2020 Baltimore Ravens – Page 6

Ravens DB Iman Marshall needs surgery after major knee injury

Second-year defensive back Iman Marshall suffered a “major knee injury” yesterday, according to Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.

The Baltimore Ravens are finally back on the grass in training camp ahead of the 2020 season this weekend. But not every player will be available to them as they look to build on last year’s 14-2 record and AFC North division title.

Second-year defensive back Iman Marshall suffered a “major knee injury” yesterday, according to Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. The injury is thought to be a torn ACL and MCL, which Harbaugh said will require surgery. If that’s the case, Marshall’s season is likely over.

This is a terrible blow for Marshall after a disappointing rookie season in 2019. Marshall spent the first 10 weeks of the season on injured reserve after suffering an undisclosed injury in the preseason. He was activated prior to Week 11 but only appeared in three games before the end of the campaign, playing just four defensive snaps in total.

Baltimore’s cornerback room is arguably the strongest position on the Ravens’ roster, with two All-Pro players in Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey joining long-time veteran Jimmy Smith in the defensive backfield. Still, the loss of Marshall is a blow to the Ravens’ depth, especially with some questions still surrounding the health of Tavon Young who missed the whole of last season with a neck injury. If Baltimore finds themselves in need of a veteran to fill out the roster, Brandon Carr remains a street free agent. Carr spent the last three seasons with the Ravens, starting all 48 games.

In other injury news, wide receiver and key special teams player Chris Moore also suffered a broken finger over the weekend. This is the second year Moore has suffered a broken finger, which will make it harder for him to lock down his spot on the 53-man roster.

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Mask to be mandatory for fans attending NFL games in 2020

The NFL has announced that all fans will have to wear face coverings inside the stadiums in 2020 as the league looks to combat COVID-19

The Baltimore Ravens are currently planning for up to 14,000 people to attend home games at M&T Bank Stadium this season. If you’re one of the lucky fans to get a seat in any NFL stadium this season, you’re going to have to wear a mask, however.

In a tweet on Wednesday afternoon, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed the NFL has made it compulsory for fans inside the grounds on game day to wear face coverings. It’s the latest in a series of measures the league and teams are undertaking in order to ensure everything is in place for the season to actually start and for fans and players to remain healthy.

The Ravens are one of only eight teams so far to have their Infectious Disease Emergency Response (IDER) plan approved by the NFLPA, which is good news for the players and staff of the team. But Wednesday’s announcement about mandatory face coverings should be of interest to any fans wishing to see live football this season.

Of course, the coronavirus pandemic continues to be a fluid situation. While the NFL and individual teams are marching forward with the idea fans will be in the stands, there’s a chance that could change to empty stadiums if the pandemic gets worse and force states to close once again. There’s also no guarantee of a full 16-game season either, with the NFL recently canceling all preseason games in an effort to see the regular season start on time with less risk for players.

Whatever way you look at it, the 2020 season will be completely different from previous years, both on the field and in the stands.

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Ronnie Stanley named the best offensive tackle in the NFL in 2020

One prominent analyst believes the Baltimore Ravens have the best offensive tackle in the NFL on their roster.

Over the last few weeks, Touchdown Wire writers Mark Schofield and Doug Farrar have been running a series looking at the best players at their respective position groups heading into the 2020 season. The latest offering looked at the offensive tackle group, and a name familiar to Ravens fans was sat atop the perch at No. 1.

In Schofield’s words, Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley was “almost perfect” in 2019. Stanley gained massive amounts of praise for last season, earning a PFF pass-blocking grade that put him alongside Hall of Fame linemen. Stanley allowed just six quarterback pressures all season, with none resulting in sacks until the AFC Divisional Round game against the Tennessee Titans. While those numbers are impressive, what’s even more impressive was the competition Stanley lined opposite of throughout the season — top pass rushers like Chandler Jones and Nick Bosa.

Stanley certainly picked a great time to enter the upper echelons of his position group, as he is set to play out the 2020 season on his fifth-year option, the terms of which make him one of Baltimore’s biggest salary cap bargains of the season. This comes after a 2019 season that saw him earn his first Pro Bowl nod as well as an All-Pro berth. Another season where Stanley excels to that degree and he could easily get a record-breaking contract for offensive tackles, beating the already sky-high deal Laremy Tunsil signed this offseason with the Houston Texans. Not to mention keeping Lamar Jackson upright as the MVP of the league looks to build on last year’s successes.

Go check out Schofield’s article where he breaks down the magnificence that was Stanley’s All-Pro 2019 campaign.

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Calais Campbell thinks Ravens are his best chance at a Super Bowl

The Ravens new defensive end thinks his new team gives him a great shot at finally winning a Lombardi Trophy after 12 years in the NFL.

New Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell has achieved a lot in his 12 years in the NFL. 88 career sacks, five Pro Bowl berths, one All-Pro nod, and a Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner all tell the tale of a player who has made his mark in his chosen profession. But one thing Campbell does not have is a Super Bowl ring.

Campbell did play in the Super Bowl in his 2008 rookie season as a member of the Arizona Cardinals, but his side went down 27-23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers that day. He has not been back to the big game since. But he thinks the 2020 Ravens are his best chance to not only return to the biggest stage of all but to come away with the trophy.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” Campbell said in an interview on Sirius XM. “I think, you know, this is one of those times where, I’ve been playing football for 12 years and I’ve been close a bunch — you know, I’ve played in what, three championships games, one Super Bowl — but I haven’t been able to win it yet. So, I feel like, this team, as talented as it is, this is probably going to be the best shot I have. And so, my mindset is just embrace it, treat every moment special and make each moment count.”

Campbell’s experience is likely to be just as big a benefit as his production when he first steps on the field for the Ravens. As young and talented as a group as it is, Campbell and safety Earl Thomas are the only defensive players with legitimate experience of postseason success. Even knowing how to deal with the disappointment of getting close to the Super Bowl, which Campbell did when he lost in Championship games with both the Cardinals and the Jacksonville Jaguars, will help the Ravens so much after the way their 2019 season ended.

The talent already in the locker room, coupled with the know-how Campbell brings, already makes the Ravens roster a lot better than it was a year ago. Now it is all about putting the pieces together, and getting the team (and Calais) back to the Super Bowl.

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Ravens DC Don Martindale excited about potentially healthy CB Tavon Young

The Baltimore Ravens slot cornerback could be ready to return after missing 2019, getting defensive coordinator Don Martindale excited

The Baltimore Ravens’ pass defense was one of the strengths of the team last season, as defensive coordinator Don Martindale’s charges allowed the sixth fewest passing yards in the whole league. Only the New England Patriots allowed a lower completion percentage than the Ravens, against whom opponents completed just 58.5% of their passes. It was with some degree of justification that three members of the Ravens defensive backfield — namely Marcus Peters, Marlon Humphrey, and Earl Thomas — were named All-Pros last year.

But there is a drumbeat building around how this group could be improved this season. It’s not because of a new face in the defensive backs room but rather a familiar one. Cornerback Tavon Young missed the entire 2019 season with a serious neck injury, but he could be set to return for 2020 — at least according to him.

“He says he’s healthy,” Martindale said in a video conference with reporters last week. “He’s ready to go. Tavon is ready to go, and if he tells me he’s ready to go, I believe in him 100 percent. And he’ll be ready to go, so I’m excited about that.”

Having Young back would allow Humphrey to move back to the outside cornerback spot. Humphrey played inside on 50.2% of his snaps last season, according to Player Profiler, compared to just 4.8% in 2018 when Young played 15 games. The last time we saw Young, he was earning the highest contract for a slot cornerback after his 2018 deeds.

But (and there is a big but) no one has said that Young is definitely going to be back on the field, never mind at his best. In the same interview, Martindale joked that Young “looks healthy on the computer.” There does not appear to be any word from medical experts regarding Young’s health, and whether he has been medically cleared to resume playing.

It would be one thing if Young, as good as he has been when on the field, has been a picture of health through his career. However, that has not been the case. As well as the neck injury, Young missed the entire 2017 season with a torn ACL, while also battling hip and ankle injuries during the 2018 season. Since being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Young has missed 33 of 64 possible regular-season games.

A fully fit and healthy Young would give Martindale another weapon to deploy against opposing offenses in 2020. But until we get confirmation that he is good to go, Baltimore is simply hoping Young is 100% and ready to roll.

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NFLPA medical director suggests players shouldn’t work out together privately

NFLPA medical Director Dr. Thom Mayer has suggested an end to player workouts in the wake of a spate of new cases suffering from COVID-19.

The NFL has canceled in-person minicamps through June, forcing teams and players to continue their workouts virtually. Some players have begun working out together privately in order to prepare for the regular season. Sadly, as some players have tested positive for COVID-19, the NFLPA is cautioning against these joint workouts.

Last week, several NFL players tested positive for the coronavirus, including Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and Denver Broncos cornerback Kareem Jackson. With the number of athletes coming down with the virus increasing, NFLPA medical director Dr. Thom Mayer suggested putting a stop to players practicing together.

In his statement, Dr. Mayer wrote

Please be advised that it is our consensus medical opinion that in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in certain states that no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts. Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months. We are working on the best mitigation procedures at team facilities for both training camps and the upcoming season, and believe that it is in the best interest of all players that we advise against any voluntary joint practices before training camp commences.

The Ravens have seen several of their players hold joint practice sessions this month. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has worked out with Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin while Robert Griffin III has been training with James Proche and Devin Duvernay. No Baltimore players have knowingly gotten the virus to date, however.

Dr. Mayer’s statement is just a recommendation of course, and the players are all adults that can make their own decisions. But the recent cases are a clear sign that the virus has not yet gone away and could impact football beyond this offseason. The recent high-profile cases could lead to the NFL making changes to the protocols they had already set in place to allow teams to return to normal. Protocols Ravens coach John Harbaugh already had his doubts over.

“I’ve seen all the memos on that, and to be quite honest with you, it’s impossible what they’re asking us to do. Humanly impossible,” Harbaugh said on 105.7 The Fan’s “Inside Access.”

We are still a long way from the planned start of the regular season, but with player and personnel safety atop the list of priorities for the NFL and NFLPA, this is another blow towards the hopes of one of the top sports in the country, if not the world, being around on time.

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Meeting the Ravens 2020 opponents: The Cleveland Browns

We take a closer look at each of the Baltimore Ravens’ opponents on the 2020 NFL schedule, starting with Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns

Training camp and the regular season quickly approach as we enter the summer months. With the schedule released and the NFL moving back into their training facilities, the regular season occurring in its entirety is looking more plausible. With an eye towards the 2020 NFL season, we’ll take a look at each of the Baltimore Ravens’ opponents, in order. From the records against each other to the big performances, we’ll take a deep dive to prepare you for the regular season.

The Ravens will open the 2020 NFL season against their AFC North rival Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium, before meeting back up in Week 14 as well. Being a divisional game, it’s a chance for both teams to start the 2020 season off on the right foot.

Let’s start with the reason for all the heat between Cleveland and Baltimore.

The rivalry

The Browns/Ravens rivalry is one of the more unique stories in the entire NFL, as one team was essentially the rib of the other. In 1995, Browns owner Art Modell moved his team out of the city that it had called home since it’s inception in 1946. Modell’s desire for a brand new stadium was a goal not shared by the authorities in Cleveland. The team was made to leave behind their name and history in Cleveland and became the Baltimore Ravens. Essentially this made the Ravens an expansion team, although one with an existing roster and two first-round picks in the 1996 NFL Draft.

After three seasons without a team, during which a brand new stadium was built, the Browns were reactivated in Cleveland for 1999 and joined the Ravens in the then-AFC Central division.

Modell remained an unpopular figure in Cleveland for the rest of his life (he sadly died in 2012). Never the most popular owner with the Browns fans, “The Move” only intensified the ill feelings towards him that had started in 1963 when he fired founding coach Paul Brown. But as much as he was vilified by the fans in Cleveland, Modell was a popular figure with the people of Baltimore after bringing the NFL back to the city following the Colts elopement in 1983.

Let’s move on to how the rivalry has fared over the two decades it’s existed, on the next page.

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Ravens LB Patrick Queen has 3rd-best odds at Defensive Rookie of the Year award

The Ravens newest linebacker is among the front runners to take the award for the best rookie on the defensive side of the ball in 2020

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Some players, when they enter the NFL, can take a while to adjust to the professional game. Others take to it immediately and begin to stamp their name and authority all over the league. Players who fall into the latter category will usually find their names come into consideration for awards at the end of their first season.

Ravens fans will be hoping this applies to first-year linebacker Patrick Queen. Queen is tied for the third-best odds to win the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year, according to BetMGM. Only Washington pass rusher Chase Young (11/5) and Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons (11/2) have shorter odds than Queen, who can be got at 11/1. This is the same odds as fellow linebacker Kenneth Murray, who was picked five spots earlier. Jeff Okudah, the cornerback for the Detroit Lions, is currently sitting as a 14/1, making him the fifth favorite.

Linebackers have a track record of success in taking home the DROTY prize since the dawn of the 21st century. Of the 20 winners since 2000, 12 have come from the linebacker ranks. The most recent was Darius Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts after he led the NFL with 163 combined tackles in 2018.

A Ravens rookie hasn’t taken the prize since 2003 when Terrell Suggs won the award after he posted 12 sacks and forced five fumbles in his first NFL season. But another member of the current Ravens squad has experience of winning the award. Cornerback Marcus Peters captured the trophy in 2015 as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Peters led the NFL with eight interceptions as a rookie, with two returned for touchdowns. Peters also led all players with 280 return yards and 26 passes defended.

For those in search of an outsider, another Ravens rookie can be had at longer odds than Queen. Malik Jefferson has odds of 80/1, making him the 23rd-best option, according to BetMGM.

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Don’t lock Devin Duvernay into a single role with the Ravens

After producing from the slot at Texas, wide receiver Devin Duvernay wants everyone to know he isn’t just a one-trick pony for the Ravens

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One of the main reasons why the Baltimore Ravens selected wide receiver Devin Duvernay in the 2020 NFL Draft was his blazing speed. Duvernay was clocked running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Many believe the Ravens will line up Duvernay as a slot receiver, but he was quick to point out he has more than one string to his bow.

“I feel like I can do both (play outside and in the slot),” Duvernay said at his press conference after being drafted. “My freshman year and senior year, I played strictly slot. My junior and sophomore years, I played strictly outside. So, I feel like I can be productive at both, and be able to move around on the field.”

Duvernay isn’t the only one that has a say in where he lines up. But when asked about the bevy of choices the Ravens have in the slot, coach John Harbaugh noted that they like to move their players around and don’t lock someone into a specific position.

“We don’t just have an X and a Z and an S and a Y, a U and an H,” Harbaugh said following the final day of the draft. “We play all the guys in different spots, the same as we do on defense.

“So really, I don’t think we really have a ‘slot’ player or an ‘outside’ player. You’ll see those guys play in all the different spots in different times. And then, we try to put them in position to do the things that they do well. The things you see Willie Snead doing are the things we think he does best, and he’s a very versatile player, for instance. We’ll try to do that with all the guys we have.”

While all the pre-draft talk had Duvernay playing in the slot, the thought of being pigeonholed was something he clearly wanted to put out of people’s minds. When asked what he brings to the Ravens, Duvernay talked about his intangibles first, mentioning his “versatility, toughness, physicality,” while also noting he can take on a number of different roles, like “being able to not just go deep but go short, take it the distance, be involved in the screen game and with blocking.” Duvernay said he’ll be “an all-around player” in Baltimore.

Harbaugh continued to back up Duvernay’s belief, dissuading anyone from believing either he or James Proche would be locked into one specific role or one specific spot on the field.

“So, when Devin [Duvernay] can go outside – and then James Proche has been outside, too – outside, inside, in motion, runs, twitch routes, out of the backfield.”

While this versatility will no doubt be utilized by offensive coordinator Greg Roman, it’s likely that Duvernay will spend a good deal of time in the slot for the Ravens. In 2019, Willie Snead led all Baltimore wide receivers with 409 snap slots, averaging 7.7 yards per target. Given his speed and all-round game, it would surprise no one if Duvernay was to eclipse these marks as a rookie.

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What the D.J. Fluker signing means for the Ravens’ offensive line

The Ravens are bringing in former Chargers and Seahawks G D.J. Fluker, but what does it mean for their offensive line?

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The Baltimore Ravens are bringing in former Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks guard D.J. Fluker. This move comes after the team spent two picks over the 2020 NFL Draft beefing up their offensive line, adding Tyre Phillips and Ben Bredeson. With the recent influx of bodies at guard, the biggest question to be asked with Fluker’s signing is how it impacts everyone else on the offensive line.

The signing of Fluker brings some veteran experience to a Ravens offensive line that lost one of its leaders in Marshal Yanda, who retired this offseason. Ben Powers is tentatively expected to be the first man up to replace Yanda at the right guard spot, but he has very little in the way of experience in the NFL, something Fluker has in spades.

Fluker has played right guard for the bulk of his NFL career, moving there after playing right tackle for his first two years in the league with the Chargers. In total, Fluker has started 88 games and played for 5,833 offensive snaps, significantly more than Powers’ 30 and both Phillips’ and Bredeson’s 0. It’s also worth pointing out Fluker brings valuable versatility. He has some experience playing tackle and currently, Baltimore only has Andre Smith as a backup to both Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown Jr.

However, Fluker’s signing may just be a case of the Ravens wanting some veteran depth in the likely event of a truncated offseason. Fluker won’t count against Baltimore’s compensatory pick formula and depending on the price tag, it’s a low-cost move that they can quickly get out of should the youngsters prove up to the task.

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