Tag: James Proche

Pro Football Focus weighs in on Ravens’ WR corps in rankings list

Pro Football Focus put out a rankings list of all 32 NFL wide receiver groups

When it comes to the Baltimore Ravens, there are many things to think of. From a tough defense to a strong running game, there are plenty of things that Baltimore has gotten right on a consistent basis. However, many don’t give credit to their wide receiver position, which hasn’t been the greatest of strengths for the team.

During the 2022 NFL draft, the Ravens traded away wide receiver Marquise Brown after he made it clear he wanted to play elsewhere. The team also lost veteran wideout Sammy Watkins in free agency and moved on from pass catcher Miles Boykin as well.

What Baltimore has left at the position are talented young players such as Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay and James Proche II, Tylan Wallace and others. Each of those four have made plays in the regular season, even if there’s only a relatively small sample size.

In an article published by Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus, he ranked the receiving corps of each NFL team for the upcoming season. The wide receiver groups were ranked in four tiers, and the Ravens came in at last tier, titled “likely a weakness. Baltimore’s group finished at No. 29 out of all 32 teams.

Linsey noted the only thing keeping Baltimore from falling any lower on the list is their star at tight end in Mark Andrews.

“The biggest thing keeping the Ravens from falling any lower is Mark Andrews — the second-most valuable tight end in 2021, per PFF WAR. The Marquise Brown trade puts a lot on the shoulders of unproven options, including Devin Duvernay, Tylan Wallace and James Proche, even if Baltimore uses heavy personnel often.”

Bateman appears to be the clear-cut wide receiver one on the team since the departure of Brown. Linsey believes Bateman needs to have a breakout year in order for the team to succeed in the passing game.

“Rashod Bateman stands out as the clear No. 1 at wide receiver after recording a 64.9 PFF grade on just over 600 snaps as a rookie. He missed the early portion of his rookie season due to injury and didn’t have a healthy Lamar Jackson at quarterback for much of the season after he returned to the lineup. He’s a potential second-year breakout candidate, and the Ravens need him to make that happen.”

Regardless of who slots in where when the start of the season, Baltimore has plenty of candidates at receiver who are willing to put in the work and step up if their number is called. While the group might not be as highly regarded as others right now, there’s a chance that as the 2022 season progresses they will begin to garner some respect as quality, up-and-coming bunch.

Ravens WR coach Tee Martin discusses mentality of team’s WR group

Ravens wide receiver coach Tee Martin discussed the mentality of the team’s wideout group

The Baltimore Ravens have become known for their ability to draft at a high level. However, there are certain positions that they are better at drafting than others, and wide receiver is one that hasn’t produced as much consistent homegrown talent as the team would have liked.

After the trade of Marquise Brown and the departures of both Sammy Watkins and Miles Boykin, Baltimore will be relying on four players that they invested draft picks in at receiver. When Ravens wide receiver coach Tee Martin was asked about if the wideouts have a chip on their shoulder, Martin discussed their mentality.

“No question. That’s exactly what the mentality is right now. The guys do have a chip on their shoulder, and they want to go out and prove that they’re ready for their opportunity. And when we don’t draft a wide receiver, what the organization is saying to you is, ‘We brought you here for a reason, and it’s your time.’ And so, whether it’s Rashod [Bateman], whether it’s Devin [Duvernay], Tylan [Wallace], James Proche, guys like that, they’ve been here, they know the system, they played, sparingly, in some roles, and now you’re going to look out there and see them on the field more often, getting an opportunity to make more plays for us.”

The more playing time that receivers such as Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, James Proche II and Tylan Wallace get, the better chance they have to make an impact and prove that they are better than any possible veteran wide receiver that could be brought in by the team. Each has plenty of talent, and should get plenty of opportunities to make a name for themselves.

Ravens announce inactives for Week 18 matchup vs. Steelers

The Ravens announced their inactive players for their Week 18 game against the Steelers

The Baltimore Ravens are set to conclude their 2021 regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18. It should be a hard fought and physical game, just like the many matchups of years past between the two teams.

Before the game, Baltimore announced their inactive players for the contest. It was a long shot for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to start this week due to the fact that he’s only practiced one time since injuring his ankle during the game against the Cleveland Browns, and he once again headlines the inactives after being ruled out on Friday.

Wide receiver James Proche II is also inactive today for the second straight week.  It’s unfortunate for Proche because it would be nice to see what he can do and improve on the game he had against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rookie outside linebacker Odafe Oweh is out for the second-straight week with a foot injury, It would’ve been nice for Oweh to sack Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in front of Terrell Suggs, who is being honored as the legend of the game for the Ravens. The rest of the inactives for Baltimore consist of guard Ben Powers, tight end Tony Poljan, defensive lineman Isaiah Mack and cornerback Anthony Averett.

Pittsburgh also announced their inactives for the contest.

 

Ravens announce inactives for Week 17 matchup vs. Rams

The Ravens released their inactive players list ahead of their Week 17 matchup with the Rams

The Baltimore Ravens are set to take on the Los Angeles Rams in a high-stakes Week 17 matchup. Baltimore needs a win if they want to have a realistic shot at making the playoffs, and they’ll have to do so against a talented Los Angeles team.

Ahead of the contest, the Ravens released their inactive players list, which was once again headlined by quarterback Lamar Jackson. The quarterback was seen limping noticeably in his return to the practice field on Wednesday and didn’t practice after that.

The Baltimore defense is going to have its hands full with the Rams offense, and it’s going to be a lot tougher without outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and Pernell McPhee, as well as cornerback Anthony Averett. The good news is that the defense will get back a lot of their players from the Reserve/COVID-19 list who were out last week so the pass rush should be able to handle the loss of Oweh. wide receivers James Proche II and Miles Boykin and guard Ben Powers round out the list for the Ravens.

Fullback Patrick Ricard is active today, which will help out the running game for Baltimore. With Ricard and tight end Nick Boyle both playing, the Ravens’ offense might be able to make some plays and keep up with the high-powered Los Angeles Rams offense.

James Proche II returns to practice on Wednesday, Ben Cleveland leaves early

The Ravens saw one of their stars of training camp return to practice on Wednesday, but a promising rookie leave the field early

The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up another day of practice on Wednesday as they prepare for their third and final preseason game of 2021. While many injured players on the team haven’t returned to the field yet, Baltimore got a bit of good news before their mid-week session, as James Proche II was back after missing Tuesdays’ practice with cramps. However, Ben Cleveland and a few other Ravens left early.

Aside from injury notes, it was another solid day of practice.

As Baltimore gears up for the regular season, they’ll hope to get some of their injured contributors back. However, the team is making it work with the players that they have available, and those that are on the field are all talented. It would be surprising to see many of the guys who have sat out of practice play on Saturday night against the Washington Football team, as it appears that the Ravens are taking the cautious approach with their injuries.

Ravens’ wide receivers impress during Thursday’s practice

Ravens’ wide receivers impress during Thursday’s practice

The Baltimore Ravens have been working through plenty of injuries over the course of the first few weeks of 2021 training camp. While the team is hoping to get healthy sooner rather than later, guys sitting out have given other players opportunities to step up and make a name for themselves.

On Thursday, Baltimore was missing wide receivers Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, Miles Boykin and Deon Cain due to injuries. That provided the chance for players such as Sammy Watkins, James Proche II, Devin Duvernay, and Tylan Wallace to impress during reps.

Even though there were multiple deflections that resulted in interceptions, it’s encouraging to see players stepping up in the absence of so many receivers. Other guys who made big plays on Thursday included Brandon Stephens, Ar’Darius Washington, and Kristian Welch, with Lamar Jackson also having a good day of practice himself. The Ravens will play their first preseason game on Saturday against the New Orleans Saints, where a lot of guys will look to make a big impact as they try to earn a roster spot.

Ravens’ offense has mostly strong first day of 2021 training camp

Ravens’ offense has mostly strong first day of 2021 training camp

The Baltimore Ravens kicked off their training camp practices on Wednesday as they formally begin their quest for a championship. Despite not having quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Gus Edwards due to positive COVID-19 tests, the Baltimore offense still got off to a strong start.

In the absence of Jackson, both Trace McSorley and Tyler Huntley had great days, showing off accuracy all over the field, while Marquise Brown also impressed with a magnificent performance. Other offensive players for the Ravens who made a big impact in Day 1 included Josh Oliver, Devin Duvernay, James Proche and more.

Even though there wasn’t full contact on Day 1, it’s still impressive that the offense was able to hum the way it did. However, it wasn’t all good for the unit, as Bradley Bozeman struggled with snaps throughout the course of the day.

Not everything went smoothly for the offense on the first day of training camp, but that’s to be expected. It was still an overall very productive showing for many members of the team, and they’ll look to continue building as the 2021 regular season quickly approaches.

Should the Ravens go after N’Keal Harry?

The Baltimore Ravens have plenty of talent at the wide receiver position. Should they make a move for N’Keal Harry?

The Baltimore Ravens made it a point to revamp their wide receiver room during the 2021 offseason. They added Sammy Watkins in free agency while also drafting both Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace. However, could Baltimore look to add yet another pass catcher to their already improved receiver group?

Jamal Tooson, the agent of New England Patriots wide receiver N’Keal Harry, released a statement on Tuesday requesting a trade on behalf of his client. Tooson noted that 86 targets through two seasons have not been up to the expectations that the wide receiver and the organization had when he was drafted two years ago.

With New England having the up-and-coming Jakobi Meyers, along with free agent additions Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor, there might not be a lot of opportunity for Harry in a Patriots uniform. With that being said, should the Ravens pursue the disgruntled wide receiver?

In short, the answer is no. After being selected with the No. 32 overall pick, Harry has caught 45 passes for 414 yards and four touchdowns. He hasn’t been nearly the player that New England expected when they drafted him, and that comes down to factors including injuries and an overall lack of development.

Harry wouldn’t cost nearly as much in draft capital (and salary) as a player such as WR Julio Jones, who was traded this offseason. But even so, it seems Harry’s path in the NFL has been similar to that of Ravens WR Miles Boykin — a big-bodied pass catcher who hasn’t quite been able to put it all together.

Despite all of the reasons why a potential move for Harry doesn’t make sense for Baltimore, it is certainly possible that the team could entertain the idea of trading for him. He was extremely productive at Arizona State in contested-catch situations and has a skill set that could be maximized with the right coaching and opportunity. Coaches such as Tee Martin and Keith Williams could be just the right people to help Harry unlock his full potential.

While Harry has time to turn things around after a slow start to his NFL career, there just isn’t a lot of room on the Ravens roster for him. The additions of Watkins, Bateman, and Wallace — combined with the presence of players such as Boykin, Marquise Brown, Devin Duvernay and James Proche — make it hard for Harry to even be guaranteed a roster spot, let alone be provided with plenty of opportunities.

With extremely deep offense, Ravens might have to make some difficult decisions

The Baltimore Ravens brought in plenty of playmakers to round out their offense. However, they could have to make some tough decisions

The Baltimore Ravens have always been a team that values depth at as many positions as possible. Having so much depth is a good problem to have, but sometimes it can create roster crunches that turn into tough decisions.

In 2021, Baltimore might have put together one of the deepest rosters they’ve ever had. The team only has a few minor needs, and even those don’t necessarily have to be addressed, as the players already on the roster can make those holes seem smaller than they actually are if they perform at a high level.

On the offensive side of the ball in particular, the Ravens made sure to add plenty of talented playmakers that can not only play at a high level, but also fit their style of play. Both the additions and the players already on the roster have bought into Baltimore’s style of offense, which is extremely important.

When looking at how deep each position on the offense actually is, one would be hard pressed to find any huge weaknesses. The team has three quality young quarterbacks, including a star in Lamar Jackson. They have three great young running backs as well that compliment each other while also bringing something different to the table than the other two.

Where the offseason additions begin to be seen is at the wide receiver position, where the team added Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman, and Tylan Wallace to compliment players such as Marquise Brown and Devin Duvernay. At tight end, the team has a plethora of options behind Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle, and the offensive line saw a boost with the acquisitions of Kevin Zeitler, Alejandro Villanueva and Ben Cleveland, as they’ll team up with Ronnie Stanley, Bradley Bozeman and others.

Having all of that depth is a good thing for the Ravens, but once it’s time for the team to trim their roster to 53 players, it could result in a few difficult roster decisions for Baltimore. At quarterback, the team might have to choose between Tyler Huntley and Trace McSorley if they need an extra roster space. Wide receivers Miles Boykin and James Proche seem like they’re going to be fighting over one roster spot. At tight end, there are a plethora of options who could try to secure the third tight end spot in Jacob Breeland, Eli Wolf, Eric Tomlinson, Josh Oliver, and others. Even on the offensive line, there will be training camp battles to determine multiple positions, and players like Ben Bredeson, Ben Powers, Tyre Phillips and more will have their hands full competing for both starting spots and roster spots.

Overall, the Ravens will go into the 2021 season with a well-rounded roster that can sustain good play even in the event of injuries. However, the team will most likely have to let some talented players go once it’s time to cut their roster down for the regular season.

 

Patrick Queen switching to No. 6, ditches No. 48

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen switched his jersey number from No. 48 to No. 6. He’s the first Raven to change numbers in 2021

With the NFL easing jersey number restrictions for multiple positions, many began to speculate on who throughout the league could ditch their current numbers for new ones. The Baltimore Ravens have a few players who might look to switch to something that they think is better for them, and the first jersey change in Baltimore has officially happened.

A few weeks ago, Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen was on a mission to convince Lamar Jackson to give up his No. 8 jersey. Queen wore No. 8 in college, but after going back and forth with the quarterback on Twitter, he revealed that it was all just a joke.

However, not being able to pry No. 8 away from Jackson didn’t deter Queen from making a jersey change. The linebacker announced that he’d be making the switch from No. 48 to No. 6.

The Ravens confirmed the move, saying that Queen is indeed changing to a single-digit number.

Queen is officially the first Raven to take advantage of the NFL’s new jersey rules, as he leaves No. 48 behind after just one season. More number changes could be on the way in Baltimore, as even though DeShon Elliott revealed that he won’t be getting No. 4 from Sam Koch, other Ravens players who could make a number switch include Marquise Brown, James Proche, and others.