RAVENS VS COMMANDERS - MY POSTGAME THOUGHTS!

Ravens beat the Eagles 24 to 7. Then beat the Vikings 13 to 3. Then in last night's preseason game against the Washington Commanders, they completely destroyed that football team 41 to 3. And I'm here to share my postgame thoughts on I can't even really call it a matchup because it was a completely lopsided affair. So, shout out to Jesse Minter because this team, this preseason, these back ups, these depth pieces, these inexperienced players gave up a total of 13 points in three games. Jesse Minter has never been a head coach before. This is his first time head coaching. Decklin Doio has never called plays on offense consistently before. This is his first time doing that. But see, by the way that this team is playing, again, they're inexperienced players, you would never be able to tell. And that says a whole lot to me, and that continues to give us that much more confidence for the Baltimore Ravens this season. Let's get into it. Before we do, make sure you subscribe to the channel, click that thumbs up button, leave a like on the video, and we started week one talking about the defense. We started week two talking about the offense. How about we address special teams? Because in the game against the Commanders, it was not so special, specifically talking about the kicking game. Tyler Loop, um he has been the subject of conversation all off season long. I mean, he got all off season started a little bit early, earlier than we wanted to, but he did kickstart us into a new regime. Him missing that kick against the Steelers, that ended up sending us home early, but it did also help send John Harbaugh to New York. So, we happy to have Jesse Minter in the building in this new regime because things have just, like Lamar said, been a breath of fresh air, but with Tyler Loop, uh he has continued to struggle. And when Steve Bisciotti had that press conference earlier this off-season, and when he publicly backed Tyler Loo and basically let it be known like, "Hey, Tyler Loo is our guy this season, whether y'all like it or not. We support him. That's going to be our kicker." I thought, "Man, they're not going to bring in any competition, and even if they do, it's really not going to be competition." But, in my opinion, after the game against the Commanders, that changed. And specifically after hearing Jesse Minter speak about Tyler Loo, it definitely changed. Let's hear what our head coach had to say. >> I thought I agreed in preseason games. Um, obviously he's been good in practice, but in some of these stadium situations, had some misses. Has he done enough for you to feel really confident with with him as your only kicker in week one? >> Yeah, I mean, I I think um you want to see makes in games, and so well, it's something we'll continue to look at. We'll continue to look at uh, you know, what the best situation is there. Uh, he has had a good camp overall, uh, but again, it comes down to making the kicks in the pressure situations in the game. So, that's something I think uh, that we'll always be looking at to make sure that we're doing what's best for the team. >> Does looking at that include maybe bringing in competition at some point? >> I I think there's a million scenarios there uh, to try to make sure that we have the best situation headed into Indy. >> So, Jesse Minter said Tyler Loo has had a good camp overall, which he has. Uh, but you have to make those kicks in game. You have to make them in those pressure situations, and we'll continue to look at what's best for the team. In my opinion, I think Jesse Minter is basically letting us know Tyler Loo, he's not necessarily done with the Ravens, but he's on an extremely short leash, and they will bring in, whether it's true kicker competition, or possibly even somebody to replace him. And I hate this conversation because we've been seeing the defense just humming. We've been seeing the offense just continue to do their thing, but Tyler Loop he's just been up and down. In this game, he was two for four. He was two for four uh with his field goals. And I remember during our stream, somebody asked before he missed the first field goal, somebody asked me, "What position on this team are you concerned with the most? What worries you the most on the Baltimore Ravens?" And I said kicker. And then when he missed that field goal, it was tough because we think about last year, somebody who came up um during the halftime of our stream, they said that with kickers, once they miss a huge kick like that, a a game-winning kick, a kick with everything on the line, they don't recover. And I thought about it and I was like, "Hmm, I I I I don't know how true or not that is." And he of course brought up Billy Cundiff and we we know how that went. But it just made me think of Tyler Loop. And could that last game against the Steelers still be in his head? Cuz he struggled quite a bit. Or could it be something else? Cuz he just he's been very inconsistent. Very, very inconsistent this preseason. So, I feel like with the Ravens, y- you can't chance it. Y- if you're going to roll with Tyler Loop, it's such a risk. Are you willing to take that risk? Right now, I honestly don't think that the Ravens are. I don't. We'll see what they end up doing of of over the next couple of days, but I don't think that Tyler Linderbaum is going to either be the kicker on this roster or be the only kicker that the Ravens have in the building. Because when you got another year with Lamar Jackson, you got these very high expectations for this Baltimore Ravens defense. And and high expectations for the offense as well. You just you don't want it to come down to what it came down to last year. You you you you don't want to be put in that situation. And I mean, look, if we brought in another kicker, they're going to have to make their kicks as well. But I wonder with Tyler Linderbaum like what is going on? But whatever's going on, I am a million percent confident now that the Ravens they're going to do something about it. Uh but also with our special teams, Ryan Eccleston, our punter, rookie punter by the way, he's still putting up these crazy numbers. Three punts, 138 yards, uh average 46 yards per punt, and had not one but two punts that landed inside the 20 of the Commanders. So, he continues to do his thing. Uh on special teams, Laquon Treadwell had a nice punt return. They tried DeAndre Wade at punt return, and I think like they were really just saying, "Hey DeAndre Wade, just go out there and make a play." Because when he had the punt return, he was backed up. I think it was inside the Ravens 10. But he went forward, tried to make somebody miss, cuz in normal situations the players would most likely call for a fair catch or let the ball bounce. But I think he was just really trying to show his skills off, whether it be for the Ravens or for all 31 other teams. Um because at receiver it it it would be really tough for DeAndre Wade to make the roster at receiver, but the practice squad I think there's opportunities uh for him there. So, he's been on the practice squad the last 2 years with the Ravens, uh and they seem to really like him. Obviously, I think that he could stick for another year. But I think he was just trying to show one last bit of juice and one last like, "Hey, I really got to make this play cuz it's not just for Baltimore, it's for all 32 teams in the league." Jonathan Ward, he he had himself a night tonight. But he had a nice kick return for 30 yards. And he showed like his versatility. Now, he's also somebody that could be the practice squad could be another roster, too. Where he he put on some real good film tonight. And you know what? On that note, let's go ahead and segue to Ravens offense. Tyler Huntley said, "Oh, y'all called me a conservative quarterback? You said I'm too careful with the ball? You said I don't push the ball down field?" This game on his first and only drive, he shut all of that up. And he was literally flawless. I think him and Chris Moore, they must have had a conversation before the game because those two's connection was so on point. Tyler Huntley came out there, I think it was either second or third and long. He found Chris Moore on a little comeback route, first down. Then a couple plays later, he found Chris Moore and he placed it perfectly over two defenders and perfectly in front of two defenders, right at Chris Moore. He caught it perfect. But to seal the deal, Tyler Huntley dropped back, he looked Chris Moore was on a go route. Tyler Huntley threw that thing up, placed it per It was per perfect pass. And Chris Moore did a falling catch for the touchdown. Refs initially tried to say, "Oh, no, incomplete." And we're all looking at each other. I'm looking at the chat and whatnot. I'm like, "What? That's complete. That's touchdown all day, every day." So then the refs reviewed it, they said, "Okay, well, I don't know what we were looking at. Touchdown. That's six points." And it was just so beautiful to see. And Chris Moore essentially locks up that last wide receiver spot. And I mean, we all figured that he would, but that makes it official. Uh speaking about wide receivers, uh Jacoby Lane, he did not even get dressed for this game. Uh Taysir Mack did, however. Um so, that continues to confirm that Jacoby Lane is the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver three. And that's man, that's tough for Taysir, man, because I'm sure he had high hopes going into this season, having an increased role as wide receiver three for the team, but he got beat out by the rookie. Um so, I'm I'm looking forward to both of them making plays, though. I don't think just because Taysir is probably going to be wide receiver four, that oh man, he shouldn't do nothing now, he can't do nothing now. No, he's still going to get his opportunities. Um but I just don't think it's going to be nearly as much as he expected uh going into this season. But back to our quarterbacks. Joe Flacco, man, what what else can we say about Joe Flacco that we haven't said already? He just looks the part. He he just looks ready to play some NFL football. Um what will the Ravens do with him? Will they keep him on the roster? Will they cut him and hope that he clears to go to the practice squad? I really don't know. I I have no clue what direction they're going to go in because we over here, we love this this QB three, the third string quarterback. We love Joe Flacco, but then it's like, will they be willing to dedicate a whole roster spot to a third quarterback? Because if you do that, okay, cool, you got Joe Flacco, but at the same time, that takes away from another position on the team. So, if they feel that strongly about Joe Flacco, we'll see very soon. But he looked great tonight, as always. He went 19 for 27, 162 yards, one touchdown. And just to watch him when the pressure was on, when the play breaks down, when the play goes smoothly, he just he makes everything look good. He he he really really does in all situations. He's making really good decisions, especially when under pressure. Um the only and it wasn't even the worst decision, it was risky. That's probably the biggest risk that he took uh this preseason was when they were close to the red zone, maybe they were in the red zone, but he threw a pass to Hebner and Hebner had a corner or a linebacker that was to his right and he had a safety that was behind him but very close to him and uh Feaster threw that ball and it was a risky pass cuz it was a tight window, but the safety just jumped it and broke it up. Almost picked it off, but thank goodness he didn't. Um but Feaster has been on point. So, whatever the Ravens do with him, we're going to see. He definitely separated himself from Austin Reed tonight. Austin Reed did have Oh, if we're still sticking with Feaster, the touchdown pass that he threw to Le'Jonte Wester, man. We just talked about Tyler Huntley and Chris Moore having a connection. Joe Feaster and Le'Jonte Wester, they certainly got something, too. Because the power which he threw that pass, the window where he threw that pass in and Le'Jonte Wester for having the hands to bring it bring it in for a second touchdown in 2 weeks. It was beautiful, man. It was beautiful. And of course, Joe Feaster got a rushing touchdown, too. So, that was nice. But man, um I don't really know what's going to happen with him. So, we'll see. But he is for sure at least if he makes it on the team and he doesn't get picked up by somebody else, he is for sure Ravens QB3. I don't think he'll push for QB2. Again, only because Tyler Huntley, his experience and his contract. And I honestly think I I didn't think Tyler Huntley was going to play tonight at first. I thought it was just going to be Josh Johnson for one half and maybe Austin Reed for the next half. But, I wonder if Tyler Huntley even played in that series, that first series of the game. I wonder if maybe and I don't know, maybe I'm reaching, let me know if I am. But, I wonder if maybe the coaching staff was like, "Hey, show us something. Show us something cuz that boy Johnson, he is on your behind. So, show us what you really got, Snoop." Cuz again, he went out and he the way that he Snoop was playing, like I wish I felt like that was the best drive that we've ever seen from Tyler Huntley as a Raven. And I know it was preseason and whatnot, I get that, but still, it was amazing. So, I wonder if that pressure was on. But, anyway, looking at our running backs, Adam Randall, he played a lot tonight. Jesse Minter said that with Rasheen Ali, he had left the game early because he got a baby on the way. So, shout out to Rasheen Ali. Now, what I will say, with Rasheen Ali even having played in this game, we know he was dealing with some injuries earlier this preseason, but with him playing in this game, to me it seems as if the Ravens might not keep four running backs. It seems like they might actually just keep three. And from this game, I think Adam Randall would actually be that third running back. Because he just he showed a lot more. He I think the potential is higher with Adam Randall. And tonight, like we saw the power in that touchdown run that he got against I think it was against the Eagles. We got to see the power in that, but in this game, we really got to see Adam Randall and how strong he is. Because he gave somebody a nasty stiff arm. He almost knocked Carson Vincent out. Because there was one play where Adam Randall got the ball, he broke off of one defender, he started to break off a second defender, and he was still pushing, and he ended up bumping into Carson Vincent. CARSON VINCENT WAS LIKE, "WHOA!" SO, it was a little friendly, and and it really reminded me of Derrick Henry, cuz Derrick Henry has done that before, too. Where he's like, "Look, you on my team? All right, you got to get out of the way, cuz I'm I'm trying to make some moves." So, with Adam Randall, I I I think that he got that RB3 spot, I think. So, we'll see what the Ravens end up thinking. Um cuz he just he and he's looking more and more comfortable, he's looking better. Um and just like Rasheen Ali, he's versatile. You could have him at running back, but you also could use him at kick return. But, see, the thing about him, it just him catching those passes, it just looks so natural. It looks so smooth. And him catching the screen and what I just all of it just it looked really good, man. So, and with him being Steve Bisciotti's pick, too, that helps out a whole lot. Um Dontae McMillan, oh, man, on his there's a 63-yarder. I was so upset because I was really hoping that that would have been a touchdown. I'm like, man, he done ran all these yards, and I saw the the Commander start to hawk him in, but I was like, "Oh, come on, keep going, keep going, keep but he he ended up getting caught." And he's probably tired, but that was a beautiful run. I just wish that he he could have finished it with a touchdown, man. But, he he's he looked good this preseason. McMillan has looked good this pre-season. Think all the Ravens running backs, overall, they have pretty for the most part looked pretty good uh this preseason. Um Jonathan Ward, he had seven carries for 53 yards, and there was one in particular where he started, he ran to the left side of the offensive line, and then on the left side of the field, uh the Commanders, I think number 64 on the Commanders, he tried to tackle him, but he didn't make the tackle. And Jonathan Ward said, "Okay, I'm not going this way no more." and cut back all the way around, and got a nice little chunk of yards, and it was beautiful to see. Jonathan Ward, um, he got signed to the team, I think after the first preseason game, because the Ravens were dealing with injury at running back with Rasheen Ali, I believe. Um, but he he made a big impact. So, he put on some nice film for the 31 other teams, or possibly Ravens practice squad. So, shout out to him. And Tylan Wallace, he only got two carries in this game, so he didn't really get to do uh much of anything. But, on to our wide receivers, we talked about Chris Moore already, had an excellent game. Ty'Son Williams, uh a tight end who a lot of people like. He had five catches for 47 yards. So, he's continued to look good, but again, Ravens, they got their tight ends that's set. So, unless he's on a practice squad, then this will be film for another team. Um, but we spoke about Adam Randall Taylor Walker, three catches for 22 yards. And there was a deep ball that Josh Johnson put out there for Tylan Wallace, but Tay- it looked like Tylan might have slowed up just a tiny bit. I'm not 100% sure, but it was oh, it was so close. I wish Tylan would have got that one. I wish he would have got that, it would have been so nice, but it is cool, and he'll he'll get plenty of opportunities. Uh Cornelius Johnson, he was the wide receiver that caught the touchdown pass from Austin Reed. And that was a nice catch. He jumped up to go get it, and brought it down, and it was beautiful, man. Just adding to the score, again, 41-3. Like, the offense was they were doing their thing, they were going crazy. So, every and everybody got a little piece of the pie. That's what I've been liking this this preseason from the Ravens offense. Like, everybody been getting their opportunities, everybody been getting a little piece here and there. So, it was nice to see. But, with our offense, another thing that I really, really loved was the situational play calling uh from Declan Doyle. He and and this is this is preseason. This is preseason. It look like he was calling plays for like week four with a lot of the stuff. But it just it's an offense that I don't want to say it's QB friendly but cuz the offense supposed to be QB friendly but it actually is. And with this offense it doesn't because we saw Tyler Huntley do his thing tonight but we seen Joe Flacco do his thing. We also seen Austin Reed do his thing. So with this offense it's not seeming like an offense where you oh if you can't run then you're not going to have any success like our previous offenses. No. Seem like this offense like the running is a bonus and that's what we wanted for the longest. That's what we were hoping for for the longest but it seems like we might finally be getting it. Seven points, three points, then three points. That's what this Ravens defense has given up. And it's crazy ain't it man? Like they are really taking care of backups, not starters playing, guys with no experience and I know y'all tired of hearing me saying it but I I can't stop saying it because it's true. These guys are flying to the ball, they tackling so well. They have been playing such great defense and we've been seeing the depth, the quality depth. And it's tough because we ain't going to be able to keep a lot of these guys. A lot of these guys what sucks not just on defense but just on the whole team, a lot of these guys are they played in their last NFL game tonight. A lot of them did. A lot of these guys are are never going to even play football again. That's going to be it. So it's that's a harsh reality man. It really is. But Deluca he led the team in tackles. Deluca been flying around this whole preseason. I really really like him. He has been probably one of my favorite defenders this preseason. Even Burke been doing his thing too. But Deluca he hey that man is he going to make the team? I think he'll at minimum be on a practice squad. Uh, I'm not sure if there's roster space available for him at linebacker. But there he would definitely be on the practice I'm like I'm extremely confident in that. Uh, so let's see how that goes. Uh, Kameron Ruff he he two plays back to back uh, where he just showed his pursuit and he showed his speed uh, cuz he got a tackle. I don't remember if it was for a loss or not but it was a nice tackle where he stopped the play. But then he got a sack like the very next play. And he looks good. I think he'll also be on the practice squad. Adisa Isaac he got a sack in this game. And Adisa Isaac he he had a pretty good game overall and I was surprised. I'm like okay Adisa like this is what when the Ravens drafted him, this is what they hoped to see. But I still think that Ethan Burke will make the roster over him. I do. Um, I do like the fact that Adisa Isaac is making it tougher to where it's like all right, y'all ain't just going to cut me. Y'all if you cut me, I'm going to make you think about that. But I I just think with Ethan Burke he just has a no and it sounds so cliche oh, he got a nose for the football but he he really does. Like this man on and he played he's a D he played special teams too. So that adds even more value to him. But he's a pass rusher and he's like a strong pass rusher, man. So he finds a way to get there he find always he's making a play every week. So to I think today he helped on the force fumble. I think it was actually him and Adisa Isaac I believe. Um and he he came in there and he swung on that ball punched it out but so yeah, him and Adisa Isaac I think they're battling for one spot but I think Ethan Burke is going to get it. Watch the they start cutting people watch how up getting a whole bunch of stuff wrong. But I I I'm wrong on a whole lot with the Ravens, so it won't be nothing new. But Ethan Burke again, I think that he gets the spot. Oh, Ladarius Webb Jr. He made a couple nice plays. And he had a real nice pass breakup. Almost a pick, but he had a real nice pass breakup. With him. Would they keep three cornerbacks on the practice squad? Cuz I think Keion Martin gets the last cornerback spot. I think Bilal Nichols and Robert Longa beam, I think they uh go to the practice squad. But I think Ladarius Webb Jr. he possibly could, too. Um but we'll see. But I think Bilal Nichols and Longa beam will they will be more What's the word I'm looking for? Not seniority on the practice squad, but I feel like they would have the age over him when it comes to making it on the practice squad. Chandler Rivers, he continues to look good. Again, we just talked about Keion Martin, Keiondre Jackson. Same story like the the same people continue making plays. They are having this consistency about them. And that's what we like to see. Obviously, we want to see everybody make plays. But we have continued to see the same guys doing their thing. Rashaan Melvin Um it's interesting because he he's like a sixth or seventh round draft pick, but he was out there. But Anias Peoples was, too. And I said, "Ooh." And you know what's interesting is that there's been a couple people We even got a question from somebody uh maybe like a week and a half ago. And they said that they don't feel like Anias Peoples would be a lock on the roster. And I'm like, "What? Anias Peoples, you don't think he's going to be a lock on the roster? He's versatile, what not? Da da da da da." But then we saw this tonight. Where he was out there playing. Uh John Jenkins wasn't playing. Obviously, not Demetrius but obviously, Calais Campbell, too. But Broderick Washington he he didn't play. And I was like, "Wow." But Anaeides Peoples is. So that was crazy. I I would like, "Whoa." Okay. So we'll see. Cuz this whole time I've been figuring like Anaeides Peoples is like a shoe-in for to make the roster, but then they got C.J. Uzomah, he's out there. He got the fumble recovery tonight. So again, more pressure on Anaeides Peoples, too. So this coaching staff, they got a lot of tough decisions to make, man. It is going to be very, very just difficult overall uh to get this uh I don't know how they're going to do it, man, but they're going to figure it out. The Ravens coaching in this preseason game, again, we we said it before, we'll say it again, they just got these dudes playing some sound football, man. Um not a bunch of penalties. I'm pretty sure there's less penalties tonight than it was Oh, definitely in the Vikings game. Ooh, boy, that game got a little uh I think we had nine penalties in that game. Um but the team they just they look so much better. Oh. Ah, this is insane. Ravens had 26 first downs tonight. The Commanders had seven. They had seven. Seven. For the longest they had zero. They had seven. It's insane, man. Like this it's insane. Um total yards, Ravens had 456, Commanders had 177. 177. It's crazy, man. Oh, penalties. Okay, we had six for 45. So yeah, not as much as the other day. And the Commanders had nine for 93. Jesse Minter, man. You saving us. You you you you you really are. You rejuvenated not really our love for the Ravens. We always got love for the Ravens, but you just rejuvenated our excitement uh for this football team and really our hope that this football team they can make some real noise. So, now the next time we see this team play it'll be against the Colts on September 13th starting at 1:00 p.m. And we looking forward to that. Um but until then, I will see you all uh for the next 2 weeks as we get through all these roster cutdowns cuz this ooh, I feel I feel for these players, man. And it is what they signed up for, but it's it still sucks. It's still terrible feeling. It got to be a terrible feeling. Something that you work uh really probably your whole life for, the majority of your life for and you get this far but for a lot of people their dream is officially going to be ending. So, that's tough, man. But I appreciate y'all watching. Uh make sure you subscribe to the channel. Click that thumbs up button. Leave a like on the video. Uh and I will see you throughout this week as we keep you updated with all the roster cuts that these Ravens do and all the moves that they make because it's going to be a lot. We out. >> The flock flies to the wise. It's a wonderful thing. Look what vision and commitment and some discipline brings. When eight becomes one, the move swings and the flock sings for another ring. Man, we tuning in to In Graham and Vinny at that scene tonight. Team keep it clean. Hold it down. The spots we night. I'm naming the lights. The North Star ain't feeling far. When you run that north every year, that's just setting the bar.