Both rookies an veterans have reported to Owings Mills as the Ravens get set for their first training camp practice tomorrow afternoon. The Ravens get a couple day head start to training camp, compared to the rest of the league, as they play the first game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 5th. The Ravens will play their first preseason game just 19 days later on August 9th against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Ravens will then square off against the Atlanta Falcons on August 17th, before hitting the road for a join practice with the Green Bay Packers ahead of their August 24th preseason game to wrap up training camp.
The Ravens will look to avenge their AFC championship loss in 2023, and with the addition of some veterans and rookies, lets look at the five biggest questions heading into Ravens training camp 2024.
How does Trenton Simpson handle his role as a starter?
When linebacker Trenton Simpson was drafted in the third-round in 2023, the writing was on the wall as to who would be the likely replacement for Patrick Queen in 2024. With Queen now in Pittsburgh, Simpson is the next man up to play beside fellow linebacker Roquan Smith.
Simpson is a quick sideline to sideline linebacker that has the opportunity to learn from one of the best linebackers in the game right now in Smith. 2023 saw Simpson playing sparingly as he was behind Queen, but he did show the kind of player he can be in week 17 against the Steelers, as Simpson finished with seven total tackles including a sack, while seemingly always being around the ball. Its likely Simpson will have some growing pains, but it will be interesting to see how he progresses throughout the season.
Who emerges as a starter along the offensive line, outside of Tyler Linderbaum and Ronnie Stanley?
The Ravens have overhauled their offensive line for 2024, and with that comes some major question marks as to who will fill the holes left by right guard Kevin Zeitler, left guard John Simpson, and right tackle Morgan Moses. The only sure starters along the offensive line currently are center Tyler Linderbaum and left tackle Ronnie Stanley. The Ravens must protect quarterback Lamar Jackson who was sacked 38 times last year, including seven times in the playoffs.
Andrew Vorhees who was taken by the Ravens in the 2023 NFL draft did not play last season as he recovered from a torn ACL suffered at the NFL combine, is expected to compete for the left guard spot. While Ben Cleveland looks to be the early front runner to start at right guard. Malaesala Aumavae- Laulu entering his second season will look to stand out for one of the two open guard spots as well.
As for the right tackle position Daniel Faalele will look to become a starter for the first time since being drafted in the fourth-round in 2022. While newly drafted Roger Rosengarten will look to step in right away and make an impact. But we can’t also forget Patrick Mekari who can play across the entire offensive line who can be a good stop gap at any of these positions should no one look ready to start come week one.
Where does rookie first-round pick Nate Wiggins fit in the secondary?
It was a shock to Ravens GM Eric DeCosta and the rest of the Ravens front office when they were on the clock during this past April’s NFL draft and one of the best players in the draft was still on the board at pick 30. Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins to come pundits was one of the top defensive backs in the draft and as he fell to the Ravens it was a no brainer for Eric DeCosta to take him with the Ravens first pick.
Wiggins slim frame can be a cause for concern as he is listed at 6’1″ and just 182 lbs, but his speed and playmaking ability should plenty make up for his stature. Wiggins should benefit greatly as he will not be thrown immediately into the fire as he sits behind veterans Brandon Stephens and Marlon Humphrey. It will be fun to watch Wiggins can find his footing and carve out a role for himself in certain packages as he adjusts to NFL receivers.
What running back steps up behind Derrick Henry?
The Ravens have been without a doubt the best rushing team in the NFL since quarterback Lamar Jackson entered the league in 2018, and much of that success has been due Jacksons ability to use his legs. So what should a team do that has already shown massive success running the ball? How about go get one of the best running backs in the NFL over the last five seasons in Derrick Henry.
While there are some questions about how much Henry has left in the tank as he is now 30, the real question is who will be the Ravens running back that will step up behind Henry and help with some of the workload. The Ravens lost both J.K. Dobbins and 2023 leading rusher Gus Edwards to the Chargers this offseason, leaving just Keaton Mitchell and Justice Hill as the only returns from 2023. The Ravens drafted Marshall running back Rasheen Ali in the fifth-round this past April, and with Mitchell expected to miss most of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered last season, Ali and Hill could be whats left behind Henry, and will be something to keep an eye on this preseason.
What does year-two of Todd Monken’s offense look like?
The Ravens had a top 10 offense in 2023 under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, but how much of that success last season will translate to 2024? Well when you have a two-time MVP at quarterback in Lamar Jackson it can be fairly easy to find continued success. With Jackson and Monken together for another full offseason the sky is the limit for this offense in 2024. One of the huge positives for year two under Monken, is the ability for this offense to get off to quick start early in the season, something they will surely need in week one against the defending Super Bowl champions.
The Ravens averaged just over 370 yards per game last season, and once again led the league in rushing with 156.5 yards per game. The biggest question for this Ravens offense will be how they continue to grow in the passing game, which will be the true test to if this Todd Monken system improved from year-one to year-two. The Ravens ranked 21st in the NFL in passing yards per game with 213.8 passing yards per game. While the offenses success will be reliant on the ground game, its the passing game that can take this offense to the next level and will be key come January.
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