Ravens to look at at every position in Sunday’s preseason match vs. Cardinals

Formally, the Ravens’ coaching camp in Owings Mills finished Wednesday. In reality, perfectly, that gentle at the conclusion of the preseason tunnel is however pretty dim.

“It feels like we’re in the center of it,” outdoors linebacker Steven Means reported with a grin Tuesday.

The Ravens even now have two game titles to enjoy and two extra roster cut-downs to figure out just before their typical-period work can start out in earnest. On Sunday, they’ll confront the Arizona Cardinals at Condition Farm Stadium, where by they can extend their NFL-record preseason successful streak to 22 online games.

The nationally televised sport will be light-weight on stars, with each teams predicted to relaxation quite a few starters. That won’t rob the matchup of its intrigue, while. Here’s a critical Raven to observe at each and every posture.

Quarterback: Tyler Huntley

Lamar Jackson is sitting down out Sunday’s recreation. So is Arizona starter Kyler Murray. Backup Colt McCoy skipped the Cardinals’ preseason opener with arm soreness. All of which sets up an intriguing probability: Huntley and Trace McSorley, who battled in Ravens schooling camp very last summer months, experiencing off as starters.

Huntley impressed in the Ravens’ preseason acquire over the Tennessee Titans, ending 16-for-18 for 109 yards and a landing, and he could have a lot more playmakers all-around him Sunday. Huntley generally depends on rapid hitters — his longest completion against Tennessee was a 22-yarder to limited conclusion Isaiah Probable — but the Ravens want to sharpen their downfield passing assault. If Huntley could hook up on one particular or two deep pictures, it’d help burnish his profile in key time.

Functioning back: Mike Davis

With J.K. Dobbins operating his way back to comprehensive energy and Gus Edwards not nonetheless cleared to follow, Davis stays atop the Ravens’ depth chart. He confirmed great eyesight toward the stop of training camp, having a pair of cutback operates to the next level in tactics. He’s also a trusted pass blocker, as he showed on a handful of punishing chip blocks versus Tennessee.

The Ravens’ opener didn’t generate much separation in the jogging back again levels of competition — “They all appear rather respectable,” mentor John Harbaugh stated just after the game — but with Corey Clement produced, there really should be much more chances to go about. At this position in the preseason, Davis does not will need to author any highlight-reel runs. A general performance that cements his setting up qualifications would not damage, while.

Wide receiver: Jaylon Moore

Moore wasn’t as successful towards the Titans as Shemar Bridges (four catches for 62 yards and a touchdown) or Makai Polk (six catches for 43 yards). But he also saw considerably less of the area. Polk obtained 47 snaps on offense Bridges had 31. Moore, meanwhile, experienced his two catches for 15 yards more than 26 snaps.

There may well however be a task to get at large receiver, and one particular preseason game by yourself won’t decide anything at all. Moore, right after two many years on the Ravens’ exercise squad, was a single of the team’s top receivers early in camp before fading considerably. Bridges and Polk unsuccessful to construct on their preseason performances, turning in quiet weeks at camp. Moore’s knowledge will enable his roster chances, but so would a breakout recreation.

Limited conclude: Nick Boyle

The Ravens have been careful with Boyle, who’s avoided setbacks in camp after two seasons of knee difficulties. As aspect of the team’s ramp-up prepare, he ended camp sitting out just about every 3rd day. But right after watching the preseason opener from the sideline, Boyle could play Sunday. He said earlier this month that he essential to participate in in the preseason: “I think individuals are the variety of reps you cannot get out on the follow area, whilst you are in pads.”

Boyle, 29, has dropped excess weight given that very last period, but his technique can even now make him indispensable as a blocker. He’s appeared more and much more comfortable in exercise, picking up outdoors linebacker Odafe Oweh in go safety on very long-developing engage in-motion patterns. He even knocked Oweh to the ground right before releasing into the flat in Monday’s follow.

Offensive line: Tyre Phillips

With still left guard front-runner Ben Powers commencing at right guard towards Tennessee, it was Phillips who opened the match Thursday at still left guard. He later on moved over to left tackle, the place his participate in dropped off. But Harbaugh claimed Wednesday that Phillips is “not out of the level of competition [at left guard] by any extend.”

Ben Cleveland should also see time at remaining guard in opposition to Arizona, but Phillips is seemingly Powers’ prime challenger for the 7 days 1 work. The 2020 3rd-round select moves perfectly in room, has a large frame and, most importantly, feels he can belief his physique to keep up. He’s also impressed in a person-on-one particular battles. “I’ve been nicked up my very last two many years,” Phillips reported Wednesday. “But this calendar year, over the offseason, I did a good deal of function on my physique, and I feel as healthful as at any time.”

Defensive line: Justin Madubuike

Madubuike skipped the Ravens’ preseason opener and two weekend techniques with migraines, but he experienced a person of his most effective techniques of camp Tuesday, winning his one-on-types in a pass-rushing drill versus starting up proper guard Kevin Zeitler and reserve guard Kahlil McKenzie.

This is an significant preseason for Madubuike, a single of the NFL’s improved young operate defenders and a projected starter together the Ravens’ defensive line. If he can be much more disruptive as a go rusher, his purpose on 3rd down ought to increase. Sunday’s game will be a good litmus test: The Cardinals’ projected beginning guards, Justin Pugh and Will Hernandez, aren’t close to Zeitler’s amount, and Arizona authorized a few sacks and eight quarterback hits general in its opener in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Exterior linebacker: Steven Suggests

Means’ story is just one of the very best of the Ravens’ preseason. When the 31-yr-old signed in June, he was not exactly a journeyman player Suggests played 38 video games in excess of his three last balanced seasons in Atlanta, beginning 14 video games previous 12 months for the Falcons. But he also seemed like a lengthy shot to make the Ravens’ 53-man roster.

In camp, while, Implies was regularly one of the 1st outside the house linebackers out at practice, diligently operating on his craft and flashing in group drills. Versus Tennessee, he had a sack and three tackles. And on Tuesday, he spoke glowingly of a Ravens franchise that he mentioned “resurrected my career” in 2014, when he first signed with the team even with doubts about his long term in football. “Eight a long time afterwards, I wind up coming back again, and it’s a blessing. I owe a good deal to this firm.”

Inside of linebacker: Kristian Welch

Welch, now in his third calendar year in Baltimore, was tranquil versus Tennessee, finishing with just two tackles in 35 defensive snaps. He appeared a move gradual in the open industry against quarterback Malik Willis and the Titans’ talent players. Rookie Josh Ross, meanwhile, had a group-higher four tackles in 22 defensive snaps and led all Ravens defenders with 15 special teams snaps.

Welch’s familiarity with the Ravens’ defense and his particular teams ability are property in his thrust to make the team’s 53-man roster. The Ravens in all probability also do not have to worry about sneaking undrafted linebackers like Ross or Diego Fagot on to their follow squad, possibly. But this near to the lower-down deadline, on-the-bubble gamers have to demonstrate themselves all in excess of once again.

Cornerback: Kyle Fuller

If the Ravens’ most proven gamers are sitting out Sunday’s video game, Marlon Humphrey figures to have the evening off. Marcus Peters is nonetheless on the highway to recovery. That could necessarily mean a commencing job at cornerback for Fuller, who has not shied away from having on the Ravens’ best vast receiver, Rashod Bateman, in camp.

After an up-and-down start to camp, the Baltimore native has aided solidify a secondary that gave Jackson and the Ravens’ passing game head aches over the ultimate 7 days of techniques. Setting up Cardinals wide receivers Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and DeAndre Hopkins are envisioned to sit out Sunday’s activity, but Fuller could discover himself matched up with speedy rotational items like Rondale Moore and Andy Isabella. They need to current a great examination — and a welcome alter of rate — just after weeks of battling common faces in exercise.

Basic safety: Kyle Hamilton

Every single video game ought to offer you much more clues about how the Ravens program to use Hamilton this season, even if his 7 days 1 part is as the 3rd security powering Marcus Williams and Chuck Clark. Hamilton’s NFL debut was not excellent — he missed a pair of tackles, such as a whiff in the red zone that the elusive Willis turned into a landing operate — but there have been much more positives than negatives.

The Ravens moved Hamilton all around the discipline prior to the snap, lining him up as a box protection and as a deep safety. The initially-round choose looked fluid and at ease in coverage shells that used both of those one and two high safeties. He confirmed an consciousness of passing concepts. He flew in from deep to scoop up a fumble. He even played 10 snaps on specific teams, where his measurement and athleticism stand out.

Specialist: Jordan Stout

Stout had an “outstanding” debut towards Tennessee, specific teams coordinator Chris Horton claimed, averaging 47.8 yards for every punt on four tries. Could he get a search at some area-objective makes an attempt in the preseason? Stout, who kicked at Penn State, booted a few from 50-furthermore yards in exercise Wednesday, such as one particular with Justin Tucker as the not likely holder.

“If it comes up, I consider that would be a consideration,” Horton reported. “Again, he has performed it all. But our work is to see how the recreation goes, see what happens and just enable him engage in the video game. And if it arrives up, we’ll manage it the ideal way.”

Preseason, 7 days 2

RAVENS@CARDINALS

Sunday, 8 p.m.

Tv: Ch. 45

Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM

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