Tag: Le’Veon Bell

Ravens draft RB in latest 2022 mock draft by Bleacher Report

The Ravens selected a running back in Bleacher Report’s latest 2022 NFL mock draft

The Baltimore Ravens have no shortage of talent at the running back position. They unfortunately don’t have the services of Gus Edwards or J.K. Dobbins in 2021 due to season-ending torn ACL injuries that the pair suffered, but they have both shown that they are two of the better backs in the NFL. In their stead, players such as Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman, Le’Veon Bell and Ty’Son Williams have been carrying the load.

In their latest 2022 NFL mock draft, the Bleacher Report NFL Scouting Department made a selection for each and every first round pick. When picking for Baltimore, Nate Tice decided to give the team yet another running back in Iowa State University’s Breece Hall. When explaining the pick, Tice talked about how Hall could fit in with what the Ravens do on offense.

“Breece Hall’s size, vision and explosiveness would let him shine in any run scheme…Putting him with quarterback Lamar Jackson and a healthy Dobbins would give the Ravens’ rushing attack a true downhill option that synergizes the unit and would give it the pieces to go supernova.”

Hall has rushed for 3,454 yards and 42 total touchdowns in his two-plus years at Iowa State, including a whopping 985 yards 12 touchdowns on the ground through eight games in 2021, averaging 8.0 yards per carry. He has been a very high usage player however, with 644 carries since starting his college career.

The Iowa State star stands at 6-foot-1 and weight around 215 pounds. He has good footwork and excellent burst, while also being able to break tackles using his balance. He is a receiving threat out of the backfield as well, giving him true three-down back potential.

While Hall is certainly an exciting prospect, drafting a running back in the first round would be a questionable decision at best for a Baltimore team that has so many other holes to address on both sides of the ball, especially considering they used a second-round selection on Dobbins two years ago. It would make a lot more sense to see the Ravens draft a player at offensive tackle, defensive lineman, cornerback, or other positions.

Bleacher Report names rushing attack as Ravens ‘biggest surprise’ of 2021 season so far

Bleacher Report named the rushing attack as the “biggest surprise” of the Ravens’ 2021 season so far

The Baltimore Ravens have gone through a whirlwind of a year through the first seven weeks of the 2021 season. Injuries, wild finishes, unsung heroes and unexpected poor play from certain units have all been storylines for the team, but a few developments have been more surprising than others.

Alex Kay of Bleacher Report listed out each NFL team’s “biggest surprise” of the 2021 season so far. For Baltimore, Kay chose the Ravens’ rushing attack as a whole. He highlighted the positives when it comes to the Baltimore ground game, including what quarterback Lamar Jackson has done.

“Baltimore is off to a 5-2 start and has a share of the lead in the AFC North largely because of its high-powered ground game. The team ranks No. 4 in the league in rushing offense after averaging nearly 150 yards per game. The Ravens have scored 10 rushing touchdowns, good for the third-most in the NFL…Jackson has unsurprisingly led the way, ranking first on the team in carries (76), rushing yards (480) and first downs (29) by a large margin.”

Kay then mentions how surprising it’s been that the rest of the Ravens’ ball carriers have carried the load despite losing running backs J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill.

“What is a surprise is how well Baltimore’s rushing attack is faring after losing its top three running backs before the campaign even kicked off…With J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill not making it out of preseason, the team has had to lean on unproven young players (Ty’Son Williams) and over the hill veterans (Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell) to move the ball on the ground…The team—which managed to tie the longstanding record for most consecutive 100-yard rushing games earlier in the month—hasn’t been perfect, but even during a rare off night the ground game has remained strong.”

Despite the good box score statistics, people who have watched Baltimore run the ball know that something is missing, and the ground attack isn’t nearly what it once was. While Jackson has performed well, his new running backs haven’t quite put the pieces together yet, and the Ravens’ offensive line has struggled to win up front more than anticipated.

In Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson averaged 7.3 yards per carry. Non-Lamar Jackson ball carriers averaged a measly 2.3 yards per carry. Baltimore could look to add another running back in the coming days as the trade deadline quickly approaches, because while the current group has put together a few positives, it hasn’t been as many as what people would have hoped for through seven weeks.

It’s no surprise that the Ravens miss both Dobbins and Edwards. However all things considered, Baltimore did a good job of pivoting after their injuries and adding quality veterans who could fill the voids that were left by the two star runners. Despite that, they might need more at the position, and the days leading up to the trade deadline will tell a lot about how the Ravens feel about their current group of running backs.

Ravens promote RB Le’Veon Bell to 53-man roster

The Ravens promoted running back Le’Veon Bell to the 53-man roster on Tuesday ahead of Week 7.

The Baltimore Ravens lost three of their running backs to injuries for the year before the 2021 season even began. Despite those losses, the team has brought in talented running backs to fill the void and hold a 5-1 overall record, leading the entire AFC conference heading into Week 7. Throughout the course of the season, Baltimore has moved players to-and-from the practice squad.

On Tuesday, the Ravens announced that running back Le’Veon Bell was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

The move comes just hours after Baltimore announced that offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley was being placed on injured reserve and would have season-ending surgery.

Bell’s last performance with the Ravens had him finding the end zone for the first time with the team, rushing for a two-yard touchdown in a Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Bell finished the afternoon with 18 rushing yards on 8 carries.

Running back Ty’Son Williams was a healthy scratch for the second consecutive week which may point to Bell earning more carries. But with running backs Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman being rotated in the mix, it’s hard to pinpoint what role Bell will have on the offense moving forward.

Le’Veon Bell is promoted to Ravens’ 53-man roster

Former MSU running back Le’Veon Bell has been promoted from the practice squad to the Baltimore Ravens’ 53-man roster

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Former Michigan State running back Le’Veon Bell has been promoted from the practice squad to the Baltimore Ravens’ 53-man roster.

The team made the roster move announcement on Tuesday. Bell had already been called up from the practice squad twice this year. This past weekend, Bell scored a touchdown and finished with 18 yards on eight carries against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Check out the complete details on the roster move by clicking on the tweet below:

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CBS Sports grades Ravens’ Week 6 win over Chargers

CBS Sports graded the Baltimore Ravens’ Week 6 win over the Los Angeles Chargers

The Baltimore Ravens put together their most complete and dominant performance of the 2021 season in Week 6, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers by the final score of 34-6. Baltimore got off to a fast start and never looked back thanks to a combination of ball-control offense, a suffocating defense, and great play on special teams.

John Breech of CBS Sports graded each team’s performance in Week 6, and gave the Ravens very high marks for their game against the Chargers. Breech rewarded Baltimore with an “A” grade, citing their dominance as well as their success on both offense and defense.

“How about that statement made by Baltimore against a Chargers team that appeared unbeatable based on how it played the last three weeks? The Ravens made your 2016 fantasy football team proud as Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman, and Le’Veon Bell each had a rushing touchdown. Baltimore took full advantage of the Los Angeles run defense, finishing with 38 carries for 187 yards (4.9 yards per carry) in the win. The Ravens’ defense was also dominant, allowing just six points to Herbert and the electric Chargers offense — and might not have allowed any if it wasn’t for an ill-advised Jackson interception to give the Chargers a short field. John Harbaugh, Jackson and Freeman downplayed it, but this was a statement win for Baltimore against a division leader. The Ravens have the look of the best team in the AFC, beating their opponents in different ways each week. Don’t be surprised if Baltimore ends up with home-field advantage in the AFC come January.”

Like Breech mentions, this was absolutely a statement win by the Ravens. They were able to get each of their active running backs involved in Latavius Murray, Le’Veon Bell, and Devonta Freeman, and didn’t need a superhuman performance by quarterback Lamar Jackson to win the game. The defense stepped up to the plate after struggling in a few areas, and Baltimore was able to knock off a very good football team in the Chargers.

Watch: RB Le’Veon Bell scores first touchdown in Ravens uniform

The Ravens saw running back Le’Veon Bell score the first touchdown of his Baltimore career

After seeing running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards go down with season-ending injuries, the Baltimore Ravens have been relying on multiple new faces in the running game in 2021, including Latavius Murray, Ty’Son Williams and Devonta Freeman. However, in Week 6 against the Chargers, another new face scored his first touchdown as a Raven in Le’Veon Bell.

Bell went around the right edge and leapt into the end zone for a two-yard score.

Bell has made an impact in his second game being called up from the practice squad. He is looking to secure a bigger role in the offense, and plays like his short touchdown run will certainly help that.

Ravens elevate two practice squad players to active roster for Week 6 game vs. Chargers

The Ravens elevated two practice squad players to their active roster ahead of their Week 6 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers

The Baltimore Ravens are set to face the Los Angeles Chargers in what should be an exciting Week 6 matchup. Both teams boast 4-1 records and will be looking to pick up their fifth win on the 2021 season.

In order to win on Sunday, Baltimore will have to get key contributions from many players on their roster, not just their stars. Ahead of the game, the Ravens announced that they had elevated two players from their practice squad to their active roster in running back Le’Veon Bell and offensive lineman Andre Smith.

This will mark Bell’s second appearance with Baltimore, as he was also called up from the practice squad for the team’s Week 4 game against the Denver Broncos. He has four carries for 11 yards on the year.

Smith will provide tackle depth in the event that Alejandro Villanueva can’t play with a knee injury that he’s currently working through. If Villanueva is unable to play, Smith could draw the start at left tackle.

Ravens reportedly receive trade inquires for RBs

The Ravens have reportedly received trade inquires for their running backs

The Baltimore Ravens lost three running backs to major injuries before the 2021 season began. While some teams might have been mentally defeated, the Ravens took on the challenge and brought in backs that could help make up for the stars that they lost.

Ahead of the Ravens’ Week 5 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, it was reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN that teams have reached out to Baltimore about their current group of running backs.

When the Ravens’ lost their starting rotation at running back, the team signed former New Orleans Saints running backs Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman. Baltimore then brought in running back Le’Veon Bell, who last played for the Kansas City Chiefs. Those running backs would join second-year rusher Ty’Son Williams who was recently a healthy scratch from the team’s Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Bell made the move to the active roster in place of Williams.

Murray appears to be the Ravens No. 1 back and it would be shocking if the team decided to trade him away. Before Week 4, Williams was the guy behind Murray. Freeman and Bell have made little impact on the team so far. Freeman has rushed for 41 yards in four games while Bell only has 11 rushing yards since making his Ravens debut.

While the teams who have reached out to the Ravens’ have not been made public, many around the league seem to be in the market for depth at the running back position. It’s also not clear who Baltimore would be willing to trade away.

The NFL’s trade deadline is November 2nd this season. It wouldn’t be surprising if talks heated up in the coming weeks or if a move is made right before the deadline expired.

Ravens WR Devin Duvernay says it’s ‘been surreal’ playing with RB Le’Veon Bell

Ravens wide receiver Devin Duvernay told the media how it feels to play with running back Le’Veon Bell.

The Baltimore Ravens have dealt with season-ending injuries to all three of their remaining running backs from 2020. To fill in that hole, the team signed running backs Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell in free agency before the start of the 2021 season.

Baltimore placed Murray and Freeman on the active roster to handle ball carrying duties behind Ty’Son Williams. However in Week 4, Baltimore activated Bell to the roster for their game against the Denver Broncos and made Williams a healthy scratch, which was a surprise to many.

On Wednesday, Ravens wide receiver Devin Duvernay spoke with the media about what it’s like to have Bell on the team.

Many are quick to say that Bell is not the same player he once was when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Sunday, Bell rushed for 11 yards on four carries against the Broncos. Despite the low numbers, Bell was not utilized much in Week 4, with his work coming against the No. 5 ranked defense in terms of yards on the ground allowed in the NFL. Denver held the Ravens to just 102 rushing yards on the day, which is a low number for what Baltimore’s ground attack is used to putting up on opposing teams.

Bell has veteran leadership qualities that can help the Ravens in many different ways. He also impressed in pass protection in Week 4, which is an area that can earn him more playing time if he continues to play relatively mistake-free. It would not be surprising if Bell gets utilized more in the offense as the season progresses.

John Harbaugh shares thoughts on performance of Le’Veon Bell in Week 4

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh shared his thoughts on how he thinks Le’Veon Bell performed in Week 4

The Baltimore Ravens have done their fair share of roster shuffling over the course of the 2021 season so far. After dealing with so many different kinds of injuries, the team has had to find plenty of contributors from outside of the organization to help play at a high level.

On Monday, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh shared his thoughts on how he felt practice squad call up Le’Veon Bell performed in the Ravens’ 23-7 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Harbaugh praised Bell, pointing out his reps in pass protection and shiftiness in the backfield. Overall, he said the veteran “did well”

“…Le’Veon [Bell], to your point, did a really nice job in pass protection – a couple really good blocks in there and made a couple nice cuts. He got hit in the backfield one time, spun out … Speaking of player safety, getting grabbed and his head twisted – that was one for player safety. But he made a couple guys miss. I thought he did well.”

Bell carried the football four times for 11 yards in Week 4. It seems like the team is very high on the former Pittsburgh Steelers star, and he could be called up from the practice squad once again to see if he can carve out a long-term role with Baltimore and help pick up some of the production from players such as J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, both of whom were lost for the season with injuries.