This week of Ravens training camp was a real test.
The intensity ramped up with three straight days of padded practices and the triple-digit heat was oppressive. This is the time when teams are forged and leaders emerge.
Here are my thoughts on Week 2 of Ravens training, all in 50 words or less:
- When you think of some of the greatest Ravens teams in franchise history, you think about the elite leaders they had – guys like Ray Lewis, Shannon Sharpe, Rod Woodson, Ed Reed, Joe Flacco, and Anquan Boldin. I see great leadership on this year's Ravens squad, too.
- Marlon Humphrey, Zay Flowers, and Rashod Bateman organized the "Breakfast Club" of 6 a.m. workouts. Lamar Jackson ran laps with his offensive linemen after another hot practice Thursday. Roquan Smith stayed in the Baltimore area this offseason to train and watch film with Trenton Simpson every day. That's leadership.
- Much of the focus this offseason has been on how newcomers such as DeAndre Hopkins, Jaire Alexander, and high-impact rookies could push Baltimore over the top. That's fair. They're exciting new toys. But sometimes it's a top-down approach that makes the biggest difference.
- This Head Coach John Harbaugh quote struck me: "I would say that our most decorated players are setting the highest standard for the team right now. When your best players and your most decorated players are your hardest workers, that's a really good thing."
- Another factor that can take a team to another level is the improvements young, key players make. I see a lot of that, including from Nate Wiggins, Roger Rosengarten, Daniel Faalele, Devontez Walker, Keaton Mitchell, Sanoussi Kane, David Ojabo, Simpson, and others.
- You can feel Baltimore's defense developing a confident edge. Alexander's boundless energy helped, but it extends beyond him. There's a real feeling brewing that this unit could be something special with so much talent across the board and a talented coordinator with a year's worth of experience under his belt.
- Hopkins will be one of the Ravens' best veteran wide receiver free agent signings in a while. He could have a Steve Smith-like effect – a playmaker Jackson can count on. "You usually don't see that kind of trust with a new face this early in training camp," Tee Martin said.
- I'm not going to say Jackson is faster than previous years, but he definitely isn't slower. Now 28 years old and entering Year 8, you wonder how many "prime" years Jackson has as an elite runner. It looks like that ceiling is nowhere in sight. "He's flying," Martin said.
- Isaiah Likely's foot injury stinks. His multi-dimensional abilities aren't easily replicated in the offense. However, if the Ravens have to lean more on Mark Andrews early in the season, you can bet he'll be mentally and physically ready to carry the load, especially in a Week 1 rematch in Buffalo.
- Kicker was my biggest concern entering camp. It's a critical position that often decides wins or losses. Tyler Loop has eased my worries. Loop is 40-for-44, a 90.9 percentage that would put him in elite territory, and has shown a massive leg. Practice isn't games, but it's a good start.
