RAVENS JUST GAVE JESSE MINTER ONE OF HIS GUYS…NOW HE HAS ONE SHOT TO PROVE IT!

Ravens already got enough tough roster decisions to make after this last preseason game and they just signed somebody who's going to make things that much more difficult. And what makes it crazy is that he was literally handpicked by Ravens head coach Jesse Mentor. So if he shows out tonight, that could make things that much more challenging. Michael Barrett Jr., He's a linebacker and he's very familiar with Jesse Mentor because Jesse Mentor had the privilege of coaching him not on the NFL level, not on a USFL level because he did spend some time there as well, but back in Michigan. So that familiarity, it does help Michael Barrett when it comes to making plays for this defense. And Jesse Mentor is obviously somebody who puts his players in position to make plays for this defense. Now, with Michael Barrett, it's going to be an uphill battle because we already have most of our linebacker spots set. Rocoan Smith, Teddy Buchanan, Tren Simpson, with Jay Higgins. I figure he's a lock. I'm not 100% sure on it, but he was on the team last year, so that does give him a nice advantage. So, not many roster spots left. And Duca has been balling every single preseason game. So, Michael Barrett is going to have to make a lot of plays. And even still, if he does that, it may not even be enough. So, he could be doing an audition for not only the main roster, but also for the practice squad. But the fact that Jesse Mentor brought him on and he's familiar with him from his Michigan days, I think that does give him a little extra boost. Now, will that boost be enough to actually make the team or even the practice squad? Oh, we're going to be watching closely tonight. Now, we at my favorite part of the videos where we get to feature your questions. Make sure you subscribe to the channel. Click that thumbs up button, leave a like on the video. Let's get straight to it. First question came from my guy Albert. He said, "More under center plays." Hey, Graven. Hope all is well with you and the family. Everything is great. I appreciate it. He said, "I wanted to highlight something that might not be showing too much so far in the preseason that I believe will be huge once the regular season begins. That is the fact that the offense will be running with the QB under center way more than before." Oh, that's a big deal right there. That's a huge deal. That opens up the playbook so much more in my opinion. He said, uh, I point this fact out because Dererick Henry is far more successful when the QB is under center and he can get a full head of sting by the time the ball gets in his hand. Oh, I ain't never thought about that because if the QB's in the shotgun, if the QB's in the pistol, they're backed up away from the line of scrimmage. They're backed up from the offensive line. So, the ball got to get snapped, they got to catch it, then they could turn and they could hand it to Derrick Henry. But if they're under center, then they snap the ball. It's literally handed off to them directly. And then they extend that arm. Dererick Henry's running. They put it in his chest and he could take off. So he Derrick Henry's already successful in the pistol in the shotgun and all that stuff, but Oh, that's that's a really really good point. Anyway, he said uh it would frustrate me when they would try and run Henry from the shotgun because it would almost never work. I found a stat that Henry averaged 4.1 yards when in shotgun formations and 5.1 when the QB was under center. So if that stat is accurate, then there's some evidence to support my claim outside the eye test from watching every game. Derrick Henry was also very successful in the pistol as well. And the reason for this is he's a downhill runner. It's much easier to stop a truck when it's just beginning to move versus a truck at full speed. That's a perfect explanation for it. He said, "Now, the other part to this equation is the play action. If Henry gets rolling, that defense is going to start flowing to him like their life depends on it." Now, imagine the play action boots that Lamar will have at his disposal. Lamar in the open field is scary for opposing defenses. Yes, it is. It is. Especially when the defense is biting on play. He said, "One last thing I want to say is I really hope the Ravens keep three quarterbacks this year because they cannot let Faniano leave this team. There is no shot he clears waivers. So the idea could be on our pract so that so the idea that he could be on our practice squad is a fantasy." Well, that's all I have today. Can't wait for the season and go Ravens. Hey Faniano, man, you you got a fan club, man. Let's see if the Ravens they keep you around so we could cheer for you as QB3 that is. But we still got a lot of love for you. We'll see what happens. Next question came from my guy God King. He said it was a lie. What was a lie? He said, "Hey homie, love to you and the family and the community." There was no way EDC was going to get both Trey and Max. No way. And paid them both a 100 meal. Not happening. Okay. Hey, that's all he had to say. So, I guess he's just getting it off as shy. Said EDC, he ain't believe you. Next question came from my guy Demond. He said, "What's good team keeping clean family? I think that Deshawn Watson will be the perfect backup quarterback for the Ravens once the Browns release him next year. What do you think?" Oh, Deshawn Watson is definitely never ever ever going to play for the Baltimore Ravens. You could count on that. Ravens beautiful problem on Sunday. Next question came from my guy Ty. He said, "What's up, brother? Hope all is well. I'm pumped for this football season and ready to watch Lamar win another unanimous MVP and get us a chip." I would love that. Now, one thing that I forgot because I heard somebody talking about it a couple days ago about Lamar Jackson second MVP. The first one was unanimous, but the second one it was 49 out of 50 votes. So, it was almost unanimous, too. But oh, that's that that's crazy. Anyway, he said, um, but that's not what I'm sending in a question for today. I'm sending this uh in to point out the Ravens have a huge problem. That problem, we have so much talent, especially on defense right now. So, we've got the problem of most of who do we cut? They're probably going to get signed somewhere else, which sucks, but it's the absolute best problem to have. I posted this after seeing an article about the Ravens safety room specifically. Safety's growing trees apparently in Baltimore cuz we've got nothing but quality players there. Even our depth guys could probably be future or serviceable starters out there somewhere. The article touched on specifically the dilemma with Keandre Jackson who so far in the preseason he's been being used as a mini Kyle Hamilton. That's not to say he's on Kyle's level cuz Kyle is the best safety in the league. Excuse me. You got that wrong. Best safety in the world. So we got to fix that. Anyway, he said but his versatility has been comparable to him. The issue comes because Kavon Wallace and Silas Walters are also quality players and have been generating preseason turnovers and we already have three locks at safety with Super Dup Malachi Stalks and Jayen Hawkins. Meaning at most I only see one or two of these guys making the 53man roster. Yeah, that's tough. Um I think Kandre Jackson would have the u the advantage over uh Kavon Wallace. Um and Walters. I don't I don't think Walters is going to make it. Um, but I I think because Keandre Jackson, he's on the team last year and but anyway, continuing. He said, "I'm leaning Kandre Jackson and Walters if there's two cuz they're younger players." No offense to Wallace. He's a great player, but I'm trying to see it from the business side and I feel like the other players ages will make the decision a bit easier, though still far from easy. Walters and Jackson are both 24 and Wallace is 29. I feel like we won't see much more growth from Wallace. Not that he isn't a good player. Again, I truly think any of these three could be serviceable future starters somewhere, but I think the age and potential to grow and lean more toward Jackson and Walters uh to stay in Baltimore. Personally, if only one stays on 53man roster, I say keep Kandre Jackson, put Walters on a practice squad, and maybe try to put Wallace there, too. But I doubt that he get poached uh by another team desperate for DBs. Now, see, that's the thing, too. That's what makes it even more tricky because you got what is it 16 spots on a practice squad. So, are you keeping two safeties there? You could possibly, but those spots are very valuable to 53 on the roster, 16 on the practice squad. Every spot is extremely valuable. Uh, he said, "The way I see it, we only gave Hawkins a 2-year deal so Baltimore can keep Jackson for a dirt cheap deal, extended for a couple years as depth if they wanted to make him the future safety three when Hawkins departs." Anyway, what do you think for my projections as safety, and do you see any other positions on the squad shaving up similarly come Sunday? Uh, let me know what you think, man. Um, yeah, there's quarterback position. We got like 50 running backs right now and those dudes be looking good. They've been looking good in the preseason. Um, a wide receiver is trick because you got your locks, but then you got Chris Moore, you got Dayton Wade, you got uh Xavier Gillery. Um, so that that could get a little tricky on the back end, but as cornerback, that's where I think it gets the most tricky. The secondary really as a whole just has so many not question marks because question marks has a negative connotation to it but it has just so many players that you could be like oh yeah they're going to make but then what about him? Oh no he's going to make it. Oh but what about him? So that's where it gets tough. Defense is back in Baltimore. This question came from my guy Alex. He said Raven hope this finds you well. I was reaching out to say I think we have a better chance than ever as spending Valentine's Day watching the Ravens and so far. [laughter] Hey let's get it. He said, "This is because looking at our defensive coaching staff, we have loads of experience against the AFC top contenders. Anthony Weaver, coaching in the AFC East, held the Bills to under 14 points twice and the Patriots to under 20 points two times with a roster that lacked defensive the defensive talent that the Ravens have." Ooh, you you've been doing some research, I see. Wow. That Okay, now he said, "And with mentor coming from the AFC West bringing experience against the Broncos, Chiefs, and even the Chargers taking all of this into consideration, I believe our defense alone has a chance to take us all the way. What are your thoughts?" I love that. But I I I love that email and it it makes sense because yeah, mentor got experience and good experience cuz all experience ain't great experience, but he got good experience against Mahomes and and obviously he was with Justin Herb so he knows him like crazy. But BX too and Bo cuz Bon is such a tricky quarterback, man. Cuz I remember when he got drafted, I'm like, that's a first round pick really. And he he he's like he's good. He's like for me when I watch Bo Knicks, I'm like, man, I don't expect nothing from him. I don't expect nothing crazy. then he'll go do something crazy. It's like, whoa, where did this come from? So, he's somebody that you got to watch out for. Really? That Bronco defense is nice, but we Dean Doyle got to deal with them. Um, but yeah, so Jesse Mentor and Anthony Weaver, them bringing all that experience and that knowledge and now they can give our players that knowledge and our players already got plenty of knowledge as is, but they can get even more from that coaching staff. We in good shape. Next question came from my guy Trey. He said, "Hey, my brother, this is Trey. know me from IG as new a I'm a big fan of you my guy but I hope you and the fam are doing all right but I want to ask you no okay not a big fan big fam fam that and he was he just did a little typo so it's okay but I I get what you meant anyway he said but no I appreciate you man uh he said I want to ask you who do you think is going to make the biggest impact on the defensive side for us like anyone in particular that you have in mind I personally think it's going to be either Kyle or Mike Green especially as Jesse Winter steps in hope you have a great one bro you and the fam and go Ravens hey appreciate that Trey Um, I can I pick a coach, Jesse Mentor, because and the reason I say him is not to as a copout answer, but because so many different players on this Ravens defense have seemed like they on a decline. It seems like they've been falling off. It seems like they have been regressing because of the system that was in place before. But now with Jesse Mentor's system, I I could see so many different players just looking way better than they did before. looking refreshed, looking rejuvenated, looking like, "Oh, whoa. I I thought this guy was falling off, but he's not because now we have a a a system in place that's going to play players to their strengths, that's going to take advantage of opposing offenses weaknesses, that's going to have the the the team flying to the ball, attacking, not leaving guys wide open all the time, having pressure, getting sacks, and just really producing in so many different areas, man." Next question came from my guy Droid 20. Oh, I ain't seen you in a minute. I hope you and your girl doing good, man. He said, "Un, it's been a while. Team keep it clean. Still, we rise." Whoa. Don't Don't talk too much like like we Falcons fans. Anyway, he said, "My question is, what holes do you think we need fixing? How would you feel about players like Joey Bosa?" [clears throat] Trey Digs. Oh, he's a he's a what, a Seahawk, I think. So, we ain't got to worry about Woo. Joey Bosa. Um, not right now. We good off Joey Bosa right now. Um, Bobby Wagner and Tyreek Hill. Bobby Wagner is a he's he's a free agent. I thought he's he he a get signed by nobody. And Tyreek Hill. Now, Tyreek Hill would that would be that would be a little little sneaky addition a little later on in the season and whatnot. But anyway, uh, he said, uh, what are some pros and cons for each player? Well, pro Trayvon Diggs is signed already, so cuz that he gets a bunch of picks, but yeah, he be giving up a whole lot of yards. He said, "Appreciate your uncle. Hope the family is healthy and blessed." Hey, I appreciate that. Um, Joy Bosa the injuryp prone. Um, but was a really good pass rusher when he did play. Um, Bobby Wagner. Uh, I feel like that would be like another Roquan Smith and I feel like we need more explosiveness at the linebacker position. Um, Tyreek Hill like I mean you already know what time it is with that. Like he's healthy. Like that man changes everything. He'll flip the field like that. You could put him in so many different positions, have him all over the field and he would just be amaz I I just I wonder where he's going to go. I I don't think you're going to come here because we like we're I can't say we stacked at wide receiver because guys got to prove themselves, but we do have a lot of receivers. I would not mind if they added Tyreek Hill. I'm never going to mind if they added Tyreek Hill. Like to I would not be mad at that at all, but I just don't see it happening right now. And they said he ain't signing to no team as of right now. They probably they said it's probably going to be after week one and into the season as he gets fully healthy. So, we'll see. But um he would bring so much to this team. But will it happen? Probably not. Decisions. Next question came from my guy Avery. He said, "Ingra, hope everything is going great for you and your family and hope the rest of the team keep it clean is having a great day." Appreciate that. Double A. He said, "This Sunday we will know the final roster for all 2026 Ravens. This is going to be a hard decision to make for coach Mentor and the rest of the front office. Could you give me some players who you think will make it and some that will get cut? Burke and Rucker are two guys I think will make it, but let me know." I think Burke, we all think Rucker won't. Um, Adisa Isaac, I think he won't. Um, Robert Longerbean, I think he won't. Bal Kone, [clears throat] I don't know. I don't know. Especially because of um Keon Martin. Keon Martin, I think he will make it. Um, but Blon, I don't know. Keandre Jackson, I think he will. Kayon Wallace, I think he won't. Um, Duca. Oh, man. That's a really tough one right there. It's a tough one. He even flying. I I want him to make it, but I don't think there's enough space for him to make it. Um but yeah, who who else? Uh oh, Tal Taliv. Well, I don't think any of the the running backs that were playing in the preseason besides Adam Randall uh will make it. That was a lot of running backs. I think Jonathan Wade, I think McMillan, Tal Taliva, I don't think any of them are going to make it. Joe Feniano, that's the one that I just I really do not know which way he that's going to go. Oh, and I forgot to add to my guy Double A's question. He said, "Have a great rest of your day and like 77, I'm out." I can appreciate that. I think we all do. Present and future. Next question came from my guy Roy. He said, "What's up, great? Hope you and the fam are doing better than amazing." That's that'll be that'd be extremely good right there. That boy say better than amazing is good enough, but that boy said better than amazing. Wow. Uh he said, "I appreciate that." He said, "I'd like to thank you for the content you provide us Ravens fam." Thank you, fam. See, no typo there. Uh, [snorts] no. I I appreciate you, man. I appreciate you even watching it, man. He said, "I don't miss a single video and never intend to. Keep doing your thing." Now, to the questions. Oh, he said, "Let's get to business." Uh, he said, "Number one, uh, the present. I'm thinking a lot about our 53 man roster, and it seems we will have some tough decisions to make, especially when it comes to depth. Our starters are pretty much set in stone. Maybe with the exception of center, especially due to the recent injury of Danny Pinter. I'm sure Ethan Posig was signed with the idea of him eclipsing the others in that starter spot, but it was said in camp that Gwyn has been doing very well. Also, we also have log jams at defensive tackle and cornerback. Oh, defensive tech. That's another one. Yeah, that's tough. He said, "I'm hoping we can keep a roster spot for Joe Faniano, even though he'd only be a QB3, but I would rather keep him in purple than not than risk losing him to anybody else." Uh, here is what our roster could look like if we do keep Faniano. He said, "A quarterback, Jackson Huntley, Faniano, running back Henry Hill, Ali, Randall, fullback Doran Smith, of course, listed as a tight end. Wide receiver Flowers Baitman, Jacobe Lane, uh Teas Walker, Lid Serat, Wester, tight ends Andrews, Hypnus, uh left tackle, uh Stanley or and Pawns or Vincent, uh guard Simpson and Vohees, center Ethan Pos, Javon Gwyn, right guard, Yawwan Bernstein, right tackle, Rosen Garden, Emry Jones Jr., defensive tackle, Ni Mabik Jones, uh Campbell Jenkins, Bradic Washington, or Onius Peebles or Rashad Benny. Oh, he said one of the three. [snorts] uh at a edge. Trey Hendrickson, Mike Green, Zion Young, Tavis Robinson, Ada. Oh, you think we keeping Adisen linebacker Rocoan Smith, Simpson, Buchanan, Jay Higgins, cornerback, Humphrey, Wiggins, Auzier, TJ Tampa, and any of the two between Rivers belong Coney, Robert Longer, Keon Martin. Uh I think Rivers for sure. I think he's a lock. Uh but then I think that last spot will go to Kon Martin. Four safeties, Hamilton, Stalks, Hawkins, uh oh Keandre Jackson. Okay. Yeah, he said I think Jackson will earn himself a spot. Uh special teams Loop Ekley, Nick Moore. Okay. That was a lot. He said, "Of course, that's 54 and I'm having trouble seeing where they take one off." I do think with the addition of Adam Randall, who we all know is Steve Bashad's owners pick, that puts pressure on Rash Ali, who has, in my opinion, underwhelming with even with the limited chances he's gotten. He could be put on the practice squad, and if someone snatches him from us, then so be it. He is one of the debt pieces I wouldn't lose any sleepover if we lost. Do you agree with the 53man roster? And who do you think of the many DTs and quarterbacks that will make it? Quarterbacks, I think you got that all set. Um, that is interesting about Rashe Ali. We'll see. In order for him to be put on the practice squad, they would have to release him from the regular roster. who got to clear waiverss and then they can sign him back to the practice squad. Now, um a spot where I think that you might get it wrong, I think Ada Isaac, I don't think that he's going to make the team. Um so that's I know you got him on your roster. So I think you take Ada Isaac off, boom, that's 53 right there. Um and question number two, the future. I know it's early and it's hard to determine based on how well the college players do this year, but with what you have seen with the roster so far and a good majority of our team under contract next year, what direction do you see us going in the draft? It's way too early for that. is we ain't even played the snap of regular season football. It's way too early. But definitely the center position uh for sure. You're always going to need offensive lineman, too. Um but yeah, center and that don't that don't even got to be a first round pick. It could possibly be, but it ain't even got to be a first round pick. But yeah, it's in my opin right now to even think about something like that. Uh so we'll see how that goes. He said, of course, we know it'll be a very late first round since we will have one of the best, if not the best record in the league this year. Some mock drafts have us going O line again with the successes to Stanley or finally getting a shorefire starting center for losing Linda Bum. Some of us haven't going have us go defense with a linebacker, a defensive tackle or a quarterback. A linebacker who could possibly take Rocoan's spot depending on how he does a defensive tackle depending on how well Beaks does plus Kas's age. Oh, that's that's a sneaky one right there. I ain't I forgot about that. [snorts] He said a quarterback as Wiggins is our only certified quarterback of of the future. So with current contract situations like Marlo Auzier and Tren Simpson all with one year left. Oh yeah, Ravens got a lot of work to do next year. But let's send all these guys to free agency as Super Bowl champion. Well, not everybody, but anyway, he said uh uh and with all with one year left and ages like Klayas Campbell, Ronny Stanley, and even King Henry, what do you think we dip into the draft? Yeah, definitely every everything that you mentioned. Um offensive line again, you always need more offensive lineup, but yeah, defensive. That is a very very sneaky good idea right there. I like that. He said just like file after one preseason game with the Giants. I'm out. Next question came from my guy Nick. He said, "I know it's only preseason." Oh, let's see what he talking about. What's up, Engraving? Peace and blessings and love to you and the family. I know people are probably still upset about us not getting Max Crosby. Nah, I I think we moved on from that a while ago for sure. Anyway, he said, um, but man, peep Ethan Burke, that man was balling. You already know the rest. He's going to find his way onto this team and in the coming years, he could even be end up being Trey Hendrickson's replacement. Who knows? Maybe he becomes our version of Max Crosby. We gonna see. We gonna see. That's That's some high praise, right? We going to see. He said when the season uh comes around and the starters are out there, spooky hours. And Kon Martin, that man can ball. Then you got his part in crime, Kandre Jackson. Man, oh man, our special teams talent this year is going to be something serious. Yeah, those two been doing their thing for sure. He said, "I know it's only preseason, but I feel like we're already getting an idea of what type of defense we're going to run this year. We're going to disguise a lot of stuff, showing offensive certain looks and then switching it up on them. Also, like you and Coach Sip said, we're going to play a lot of zone, and I trust Jesse Mentor with that completely. that disguising part. I just saw a couple of different people talking about that just today and that is something that oh man because yeah that can throw quarterbacks all the way off. Jesse Mentor's defense showing one thing quarterback snaps the ball. Whoa, what happened? Where did everybody go? But that's what we want. Anyway, he said uh that the video I always go back to is Travis Kelce talking about Jesse Mentor. Kelsey basically said Mentor had it figured out. He showed him a certain look that Kelsey had never seen before. And when you've got somebody like Travis Kelce saying that, yeah, that tells you something. It does. cuz that's a Hall of Famer talking. Uh he said, "These last two preseason games have been so much fun to watch. I really think we're going to have a really good season." Watching these games, I kept thinking, man, imagine when all the starters are out there. It's going to be something really special to watch. I'm telling you, Graven, I feel it. We're going to have a special season. I really hope so. Uh he said, "And Faniano, man, he was in his bag, too. They need to hold on tight to him because if they're not careful, he can get a job somewhere else. He's balling right now, and there are at least three teams out there looking for a backup quarterback." Uh probably more, he said. And when you put Faniano's preseason numbers next to the number one overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, it gets even crazier. Faniano has completed 37 to 48 passes. Well, this I know I think the Raiders are playing like right now while I'm recording this. Um, but he said Fano has completed 37 to 48 passes uh for 347 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Meanwhile, Mendoza is 18 for 31 for 58.1% uh for 183 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Now, I don't know how much Fenano has played, but with him being a number one overall pick, I don't think they're going to have him out there like crazy. with Fiano, he's a third string quarterback. He's QB3, so they're going to have him out there a lot more than the number one overall pick. But so with the numbers, I wouldn't really look too deep into that, but it it is something though. He says, "So Faniano has 19 more completions, 164 more passing yards, and completion percentage, that's 19 points higher, twice as many touchdowns, and few interceptions. I know it's preseason stats don't tell the whole story, but come on. Fano is out here putting up better numbers in the first OVERALL PICK RIGHT NOW. Check the stats and you tell me." And he said, "I'm out like how Snoop could be." Holy. Whoa. He said, "Just kidding, but I'm out." But yeah. Hey, with Feno, regardless of what the number one pick Fernando Mendoza is doing, we ain't worried about him. Feniano has been balling, and he is in an undrafted rookie free agent league of his own. I appreciate y'all watching this video so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Uh, make sure you subscribe to the channel. We're trying to get to 90,000 subs. And leave a like on the video. I will see you all later tonight for our last preseason live stream against the Commanders. I look forward to seeing you there. We out. [music] >> The flock flies to the wise. It's a wonderful day. Look what vision and commitment [music] and some discipline brings. When eight becomes one, the moon swings and the block sing for [music] another ring. Man, we tuning in. Engraving vids in that scene tonight. Team keep it clean, [music] hold it down the spot to ignite a name in the lights. A north star ain't feeling far when you run that north every year. [music] That's just a [music] Heat. >> [music]