Tag: Mark Andrews

Baker Mayfield ribs Mark Andrews ahead of Monday Night Football showdown

Baker Mayfield discussed how relationship with Mark Andrews changes during the NFL season.

When the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off on “Monday Night Football” this week in the NFL, two former Oklahoma Sooners teammates will step into the spotlight.

Ravens tight end [autotag]Mark Andrews[/autotag] and Buccaneers quarterback [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] both starred at OU together from 2015 to 2017, helping lead the Sooners to three straight Big 12 titles and two trips to the College Football Playoff in three seasons. The duo also helped Oklahoma win the Sugar Bowl following the 2016 season.

Although the two are still great friends, it sounds like they don’t talk much during the NFL season, according to Mayfield.

The former Heisman Trophy winner was asked about his strong friendship with his former favorite target earlier this week in advance of the game, and shared that he doesn’t hear from the former Mackey Award winner much.

“Even though Mark and I are best friends, him and I don’t talk in-season,” Mayfield said. “He’s a weirdo. He can’t exactly, you know, separate friendship and football. So he struggles with that on a year-to-year basis, so there’s a few months at a time when we’re friends again, but for right now, no.”

Mayfield went on to joke with reporters that his best friend not talking to him during the season hurts his feelings.

“It hurts my feelings,” Mayfield said. “Guy was in my wedding, won’t talk to me. It hurts my feelings, just gonna be honest.”

Of course this is all in good fun, as Sooner fans know how much Mayfield likes joking around during press conferences. Both he and Andrews have turned into excellent players at the next level, with the latter finding a home right away in Baltimore and the former having to bounce around a bit before ending up in a great spot in Tampa Bay.

Andrews and Mayfield will face off on Monday night at 7:15 p.m. on ABC and ESPN.

Ravens TE Mark Andrews is the ultimate teammate

Baltimore Ravens TE Andrews finished week 6 with with an average of 22-yards per catch on just three receptions.

From saving lives to catching NFL touchdowns, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews continues to pride himself on being the ultimate teammate.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBE7V6EyAGo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Thanks to offensive coordinator Todd Monken and quarterback Lamar Jackson’s intuitiveness, Andrews finished week six with an average of 22 yards per catch on just three receptions. Teammate Zay Flowers had already been running circles around the Washington Commanders’ defense when Andrew caught a 13-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to take the lead—a lead the Ravens wouldn’t surrender for the remainder of the game.

What Andrews relishes most about his role is the inevitable impact he’s destined to have, whether working as a pass catcher or run blocker. Running back Derrick Henry tallied up 132 total yards on the ground Sunday, and Andrews was part of an ensemble of blockers carving the way.

With an offensive unit that looks basically unstoppable, Andrews’ energy and selfless approach exemplify leadership in the team locker room.

Zay Flowers is faster than Speedy Gonzales, Ravens improve to 4-2

Whether opponents use zone or man coverage versus Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers, they still can’t account for his impeccable quickness.

Whether opponents use zone or man coverage versus Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, they still can’t account for his impeccable quickness.

Nine catches for 142 receiving yards means Flowers finished week six with a whopping 14.7 yards per catch average versus the Washington Commanders.

With Ravens running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson demanding attention in the trenches, Flowers, and teammates Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman have been able to run loose in voids at the intermediate and deep level of the pass defense.

As long as offensive coordinator Todd Monken continues to run a balanced attack, Flowers and others will get their share of targets in the passing game.

Yesterday, Monken totaled 28 first downs, winning the time of possession 36.08 to 23:52. Flowers has been an essential possession receiver, moving the chains when needed, and it’s only a matter of time before he breaks another big play for a touchdown.

Commanders’ Quinn understands challenge of facing Ravens offense

The Commanders have a big challenge on Sunday.

Make no mistake: Dan Quinn knows the Baltimore Ravens offense well.

Sunday at 1 p.m., the Commanders (4-1) will be in Baltimore to take on the Ravens (3-2). The Commanders might be getting most of the national NFL love for their offense, having scored 155 points. But the Ravens are second, only eight points back, having scored 147.

“Yeah, it’s for sure like a legit threat…So, it’s not a two-man show,” said Quinn. Most fans will think of it as only Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, but Quinn wanted the media to know up front that the Ravens offense is that good because it is more than just Jackson and Henry.

“So, you have to be really disciplined in the calls and have your eyes on the people to go. And even when you do that, it’s still hard. So, games like this comes down to tackling and ball-hawking and playing your style really well.”

Quinn is correct, as receiver Zay Flowers has 24 receptions, averaging 11.2 yards a reception. Tight end Isaiah Likely is next with 16 receptions, averaging 11.3 a reception. Tight end Mark Andrews is next, averaging 12.0 yards per reception.

Quinn knows that the Ravens run or throw the ball differently, so he can’t plan on his team aligning to stop one or the other, or the Commanders could pay dearly.

“Because if you just focus on one person, all in the run game, they’ll rip you throwing it too. So, you have to be really disciplined in your approach. But that’s kind of part of the fun of being in the NFL, man. Every week, how to go win the game may change, it may change some in the game. And I think the best of the best teams are able to adjust and do that.”

But Quinn was honest enough Wednesday to go ahead and imply it doesn’t matter how they are aligned or blitzing if they don’t tackle well, as Jackson and Henry are two of the more difficult runners to get to the ground.

“Well, we knew we had some things that we wanted to get exactly right and tackling was right up at the top of the list for me. The best teams that you see defensively, you hear them before you see them. And I think the communication has certainly ramped up. So that, the tackling, the speed, the energy, the hitting, all of that you put into a whole thing and that’s what causes the really cool defenses.”

The Ravens offense Sunday will certainly be a test to see how the Commanders defense is progressing.

Mark Andrews has the muscle & Ravens’ OC Todd Monken has the mastermind

Whether Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken opts for the run or pass, he can count on TE Mark Andrews to give his all every play.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is always ready to make the most of every snap count, whether he touches the ball or not.

With the Ravens trailing the Cincinnati Bengals for most of their week five matchup, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken knew that he would need to increase the volume of passes made by quarterback Lamar Jackson. This would create an opportunity for Andrews to make his impact.

Finally, after two consecutive weeks with no catches, Andrews finished week 5 with four receptions, 55 yards, and a yield of 13.8 yards per catch.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DA0nhUXKvVY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

As the season progresses, Andrews will see more targets, especially as opponents become susceptible to the play-action pass. Andrews’ huge play as a run-blocker has been essential to the success of running back Derrick Henry, though fans presume his lack of targets means he might be obsolete.

Ultimately, Monken has enough manpower to ensure that the Ravens’ offense stays on schedule. Whether he opts for the run or pass, he’ll be able to count on Andrews to give his all every play. 

John Harbaugh expresses confidence in Ravens’ WRs amid Davante Adams trade rumors

John Harbaugh expresses confidence in Ravens’ wide receivers amid Davante Adams trade rumors

Whenever a notable wide receiver becomes available in free agency or via trade, fans of the Baltimore Ravens inevitably become fascinated with the idea of pairing them with MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Davante Adams is the latest example after the six-time Pro Bowler requested a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was asked how he felt about the team’s current group of wide receivers amid speculation that Baltimore could be a team to pursue Adams.

“You know how we feel about our guys,” Harbaugh said. “I really can’t comment on anybody else’s players. We talked about Davante Adams a couple of weeks ago [when we played the Raiders], and I didn’t want to talk anything about him after the game – we had seen enough at that point. We love our guys.”

Adams was instrumental in the Raiders Week 2 upset win over the Ravens as he caught nine passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. The superstar receiver would undoubtedly help take Baltimore’s already explosive offensive to another level, but considering his current salary, the needed draft capital to give up, and the fact that the Ravens are a run-heavy team, the move for the soon-to-be 32-year-old receiver seems unlikely to occur for Baltimore.

The Ravens appear content to roll with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor as the team’s top trio of wide receivers, with tight ends Isaiah Likely, Mark Andrews, and Charlie Kolar also featuring heavily in the passing attack.

All three Ravens tight ends get involved in wild win over Bengals

Take a bow, Ravens Tight Ends Coach George Godsey. 

In the immortal words of Archie Bell & The Drells, “Let’s tighten it up now. Do the tighten up.”

If you were a Baltimore Ravens tight end on Sunday in Cincinnati, then you played an integral part in the team’s 41-38 overtime win.

A team rarely sees three of their tight ends catch a pass in the same game. It’s also uncommon to see two tight ends on the same team each record a touchdown reception in the same game, but it all happened in the very high-scoring affair staged on the banks of the Ohio River.

TE1 Mark Andrews, who is still trying to find his usual groove this season, led the position targets with five. He finished with four catches for 55 yards.

TE2 Isaiah Likely led the team in TD catches with two.

TE3 Charlie Kolar had, by far, the most productive day of his career, finishing with three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.

In other words, reigning MVP Lamar Jackson spread the wealth around this weekend as nine different Ravens caught passes. This is definitely something that offensive coordinator Todd Monken should continue striving for each week.

The more reliable, consistent weapons the Ravens have on offense, the harder they will be to scheme against. An overall balanced attack is excellent for all involved.

Take a bow, Ravens Tight end Coach George Godsey.

Ravens vs. Bengals: Top photos from Baltimore’s 41-38 win in overtime at Paycor Stadium

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 41-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime at Paycor Stadium in Week 5

Lamar Jackson and company rallied from a late fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime with a 56-yard field goal from Justin Tucker. In overtime, the Bengals recovered a Jackson fumble but could not win it after Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard field goal of his win.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Joe Burrow was 27-for-34 for 353 yards and five touchdown passes, while former college teammate Ja’Marr Chase had nine catches for 174 yards and two scores.

Burrow finished 30-39 passing for 392 yards, five touchdowns, and one costly interception. His MVP counterpart, Lamar Jackson, was 26-42 passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson also had 12 carries for 56 yards on the day.

***

Joe Burrow dominates early, but Ravens rally for a 41-38 win over Bengals in overtime

Joe Burrow dominates early, but Ravens rally for a 41-38 win over Bengals in overtime

After a week of pundits and experts questioning Joe Burrow’s demise, the former LSU star put the NFL back on notice with a dominant, five-touchdown performance against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium.

Still, it wasn’t enough, as Lamar Jackson and company rallied from a late fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime with a 56-yard field goal from Justin Tucker. In overtime, the Bengals recovered a Lamar Jackosn fumble but were unable to win it after Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard field goal of his win.

Baltimore used a big Derrick Henry run to get into field goal position, and Justin Tucker’s 24 field goals gave the Ravens their third straight win.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Burrow was 27-for-34 for 353 yards and five touchdown passes, while former college teammate Ja’Marr Chase had nine catches for 174 yards and two scores against a Ravens secondary full of first-round picks and high-paid defenders.

Burrow finished 30-39 passing for 392 yards, five touchdowns, and one costly interception. His MVP counterpart, Lamar Jackson, was 26-42 passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson also had 12 carries for 56 yards on the day.

After a slow start, Derrick Henry finished things with a bang, rushing for 91 yards on 15 carries, with one rushing touchdown.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

The Saints might need one more year from Jimmy Graham after all

The Saints might need one more year from Jimmy Graham after all. The tight ends on their roster aren’t getting the job done:

Maybe the New Orleans Saints were too quick to give Jimmy Graham a polite “thanks, but no thanks” when he expressed interest in running it back this summer. The team lacks a big-bodied target in the red zone, and that flaw has stood out in their recent losses. He’s well past handling a starring role on offense, but Graham can help a team in a bit part.

Graham was bafflingly efficient last year, especially in the red zone. He was thrown to 7 times and caught 6 passes for 39 yards, either converting a first  down or scoring a touchdown every time. All four of his touchdowns were scored inside the opposing 20-yard line.

The Saints could have used that kind of efficiency against the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. Derek Carr attempted six throws inside Atlanta’s 20-yard line. Here’s how they turned out:

  • 1st and 10 from the 20: Pass complete to Rashid Shaheed for 5  yards
  • 2nd and 2 from the 17: Pass incomplete intended for Alvin Kamara
  • 3rd and 2 from the 17: Pass complete to Chris Olave for 16 yards
  • 3rd and 5 from the  15: Pass complete to Mason Tipton for 6 yards
  • 4th and 7 from the 7: Pass incomplete intended for Rashid Shaheed
  • 2nd and 5 from the 5: Pass incomplete intended for Rashid Shaheed

So that’s three completions and two first downs on six tries in scoring position. That’s clearly not good enough. Five of those passes were thrown to wide receivers; neither Juwan Johnson nor Foster Moreau are getting open and making plays in the passing game, which is really concerning when the Saints only have two viable wideouts working in a run-first offense. Moreau caught a touchdown pass in Week 1 but since then he and Johnson have combined for just three catches and 16 yards through three games.

What’s the answer? Getting Graham out of his kayak and back into town? Giving the rookie Dallin Holker some reps? Lining up Johnson out wide, where he played in college? Using Taysom Hill more often as a receiver than a runner? Any of those solutions would be more affordable and more realistic than a big-time trade for someone like Baltimore Ravens decoy Mark Andrews, but it’s still a problem the Saints need to solve. Let’s see what answer they come up with.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]