Camp Curiosities: What Will I Be Watching For?

With the promise of a cacophony of sounds ranging from whistles to grunts to the adoring roar of die-hard fans in the stands, the Ravens set forth on a new season this week with the dawn of training camp.

Of course, this year differs from so many before it. Jesse Minter will be playing the role of John Harbaugh this time around, orchestrating the controlled mayhem that is summer practice for dozens of the greatest athletes on the planet. New draft picks will be champing at the bit to show that they have a future in this league, while grizzled veterans will try to knock a little shine of the young bucks’ glow to stake their claim to what has been theirs.

And, this time around, the Ravens are coming into the season after a stinker of a year, falling short of the playoffs due to a combination of injuries, abhorrent defense, missed kicks, poor play from proven veterans and what should have been labeled a federal disaster area in the middle of their offensive line.

So… on to new things, right?

This is a new chapter in Ravens history, and with expectations soaring once again this summer, there’s probably not much of a honeymoon period for the new pieces that look to get the Ravens back on track.

Here are a few things I’ll be looking forward to at training camp this year.

What does practice “look like?”

Harbaugh ran a rigid practice that was choreographed to maximize every second available. Minter worked for Harbaugh — two Harbaughs, to be precise — so it wouldn’t be surprising to see a lot of the same. But minicamp showed a bit of a playful side by the new coach, and I’m wondering if that will lighten the mood at practice this year.

As for coaches…

I’m curious to see how the coordinators and assistants operate.

It is a highly-anticipated group Minter has built, and I’m interested to see how much one-on-one work there is, along with position groups, seven-on-sevens and full-team drills. I’m coming into this anticipating a lot of “teaching” by the new guys in charge.

Is Danny Pinter good?

I know the Ravens signed Ethan Pocic to be the starting center, but the staff was showing a ton of love to Pinter before that signing. Coach-speak, or is there something there? We all kind of know who Pocic is as a player, and I have no problems with him manning the pivot this year as a solid veteran.

But what is Pinter? Is there a higher ceiling with him?

How do the pieces in the defensive backfield fit together?

Is Marlon Humphrey going to bounce back after an up-and-down, injury-marred 2025? Will Chidobe Awuzie be as strong as he was last year? Will Nate Wiggins take that jump so many of us think he’s capable of making? How about the safeties? Will Minter move them around a lot, or will they have pretty set roles?

Mike Green.

So much hinges on Mike Green this year, and probably for the next couple of years.

Can Tyler Loop shake off that horrific shank to end the season?

And cane he come back more consistent — both in his field goals and kickoffs? Or, is that blown kick going to be an anvil tied around him that he can never shake?

He seems to be saying all the right things now. Let’s see how it goes.

I want to watch Trey Hendrickson play and Ronnie Stanley square off.

A lot. These are two veterans who have put together a lot of good tape between them over the years and are now in that back half of their careers. Can they iron-sharpens-iron each other to great heights this year?

The offensive line

The group is always hard to get a handle on during camp, and really through the first quarter of the season. The death of full-padded reps impacts that group more than any other, in my opinion, but maybe we can learn some things in one-on-one reps and how smoothly the line works together.

Running Backs

Specifically, their sizes: I want to see Derrick Henry and Adam Randall standing next to Justice Hill and Rasheen Ali, and then shake my head once again about how diverse body types can play the same position in this sport.

The pass-catchers are going to garner a ton of attention, and for good reason.

We all feel good about Zay Flowers, but… then it gets a little iffy, doesn’t it? Is Mark Andrews back to himself this year, or are we seeing that slide? Does Rashod Bateman return from whatever impacted his game last year? Do the young guys – at receiver or tight end — make a splash? Is Tez Walker what so many people hope he is?

Lamar. Jackson.

That’s always the top show.

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