Open to the media Training Camp is now over for the Ravens. From what I've read, well, only a couple points:
1. Miles Boykin (WR) is going to be a star
2. Hollywood Brown (WR) is way fast, but needs to develop rapport with LJ
3. We have GREAT TEs -- our passing weapons in general are pretty elite.
4. Lamar Jackson is a lot better than last year, but he still has a problem w/ holding the ball too long. Could lead to sacks/fumbles, but it also could lead to running opportunities.
5. I'm a little bit worried about Jimmy Smith but that just is what it is.
6. We need more pressure up the middle of our D-line.
7. We need more pressure on the edge of our D-line -- Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams REALLY need to step up this year. Chris Wormley is replacing Brent Urban, which is a pretty big pair of shoes to fill. McPhee is replacing Suggs. Someone has to replace Za'Darius Smith... we still do have Matthew Judon tho. We will see.
8. Our defense will still be elite and at the top of multiple categories/rankings despite the losses we've suffered. 'Wink' can scheme pressure if it's not generated at the line, but it still worries me.
9. Training camp was almost ALL passing, no running - our real offense will include a lot more running. I think they did this to maybe just give Lamar all those reps. Remember the team transitioned into a run-heavy team mid-season last year, so maybe they don't need to practice those plays as much. Maybe John Harbaugh is hiding that offense from everyone. I'm not sure what the exact reason is, but the training camp was SUPER pass-heavy.
10. LJ is a great leader. I can tell from the post-practice interviews and how the players talk about him... and his own interviews, he seems very humble, likable, relaxed, but in control. Flacco was just "Joe Cool" as in, he never got up or down, but that only took him so far, I feel like LJ is getting a lot more allegiance from this team than Flacco ever had.
I would say I've tempered my enthusiasm a little bit until I see more from Lamar and how our defense looks. I'm so used to having no offense that any holes in the defense were fatal... but I still do believe LJ will be better this year than Flacco was the past 3-4 years... and if that's the case we're gonna win a lot of games. Every year we were in playoff contention until the last game or so besides the year Flacco blew out his ACL. Now, with a better offense, I expect them to win more games. I think the offense will get better as the year goes on and not worse... I don't think teams will be able to 'adjust' and 'stop' them because we literally have weapons at every position right now, including QB.
Wins will range from 11 to 13, IMO, maybe even higher. I'm expecting big things from this team. But, at the same time, we have a tough schedule. The Jets will be better, the NFC West is pretty good up and down -- who knows how Kyler Murray will play?! Arizona was supposed to be an easy win, but what if Kyler is actually elite? The other 3 teams are supposed to be good. Obviously the AFC North is tough every year and we play KC/HOU/NE also.
