HUGE UPDATES for Baltimore Ravens!

The Ravens just got some unexpected news. And considering where things stood just a couple of days ago, I don't think anybody saw things happening this fast. Jesse Mentor provided an update on both Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins. Listen to what he had to say. I >> would say both are very are trending very well uh to potentially be back next week. So, both just dealing with a couple small things. I think got got uh you know, good reports on both of them and uh expect both of those guys back. So, you're telling me that we expected to get not one but two of our starting quarterbacks who both went down to injury this past week while covering Jacobe Lane. By the way, one actually got carded off the field, couldn't put any weight on his leg, but our head coach says they both supposed to be back in a building practicing as early as next week. That's crazy, man. Because especially with Nate Wiggins, I know I was thinking even when they said that the injury was way more minor than major. Even when Jess Riick said Nate Wiggins is expected back sooner rather than later, I was not thinking it was going to be a week later. I thought, man, he might miss the first couple of games or something like that. But he is going to be back in the building already. My goodness, man. Jesse Mentor, you done changed our lives, man. You really, really did. And speaking about Jesse Mentor and him changing the lives, Marlon Humphrey who is expected back next week as well, he spoke on a big change going from John Hall to Jesse Mentor. Let's hear what he had to say on the lounge. >> Describe the energy around here since you've been back. >> Yeah, it's um that that's something I didn't think would be that's what's been surprising. I would say it's uh I've I've kind of got asked that a little bit and I I [clears throat] don't it it's um it's hard to put into words. It's just I don't know if change everyone's just excited about change, but from Jesse to even the the echo of the coaches, man, it it's like it really is like night and day different. Um it's it I I just don't know what it is, though. It's hard to really put into words um what what it is. There's just a a really different energy. Also, it's I really like, you know, that the head coach is a defensive head coach. It's really cool to be in a meeting and >> Jesse just takes the clicker and it's like, I'm about to coach for the next hour. [laughter] So, it's it's uh it's it's very it's very uh Harbs would always pop in every once in a while, but he would never just take over like that. But, I think Jess is a really good teacher. He has a very calm, >> collective presence about him. But when he addressed something because I knew Jesse obviously when he was not the I don't even know what his position was exactly, but >> that's kind of what surprised me as well when he gets in the team meeting. He he does have that presence uh that kind of, you know, Harbaugh obviously love that guy. He but he was like Alfa [laughter] like, you know, as we all know. So when he addresses a team, it's like you already know that's kind of how he is. But >> it's been um very interesting to how Jesse's addressed the team, how I feel like he's addressed certain situations in practice already of like, hey, we ain't doing this, hey, we're not doing this, we are doing this. And so it's been uh it's been encouraging though just because the >> the coaches also echo that same bell and they it seems like I know in my room for sure it seems like these dudes really want to figure out how can we help you and how can we be a better team and um I'm really liking the energy they're kind of spreading throughout. >> That's awesome. So Maron Humphrey somebody who literally in that clip he said how much he loved John Hawball. He talked about some of the biggest differences between John Hall's coaching staff and Jesse Mentor's coaching staff. And again, it takes me back to what Jesse Mentor said in his opening press. He said it's about relationships and communication. And it sounds like this coaching staff is establish continuing to establish both of those things. He said with this coaching staff, Jesse Mentor will come in there and say, "Hey, I'm about to coach for an hour." Marlon Humphrey been here since 2017. He said Harbaugh didn't do that. And you know what's funny about that? And he he was not taking a shot at Harbaugh at all. But what's interesting is so many Ravens fans said time and time again, man, John Harbaugh, he's a special teams coach. He doesn't specialize in offense. He doesn't specialize in defense, but he specializes in special teams. Even though he did coach the defensive backs when he was in Philly, but he said he specialized in special teams. So what Marlon Humphrey is saying is something that Ravens fans felt was happening for the longest. They thought it was going on. They said with John Harball, he let his offensive coordinator handle things. He let his defensive coordinator handle things. And that could be a really good thing because it's like you're not having this hands-on approach. You're just letting your guys doing their thing. You're not micromanaging. But at the same time, the problem with John Harbo was when it was time to step in. When it was time to be like, "Hey, we need to stop doing that. It's not working. Hey, maybe we should make an adjustment right here. We need to fix that." A lot of times it didn't seem as if John Hall did that, but he's saying with Jesse Mentor and this that he said it's not just Jesse Mentor, but he said it's the entire staff that's echoing the same thing. And he talked about how he likes that Jesse Mentor is a defensive specialist. And he's somebody that he's obviously familiar with. He knew him when he was with the staff before. So this transition, Marlon Humphrey is just he makes it sound and everybody else has too. Like this coaching staff is just straight up so much better than the previous one and just so much more involved in the intricacies of this football team. And toward the end he said, "These dudes really want to figure out how we can help you and how we can be a better team." Uh so it sounds like this coaching staff makes it a lot more personal. And also he talked about how John Harball he was just super super alpha. And the way that Maron Humphrey insinuated and made it seem like with John Harball it was just going to be his way and that was it. There was not going to be any discussion, but it was going to be John Harball's way and that was the end of that. So it sounds like this new coaching staff is a breath of fresh air for everybody. Now with the defense specifically, how is this defense going to look? Well, let's listen to Maron Humphrey explain it best. >> I guess the average person, how much do you think this defensive system will be different or similar to what the Ravens have played before? >> I think it reminds me a little bit of um Mike Mcdonald's defense with all the the different things that are that are in it. It's um I think it's cuz we got some really smart safeties. It takes it takes some pretty smart players and I think we got the smart enough guys uh around, but it's uh it's definitely takes it takes some time, but playing it so far these days of camp, man, it's it's really if you get it to where you want it to be, it's just really hard to beat. And um I remember when Mike kind of inserted it, I wasn't the biggest fan of it just cuz it was just new. It was just new. But I think that year we had that number one defense, I think. >> Mhm. And um it just once you get really good at it, it's and there's even some new wrinkles um that Jesse's kind of put on it, but once you get really really good at it, it's really really really hard to stop. And um so I'm just excited. I think it'll it'll be kind of similar to some things in the past, but I think the the coaching points that are being put in, especially for like me and Nate and Cheeto, it's um it's making us play. It's making us think more in a in a good way as opposed to just, hey, let's just kind of just put all of our buckets and play man and play zero and different things like that. So, I think it'll be similar, but I think it'll it'll be kind of back to that staple of, you know, Ravens defense that holds on, ends big games. So, I'm really excited for it. >> And I love that transparency from Marlon Humphrey. I mean, we used to him being super transparent, but he spoke about Mike McDonald and how [clears throat] initially he ain't like it. He ain't like it because he didn't like change, but he said it worked and they ended up being number one in all those different categories. And he's saying with Jesse Mentor is similar to that, but with different and new wrinkles. But he said it's tough. He let it be known that it is a challenging system, but once you get it, you get it. And it's tough to stop. And that's exactly what we want from this defense. We want it to be impossible to stop. We don't want nobody scoring no kind of points on the Ravens whatsoever. But it was very, very encouraging hearing Marlon Humphrey just talk about the changes from Harbaugh to Mentor, the changes from previous Ravens defense to the one that they're in now because it sound like things are all positive. Now, something that I was positive of all offseason was that Skyler Thompson for sure was going to be our QB3, but apparently not because Jesse Mentor said he was dealing with an injury and that injury ended up getting so bad that they had to place him on injured reserve. Let's hear what Mentor had to say about it. >> Just um you know, dealing with a little bit more than maybe we thought and so that was the that was the result of that. So, I was caught off guard from him being placed on injury reserve because I remember Jesse Mentor saying a couple of days ago, "Oh, yeah, it ain't nothing too serious." But like he said, it ended up being a lot more serious than they thought. And a corresponding move, uh, the Ravens ended up signing former UFFL and Chicago Bears quarterback Austin Reed. More on him later, especially with the preseason coming up. We'll definitely be seeing him later. But somebody else who will be seen in the preseason game is Tyler Huntley. Lamar Jackson will not be playing at all in this first game of the preseason. I believe he won't be playing at all in the entire preseason, but Tyler Huntley, he shared his thoughts on this upcoming game against the Eagles. >> They good good receivers, good tight ends, you know, and we got some good running backs, you know, uh they going they going to show what they got to do offer uh this weekend and uh hope they do great. >> And we hope they do great as well. We looking forward to it because this will be the first time that we get to see the new era in action. And we know it's just preseason, but it's still exciting because woo, it been a long time since we last saw the Ravens play. It was against the Steelers. And the way that that ended, we just ready for a fresh start. But speaking of fresh starts, our offensive line, it got revamped because we have a new guard at left guard. We have a new center and a new right guard. And Venga Yawan, he was our first round draft pick, which I absolutely loved. I know a lot of us loved it too and he will be playing in this preseason game. So, we looking forward to seeing him just knock somebody out on the Eagles and show why he was the correct pick by far in the first round. But speaking of the offensive line, we have seen a few people saying that Emory Jones was actually taking some reps with the ones. So, I was excited about that. I was thinking, "Oh my goodness, this coaching staff, I love it." because they're showing that no matter the price tag, no matter what you're getting paid, that your job is not safe and you have to earn it. Because here, I was I was somebody that pencled in John Simpson as a starter because he was getting paid a threeyear $30 million contract. So $10 million per year, that ain't for no backup. But this came out today. Uh it said Jesse Mentor said that John Simpson, who wore a leg sleeve today, is dealing with something minor, but nothing that should sideline him for long. So, that explains why uh Emory Jones was getting the reps with the ones cuz John Simpson, he's dealing with a little bit of an injury, but I would truly love if they really open that competition for that guard spot. So, we made it to my favorite part of the videos where we get to hear from you. Let's get straight into it. First question came from my guy Jayloo. He said, "No matter what we do, our team, the Baltimore Ravens, won't win a Super Bowl." Whoa. That's how we starting off. Jay Lou, let's see what he got to say. Said Raven, what up dog? Man, it pains me to say this, but it's something we as Ravens fans all know is that the NFL simply does not like the Baltimore Ravens. Every night this week, today's August 12th. I've been watching Inside Training Camp on NFL Network, and not once have I seen them go to Ravens camp. Please, you or one of the family members in the comments, correct me if I'm wrong. It's not just this season, though. For years, I've noticed that we seem to get slighted by the league in so many ways. And I'm not even talking about the bogus calls that go against us during the season. I know there are things about our amazing QB1 that the league don't like. They hate that he doesn't have an agent and with that they don't have access to his personal life. Also, I believe people don't like his overall demeanor, which is weird because he's been nothing but respectful since being drafted. Well, I'm sure way before that, too, cuz you don't just get respectful out of nowhere. But anyway, he said, "I wonder if it's deeper than that, though. Maybe someone within the organization rubbed league execs the wrong way at some point." Um it's just I think with Baltimore with it being a smaller market um the Ravens usually they they get overlooked on a lot of stuff a lot but I mean with Lamar Jackson you then they're not they haven't been getting overlooked this off seasonason. They've been getting over disrespected uh this off seasonason. Even one of my guys um he showed me the yesterday in the comment section I was looking and he was like man engraven have you seen this thing with Lamar Jackson where the NFL was explaining what a sack is and they use Lamar Jackson as an example and I told I don't even know what you're talking about. I ain't see it. So he sent it to me on Instagram and it was just that like they literally used Lamar Jackson. It was an NFL post. Um it said just brushing up on our vocabulary before week one. And for Josh Allen, they had him as the first slide, the very first slide, and they said the definition of a touchdown. But then for Lamar Jackson, they said the definition of a sack. And I was just like, what? Like, and you use Lamar out of everybody, Lamar. But NFL, they've been going, it's been blatant the disrespect that they've had towards Lamar Jackson this all, like this offseason. has been at an all-time high because we're so used to hearing it from analysts, from commentators and whatnot, but for the NFL directly to be having this much disrespectful is it's been crazier than usual. But I'm sure Lamar is going to respond in a nice way, but it ends up well not even ends up, but with Baltimore, like I said, it's a smaller market, so the NFL does a lot of overlooking with Baltimore. And I think in years previous too, um, they since the Ravens weren't this sexy team, they weren't a team that was scoring a bunch of points like previous to Lamar Jackson. Um, I think that was a reason that they got overlooked a lot too. Um, and just because they do things differently. They've been doing things differently for a very, very long time. But hopefully this season, Jesse Mentor and his coaching staff, they can give the league plenty of reason to wake up. He said, "Longtime subscriber and it's my first time sending a question. I just wanted to know your thoughts on this." Lastly, could you imagine if we were to bring Gus Edwards back? Gus Edwards? That would certainly be something. What's he doing right now? Is he a free agent? Cuz at last, I remember he was on the charges. I don't I don't know what he's doing now, but yeah, that would certainly be something. But where would there be room for him? Cuz we got obviously Derrick Henry, uh, Justice Heel, Adam Randall, Rashene Ali. Uh, so that would be five running backs. Obviously, somebody would had to be the eye man out. But so I I couldn't imagine that scenario. Not right in there. Uh, he said, "I missed that guy and never understood why we didn't use him correctly and why we ever let him go." Um, business, uh, money, I think, um, to keep him cheap. Uh, because Gus Edwards, yeah, Gus Els used to do his thing, man. He really used to do his thing. And yeah, it there was a lot of misusage with Gus Edwards, I think. Um, I liked I remember first he was this big powerhouse just trucking everybody and then he had lost some weight. He got a little slimmer, but he got a little quicker, but he was still trucking people. He's still getting people to stiff arm and whatnot, but he just wanted to be more elusive and he wanted to be able to finish runs better. And he he was doing a better job of that overall. Um, he he wasn't really used in the passing game very often. Um, but yeah, I like Gus Edwards. But then he left and I ain't really heard much from him since. So tough business, man. He say, "Sorry again, bro. Peace to you and yours." Hey, I appreciate you, my friend. The Ravens biggest failure is still here. Woo! Lot of negativity from Well, not negativity, but people like, "Woo, it's it's a little rough to start, but here we go. Next question came from my guy Bucko. He said, "What's up, man? Praying that you and the family are well. Hopefully, you'll see this question because I know you're busy around this time of year and it's hard for you to answer every question you see, but if you are reading this, thank you for taking the time to do so. No, thank you for even sending it. I I appreciate y'all doing that. He said, "My question has to do with the one player who not who has not only been a constant bane to this organization, but he's also a player whose light dims in the playoffs like sleep mode on an iPhone." That player is Mark Andrews, aka Kid Drews. Oh, wow. That's That's a new one. I ain't heard that one before. I I ain't a big fan of that one. I know he's saying man instead of or kid instead of man, but man. Anyway, he said he no longer deserves to be called Mandrews. We are here. Well, that's his name though. Mark the M and then Andrews is together. He ain't got nothing to do with him being a man or not. But anyway, he said we hearing constant reports in training camp that he has been dropping the ball religiously. I believe I have only heard of him catching maybe two catches in all the practices so far. I don't think that would be the case. like he really through two he only caught two catches in pract n that that wouldn't be it but I think it's the big plays it's been a lack of big plays a lack of explosive plays really from the tight end room in general anyway he said um my question to you engraven is do you see Lamar Jackson eventually pushing to get the other tight ends Hner and Quz involved instead of kid Drews I understand Lamar will never throw a player under the bus and that's why I love him as a player and as a man but let's call a spade a spade kid Drews is washed like clothes on a Saturday anyway I love to hear your response God bless here, brother. Is he washed? No, I I can't say he's washed. Um, obviously these past two years, especially two years ago. My goodness. That it's just crazy. Um, especially Dear Andrews that we we knew before and that he would just go crazy with it. There was even one year, I think it was 2021 where he was like top 10 or top 15 in receiving, some something crazy like that. But I I can't say he's watched. Um, let's see how this season goes. Let's see how he contributes. I think him and Lamar, they obviously got some of the best chemistry on the team, even still. Um, so they know each other. So hopefully it's one of those things where he just having some rough practices. This sound like it's been a lot of rough practices, but hopefully it's not a sign of things to come and when the regular season is on starting week one against the Colts, we can see that old Mark Andrews thing back. Next question came from my guy Hart Heavy. He said, "I know all is well." Oh, I like that. He said he know all is well. I love the confidence. He said, "Let's get to it in England. People say that Lamar hate is for clicks, but I truly think these analysts believe what they are saying. Lamar was not bad last year for how banged up he was for about five games or more than that." He said, "And he missed time. Came back healthy in that Steelers game and bald threw under 10 interceptions and still threw 21 touchdowns." The they stat box watch ranked Joe Burrow over him, but Joe Burrow was but Lamar was injured all last year. so quick to bring up Lamar's rookie year Charger game, but one to forget Josh Allen Broncos playoff game and rank him the best player in the league. Yeah, Josh Allen been getting a lot of praise this offse. Like again, the Lamar hate has been way extra. It's normal every offseason and regular season, all that stuff. But this offseason, it's been extra. They've been pushing the hate extra. And with Josh Allen, they've been praising him extra, like way extra. Um, he said, uh, we know what it is truly. And it said, I blocked them all. Oh my god, I like that. Protect your peace. He said, I ain't looking at this. Blocked. Oh, you want to hate Lamar? Blocked. Oh, you saying this about Lamar? Oh, you talking crazy. Blocked. Smart. He said, um, how do you think Lamar has kept it together this long? All the media nonsense. um just with composure uh and being raised the right way. Even though that that's tough too because you'll be raised the right way. People talk about you regularly that's going to upset you. But I feel like Lamar in it said I think he's just used to it though. He's used to it but I think he not necessarily blocks it out but it's and I don't even I think it may be fuel a little bit but he he just used to it. So, I think he looks at it like, "Oh, okay. They saying this, it is what it is." But he knows who he is. He knows what he can do, what he has done. So, he's like, "Oh, I ain't worried about none of that." Next question came from my guy Russell. He said, "Question. I'm so excited about the new mentality that came with this new staff. I believe this staff will tap into this roster in a way never before. Uh, losing at the biggest moments won't be a muscle memory anymore. Blown leads. Everyone will step up and unlock absolute greatness. this team will go as fast as mentors mind takes them. I like that. And that sounds like that really echoes everything that Men Humphrey uh was saying in the previous clips at the top of this video that again the way that this system challenges you cuz Lamar talked about it with Declan Doyle. Uh Menon Humphrey, he talked about it with Jesse Mentor just how much they challenge him and and he said it's tough but he said once you learn it, you learn it. So hopefully all the Ravens can learn it and and they'll be good to go. [music] >> [music] [music] >> The flock flies to the wise. It's a wonderful thing. Look what vision and commitment is and some discipline [music] brings. When a becomes [singing] one, the moon swings and the flock sings for [music] another ring. Man, we tuning in the engraving vene tonight. [music] Team keep it clean. Hold it down the spark to ignite a name in the lights. A north star ain't feeling far when you run that north [music] every year. That's just >> we [music]