The Ravens are keeping preseason as low-risk as it gets, and that approach should tell you plenty about how these new coaches view August football.
That was on display in the opener, when rookie head coach Jesse Minter got just about everything he could have asked for. The Ravens controlled the game, stayed clean with no pre-snap or operational messes, saw most of their key rookies play well, and came away without any injuries of note.
Saturday’s road game in a dome brings a different challenge. With a 30-year-old coordinator in Declan Doyle still sorting out where he wants to call plays from, and with so many new coaches, pieces and philosophies in place on offense, this one has the feel of a much tougher test than the opener. That’s especially true against a Vikings defense that figures to come after the quarterback early and often.
Joe Fagnano, the undrafted rookie quarterback, may be capable enough to handle it, but it won’t come easily. The Vikings defensive coordinator is expected to blitz between 40-45% of the time, which is not something you usually see in August. But that’s his style, and he’s likely to stick with it.
That should make life harder on the Ravens’ offensive line. It would be a surprise if things looked anywhere near as tidy as they did last week.
False starts and delay of game penalties feel likely, along with some protection breakdowns. If the offense avoids that kind of chaos, it would say a lot about what Doyle is building.
Either way, this is a real stress test.
The young tight ends also figure to take some shots. This is the kind of game where they could get blown up a few times.
One player who may benefit from all that pressure is Adam Randall. The converted receiver-to-running back was used heavily in the run game last week, and the Ravens know he can catch the ball and work as a route runner, as Broncos coach Sean Payton, mentor to Doyle, explained to us on "The Daily Flock Show." Randall was targeted only once in the opener, but that should change in a big way Saturday.
Against a blitz-heavy defense, check downs and drop-offs should be there. Randall has a chance to turn those short catches into bigger gains after the catch, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he finishes with the Ravens’ longest reception.
On the other side, Minter is not all that similar to Flores when it comes to bringing numbers after the quarterback, but he did ramp that up a bit against the Eagles. That suggests he may want to see how well some of his depth defensive backs can get home from the slot.
And if the other play caller is treating this like a game that counts, there’s a case for answering in kind. Eye for an eye. That could be a good opportunity for Zion Young to make something happen off the edge.
In Other News...
LaJohntay Wester Just Made The Ravens Return Role More Complicated
LaJohntay Wester keeps making a case for himself in a crowded Ravens receiver room, and the latest reminder came in preseason against Minnesota. The former Colorado standout caught an eight-yard touchdown pass and finished with five receptions for 24 yards and the score, giving Baltimore another glimpse of the playmaking ability that could matter when the roster gets trimmed down.
The celebration told its own story, too, with offensive lineman Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan among the first to greet him, a familiar scene for two former Buffaloes trying to carve out NFL roles in Baltimore. Christian-Lichtenhan is still working toward a roster spot in his second season, while Westers performance only adds another wrinkle to the Ravens return conversation as the team evaluates who can help once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Have A Real QB3 Decision To Make
Joe Fagnano has turned the Ravens preseason into a legitimate audition, and not just for some end-of-roster footnote. The undrafted rookie has handled a heavy workload over the past two weeks, completing 37 of 48 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns while getting plenty of chances to show he belongs behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley.
What makes this interesting for Baltimore is how quickly the quarterback picture has gone from routine to worth watching. The Ravens have clearly invested real snaps in Fagnano, and he has responded by making a strong case for either a roster spot or at least a place on the practice squad. With the top two jobs spoken for, the only question now is whether his preseason play has been enough to separate him from the rest of the competition. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Offensive Line Still Looks Like A Serious Week 1 Concern
The Ravens offensive line has given them plenty to think about after a preseason outing against Minnesota that turned messy fast against Brian Flores pressure looks. Baltimore is still bringing back important pieces like Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten, but the overall picture along the front remains unsettled, especially with younger and less proven options being asked to hold up in meaningful snaps.
Vega Ioane and John Simpson are part of that mix, and the concern around Ethan Pocic only adds to the uncertainty after his Achilles injury. For a team with bigger goals than simply surviving September, the lines shaky showing was a reminder that the most important work in front of Lamar Jackson may still be unfinished with the regular season approaching. [Read more 🡒]