OTL: “Ravens West” Get an Interesting New Addition

The story of J.K. Dobbins’ tenure in Baltimore is complicated.

Arriving with a bucket full of expectations after an exceptional career at Ohio State, and carrying that much-desired chip on his shoulder from day one, Dobbins was a player that the fanbase embraced, and the coaches seemed to love. He steadily earned carries in a crowded backfield that included Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards, but shined that first year, averaging 6 yards a carry and producing nine touchdowns.

Year Two was to be his coming-out party, but he suffered a knee injury in a preseason game and never got on the field in the regular season. After strenuous rehab, Dobbins came back in 2022, and though he obviously lacked a little bit of that explosion we had seen his rookie campaign, he still generated 5.7 yards per tote, and got the excitement meter ramped up again for the 2023 season.

And then… you guessed it. He tore his Achilles in the opener and never made it back, ending his fourth and final season of his rookie contract without ever having an opportunity to show where he was as an athlete. His time in Baltimore ended not with a bang, but with a whimper.

Dobbins has now agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Chargers, hoping for a fresh start and the opportunity to prove he can be the back he has teased to be since entering the league.

“The veteran running back is now in line to play for the brother of former coach John Harbaugh, after Jim Harbaugh was hired in January to coach the Chargers,” wrote Alex Butler. “He also will reunite with former Ravens running back Gus Edwards, who signed with the Chargers in March.

“Former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman also was hired by the Chargers in February,” he continued. “The moves coincided with several departures from the Chargers’ previous offense, including wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and running back Austin Ekeler.”

It’s not just Dobbins, Edwards and Roman who have joined on with the Chargers, otherwise known as Ravens West.

The Ravens-to-Chargers pipeline is absurd:

OC Greg Roman
DC Jesse Minter*
RB J.K. Dobbins
RB Gus Edwards
FB Ben Mason
TE Hayden Hurst
C Bradley Bozeman

* Minter last coached in Baltimore in 2020, but he was there for long enough that I’m still counting it.

— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) April 17, 2024

And Joe Hortiz as GM

They truly are Ravens West https://t.co/43mI758LTr

— Pete Gilbert (@WBALPete) April 17, 2024

Andy Bischoff, Marc Trestman, Mike Devlin, Chad Alexander, Corey Krawiec.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) April 18, 2024

Obviously, one could surmise that all of these players and staff got the seal of approval from John Harbaugh during the vetting process.

Speaking of running backs, a big one was in the news for the Ravens yesterday. As in, a really, really, really big one.

Derrick Henry, he of the highlight-reel stiff-arms and Bunyanesque stature, spoke to the media yesterday during organized team activities, and is showing his teammates what they got in him.

“It’s been fun getting to know everybody, putting the work in, something I love to do,” Henry said. “I’m the new guy on the block. I wanted to make sure that I show up, show my teammates and this organization that I’m here, I’m committed.”

If first impressions are the most important impressions, then Henry appears to be on the right path with his new teammates.

“I think it’s going to make us stick to what we do, having a guy like him,” Roquan Smith said. “Anytime you need a play with him and Lamar back there, I think it’s going to be crucial. It’s going to open up a lot for everyone. It’s going to be scary.

“I told a couple of my friends in the offseason, maybe I’ll have to get some popcorn on the sidelines while I’m watching those guys go to work. I think it’s a great piece added to us, and I think it’s going to help us get to where we want to be.”

Also of note:

Roquan Smith Excited About Patrick Queen’s Possible Replacement | Steelers Depot

On his day, Marcus Peters was a guy you wanted to avoid; don’t worry, he’d still sniff out your trick play #RavensFlock
pic.twitter.com/qaQix5O4ge

— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) April 18, 2024

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