With the start of Ravens training camp now less than two weeks away, Iโve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. The addition of Brian Billick to the preseason broadcast team is a good move and the latest step that should lead to his induction into the Ravensโ Ring of Honor. Nearly a decade after his dismissal, itโs time for the Super Bowl XXXV champion coach to be recognized.
2. Darren Waller was hardly a sure thing to become a major contributor in 2017, but he brought the most athleticism of any tight end on the roster. Iโm concerned with this group, especially if Maxx Williamsโ return from knee surgery doesnโt go smoothly.
3. I wish Zach Orr nothing but the best in his attempt to play football again, but his claim late last month that heโd taken the advice of only one doctor to retire completely contradicted his comments in January and made the Ravens look bad. That wasnโt a good look.
4. The hiring of Greg Roman has probably been undersold with much of the criticism and concern expressed for the offensive line, but he also had Pro Bowl running backs Frank Gore and LeSean McCoy at his previous stops. Heโll have a chance to cement his genius with this offensive personnel.
5. Lorenzo Taliaferro could have the opportunity to be a meaningful offensive piece, especially early in the season with Kenneth Dixonโs suspension. A LeโRon McClain-type role at fullback wouldnโt be out of the question, but he must first prove he can stay on the field.
6. The hype for the defensive backfield is through the roof, but the re-installation of Chris Hewitt as secondary coach is worth monitoring. The talent wasnโt as good when he was in charge in 2015, but communication was a total mess. Of course, the cerebral Eric Weddle should alleviate that concern.
7. This will mark the third straight summer in which Jerry Rosburg will field questions about the return specialist job. I understand the desire not to have a one-trick pony filling the role โ Devin Hester didnโt work out anyway โ but this offense needs all the field position it can get.
8. Brandon Williams is a beast and Michael Pierce impressed as a rookie, but the Ravens need several unknowns to fill larger roles on the defensive line. Stopping the run shouldnโt be a problem, but the pass rush is a different story with interior rushers Timmy Jernigan and Lawrence Guy gone.
9. The addition of Jeremy Maclin certainly helps, but itโs still tough to feel dramatically better about this offense than last yearโs group. Despite the efforts of some to skew the narrative, the defensive struggles late in 2016 shouldnโt mask how inadequate the offense was all year.
10. Breshad Perrimanโs development may not be as critical for 2017 with Maclinโs addition, but he needs to play well enough to look like a slam-dunk starter for 2018. As we recently witnessed with Matt Elam, it can take years โ and many dollars โ to recover from a first-round bust.
11. This is a pivotal time for Joe Flacco. A poor season from the 32-year-old could cost people jobs and bring a new coaching regime that wouldnโt be as invested in him. His contract makes him bulletproof through 2018, but he must be better than heโs been the last two years.
12. My final thought isnโt on the Ravens, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their old foe Peyton Manning host the ESPY Awards, a show I hadnโt watched in years. I never would have imagined that kind of comedic timing watching the often-robotic quarterback work early in his career.

Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
Podcast Audio Vault
Right Now in Baltimore
Twelve Orioles Thoughts at start of 2025 Grapefruit League play
Luke Jones offers his latest orange musings as spring games get underway.
Dear Steve Bisciotti: Are you Tuckered out on that zero-tolerance policy?
Methinks weโre kinda getting to the point where weโll soon hear from โyour peopleโ in a two-sentence press release on the team website about the future of the kicking department of the Baltimore Ravens. Probably after lunch on Friday, theโฆ
The big Ravens Maryland Lottery winner returns with his Voices of Hope to help others overcome addiction in Harford County
He bought a Ravens scratch-off Maryland Lottery ticket on Harford Road 18 months ago and T.J. Humphries is going to the games with his daughter for the next 20 years. He returns to "A Cup Of Soup Or Bowl Week"โฆ