With the Ravens concluding their preseason schedule with a 41-3 demolition of Washington on Friday evening, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. The Ravens can no longer deny their Tyler Loop problem as the second-year kicker missed two more field goals. Sending a 58-yard attempt wide left is one thing, but you simply must make 51-yarders in the modern NFL if you’re going to be a kicker of any value.
2. Sign a kicker to the practice squad to push Loop and prepare to potentially replace him. Doubling down on the same mistake isn’t an option. It just never made sense not to add competition to see if Loop would sink or swim after the Pittsburgh miss, but here we are.
3. The Ravens held out 33 players while Washington sat 41 members of its roster, but Friday’s blowout of the Commanders reinforced how well Jesse Minter and the coaching staff prepared so many backups and young players to play at a high level. That should bode well for real games.
4. All signs continue pointing to Jovaughn Gwyn being the Week 1 center as he started and played the first two drives before Ethan Pocic replaced him. We’ll see whether offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford’s belief in his longtime developmental pupil will pay off, but Gwyn certainly had a good summer.
5. “I can put my head on the pillow tonight and sleep well knowing I gave it all I had.” That was Joe Fagnano on his roster chances after an impressive preseason. I’d still anticipate Eric DeCosta trying to sneak Fagnano through waivers to get him to the practice squad, however.
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6. Adisa Isaac and Ethan Burke did good things Friday, and even Kaimon Rucker has flashed in the fifth outside linebacker competition. Though I chose Burke in my final projection, Isaac isn’t getting through waivers, which is why keeping him is the best probability play to attempt to retain all three.
7. After playing left tackle in the first two preseason games, Carson Vinson started at right tackle while Gerad Lichtenhan played left tackle. That provided valuable reps for Vinson as the projected swing tackle and good experience for Lichtenhan, who should be a top target for the practice squad.
8. The preseason finale figured to be a setting where veteran NFL wide receiver Chris Moore might shine, and he caught three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive. Assuming he doesn’t draw 53-man roster interest elsewhere, Moore makes plenty of sense for the practice squad.
9. Though there’s no room for him on the roster, defensive lineman David Olajiga had a good summer and should be an insurance policy on the practice squad. Yes, he’s already 28, but the London native carries an international player exemption for a potential extra spot for that 16-man group.
10. Other than rookie Matt Hibner being shaken up before later returning, Baltimore appeared to get through the final preseason game unscathed. Vega Ioane, Ja’Kobi Lane, Mike Green, John Jenkins, and Broderick Washington were added to the long list of healthy scratches, which wasn’t surprising.
11. Yes, you risk some rust and sloppy Week 1 play by resting starters and notable veteran backups throughout the preseason, but that sure beats the downside of getting someone as valuable as Lamar Jackson or Kyle Hamilton seriously hurt and crushing the trajectory of your season before it even begins.
12. I’m as grumpy as anyone about the diminished nature of preseason games, but Cornelius Johnson and his family will remember his fourth-quarter touchdown for a long time. It’s not lost on me that many who’ve pursued a lifelong dream for years are playing for the final time this week.
