Tag: 2020 Baltimore Ravens

Devin Duvernay has his sights on emulating some Ravens greats

Meet one of the newest Baltimore Ravens, wide receiver Devin Duvernay

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After being taken in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, wide receiver Devin Duvernay was quick to establish what he will bring to the organization.

“I bring versatility, toughness, physicality, 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 at his introductory press conference. “I’ll kind of be an all-around player. I’m super excited.”

Duvernay thought he and the Ravens would be a “great fit” during the pre-draft process. He was thrilled to be compared to some past Ravens greats like Anquan Boldin and Derek Mason, but especially Steve Smith.

“Those are some great players, especially Steve Smith Sr,” Duvernay continued. “I grew up watching him and loved his game. He was kind of somebody I loved watching and wanted to be like – playing with that chip on my shoulder. It means a lot to get a comparison like that. I just have to keep working, continue to get better, and maybe I can be like them one day.”

If Duvernay wants to be considered one of Baltimore’s great wide receivers, it wouldn’t take much to make the top of the list. The Ravens have struggled to draft and develop receivers over the years. Torrey Smith has been their best homegrown talent, putting up 3,591 receiving yards and 30 receiving touchdowns over four years before leaving in free agency.

Steve Smith Sr. was with Baltimore for three seasons, though his second year saw him head to injured reserve after seven games due to an Achilles tear. But over 37 games with the Ravens, Smith caught 195 balls for 2,534 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. Despite his limited tenure in Baltimore, Smith is ranked 10th on the Ravens’ franchise receiving yards list, putting up the second-highest receiving yards-per-game average in franchise history.

Baltimore hopes to have ended their wide receiver woes and have some promising players on the roster now in addition to Duvernay. The Ravens’ first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Marquise Brown, had an outstanding rookie campaign even with injuries slowing him down. Miles Boykin, a third-round pick last year, showed flashes throughout the season.

If Duvernay continues to have the drive of Smith, it seems like a matter of time before he becomes one of Baltimore’s top options.

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New Ravens G Ben Bredeson comes from an ultra-competitive family

Bredeson may have picked up his competitive nature and spirit from none other than his own mother.

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With the Baltimore Ravens selecting Michigan guard Ben Bredeson with the 143rd pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, they added a highly competitive player. So competitive in fact that Bredeson’s mother competes in dog shows and doesn’t take losing very kindly.

According to ESPN’s television coverage, Bredeson may have picked up his competitive nature and spirit from none other than his own mother. And when she got a ribbon for a non-first finish, it didn’t stick around long.

It’s a safe bet there weren’t any “participation trophies” on the mantle in the Bredeson household.

Apparently, Bredeson’s mom, Deb, was highly competitive in the national dog show circuit, treating second place ribbons with the same regard as used fast-food wrappers. If Ben Bredeson brings the same competitive edge to the Baltimore Ravens, settling for anything less than a Super Bowl victory would be a disgrace, nay, tragedy.

I fully support your mentality here, Ben (if that truly is your outlook), and hope your most competitive dreams come true. And if that indeed comes to pass, please give my thanks to your dear mother.

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Ravens earn ‘B-‘ grade for S Geno Stone pick in 7th round

This grade would have probably been a lower if it didn’t add some depth to the safety position.

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The Baltimore Ravens addressed a minor question mark with their final pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, taking Iowa safety Geno Stone at No. 219 overall.

Draft Grade: B-

This grade would have probably been a bit lower if it didn’t add some depth to the safety position, something the Ravens needed to address after the departure of Tony Jefferson.

What I’m not sold on is Stone’s lack of speed and size to be a game-changing safety in this league, but then again that’s not really what you’re looking for in the seventh round.

That said, he does have some upside as a hybrid box and coverage safety and offers an interesting option behind Chuck Clark and Earl Thomas, especially with the way Don Martindale has found ways to use various defensive backs in his schemes.

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Ravens earn ‘C’ grade for DT Broderick Washington pick in 5th round

Whether or not Washington becomes a considerable force on the defensive front will take some time discern.

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Eric DeCosta continues to make revamping and building up the defensive front-seven a top priority this offseason for the Baltimore Ravens, selecting Texas Tech DT Broderick Washington with pick No. 170 in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Draft Grade: C

Washington is considered undersized for a defensive tackle but makes up for that with aggressive hands and upper-body power. He does bring a solid work ethic, as well as instincts and leadership qualities with him to the Ravens, something that Baltimore brass both admire and covet.

While this pick certainly adds depth to the defensive line that has gone through a bit of an overhaul, it just doesn’t feel like it addresses a need, which the Ravens haven’t done enough of thus far in this draft. Aside from selecting Patrick Queen in the first round, many of the early picks felt like “best available” choices, having completely ignored their need at edge rusher.

Whether or not Washington becomes a considerable force on the defensive front will take some time to discern. Until then, I’m not sure depth trumps need at this point in the draft.

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Ravens earn ‘B’ grade for OL Ben Bredeson pick in 4th round

Bredeson, a top offensive line choice for the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, fills an immediate depth need at guard for the Ravens.

With their first selection of the fourth round, the Baltimore Ravens saw an opportunity to address an offseason need, taking Michigan guard Ben Bredeson with the 143rd overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. It’s a solid addition to Baltimore’s offensive line, earning a solid grade from us here at Ravens Wire.

Draft Grade: B

Bredeson, considered to be the best offensive lineman choice for the fourth round, fills an immediate depth need at guard for the Ravens, especially with the retirement of All-Pro stalwart Marshall Yanda. Bredeson also potentially brings some versatility to the offensive line. While he started all of his games at left guard for Michigan, he got snaps at center at the Senior Bowl as well.

As a stout and effective run-blocker, this choice makes a lot of sense for Baltimore’s power-heavy approach on offense. The Ravens’ offense features a stable of capable running backs that now includes second-round pick J.K. Dobbins, not to mention scrambling QB Lamar Jackson, so adding some blockers up front was a necessity.

Bredeson is a smart and strong blocker with experience in an RPO system. While very few fourth-round picks will start immediately upon coming into the NFL, Bredeson might actually have a shot to at least compete for the job with fellow draft pick Tyre Phillips and 2019 fourth-round selection Ben Powers, who is likely penciled in as the starter.

It’s also worth noting that Bredeson is going from one Harbaugh to another — Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s brother Jim coaches the Wolverines — something that may have helped facilitate this selection, dissuading the Baltimore from looking elsewhere.

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Fans freak out about Ravens taking RB J.K. Dobbins in 2nd round

Take a look at some of the best twitter reactions from the Ravens second pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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The Baltimore Ravens went with the best available option with their first pick of the second round (No. 55 overall), taking Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins. It was a shock to many, even those that figured the team would take a running back in this draft. But no one really expected them to take on with their second pick.

Even though Dobbins is entering a crowded backfield (the Ravens already have solid options in Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill on the roster), Twitter seemed to be more than thrilled with the latest addition to Baltimore’s record-breaking rushing attack, under the command of QB Lamar Jackson.

 

Adding insult to injury, rival fans don’t appear to be too thrilled about facing the returning AFC North Champions with the addition of Dobbins to that prolific rushing attack.

But this may be my favorite tweet in response to the draft. This kid is my spirit animal. I was on the fence about the Ravens taking Dobbins, yet I am now completely convinced . . . and onboard with it.

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3 nightmare scenarios for the Ravens in the 1st round

A unique 2020 NFL Draft creates some unique problems and with that comes even more possibilities for nightmare scenarios for the Ravens.

For a team that has generally excelled at making the most out of its draft choices, you can’t really say the Baltimore Ravens would be in too much trouble if things didn’t necessarily “fall their way” in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. This is a team that predicates its draft strategy on selecting the best available player instead of reaching for a big need.

Still, in an unusual draft that is being done virtually, everyone should expect the unexpected. And there are a few things that could frustrate the normally unflappable Ravens as well as peak fan complaints in the process.

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Best players at Ravens’ needs go early

Arguably the most glaring issue on the Ravens is their lack of talent at inside linebacker. With names like Bart Scott, C.J. Mosley, and obviously Ray Lewis lingering in fans’ heads, Baltimore is desperately seeking the heir-apparently to its vaunted lineage. Patrick Queen and Kenneth Murray have most often been mocked to the Ravens ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft and if both are gone, it could force Baltimore to alter their plans.

But what would make it truly a nightmare scenario is if there’s a run on wide receivers and pass rushers as well. If there are just quarterbacks, running backs and offensive tackles on the board, everyone is going to be frustrated.

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11 pass rushers the Ravens could target in free agency

The Baltimore Ravens desperately need help getting after the quarterback, especially if they lose Matthew Judon. These 11 players could help

Anyone who watched the Baltimore Ravens during their incredible 14-2 run last season, while being blown away by the offense, must have noticed just how frequently the team blitzed on defense. The numbers back up this visual assessment, as the Ravens blitzed at the highest rate in the NFL last season, sending extra rushers on 54.9% of their defensive plays. Yet despite this aggression, the Ravens finished with only 37 sacks, the 12th fewest in the league.

Sacks are not everything of course. However, the other measure of pass-rush success is quarterback hits, which Baltimore struggled with outside of Matthew Judon. With Judon among the Ravens’ pending free agents, Baltimore could be left with Tyus Bowser and Jaylon Ferguson pushed into starting roles. Considering the pair had just 19 combined quarterback hits compared to Judon’s 33, that would be a massive blow they’d have to fill immediately.

Hopefully, the Ravens and their front office have noticed this too and will be taking steps to beef up the teams’ pass rush this offseason. They may well look to do this through the draft, but there are some potential pass rushers on the free agency market that the team may consider bringing in.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Arik Armstead

Armstead enjoyed a breakout season as a member of the San Francisco 49ers’ smothering defense in 2019. He had a slow start to his time in the NFL, being active for just 30 games in his first three seasons and only starting 11 of the games he played in during that timeframe.

But Armstead has started every game in each of the last two seasons, and in 2019 he amassed a career-high 10.0 sacks, while also posting 18 quarterback hits and 11 tackles for loss. Armstead only had 13 TFLs in his first four seasons combined. Armstead offers some versatility having played at both defensive end and defensive tackle at times for the 49ers.

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3 early-round draft picks for Ravens to replace Marshal Yanda

The Baltimore Ravens have options to replace retiring guard Marshal Yanda, including a few early-round prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft.

An era of excellence is coming to an end for the Baltimore Ravens, with the news that guard Marshal Yanda is set to retire from the NFL. Yanda has been a bedrock of the Ravens offensive line since they took him in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft, starting 166 of the 177 games he has played. Since 2007, the Ravens have amassed the fourth-most rushing yards in the entire NFL with an appreciable chunk of their 25,883 yards coming thanks to Yanda doing work on the offensive line.

Yanda’s retirement, while maybe not totally unexpected, could force a re-think in the Ravens’ strategy with regards to team building this offseason. They could look to free agency to plug the gap left by Yanda, assuming they don’t want to hand the job to a player already on the roster. Or they could look to the NFL Draft. This is not considered a great year for interior offensive linemen, but there are few options should the Ravens want to spend a very early pick on one. Here are three names the Ravens may consider taking with their first selection.

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Cesar Ruiz – Michigan

Ruiz spent most of his time with the Wolverines at Center, earning the title of “Best Pass Blocking Center” in the country by PFF College in 2018. But he did play five games at guard during his time in the collegiate ranks and could slide over there once in the NFL. Ruiz has a track record of playing on productive offenses, both through the air and on the ground. According to his bio on the Wolverine website, as a senior at IMG Academy, Ruiz “anchored an offensive line that helped the offense produce 2,000 yards through the air and 1,879 yards on the ground in 11 games.”

Ruiz is widely accepted as one of the best interior offensive linemen heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. If the Ravens are looking to replace Yanda with a rookie, Ruiz could be their guy as early as the first round.

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10 reasons Ravens fans should be excited about the future

A look at the reasons why spirits should be high in Baltimore and their tradition as one of the best franchises in football will continue.

I know it can be disheartening when a team with one of the best seasons in franchise history –maybe even NFL history if you count all the records broken — suffers an unexpected and somewhat uncharacteristic loss at the hands of a seemingly lesser team. But for the Baltimore Ravens, all is certainly not lost after the 2019 season.

Sure, every season is a proverbial question mark before it eventually takes shape, even for the most successful NFL franchises when you account for all the variables. But the Ravens have a lot to be excited about heading into what is typically an uncertain future.

Let’s take a look at 10 reasons why spirits should be high in Baltimore and their tradition as one of the best franchises in football will continue.

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Lamar Jackson

We have to start with the NFL’s most electric quarterback. It’s hard not to be excited about the future with the prospect of Jackson leading the offense in Baltimore for years to come.

In only his second year, Jackson seemingly defied all the odds, all the naysayers, and all the NFL records on his way to an unprecedented season and MVP honor.

Even though he has yet to win a playoff game, what Jackson accomplished this season — passing for over 3,000 yards, rushing for the new league record by a quarterback, and leading the league in touchdown passes — was nothing short of remarkable. His losses in the postseason are only fueling his desire to win and ultimately fulfill his promise of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Baltimore.

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