Maybe the Ravens should have had a free bobblehead giveaway Thursday.
Team officials invited current and potential season ticket holders to open practice in Owings Mills, but they probably didn’t sell many afterward. The Ravens’ offense was pretty poor, especially the quarterback play.
Which quarterback was the worst?
Go ahead, pick one. It got so bad that midway through practice, the Ravens completed a roughly 15-yard pass and the crowd started to applaud.
True story.
Starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, he of the sidearm delivery fame, had three passes knocked down and one interception late in which he threw to Andy Isabella when the wide receiver had two safeties draped all over him. There were times when Jackson stopped the play because something went wrong, either with the snap count, the formation or players in motion.
It’s apparent that a lot of patience will be needed to run this new offense.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley was just as bad, overthrowing receivers as if they were as tall as 7-foot-6 former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming.
When the Ravens did have a receiver open, Tylan Wallace dropped a pass in the end zone.
It was that type of day.
Fourth-year wide receiver Devin Duvernay did have a strong performance, but giving out bobbleheads would have been more appropriate.
The Beckham file
Odell Beckham Jr., who signed with the Ravens in April and is expected to be the team’s No. 1 wide receiver, has yet to participate in any of the three practices open to the media.
Some fans questioned Jackson missing parts of the voluntary offseason training activities, especially with Todd Monken being named the new offensive coordinator to replace Greg Roman.
So, it’s fair to ask why Beckham hasn’t practiced and whether wide receivers coach Greg Lewis has spoken with the former LSU star who signed a reported one-year, $15 million contract that could include another $3 million in incentives.
“Well, the conversations we’ve had I would rather keep between me and him,” Lewis said. “But when he is here, he’s been positive. When he’s not been here, he’s been positive from that perspective, too.”
We’ll just call Lewis’ response a quick out pattern.
Simpson impresses
Trenton Simpson, selected in the third round out of Clemson, is usually the last of the linebackers to participate in individual drills. When you are a rookie, you have to know your place.
But while working on the two-man sled Thursday, he showed good initial power and quickness. He does have a strong motor and appears to be athletic. He can run, but we won’t know the full story on him until the Ravens put on full pads.
So far, so good.
Going big
The Ravens have their own version of a jumbo package on the offensive line.
At one point Thursday, the left side consisted of 6-5, 322-pound rookie guard Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and 6-8, 380-pound second-year tackle Daniel Faalele.
That’s a lot of beef, especially for players so young.
Likely story
I don’t know what plans the Ravens have for second-year tight end Isaiah Likely, but last year I strongly suggested that Roman put him on the outside and let the 6-6, 241-pound target go up and get the ball, especially on some back-shoulder fades.
I hope Monken tries it. Likely is too talented and creates way too many mismatches to be sitting on the bench. The Ravens will work on it.
Eyes on Ojabo
Second-year outside linebacker David Ojabo was limping early in practice and there were some other media members who noticed it.
It’s not good to have a player limping after he ruptured his Achilles tendon last March, so it’s something to keep an eye on.
Ojabo, though, had no trouble planting, pushing off or running around the corner against offensive tackles during the rest of the practice, so maybe it was just something minor he had to shake off.
Screen game
I’ve seen the Ravens run more screen passes in the past two practices than they have in the past three years.
They’ve run them with running backs and tight ends, and it seems as if they can’t get enough. I wonder if the trend will continue when the regular season starts.
The Ravens have always had the skill-position players to run those plays, but they’ve lacked athletic guards who are fast and athletic enough to make blocks or get down the field.
Guards Kevin Zeitler and Ben Cleveland are more power-oriented than finesse players. If you want to see a good team run screens, check out the Kansas City Chiefs.
Before the Chiefs, the Green Bay Packers ran them to perfection with quarterback Brett Favre.
Harbaugh is hands-on
Ravens coach John Harbaugh spent eight years as the Philadelphia Eagles’ special teams coach, and he still is hands-on in that department.
The team usually has special teams working in the first half of practice and Harbaugh is somewhere in the middle giving instructions. The team has some of the best special teams play in the league with Chris Horton as the position coach, but it’s nice to have a head coach with the experience of Harbaugh being able to add a few wrinkles and some expertise.
Now, while on the subject of coaches, some team will eventually give Anthony Weaver, the Ravens’ top assistant, a head coaching job. Not only does Weaver have the right demeanor, but he also builds strong relationships with his players.
One of his biggest supporters is New York Giants defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale, who held the same role in Baltimore from 2018 to 2021.
Cornerback questions
The major criticism of second-year cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis when he was coming out of Alabama was that he couldn’t stay healthy. He struggled with injuries last season and so far hasn’t participated in team drills.
The assumption here is that he is hurt again, but the Ravens probably want to keep those conversations private because regardless of when Armour-Davis practices again, he has been positive.
Time for another quick out.
Flowers update
It wasn’t a great day for rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers as he dropped a couple of passes, but those things happen. I’m still convinced, if used properly, the first-round pick can make some big contributions to this offense.
“He’s an eager player, eager learner,” Lewis said. “Wants to be great at everything he does. His quickness and explosiveness show up daily.”
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