The Ravens are in their second week of Organized Team Activities. Here\u2019s a recap of yesterday\u2019s practice!<\/p>\n
Elite veterans test Ravens\u2019 rookies<\/p>\n
Iron sharpens iron has been a common mantra in Baltimore<\/a> for years, but during spring practices, it\u2019s closer to iron forms young, moldable balls of clay.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Head coach Jesse Minter talked about the value of his rookies getting to face off against proven veterans during spring practices. Right now, he explained, neither side of the ball is doing anything particularly complicated scheme-wise. That creates a lot of 1-on-1 opportunities in both the pass rush and in coverage for Baltimore\u2019s youngest players to go up against their best teammates.<\/p>\n Minter specifically mentioned rookie cornerback Chandler Rivers and second-year offensive tackle Carson Vinson<\/a> as beneficiaries of these matchups.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s unbelievable for guys to get man-to-man reps against Zay Flowers<\/a>,\u201d Minter said, who he called \u201cmaybe the toughest cover in the league.\u201d As one would expect, he torched Rivers on a few routes, but that is all part of the process.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more reps that Chandler can get trying to hang with Zay just in man-to-man shadow technique, he\u2019ll be better off in August and September for that,\u201d Minter added.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Ronnie Stanley<\/a>\u2019s absence on Tuesday pushed Vinson into first-team reps against Trey Hendrickson<\/a>, one of the best edge rushers in the league. Unsurprisingly, the All-Pro dominated the matchup with a bat-down and multiple pressures around the edge, including a likely sack during third-down work at the end of practice.<\/p>\n \u201cAnytime you get reps, it\u2019s just a great opportunity to improve,\u201d Minter said. \u201cHe gets an opportunity to line up across from Trey Hendrickson a lot, which, they just work really well together. So still, it\u2019s non-competitive, but they talk a lot after each play\u2026They talk about their pass sets, their run blocking and their hand placement. So, it\u2019s invaluable for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Attendance Report<\/p>\n Along with Stanley, a number of veterans were not present for Tuesday\u2019s practice. Defensive linemen Calais Campbell<\/a>, Nnamdi Madubuike<\/a>, John Jenkins, and Travis Jones<\/a> missed OTAs for the second week in a row, as did cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey<\/a> and Chidobe Awuzie<\/a> and wide receiver Rashod Bateman<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n These are all fairly standard spring absences, though Madubuike\u2019s status after last year\u2019s season-ending neck injury remains up in the air. He has been around the facility \u201ca lot\u201d with participation in \u201ccertain parts of our program,\u201d Minter said, though he declined to give any kind of return timeline.<\/p>\n Minter did give a positive update on Teddye Buchanan<\/a>, who took over the No. 2 linebacker job as a rookie last year before tearing his ACL in December.<\/p>\n \u201cTeddye is really far ahead of schedule,\u201d Minter said. \u201cThe way that guy operates, the way that guy works \u2013 I don\u2019t think there is a timeline for him.\u201d<\/p>\n A few other attendacne notes:<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton<\/a> participated in the first half of practice but stayed on the sidelines after the team moved outside.<\/p>\n Third-year outside linebacker Adisa Isaac<\/a> was a limited participant after missing last week.<\/p>\n Like last week, second-year cornerback Bilhal Kone<\/a> participated in drills but no full-team work.<\/p>\n Top plays and performers<\/p>\n Nate Wiggins<\/a> made the play of the day with a leaping interception off Lamar Jackson. He was trying to layer a throw to Flowers over Wiggins, who was sitting underneath on the boundary in a Cover 2 look, but the third-year corner got good depth on his drop and plucked the ball out of the air.<\/p>\n Wiggins was tabbed for a breakout last year that never materialized. He is among the many players who stands to benefit from a new coaching staff, especially a head coach who has his roots in defensive back play.<\/p>\n Undrafted rookie safety Silas Walters had Tuesday\u2019s other interception. He was playing centerfield and picking off a lofted pass up the seam from Tyler Huntley<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Third-year receiver Dayton Wade<\/a> was the offense\u2019s most consistent contributor with a number of chunk gains over the middle and a long catch-and-run up the sideline. Devontez Walker<\/a> flashed his speed on multiple plays, and LaJohntay Wester<\/a> quietly had a solid practice, too.<\/p>\n Skyler Thompson made two notable throws to rookie wideouts. First came a well-placed ball to UDFA Cortez Braham, who made a nice grab in traffic. Then he flicked a slick no-look pass to fourth-round pick Elijah Sarratt on the sideline. The veteran should have the inside track to the QB3 job, but the Ravens typically prefer to keep their third-stringer on the practice squad. That might be tough for an experienced passer.<\/p>\n And here\u2019s the best of the rest:<\/p>\n Jackson double-clutched a throw to Mark Andrews<\/a> that gave recent signing K\u2019Von Wallace enough time to come over his shoulder for a PBU.<\/p>\n Rookie tight end Matthew Hibner made a nice block on a screen to Sarrat.<\/p>\n