The moves are not significant, but some of the groundwork that the Baltimore Ravens lay down in the offseason programs will enlighten us about how training camp battles will unfold. So, there are enough takeaways from these events to follow them to get exciting nuggets.
The fallers have plenty of time to change their narrative when training camp comes around, but these players may not have improved their stock in a chance when it was there, or they may be in a worse spot after reports from the offseason surfaced.
5. Ben Cleveland may not have a starting spot locked down for the Baltimore Ravens
When the Baltimore Ravens entered the offseason program, the thought was that Ben Cleveland was the leader to earn starting snaps at left guard this season. However, everything that has happened over the past two weeks speaks to the contrary. The initial thought was that John Simpson would be his stiffest competition.
Simpson is a veteran who is looked at as a backup, and was only there is Cleveland fell on his face. However, the true competition has come from Daniel Faalele and Sala Amuave-Laulu. These two played right tackle in college, and the thought was that they would get right tackle work throughout the offseason.
Morgan Moses is holding things down, but may only have one more year, so one of those two needs to step up. However, both are working at starting at left guard this year before right tackle next year. What is interesting to note is that while these two have worked at left guard, Cleveland moved to right tackle, showing that he has no firm seating on that job.
John Harbaugh was quick to mention both of the tackle prospects would have real shots to compete in training camp. This is not a win for Ben Cleveland.
4. Rashod Bateman missed a chance to grow in the Baltimore Ravens offense.
The actual news that Rashod Bateman missed all of the mandatory minicamps can be spun as good news. Bateman had screws in his foot removed, a sign of significant progress in his recovery. Of course, the issue is more about the timing.
The Ravens wanted to get them out ASAP to ensure he is back for training camp. However, with that, it meant that he had to miss the entire week as he waited for the swelling to go down from the removal of the screws. This short hiccup will lead to him being a long-term winner.
Still, what is frustrating is that the time is lost. This is a new offense, and things are different than a year prior. Odell Beckham and Zay Flowers are also in the mix, so there are plenty of things to get used to and gel with.
Bateman lost that time and now has to catch up on the fly. Meanwhile, Nelson Agholor has resumed his role and looked sharp doing it. It is minor, and this is June news, but you did wish to see the whole offense out there as the coordinator change is happening.
3. Did J.K. Dobbins hold-in for the Baltimore Ravens?
The J.K. Dobbins situation is a bit more questionable than Rashod Bateman's. Bateman clearly missed due to injury, and even John Harbaugh went out of his way to explain that it was not a setback, something he rarely does. For J.K. Dobbins, his tone was different.
Harbaugh said they expected and hoped to see Dobbins out there, but he personally chose not to play. For Dobbins, it does make sense. First, he has been injured a lot in the past two years, and he may want to get to training camp without any fear. It was an off-season injury that started this whole issue with him.
However, more than that is a lingering contract. First, a report said he was holding in due to his contract, then a report said that the Ravens were unaware that was the case. If anything, it is the reality that he is a free agent after this year, and a season-ending injury in a June practice would cost him significant money.
Does that mean he is holding in for a contract? Maybe. Either way, similar to Bateman, the issue is that there is lost time that they cannot make back up. He is learning a new offense and will have to pick things up faster than others when we get to training camp.
2. James Proche is losing ground on the Baltimore Ravens depth chart, quick
Every move that the Baltimore Ravens have made this offseason has spoke to the thought that this is the end of the road for James Proche. Nelson Agholor, Zay Flowers, and Odell Beckham were all added to the room ahead of him.
The additions were already pushing him down, and he was not doing enough in his chances. This offseason made things abundantly clear. First, there were reports of drops and being on the wrong page as the quarterback. When there is no one else in the room, that may fly, but now that the depth chart is stacked, he is sticking out like a sore thumb.
Beyond that, his chances in the return game have dwindled because of Zay Flowers. So, Proche lost ground before minicamp, and it got even worse due to his performance, and he is not looking like a special teams option. If anyone ensures that they will be off the roster by the end of the summer, it is probably James Proche.
1. Pepe Williams missed a great chance to earn a role with the Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens need somebody to step up in the slot. Last season, rookie Damarion 'Pepe' Williams took some work in the slot, but injury and play saw him lose his job. Kyle Hamilton took on the role and did not look back. With Chuck Clark gone, the hope would be that Hamilton would move to a safety spot, and someone like Williams could move into the slot.
So far, that has not been able to happen. This is another situation where it is tough to blame Williams because he is currently injured. Still, it is easy to be frustrated with the situation because it was a prime chance to put yourself in a position to play this season.
Guys like Ar'Darius Washington and Daryl Worley are getting work in the slot, which shows how open the competition is. That means that Williams could still step in and find himself in that role by the end of training camp. However, the lost time for a second-year player and a former day-three draft pick is not what he wanted this summer.