Ravens WRs Rashod Bateman, James Proche II discuss what they’ve learned about how to be great run blockers

Ravens wide receivers Rashod Bateman and James Proche II discussed what they’ve learned about being good run blockers

The Baltimore Ravens are a team that rely on their play a multitude of roles when they’re on the field. They value defensive versatility in a big way, but their offensive players also have to be able to put on many different hats over the course of 60 minutes.

When Baltimore wide receivers Rashod Bateman and James Proche II spoke to the media following the Ravens’ final mandatory minicamp practice, they were asked about what they’ve learned about being good run blockers. Proche spoke first, talking about how it comes down to effort.

“It’s effort. It’s want-to. Blocking is just a fight. Coach ‘Dub’ [pass game specialist Keith Williams] put it in perspective – probably in great perspective. If this dude is blocking you or throwing you around, he’s basically saying he could whoop you in a fight. So, you can’t whoop me, so we’re going to block you. That’s basically what it is.”

Bateman echoed Proche’s words, discussing that it’s part of their job.

“Yes, that’s kind of the mindset. You’re either going to do it or you’re not going to do it. When you care about your teammates, as a receiver it’s like blocking here and there. But no … Lamar Jackson’s our quarterback. We’re going to block for him. Whoever’s our running back – Gus [Edwards], J.K. [Dobbins] it doesn’t matter – we’re going to block for them. It’s not about just routes or anything like that. It’s [that] we’re receivers. It’s part of our job, and it’s what we’re going to do as well.”

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ranked as one of ‘scariest’ QBs by NFL.com analyst

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was ranked as one of the “scariest” quarterbacks in the league by an NFL.com analyst

The Baltimore Ravens have found a gem in quarterback Lamar Jackson. The team moved up in the 2018 NFL draft to select the former Louisville star, and the rest is history. The quarterback has accomplished many feats in the NFL through four seasons, which includes bringing in the second-ever unanimous MVP award, the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season, and multiple team records. The Ravens were lucky to have Jackson fall in the draft, and it shows every time he takes a snap.

Last season, Jackson suffered a bone bruise that forced him to miss the final six games of the regular season. The quarterback’s importance to the team showed heavily as Baltimore would not win any of those contests. Despite Jackson missing a quarter of the season in 2021 and him not attending voluntary organized team activities, one analyst sees the quarterback being one of scariest at his position entering the 2022 NFL season in a good way.

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com detailed his five scariest quarterbacks entering 2022 NFL season, and he placed Jackson at No. 4 on the list. When explaining why, Brooks credited Jackson’s dual-threat ability that will continue to give opposing defensive coordinators fits.

“The so-called slump from the former NFL MVP in 2021 has led some observers to have amnesia when recalling Jackson’s impact as a playmaker on the perimeter. After tallying a pair of 1,000-yard seasons as a rusher, defensive coordinators are well aware of his ability to take over the game on the ground. No. 8 is an explosive runner with superb ball-handling skills as an option quarterback executing a variety of power-read and counter-read plays. He has shown the ability to take it the distance as a runner from anywhere on the field and that forces opponents to pay extra attention to him in the box. With the fifth-year pro displaying enough proficiency as a passer down the middle of the field to punish opponents for overplaying the run, defensive coordinators have to pick and choose when to ratchet up the pressure against a quarterback who possesses the athleticism and arm talent to counter aggressive tactics.”

Jackson has often been critiqued on his passing ability, but he has shown improvements and looked decent last season prior to the injury. He is able to both run and throw at a high level, which makes him one of the most unique talents in the NFL. After missing a good portion of last season, Jackson will be ready to show that he has not missed a beat and continue to play great football in what is at this moment in time a contract year.

Andre Drummond leaves Nets, signs free agency deal with Chicago Bulls

Big man Andre Drummond leaves the Brooklyn Nets to sign a deal with the Chicago Bulls in free agency.

The Brooklyn Nets were able to re-sign two of their free agents in the form of Patty Mills and Nic Claxton, but it came at a cost as they ended up losing some size early in free agency.

Andre Drummond, who was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in the James Harden deal, will leave the Nets after playing in 24 games for the team. He averaged 11.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in those games as he became the starter down low for Brooklyn.

He will sign a deal with the Chicago Bulls in free agency and be the backup to Nikola Vucevic. It is a good addition for the Bulls as Drummond can provide some size and good production off their bench.

As the Nets move forward, they will have to figure out how they go forward with Kevin Durant, but they will now have to try and replace the size that Drummond brought them. The hope now has to be that Claxton is ready to take the next step at the big man spot for Brooklyn.

This post originally appeared on Nets Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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OKC Thunder sign Mike Muscala to one-year, veteran minimum deal

The Oklahoma City Thunder have brought back Mike Muscala on a cheaper salary.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed veteran center Mike Muscala to a one-year, veterans minimum deal, per Darren Wolfson. This comes a day after the team declined his $3.5 million team option.

Muscala, who underwent season-ending ankle surgery in March, has spent the last three seasons with the Thunder, where he’s averaged 7.3 points and three rebounds while shooting 39.2% from 3 on nearly four attempts per game.

The Thunder also signed Lu Dort to a five-year, $87.5 million on the first day of free agency as well.

The 30-year-old will serve as a mentor for fellow native Minnesota player Chet Holmgren, who was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2022 NBA draft.

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Former Ravens players continue to post tributes to Tony Siragusa

Former Ravens players continue to post tributes to Tony Siragusa

Baltimore Ravens legend Tony Siragusa died at the age of 55 last week. His passing shocked the NFL world, and many posted tributes to him on social media to commemorate his memory and the man that he was.

The defensive lineman played for 12 years in the NFL. His first seven years came with the Indianapolis Colts followed by five years in Baltimore. Some of his Siragusa’s former teammates released statements following the defensive lineman’s passing, with Ravens legend Ray Lewis posting a heartfelt tribute to someone he considered a very close friend of his.

Lewis is notorious for being a workout machine, even after he retired from football. On Twitter, the former linebacker also posted a video from his bike, showing that he rode 55-miles in honor of “The Goose”. It was a fitting tribute, as a piano played in the background with some highlights of Siragusa and Lewis together.

Former Baltimore tight end Shannon Sharpe has also continued to post tribute videos of Siragusa, sharing the laughs that the two shared together.

Lewis and Siragusa were teammates from 1997-2001. while Sharpe was Siragusa’s teammate from 2000-2001. They were each a part of the team that boasted one of the most dominant defenses of all time, and they all also won Super Bowl XXXV together. Siragusa will be missed, but his memory will live on forever.

Big Ten Expansion Top 5 Candidates: Possible Schools To Join USC and UCLA

Top 5 schools the Big Ten might go after now that it grabbed USC and UCLA?

The Big Ten is all set to expand with USC and UCLA joining the party in 2024, and this doesn’t appear to be the end of the big moves.

The conference has already made a big statement that it wants to go coast-to-coast and expand the overall footprint. Now it can claim the Los Angeles market to go along with Chicago, Baltimore/Washington DC, Detroit, all of Ohio, Minneapolis, most of Pennsylvania, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and for the most part, New York.

Who else makes sense to bring aboard? Where does the Big Ten go if it wants to get to 18? Or 20?

Remember, the Big Ten just got USC and UCLA – it’s not going to go after just anyone.

There has to be a big market, a school with a massive profile, and it has to expand the Big Ten brand.

It doesn’t make sense to go after Iowa State – the league already has Iowa. It wants new places and new eyeballs for BTN, and it wants the school in the state.

It wants The University of Maryland, and The University of Nebraska, and so on.

So with that in mind, here are the top 5 Big Ten expansion candidates … if it really does want to get to 18.

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Top 5 Big Ten Expansion Candidates – after getting USC and UCLA

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

5. Notre Dame

Of course the Big Ten would take Notre Dame in a heartbeat. Of course Notre Dame wants to be in the Big Ten. So why isn’t this happening?

Notre Dame makes a ton of money doing whatever it is it’s doing with the ACC while also maintaining its independent status, but it’s going to want to get on the money train fast.

That’s not the ACC. It’s not the Pac-12, even though the move would make lots of sense for both sides. Notre Dame to the SEC? Nah. Wrong academics, wrong profile, wrong branding, wrong fit.

So at the very least, these two crazy kids need to have a discussion to see where things are at. The Big Ten isn’t going to give Notre Dame any special treatment, and Notre Dame doesn’t want to enter the league only to become just another football program.

Bottom line, money isn’t a problem, and desire isn’t an issue, but neither side in this stubborn fight will likely cave.

2022 CFN Notre Dame Preview

4. Kansas

Seriously, the University of Kansas owes me a gift tray of delightful meats and cheeses if the Big Ten or Pac-12 makes the call.

I’m not sure why this school isn’t more in the mix for expansion. No, it’s not a sleeping giant or anything, but it checks all the expansion boxes.

Well, except for one.

No, the football side isn’t great, but Rutgers isn’t exactly pulling down national titles by the bushel.

Basketball doesn’t really matter in expansion, but sort of like having the cache of bringing in the Nebraska football program, Kansas basketball is obviously special.

Decent-sized – but not huge – enrollment of around 20,000, big national alumni base, Kansas City and St. Louis markets, Tier 1 research AAU school, easy rival for Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois – or Colorado if the Pac-12 makes the move – and most of all, as mentioned before, it’s The University of Kansas.

2022 CFN Kansas Preview

3. Missouri

Missouri might fit the SEC in a whole lot of ideological ways, and no one’s leaving that conference right now, but does it seem like the school is having a lot of fun?

It’s out there in the suburbs of the SEC, far, far away from the downtown area where the cool kids hang out.

Mizzou is about as Atlanta as Pepsi.

It’s not like College Football Playoff appearances are coming if Mizzou were to switch to the Big Ten, but it’s a far better, far more comfortable fit with Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and even Minnesota and Wisconsin with a little bit of a drive.

2022 CFN Missouri Preview

Like Kansas, Missouri brings St. Louis and Kansas City, and it is The University of Missouri.

The Big Ten blew it in 2011 when it didn’t get the school when it had the chance. It’s probably not going to get it this time, either – it’s already in the SEC, it’s not quite splashy enough, markets aren’t that amazing – so …

Missouri sounds nice, but too much work, not enough payoff, unlike …

2. Washington

In light of the USC and UCLA move to the Big Ten, Washington now makes so much sense it’s insane this wasn’t more in the sewing circle rumor mongering discussions until now.

Think about what the Big Ten wants.

It wants the major university in a state. Check.

It wants a solid football program that can be a factor. Check.

It wants a big untapped media market to get new eyeballs on the Big Ten Network. Seattle is right there with Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul in terms of market size. Check.

It wants a strong academic institution. It’s right there in the wheelhouse with Rutgers, Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State. Check.

Washington opens up a corner of the country to make the Big Ten even more of a national brand, obviously the tie-ins with USC and UCLA are there, and again, it just fits the profile in every possible way.

As does …

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1. Oregon

Yeah, all of that with Washington, but with better football, better branding, and much, much better marketing.

The media market isn’t Seattle or Los Angeles, but Portland is there with Baltimore and Indianapolis and Milwaukee. The academic profile is more Nebraska than UCLA or Northwestern, but it’s more than good enough.

2022 CFN Oregon Preview

And again, the marketing. You don’t think the Big Ten wants to be associated with everything the University of Oregon brings to the table in an NIL era?

You don’t grab an Oregon without a Washington – and vice versa – and these two along with USC and UCLA completely changes the landscape of the Big Ten and makes it untouchable business-wise.

Of course, if the Big Ten actually wants to keep expanding.

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2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

Mike Muscala re-signs with Thunder

Darren Wolfson: Former Roseville HS big Mike Muscala is re-signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He can help mentor Minneapolis native Chet Holmgren. 1-year deal for vet minimum. Source: Twitter @DWolfsonKSTP What’s the buzz on Twitter? Darren …

Darren Wolfson: Former Roseville HS big Mike Muscala is re-signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He can help mentor Minneapolis native Chet Holmgren. 1-year deal for vet minimum.
Source: Twitter @DWolfsonKSTP

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Darren Wolfson @DWolfsonKSTP
Former Roseville HS big Mike Muscala is re-signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He can help mentor Minneapolis native Chet Holmgren. 1-year deal for vet minimum. – 11:12 PM
Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Locked On Pelicans is live!
🏀 MORE Pelicans free agency RUMORS
🏀 Patty Mills the shooter the Pels need? Mo Bamba update
🏀 Mike Muscala or Danilo Gallinari would make sense
🎧 https://t.co/BETlDzBFEv
Watch on YouTube!
📺 https://t.co/4DBES9YyFq pic.twitter.com/k8M5vvTZtd3:30 PM

Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Locked On Pelicans is live!
🏀 MORE Pelicans free agency RUMORS
🏀 Patty Mills the shooter the Pels need? Mo Bamba update
🏀 Mike Muscala or Danilo Gallinari would make sense
🎧 https://t.co/BETlDzBFEv
Watch on YouTube!
📺 https://t.co/4DBES9YyFq pic.twitter.com/HVKp4H0VvF12:59 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Locked on #Thunder Podcast:
🏀 Lu Dort is an RFA
🏀 Mike Muscala is a UFA
🏀 Isaiah Roby’s option was picked up
🏀 Spurs join the tank party
🏀 Free Agency Preview
#ThunderUp #FirstListen:
https://t.co/mMkaoVLwqq pic.twitter.com/mhczJDuVII11:38 AM

Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Locked On Pelicans is live!
🏀 MORE Pelicans free agency RUMORS
🏀 Patty Mills the shooter the Pels need? Mo Bamba update
🏀 Mike Muscala or Danilo Gallinari would make sense
🎧 https://t.co/BETlDzTh35
Watch on YouTube!
📺 https://t.co/4DBESaga40 pic.twitter.com/bYsVKyA4Q011:30 AM

Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Locked On Pelicans is live!
🏀 MORE Pelicans free agency RUMORS
🏀 Patty Mills the shooter the Pels need? Mo Bamba update
🏀 Mike Muscala or Danilo Gallinari would make sense
🎧 https://t.co/BETlDzTh35
Watch on YouTube!
📺 https://t.co/4DBESaga40 pic.twitter.com/SJ3v2KtKJ29:29 AM

Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
We’ll have news today on the team options for Lu Dort, Mike Muscala and Isaiah Roby.
The Thunder, as Presti said Saturday, plans to exercise Dort’s $1.9 million option for next season.
No confirmation yet on Muscala ($3.5 million) and Roby ($1.9 million). – 11:39 AM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
New Locked on #Thunder Podcast:
🏀 Decision Day on Isaiah Roby, Lu Dort, and Mike Muscala’s team options
🏀 Salary cap overview
🏀 Power Ranking the ENTIRE current Thunder roster
#ThunderUp:
https://t.co/mMkaoVLwqq pic.twitter.com/yWqnm2Mfzv10:34 AM

Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Remaining options:
B. Beal WAS- PO
O. Brissett IND- TO
K. Edwards BKN- TO
W. Gabriel LAL- TO
S. Johnson LAL- TO
J. Harden PHI- PO
S. Hauser BOS- TO
P. Mills BKN- PO
J. Morgan BOS- TO
M. Muscala OKC- TO
J. Nowell MIN- TO
B. Portis MIL- PO
N. Reid MIN- TO
I. Roby OKC- TO – 6:19 PM

More on this storyline

 

Michael Scotto: Sources: The Oklahoma City Thunder have declined the team’s $3.5 million option on Mike Muscala, @hoopshype has learned. Muscala will become an unrestricted free agent. Muscala shot a career-high 42.9 percent from 3-point range for the Thunder this season. -via Twitter @MikeAScotto / June 30, 2022