Five things we learned about the Ravens this preseason
The Ravens will look to erase the bitter taste from their mouths after falling just short against the eventual Super Bowl champion Patriots in the divisional round of last year's playoffs. Several key players like Haloti Ngata and Torrey Smith have departed, replaced with their understudies from last season.
General manager Ozzie Newsome drew praise for another solid draft, but his first two picks have been bogged down by injuries.
With the regular season set to kick off on Thursday, here are the five most important things we learned from the Ravens' preseason.
1. The receiving corps will take a step back in 2015
The selection of Breshad Perriman in the first round was supposed to ignite a strong competition for reps at the receiver spot. Unfortunately, injuries have turned the competition into a dud. Perriman has been out since the first day of training camp with a knee injury, and Marlon Brown has been banged up with a back problem, leaving Kamar Aiken as the No. 2 wideout practically by default. Steve Smith Sr. may be a young 36, but he's can't do it all by himself. If Perriman can get healthy and make an impact, Ravens fans might be wishing Torrey Smith never left.
2. The Ravens might have to run the ball more this season
In 2014, the Ravens attempted 554 pass plays and ran it 448 times. They may have to flip that ratio this year with the potential issues at receiver, not to mention the continued absence of Dennis Pitta. New starting tight end Crockett Gillmore has flashed potential in his switch from blocking tight end, but second-round pick Maxx Williams will be the wild card.
3. The Ravens need to bring in another running back
Justin Forsett is coming off a season with 279 touches, the most since his rookie season when he had 155. He faded some down the stretch last season, and his 5-8, 195-pound frame isn't exactly built for the wear and tear of a full NFL season. WIth second-stringer Lorenzo Taliaferro out for several weeks with a knee injury, rookie fourth-rounder Javorius Allen is Forsett's main backup. Allen lost a crucial fumble at the goal line in the third preseason game, and followed that up with a 10-yard performance on six carries in last Thurday's finale.
4. Timmy Jernigan might be too injury prone to replace Ngata
Jernigan left the third preseason game with a knee injury after missing the opener with a foot issue. He also missed four games last year with a knee injury and then missed the Ravens' playoff game against Pittsburgh after exiting the regular-season finale with an ankle injury. Jernigan, last year's second-round pick out of Florida State, already has huge shoes to fill. If he's not 100 percent, it's going to be even tougher to fill them.
5. Defensive tackle Carl Davis might be the team's best rookie in 2015
With Breshad Perriman unable to get on the field and Maxx Williams unable to overtake Gillmore for a starting role, Davis might see more reps than both of the players drafted ahead of him. The third-rounder out of Iowa has impressed head coach John Harbaugh with his athleticism and football sense. He's gotten plenty of opportunities with Jernigan down, and has already shown that he is capable of competing at the NFL level. Pro Football Focus has Davis as Baltimore's top-rated defensive player of the preseason.
