It is officially the middle of the preseason. Two games in, the Baltimore Ravens are a perfect 2-0, but that doesn't mean that everyone on their team is performing well. Here is an evaluation of a few players that are doing well. The evaluation of the players doing badly will be released tomorrow, August 19th.
- Torrey Smith: The third-year wide receiver out of the University of Maryland is having himself a great preseason. He currently has four receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, leading all Ravens' receivers in receiving yards. Smith has been running excellent routes, and has showed his fantastic speed at times so far this preseason. Torrey Smith's speed really showed on a 77-yard touchdown reception in the game against the Atlanta Falcons.
- Daryl Smith: The main starting candidate for the MLB position has been one of the only consistent defensive players for the Ravens so far in the preseason. Smith has managed to rack up 11 tackles and two passes defensed in two games, not bad at all. John Harbaugh also talked about Smith after the first preseason game, saying that he has starter potential and that he was impressed with the way he performed.
- Aaron Mellette: The seventh-round pick out of Elon isn't showing that he should have been drafted that low. Mellette has been the second-best receiver for the Ravens, only getting two receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns. He leads the team in touchdowns. Mellette has earned first-team reps, but hasn't seemed to be getting them, especially in games. If I were the Ravens coaching staff, I would try to run Mellette with the starters in next Thursday's game against the Carolina Panthers.
- Arthur Brown: The second-round pick out of Kansas State really showed his talents against the Falcons in game two of the preseason. Brown had three tackles, two for a loss in the Atlanta game. By looking at the numbers, it doesn't look like Brown has had a major impact in preseason, but if you watched the last game; you would see how much of an impact Brown can make when he's on the field.
- Matt Elam: The third rookie on the "good" list does not come as a surprise. Matt Elam, the first-round pick out of Florida, is known for his big hitting, and he certainly has done that in the preseason so far. Elam has seven tackles in the two games that he has played with the Ravens, but just like Arthur Brown, Elam's presence on the field is a lot to give this team's defense a boost.
- Tyrod Taylor: Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor is looking better than ever in the 2013 preseason. Taylor has learned how to throw the ball better, run the ball more efficiently, and is having an easier time connecting with receivers all over the field. Taylor's stats through two games look like this: 18/23, 237 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, one interception, and 42 yards on 10 rushing attempts. Tyrod Taylor is looking more like a quality quarterback in the NFL, and it may be a good thing that the Ravens have them as their backup. Taylor also fueled the late fourth quarter comeback against the Falcons in game two.
- Asa Jackson: The sophomore cornerback that will not be playing the first eight weeks of the 2013 season has had a monster preseason. In the first game against the Buccaneers, Jackson had two tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. In the second game against the Falcons, Jackson had seven tackles and a 78-yard game-winning punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter. Asa Jackson may be having the best preseason of any player on the Ravens, but him being suspended until Week 9 is not going to help Baltimore's defense or special teams whatsoever.
- LaQuan Williams: I could put Williams in either the good or the bad category, but I have decided to put him in the good. LaQuan Williams had a crazy first game, where he had one fumble recovery touchdown, two receptions for 32 yards, and one receiving touchdown. Williams was the player of the game in game one, which is why he is listed as a player in the "good" category. LaQuan Williams may have had a down second game, but that doesn't take away from what he did versus the Buccaneers.
- Josh Bynes: Josh Bynes has been another consistent defensive player in both games for the Baltimore Ravens this preseason. Bynes has eight tackles between the two preseason games, and has shown that he is the main candidate for the starting inside linebacker position. After the preseason game against the Buccaneers, Head Coach John Harbaugh said that Bynes looked like a starting ILB, and that at the moment, he was the starter at that position.
- Adrian Hamilton: Hamilton hasn't made quite the impact that Bynes or Smith have, but the guy is coming off of the bench playing very well. Hamilton has six tackles in two games, along with one of the Ravens' three preseason sacks. Hamilton is looking like a solid backup linebacker so far this preseason, which helps show that the Ravens have tremendous depth at many defensive positions.
- Brynden Trawick: The 23-year old DB isn't very well-known, but that doesn't mean he can't play well when he gets the chance. Trawick mainly plays special teams, and has had two tackles in two games, while also having a punt block against the Buccaneers. The blocked punt was the same one that LaQuan Williams recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Trawick isn't getting much credit for being the one that blocked the punt, so I thought I'd give him a little bit of credit here.
Those are my main players that have had an overall good preseason. If there are any players that you feel were left out, feel free to let me know, I'll consider it, and may add him into this article with my own evaluation.