OTL: Flowers On a Path to Rare Air with Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens, by nearly any metric you want to look at, have been one of the top organizations in the National Football League since entering the league.

In fact, since that inaugural 1996 season, the Ravens have the fifth-best winning percentage in the league, just ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, per StatMuse.

Even when you consider those first three underwhelming years under Ted Marchibroda, when the team went 16-31-1, the team has posted a record of 256-194-1 over their history. That is largely thanks to a litany of good running backs and offensive lines, two franchise quarterbacks at the helm for the past 17 years, brilliant tight ends, top-shelf kicking and special teams, and, what goes beyond saying, a defensive legacy that rivals any other in league history.

Notice I didn’t mention the receivers?

There have been some good ones. Derrick Mason was a legitimately good receiver when he got to town from the Titans, and Steve Smith and Anquan Boldin had great second chapters in their respective careers donning the black and purple. But as far as homegrown game-changers at the position, what are we looking at?

Torrey Smith? I loved Smith, and appreciated everything he brought to the team, but he was best utilized as a second receiver who could stretch the field and let the top guy have some room to work.

Rashod Bateman has flashed, but he has struggled to stay out of the training room, and has also shown a propensity for some drops. Hollywood? Good piece, but never that guy who kept defensive coordinators tossing and turning at night.

But they might just have their guy now in Zay Flowers.

Mike Jones of The Athletic wrote a terrific piece on Flowers, and what he offers the Ravens.

Flowers discussed breaking the team’s rookie receiving marks last season, and where he wants to go next.

“I don’t look at last year like a great year for me,” the 23-year-old Flowers said after a recent training camp practice. “I feel like it’s just a year for me to just get better off of and something for me to measure myself. That was my first time in the league. So now that I know what it’s like, I feel like I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

That’s the first part in being great, right? Always looking at that next step. Always looking to fix a weakness or strengthen an attribute. Think of how Magic Johnson worked to improve his shot or, right here, how Lamar Jackson has worked on his footwork and pocket passing.

“You have to be dedicated to your craft and you’ve got to want to get better,” he said, per Jones. “You’ve got to be willing to be coachable. Honestly, it’s just about putting in work every day. Just being who you want to be. I go out every day, putting in work on small details like route running, high-pointing the ball; all small things that make you a great receiver. And that’s what I’m still trying to become.”

Jones seems to be a believer, and thinks Flowers’ growth could have a huge impact for this team.

“For years, Jackson has carried the Ravens in the regular season, only for his team to fall painfully short when it mattered most,” wrote Jones. “If Flowers can further elevate his game to the point of producing like a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver, Baltimore may have finally found the long-missing piece to its championship puzzle.”

The Ravens have a joint practice today with the Green bay Packers, which is another squad getting some preseason hype to reach the Super Bowl this year. The Sun’s Mike Preston wrote about how this will be a good opportunity for the Ravens.

Mike Preston: Finally, the Ravens get some fresh competition in Green Bay | COMMENTARY

“The mindset of the two teams is the most important thing,” John Harbaugh said, according to Preston. “If both teams come in with the same idea, that they’re two good football teams that are trying to take advantage of an opportunity to practice against another good football team and get a good football practice in, that’s what you want. We’re excited to go against Green Bay. We think they’re that kind of a group. [They’re] a good football team. [They’re] right there; [they were] almost in the NFC championship game, [and they’re] a proven team.”

Preston also believes the Packers’ front seven is a good test for a new offensive line trying to gel before the regular season starts.

“Rhythm and familiarity are what make the offensive line work well together,” wrote Preston. “Against Green Bay, the Ravens will face a group that likes to get up field and penetrate. The Packers have several explosive players on the defensive front in edge rushers Preston Smith and Rashan Gary and tackle Kenny Clark, all of whom had more than seven sacks last season.”

Also of note:

Ravens Named Potential Trade Destination for Former 1st Rd WR | Ebony Bird (Ed note: He was indeed traded. Just to the Eagles.)

New Orleans native Marianna Salas went from Newman to the NFL.

She’s entering her second season coaching with the Baltimore Ravens.

Here’s her story. https://t.co/ZYC5QS734h

— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) August 22, 2024

Player Spotlight: Kyle Hamilton is truly one of a kind. The Notre Dame product earned his first-career Pro Bowl nod, first-team All-Pro honors and was named Ravens Media Good Guy after an extraordinary 2023 season, on and off the field.

“He’s one of one. We’re glad he’s part of… pic.twitter.com/rUeriVUgv1

— Baltimore Ravens Communications (@Ravens_Comms) August 21, 2024

Matchups to watch in the Ravens and Packers joint practice: https://t.co/Xixrs7MiVu

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 22, 2024

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