Give the people what they want!
Well, we wanted open training camp at Westminster. We didn’t get that this year. So we’ll have to settle for this:
Not an acceptable alternative to me… but better than nothing!
I used to be able to go to rural Westminster in Carroll County every summer and mingle with the players and media reporters… probably one of the most accessible TC scenarios ever in the NFL.
But this year was different due to the Ravens’ managerial decision to eliminate a remote location and stay close to home due to the uncertainties of the lockout… Thus, I am “locked out” of TC on-site reporting this summer… but the Ravens have thrown me and their local fans a bone…
No worries. This preseason format is so uniquely abbreviated and accelerated this year, I feel you can cover your favorite teams just as efficiently from your armchair at home…Even big-shot beat reporters like Jamison Hensley of The Baltimore Sun admit they can’t really be sure of exactly what they’re seeing in person in the private sessions…there are so many extra bodies and so many personnel moves happening and waiting to happen, it’s just a blurry educated guess as to what the finished product of any NFL team will look like in the next few days…
Having said that for the record, let’s look at some of the clues to the 2011 Ravens we might see playing out live today at M&T Bank Stadium:
Ravens Right Tackle
Jah Reid has been impressive thus far in camp, both with his size and ability, but Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said Thursday that Oniel Cousins has a slight advantage over the third-round draft pick simply because of his experience. Don’t forget to pay attention to who is running with the starters, because it could offer insight into how the Ravens address the key position moving forward.
The Safety Battle
Things just got even more interesting with the open spot next to Ed Reed, as the Ravens added safety Bernard Pollard on Thursday. The general thought was that Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura would duke it out. Now, it’s a three-way standoff, and Pollard made it interesting with some eye-opening hits in his first practice in purple and black.
A Smaller Mt. Cody
There’s a lot riding on nose tackle Terrence Cody with the release of Kelly Gregg, and it seems he’s taking his responsibility seriously by keeping his weight down during the lockout. You might not be able to see it from the stands, but Cody’s conditioning should show by his work on the field.
Tyrod Taylor
Much has been made of the Ravens’ quest to find a backup quarterback for Joe Flacco – and they still could go the free agency route – but sixth-round draft pick Tyrod Taylor has shown promise. He throws a great ball and is incredibly elusive when he slips out of the pocket. The Virginia Tech product is good for at least one “Oooh!” play in practice.
Jimmy Smith
The hope is that first-round draft pick Jimmy Smith can practice Saturday, as he’s dealt with a tweaked groin for the past few days. If he does, keep a close eye on No. 22. Long and lean, Smith does not shy away from contact and really likes to use press coverage to his advantage. The Colorado product regularly sets up close to the receiver he’s marking to jam him at the line. Check him out in DB/WR drills.
There’s a lot more for Ravens fans to focus upon, of course… But if you can keep your eye on those five situations above, I think you will have had a very full day of Bird-watching…
Thanks to Mike Duffy of BaltimoreRavens.com … he’s covering the practice in a live blog on Saturday, and it should be almost as good as being there… And hard to believe after such a prolonged lockout and a very long winter/spring without football, but in only 5 more days, the Ravens will be playing against the Philadelphia Eagles in preseason game number 1 … so this is a meaningful dress rehearsal.
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