"For Better or Worse" is a series that will look at various position groups leading up to the 2019 preseason. Instead of a regular position break down this series will compare how position groups look between now and this time last year.
This week will highlight the Ravens' receivers as well as a bonus position group at the end!
2018
Last year was like any other year for the Ravens' receiving group. The position didn't receive an immediate injection of talent with the additions of Jordan Lasley and Jaleel Scott in the middle rounds of the draft so they leaned on aging veterans at the position, like they have in the past, with Michael Crabtree and John Brown on the outside and Willie Snead out of the slot. All three fit well within the Flacco offense and looked like a promising solution for turning around what had been a bland and uninspired offense for the past few years.
Crabtree looked to be a less effective Anquan Boldin who would give Flacco a reliable possession option and John Brown would be the field stretcher that would keep defenses in check with the threat of Joe's long ball. Speaking of which, the Ravens were also clinging on to one last chance with Breshad Perriman, hoping the pressure of new talent would force him to perform. Behind him was Chris Moore who had consistently proved himself in small samples on offense but was now blocked by more veteran talent. Rounding out the bottom of the group was Tim White and Janarion Grant who were both competing for the return man job and would split limited reps on offense.
Although we know how it played out, the group looked pretty rounded with the skillset that each individual brought to the table. On paper there was a good blend of proven veterans and young potential that could thrive with Flacco. However, it did not come to fruition as the offensive line play and lack of running game had Flacco under duress once defenses figured out Marty Mornhinweg's offense. The rookie's failed to develop at a rate where they could contribute to the team and veterans like Crabtree and Brown disappeared in games as opponents started locking down on them
2019
A year later, the group has been remodeled with Chris Moore and Willie Snead being the only holdovers from 2018. Michael Crabtree and John Brown both failed to adjust to the new Ravens offense with Lamar Jackson under center and both veterans left in free agency. Perriman, who was cut before the season, is now on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trying to make something out of his football career. Tim White and Janarion Grant are doing the same with the New York Jets and the Hamilton Tiger Cats (Canadian Football League) respectively.
Chris Moore and Willie Snead have shown to be contributors with both Joe and Lamar which has resulted with them being the likely starters for 2019. Although they are talented in their own right, opting with them as the vets is largely because it will be difficult to bring in new veterans in a run-heavy offense with an unproven passer in Lamar. However, Snead in particular looked very comfortable with Jackson and his numbers with the rookie paralleled his production in the first half of 2018.
Chris Moore should finally get his moment in 2019 as he has been friend zoned by John Harbaugh for three years while Harbs was trying to make Breshad Perriman a thing. Moore has made the most out of limited opportunities both on offense and special teams and has earned a shot at running with the first team this preseason. I think he could be a capable number 2 receiver and he has received lip service from veterans like John Brown and Mike Wallace in the past about his potential and talent. Harbaugh even seems to have bought in and was promoting that Moore will have his chance to step up this year, so he will most likely get reps with the first team offense throughout training camp. The Ravens also brought in Seth Roberts who is a similar size to Moore and plays with the same toughness and unselfishness that will become important qualities for receivers to have in this new Ravens offense.
The Ravens also retain Jordan Lasley and Jaleel Scott who will continue their development. Lasley was considered a steal at the time of the draft but he has struggled with catching the ball consistently since.
Scott received early attention in OTAs this year with his route running and footwork which is a good sign from a receiver with his 6'6 frame. Baltimore also brought in higher potential prospects in the draft with Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin. Brown has a more developed route tree than his forebears in Torrey Smith and Breshad Perriman and can be equally as dangerous in getting yards after catch on a quick route as he can be running a go route down the sideline.
Meanwhile, Boykin brings size and speed which would complement smaller targets like Snead and Brown, offering Jackson a bigger target which will help to mitigate his passing inaccuracies .
The Ravens also have some intriguing undrafted players headlined by Antoine Wesley who racked up 1,400 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns during his Junior year at Texas Tech.
Behind him are Jaylen Smith and Joe Horn Jr. whose numbers are far less exciting. Smith however has familiarity playing with Lamar at Louisville and Joe Horn Jr. comes from an NFL lineage. One of them could be destined for a practice squad spot but Wesley has a reasonable chance at making the team.
Conclusion
Historically, the Ravens have avoided giving younger players a chance at the position as they have opted for veterans on the back nine of their careers. The amount of youth with potential at the position is exciting and unprecedented in the John Harbaugh era who has always had an older veteran leader in the group. Snead and Moore are currently those guys at just 26 years old and Moore has yet to get his career started as a consistent offensive piece. I'm excited for the Ravens to move in this new direction and I think they'll be rewarded for it.
They have a variety of good younger talent with Brown, Boykin, Wesley, Lasley and Scott and also have younger veterans like Snead and Moore who are comfortable with the system. More importantly, the Ravens will be free of the veteran egos and uninspired play that have reared their ugly heads in the past with players like Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin and Michael Crabtree during offensive slumps.
I like the youth movement in the Baltimore offense and I think the group is more versatile and has more depth than it did in training camp last year. The plunge into uncertainty will result in a more explosive offense with young, athletic and dynamic players who aren't stone-walled by short-term free agent rentals year after year.
I decided to include a the tight ends in this article because frankly the group has changed so little that they don't deserve their own article!
2018
The Ravens went in on tight ends in the 2018 draft and it payed off as they grabbed two of the best in the class with Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews. Both look sure-handed and developed a rapport with Lamar Jackson over last season, although Andrews emerged as the number one tight end and the best receiving play-maker by the season's end.
2019
The Ravens re-signed Nick Boyle to a three year contract and let Maxx Williams walk over the off-season which were really the only significant moves affecting the group.
Boyle rounds out the tight end group with a strong blocking presence and has reliable hands for short routes. Hayden Hurst will look to have a better sophomore year as he rebounds from a foot injury and comes into training camp in better shape with an extra 20 pounds of muscle. It is unknown if this will effect his mobility and cutting in and out of routes but it should make him stronger in contested possession catches. In addition to that he still has the sure hands he showed as a rookie. Mark Andrews should continue to progress and could become a top tight end in the league if he compounds what he did as a rookie.
The group is surrounded by the least amount of uncertainty and should continue to grow from where they left off in 2019.
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