Jun 19, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Michael Campanaro (6) catches a pass during minicamp at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to lunchtime links, where we round up all the latest Ravens news from around the web for your convenient consumption. Today we touch base on all the madness that is the cornerback position, discuss why Bernard Pierce can salvage the Ravens running game, and look at how Michael Campanaro is adjusting to press coverage at the NFL level.
Dominique Franks has finally passed his conditioning test and hit the field on the fourth day of practice. Franks admitted that the Raven’s conditioning test was tougher than he expected, but he certainly can’t afford to miss any time if he wants to earn a roster spot.
Another guy vying for the third cornerback spot is Asa Jackson, who looks like he has learned from his suspensions the last two seasons and is ready to compete. Jackson got a chance to run with the starters after Chykie Brown injured his hamstring, and he looked good on the field. Jackson could sneak in and swipe the job away from Brown, who hasn’t played well, if he keeps it up.
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There are quite a few snaps to go around for all of these guys after Lardarius Webb continues to miss practice because of back spasms. The team hasn’t expressed serious concern over the issue, but they desperately need Webb to sustain health this season. After missing his third consecutive practice, John Harbaugh told reporters “we’re going to see about Lardarius. He’s got some back things. Backs are a little weird. At first it was no big deal. It’s lingering a little bit, so we’ll find out what’s going on.”
Andrea Hangst tells us that Bernard Pierce can salvage the Raven’s running game in weeks one and two while Ray Rice is out. Pierce has flashed starting talent in the past, enough that the Ravens have publicly expressed no doubt that he can carry the load. We think that he will perform more than admirably, even possibly making a case to hold on to the starting job once Rice returns.
Finally, Michael Campanaro has garnered praise for his work in training camp so far. This is major for a couple of reasons – the Ravens have a lot of depth at the wide receiver position, and Camp is adjusting to press coverage at the NFL level. Corners in the NFL are a lot bigger and more physical these days, which can cause trouble for small guys like Camp.
Do you think one of the Raven’s current corners will pan out, or will they make a move in free agency?