Bad Season Gave 6 Young Ravens A Chance To Grow

 Kamar Aiken

No player got more from the 2015 season than Aiken. While he is not a number one receiver that’s the role he got thrust in to when Smith Sr. was lost for the season. Aiken stepped up to the plate and than some. Aiken who had 24 receptions in 2014, had 75 receptions last season. I cannot think of another player whose production went up that much in one season. Aiken was forced into the role and he delivered.

What Aiken got out of the season is twofold. First he got better as a receiver. He started running his routes better. He learned to develop a chemistry with Joe Flacco, Matt Schaub and Ryan Mallet. He probably didn’t get much of a connection with Jimmy Clausen, but the Seattle Seahawks surely did. That was a valuable lesson for Aiken. Because he had different quarterbacks shuffling in and out he had to work on every little detail of his game. He had to be the leader, he had to be the consistent one.

Secondly, Aiken learned what it meant to be a go-to-guy. Before Aiken got more of a cushion from the defense. Nobody was afraid of Kamar Aiken. What the heck was a Kamar Aiken? After the Ravens young receiver proved himself as a capable football player the game got more intense for him. He learned to play against tight coverage. He learned how to deal with the added attention. Aiken knew he had the ability. Now he knows the craft. Aiken will be a very dependable number two receiver who I have down for 50 receptions and a few touchdowns in 2016.

Next: Za'Darius Smith