Ravens News 6/19: Ingram a perfect complement, offseason ratings and more

Rating the offseason for all 32 NFL teams: Why the Browns are on top - Jamison Hensley

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Baltimore Ravens

Offseason goals: Build the offense around franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson. Baltimore has gone all-in on Jackson. The Ravens traded away Joe Flacco. They promoted Greg Roman to offensive coordinator because of his creative game plans with mobile quarterbacks (Colin Kaepernick and Tyrod Taylor). They signed free agent Mark Ingram II, a proven runner and leader. And they used three of their first four draft picks on offensive skill position players (wide receivers Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin as well as running back Justice Hill).

Biggest question still to be answered: Where is the pass rush coming from? The Ravens watched their all-time sack leader (Terrell Suggs) and their sack leader from last season (Za’Darius Smith) go elsewhere in free agency. Baltimore failed to acquire a big name (Justin Houston, Ezekiel Ansah and Gerald McCoy) in free agency. That leaves the Ravens trying to fill that void with rookie third-round pick Jaylon Ferguson and veterans Pernell McPhee and Shane Ray.

4 bold predictions for the Baltimore Ravens in 2019 - Hunter Noll

2. Baltimore’s Defense Repeats

Last season, the Baltimore Ravens had arguably the best defense in the NFL. They led the league in yards allowed (4687) and were second in points allowed (17.9) just 0.2 behind the Chicago Bears for first.

It’s a tall task to ask the unit to repeat the success of last season – however, they’re up to the task.

One of the main reasons for that is the incredible addition of Earl Thomas. Yes they lost Eric Weddle, but at this point in their careers Thomas is a much better player.

The Ravens secondary is stacked alongside Thomas with crafty veterans like Brandon Carr and younger talents like Marlon Humphrey. As well as underrated studs like Jimmy Smith.

Linebacker Jaylon Ferguson should be a fun addition to the linebacker corps as well.

Maybe this team doesn’t dominate exactly like they did in 2018.

However, it’s definitely a possibility that they finish as a top-5 defense again in 2019.

Mark Ingram can be the perfect complement to the Ravens’ run-first attack - Michael Manning

Heisman Trophy winner. National champion. First-round pick.

Few running backs can claim the list of accolades that Baltimore Ravens’ Mark Ingram has accrued over his football career. Even fewer have made an impact in the NFL with the kind of numbers that Ingram has eight years into his professional career.

However, throughout his tenure with the New Orleans Saints, Ingram has been the thunderpart of a ‘Thunder and Lightning’ backfield. From 2011 to 2018, the Alabama product rushed the ball over 1,300 times and accounted for just under 40% of the team’s total rushing attempts. During his time in NOLA, Ingram was never considered to be a workhorse back, even as a former first-round pick; he was responsible for 50% of the team’s single-season carries just three times in eight years.

DeShon Elliott Isn’t Buying His Own Hype, But You Should - Ryan Mink

Elliott was one of the most obvious standouts in offseason practices, thrusting himself into a conversation about how the Ravens are going to get him on the field in a talented secondary. Still, he knows he has much to prove.

“That’s just practice, man,” Elliott said. “I have to do that in a game for it to matter.”

Elliott was turning heads in practice last year too. He just seemed to be around the ball a lot. It’s not all that surprising when looking at his college stats. He has a nose for the football.

“To me, he’s just picked up where he left off right before he got hurt, and it’s just going to be another fun piece,” Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale said. “I know we have two really good safeties right now, but we’ll find spots for the good football players.”