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The Baltimore Ravens could not have asked for a much better opening to the Jesse Minter era.
Baltimore dominated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-7 on Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium, producing 440 total yards while limiting Philadelphia to 159. The Ravens also held the Eagles to 0-for-9 on third down and didn't allow a Philadelphia touchdown until late in the fourth quarter. With most projected starters watching from the sideline, the preseason opener was primarily an opportunity for young players and roster hopefuls. Several took advantage.
Here are our grades for Baltimore's performance.
Joe Fagnano was one of the night's biggest surprises. The undrafted rookie completed 22 of 28 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown, although he also threw an interception in the red zone.
Tyler Huntley was efficient, completing 6 of 7 passes for 76 yards, while Austin Reed added a 14-yard rushing touchdown after signing with Baltimore just three days earlier.
Fagnano's performance was particularly encouraging because he consistently moved the offense and showed poise in his first NFL action.
Baltimore's running game wasn't spectacular statistically, but it was effective enough to keep Philadelphia's defense honest.
Adam Randall led the way with 12 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. Elijah Tau-Tolliver added 42 yards on 10 carries, while Dontae McMillan rushed nine times for 40 yards.
The Ravens finished with 142 rushing yards on 36 attempts, an average of 3.9 yards per carry.
This was arguably Baltimore's strongest position group.
Ja'Kobi Lane immediately rewarded the preseason hype surrounding him, catching three passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. Elijah Sarratt led the team with six catches for 66 yards, while Matthew Hibner added five catches for 61 yards.
Hibner's 29-yard reception on the opening drive was particularly encouraging for a tight end group that entered the preseason with questions.
The rookie pass catchers gave Baltimore's coaching staff plenty to be excited about.
The Ravens protected their quarterbacks reasonably well, allowing three sacks for 16 yards, but the overall offensive production was impressive.
First-round guard Vega Ioane received particularly positive reviews in his NFL debut. He played only two drives but displayed the physicality and pass protection that Baltimore hoped to see from its first-round pick.
There is still a competition at center, so the next preseason games will be important for the interior offensive line.
The defense was the biggest winner of the night.
Baltimore allowed just 159 total yards and six first downs. Philadelphia went 0-for-9 on third down and didn't reach the end zone until the final minutes.
The Ravens finished with three sacks and forced two turnovers, setting the tone for Minter's first game as head coach.
Keyon Martin was particularly impressive, recording a sack of Tanner McKee while continuing his strong preseason push. The Ravens' young secondary also received valuable extended playing time.
This was the one area that didn't receive the same glowing review.
Tyler Loop converted all three extra points but missed one of his two field-goal attempts. Ryan Eckley also had an uneven night punting the football.
Neither performance is cause for major concern after one preseason game, but special teams will remain an area to monitor as roster decisions approach.
Minter's first game couldn't have gone much better.
Baltimore's starters were largely spectators, yet the Ravens controlled the game from beginning to end. The defense played fast and aggressively, while the offense consistently created opportunities for young players.
The Ravens nearly pitched a shutout, with Philadelphia's only touchdown coming with 2:14 remaining.
The preseason doesn't count in the standings, but Baltimore accomplished exactly what it needed to accomplish.
The Ravens evaluated their young players, found several legitimate standouts and opened the Minter era with a convincing victory. Lane, Sarratt, Hibner, and Fagnano all strengthened their cases, while the defense demonstrated that Minter's influence was felt immediately.
There are still position battles to resolve and plenty of preseason football remaining, but Baltimore's first impression was an excellent one.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens report card: How we graded Baltimore in preseason win over Eagles
Continue reading...
Baltimore dominated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-7 on Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium, producing 440 total yards while limiting Philadelphia to 159. The Ravens also held the Eagles to 0-for-9 on third down and didn't allow a Philadelphia touchdown until late in the fourth quarter. With most projected starters watching from the sideline, the preseason opener was primarily an opportunity for young players and roster hopefuls. Several took advantage.
Here are our grades for Baltimore's performance.
Quarterback: A-
Joe Fagnano was one of the night's biggest surprises. The undrafted rookie completed 22 of 28 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown, although he also threw an interception in the red zone.
Tyler Huntley was efficient, completing 6 of 7 passes for 76 yards, while Austin Reed added a 14-yard rushing touchdown after signing with Baltimore just three days earlier.
Fagnano's performance was particularly encouraging because he consistently moved the offense and showed poise in his first NFL action.
Running backs: A-
Baltimore's running game wasn't spectacular statistically, but it was effective enough to keep Philadelphia's defense honest.
Adam Randall led the way with 12 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. Elijah Tau-Tolliver added 42 yards on 10 carries, while Dontae McMillan rushed nine times for 40 yards.
The Ravens finished with 142 rushing yards on 36 attempts, an average of 3.9 yards per carry.
Wide receivers/tight ends: A
This was arguably Baltimore's strongest position group.
Ja'Kobi Lane immediately rewarded the preseason hype surrounding him, catching three passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. Elijah Sarratt led the team with six catches for 66 yards, while Matthew Hibner added five catches for 61 yards.
Hibner's 29-yard reception on the opening drive was particularly encouraging for a tight end group that entered the preseason with questions.
The rookie pass catchers gave Baltimore's coaching staff plenty to be excited about.
Offensive line: B+
The Ravens protected their quarterbacks reasonably well, allowing three sacks for 16 yards, but the overall offensive production was impressive.
First-round guard Vega Ioane received particularly positive reviews in his NFL debut. He played only two drives but displayed the physicality and pass protection that Baltimore hoped to see from its first-round pick.
There is still a competition at center, so the next preseason games will be important for the interior offensive line.
Defense: A
The defense was the biggest winner of the night.
Baltimore allowed just 159 total yards and six first downs. Philadelphia went 0-for-9 on third down and didn't reach the end zone until the final minutes.
The Ravens finished with three sacks and forced two turnovers, setting the tone for Minter's first game as head coach.
Keyon Martin was particularly impressive, recording a sack of Tanner McKee while continuing his strong preseason push. The Ravens' young secondary also received valuable extended playing time.
Special teams: B-
This was the one area that didn't receive the same glowing review.
Tyler Loop converted all three extra points but missed one of his two field-goal attempts. Ryan Eckley also had an uneven night punting the football.
Neither performance is cause for major concern after one preseason game, but special teams will remain an area to monitor as roster decisions approach.
Coaching: A
Minter's first game couldn't have gone much better.
Baltimore's starters were largely spectators, yet the Ravens controlled the game from beginning to end. The defense played fast and aggressively, while the offense consistently created opportunities for young players.
The Ravens nearly pitched a shutout, with Philadelphia's only touchdown coming with 2:14 remaining.
Overall: A-
The preseason doesn't count in the standings, but Baltimore accomplished exactly what it needed to accomplish.
The Ravens evaluated their young players, found several legitimate standouts and opened the Minter era with a convincing victory. Lane, Sarratt, Hibner, and Fagnano all strengthened their cases, while the defense demonstrated that Minter's influence was felt immediately.
There are still position battles to resolve and plenty of preseason football remaining, but Baltimore's first impression was an excellent one.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens report card: How we graded Baltimore in preseason win over Eagles
Continue reading...
