Despite the 20-19 win against the Colts, the Special Teams return game looked anything but sharp in the Ravens third Preseason game.
Special Teams is one of the more under-appreciated portions of football, and fans only begin to notice it when things go south. Well, in Monday’s 20-19 Win against the Indianapolis Colts, things went certainly went south.
A first quarter punt return fumble by wide receiver Tim White set the tone for the Ravens, and that was followed up by a third quarter punt return fumble by wide receiver Janarian Grant. And if that wasn’t enough to stress John Harbaugh out, late in the fourth quarter the Ravens had a punt blocked which gave the Colts great field position and almost cost them the game.
The Ravens returners have yet to make any splash plays so far in three preseason games, and Ravens fans have a reason to be frustrated. With guys like White and Grant, who are both undoubtedly on the bubble, you’d like to see someone go out there and “take the bull by the horns” and secure his job strictly through play on the field, however that hasn’t happened yet.
John Harbaugh had this to say post game:
Harbaugh on JGrant, TWhite fumbling punt returns: "That's just not going to be acceptable. ... We're not giving up on those guys by any stretch. Both those two guys are young, they're capable of doing it. Sometimes you try to do do much when you're trying to make the team."
— Bo Smolka (@bsmolka) August 21, 2018
The Ravens Special Teams unit has struggled so far this preseason, with the longest punt return being just 18-yards. Ravens fans remember the days of Jacoby Jones and can reminisce on the way he made them feel. Every time he lined up to return a kick/punt you thought to yourself “is he taking it back this time,” and that’s the type of player the Ravens need to find again to electrify their return game.
Last year the Ravens punt return duties were handled by Michael Campanaro, whom since has gone off to sign with the Tennessee Titans. Like Campanaro, both White and Grant are smaller, quicker wide receivers. The Ravens are trying to see if they can find another diamond in the rough like they did with Campanaro a few years back between White or Grant.
With that being said, the Ravens will, and should, stick with White and Grant the rest of the preseason. However, bubble players often do to much to try and make an impact, like Harbaugh said. White and Grant both have 4.4-4.5 speed, and the ability to get the job done effectively. However, well have to watch and see if anyone goes out in the last 2 preseason games and takes the job that’s up for grabs.