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UPDATE: Apparently the schedule the NFL published is wrong. The Ravens' OTAs do not start today and in fact start tomorrow.
#Ravens apparently don't begin OTAs until tomorrow. The original schedule released by the NFL in April said today. Media day still Thursday.
— Luke Jones (@BaltimoreLuke) May 26, 2015
It is officially time for football again!
With the NFL starting it's OTAs this week for some teams, the Ravens are currently getting ready for the hot, sticky weather that has become prevalent in Maryland during the summer.
Head coach John Harbaugh and team will be suiting up for Organized Team Activities (OTAs) at three different times this season. Starting May 26th -28th, coming back June 1st-3rd, and then finally June 8th-11th for the final set. As has become regular for the Ravens, they will be practicing at the Under Armour Performance Center complex in Owings Mills for the fifth straight year after being moved from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD.
The Ravens finished their rookie minicamp exclusively for those drafted and undrafted free agents earlier this month. After seeing the rookies run around, the coaching staff has to be excited to see the full team out there on the field and gearing up for a championship run this season.
No contact is allowed during OTAs, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills are fully permitted. Meaning that we as fans will get a chance to see how the offense and defenses are beginning to mesh together as well as the first chance to see some of the newest Ravens for the first time.
While OTAs are not mandatory to attend, the Ravens have had an excellent track record of getting almost all of their players on the field during this time. It will be important this season as the Ravens look to transition to a new offense under new offensive coordinator Marc Trestman.
After an excellent offensive season in 2014 that saw quarterback Joe Flacco have his best season to date, the players and coaches will want to build off that momentum in order to achieve even greater heights in 2015.