What ACL Tear? 
What has gotten into Joe Flacco?
Maybe it was the lights and new grass at M&T Bank Stadium Monday night.
Whatever it was, the Ravens franchise quarterback not only showed surprising elusiveness at the first stadium training camp practice, but he also showed a side of his personality that we usually only hear about from his teammates.
Let’s start with the elusive scrambling on his repaired knee.
The offense was in a third-and-4 situation when Flacco dropped back to find a receiver, and after pump-faking, he sprinted for the first down as if he hadn’t torn his ACL and MCL just eight months ago. He outraced the defense to the first-down marker, and went back to the huddle like it was nothing.
But it was something. It was everything we needed to know in terms of Flacco mentally being over his injury.
“There wasn't any hesitation. There wasn't any noticeable limp,” wrote ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “This was a moment that some wondered if they would ever see from Flacco and his surgically repaired left knee.
“For fans and some team officials, there has had to be some concern as to whether Flacco would be at full strength this season. For Flacco, he's been in a comfort zone ever since he stepped back on the field.”
That was just the first surprise of the night from the nine-year veteran.
There were four separate scuffles during last night’s practice session, which isn’t totally unexpected given it was the third-straight day in pads. Tempers are bound to fly. It’s just that you didn’t expect to see Joe Cool’s temper fly. Heck, I’m not even sure people knew he had one.
After rookie
"Listen, I'm protected, man. I can say whatever I want from him because I have a big army coming behind me,” Flacco said in the locker room after practice. “You know, it wasn't nice. … I think he was too smart. I challenged him to see if he was willing not to come after me a little bit and he made the right decision I think.”
Flacco didn’t take it easy on his good buddy Pitta either, ribbing him for sustaining a minor injury while in a skirmish with Correa.
"He got his little baby injury that he always gets in camp and gets himself out of a week in camp," Flacco joked loud enough to make sure Pitta heard him in the locker room. "That's better than breaking his hip, though."
Even though Correa is new to the Ravens, I bet he’s scratching his head about how Flacco earned a cool and calm reputation. That’s certainly not who he encountered Monday night.
“Is this Joe Cool or Joe Cruel?” asked Hensley. “This was all in good-natured fun, and it's the type of irreverent sense of humor that teammates often talk about. … He's just not the Joe Flacco everyone is used to seeing. This one gets agitated on the field and turns into an unmerciful cut-up in the locker room.”
And my guess is fans are gonna like this feisty Joe Flacco.
Kamalei Correa Not A Lock For Starting Job … Yet
Just because Correa was on the other end of these skirmishes with Flacco and Pitta, doesn’t make him the bad guy. In fact, the more fans see of Correa, the more I think they’ll like him.
And they may see a lot of him sooner than later based on how Ravens coaches are using him so far in training camp. Correa has been working with the first-team defense as a weak-side inside linebacker and
“The Ravens want to have a quicker, more versatile and aggressive defense and Correa checks all those boxes,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec. “He’s hardly a lock for a starting job, but the Ravens seem intent on finding a way to get him on the field early and often.”
With McClellan playing on the first team I wonder if
— Baltimore Beatdown (@BMoreBeatdown) August 1, 2016Arthur Brown cracks the roster. He isn't near as talented during Special teams either..
Monday Night Observations:
- “[Terrance West] is putting in the work to become a starting tailback. He [is] consistently producing big gains on the ground and taking passes for first downs. His training camp has been better than
Justin Forsett ’s orJavorius Allen ’s.” -- Baltimore Beatdown’s Kyle P Barber
RB Terrence West just looks good... Hitting the holes, speed, explosion... Solid camp so far#RavensTalk
— Brent Harris (@BrentCSN) August 1, 2016
- “Ben Watson / Joe Flacco - Multiple times Joe Flacco targeted the tight end, and every single time they went for a first down. Ben is a locomotive, slow start but now he’s steamrolling. Joe is dropping dimes on the field, and threading passes into the breadbasket.” -- Barber
Victor Och getting the best of several offensive linemen in one-on-one's. Ravens very intrigued by undrafted rookie's pass-rush potential.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiecsun) August 2, 2016
- “Pitta and safety
Eric Weddle had the most memorable matchup in one-on-one drills. In their first meeting, Pitta faked outside and cut inside to make the catch down the middle of the field. Weddle patted the tight end on the helmet after the two tumbled to the ground. In their next matchup, Pitta caught the ball but he was whistled for pushing off. The two veterans spent the next couple of minutes discussing the play.” -- Zrebiec - “
Sheldon Price , the cornerback out of UCLA who spent last season on the team's practice squad, continues to impress. He made a nice play in one-on-one drills to deflect a potential touchdown pass away fromChris Matthews . Later in the practice, Price broke up a pass intended forJeremy Butler along the sideline.” -- Zrebiec
Third-year wide receiver Michael Campanaro didn’t participate in practice Sunday, and given his injury history, the initial thought was perhaps he got hurt again.
Nope. Head Coach John Harbaugh gave him a day off, which speaks volumes.
He was back at it in full force Monday night.
If you think the #Ravens aren't excited about Campanaro so far then explain why they gave him off yesterday when the team was short on WRs.
— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) August 1, 2016
Campanaro has been consistently impressive while on the field, and seems to enjoy a strong chemistry with Flacco. If he can stay healthy, the sky’s the limit.
“Nobody doubts that if the wide receiver/kick returner stays healthy, he can help the Ravens with his skill set,” wrote Zrebiec. “That was evident last week as the former River Hill standout flashed on multiple occasions. He has reliable hands and runs good routes. Needing a solid and healthy camp to make the team, Campanaro enjoyed a nice start.”
Campanaro’s success leaves rookie sixth-round pick
“Reynolds made some plays in the first couple of practices and he looked dangerous with the ball in his hands,” wrote Zrebiec. “However, he also had his share of drops and miscues, including a botched punt. That had to be expected, given the transition the former college quarterback is trying to make. The fact that Reynolds is banged up, according to wide receiver coach Bobby Engram, hasn’t helped. Reynolds is making progress, but he doesn’t have much margin of error in a deep wide receiver competition.”
New Drill At Training Camp … Flying Tennis Balls
This has to be the first time an NFL team is using tennis balls during practice.
Don’t believe me? There’s video evidence below.
The Ravens are using them to make it more difficult on their special teams gunners to find the ball as they sprint down the field on punts and kickoffs. They are also being used in the secondary for defensive backs to sharpen their ball-locating skills.
“They obviously ran out of money for footballs,” joked former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick. “What it really is, is it’s a really smart thing.
This @Ravens drill?
— NFL (@NFL) July 31, 2016
It gives new meaning to the term "special teams ace." #NFLTrainingCamp https://t.co/9ukIXypMlH
Quick Hits
New grass field is looking for tonight's free/open 7pm #Ravens practice at M&T Bank Stadium. pic.twitter.com/8yDRhY14ts
— Patrick Gleason (@PMGleason) August 1, 2016
We heard @JoeFlacco is a huge @GameOfThrones fan. So we brought Jon Snow to @Ravens practice #themmqbtour pic.twitter.com/EFMPpZCzRp
— The MMQB (@theMMQB) August 2, 2016
It's the new way to run drills. #RavensCamp https://t.co/QRtnkjU6GS
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 1, 2016
Wide receiver
— Brian Bower (@sportguyRSR) August 2, 2016Chris Moore has walking boot on. Moore shined first few days of camp. #Ravens
Looks like none of the injured Ravens who have been out are back practicing. One new absence is CB
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiecsun) August 1, 2016Will Davis .
We love our military members. #RavensSalute pic.twitter.com/WT2Q7lklhH
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 1, 2016
All between owner and #RavensFlock. https://t.co/hKZv4VNw9c
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 2, 2016
Thank you to the greatest Fans in the nation for showing love at our camp practice today ☝️LOVE
—Tavon Young (@Tyoung_NL) August 2, 2016
Spot on!!!! Amazing night. Thanks for all the support. https://t.co/FMpwbsth6p
— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) August 2, 2016
Titans CB Curtis Riley paying respects to Tray Walker, Ravens draft pick who died in March motorcycle crash pic.twitter.com/KDiitVtZL7
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) July 31, 2016
Negotiations between the #Bills & QB Tyrod Taylor are ongoing and there is plenty of optimism a deal gets done before the season begins.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 1, 2016
That's COACH Ed Reed to you. #NFLTrainingCamp pic.twitter.com/k0J99fJRYL
— NFL (@NFL) August 1, 2016
