Practice Report: Nate Wiggins Has High Praise for Rashod Bateman
Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com
Asked who has been the toughest wide receiver for him to cover at Ravens practice, Wiggins pointed to Rashod Bateman.
“He’s just shifty. A lot of quickness in the route,” Wiggins said.
Wiggins said Zay Flowers has been the most fun to cover, “because we met up in college so we know what we both have. It’s just fun to compete.”
Bateman, who spoke earlier this week about how his mindset heading into Year 4, made an impressive leaping snag in the back of the end zone despite tight coverage during early goal-line drills and has looked good (and practiced throughout) OTAs.
Tre Swilling, who the Ravens signed to the practice squad midway through last year, had a practice that put him more on the map as a potential backup safety. He broke up a pass over the middle for Flowers, then had tight coverage on back-to-back incompletions to tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar.
Rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker had maybe his best practice yet, grabbing a red-zone touchdown and making a nice intermediate catch despite tight coverage by Wiggins during a hurry-up drill at the end of practice.
Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh made a good play sniffing out a running back screen to force a spiked incompletion and also had some strong pass rushes. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley also had a better practice, though, with some nice pass blocks on Oweh.
Bateman, Likely key to Ravens’ passing attack taking next step in 2024
Luke Jones, Baltimore Positive
Four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry was the most notable addition of the offseason, but the Ravens offense still has room to improve through the air in 2024.
After all, Baltimore already sported the NFL’s top-ranked ground attack in the aggregate last season (and over most of the last six years with Lamar Jackson at quarterback), so continuing to diversify how the offense can score points remains paramount to the ultimate goal. Yes, it’s all about winning in January for a team that’s finished with the league’s best record twice in the last five years and still fallen short of the Super Bowl, so Jackson, Henry, and everyone else will ultimately be judged by what they do in the postseason.
A consistent No. 3 option emerging behind Andrews and Flowers will be important with 2021 first-round wide receiver Rashod Bateman and third-year tight end Isaiah Likely being the candidates possessing the most upside.
The case for Likely emerging as the No. 3 pass-catching option is more nuanced after he filled in for Andrews at a high level last season, catching 21 passes for 322 yards and five touchdowns over the final six regular-season games when the veteran suffered a serious ankle injury in November. Seven of Likely’s eight career touchdowns as well as his five best receiving yardage totals have come in games in which Andrews exited with an injury or didn’t play at all over the last two seasons.
Lamar Jackson mostly absent from Ravens’ voluntary workouts so far: ‘It’s this time of year’
Brian Wacker, The Baltimore Sun
“It’s this time of year,” Harbaugh said when asked if he was frustrated by the absence of Baltimore’s $260 million man and the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player. “It’s a voluntary time. It’s really not something we really comment on.
“I can’t speak for anybody that’s not here. I pretty much know the different reasons guys aren’t here most of the time, but not always. Nobody’s required to tell you exactly what’s going on. But the guys who are here, they’re great, they’re flying around.”
“I’m a coach,” he said when asked if there’s anything happening in the practices that could cause players who aren’t there to fall behind. “We want to be going forward as fast as we can. No drag, making ground, getting better every day. … It takes a lot of work to do that.”
PFF Interior Defender Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2024 NFL season
Sam Monson, PFF
11. JUSTIN MADUBUIKE, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Madubuike had a breakout 2023 season, leading all interior defenders in sacks. Including the playoffs, his 77 total pressures ranked third after only Aaron Donald and Chris Jones.
Madubuike has been an average run defender in his career thus far, but he showed last season that he can be one of the most impactful pass-rushers in the game.
NFL’s most underappreciated players: Browns’ Martin Emerson Jr., Jaguars’ Andre Cisco among AFC picks
Gennaro Filice, NFL.com
OL · Age: 26
The selection for Baltimore came down to a difficult decision between Patricks. “Project Pat” Ricard was an enticing option, especially considering the fullback will now be blowing open holes for Derrick Freakin’ Henry. But despite the general lack of appreciation for his position, Ricard has received his share of individual shine in the form of four straight Pro Bowl selections from 2019 through 2022, as well as a second-team All-Pro nod this past season. So, Patrick Mekari, come on down! Esteemed colleague Kevin Patra recently spotlighted the biggest remaining question mark in Baltimore: the offensive line. Multiple spots appear iffy, thanks to injuries and inexperience. Fortunately, the Ravens employ one of the best swing linemen in football today. In five NFL seasons, Mekari has ably logged snaps at all five OL positions. This is a utility man with immense value, especially on this particular roster.