Sunday’s practice was a course correction from Saturday’s mishaps.
The first day of the weekend was marred by a frustrating run of false start penalties to the point that coach John Harbaugh yanked his entire starting offensive line. On Sunday, Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten each jumped once but that was all for the front five the rest of the 2 1/2-hour practice.
Lamar Jackson also threw a pair of interceptions on Saturday. He was much cleaner in that department a day later. Jackson’s only turnover was an inconsequential fumble on a miscommunication during a handoff to Derrick Henry, but the quarterback was quick to scoop it back up in the pocket.
Every improvement the Ravens see from day to day can, in some way, be attributed to the team’s new grading system that breaks down the minutiae of every position and every rep. Those figures are blasted on flat screens all around the facility.
“I love the fact that it matters to them so much,” Harbaugh said. “I just think they understand when you go through the things that we’ve gone through, in terms of different games, they can see [the difference]. … That’s where we want to be intentional.”
The Ravens will have a lighter shell practice Monday and are scheduled to hit the field earlier than normal Tuesday. This all in lead up to their second of three preseason games, a Saturday night matchup with the Cowboys in Dallas.
Zay’s big day
In 11-on-11 drills run at any speed that resembled live action, Zay Flowers unofficially caught four passes on five targets.
His first catch was a Jackson floater that dropped softly into Flowers’ hands in the back corner of the end zone against the second team defense. The second-year receiver caught another touchdown pass later in practice against the starters. That one was a rocket from Jackson as he was rolling out to his right, fit into a tight window to find Flowers’ hands.
“Some guys don’t have it, and some guys do have it,” wide receiver Rashod Bateman said about having a knack for route running. “Me and Zay are definitely two receivers that I think definitely have what it takes to be at that elite level of route running.”
Hopkins praises the rookie corner
DeAndre Hopkins’ uncle is the strength and conditioning coach at Clemson, so every now and then Hopkins will make the trip to South Carolina to pay Larry Greenlee a visit. Greenlee used to point to the skinny cornerback working out on his own and say, “this kid right here is gonna be great.”
Nate Wiggins is gearing up for what could be a breakout sophomore season. He’s had a strong camp, sans a few down practices. But Wiggins is the defensive back Hopkins has most enjoyed repping one on one with.
“Nate is a young guy who loves competing. He wants to be great,” Hopkins said. “He’s a Clemson guy, we train them well around there. Nate competes every day. … He has every tool set that you look for in a lockdown corner.”
Wiggins had an up and down day on Sunday. He got burnt during one-on-ones by Bateman on a stutter-step go route up right sideline. Wiggins came back and got the better of him, stabbing the ball out of the air on a throw trying to find Bateman turning toward the inside of the field.
Reuben Lowery continues to turn heads
The undrafted rookie’s name seems to pop up day after day. Reuben Lowery is making it hard to ignore him. On Sunday, he got in the way of a Cooper Rush pass for an impressive pass break up in seven-on-seven. Shortly after, Lowery picked off Rush on a throw to Malik Cunningham against the left sideline.
“I have to say, [I’m] pleasantly surprised,” Harbaugh said on Saturday. “I hate to say it, because he was a heck of a player in college, too, but to come out here and play at the level he has – on point, know what he’s doing so well has been really impressive. He’s played every position. He played all three corner spots, he’s played both safety positions, so can’t wait to see him in Dallas and see how he plays down there.”
Loop sails the long one
Rookie kicker Tyler Loop had a near perfect practice Sunday afternoon. He split the uprights on his first 11 tries, but finished 12 of 13. The one errant kick was his longest of the afternoon, a 45-yarder.
This was the biggest knock on Loop heading into the draft. He’s nails from inside 40. He’s got the leg to power from 50 or even 60 and beyond. But on longer kicks, he has a propensity to miss left.
Loop’s longest make before the miss was from 42 yards out. He missed a 46-yard try in Thursday’s preseason game having stubbed his toe, Harbaugh said, but bounced back with a 52-yarder versus the Colts.
Injuries and attendance
At the start of Sunday’s practice, the team announced sixth-round rookie cornerback Robert Longerbeam would be hitting the injured reserve for a knee injury. Harbaugh was cagey about any details on the injury, saying “it’s a long story” that “is what it is.”
Longerbeam is the second rookie corner to be forced to miss the season after Bilhal Kone’s knee injury in Thursday night’s preseason game versus Indianapolis. Baltimore was proactive in signing cornerback M.J. Devonshire, who spent last season with the Raiders, to maintain a full room. Longerbeam hadn’t practiced since July 31.
The injury designation makes way for safety Jalyn Armour-Davis and Lowery, an undrafted cornerback, to compete for the 53-man roster. Both have had impressive camps thus far but Armour-Davis is a near shoe in at this point.
Cornerback Jaire Alexander, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, safety Kyle Hamilton and running back Keaton Mitchell are “all OK,” Harbaugh said, after none of them practiced.
Tight end Isaiah Likely (foot/ankle) did not practice and neither did linebacker William Kwenkeu.
T.J. Tampa was back on the field as a full participant after missing Saturday’s practice. And Marcus Major Jr. went through a regular practice after wearing a red noncontact jersey on Saturday.
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