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Cornerback Kyle Fuller
The Ravens finished the 2021 season with their worst secondary in the history of the organization after finishing dead last in passing yards allowed. The combination of the loss of multiple starters and unprepared back-ups were the reasons behind the down year.
This is one of the reasons the Ravens brought in veteran cornerback Kyle Fuller as a free agent this offseason. The former Pro-Bowler and All-Pro, who is also a Baltimore native, signed a one-year deal with the Ravens to provide much-needed depth.
“I heard a lot of good things about it, and as soon as I came, I could kind of feel it. Just the culture, the way they do things, the type of guys they have on the team, in the organization. It definitely feels good to be a part of it,” Fuller said.
With starters Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters recovering from season-ending injuries, Fuller represents insurance in case they are not ready by the start of the season. He spent most of his career with the Chicago Bears, having his best season in 2018 when he led the NFL in interceptions (7) and pass deflections (21).
The Ravens front office placed a priority on rebuilding the secondary this offseason, by bringing in two new safeties and three new corners, including Fuller. The coaching staff is excited to have a veteran presence in the secondary that can provide insight when needed.
“Just like all of the other vets, we’re really excited to have Kyle (Fuller). Getting to know him and understand his perspective, he’s been in a lot of systems – some similar to ours – so he provides a lot of good feedback in that regard. It’s great to bounce ideas off him and make sure that he sees things the same way. Sometimes he doesn’t, so sometimes we’ll tweak something because maybe there is a better way to do it. So, he provides that,” Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said.
Fuller is excited to be home and shared what his goals are for the season: “Just to really continue to try to be the best player I can be, help the team win, and everything that comes along with that.”
PHOTO: Al Pereira/Getty Images
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Linebacker Odafe Oweh
Another member of the 2021 Ravens draft class is expected to take the leap to the next level of his career. The 31st overall pick Odafe Oweh is ready to show that he was well worth the first-round pick that the Ravens used on him.
He did not have a disappointing rookie season, but was held back due to a shoulder injury. After playing in 15 games (2 starts) last year he finished with five sacks, good enough for second on the team. He also led the team in forced fumbles (3) and was tied for fumbles recovered (2). He did not put up historic numbers, but he was drafted as a “project” coming out of Penn State, especially after not recording a sack in his final year there.
“Yes, I kind of felt that toward the end of the season. Obviously, things didn’t play out how they should’ve with my shoulder and everything. But I’m ready. I’m fired up to make a big impact and help my team win,” Oweh said.
This year, the Ravens are expecting a considerable jump in performance on the field. His numbers will naturally take a boost with the increase in playing time now that he is a starter. Oweh is excited to step into his new role, and knows he is ready for the spotlight.
“When I first got here, I was kind of jittery. I was just trying to make every single play. But now, I’m just trying to make the right play. I’m not necessarily trying to jump out of gaps and try to force plays. (I’m) being patient. And obviously, in pass rushing, being more calm, reading everything, taking what I see, bending the edge, and all the stuff like that. So, you’ll see a different Odafe this year, for sure,” Oweh said.
The coaching staff feels the same way and are hoping that the overall improvement of the defense will help take some pressure off the second-year linebacker.
“My expectation for Odafe [Oweh] is to be a dominate player. I think that’s the vision that he has for himself, and he should be a guy that, when we need him, he can get to the quarterback. I think he would tell you the same thing,” Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said.
For the Ravens defense to return to a dominant unit like the ones in the past, Oweh will have to develop into a double-digit sacks type of player. They have not had one since 2017 when Terrell Suggs had 11, but with what Oweh has shown so far in his career he should be capable of that kind of production.
PHOTO: WBAL
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Center Tyler Linderbaum
The Ravens used their second first-round pick in 2022 to take center Tyler Linderbaum with the 25th overall pick. Centers are rarely picked in the first round, but Linderbaum has the look of a generational player.
As a rookie, he is penciled in at the starter replacing Bradley Bozeman, who left in free agency to sign with the Carolina Panthers. Linderbaum is part of a determined effort by the organization to improve the offensive line.
The Ravens signed right tackle Morgan Moses, drafted Linderbaum and are hopeful to get left tackle Ronnie Stanley back, finally healthy after missing most of the past two seasons.
“I think he’s handling it well. He doesn’t make very many mistakes, so far. That’s a big challenge. That’s going to be the rookie challenge all year, as far as the mental part of it.” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “He wants to make sure he holds his own in there, because those big defensive tackles are going to test him. We’ll see how he does.”
Although Linderbaum was looked at as a “smaller” center prospect, only being 296 pounds, he was drafted because of his athleticism and work ethic. These traits should fit well with the Raven run-first mentality and Linderbaum is excited to show what he can do.
“I think it’s a day-by-day thing. Every practice, there’s something I can improve on to make this offensive line better. (I’ll) just continue to be more commanding, continue to slide into a leadership role, because I have to be the communicator out there,” Linderbaum said.
The Ravens are confident their new-look offensive line will be the key to a return to success for Lamar Jackson and the rest of the offense.
PHOTO: WBAL
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Wide Receiver Rashod Bateman
The pressure is on for second-year receiver Rashod Bateman. After a disappointing rookie season, he must have a healthy and productive training camp, to live up to his first-round draft status. The pressure was increased this offseason as the Ravens traded away their No. 1 receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to the Arizona Cardinals for a first-round pick.
It is now Bateman’s time, and the team has shown the upmost confidence that he will take the next step. First, by trading away Brown, then, by not bringing in a veteran receiver.
“It shows that the coaches trust us, trust our abilities, trust our work and they trust what we’ve done and what they’ve seen. We definitely look forward to showcasing that — to keep showcasing that — and to show our team that we can do what we need to do. I think that we’re all just excited to play right now,” Bateman said after the first day of training camp.
“I think Rashod (Bateman) can have a big jump, and the fact that he’s going to go through training camp should be a big help to him. He looked good today, so we’ll see where he goes,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said.
Bateman was showing flashes of his abilities last year before a groin injury took away most of his training camp and the first five weeks of the season. Now, after an offseason of working with quarterback Lamar Jackson, he is confident that he will take the next step in his career.
“I would say so. I would say that he’s better all-around this year. I feel like all of us are. We all took this offseason pretty seriously, like I said, because we’re hungry, and we’re ready for more. So, I’m excited to see what he does,” Bateman said when asked about Jackson’s muscle gain this offseason.
