Baltimore Ravens' OTA Standouts Worth Keeping an Eye on This Offseason
October 26, 2016Baltimore Ravens' OTA Standouts Worth Keeping an Eye on This Offseason
With three months until the 2015 NFL season opens, the only work players are able to do now include weightlifting, conditioning and on-the-field work.
As the Baltimore Ravens continued their organized team activities this week, several players are beginning to catch the eyes of coaches and teammates alike.
Most of these guys are rookies and new acquisitions that most of the Ravens aren't familiar with. While no pads are on, it's always good to see guys impressing in OTAs.
It can translate into a good training camp, which leads to a productive preseason and then hopefully a good showing in the regular season.
Here's a look at some of the Ravens who are standing out through OTAs thus far.
Darren Waller
The final pick of Baltimore's 2015 draft class was Georgia Tech wide receiver Darren Waller.
He played in a triple-option offense that rarely made him a featured weapon. However, when he did get targets, he made the most with them as a deep-threat option.
Waller caught 51 passes for 971 yards (19 yards per catch) and nine scores in his four-year career. Given his low reception count, one would think that he might have trouble holding onto the ball when he sees more passes.
That has not been the case in OTAs, as BaltimoreRavens.com's Ryan Mink writes: "Sixth-round wide receiver Darren Waller continues to catch everything. He went up the ladder to snag one lofted pass, showing he uses his massive 6'6" frame to its fullest potential."
It's still early, but Waller is making a favorable impression that could lead to him getting more reps once training camp opens. Baltimore needs more explosive pass-catchers, and that's what Waller has the potential to become.
Kamar Aiken
With Torrey Smith now in San Francisco, the Ravens are in need of another starting receiver to pair with veteran Steve Smith Sr.
Thus far, fourth-year man Kamar Aiken is the one getting first-team reps. He's making the most of them and has drawn praise from several media members who have attended practice:
Stellar day for #Ravens wide receiver Kamar Aiken during open OTA practice today. Smoked Asa for TD and both Elam and Hill for TD.
— Brian Bower (@sportguyRSR) June 3, 2015
Ravens WR Kamar Aiken had a solid day at OTAs today. He made a series of catches to start team period and lined up with 1st team offense.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) June 3, 2015
Last year with Baltimore, Aiken caught 24 passes for 267 yards and scored three touchdowns over Baltimore's final five games.
It became evident late last year he was a capable weapon in Baltimore's offense. The receiver-needy Ravens will need him to become that and then some.
Still, those are the only 24 catches of Aiken's career after bouncing around from Buffalo to New England and finally to Baltimore late in 2013.
It's good to see him doing well early in workouts, but he'll need to keep it up through the preseason if the Ravens are going to rely on him.
Joe Flacco
For the third time in three years, Joe Flacco is having to adjust to a new offensive coordinator.
Gary Kubiak left this offseason to become head coach of the Denver Broncos. While Baltimore hired him just last offseason, Kubiak was instrumental in the team's offensive resurgence.
The Ravens improved from 29th in total offense in 2013 to 12th in 2014. Flacco also improved significantly, finishing 2014 with a 91.0 QB rating after recording a 73.1 rating in 2013.
With Kubiak gone, Baltimore hired former Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman to replace him. Flacco is now has to learn a new system all over again.
As BaltimoreRavens.com's Ryan Mink reports, Flacco is looking god thus far in Trestman's offense: "Quarterback Joe Flacco is humming. On one red-zone play, it was easy to see Flacco go through all of his progressions before finding Boyle for a touchdown pass over the middle. Flacco and the first-team offense looked very sharp."
Flacco is one of the game's best quarterbacks, and he should be able to succeed in any system at this point in his career.
At least, that should be the case when you're a superstar, something head coach John Harbaugh believes.
"This guy is a superstar in the National Football League," Harbaugh said, via BaltimoreRavens.com. "And I'm thrilled to have him, and I can't wait to see what he does this year with all that young talent around him."
It's good not only to see Flacco is doing well in OTAs, but his coach is behind him so strongly. Flacco has to be elite for Baltimore to be a title contender.
No one is winning a championship in OTAs, but seeing Flacco and the offense look this good is an encouraging start to what Baltimore hopes is a long journey to the Super Bowl.