Ravens News 8/11: Dangerous in All Situations and more

An Unbiased, Totally Correct Ranking of Every NFL Pass-Catching Group, 2020 Edition - Danny Heifetz

18. Baltimore Ravens

WR: Marquise Brown

WR: Miles Boykin

WR: Willie Snead IV

WR: Devin Duvernay

RB: Mark Ingram

TE: Mark Andrews

Baltimore’s been there and done that with tight ends. The Ravens targeted tight ends on 42 percent of their passes last year, the most in the Football Outsiders database, which dates back to 1985. Tight end Mark Andrews led the team in receiving targets, yards, and touchdowns last year and is still this squad’s no. 1 option. But this year, it’s about receivers. None of Baltimore’s receivers are proven—they ranked last in the NFL with 88.7 yards per game last season—but all of them are fast, and the Ravens want Lamar Jackson to make more deep passes in 2020. Marquise Brown was the first receiver drafted in 2019 (his speed and size combination has been compared to DeSean Jackson) and he had seven touchdowns as a rookie while dealing with a foot injury. Miles Boykin had just 13 catches as a rookie but his speed score (4.4 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds) ranks in the 98th percentile among receivers. Brown, Boykin, and Andrews are all just 23 years old, so this group’s ranking would be much higher if we were looking beyond 2020.

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews: ‘I want to be dangerous in all situations - Todd Karpovich

“I want to be the best tight end. I’m not there yet, and I’m excited to be able to show what I can do this year,” he said. “I think blocking is going to be a huge thing for me where I’ve got to improve. I think I’m going to make big strides in that area this year, and I have a lot more opportunities to do that this year. And just continue to work as a receiving guy – that’s my bread and butter.”

“Opting-out never really crossed my mind,” he said. “Obviously, I think that safety is the most important thing. Seeing what the NFLPA and the NFL have come up with and the system, it’s extremely encouraging. I think they have a great system in place.

“For me, there was never, ‘Oh, I’m going to opt-out, or I may not play.’ I’ve always been very strong in my beliefs that, one, I’m healthy. I keep my body healthy, and I’m going to do everything necessary to make sure I don’t get COVID.”

“I want to be dangerous in all situations. I’m super excited for this year. I don’t come out and have goals for any year,” Andrews said. “I don’t want to have a certain amount of yards, or catches or touchdowns – I’m a team guy. I want to win a Super Bowl, and that’s the most important thing for me.”

Baltimore Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley sees a void to fill on the offensive line - Aaron Kasinitz

“With Marshal being gone, that leadership role has to be filled,” Stanley said Monday during a video news conference, “and I’m all for helping my teammates and being there for them.”

Stanley isn’t the primary candidate to give pre-game speeches in an on-field huddle the way Yanda did last season; he’s a fiery player but a mellow talker. And though Stanley has found success in the NFL, Yanda had nearly an extra decade of experience on which to draw when he mentored younger linemen.

Perhaps that’s why Stanley said the best way he can help to fill Yanda’s void is to limit mistakes, to fulfil his assignment snap after snap.

“I want to be that person that they can rely on play in and play out, that they know what they’re going to get from me,” Stanley said. “I think that’s the role of a true leader is you have to be consistent and people have to know what they’re getting from you.”

Projecting NFL’s 2020 stat leaders: Derrick Henry, Cam Jordan to excel - Cynthia Frelund

Interceptions: 5

Marcus Peters

Baltimore Ravens · CB

The best situations in which to earn interceptions are when defenses face passes in unfavorable down-and-distance plays for the offense. The Ravens’ addition of Calais Campbell to the defensive front helps drive more consistent pressure, which is also correlated with greater chances of earning an interception. The other factor working in Peters’ favor is his aggressive playing style. And it sure doesn’t hurt that he’s lining up on the opposite side of the field as Marlon Humphrey, who, on an almost-weekly basis, ranks among my model’s top three corners. With the CB duo of Peters and Humphrey, Baltimore boasts the highest pick projection as a total defense, as well.