Ravens fans must be patient with Marquise Brown in year one

The Ravens must be careful with Marquise Brown as he is coming into his rookie year with a lisfranc injury. Fans need to be patient:

Marquise Brown’s readiness is one of the Baltimore Ravens big question marks going into training camp. The number one thing that was learned from the Breshad Perriman debacle was that fans will not be patient with a first round wide receiver.

Fans shouldn’t be too concerned about the lisfranc injury. Brown will be ready when he is ready. This isn’t a Breshad Perriman situation. Perriman had red flags about his knee before the draft. Secondly, Perriman didn’t show much polish coming out of UCF. It’s different with Brown.

Brown is coming back from an injury that players typically put in the past, once they heal. He will heal and come back good as new. Brown isn’t injury prone, he just had a serious injury and that’s part of the game.

The cynicism Ravens fans feel at the wide receiver position is warranted. The best receivers in Ravens history have come from other teams. Derrick Mason and Anquan Boldin weren’t drafted by the team and were building strong careers before they came to the Charm City. Fans have a reason to doubt rookie wide receivers.

Brown does not have the litany of red flags that Ozzie Newsome and company should have been more aware of. Brown is undersized but he has a skill-set that counterbalances that. He’s not just a sprinter, like Perriman was. Brown can run routes well. Perriman couldn’t change directions and make cuts smoothly. Brown is a natural football player. His tape at Oklahoma was exciting to watch before the draft.

Fans are eager for Brown to get back on the field. Baltimore has waited a long time for a star wide receiver that their team drafted. They should be careful not to build pressure for Brown that he couldn’t possibly live up to. While it probably won’t affect the charismatic “Hollywood” Brown, the way it did Perriman, it’s something to think about. Living up to being a first round selection is pressure even when you’re going into your rookie year healthy.

Ravens fans have to realize that this is different. This is the Ravens best shot at having a star at the receiver position. This is not Perriman all over again. This is not a Mark Clayton or a Travis Taylor. Brown isn’t even an Ozzie Newsome pick. This is Eric DeCosta’s pick.

Ravens fans were brutally tough on Perriman. The fanbase had to wait an entire season before they could see Perriman in action. Baltimore didn’t show patience with Perriman and that may have exacerbated his problems bringing in passes. Perriman always seemed like he was in his head. The Ravens faithful shouldn’t hold the past against their new receiver. They should let Brown come in and offer a fresh slate for the franchise at the position.