OTL: Big Questions at RB3 After Injuries Mount

The Baltimore Ravens announced some very sad news on Sunday, and that’s where we will begin. Ravens longtime offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris has passed away at the age of 70, following post-surgical complications. He was the Ravens offensive line coach for the last seven years. In college and the NFL, he held almost 20 coaching positions and formed an incredible legacy that touched many corners of the football world.

When I’ve gone to Ravens training camp, one of my favorite sights was always watching the offensive line get some work in before the offense and defense duked it out. While I never met him, I could tell what kind of energy and passion Coach D’Alessandris had. He was devoted to the craft of offensive line play and while he was tough, his passionate coaching always appeared to come out of a love for the game that supplied great positive energy. He made the routine drills at the beginning of practice interesting as if there was a game one the line with every drill. That’s not something every coach can do. From the bottom of my heart, I just want to share my condolences to his family, players and, friends.

Some of his former players had touching tributes for their beloved coach on social media. Jonas Shaffer shared a post from Matt Skura, while Ryan Mink shared James Hurst’s words of remembrance. What is clear from all the tributes on social media, is that D’Alessandris left a personal imprint in lives that extended far beyond the scope of football.

A touching tribute to Joe D’Alessandris from former Ravens center Matt Skura, who went from undrafted to regular starter under his tutelage:

“Thank you for making me a better husband, father, and person. Your legacy will carry on through the lives you touched.” pic.twitter.com/4LrFvvJdnp

— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) August 25, 2024

James Hurst, who joined the Ravens as an undrafted offensive tackle in 2014 and went on to have a 10-year NFL career, was one of Joe D’Alessandris’ many success stories. Here’s what James had to say about Joe D’s passing: pic.twitter.com/PYvHqjz1NQ

— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 25, 2024

I’ll never forget that laugh. Thank you coach D. pic.twitter.com/6hRnrQf36s

— Ronnie Stanley (@megatronnie) August 25, 2024

Joe D was one of the single kindest folks I ever worked with during my time in the NFL.

He was a diligent teacher who poured countless hours into the development of players of all capabilities.

Above all, he was a dedicated family man.

RIP to a great man https://t.co/cMarhex8W2

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 25, 2024

Takeaways from Final Preseason Game

Bo Smolka wrote a fantastic article where he gave five takeaways from the Ravens preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers. One of his takeaways was that the injury to Owen Wright is a big blow to the running back position:

But Wright, who had three carries for 10 yards, left the field on a cart, and Harbaugh announced after the game that Wright suffered a broken foot. It’s a brutal break for Wright, and it throws into question the third running back.

[Rasheen] Ali, who has been dealing with a stinger for the past couple of weeks, did not play against the Packers and could begin the season on injured reserve. Wright certainly will as well. Chris Collier and John Kelly took over at running back against the Packers, but based on the summer’s body of work, neither appears likely to take over as the No. 3 back.

With Derrick Henry and Justice Hill entrenched as the top two backs, the No. 3 back will primarily have a special teams role, and the Ravens can scour other roster cuts to find that player. Don’t be surprised if the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster includes just two running backs (not counting fullback Patrick Ricard). That would allow them to keep another player elsewhere.

When the Ravens face the Chiefs in the season opener, their RB3 probably isn’t in the organization right now.

This is concerning news for a Ravens team that traditionally balances the workload in the backfield. Remember, when Mark Ingram had his stellar 2019 season, he rarely got more than 15-16 touches in a game. Derrick Henry and Justice Hill are known commodities and can carry the position group – still, teams have a third running back for a reason. Wright’s promising performance on special teams shows that he could have been useful in multiple ways,

While there wasn’t much to write home about for the offense against the Packers, Baltimore Beatdown’s Kyle Phoenix found two winners on the offense from the game:

QB Josh Johnson — Firmly, Johnson solidified himself as the Ravens’ No. 2 quarterback. With little room to run, Johnson had to make a play to move the first-half offense, and he did so with a downfield strike to wide receiver Tylan Wallace for a 48-yard touchdown—the only Ravens’ score of the game.

WR Tylan Wallace — Wallace’s camp in 2023 was middling. This year, he’s showed out with consistent play in practice and back-to-back touchdown receptions in the preseason. His road to the roster was partially up for grabs if another receiver stepped up. Instead, he bolted the door closed and nobody came knocking.

I would argue that Johnson never had anything to worry about at the number two spot but he certainly was a winner on Saturday. The competition behind him was so far below his level of play that the game became borderline unwatchable when he left the action. Tylan Wallace gave the Ravens a smidgen of fun with his scamper across and down the field for a touchdown. Wallace highlighted that he has big play capability. I agree with Kyle that he was a big winner from the contest, showing he has value in the open field with the ball in his hands.

Old friends. @packers | @LouisvilleFB pic.twitter.com/fAeGEaSvDK

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 22, 2024

The meeting with the Packers gave two college teammates a bit of a reunion. Lamar Jackson and Jaire Alexander both played at Louisville.

Roster cuts are coming. Happy Monday to all who still have their spot and good luck to the ones who don’t.

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