Baltimore Ravens Training Camp: Tuesday's PM Practice

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 29, 2009 7:00 AM EDT

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After a spirited practice at Training Camp in the morning, the team was back out there at 3:30pm Tuesday afternnoon. Here are some notes on my observations:

The QB's took turns throwing nice passes to WR's Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, Justin Harper, Eron Riley, Isaiah Williams and TE L.J. Smith. Flacco's passes to Clayton look sharp as he catches everything with the glue-like hands that a #1 wide receiver should have. D. Williams looks confident and J. Harper also looks good. L.J. Smith looks every bit the receiver we were looking for when we signed him. He looks like a wide receiver in a tight end's body.

Flacco was zipping passes all over the field. There is no question who the starter is in his mind this year, as well as everyone else's mind, including both other QB's Troy Smith and John Beck.

There is a new receiver in camp, already wearing what was supposed to be Drew Bennett's number 18, although his name is not even stitched onto his jersey yet. He is little known Jayson Foster, whom we will know slightly more about at Wednesday's practice other than that he is only around 5'7" tall, but very quick after the catch.

Troy Smith threw a nice deep ball to WR Eron Riley. D-Will is running like he has something to prove to both himself and everyone else - which he does - stay healthy all season!

Offensive linemen Robby Felix and Bryan Mattison were seen bustin' butt in one-on-one drills over and over again. Felix was the undrafted free agent center who suffered a stroke but was looking to be one of the top centers coming out of college, while Mattison is the son of Defensive Coordinater, Greg Mattison.

7-on-7 Drills:

CB Derrick Martin read QB John Beck's eyes, rushed in to pick one off his shoetops and took it to the house. Seldom used RB Matt Lawrence is contantly hustling, but seems like a longshot although he plays with versatility, running and catching well. Flacco hits J. Harper in traffic with a bullet. A small but significant play had Flacco looking the entire defense to his right then threw left to RB Cedric Peerman underneath for a nice gain.

Flacco to Harper is a common occurrence. Clayton has a nice fingertip grab on a curl-in completion from Flacco. D. Williams snatched a rope from Troy Smith right in front of L. Webb.

Click on the "Jump" for some photos from the afternoon session.

Check out these photos form Tuesday, July 28th afternoon practice:

Flacco up at the line of scrimmage:

TE L.J. Smith makes a nice grab:

WR Justin Harper about to catch a long one:

RB Willis McGahee does some rope drills:

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NFL.com has an article with this "The Ravens plan to sign an experienced wide receiver, perhaps as soon as this week, Harbaugh said."

Wonder who it will be this time?

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81180781&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

by Asmodeus1971 on Jul 29, 2009 8:23 AM EDT reply actions

Andre Reed or Carl Pickens from what I’ve heard.

As it is today I would go with the following:

Clayton, Washington, Williams. That would be a nice mix (of what we have).

by raven on Jul 29, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions

We will see more once the rest of the vets report

but for now, Justin Harper along w/ D-Will are looking REAL good!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 29, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

For all the focus on the WR situation

Why can’t the team get some love for what they’ve done at CB. They totally revamped the unit into the fastest and deepest in the AFC, IMO. While the Browns are possibly slotting Corey Ivy as their 4th CB, we have Derrick Martin battling just to make the roster. I think we will all agree that Martins coverage skill’s >>> Ivy’s coverage skills.

This should end the days of holding our breath late in games as the opposing QB throws for 250 yards in the second half, during an attempted comeback. Also, by keeping opposing WR’s covered a bit longer, our sack totals should increase. Suggs could have a career high in sacks and should have a monster season.

by DT711 on Jul 29, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

It's beginning to look like Martin

may be making the switch from CB to safety, mostly because of our, dare I say, depth at CB. Plus his speed is said to be more of a safety’s than a DB.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 29, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions

thats a good thing. our lines are good. qb is good. rb’s are good. lb’s are good. i think that is why we are beating up the receivers so bad.

by raven on Jul 29, 2009 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

Not too sure about that!

Our wideouts, specifically Mark Clayton and Justin Harper, have had their way with the DB’s so far, beating them straight up and outjumpring them to the ball. That also includes D. Will, who looks absolutely fine, health-wise.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 29, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions

My opinion on WR

I think we could use a vet who has sure hands, good route running and can keep his calm even when it isn’t looking good. I think skill wise the guys we have are going to be a surprise to all those saying we need, we need…

Every spot on the field is covered so we focus on what we have that is not proven. The passing game is always going to look weak to a person who doesn’t focus on the fact that the Ravens have always been a run first offense. Our defense comes first as it should, with the offense having ball control, and hopefully taking time off the clock and letting the D rest that is all we ask and with that we can win.

People don’t look at those facts they just want to see the big play, but the big play doesn’t always win the game even if it does spotlight on the highlight reels. No mistake football will almost always beat big play football.

by Asmodeus1971 on Jul 29, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

Word is

we are not going to make any sort of trade or free agent signing right now. We will be scouring the waiver wire once paring the rosters start around the league.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 29, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions

last I heard

is that the Ravens have re-opened the Brandon Marshall talks, but the asking price is still too high. But it isn’t for lack of interest that they haven’t made the trade.

Bruce, I know you’re going to jump on me with the “contract” bizz, but honestly, I could see Ozzie making the deal and worrying about the contract situation later.

I’m lukewarm on Marshall personally but I have little doubt that he would add something huge to our passing game.

by jackmca on Jul 31, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

But I’m sure they are exploring it as you said, b/c Oz knows that we are a SB contender as is, and adding a player of Marshall’s caliber could put us over the top. Doubtful due to cap concerns, but there is always a chance Oz decides to go “all in” and worry about the cap ramifications later.

by DT711 on Jul 31, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

my thoughts exactly

hey, I’m not one of these people who’s spilling his coffee in freak-out mode yelling “TRADE FOR MARSHALL,” but i’m warming up to the idea. If Ozzie can do it, I guess I’m happy if he does. If he doesn’t, I do expect at least one of the other non-Clayton receivers to step up and prove he’s a starter.

by jackmca on Jul 31, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

…spilling his coffee in freak-out mode yelling "TRADE FOR MARSHALL,"

Mr MaLoR is going to know you’re talking about him.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jul 31, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

with his eyeballs popping out and his hair standing up?

yeah that’s the guy.

by jackmca on Jul 31, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

OW THE BURN!!!!!

Just spilled coffee all over my ravens camo shorts that I wore to training camp today!

TRADE FOR MARSHALL!!!

I would give up Gaither after next year to sign Marshall to a contract. Go ahead, sue me, I really dont care. We drafte Michael Oher for a reason and Gaither with Drew Rosenhaus as his agent now is going to ask for a ridiculous contract.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 31, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

We drafte Michael Oher for a reason…

To play Right and Left Tackle at the same time? I’m not sure what you’re getting at.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jul 31, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

To play tackle for us.

In the case that Gaither leaves, which I think he will even if we do not trade for Marshall, Oher can step in and be the starting LT.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 31, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

leaving RT for Adam Terry?

it’s not a great idea homie. Sure, we could do it, but Flacco would have to learn to roll to his left, lets just say.

by jackmca on Jul 31, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

We’ll just have Oher alternate from right to left during the game and keep the D guessing.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jul 31, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

We can find another guy

RT are not as hard to find in this league as LT are. Its a business and some guys care more about money then winning, and I think Gaither will want his money to prove to everyone that he is worth more than the supplemental draft pick and take big money from some scrub team.

Oher switches to LT and we pick up another guy.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 31, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions