Game overview:
Backups against backups here, aside from the Eagles running their mostly 1st-D for a couple series...and it was choppy and sloppy as most preseason games are...but on the ‘judge’s scoring card’ I’d give the overall edge (to whose backups are better) to the Ravens with a distance.
The Ravens are deep...well coached and a super-serious threat to win the Super Bowl this year. Baltimore’s backups were superior to the Eagles in every way except QB. By contrast, the Eagles don’t look too deep and are just playoff contenders, not a serious Super Bowl threat...especially when you look at how much better/deeper the Ravens are.
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I rewatched the first two Ravens series a second time, after I wrote the two opening paragraphs above, to watch the Eagles half-1st-team defense against the Ravens #2/3 squad offense – I’d be very afraid if I were an Eagles fan. The Ravens started a marginal NFL backup QB and a to-be-cut RB with a backup O-Line, and they just went toe-to-toe with the Eagles 1st-team-ish D. The Ravens ran the ball pretty well against the #1 D...as the Georgia DTs Davis-Carter just watched and labored around on the field. Two massive wastes of great draft capital.
First two drives for the Ravens backup offense against the Philly half-a-1st-team D...and they drove down to the red zone deep both times. Embarrassing for Philly. I've got a bad feeling about the recent NFC East powers (Dallas and Philly) this year...the window is opening for Washington and NYG to win the East with an (8-9) record...
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- I was most interested to see Rasheen Ali (10-26-0, 1-4-0/3) work in this game. I think he was one of the best RB prospects from the 2024 NFL Draft...the best ‘smaller’ RB in the draft.
Ali looked fine here...really promising, but so far to go. When he touched the ball, he was the best pure RB in this game...it was easy to see. However, what I’m going to remember most from this game about Ali is:
He came in the game behind Owen Wright (7-33-0)...so, not a great push from Harbaugh right away, as to be expected...but I was hoping...
Then the news got worse...I saw Ali working on the punt coverage team as like a gunner. Not good. Good for his NFL/make the team prospects but not good for his FF impact anytime too soon...the Ravens don’t see him, yet, as an RB weapon to protect.
The Ravens are gonna be run heavy with Derrick Henry with a smattering of Justice Hill as the #2/the handcuff. When Keaton Mitchell returns to action, the game changes with Mitchell eventually going ahead of Hill...but that might not be until late in the season. Ali will be a #4 RB when Keaton returns. We got a-ways to go with Ali, but he does look promising...but his situation is terrible. I hope he gets cut and claimed, actually...
-- The best thing I saw in this game: The Ravens defense. It was mostly the backups, but this group looks deep and imposing. They were the top DST last year but have that crucial D-C change this year and a very, VERY tough starting schedule with Mahomes-Vegas-at Dak-Allen-Burrow-Daniels off the jump. They’ll have a tough time repeating as top dog DST, but they’re gonna be really good with a great run game to protect/assist them. The new D-C just has a look/feel like he knows what he’s doing...that’s not scientific, but I just have a feeling.
I have them as ‘overvalued’ for FF 2024 because of the tough schedule start the first 5 weeks, but overall I think they will be a DST1 by year’s end.
I want to point out two defenders who stood out here, both rookies...
1) CB Nate Wiggins was all over the place. Granted, he was facing bad WRs...but he dominated them. He looked like he was playing at 2x the speed.
Speed is not the issue for Wiggins...it’s ‘slow’ brain that makes bad choices, at least he was that way in college. If he matures, he’s got the tools. I just don’t think guys like him ‘change’...they ‘change’ at first to con everyone...but once they settle in, the old habits tend to creep back. But enjoy the ride early on while he’s trying to impress everyone...he was impressive.
2) UDFA SAF Sanoussi Kane (4 tackles) also seemed to be everywhere. He’s making that team for sure.
-- Ravens UDFA WR Dayton Wade (4-27-0/5) looked very capable/competent here...a guy who will make an NFL roster and be useful as time goes on. Not a star, but nice to have on the roster for depth...and maybe becomes a starter someday.
-- Kenny Pickett (14-22 for 89 yards, 1 TD/0 INT) looked fine here...surrounded by ‘junk’ backup weapons around him, for the most part. A nice #2 QB to have. Whether he has an FF/NFL future or not, who knows? Remember the journey that Baker Mayfield, for example, went on...from loved to hated to loved again...journeying to four different teams in his career already. Hopefully, Pickett can find that journey someday.
-- Pickett had two targets he seemed to lean on...
WR Britain Covey (4-25-0/4), who is fighting for a slot role...but he just doesn’t have any real juice to his game. He’s serviceable but not a star, or even impactful...just a body.
TE Greg Calcaterra (2-14-0/2) is also solid, confident...but not athletic or a future star, per se...just useful. Could be OK if forced into a starting role due to injury above him.
-- Eagles Rookie watch...
WR Johnny Wilson (1-7-0/3) did not stand out here at all. No fast feet on display. No real ‘presence’. But...it’s his first game and he worked with Tanner McKee some, so not much pass action to go around.
The Eagles threw for 113 yards in this game, and if you think that’s silly...the Ravens threw for 82. Hard to fully assess pass game weapons when passing games are so low and mostly dump off passes to boot.
-- Eagles RB report...
Kenneth Gainwell (4-23-0) started...and looked like Kenneth Gainwell.
Rookie Will Shipley (7-23-0, 1-7-1/1) came in after KG and was serviceable (at best). He’s hard-nosed and smart and got wide open on a short TD toss. He didn’t hurt himself here, nor did he gain my attention.
Lew Nichols (7-21-1, 1-0-0/1), a GB draft pick last year, looked OK as a solid power-ish back. He may make the team as a #4 but it’s shaky.
