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Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson is out covering training camps. Today's stop: the Baltimore Ravens.
About QB
I was curious about the wide receiver group that Lamar Jackson is working with, but there doesn’t seem to be much concern on the staff. The coaches think Zay Flowers will take a step forward and there’s still a belief that Rashod Bateman can finally put his injuries behind him and be a key piece. But as it stands, the plan is for more of the offense to flow through RB Derrick Henry and the tight end.
Beginner to watch
Despite his shoulder injury (which turned out to be minor), the staff is excited about the early trajectory of first-round pick Nate Wiggins. He’s been everything the Ravens expected in terms of speed and aggressiveness in closing down and disrupting catches. We’ll see how durable he is, but the skill is already undeniable.
Keeping my eyes on
I wouldn't be surprised if you see a lot of offensive changes that try to use offensive lineman Derrick Henry creatively with linebackers Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, giving defenses a group of big, mobile athletes. Henry is the reason the staff doesn't have to worry about the wide receiver position… because Henry will eat up a lot of the offense.
imaginative thinking
Even if Mark Andrews plays all season, the Ravens can envision linebacker Isaiah Lakeley as a 60-pass contributor in 2024. Lamar Jackson and Lakeley have been building a strong relationship and spending a lot of time one-on-one. It’s also been interesting to see Jackson constantly looking for Lakeley to work on scoring. Don’t discount Lakeley as a TE2 option.
What I saw was interesting.
At one point when Lamar Jackson and Isaiah Likely were working one-on-one, Likely made a good-natured jumper to Jackson when the ball was inches out of his reach. After a moment of joy, the two got into a detailed conversation about routes, body language and hand signals. It was a touching moment. They work hard together.
wild card
Midfielder Trenton Simpson has stepped into the shoes of departed Patrick Quinn and has done so well so far. So much so that the coaching staff believes Quinn won’t be missed at all. Simpson’s energy has been evident since the day he took over as a starter, and he’s been making defensive decisions. For this defense to function at its highest level, his consistency will be a huge factor.
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