Ravens Week 1 Rookie Report

The Ravens trounced the Dolphins and a few rookies had a big impact on the outcome.

Marquise Brown

HOLLYWOOD!! The Broward County, Florida native did not disappoint in his first NFL game which also came in front of his hometown crowd. Brown was electric from the jump, converting his first career reception for a 47-yard TD and following that up with an 83-yard bomb from Lamar Jackson for his second score of the game. On his second TD, Brown showed the same impressive playmaking skills we saw at Oklahoma with his ability to track the ball, quickly adjust after the catch, cut up field and shed an ankle tackle from DB Minkah Fitzpatrick. Hollywood finished with two touchdownss and 147 receiving yards, the most by a player in their first game in the last 16 years. Oh yeah, he did all that on just four receptions and 14 total snaps.

Miles Boykin

Hollywood Brown wasn’t the only one to get in on the action as fellow rookie receiver Boykin also caught his first career touchdown pass on Sunday. Jackson was flushed from the pocket and throwing off his back foot, yet he delivered a strike to Boykin who played his man perfectly and changed course the moment the ball left Jackson’s hand. This play didn’t look like anything spectacular from Boykin but his ability to adjust and get open at the last minute while his quarterback was in trouble was a veteran move and really promising to see from a guy in his first game. The Ravens played it safe with both their rookies and Boykin saw his last snap of the game before halftime, easing him in with an eye towards future weeks.

Justice Hill

Whether he was lined up in the backfield or out in the slot, the Ravens wanted to find ways to get Hill involved early. He had one notable run where he bounced it outside and up the sideline for a 13-yard gain and finished the day with seven attempts for 27 yards and a 3.9 YPC. He finished the day with a total of 23 snaps and didn’t have a huge impact, but it was nice to see him apart of the game plan and not just in garbage time. Hill did struggle to find the hole as he too often tried to bounce it to the outside and was denied, reminiscent of Alex Collins a year ago. On one of these plays the camera crew caught Lamar Jackson advising him that he missed the lane and to cut it up the field rather than bouncing it outside, which the rookie will surely learn with time and experience.

Patrick Mekari

Mekari was active and saw a total of 23 offensive snaps on the offensive line. It is worth noting that the Ravens opted to activate the undrafted rookie over fourth round pick Ben Powers, a move signaling that the team feels more comfortable with him in a back up role on game day with his ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line. From undrafted to activate on game day is a huge step in the right direction as he is clearly earning the trust of the coaching staff.

Inactives

OLB Jaylon Ferguson

OG Ben Powers

DT Daylon Mack

QB Trace McSorley

LB Otaro Alaka