Growing up in the '90s and early 2000s, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie had always appreciated the Ravens' reputation on defense.
He thought the Ravens' defense was so good that it was unfair to play as them in "Madden."
"It's like, 'Oh, you're using the Ravens, bro? Oh, you can't use the Ravens,'" Awuzie said. "It's like cheating almost, you know what I'm saying? It's like, they have that aura about the team."
Now experiencing his first training camp on the inside of the organization, Awuzie is embracing and loving the culture he heard about all those years.
"This Baltimore Ravens team, this is a standard and a culture to follow around the NFL," Awuzie said. "This tree has produced a lot of great players, great coaches, great systems. … I'm blessed to now be a part of that. Understanding what train like a Raven, play like a Raven means, it definitely resonates with your soul."
Awuzie said he spoke with Marlon Humphrey, Nnamdi Madubuike, and a few former players during free agency before signing a one-year deal. The nine-year veteran had other options, but there was something about the Ravens that pulled him toward Baltimore.
"It was really just that gut feeling that made me want to run towards here, and it's been great so far," Awuzie said.
Awuzie continues to have a strong camp, intercepting Lamar Jackson during Saturday's practice.
Playing alongside Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, and others, Awuzie wants this year's cornerback room to be a special one. To help build chemistry and accomplish that mission, Awuzie said the cornerbacks recently hung out at Alexander's house.
"It's a standard that we're trying to build," Awuzie said. "It's an opportunity to be great. We're basically great on paper right now, we all know that, [but] we know there's a long road to actually be great. A lot of time spent in the film room, a lot of time spent off the field building that chemistry."
John Harbaugh Gives Injury Updates
Running back Keaton Mitchell, safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback T.J. Tampa, and cornerback Keyon Martin all did not practice Saturday, but Head Coach John Harbaugh said none of them are dealing with major injuries.
"[They] just weren't ready to go today," Harbaugh said.
Hamilton and Mitchell were both outside during practice. Hamilton was running off to the side on another field, and Mitchell was in street clothes watching practice on the sideline.
With Bilhal Kone out for the season with a knee injury suffered in Thursday's preseason opener, the Ravens signed cornerback M.J. Devonshire for more depth.
Jalyn Armour-Davis Embracing Opportunities at Safety
Jalyn Armour-Davis isn't shying away from playing a different position.
The fourth-year cornerback has taken snaps at safety in the offseason and during training camp, and he "is going to give it a shot" if the coaches determine that's his best role.
"I view it as a great thing that my coaches trust me to be able to plug-and-play anywhere," Armour-Davis said. "Of course, I want to be able to develop into a spot and grow into it, but I'm never going to turn down an opportunity to step onto the field for sure."
Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr said during the offseason that Armour-Davis "might be the smartest DB in the room." Harbaugh also sees Armour-Davis' versatility as he continues to have a strong camp.
"He can play really every position," Harbaugh said. "I'm pretty confident he could play safety, if we wanted to put him back there, but he plays all three corner spots and knows what he's doing. He's had a really good camp."
Armour-Davis Focused on Staying Healthy
Armour-Davis' biggest focus this offseason was his availability.
After dealing with injuries that sidelined him for multiple spurts throughout his career, including a hamstring injury that put him on injured reserve last year, Armour-Davis is hoping to avoid the injury bug this season.
"Really my entire offseason was dedicated towards that, whether it was change of nutrition or workout routine, I believe just the team that I have around me, from my trainer to my Pilates teacher to management, everything that's around me, I think has been very healthy for me this offseason," Armour-Davis said.
