Tag: Marquise Brown

The Ravens have the roster depth for serious Super Bowl LV run

The Baltimore Ravens have plenty of talent on their roster, including a lot of depth. But is it enough for them to roll into Super Bowl LV?

The Baltimore Ravens have established themselves as one of the best franchises in the NFL, holding a 118-74 record since coach John Harbaugh took over in 2008. Part of the reason they’re able to stay so competitive every year is due to great roster management, especially with their depth. Baltimore often stacks strength on top of strength at key positions. That gives them the necessary depth to withstand an injury during the season and develop talent to eventually replace departed free agents.

And as they enter the 2020 season as one of the favorites to win Super Bowl LV, it’s the team’s depth that will propel them to the promised land yet again.

It’s certainly been a wild offseason in the NFL, with the coronavirus pandemic causing the league to go digital for minicamps, reduce roster sizes in training camp, and completely cancel preseason games. With football looking more and more likely to happen in 2020 and Baltimore looking the part of a serious Super Bowl contender, the Ravens will once again be relying on their deep roster to carry them far. The big question is if it’s deep enough to get them all the way to Super Bowl LV.

While every position on an NFL roster is important, there are a few that carry a little more weight. Quarterback is the top position on the field at any given time and Baltimore is in great shape with reigning MVP Lamar Jackson under center. But having a proven backup in Robert Griffin III is perhaps the team’s greatest asset. Though there’s really no comparing that talent levels of Jackson and Griffin, they have similar skill sets and can run the same offense. Griffin, a former Offensive Rookie of the Year, shouldn’t be discounted as a starter-quality quarterback either thanks to his experience, leadership, and still impressive physical abilities.

For an offense that is as run-heavy as the Ravens’, significant depth along the interior of the offensive line is a must-have. Though all the talk this offseason has been about right guard Marshal Yanda retiring, the fact the team will have so many competing for his job is a testament to how well they’ve stockpiled talent on the offensive line. Bradley Bozeman, Ben Powers, D.J. Fluker, Ben Bredeson, and Tyre Phillips are all guards in line for a starting job this offseason, giving the Ravens plenty of options at the top of the depth chart and in case of injuries.

But folks shouldn’t forget about the guys actually carrying the football. If anything, Baltimore actually has too much talent at running back this year. After breaking a 41-year old single-season rushing record last year with Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill alongside Jackson; the Ravens added another star player to the mix, taking Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. That brings the total to four capable running backs on the roster, with at least two proving they’re starter-caliber guys already.

Wide receiver has been the bane of Baltimore’s offense for decades, often barely having enough quality players to make the 53-man roster. For the first time in seemingly forever, the Ravens actually have real competition and promise at the position. Willie Snead is the most experienced option on the depth chart and has proven himself as a capable slot receiver, both in New Orleans and Baltimore. Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin are expected to take big leaps in their second seasons. Rookies Devin Duvernay and James Proche are being looked at as immediate impact players. That’s before you get to the likes of Chris Moore, who has flashed with the team previously at wide receiver and as a return specialist.

The defense has been the strength of Baltimore since its inception in 1996 and things aren’t much different in 2020.

The Ravens invested heavily in their defensive line this offseason. Not only did they bring in star players like Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe to bolster the unit, but they also re-signing key contributors in Jihad Ward and Justin Ellis. When added to recent draft picks Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington Jr., it’s a group that has already had a surprising cut to get to the 80-man roster limit of training camp.

Baltimore’s secondary is easily the deepest unit on the team and arguably the deepest in the entire NFL. The Ravens legitimately have four starters at cornerback after making a move for Marcus Peters at the trade deadline last year. Peters is added to Marlon Humphrey and Jimmy Smith as outside cornerbacks with slot cornerback Tavon Young healthy again this year. Iman Marshall and Anthony Averett are great depth players with the potential to grow into move over time as well.

Baltimore is well situated at safety too with Chuck Clark earning a three-year contract extension after the Ravens signed Earl Thomas last offseason. But behind the starters, DeShon Elliott has looked impressive the last two offseasons (though he’s ended up on injured reserve both years) and Anthony Levine is a workhorse who does just about everything on defense. Geno Stone and Nigel Warrior are the newest additions to the unit and have plenty of promise for future glory as well.

Though losing a talented playmaker and franchise leader like quarterback Lamar Jackson for an entire season would be a devastating blow to this team’s chances this year, Baltimore is set up to withstand the bumps and bruises that come with an NFL season better than most. The Ravens made sure to address key positions in the offseason and continued to build up their depth, making them one of the teams most suited for a run at the Lombardi Trophy.

Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews ranked as sixth-best TE in the NFL

NFL.com has published its top 10 tight ends heading into the 2020 season, featuring some high praise for former Sooner TE Mark Andrews. 

NFL.com has published its list of the top 10 tight ends heading into the 2020 season, featuring high praise for former Sooner TE Mark Andrews.

The 24-year-old Baltimore Raven came in at sixth place. He is the youngest player on the list. Since being drafted 88th overall in 2017, Andrews has been an immediate impact for Baltimore.

He grabbed 34 catches for 552 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie. Last season, playing alongside former Oklahoma teammate Marquise Brown, his production increased to 64 catches for 852 yards.

Andrews also grabbed 10 touchdowns in 2019, the most of any TE in the league. Yet, NFL.com analyst David Carr projects that the best is yet to come for Andrews.

“Look for Andrews to take the next step as the Ravens’ starting tight end, with Hayden Hurst now down in Atlanta,” says Carr.

According to Carr, Andrews has all the tools to really put together a stellar third season. It doesn’t hurt that he’s catching passes from reigning MVP Lamar Jackson either.

“He has size (6-5, 256 pounds) and stunning route-running ability, while being a better-than-average blocker — which bodes well for the Ravens’ No. 1 rushing attack,” Carr says.

Andrews came to OU as a four-star TE out of Scottsdale, AZ. He was the No. 4 player out of Arizona and the No. 19 receiver in the country, per 247Sports.

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The NFL’s 11 best slot receivers

With the three-receiver set the new default in the NFL, slot receivers are more important than ever. Here are the NFL’s 11 best.

In the 2019 regular and postseason, per Pro Football Focus data, slot receivers regardless of position (receivers, running backs, and tight ends) accounted for 32% of all targets, 31.6% of all receptions, 32.3% of all receiving yardage, and 34.3% of all receiving touchdowns. In a league where the three-receiver set is by far the default formation (it happened on 69% of all snaps last season, per Sports Info Solutions), having a versatile and productive slot receiver is an absolute necessity in the modern passing game.

Moreover, there is no one kind of slot receiver in the modern NFL. It used to be that you wanted the shorter, smaller guy inside, and your bigger, more physical receivers on the outside. Then, offensive coaches started to realize that by putting bigger receivers and tight ends in the slot, you could create mismatches with slower linebackers and smaller slot cornerbacks. Teams countered this by acquiring linebackers built like safeties, eager to do more than just chase after run fits, and also by moving their best cornerbacks into the slot in certain situations.

Now that offensive and defensive coaches have worked hard to create as many schematic and personnel ties in the slot as possible, the best slot receivers are the ones who consistently show the ideal characteristics for the position. These receivers know how to exploit defenders who don’t have a boundary to help them — they’ll create inside and outside position to move the defender where they want him to go. They understand the value and precision of the option route, and how you can hang a defender out to dry with a simple “if this/then that” equation based on coverage rules. They know how to work in concert with their outside receivers to create route combinations which create impossible math problems for defenses. And they know how to get open in quick spaces.

But don’t automatically assume that slot receivers are just taking the dink-and-dunk routes — they’re actually tasked to catch everything from quick slants to vertical stuff down the seam and up the numbers. Last season, per PFF data, the NFL average for yards per completion for outside receivers was 11.28. For slot receivers, it was 11.63. So, over time and based on the play design and the makeup of the receivers, teams could find just that many more yards by throwing to their slot targets.

The best slot receivers in the game bring unique and highly valuable traits to the game, and here are the best among them.

More Top 11 lists: Slot defenders | Outside cornerbacks | Safeties | Linebackers | Edge defenders | Interior defensive linemen | Offensive tackles | Offensive guards | Centers | Outside Receivers

Honorable Mentions

(Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports)

Had we dropped the qualifying floor to under 50% slot snaps, two guys would have easily made it — Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, and Baltimore’s Marquise Goodwin. Evans led all slot receivers with at least 25 targets with a passer rating when targeted of 151.3, and Brown was an absolute force against defenses in the slot — especially when he was using his speed in empty formations.

San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel, who was probably the MVP of the first half of Super Bowl LIV before things started to go backward for his team, would have received a mention as well — Samuel had just 33 targets, but caught 28 of them and helped his quarterback to a 135.3 rating when he was targeted in the slot. Kansas City speed receiver Mecole Hardman had just 23 a lot targets, but he was also highly efficient with them, helping his quarterbacks to a 133.9 rating. Though Danny Amendola was the only Lions receiver to make the 50% threshold, both Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay were highly efficient when tasked to move inside. Other former slot stars like Tyreek Hill of the Chiefs and Minnesota’s Adam Thielen saw their roles change more to the outside in 2019 from previous seasons.

Of the receivers who actually qualified, Nelson Agholor of the Eagles was quietly efficient and had just two drops in the slot last season — which would go against several memes on the subject. Buffalo’s Cole Beasley just missed the cut, through he was one of several receivers on the Bills’ roster who didn’t always get the accuracy and efficiency they deserved from quarterback Josh Allen. And though Randall Cobb was productive for the Cowboys last season and should be so for the Texans in 2020, his nine drops as a slot man… well, we can only have one guy with nine slot drops on this list. More on that in a minute.

Now, on to the top 11.

Willie Snead IV | Julian Edelman | Tyler Boyd | Jared Cook | Golden Tate | Keenan Allen | Larry Fitzgerald | Allen Robinson | Cooper Kupp | Chris Godwin | Tyler Lockett 

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NFLPA medical director suggests players shouldn’t work out together privately

NFLPA medical Director Dr. Thom Mayer has suggested an end to player workouts in the wake of a spate of new cases suffering from COVID-19.

The NFL has canceled in-person minicamps through June, forcing teams and players to continue their workouts virtually. Some players have begun working out together privately in order to prepare for the regular season. Sadly, as some players have tested positive for COVID-19, the NFLPA is cautioning against these joint workouts.

Last week, several NFL players tested positive for the coronavirus, including Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and Denver Broncos cornerback Kareem Jackson. With the number of athletes coming down with the virus increasing, NFLPA medical director Dr. Thom Mayer suggested putting a stop to players practicing together.

In his statement, Dr. Mayer wrote

Please be advised that it is our consensus medical opinion that in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in certain states that no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts. Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months. We are working on the best mitigation procedures at team facilities for both training camps and the upcoming season, and believe that it is in the best interest of all players that we advise against any voluntary joint practices before training camp commences.

The Ravens have seen several of their players hold joint practice sessions this month. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has worked out with Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin while Robert Griffin III has been training with James Proche and Devin Duvernay. No Baltimore players have knowingly gotten the virus to date, however.

Dr. Mayer’s statement is just a recommendation of course, and the players are all adults that can make their own decisions. But the recent cases are a clear sign that the virus has not yet gone away and could impact football beyond this offseason. The recent high-profile cases could lead to the NFL making changes to the protocols they had already set in place to allow teams to return to normal. Protocols Ravens coach John Harbaugh already had his doubts over.

“I’ve seen all the memos on that, and to be quite honest with you, it’s impossible what they’re asking us to do. Humanly impossible,” Harbaugh said on 105.7 The Fan’s “Inside Access.”

We are still a long way from the planned start of the regular season, but with player and personnel safety atop the list of priorities for the NFL and NFLPA, this is another blow towards the hopes of one of the top sports in the country, if not the world, being around on time.

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4 Ravens we’re most excited to see in 2020

We took a look ahead towards the 2020 NFL season and picked the players we’re most excited to see on the field.

Football continues to creep closer and closer as teams prepare for training camp. With the 2020 NFL regular season on the horizon, it has all of us here at Ravens Wire getting excited for football to return to our lives. With the season on our minds, we sat down and discussed which Baltimore Ravens players we’re most pumped to see when everyone hits the field again.

Though we all chose different players and with different reasons in mind, all of us chose young players that should be stepping up in 2020. Nearly all of us chose offensive players, which is fitting with the continued evolution of Baltimore’s offense and the development of quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Let’s get right into who we picked and why.

Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Matthew Stevens: WR Miles Boykin

I’m most excited to see Boykin this year, especially in training camp where he’ll be given more opportunities to showcase his talents. But from training camp through the preseason and into the regular season, I think Boykin could be an underrated breakout character for the Ravens.

With Seth Roberts leaving in free agency, Boykin is being set up to be Baltimore’s primary outside receiver as a counterpoint to Marquise Brown. While all the attention is rightfully on Brown thanks to his athleticism and speed, Boykin has plenty of speed himself as well as being a big-bodied target that should dominate in contested catches and the red zone as long as he puts it all together. While we might not see as many 80-plus yard receptions where Boykin just leaves everyone in the dust compared to Brown, he has the skillset to get open and punish would-be tacklers en route to big gains.

We saw some flashes of what Boykin can do last season. While comparisons are always tricky, Boykin has the makings of an Anquan Boldin type of player in the Ravens’ offense. It’s an underrated part of the Ravens’ offense right now but just like we saw with Boldin in town, it’s one that will help keep drives alive. For an offense that led the league in points scored last season, Boykin’s transformation into a solid outside receiver could make them practically undefendable.

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Ravens’ offense succeeding without breaking the bank

With much of their starting lineup still on rookie contracts, the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive success isn’t costing them very much.

The Baltimore Ravens’ offense led the NFL in scoring last season, while also breaking a 41-year old record for single-season rushing yards. Add that to the laundry list of personal achievements and records for MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and it displays just how impressive Baltimore’s offense was in 2019. But what’s even more impressive is the value the Ravens are getting from their offensive playmakers.

Despite all their accomplishments, Baltimore’s starting lineup of skill players is set to earn just $19.28 million against the salary cap this season.

Player 2020 cap hit
QB Lamar Jackson $2.58 million
RB Mark Ingram $5.33 million
WR Marquise Brown $2.68 million
WR Miles Boykin $889,232
TE Mark Andrews $959,165
TE Nick Boyle $6.83 million
Total $19.28 million

Through all their records, the Ravens only spent $12.5 million on the same group last season.

Player 2019 cap hit
QB Lamar Jackson $2.15 million
RB Mark Ingram $3.33 million
WR Marquise Brown $2.14 million
WR Miles Boykin $709,232
TE Mark Andrews $833,665
TE Nick Boyle $3.33 million
Total $12.5 million

Of course, this tends to happen when teams draft successfully. Of the six skill players on this list, four are still on their rookie contracts, having been drafted over the last three years. But Baltimore has done well to find value players through the free-agent process as well. Ingram’s $3.33 million cap hit last season was an absolute steal. Boyle might not be massively productive on the stat sheet but his blocking is paramount to the Ravens’ successes and he barely cost Baltimore much more than their rookies last season. With an offensive line that is also made up of a bunch of players still on their rookie contracts, the Ravens’ starting offense is finding high-level success without breaking the bank.

That value is important because it’s allowing Baltimore to spend nearly double on their defense. The Ravens are spending just $64.54 million of their 2020 salary cap on offense while dropping $120.48 million on defense.

Though Baltimore will have to pay some big-name players in the coming years, starting with left tackle Ronnie Stanley, the salary cap is expected to explode next year thanks to the new CBA. That should allow the Ravens to retain many of their biggest playmakers while potentially having enough money to add some other talent along the way.

Of course, if Baltimore can continue to draft so well, they might not need free agency to keep their offense humming.

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Watch: Tyus Bowser got his mom a new car for her birthday

As has become a tradition of sorts for Baltimore Ravens players, outside linebacker Tyus Bowser surprised his mom with a brand-new car.

Baltimore Ravens players really love their mommas apparently. Several players have taken care of their mothers recently, buying them pretty big gifts. That continued with Ravens outside linebacker Tyus Bowser, who hooked his mom up with a brand new Land Rover for her birthday. Luckily, Bowser videotaped his mother’s reaction for all of us to enjoy as well.

Take a look at the video and photos Bowser posted on Twitter of him surprising his mother with the new vehicle, complete with bow and everything.

Last year, it was wide receiver Marquise Brown, who surprised his mother with not only a new vehicle but a house as well. Right after the 2020 NFL Draft, linebacker Patrick Queen surprised his mom with a new vehicle too. You’ve likely seen players on camera during games, thanking their mothers, but this takes it to a whole new level.

Bowser is in the final year of his rookie deal and if he lives up to expectations this season, he’ll earn a new deal worthy of an upgraded ride for his mom.

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Lamar Jackson considered among best deep-ball throwers in NFL

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson can do it all apparently. Not only can he make plays with his legs but he’s one of the best deep passers too.

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When most people think of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, they probably don’t think of deep passes. Yet, it’s something more really should.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar has been taking a deep dive through the NFL to rank the best players at specific tasks. While we already know Jackson is the best mobile quarterback in the league, Farrar put him right in the middle of his list of the best deep-ball passers.

“Including the postseason, he completed 27 of 68 deep passes for 829 yards, 12 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 113.3, fifth-best in the league among quarterbacks who took at least 50% of their snaps.”

Those numbers are somewhat shocking to read. It felt like Jackson didn’t throw downfield very often at all last season, outside of a few games where he kept trying to connect with wide receiver Marquise Brown on deep balls. Yet, 68 passes would be 17% of all of Jackson’s passing attempts last season, while also accounting for 26.5% of his total passing yards and a third of his touchdown passes from 2019.

Farrar also pointed out that Jackson was pretty spot on in Baltimore’s playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans, connecting on 5-of-13 deep passes for 135 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. For a game that saw the Ravens bludgeoned for 60 minutes, that type of success downfield is impressive.

If Jackson is truly one of the best deep-ball quarterbacks in the league, 2020 could be his season to further break out as a passer.

Marquise Brown is finally healthy, looking faster and thicker than he was last year. Miles Boykin has a rare combination of speed and size, which has him primed for a breakout season. Rookie Devin Duvernay is also ridiculously fast and will likely see some targets on deep balls. And we certainly can’t forget Mark Andrews, who was Jackson’s favorite target last year and cemented himself as one of the best tight ends in the NFL in the process.

Regardless of your feelings when the Ravens selected Jackson in the 2018 NFL Draft, he’s proven himself to be deadly to defenses in so many ways. As he continues to develop and mature as a quarterback, it seems like the sky is the limit for Jackson and Baltimore.

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Miles Boykin primed for breakout season in 2020

While all the attention has gone to Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin has the opportunity and physical attributes to break out in 2020.

The Baltimore Ravens’ offense is returning 10 of their 11 starters from last season. Though they took the league by storm and led the NFL in scoring last year, the hope is further development from their young players will see the team actually improve in 2020. And while all the attention and excitement is focused on quarterback Lamar Jackson and wide receiver Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin shouldn’t be forgotten about.

Selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Boykin seemingly has everything a team would want from a top wide receiver. Boykin stands at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, making him a massive target capable of bullying defensive backs for contested passes and withstanding the beating of a full 16-game season. But he also has plenty of speed, running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. With the same exact measurements in the 2020 combine, Boykin’s former Notre Dame teammate Chase Claypool earned comparisons to NFL legend Calvin Johnson this year.

With the size and speed already checked off, it’s up to Boykin to improve upon the tangibles of the position — route running, hands, and a better understanding of the Ravens’ offensive concepts. Though Boykin showed a few flashes last season, it’s perfecting these things that will make him a more consistent weapon.

Boykin has already been hard at work this offseason, though he hasn’t had an opportunity to practice with Jackson due to social distancing restrictions. But Boykin has plans to meet up with Jackson next week to get some offseason workouts in with the starting quarterback. If Boykin can build his chemistry with Jackson, he could be the recipient of a lot of targets this season. Seth Roberts left in free agency, leaving Boykin as the top outside wide receiver on Baltimore’s roster. With very little competition on the depth chart, Boykin is practically being inked in for the starting job for 2020.

Granted, outside receivers haven’t fared very well in the current version of the Ravens’ offense, with slot receivers and tight ends getting most of the targets. That reared its head again last season with Roberts being primarily used as a downfield blocker, only catching 21 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns.

However, Boykin is the first Baltimore receiver since Anquan Boldin to have the rare combination of size and speed to succeed in that role. With an offense that now has so many threats all over the field (Jackson’s rushing ability, the now four-headed monster at running back, tight end Mark Andrews, and wide receiver Marquise Brown), Boykin shouldn’t be singled out by defenses in the way Boldin often was. Considering Boldin had 186 receptions for 2,645 yards and 14 touchdowns over three seasons with the Ravens, Boykin having the potential to exceed that is awfully exciting.

Enter his second season, Boykin is primed for a breakout performance. He’s got the opportunity to see a lot of targets and the physical traits to make defenses pay. Now it’s just a matter of putting it all together on the field.

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9 Ravens that need to step up in 2020

The Ravens nearly reached the Super Bowl last season but if they want to get over the hump in 2020, they’ll need these nine to step up.

The Baltimore Ravens were so close to a Super Bowl appearance last season. They entered the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 1 seed after putting together a league-leading 14-2 regular-season record. But sadly, what looked to be an unstoppable force ended up getting manhandled and bullied for 60 minutes in the postseason, ending their Super Bowl aspirations well before they could become reality.

Enter the 2020 NFL season, the Ravens are once again expected to compete for Super Bowl LV. They’ve returned nearly all of their starters from last season, including MVP winning quarterback Lamar Jackson. But regardless of how good they look on paper and what expectations are surrounding the team, they’ll need to see a bunch of players step up in 2020 if they actually want to reach Super Bowl LV.

I put together a list of the nine Ravens that need to improve this season and carry the team the last little bit.

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

OLB Tyus Bowser

Since the Ravens didn’t address pass rusher at all in the 2020 NFL Draft and only re-signed Pernell McPhee to a one-year deal, Baltimore seems to be putting a lot of hope in their young outside linebacker corps. We already know Matthew Judon can get the job done but behind him is a little more of a mystery, and leading that group is Bowser.

The Ravens have been hoping for Bowser to step up for a few years now and he finally started to become a more consistent player in the second half of last season. But in the final year of his rookie contract, it’s officially put up or shut up time. If Bowser can turn those flashes into consistent play, he should reach near double-digit sacks for Baltimore in 2020. Of course, that could propel him to leaving the Ravens next offseason for a fat contract but it could also be the final piece of the puzzle for Baltimore to win their third Super Bowl since 2000.

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