Ravens Training Camp: Monday PM Edition

by Bruce Raffel on Aug 17, 2009 8:41 PM EDT Comment 14 comments

The Baltimore Ravens were right back out in the oppressive heat this afternoon after a spirited morning session. With temperatures in the '90's, the team kept a close eye on the players' hydration, with water boys everywhere and frequent breaks.

Special Teams were part of the afternoon drills, with even TE L.J. Smith taking part on the return team, along with outside blockers, safeties and roommates Haruki Nakamura and Tom Zbikowski. I notice that on all the kickoffs, placekicker Graham Gano runs hard down the field and then back upfield to do it again and again. He is making the hard effort to impress the coaches any way he can.

The linebackers and defensive backs are practicing in separate areas dropping back into coverage then intercepting passes thrown by the coaches. In 11-on-11 non-contact drills, the offensive line shows a powerful overloaded line with Michael Oher at left tackle and Jared Gaither at right guard and then they reverse positions. Either way, that's a massive force to run behind.

The offense runs drills up the field in five yard increments, practicing their running game against the defense. Once they reach the goal line they go back and do it all again, this time with the short passing game. Lots of reps for everyone, especially in this heat.

In their goal line offense, they come out in a variety of sets, including one with Haloti Ngata in the backfield. He got a chance to carry the rock and scored, but then raced over to his defensive line coach, Clarence Brooks, and in his excitement accidently pushed him to the ground! In another goal line drill, he led LeRon McClain into the end zone. who needs Lorenzo Neal when you have a 340 pound fullback? When faced with Ngata running at him as a blocker, defensive back, Derrick Martin backed off yelling in jest, "whoa, whoa!"

WR Jayson Foster took a few snaps in the Wildcat formation, either handing off or running the ball, with reserve QB Drew Willy split out as a wide receiver.

Practice lasted about 90 minutes and due to the morning session in this heat, that was long enough for the players to be drenched in sweat and they headed right to the locker room as quick as I had ever seen them clear the fields.

0 recs | Comment 14 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I went to college with Jayson Foster

He played QB two years at GSU mostly as an option quarterback and two seasons at Wide Receiver. He’s kind of an athletic freak for his size (or lack thereof), very fast (4.3), very elusive, good vertical, average hands, good head on his shoulders. Single-handedly kept our team competitive his senior year on the way to winning the Walter Payton Award ahead of guys like Josh Johnson and Joe Flacco. Only player in NCAA history to have an 80+ yard touchdown 5 different ways (pass, rush, catch, kick return, punt return).

by atlantaray on Aug 17, 2009 10:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thats a stat!

Scott Hines

by shines on Aug 17, 2009 10:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i thought i was the only one..wait, that was 6 different ways.

in response to Gano running up field then back-

I hope he doesn’t have to “run back” often or EVER.

thanks Bruce. nice shots but you missed the money shot with Ngata carrying the ball ; )

by raven on Aug 17, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Finally

Maybe now Ngata and the worlds greatest, aka Shaun Rogers, can have a Mano-a-mano showdown, ending with Haloti in the end zone and Fatso on his back.

by DT711 on Aug 18, 2009 9:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

THAT would be friggin great. I’d also like to see him bust through the D line and flatten Troy.

by raven on Aug 18, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No, Hines would be even better

They could post Haloti out wide and then send him in motion, then give the ball to McClain and Ngata can turn upfield and pancake Ward!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Aug 18, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can openly admit that I hope Hines Ward gets injured.

And yes Steelers fans, it is both because he is good and because he injures other players. I’m not saying I wouldn’t take him on my team, but as long as he’s on yours I’d be perfectly happy to see him get his jaw wired shut. I’d be even happier to see Rivers do it himself.

by jackmca on Aug 19, 2009 10:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m not entirely sure that Rivers is certified to perform that kind of procedure.

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

by Ampallang on Aug 19, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Frank Walker can injure him

I think it can be done! And Frank barely touched him. And is it just me, or does anyone who watched the game last Thursday think that Lardarius Webb looks way too mature. He just dont seem like a rookie at all, I guess hes been spending time with the big dogs.

Scott Hines

by shines on Aug 19, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

webb is a stud.

i think years from now we will look back on this draft and wonder how the hell Ozzie knew these guys would be so good. Barring injuries, I’m 100% sure that Oher will be sick, I’m 80% sure that Kruger will earn the first name “Freddie,” and I’m 70% sure that Webb will be a stud at CB for years to come.

I haven’t seen enough to justify those statements, but I have a hunch.

by jackmca on Aug 19, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again

I will say like I did in my review that Webb was accountable for the interception we had and also was nearly responsible for a pick 6 Barnes could have made. Both times, Webb came flying off the edge and make contact with the QB. He is like a more physical Ed Reed in the sense that he seems to be all over the ball.

I would love to see him do kick returns as well. Carr looks good at punts but I think Webb would look good at Kick offs. He is indeed a stud and the best part about it, is that he wanted to come to Baltimore before he was drafted. That is only going to make him play that much better and want to learn that much more from his idol, Ed Reed.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Aug 19, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hear you.

Im sold of Oher, he has that fire burning that the great Ravens have. Krugr can show us a lot this coming Monday, I would to see him take Rexx Ryans harmless, but pointless words and show him something. But Lardarius Webb just seems like hes in a different class, think back to this time last season, Tommy Z and Haruki were rookie studs, but even they at times looked a little lost, with the speed of the game and whatnot, but Webb shows no signs of confusion or anything. Im excited for him, I doubt he’ll have enough playing time to have one of those Raven Rookie Seasons (5 pics, Ed Reed, Chris McAlister, Dawan Landry, Duane Starks) but I still wouldnt be surprised.

Scott Hines

by shines on Aug 19, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Relax now

but Webb shows no signs of confusion or anything. Im excited for him,

I am excited for him as well, but it has only been one pre-season game. But I will agree that he is on the right track brotha.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Aug 19, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah whether it be Favre, Roethlisberger, Brady, Rivers, whoever,

someone will find a way to confuse him and he’ll look lost at some point. When that happens, none of us should be worried, since he’s just a rookie.

But I would not be shocked at all, if by week 12 or 13, he’s earned the #3 spot at CB and is our standard nickel package guy. Especailly with his apparent burst into the backfield, he’d be great on 3rd downs when a QB didn’t know if he was gonna stick in man coverage to the slot receiver or come in charging on a blitz.

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
--George Orwell

by jackmca on Aug 20, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs