2019 Baltimore Ravens: 3 goals for Michael Pierce

Michael Pierce got off to a bad start to this offseason. Here are three goals for the defensive tackle in a contract year:

1. Get in shape

Michael Pierce was sent off the field in an offseason practice about four weeks ago. He wasn’t in shape and he could barely squeeze into his uniform. Pierce gained a lot of weight in the offseason and it a lot of it wasn’t muscle. Pierce has to get back down to his playing weight and he needs to get into shape. Pierce has to do this quickly. This is a goal he should be already working on. This is entirely in his control.

Whatever the reason he came to the Ravens mini camp out of shape is irrelevant now. It doesn’t matter if it’s because he let his diet go, or he just didn’t condition himself while he was away from the team. The only thing that matters is fixing it and being of service to the Ravens as quickly as possible. Training camp is right around the corner. He can’t show up to training camp without being ready to compete at a high level. Showing up to camp physically unprepared is a good way to get yourself hurt.

Should Pierce struggle to get ready before the start of camp, he’s going to learn that this is a competitive business. Every snap he doesn’t take in practice benefits Daylon Mack, Gerald Willis and Zach Sieler. Pierce won’t lose his roster spot but that doesn’t mean he won’t lose favor with Don Martindale and the coaching staff.