Purple Friday Mailbag: Baltimore Ravens Q/A

It’s Friday, which means we take your Baltimore Ravens questions and answer them for you

Welcome to Purple Friday Mailbag, a new Baltimore Ravens weekly series we are starting up on Ebony Bird.

This is a series where we give you the readers a chance to interact with the staff at Ebony Bird. Every Friday we will have a Q/A session where you can send in your questions via social media. Our staff will take these questions and pick a few to be featured in our post. We would like them to be about Ravens, but feel free to give us the best questions you’ve got!

Leave us feedback, letting us know what we did well and what we can continue to do better.

Here we go for Week 1:

Q: What Right Tackles are ones we should keep an eye out for?

Right now there are three in-house options for the Ravens at tackle: James Hurst, De’Ondre Wesley, and Stephane Nembot. With Wesley and Nembot both undrafted, it looks like James Hurst is primed to start. Given his experience, there isn’t a ton of confidence there. The Ravens could very well look at free agent lineman. One of our contributors, Jake McDonnell, wrote a great piece on the possibility of adding Ryan Clady. He has been talked about as an option. Jeremy Parnell from the Jags has also been mentioned in the conversation.

Q: Where is Tim Williams? He’s a first round talent. Why is it so hush hush? Could he start?

Don’t worry, Tim Williams is still around. In OTAs, there really isn’t a ton of contact so it’s hard to judge players. Williams is a first round talent, there’s no question about it. The big thing for him is simplifying the game, that’s when he’s at his best. I’m not sure if I see Williams starting, but he will definitely get playing time. I could see the Ravens using him as a specialist in certain situations this season. Williams can get to the quarterback and the defense lacked a pass rush last season. He will certainly help with this, I just don’t think he’s a starter at this point.

Q: Why haven’t the Ravens signed Anquan Boldin?

The Anquan Boldin talk has been going ever since the offseason has started. It makes a ton of sense for the reunion, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. For one, the Ravens just went and signed Jeremy Maclin. He’s a much younger receiver who brings a lot more to the table. There’s also the question if Boldin even wants to play in Baltimore. Reports have said he would prefer to play for a team closer to his Florida home. The Ravens really don’t fit in that conversation. With the cap space left, it would be smarter for the Ravens to bring in offensive line depth.

Q: What are the barriers stopping a Mangold signing? Is it health? And can either Jensen or Urschel do a good job there?

Like Boldin, the possibility of bringing in Nick Mangold has been talked about a lot this offseason. I definitely think it comes down to health. The Ravens brought him in for a visit back in April, but the two sides could not agree on deal. It’s a tough situation. Mangold is 32 and only played eight games last season. I think at this point, Jensen or Urschel are a better option. Both are younger and healthier. Plus, a guy like Urschel already has experience playing center for the Ravens. I also wouldn’t count out UDFA Matt Skura. He has impressed early in camp. If Mangold was the best option, the Ravens would have brought him in by now. It also says a lot that no other teams have signed him.

Next: Baltimore Ravens: 3 things that have paid off this offseason

Q: Is Joe Flacco going to be better this year?

This is a pretty open-ended question, but I would have to say yes. I think Joe Flacco is going to play much better this year. He is a full season off of knee surgery and will be much more confident in the pocket. The addition of Maclin helps a ton. I also think the emergence of Breshad Perriman is going to play a huge factor. He now has a full season under his belt and is expected to produce more this year. Controversially, Marty Mornhinweg is back at OC, but it’s continuity that the offense needs. The Raven are going to get back to the ground game, which sets up the pass for Joe Flacco. That’s when he’s at his best and we will see a better Joe Flacco in 2017.

That’s it for the questions this week. Stay tuned on our social media accounts throughout the week to have a chance for your question to be featured!

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