Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions on Ronnie Stanley, Greg Roman, accidents and extra …

Baltimore Solar columnist Mike Preston will reply followers’ questions all through the Ravens season. Coming off Baltimore’s 28-3 win in Week 4 in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, loads of questions stay heading right into a Week 5 street matchup in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Right here’s Preston’s take:

(Editor’s notice: Questions have been edited for size and readability.)

Sadly, it looks as if Ronnie Stanley has not been the identical since his ankle harm in 2020 after he signed his new contract. Of most concern, he appears to lack reliability, which is essential for a key place like left sort out. Do you suppose it’s time for the Ravens to make a commerce for one more LT this season, and/or transfer on from Stanley after this season?

— Paul

A commerce just isn’t obligatory. The Ravens have two succesful backups in Patrick Mekari and Daniel Falalele, although I’m unsure both is able to enjoying two or three high quality video games in a row to get the Ravens deep into the postseason.

Stanley is a brilliant participant, and I feel he is aware of he won’t ever be nearly as good as he was earlier than the harm and the main surgical procedures that adopted. After this season, Stanley has two years remaining on his contract, so I consider the Ravens will look to the draft to pick out a top quality left sort out in April.

[ Ravens vs. Steelers staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s Week 5 game in Pittsburgh? ]

Mike, as somebody who has watched each Ravens sport, did Greg Roman’s offense maintain Lamar Jackson and firm again from reaching their full potential, or did it showcase their actual strengths and conceal their weaknesses?

— Marty

The primary goal of each offensive coordinator is to showcase the strengths of his gamers, significantly the quarterback. Roman did that, as his offenses had been primarily based round Jackson’s working talents and a powerful working sport. Everybody agreed with the philosophy, from proprietor Steve Bisciotti to educate John Harbaugh.

The issue was that it was antiquated, and the Ravens couldn’t sustain with the high-powered passing assaults within the postseason from groups such because the Buffalo Payments and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

The Ravens introduced in Todd Monken to switch Roman and jazz up the passing sport and provides the offense extra steadiness.

Did Roman maintain again Jackson and the remainder of this offense?

No, he catered to Jackson’s strengths, in addition to the expertise he was given. Roman didn’t have a complicated passing sport, however the Ravens didn’t consider they wanted one throughout his years in Baltimore.

What’s going on with John Harbaugh and the media? How is he getting away with not likely being forthcoming about accidents? One can by no means actually consider if a participant has or doesn’t have “a long run harm.”

— Marty

Welcome to the NFL, Marty. Harbaugh isn’t any completely different from some other coach within the NFL. It’s all a part of the “gamesmanship.”

Let’s flash again to final week. Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson wasn’t anticipated to play after being restricted in follow all week with a proper shoulder harm. On Sunday morning, there have been studies that he was going to play, however he was dominated out 90 minutes earlier than kickoff.

That’s the way in which accidents play out within the NFL.

I don’t take note of harm studies anymore. If the participant is in full gear and out on the sector 90 minutes earlier than the sport, then I count on him to play. If not, he received’t play.

It’s all a part of the thoughts video games performed by NFL coaches.

[ The Ravens way: Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy continuing legacy of veteran pass rushers ]

What’s shocked and disillusioned you in regards to the Ravens as far as we attain the season’s first quarter mark?

— Ed Helinski

I’m shocked by how dominant the Ravens have been in opposition to division opponents. I do know they haven’t performed in opposition to a top quality quarterback but, particularly with Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow enjoying by means of a calf harm, however the Ravens have been bodily dominant on each side of the ball. That’s a superb signal.

As for disappointments up to now, I assumed the Ravens would get extra out of their two younger cross rushers, Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo. Each have been injured and performed little or no. Even within the preseason, I wasn’t impressed with Ojabo. He has the bodily expertise, he simply hasn’t put it collectively but. Not less than once they return, each may have recent legs.

General, the season continues to be younger and there’s a lot of soccer left.

Are my Ravens Tremendous Bowl contenders, coach?

— Andrew Grandinetti

They had been playoff contenders earlier than the season began and nothing has modified. As for Tremendous Bowl contenders, I solely put one staff in that classification, and that’s Kansas Metropolis with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

General, there is likely to be about eight or 9 high quality groups within the NFL, and the Ravens are one among them.

Have a query for Mike Preston? Electronic mail sports [email protected] with “Ravens mailbag” within the topic line and it could possibly be answered in The Baltimore Solar.