Tag: James Proche

Ravens’ rookies handled NFL debut well

Against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, the Baltimore Ravens got excellent play from their 2020 NFL Draft class, including three starters.

The Baltimore Ravens selected 10 players in the 2020 NFL Draft. With how talented and deep Baltimore’s roster already was, it was expected few of the rookies would actually see the field early for the Ravens, much less make an immediate impact. But with Week 1 in the books, it turns out Baltimore might have something special in its 2020 draft class.

Three rookies — guard Tyre Phillips, and linebackers Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison — started the game. While Queen was expected to start, Phillips and Harrison getting the nod over veterans is a bit of a shock. The Ravens have typically gone with the more experienced player in these situations before, including starting James Hurst at right tackle over the clearly better Orlando Brown Jr. in 2018.

But it wasn’t just those three rookies that saw the field a bunch to open the season. In total, seven of Baltimore’s draft picks got playing time in Week 1. Take a look at their snap counts for a better idea of just how much they all played:

Player Position OFF/DEF Snaps OFF/DEF % ST Snaps ST %
Patrick Queen LB 54 74% 3 12%
J.K. Dobbins RB 23 39% – –
Devin Duvernay WR 11 19% 8 33%
Malik Harrison LB 21 29% 15 62%
Tyre Phillips G 56 95% – –
Broderick Washington Jr. DT 28 38% – –
James Proche WR 5 8% 4 17%

Those are pretty impressive totals for a team that typically likes to start their rookies off slow and let them earn more playing time over the course of the season.

And with the spotlight firmly on them, they performed incredibly well. While no rookie had a perfect outing, which would be ridiculous to expect, there weren’t any massive mistakes either. And for quite a few of the rookies, they announced their presence in the NFL with big plays.

Queen showcased his speed on a blitz, knifing into the backfield and taking down Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. In total, Queen led the team with eight tackles, had a sack, a quarterback hit, a tackle for a loss, and a forced fumble.

Dobbins was expected to eventually be the heir to starter Mark Ingram but he made his debut one to remember. He showed some speed and power on his seven carries, even if he only gained 22 yards on the day. But Dobbins had a nose for the end zone, finding it twice on the ground, including one run where he showed great patience running behind an offensive lineman.

Harrison had four combined tackles and a pass defensed. Washington had one tackle assist but helped plug up the rushing lanes to keep Cleveland’s running backs contained. Duvernay caught his lone target for 12 yards, picking up a key first down early in the game and had a great kickoff return to set up a scoring drive.

Proche was the only player with a truly noticeable mistake. He was a little too cautious on a punt return, allowing the ball to hit the ground and roll to the goal line. It looked like he had enough time to call for a fair catch and secure the ball, which would have gone a long way to helping the offense on the drive. Even still, Proche had a solid punt return for 17 yards at another point in the game and showed the speed and agility to be a dangerous weapon there.

It might be a bit much to expect this level of performance from the rookies every week but they certainly showed they have a place on the field and in the NFL. When added to a roster that was already considered a favorite to win Super Bowl LV, the future looks really strong in Baltimore.

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Ravens start 2020 season behind Chiefs on USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings

The Baltimore Ravens have tried to make themselves better than last year’s 14-2 team but sit in No. 2 in the first NFL power rankings list

The Baltimore Ravens were the best team in the NFL during the 2019 regular season. While the playoffs were a different matter for Baltimore, they enter the 2020 season as one of the favorites to win Super Bowl LV. So it should come as no shock the Ravens are near the top of the power rankings ahead of Week 1’s showdown against the Cleveland Browns.

Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports placed Baltimore at No. 2 on his first power rankings of the 2020 regular season.

While the Kansas City Chiefs are rightfully at the top of the power rankings list due to winning Super Bowl LIV, the Ravens have made a serious case themselves. With the disappointing loss to the Tennessee Titans still in their minds, Baltimore went out and remedied their biggest problem this offseason.

Before free agency even opened up, the Ravens had pulled off a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars to land defensive end Calais Campbell. Baltimore would eventually sign defensive tackle Derek Wolfe after a deal with Michael Brockers fell through. Further gains to the defensive line came through the 2020 NFL Draft, with Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington Jr. adding much-needed youth to the unit.

Offensively, the Ravens are largely the same as they were last year, though they’re trying to replace the recently-retired Marshal Yanda at right guard. But a motivated and in-shape D.J. Fluker looks to be a solid answer to Baltimore’s problems. With rookie wide receivers Devin Duvernay and James Proche added to help reigning MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back J.K. Dobbins brought in through the 2020 NFL Draft, the Ravens’ offense has the makings to be even better than last year’s record-setting unit.

With the Ravens recently jettisoning safety Earl Thomas from the roster following his fight with fellow safety Chuck Clark, Davis wondered if Baltimore actually got better. All eyes will be on Thomas’ replacement, DeShon Elliott, to see if that’s the case or if the Ravens should have swallowed the bitter pill and kept the Pro Bowl safety.

With the very first live-action football in months coming this week, we’ll see exactly where Baltimore and the rest of the league stands.

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Report: Ravens cut WR Jaleel Scott

The Baltimore Ravens have cut wide receiver Jaleel Scott, marking the 2018 NFL Draft a bust at the position for the team.

The Baltimore Ravens have all but finalized their wide receiver corps for the 2020 NFL season. According to Aaron Kasinitz of Penn Live, the Ravens have cut wide receiver Jaleel Scott.

Scott was one of two wide receivers Baltimore selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, joining fifth-round pick Jordan Lasley. The Ravens parted ways with Lasley early last year at training camp after he failed to develop. Baltimore hoped the 6-foot-5 Scott would take a leap forward this year and they could find a way to keep him on the team. However, a hot-and-cold training camp that saw Scott improve his play on special teams but often fall short of making big receptions. With just one reception for six yards over two seasons in the NFL, anything less than a perfect training camp was likely going to end his tenure in Baltimore.

The 2018 NFL Draft was the first where the Ravens spent two picks at the position. The 2019 NFL Draft saw Baltimore select Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin, who are both in line for massive starting roles this year. The Ravens added Devin Duvernay and James Proche in the 2020 NFL Draft and saw both play well throughout training camp.

With five wide receiver spots already sorted and Chris Moore expected to return soon from a broken finger, there simply wasn’t any room for Scott to make the Ravens’ 53-man roster.

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WATCH: Rookies dominate top plays of Ravens’ training camp 8/19

The young pass catchers for the Baltimore Ravens came up with some big plays but it was rookie James Proche’s catch that topped them all.

Baltimore’s passing attack was already deadly, as evidenced by last season’s dominance. But with an influx of offensive talent through the 2020 NFL Draft, the Ravens’ passing attack seems to be soaring to new heights.

Though it’s just the third day of padded practice at training camp for Baltimore, the rookie pass catchers were on fire. Wide receiver Devin Duvernay and running back J.K. Dobbins had some terrific catches and are looking more than capable of contributing this season. But it was James Proche laying out for a highlight-reel worthy reception from quarterback Robert Griffin III that might be the play of training camp thus far.

Don’t take my word for it, check out the plays and see for yourself.

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Ravens sign RB Kenjon Barner

The Baltimore Ravens added to their return specialist competition, signing journeyman running back and former Falcons returner Kenjon Barner

The Baltimore Ravens continue to bolster their roster at the start of training camp. After waiving fullback Bronson Rechsteiner Monday, Baltimore has announced they’ve signed journeyman running back Kenjon Barner.

Though the Ravens already have four running backs on the roster right now, Barner should be primarily viewed as a return specialist in Baltimore. Over seven years in the NFL, Barner has 100 total carries and 43 targets in the passing game, including just 10 total touches with the Atlanta Falcons last year. In comparison, last year Barner returned 35 punts for 267 yards and a touchdown as well as 17 kickoffs for 406 yards.

The Ravens have been looking for more stability in their return game over the last two years. Defensive back Cyrus Jones won the punt return job in 2018 before losing it last season when Baltimore signed De’Anthony Thomas. With Thomas opting out this season, the competition for the job has fallen to the likes of rookie James Proche, Willie Snead, and even Marquise Brown.

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John Harbaugh believes James Proche is the man for punt returner job

Former SMU wide receiver and current Ravens rookie James Proche is the “man for the job” at punt returner according to John Harbaugh

With the Baltimore Ravens in training camp, there’s a handful of starting jobs up for grabs. Among them is at punt returner where the Ravens have been struggling to find a consistent weapon for years now. According to coach John Harbaugh, sixth-round pick James Proche is the man for the job.

“It’s James’ role to win and he’s got to go win it,” Harbaugh said Friday. “I believe he’s up for the challenge, he’s the man for the job.”

It was expected there would be a bigger fight for the return specialist job this year. But with De’Anthony Thomas among the two Ravens to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, Proche is now penciled into the starting spot. That’s not to say he won’t have any competition, however. Harbaugh named two other players who will get some valuable reps back there throughout training camp.

“We’ve got Willie Snead,” Harbaugh continued. “I know Willie would like to do it too, he’s back there all the time. Marquise [Brown] catches punts every day. We’ll see as we go.”

It’s safe to say Baltimore drafted Proche with special teams in mind after hearing the team talk extensively about him in that role this offseason.

Immediately after selecting Proche with the 201st pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta sung the SMU wide receiver’s praises on punt returns.

“I watched him catch punts that weekend in Mobile, and I was really impressed by how he judged the ball and secured the catch,” DeCosta said following the third day of the 2020 NFL Draft. “He’s a guy that gets upfield quickly with the football in his hands as a punt returner, and that’s an important position. It’s hard to find those kinds of guys that have that special skillset.”

DeCosta and Harbaugh aren’t the only people impressed with Proche’s abilities. Special teams coordinator Chris Horton previously said Proche was in the mix for the return specialist job, echoing DeCosta’s sentiments.

For his part, Proche wants to get on the field any way he possibly can. As a late-round draft pick, Proche’s road to glory starts with special teams and returning punts. It’s something he noted in his first press conference with reporters after being drafted by Baltimore.

“I love punt return,” Proche said a few days after the 2020 NFL Draft. “I really just love catching the ball. Anything that involves ‘catch the ball and go make a play,’ that’s what I do. As far as punt return goes, that’s something I feel comfortable with. Kind of being back there alone, having full control, judge the ball, and showcase my abilities once I catch the ball. I’m extremely excited about being put in that role with the Ravens organization. Like I said before, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”

It’s something Proche is no stranger to doing, returning at least 12 punts in three of his four seasons at SMU. Over the last two years, Proche returned 37 punts for 329 yards. Proche’s 9.6 yards-per-return average on punts in 2019 would have been one of the more successful in the NFL last season, ranking seventh among players who returned at least 10 punts.

With a clear path forward, Proche has a chance to make Baltimore’s return team consistent for the first time in years. The last two seasons have seen the Ravens rotate players into the role with pretty awful results. In 2018 Baltimore had Tim White and Janarion Grant each field several punts before signing Cyrus Jones midseason and plugging him into the position. Last year, Jones ceded the job to Thomas after fumbling several times.

Even having stability hasn’t meant adequate production for the Ravens. In 2016 Devin Hester was signed to be the return specialist but averaged a paltry 7.2 yards over 25 punt returns that season. Since 2014, Baltimore has had just two punt returners — Michael Campanaro and Jones — average more than Proche’s 9.6 yards-per-return while returning at least 10 punts.

Despite his late-round draft status, Proche is expected to do big things with the Ravens. His worth ethic, quickness, and intelligence have been called out by more than one person who has worked out with him this offseason. And if Proche can get a stranglehold on the punt return job, he’ll likely find himself on the field on offense at some point too where he can live up to the hype he’s rightfully earned.

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James Proche’s quickness, intelligence has him primed for big rookie season according to WR guru

Don’t discount the Baltimore Ravens’ rookie James Proche. Guru David Robinson points to his smarts and quickness as an indication of success.

The Baltimore Ravens are quietly building up one of the more formidable offenses in the league. While many are giving Baltimore credit for having the reigning MVP in quarterback Lamar Jackson, few are really taking notice at what the Ravens are building around their franchise passer.

Baltimore has one of the best offensive lines in the game, with bookend tackles Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown highlighting the group. Of course, the Ravens are well known for their rushing attack, which broke a 41-year old record last season. But it’s Baltimore’s growing wide receiver corps that could be something special, even if no one player will truly put themselves at the top of the league.

For the third consecutive year, the Ravens added two wide receivers through the NFL Draft. Though much of the attention has gone to third-round selection Devin Duvernay, people shouldn’t forget about sixth-round pick James Proche. For as talented, fast, and sure-handed as Duvernay is, Proche could truly rival him physically. And with the hard work Proche is putting in this offseason, he might actually be set up to have the better rookie season of the pair.

It’s not like Proche doesn’t have the stats to back it up either. Proche’s last season at SMU saw him catch 111 passes for 1,225 yards and 15 touchdowns. Proche actually has more consistent stats overall, catching 301 total passes for 3,949 receiving yards and 39 receiving touchdowns compared to Duvernay’s 2,468 yards and 16 touchdowns on 176 receptions.

Proche has been training with David Robinson, a skills coach who has worked with a bunch of Pro Bowl talent from around the league, including Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Adrian Peterson, Dez Bryant, and Chris Godwin. You might have even seen Robinson working with Jaleel Scott, Antoine Wesley, and Duvernay this offseason. In talking with Robinson about what he’s seen from Proche so far, he was very high on his ability to get open.

“He’s very hard to cover on those option routes, covering the man-to-man, the bump-and-run, press coverage,” Robinson said. “It’s going to be really hard to put hands on him because he’s really quick and elusive on the line of scrimmage.”

Robinson’s evaluation echoes what we said about Proche right after he was drafted by Baltimore. He’s got more speed than many are giving him credit for, and when teamed up with his agility and sure hands as well as improving route running, Proche shouldn’t be taken lightly. Backup quarterback Robert Griffin III also spoke highly of Proche’s work ethic while Robinson praised his intelligence.

“He’s very very intelligent, very smart,” Robinson continued. “You’re getting a player similar to like Jarvis Landry when he came out. Very similar in stature but knows the game like a quarterback knows the game. That’s what’s really going to, I believe, help him have a long career in the NFL.”

If Robinson’s projection is anywhere close to correct and Proche can live up to Landry’s billing, the Ravens are getting a monster on the inside. Landry caught 84 passes for 758 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie with the Miami Dolphins before breaking the 1,100-yard mark the following season.

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Robert Griffin III high on rookie WRs Devin Duvernay and James Proche

After working out with them this offseason, Baltimore Ravens QB Robert Griffin spoke highly of rookie WRs Devin Duvernay and James Proche

The Baltimore Ravens are looking to build an undefendable offense under quarterback Lamar Jackson. If backup quarterback Robert Griffin III is to be believed, Baltimore might have found two great steals at wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft to help the unit become just that.

Speaking on “The Lounge” podcast, Griffin spoke highly of both Devin Duvernay and James Proche. Griffin has been working out with both this offseason in the leadup to training camp, getting a great look at what both players can do as they make the leap from college to the pros. Griffin broke down what he’s seen from both Duvernay and Proche thus far in detail.

The Ravens selected Duvernay in the third round and Proche in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Though both played primarily inside from the slot, Griffin says he “wouldn’t sleep on their ability to play outside,” something I specifically noted about Duvernay’s game in a closer look at him following the draft.

Griffin noted Duvernay is a track guy, which matches up well with his recent player rating in “Madden 21.” But more importantly, Griffin said Duvernay tracks the ball well, which should allow him to take full advantage of that track speed and turn it into big plays down the field. As far as Proche, Griffin said he thinks he’s even faster than people give him credit for. He specifically called out Proche’s work ethic in their workouts and noted he has a chip on his shoulder to prove he’s better than his draft status, backing what some are considering to be the Ravens’ biggest steal of the draft.

This will be Griffin’s ninth year in the league, with three different teams. He’s played with a lot of different wide receivers, including some really impressive ones like Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, meaning his mini scouting report on both Duvernay and Proche carries a good bit of weight. If either player lives up to the hype Griffin applied to them, Baltimore will be plenty happy with their 2020 NFL Draft class.

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Ravens WRs Devin Duvernay, James Proche get ‘Madden 21’ ratings

The Baltimore Ravens’ two newest wide receivers have pretty great grades in “Madden 21,” making Baltimore’s offense even more deadly.

For those fans patiently waiting for “Madden 21” to be released, it’s all about watching and re-watching the gameplay trailers, looking at the cover that features Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, and hoping to get into the closed BETA launch of the game. But as we get closer to the day you can buy the game in stores, EA Sports is trickling out updated player ratings for fans to obsess over.

EA Sports released the first batch of “Madden 21″ rookie player ratings, giving grades out to the wide receivers and quarterbacks. For the Ravens’ two rookie wide receivers, it means finally seeing where they stand.

The Ravens selected Devin Duvernay in the third round and James Proche in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. While Duvernay rates higher, getting a 71 overall player rating, Proche isn’t really that far behind with a 65 overall rating. But let’s take a closer look at how they rank in some specific categories.

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Both Duvernay and Proche are speed demons, given their 92 and 88 speed ratings in the game. It’s also no surprise that both players have above average short-route-running grades as well. But what might be most impressive is the 78 and 82 catch-in-traffic ratings Proche and Duvernay have. Both were used extensively in the slot in college and project to be quick-hitting options for Jackson in Baltimore, meaning their ability to catch the ball in the middle of the field where hits are often coming immediately afterward will pay huge dividends for “Madden 21” players as well as for Jackson in real life.

Duvernay and Proche look like great digital additions for the Ravens, teaming up with Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin, and Willie Snead to create a pretty interesting and capable wide receiver corps. When combined with tight end Mark Andrews and the bevy of running backs Baltimore has on the roster, the Ravens’ offense looks as deadly as ever. And as we saw with Marquise Brown at the controls, Baltimore’s offense was already championship-worthy in last season’s edition of the video game franchise.

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Ravens rookie WR James Proche working out with RG3

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver James Proche isn’t letting the coronavirus pandemic keep him from working out before his rookie season.

The Baltimore Ravens are putting in work this offseason to hopefully get them even better than they were last year. While the coronavirus pandemic has limited what the players have been able to do this offseason, no one has it quite as bad as the rookie draft class who have to hit the ground running despite not getting as much practice time as previous classes.

Ravens sixth-round pick, wide receiver James Proche, isn’t going into training camp unprepared, however. Proche and Baltimore quarterback Robert Griffin III were training with well-renowned wide receivers coach David Robinson. Robinson shared just one clip of Proche catching a pass, showing just how talented the Ravens’ rookie wide receiver is.

The pass was slightly behind Proche, who made a great adjustment in the air to get it and come down still running at speed. It highlights what was seen as Proche’s biggest standout feature: his hands. If he can bring that level of concentration and production to Baltimore, he’ll easily outplay his sixth-round draft status.

Proche was working out with Lamar Jackson and Trace McSorley in Florida last week, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.

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