One player that did not have a renowned offseason was wide receiver Marlon Brown, who dropped quite a few passes during minicamp and organized team activities.
Reports indicated Brown was not having the kind of offseason that was anticipated of him as he and the other receivers adjusted to Gary Kubiak's new playbook.
However, there has since been reason to be more optimistic about Brown as he enters the second season of his NFL career. By all accounts, Brown has had a standout training camp thus far. He's catching most of the passes thrown his way and has put together a nice highlight reel for himself.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RavensTalk?src=hash">#RavensTalk</a>: Marlon Brown turning heads in practice (VIDEO) <a href="http://t.co/UaQoUbHX2C">http://t.co/UaQoUbHX2C</a></p>— CSN Ravens (@CSNRavens) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSNRavens/statuses/496100154068725760">August 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Not sure why people think Marlon Brown is struggling. For the few drops he's had, he's also made spectacular catches downfield.</p>— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) <a href="https://twitter.com/devpanchwagh/statuses/494810894556463104">July 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" lang="en"><p>WR Marlon Brown's circus catches lead our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RavensCamp?src=hash">#RavensCamp</a> highlights from today. <a href="http://t.co/3QCoNonzye">http://t.co/3QCoNonzye</a> <a href="http://t.co/cuURgxh1Do">pic.twitter.com/cuURgxh1Do</a></p>— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ravens/statuses/496055694538178561">August 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
"[The media has] been watching practice, so you know he's made great strides," Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters following Sunday's practice. "He made some great catches today. Marlon made some circus catches today and had a couple catch-and-runs on crossing routes. When you can use that big body, it's hard for ... He has a [big] catch radius. So, it's hard for a linebacker to get a hand on the ball - especially [with] the way Joe [Flacco] and Tyrod [Taylor] were placing it. He's done a good job."
The 6-5 product out of the University of Georgia was a pleasant surprise for the Ravens a year ago. Undrafted, Brown eventually signed with the Ravens after almost heading to Houston. It turned out great in Baltimore's favor, as Brown tied a franchise record for rookies by catching seven touchdown passes. He shares this record with teammate Torrey Smith.
Since his poor minicamp showing, Brown told reporters that he's been working on correcting the basic mistakes he was making.
"[During] minicamp, I had a couple drops," he said. "I was big on not dropping the ball anymore - just practicing on catching it with the hands, everything."
Kubiak had success with bigger receivers when he was with the Texans, so Brown does possess the ideal physical attributes to do well. It's just a matter of Brown understanding the playbook and making the most out of this opportunity in front of him.
"It's just a playbook. You have to go in there and you have to know your stuff and you have to study," Brown said. "Just like it was last year for me; I had to know my stuff and study, so I'm doing the same thing this year."