(by Ross Jacobs)
Rule Number 1 of Preseason Fight Club…you don’t bet against the Baltimore Ravens.
Several of these preseason games can be head-fakes…starters playing against backups, goofy things happening as teams try out different players and schemes…but not here. This was a straight up ass kicking by the Ravens, as they always do.
This game was all backups from the beginning, and while that usually leads to a dull game, and this one was in a certain sense, as a football aficionado I appreciate watching truly great teams flex their muscles, and the Ravens are simply one of the best teams in football. They strolled into Dallas and calmly pounded the Cowboys into submission. Give Dallas some credit though, they never quit and kept trying to fight back, but the Ravens are just deeper and better at football. Several of their 2nd-teamers are good enough to start for half the teams in the league.
There was nothing too interesting to be gleaned here though, but we probably got some clarity on a few backup RB situations, none of which I’m pleased with.
Player Notes…
-- Rasheen Ali got the start for Baltimore and played deep into the game. Keaton Mitchell was out with a hamstring, so I don’t think this was any sort of indictment. That said, Ali looked solid but not like a hidden superstar. I’m the original Ali enjoyer but watching him here I kept hoping for a little more juice. He looks a bit slower and less explosive than he did in college. He also looks thicker, especially in the lower body, so I’m wondering if that’s slowing him down a tad.
To be clear, he can play in the NFL and do fine. He looks very similar overall to Justice Hill. But that’s just a good player, not someone that team needs to push and get on the field.
After Mitchell left, two veteran RBs entered the game for Baltimore that have mattered for fantasy in the past, at least for a moment…Myles Gaskin and D’Ernest Johnson, and let me tell you, both looked quite good.
Now Johnson doesn’t surprise me. RC and I have been fans of his for years. Supposedly there are a handful of teams looking for veteran RB help right now like Kansas City. If so, they ought to scoop up Johnson because he can absolutely still play and add something to their team.
As for Gaskin, every time I scouted him in the past he looked slow, just your typical grinder type back, but this was easily the fastest and most explosive I’ve ever seen him look. No idea where he’s been or what he’s been up to, but he’s clearly been working hard because he has definitely added some burst.
Both these guys are not making this team, and if anyone in the NFL was watching they could grab either to upgrade their room.
-- For the Cowboys, Miles Sanders got the start and looks bad. He’s just got nothing left. I’ll be surprised if he makes this team.
After him was Deuce Vaughn who just looked way too small and too slow. He’s not making it for sure.
And finally, after both those guys, came Phil Mafah who looked better than both of them combined. Why he is being disrespected like this I have no idea, but I still have hope he’s going to make the team. He’s the best RB they have. Surely they can’t believe they can stick him on the practice squad and have him not get claimed? I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried though, because nobody from these teams pays attention to stuff like this.
-- In non-RB news, Joe Milton caught a ton of heat after this game, and it’s understandable why. He’s definitely still a work in progress, and if he had to replace Dak it wouldn’t go very well. But I do get why Jerry Jones is so fascinated and excited by him. He’s a rare athlete with tools off the charts and he’s an extremely hard worker and football junkie. He’s really improved his mechanics in the short time he’s been in the league. I can see improvement in his game. He’s still a long way off, but with some more time and reps maybe he could turn into something. He’s the kind of high upside guy you want to develop for sure.
-- I liked what we saw from LaJohntay Wester last week, but man he looked lost as a receiver here. He’s going to be a special teams guy for a few years while he works on his game.
More impressive among the backup WRs was Dayton Wade, a guy I was not familiar with before this game. He came out of Ole Miss two years ago where he was quite productive. Small but very fast and quick. He’s got some skills and might turn into a decent little slot receiver, almost like a knock-off Zay Flowers.
-- Defensive Players Notes…
We were fans of Ravens LB Jay Higgins before the draft, and he’s trying hard to make this team. The guy just has a knack for getting to the ball.
Andrew Booth had a good statistical night, and many fans are excited about it, but I honestly think he may be closer to getting cut than making the team. His “interception” literally hit him in the face because Wester wasn’t looking for the ball. It wasn’t great coverage or anything, and Booth actually had 7 tackles here because he was getting whipped in coverage by every Ravens receiver. Not good.
Damone Clark and Shemar James both had nice nights in the box score, but I thought Jack Sanborn played the best among the Dallas backup linebackers. Eberflus knows him from Chicago, so I won’t be surprised if he’s starting sooner rather than later.
