OTL: Old and New Faces Provide a Spark

I can’t even begin to tell you how nice it feels to be talking about Training Camp again.

Hard hats, punch the clock, back to work.@RussellStReport pic.twitter.com/d4dTCOshmb

— KMack Sports (@KMackSports) July 21, 2024

A few weeks back, I aired my grievances about how tired the narratives can become around sports talk when the offseason is at its slowest. When I walked into The Castle on Sunday, it felt like that part of the offseason was well and truly over. Having the majority of the roster out in full force and practicing on all three fields gave us plenty to watch and talk about, and I couldn’t be more excited.

This is the time of the season when the position groups begin to take shape, and we can see how newcomers will fit in and who will step up in new roles. Eddie Jackson’s acquisition adds the veteran safety that the Ravens had been looking for throughout the offseason, but he wasn’t the only pickup for the secondary. I hesitate to say that the Ravens added a “new” face yesterday, since it seems like he’s always been here, but the team announced that Daryl Worley is back.

The Ravens have brought back veteran DB Daryl Worley, who can boost the special teams units and provide more depth in the secondary.https://t.co/XO9dILX5DK

— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) July 22, 2024

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Worley has signed a one-year free agent contract in Baltimore, and I’m happy to see him back. He showed up in big spots last season with guys dealing with injury, and he provides more depth on a unit that felt like it needed more bodies at the beginning of the offseason. You’ll hear a lot of modern NFL folks say you can never have too many corners, and it certainly feels like Baltimore is embracing the idea of stacking them up.

The Ravens have an incredibly deep secondary with their latest additions

– Marlon Humphrey
– Kyle Hamilton
– Marcus Williams
– Brandon Stephens
– Eddie Jackson
– Nate Wiggins
– Arthur Maulet
– T.J. Tampa
– Ar’Darius Washington
– Daryl Worley
– Pepe Williams
– Jalyn Armour-Davis

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) July 22, 2024

Dominant day for the defense in rain-soaked conditions.

CB Nate Wiggins got his first pick, S Eddie Jackson got a pick-six and DL Tramel Walthour had an INT at the LOS that he almost ran back.

— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) July 22, 2024

Eddie Jackson said that the Ravens DB room is the deepest and most competitive he’s been a part of since his time at Alabama with Marlon Humphrey and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

— Nikhil Mehta (@nikknowsball) July 22, 2024

In terms of depth elsewhere, another position that’s been under the microscope at EDGE got a spot of good news at the beginning of camp.

Notable for the Ravens: OLB David Ojabo is participating in team drills.

John Harbaugh said earlier in the offseason that he didn’t expect Ojabo to graduate from individual to team work until midway through camp. But he’s rehabbed quickly and has the green light today.

— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) July 21, 2024

Odafe Oweh has been impactful the first couple days of practice, frequently in the backfield.

Said he’s feeling “really good” since recovering from offseason surgery. Oweh clarified the surgery was just a cleanup. pic.twitter.com/NX6n4NuJzK

— Kyle Phoenix (@KylePBarber) July 22, 2024

The young EDGE duo of Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo have both had plenty of expectation on their shoulders over the last few seasons, and injuries have hampered them from being able to show their best selves. With Ojabo’s recovery ahead of schedule, hopefully we’ll get to see the full scope of these two across from each other as the defense tries to make up for Jadeveon Clowney’s exit.

Kyle Van Noy still provides his veteran presence, of course, but I think, like many people, I had envisioned the Oweh- Ojabo pairing becoming a dynamic duo for years to come and it just hasn’t happened yet. With both guys healthy and optimistic as they get another offseason under Chuck Smith, we’ll just have to wait and see over the next few weeks.

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