With the Ravens winning their second preseason game in a 13-12 final over Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. The offensive line may ultimately prove to be fine. After all, Tyler Linderbaum, Ronnie Stanley, Patrick Ricard, and skill-position force multipliers Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry haven’t played a snap. The pass protection was mostly fine, but the run blocking getting so little movement against Atlanta backups was definitely disappointing.
2. While acknowledging the Falcons sat their top three offensive tackles, David Ojabo took a step in the right direction in his 16-snap preseason debut, pressuring the pocket a few times, setting the edge consistently, and effectively dropping into zone coverage once. Most importantly, he looked healthy and was moving well.
3. Similar could be said about Adisa Isaac, who showed a good motor in 38 defensive snaps before leaving with some cramping late. The third-round rookie missed all of spring and the start of camp with the hamstring injury, so he has more work to do to be an early-season factor.
4. After struggling much more in pass protection than run blocking last week, Andrew Vorhees being beaten badly by second-round rookie Ruke Orhorhoro for a sack on the opening drive wasn’t ideal. You really want to see some improvement in his anchoring in this final preseason game.
5. Roger Rosengarten has more trouble with the bull rush and physicality than you’d like for a starting right tackle, but his reps and playing time continue moving in the right direction as Patrick Mekari worked at center this past week. This week will be pivotal in that competition.
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6. After much scrutiny about his performance going back to spring workouts, Josh Johnson was very sharp throwing the football, going 11-for-11 for 120 yards and pushing the ball down the field effectively. Relatively speaking anyway, that was an important showing for the coaching staff and front office to see.
7. I anticipate Trenton Simpson being a high-variance starter early, meaning he’ll have occasional bad plays and times out of position to go with his splash-play upside. He even lined up at the nickel on one play and blanketed wide receiver Dylan Drummond in coverage. Simpson should be fun to watch.
8. After dealing with a lower leg injury early in camp, Deonte Harty logged four returns in his debut. He appeared indecisive on kickoffs, but he looked better returning two punts. It’s tough devoting a spot to a return specialist who doesn’t factor offensively, so that element remains to be seen.
9. After starting the game and playing deep into the second half, Tavius Robinson returned after Isaac went into the blue medical tent and made the game-saving stop on Atlanta’s two-point conversion try. His pass-rushing impact remains to be seen, but he sets a good edge and plays hard.
10. Devontez Walker barely played — six offensive snaps and two plays on special teams — as he continues dealing with a rib injury, per John Harbaugh. The fourth-round wide receiver just hasn’t shown enough this spring or summer to suggest he’s going to be much of a factor as a rookie.
11. It was interesting seeing Devin Leary enter for the two-minute drive at the end of the first half and not play again until well into the fourth quarter. Perhaps Baltimore is trying to hide him some in hopes of getting him through waivers and re-signing him to the practice squad.
12. The highs and lows of preseason football were on full display. It doesn’t get much worse than Ben Cleveland’s errant snap as Johnson wasn’t even looking and two others were in motion. But the 56-yard touchdown from Emory Jones — one of last week’s goats — to Dayton Wade was a beauty.
