First impressions of Week 2 of Ravens training camp—
Rookie 1st-round pick Ronnie Stanley looks like the real deal at left tackle…
The Ravens are running out of healthy running backs…
Much maligned safeties Matt Elam and Terrence Brooks really look good in defensive drills (for a change!)…
Wide receiver Mike Wallace is on the field and catching long bombs from Joe Flacco…
The Ravens are already down two running backs in practice as Lorenzo Taliaferro (foot) is on the physically unable to perform list and rookie fourth-round pick Kenneth Dixon tweaked his knee in one of the first practices. They also let go of Trent Richardson, who couldn’t get on the field because of a knee injury.
“We just couldn’t wait any longer,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “We need the running backs. We need the bodies out there practicing.”
And so the Ravens signed running back Stephen Houston
Wednesday. Houston is a former undrafted rookie out of Indiana. He spent time with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers last year in training camp. In four preseason games, he had seven carries for 21 yards and one catch for 13 yards. He was released by the Patriots after he lost a fumble in his first preseason game. Houston ran for 2,304 yards and 25 touchdowns in three seasons at Indiana. He was a three-year starter.
As for Ronnie Stanley the 6th overall pick out of Notre Dame? He’s going to be your starting left tackle, and he has not disappointed in camp.
According to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com who has been there for every practice, Stanley “blocked well in the non-contact practices earlier this summer. He’s blocked well in the padded practices of training camp, including in mauling goal-line drills Thursday morning. For a rookie, the fact that he hasn’t had any glaring mistakes or bad beats around the edge is impressive.”
RG Marshal Yanda himself has been impressed by the No. 6 pick out of Notre Dame. A former third-round pick who became a starter in his second NFL game, Yanda said there’s a lot of pressure for Stanley to step into the starting left tackle spot because he’s going to have to play against the best pass rushers week in and week out.
“He has the right mindset. He is a hard worker and keeps his head down, and I love a rookie like that,” Yanda said. “I love a rookie that stays quiet and does his job and just produces on the field. Just do what you do on the field. I don’t need to hear anything else but you doing your job and keeping your mouth quiet. He’s done that. He is doing everything the right way.”
Offensive Line Coach Juan Castillo: ““He’s really like Marshal,” Castillo said. “Marshal sets a great example for everyone in that room. Ronnie is already a professional. The game is important to him; he studies. He is a smart kid, so he doesn’t make the same mistakes twice.”
“I’ve got to work and I can’t betray their trust,” Stanley said. “I’ve got to put my best foot forward and show them what I really can do.”
Ryan Mink: “The Ravens turned up the intensity Thursday with goal-line drills. Stanley moved the defensive line backwards, allowing running back Terrance West to skate through behind him practically untouched on one run. Castillo came running out to give the rookie praise.”
Stanley: “It’s been great to fire off the ball and come out and really be physical like you want to. Every guy you’re going against has elite speed, elite strength, the best bull rush you’ll ever get, the best speed you’ll ever get. You’ve just got to be your best at all times.”
One bummer to report:
Rookie defensive end Bronson Kaufusi broke his ankle during Thursday’s practice when a teammate fell into his leg, and the third-round pick is expected to miss the entire season. The injury happened during a passing play where Kaufusi was engaged in a block with an offensive lineman. As he pushed the blocker into the backfield, a teammate fell into his leg and collapsed the ankle. He was carted off the field.
“You try to avoid that,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “You do everything you can to keep players off the ground, but sometimes guys fall. That’s what happened with Bronson.”
“He was playing well, but he’s only going to be better next year,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll get him in the weight room. We’ll get him with our coaches, and he’ll be a much better player a year from now than he would have been this year.”
Kaufusi was expected to make an immediate impact as a pass rusher, but the Ravens are deep enough at the defensive end position to absorb the loss. They still have Brent Urban , Lawrence Guy and Kapron Lewis-Moore, who have all been solid in training camp. Guy started six games last year.
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