Ebony Bird
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Ravens are heading into most anticipated training camp in a decade

By Jake McDonnell

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens yells at a referee against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens yells at a referee against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WI – NOVEMBER 19: C.J. Mosley #57 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 19, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Reason #3: Exciting changes on both sides of the ball

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Defense:

Although only one coordinator on the Ravens’ coaching staff changed this offseason, both the offense and the defense will see major tweaks in 2018. Starting with the defense, Wink Martindale takes over for Dean Pees as the Ravens defensive coordinator. After six seasons as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator, Pees retired and almost immediately took another defensive coordinator job with the Tennessee Titans.

Since Martindale took the reigns on the defense, several Ravens defenders have praised the new D.C. for allowing his players to play with a more aggressive style than Pees. After an OTA practice this spring, Terrell Suggs said that Martindale is “taking the handcuffs off the guys” and letting them play free. Eric Weddle has also praised Martindale during a post-practice press conference, alluding to Martindale “giving the [players] confidence to play fast and to do what’s best for the defense,” rather than for individual purposes. It remains to be seen what impact Martindale’s stamp on the defense will have until the unit takes the field in a game. However, the comments made by team leaders like Suggs and Weddle are certainly encouraging.

Offense:

Offensively, Marty Mornhinweg returns for this second full season as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator. The man making the calls remains the same, but the receiving corps underwent a complete makeover. The three projected starters at wide receiver – Michael Crabtree, John Brown, and Willie Snead – were all signed in the offseason during free agency. Chris Moore looks to make a bigger impact in the passing game, and two mid-round receivers – Jaleel Scott and Jordan Lasley – will likely make the team. As far as tight ends go, rookies Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews won’t have to show much to surpass Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams on the depth chart.

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Along with the new pass catchers, the arrival of Lamar Jackson assigns Mornhinweg and his staff the task of working Jackson and his play style into the offense. In OTA’s and minicamp, the Ravens spent time using two-quarterback packages. With that being said, they are two completely different quarterbacks. Running quarterbacks often have a short lifespan in the NFL.  It will be difficult not to utilize Jackson’s running abilities, especially if he’s on the field with Flacco at the same time.

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