Practice Report: Odafe Oweh Dominates at OTAs
Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com
Oweh dominated during Tuesday’s Organized Team Activities practice at the Under Armour Performance Center, both as a pass rusher and run defender.
Oweh flashed on a half-dozen or more plays. His pressure created a desperate throwaway during a red-zone drill from the 5-yard line. He made another stop five yards deep in the backfield on an outside run by Justice Hill.
Oweh wasn’t the only young outside linebacker who flashed. Tavius Robinson, who is entering his second season, made several impressive plays. He wrapped up Zay Flowers in the open field on one play, beat left tackle Ronnie Stanley around the edge on another and had a nice pass rush move on Daniel Faalele in another rep. Robinson was big even for a rookie, but he’s even more physically impressive as a sophomore, and he built a strong foundation playing 29 percent of the Ravens’ defensive snap last season.
Second-year linebacker Trenton Simpson, the expected starter taking Patrick Queen’s spot, has gotten off to a strong start at OTAs. He had a pair of pass deflections on Tuesday – one against tight end Isaiah Likely and another punching the ball away from Flowers. Likely was complimentary of Simpson after practice, giving him credit for winning the rep and saying he’s playing faster and more instinctual.
Rookie cornerbacks Nate Wiggins and T.J. Tampa each made good plays on the ball. Wiggins had two pass breakups – one on a short throw to Devontez Walker and another on a slant. No throw is easy against the sticky Wiggins, who doesn’t give up much space. Tampa also tightly contested a sideline throw to Walker that fell incomplete.
Ravens ILB Trenton Simpson ‘showing that he’s ready’ for new role, and other takeaways from OTAs
Jonas Shaffer, The Baltimore Banner
“He’s definitely showing that he’s ready for the opportunity,” Likely said after Tuesday’s practice, which kicked off the second week of the Ravens’ voluntary organized team activities. “He’s showing that he’s taking this offseason well, like a pro. He’s definitely showing that what you guys saw on tape against Pittsburgh wasn’t a fluke. He’s fast, he’s physical, he’s listening, and he’s really just soaking everything up like a sponge. I mean, whatever Roquan tells him to do during a play … he’s taking that and running with it, and he’s not scared to do anything in the defense.”
Simpson stood out Tuesday, and not just because of the No. 23 jersey he wore next to Smith’s No. 0. He returned for his second year in Baltimore with more muscle mass, yet hasn’t lost much, if any, of the burst that made him such an intriguing prospect. A third-round pick in 2023, Simpson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds at 6 feet, 2 inches, and 235 pounds.
Defensive lineman Broderick Washington played with impressive power. Washington, who had a career-high two sacks last season despite inconsistent playing time, tossed aside left guard Andrew Vorhees on one quick-strike passing play and got his hands on another pass at the line of scrimmage to force an incompletion.
Ravens WR Rashod Bateman feels ‘blessed’ by newfound stability after unexpected extension
Childs Walker, The Baltimore Sun
“I didn’t know what was going to happen with me,” he said. “I didn’t know if I was going to be here, traded, anything. The extension definitely came out of nowhere. [I’m] blessed, for sure. I did not see them doing that, but it shows that they believe in me. … It was a no-brainer. I love playing here. I love the organization. I love the fans. I still feel like I’ve got a lot to do.”
“We certainly could have done a better job of moving them around, for sure, but as the year went on, Rashod really came on, and I’ve seen tremendous growth,” Monken said. “But again, [it’s] growth just because he didn’t have an offseason last year, in my mind; I didn’t see that. But I expect a tremendous year [from] him, and we certainly could have found a way to get him the ball more.”
“I think it’s happening right now,” tight end Mark Andrews said when asked what it will take for Bateman to become an every-week factor. “I think he looks incredible. Everything — his route running, catching the ball, being where he’s supposed to be — he’s got it down to a science. I know he’s worked real hard, but he looks about as put-together as he’s ever been. It’s going to be a big year for Rashod Bateman. I’m calling it now.”
PFF Offensive Tackle Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2024 NFL season
Zoltan Buday, PFF
20. RONNIE STANLEY, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Stanley’s best years seem to be behind him. He has not played more than 900 snaps in a season since 2019 and has not earned a PFF grade over 71.0 in any of his last three seasons. However, when he’s healthy, the Notre Dame product can still be a solid pass protector for stretches. In fact, his 2023 pass-blocking grade of 75.9 ranked 22nd among offensive tackles.
Bold predictions for 2024 NFL season: Bears, Jets end playoff droughts; Chiefs three-peat!
Judy Battista, NFL.com
Derrick Henry goes for 1,600 rushing yards with the Ravens. This is the free-agency marriage we all wanted, and the Ravens and Henry will be just as great a fit as we imagined. The Ravens had one of the most efficient running games last season, but introducing Henry is a game-changer. Even at 30 years old, he should lead the league in carries (as he has in four of the last five seasons) and could accumulate more rushing yards than he has in any season except 2020, his 2,000-yard effort. Yes, the Ravens lost three starting offensive linemen (tackle Morgan Moses and guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler), but they also seem to have a knack for finding and developing replacements. The Ravens had one of the league’s highest-scoring offenses last season and that will be a boon for Henry. Get a lead, give him the ball, bleed the clock. That’s a recipe for a Ravens playoff run.