Practice Report: Isaiah Likely Stuns Ravens Legends With Leaping Catch
Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com
During 11-on-11 drills, Likely skied for a lofted pass by Lamar Jackson over the middle and snagged it with one hand – a jaw-dropping athletic play that drew big reactions from Ray Rice, Jacoby Jones, Corey Graham, and others.
“He climbed that hill!” Rice said with wide eyes.
Likely made another impressive leaping catch during seven-on-seven drills, skying above linebacker Trenton Simpson to make a high snag. The two exchanged some friendly words after that one.
Tight end Mark Andrews also made a tough contested catch with safety Ar’Darius Washington close in coverage, and Charlie Kolar reeled in a deep throw that was a little overthrown with a one-handed tip to himself.
Baltimore switched up its first-team guards as it continues to get looks at different players in the offensive line competition. Head Coach John Harbaugh said he’d like to have some offensive line decision sooner than later.
Nickel cornerback Arthur Maulet, who was re-signed this offseason, had an excellent practice. He ripped the ball out of Zay Flowers’ grasp after he caught a crosser. Maulet then picked off Lamar Jackson in the end zone late in practice, undercutting an out route.
Cornerback Brandon Stephens also got a pick-six when he snatched a pass to the flats that was bobbled by running back Derrick Henry.
Outside linebacker Tavius Robinson continued his strong spring, giving rookie offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten all he could handle in the run game. Robinson looks even bigger and more powerful in Year 2.
Ravens minicamp: 13 players to watch at mandatory practices this week
Jonas Shaffer, The Baltimore Banner
WR Malik Cunningham
Early in Cunningham’s offseason, he was working out with noted quarterbacks coach Quincy Avery. Last week, he was catching passes from Jackson. Quarterback no longer appears to be Cunningham’s best path to a roster spot; on the Ravens’ official roster, he’s now listed as a wide receiver, where he split time in practice last season. Cunningham is a long shot to make the 53-man roster, but he’s already made strides this offseason. “It’s just getting him to do the little things our receivers do,” wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said last month, “because he hasn’t done it a bunch.”
OLB Malik Hamm
The Baltimore native spent his rookie season on injured reserve with an ankle injury, but he returned to offseason work in good shape. Rosengarten last week called Hamm one of the toughest defenders he’s faced in practice, along with fellow edge rusher Odafe Oweh. Hamm will enter training camp on the roster bubble, needing to show that he’s developed since his impressive showing in Baltimore last summer. He flashed as a pass rusher, but can he set the edge as a run stopper? Can he contribute on special teams?
Kyle Hamilton had elbow procedure, is expected back for camp
Josh Alper, NBC Sports
Head coach John Harbaugh said that Hamilton will not be participating in this week’s mandatory minicamp because of an elbow issue that required medical intervention. Harbaugh said the team expects Hamilton to be good to go for the start of camp.
“Kyle will be ready. Kyle had some loose bodies in his elbow that they went ahead and just plucked out, so it’s a two-to-three-week deal,” Harbaugh said.
Hamilton was a first-team All-Pro in 2023 after recording 81 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four interceptions, three sacks, and a forced fumble for the AFC North champions.
What NFL teams can glean from conference championship participants
Marcel Louis-Jacques, ESPN
In 2023, 62% of all plays in the NFL were run out of 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers), but none of the four conference finalists ranked higher than 20th on plays run out of that formation. The Chiefs (28.3%) and Lions (20.8%) ran 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) more than the league average (19.3%), while the Ravens (24.8%) and 49ers (36.2%) opted for 21 personnel (two running backs, one tight end) at a much higher rate than the league (7.2%).
The results: All four conference finalists boasted top-10 offenses last season in terms of yards per game. The Lions and 49ers both ranked in the top five in passing, rushing and scoring, while the Ravens led the league in rushing yards.
San Francisco’s offense led the NFL with a success rate of 50.4% on plays that involved pre-snap motion. The other three conference finalists weren’t far behind. Kansas City (63.9%) and Detroit (69.4%) ran motion at the seventh-highest and fourth-highest rates in the league last season. Baltimore (58.8%) ranked 13th in that category, but its 46.2% success rate ranked fifth.
Every NFL Team’s Odds to Win the AFC in the 2024 Season (Chiefs Favored in Stacked Conference)
Reed Wallach, Sports Illustrated
As we take a look at the NFL landscape, there is no denying that more talent resides in the AFC, headlined by the two-time defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, who are favored to win a third straight AFC title.
Kansas City, who is of course led by Patrick Mahomes and an elite defense that features pass rusher Chris Jones, isn’t alone at the top of the AFC, though. The Ravens had the best record in the NFL last season and the Bengals are set to have Joe Burrow return to an elite offense in hopes of making it back to the Super Bowl.
There’s also the group of AFC East team’s jockeying for position: the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets all have Super Bowl aspirations with talented rosters, but there will need to be separation amongst these teams; who will emerge?
The last contender to note is the Houston Texans, who took a massive leap with Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud taking the team from worst to first last season in the AFC South, which included a postseason win against the Browns. Oddsmakers are bullish on the Texans chances in 2024 to compete for an AFC crown.