
the game so well. Obviously, I think that's gonna pay
big dividends for some of our younger receivers. You know,
I mentioned de Marcus Robinson as well, another veteran there.
But I think everyone was just impressed de Shaun Jock
Jackson still has that speed, you know, like I don't
know the speed and I'm younger than he is, you know,
like it's that That's what coach Harma was saying. You know,
like I at no point in my life that I
had that kind of speed, you know, even if I

(07:13):
was fifteen years younger than him. Um So I think
you know, that has definitely impressed coaches here. You know,
he did have a little injury that he's doing with
earlier in the season, so him kind of rehabing that
and getting back and still being at the perform at
that level was definitely something positive. Well, Cassie, looking at
the Ravens defense, you know, the run defense specifically, I
know they're coming off a really great performance versus Jaguars.
How Jacksonville Tod just thirty eight rushing yards. What have

(07:34):
you really liked about that unit's performance this season? And
what can this Broncos offense expect as you know, they're
really still trying to get their run game going. Yeah,
like you mentioned, the rush defense has been insane this season.
You know, they've held opponents to under fifty rushing yards
and four straight games of one more game and they'll
have an NFL record there. And you know, it's funny
because I think kind of going into the season, the

(07:56):
defense was a big question mark. You know, the past
rush has also been awesome, and I think that's something
that no one was really sure of kind of in
training camp. What do we have here? You know, we
have a first year defensive coordinator and Mike McDonald, so
it was just a big question mark. I think they've proved,
you know that they are very solid unit. You know,
you have a guy like Calais Campbell bolstering that's even
zidline like with a veteran like that justin Houston who

(08:19):
like talking about past rush. You know, he has ten
sacks already the season after just four and a half
last year. So I think that they have definitely shown,
you know, what they can be and I think they
really like to improve on what they showed last week
as well. You know, obviously they did rushing defense was
really successful there, but just kind of felt like they
didn't finish the job, you know, in the fourth quarter
last week, and so I think that's definitely something that

(08:40):
they want to continue to improve upon going forward last
month about the match up here, for you, Cassie, who
was one guy you really want to step up where
you want to see step up for the Ravens And
I love that. M hmm. I think I have a
kind of a duo um to kind of cheat a
little here, but I think with the addition of Roquan Smith,

(09:00):
it has just really opened things up for Patrick Quean.
I think he took a lot of criticism last season
that I didn't always feel like was warranted, you know.
And I think the offense is a lot of times
key and on him. Very talented, only a couple of
years in the league now coming out of l s
U and national champion. They're very talented guy, very smart,
you know, very football savvy, and I think adding ro
Kuan there as his partner in crime has really opened

(09:22):
things up for him. I think we've seen him have
really career games the past couple of weeks, and so
I'm really excited to see, like kind of as they
build their chemistry there, what he can do going forward.
I think this is going to be a really big
year for him when we kind of like look back
in February, and I think he's already started to show that,
and so I just think he's kind of I think
people are starting to catch on him now. He kind
of flies under the radar, and I think that just

(09:44):
having ro Kuan two and his ear, you know, them
communicating throughout a game and kind of being able to
learn from a guy that's coming up on a contractor
in a contract season obviously, and so it's really important
for him as well. But he's just such a well
respected player in this league and in the locker room already. Um.
But so I think the two of them together, I'm
just really really excited to see what they could do
this year. Well, I'll make sure to be on the

(10:04):
lookout for them weekend, Cassie. Really appreciate your insight on
the matchup. I want to switch gears just for a
little bit here. As many listeners now here on the snap,
one of my main goals is to highlight, you know,
women's impact in and around the NFL. So I want
to dive into your career for a bit, you know,
for some of my listeners who might not know what
is your role with the Ravens, you know, really entail? Yeah, sure,

(10:25):
So I have a little bit of a dual focused role.
I'm the social media manager here at the Ravens, So
day to day, I'm the one operating on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat,
you do Facebook, TikTok, all of the above. Um, but
I also have a little of an on air component
as well as I host a show that we do
on Instagram and Snapchat as well as a podcast as
well that's also focused on highlighting women in the organization.
So I love that you're doing the same thing here

(10:48):
at this snap it's really really cool podcast. Yes exactly,
thank you. Yeah, and do like interviews with players as well,
you know, fun like kind of social focused content, So
that's kind of where the tie in is there. But yeah,
it's just anything that we can do to highlight what
these guys are like on and off the field. Um,
that's kind of what falls into my territory for sure.
What's kind of been Um, maybe your favorite part about

(11:10):
your role and maybe the most challenging part as well. Oh,
that's a good question. Um. I think the favorite part
is I get to be in these really cool moments
that like the average person doesn't get to see. Obviously,
we can't have all like two million or however many
of our fans in one room at a time, and
so I think being able to take people behind the
scenes and these really iconic moments is really neat for me.

(11:31):
Like we got to be in the room and Ray
Lewis and had Read found out they're going into the
Hall of Fame and it's literally just them, their families
and the president of the Hall of Fame and us
and so like something like that. Obviously we can't have
every single person that's rude for Ed reading his career
in that room, but like being able to take them
inside that moment is really neat. It just gives me
like chills just thinking about it. Um. And I think
the challenging part is being in a job where and

(11:53):
I'm sure you can relate to this. You know what
you do, you know for your nine to five, you know,
seven days a week, whatever it may be, is affected
by something that you have no control over. So obviously
I'm not on the field on Sundays as much as
I would sometimes love to be um, and I feel
like I could contribute maybe, but I don't have any
control over that. I think it affects how people see

(12:14):
how you do your job, even if like it's not
really fair. And so I think that's something that we
all kind of struggle with, is how do we you know,
when things aren't going well for your team, how do
you still do your job well? Um and make sure
that it's still well received? Which can be tricky. You know,
sometimes people don't want to hear from us at all
that they're not happy with the team's performance, and I'm like, well,
I have to do something, so you're gonna sorry. Yeah exactly.

(12:37):
So I think that's sometimes the thing that I battle
with you. No, I totally understand Bronco stands are not
the kindest when you so I totally get that side
of it. Kasey. Can you kind of walk me through
the path that you took to get to where you
are right now? Yeah? Sure. Um. I was actually pre
med in college, which I would not recommend. Um. That

(12:58):
took years off my life. Yeah, um, but I did
do some as did a lot of internships, and I
was in college. I went to Duke, UM, so I
kind of thought maybe basketball would be the route for me.
I worked for the football team when I was there,
so I did on camera like future reporter, um for
our head coaches football show that would air on like
local TV, and our athletics website all that kind of stuff. Um.

(13:18):
And then when I graduated, I took a position with
the New Orleans Pelicans and Saints UM. Kind of unique.
You know, they owned both franchises, and so I had
the opportunity to do NBA and NFL at the same time,
which for me coming right out of college was ideal,
you know, getting my feet wet in both leagues. Um.
And then when my internship was up there at the
opportunity to or even kind of opened up, and I
had done some on air and like writing work for

(13:40):
the Saint Repelicans as well, So it kind of was
the perfect fit for me that I was able to
kind of build my role here to do both of
those things. UM. But yeah, I think just a lot
of internships and figuring out what I didn't like. You know.
I tried the local news route when I was in
college for an internship, and I was like, you know,
I don't think I want to move to the middle
of nowhere for a few years and go that w

(14:01):
and like it works for a lot of people. Yeah,
but I just I was like, you know, I'm ready
to hit the ground running and kind of figure out
a different kind of way of going about it into
social with kind of the outlet for me, you know.
I mean when I was in high school, like a
social media manager for a team didn't exist, And so
I think it's kind of a field. Like even our
roles kind of doing on air stuff for a team
is something that's in the grand scheme of things pretty new. Um,

(14:23):
So I think it's kind of cool that we're able
to kind of shape our positions to what we want
them to be, you know, and have that growth. Yeah. Absolutely,
kind of along that path when you're trying to figure
out where you wanted to be in this industry, what
we're kind of some of the challenges that you faced
along the way, and how did you ultimately overcome those. Yeah,
that's really good question. I think, Um, you know, this industry,

(14:45):
you're expected to pick up and move to where the
opportunity is. And I think when I was like twenty
to come out of college that sounded great. But now
when I'm you know, twenty eight and getting married, you know,
there are different focuses to like, the different things to
think about, you know, and so I think that's kind
of the Turkey part of the industry is just like
being able to pick up and move where the opportunities
are and deciding whether or not that makes sense for

(15:07):
you in that time can definitely be a challenge, I think,
you know, it's interesting for me kind of being the
NBA and NFL side. I felt like the NBA was
a little further along as far as like women and
minorities go. I think they've been a little ahead of
the curve being progressive there, um. And so I think
that the NFL is definitely making lots of progress now,
which is awesome, but I think that's still a work

(15:28):
in progress, i'd say, um, where the NBA has kind
of been more of a trend setter in that way.
So it's kind of interesting for me just like to
feel that out, you know, as like a kid right
about college. Um, but I think that we're getting there,
and so, you know, things like the Snap and the
Purple Chair podcast is a huge part of that. Um,
so it's cool that we're kind of able to help
move the needle a little further along too, you know, absolutely,
And that goes into my last question here for you.

(15:50):
You know, I like to end these episodes just inspiring
the younger generation here. So you know, what's one piece
of advice, Cassie you'd give someone looking to get into
this industry, really, no matter what area of it they
want to work in. Mm hmm, it's a great question.
I think that something I often see people get stuck
on is kind of like the name brand, internship or job.
It's kind of like you're saying you were willing to

(16:11):
move somewhere, you know, in the middle of nowhere or
whatever to get your start. I think that a lot
of times you can get better experience going to the
place that's not the name brand, the ESPN, the CBS,
like whatever it may be, but really finding an opportunity
where you can truly gain experience, whether that's in sports
or not. You know, I there was a girl she

(16:32):
used to be at the head of the Chicago Bears
social gen and I'm sure she wouldn't behind me sharing this,
but she started a target, you know, and was a
social media manager at Target and was able to parlay
that into a bear's job. You know, but because she
has a really really strong social experience, you know, it
didn't really matter what the subject matter was um and
she's continuing to russion in the industry, and so I
think there's like knowing that, like the skill sets transferred

(16:54):
no matter what the subject matter is too. Obviously, if
you want to be in football, it's then you can
do that. That's great. But I think getting those skills
wherever they may be is awesome. Yeah, I think that's
that's so important what you said, not wanting to go
towards the name brand. Right right out of college, I
moved to a Wasaw, Wisconsin, which no one had ever
heard of that and originally saw I was like what

(17:15):
am I doing at here? But so much in my
first year out there yet experience and that's like invaluable
experience for sure. While we are talking about women too,
since I we're talking about the Broncos, I do want
to give our one girl a plug. Jerry Rossberry's daughter
Megan is on our coaching staff here and so it's
extra special for us this weekend that she will be

(17:35):
coaching against her dad um, which is pretty neat. You know.
Coach Harbor and Jerry Rossberg are obviously very very close.
You know, he was on our staff here for eleven
years and herbs just like, I don't know if I
can see him, I don't want to see him in
the orange blue, but I just think it's really neat
that he was such a staple of our organization for
so long, and now his daughters on our coaching staff,
which just really cool to me. So that's Megan Rossberg.

(17:56):
Definitely keep your eyes for her on the Syland and
she gets really neat. She's pushing us forward there. I
love it, well, Joe, I love that. Yeah, Jerry has
been a great edition over here. I can imagine why
John Harbaugh misses him well. Cassie, I can't thank you
enough for your time and for sharing your insight and
your experience on the show. Really, thank you so much
for joining me today, perfect, Thanks for having me and

(18:18):
I love watching you crush in Denver. Right back at you.
But that's all the time we have before today's episode
of this Snap Broncos Country. Thanks so much for tuning in,
and thank you again, into Cassi Calbert for joining me.
I hope you all will. May be right back here
on the Broncos podcast network and YouTube next week for
another episode. I'll see you all then,
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