The Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars meet tonight for Week 1 of the preseason. The Ravens hosted Jaguars for joint practices this week, and now the teams will play at M&T Bank Stadium.
While it’s just the first preseason game and the starters might not play a whole lot, it’s a great opportunity for players on the roster bubble to make splash plays. For quite a few players, making an impact in the preseason is absolutely necessary to have a shot at making the 53-man roster. For others, making some big plays will cement their roster spot or elevate them up the depth chart.
These seven Ravens need to show up and make big plays tonight for one reason or another.
RB Justice Hill
The rookie running back almost assuredly makes the 53-man roster after being selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft. But with some big games, Hill can really change a lot about the roster.
Fellow running back Kenneth Dixon is fighting for a roster spot. But if Hill plays well and can show he’s capable of handling a heavy workload, Baltimore might be less inclined to keep four running backs on the roster. That frees up a valuable roster spot for another position that might need the extra depth.
Beyond that, if Hill can pass-block and catch the ball out of the backfield well, he could increase his playing time in the regular season. While the Ravens brought in Mark Ingram in free agency to take on some of that role, Hill’s speed makes him a good counterpoint to Ingram and Gus Edwards’ power rushing.
QB Lamar Jackson
Jackson isn’t in danger of losing his starting job or roster spot anytime soon. But if he plays at all against the Jaguars, Jackson needs to have a good game throwing the football.
Jackson’s critics have been extremely vocal about his issues in the passing game. But the second-year quarterback has worked hard on his fundamentals this offseason and has shown dramatic improvements at training camp. However, until he does it in a game, Jackson won’t have proved much of anything.
Look for Jackson to throw tight spirals, show poise in the pocket and be accurate with the football on short and deep throws. If he can do that, even if just for a single series, he’ll turn quite a few heads tonight.
WR Jaleel Scott
With the Ravens having released fellow 2018 draft pick Jordan Lasley earlier in training camp, Scott should know he’s not going to be given a roster spot this year. With a lot more competition than last season, Scott needs to produce when he’s on the field or he’ll find himself dropping down the depth chart and potentially off the team.
That means Scott will need to get open and, perhaps more importantly, catch the football when he’s targeted. He didn’t do a great job of that last year, and if he isn’t showing progress from his rookie season, Baltimore clearly isn’t willing to give him a lot more time to figure it out.
OLB Tim Williams
Williams is simply running out of time to prove himself. He was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft but has yet to play up to that draft slot. Even with depth issues at outside linebacker, Williams will have to produce as early as this game to keep his second-string spot on the depth chart or potentially even his chances of making the team.
In two seasons, Williams has been active for just 15 games, often finding himself as a healthy scratch on game days. Because of that, Williams has amounted to just two sacks and only five quarterback hits. That’s simply not enough production to actually make this team.
CB Cyrus Jones
Jones was the punt returner last year and holds the top spot on the depth chart. But Baltimore isn’t just handing him the job this season. Realistically, Jones doesn’t have to make some spectacular special teams play but just make sure the ball doesn’t hit the ground on any punts.
However, the Ravens need all the roster spots they can get, and if Jones doesn’t offer some upside as a cornerback, it’ll open the door for other players. Guys like Willie Snead, Tyler Ervin and even quarterback Trace McSorley have all seen some time at punt returner and could offer more value elsewhere.
NT Michael Pierce
Pierce has not had the greatest offseason thus far. He was removed from minicamp practices for poor conditioning. Though he showed up to training camp slimmed down and passed his conditioning test, he’s not quite where he needs to be, according to defensive line coach Joe Cullen.
“He’s about close to where we need him, but he’s still not there, but he’s really practicing hard,” Cullen said.
Pierce isn’t in danger of losing his roster spot or even his starting job, but he has a lot to prove tonight. He needs to earn the good graces of the coaching staff with a strong performance, especially against Jacksonville’s rather weak offensive line. If he comes out there and mauls whoever is in front of him for a series, he’ll accomplish exactly what the coaches were looking for and he’ll probably sit the rest of the game. But if he struggles, it could really throw a wrench into the Ravens’ plans along the defensive line.
In a contract year, Pierce starting off on the right foot in the preseason will go a long way.
QB Trace McSorley
With Robert Griffin III out because of a broken thumb, McSorley gets a chance to really showcase what he can do and make his case for making the 53-man roster. He should get the bulk of the playing time with Jackson likely only seeing a series or two at most, if he plays at all. That means, he’ll have plenty of time to settle down and find his groove.
McSorley doesn’t need to set the world on fire in his preseason debut. He needs to show the fundamentals — accurately deliver the ball, stay calm in the pocket and not make any horrible decisions. But McSorley has a little more to his game, being able to pick up yards on the ground as well. He’ll need to pick the right moments to run with the ball and get out of bounds, something young mobile quarterbacks typically struggle with early on. Most importantly, McSorley needs to keep turnovers to a minimum. That means no fumbles and no interceptions if possible.
But McSorley isn’t just a quarterback. Coach John Harbaugh has previously said McSorley is being looked at on defense and special teams too. So don’t be shocked to see McSorley take a play or two at linebacker and punt returner to give the coaching staff more film to review.
