Baltimore Ravens preseason lessons: Outside linebackers

What have the Baltimore Ravens learned about their outside linebackers this preseason? For starters, that Shane Ray isn’t the answer they were hoping for:

The Baltimore Ravens brought in Shane Ray to add some fire power to the outside linebacker position. It was hard to blame Eric DeCosta for this kind of a move. It was a low risk signing with a player who had eight sacks in a season not too long ago. There was hope that Ray would be the answer at the outside linebacker position. With injuries behind him and a fresh start, Ray was supposed to rebound his career. He hasn’t exactly been missing in action, however he hasn’t made a great impression this preseason.

In two games Ray has a tackle and half of a sack. He hasn’t looked great off the edge. He still has the explosive athleticism that gave Baltimore interest in the first place. That doesn’t mean he does an awful lot with it. Ray had half a sack against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It could have been a decent beginning if he followed it up against the Packers. The problem is that there were several sharp performances at his position group in week 1 of the preseason. Everyone who showed something positive against the Jaguars showed a bit of the same against the Packers, except for Ray.

Ray had an opportunity to come into Baltimore and win a job. He had nothing but unproven players competing with him. Ray needed to come in and show that he was a step above the competition. Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser have given the Ravens something to hope for this preseason. Pernell McPhee and Jaylon Ferguson haven’t been amazing, yet they at least offer us something to be happy about. I was the biggest advocate for Ray. I was a big fan of his coming out of Missouri and I always believed in his potential. If I’m saying all of this, it isn’t good for Ray’s stock with the Ravens.