The sky broke along with the scorching hot temperatures as Ravens training camp practice ended Thursday, but Baltimore's defense is heating up.
The Ravens' defense won the day and looks to be on the right trajectory for reaching the unit's lofty goals. The leaders are leading, the veteran additions are balling out, young players look ready to make a jump, and the defensive-heavy rookie class is impressive.
"It's not always fun to go against our defense," Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken said Thursday. "It's a great challenge, but it's not always fun."
The Ravens' offense is dealing with some missing pieces this week, as tight end Isaiah Likely suffered a foot injury that will sideline him for several weeks, and leading wide receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman (illness) have been sidelined.
Asked about how last year's No. 1-ranked unit is coming along so far this offseason, Monken said they've had their "ups and downs." That's typical in camp.
Jackson had a sharp stretch of practice in which he threw a perfect deep ball to Dayton Wade over his shoulder with Chidobe Awuzie in hot pursuit. Jackson then hit Wade in stride on a deep crosser to the sideline. Jackson's flashiest play was a no-look pass to Malik Cunningham after staring down Derrick Henry.
But on a unit that has set a high bar, players also showed some frustration Thursday with unforced errors.
The offense had seven false starts, including from Roger Rosengarten and Ronnie Stanley on back-to-back plays, causing Stanley to spike his helmet. Ben Cleveland also had a false start earlier. Each player was immediately subbed out after their penalty.
Jackson tossed his helmet after he sailed a pass over leaping Cunningham that was intercepted by Sanoussi Kane.
Here are more notes from Thursday's practice:
- Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis and rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone (shoulder) returned to practice Thursday after missing several days.
- Nnamdi Madubuike had two batted balls at the line of scrimmage, including one that nearly led to an interception by Teddye Buchanan, but Cunningham out-leaped the rookie linebacker for the ball.
- Fellow defensive tackle Broderick Washington has stacked several strong practices this week. He stiff-armed a lineman to stop one run in the backfield, had another tackle at the line of scrimmage, and tipped a pass.
- During one-on-one drills between wide receivers and defensive backs, Jaire Alexander picked off a Cooper Rush pass intended for Anthony Miller when the wide receiver fell to the turf at the top of his route. Alexander had fun talking some trash after that play, but Rush and Miller got revenge on the next rep with a well-placed long sideline bomb over Miller's outside shoulder versus Alexander.
- Rookie safety Malaki Starks continues to look good when matched up one-on-one with receivers. He broke up a deep ball intended for Cunningham.
- Entering Year 8, Jackson continues to look very fast and elusive as a runner. He may have been tackled at some point, but it was amusing watching him put what seemed like a dozen juke moves on Alexander and Kyle Van Noy on one scramble.
- Jackson made a special throw eluding pressure in the pocket and throwing across his body to find Mark Andrews.
- Veteran nose tackle John Jenkins had a tackle for loss and quarterback pressure that forced a wobbly throw.
- Rookie kickers Tyler Loop and John Hoyland battled to a draw as they each missed their first kicks (51 yards wide right for Loop and 50 yards wide left for Hoyland) but made their following three from 29, 33, and 39 yards.
- Rookie wide receiver LaJohntay Wester made a tough leaping catch in traffic and was a little shaken up after a collision with fellow rookie cornerback Robert Longerbeam. Running Backs Coach Willie Taggart, who coached Wester at Florida Atlantic, gave Wester some props on the sideline.
- Wiggins and Awuzie both stuffed some misdirection plays in a red-zone drill near the end of practice as the defense stuffed the offense to close out the day.
