It was a tough morning for all receivers not named Derrick Mason and Demetrius Williams. The group as a whole dropped every pass in sight. In turn, the quarterbacks lacked touch and timing, as balls sailed high and wide. The defense was able to take advantage and get off the field.  

Here are other key observations and notes from today’s morning session:

·         Formations and Fronts: The defense set up in its sub packages during 11-on-11 drills. At times the nickel package consisted of just two linemen – usually Trevor Pryce and Haloti Ngata – with four stand-up linebackers and five defensive backs. When the unit switched to the dime, it went to its patented three safety look. It also featured three safeties in the nickel defense as well, with all three safeties dropping and one of the two cornerbacks, rookie Ladarius Webb, blitzing from the slot. The interesting aspect of the dime alignment was that Ngata was the lone linemen up front. He was flanked at the sides by backers Jarret Johnson, Ray Lewis, Brendan Ayenbadajo and Antwan Barnes.

·         The offense practiced its end of the game heaves downfield, with one long ball completion to tight end Todd Heap. Joe Flacco was able to loft the ball up high for Heap to box out the defenders and have a chance to attack the ball at its apex. It was interesting to see that Pryce and Ngata were again the lone linemen on the field in the package used to defend the hail mary pass.  However, Pryce operated out of a two-point stance and jammed the slot receiver.

·        Offensively, one of the best plays executed was a double stack tight end alignment in which both tight ends started out on the strongside of the formation, but one would eventually motion to the weakside.     

·         Who Stood Out?

o    Frank Walker: He made plays all over the place as a slot cornerback and on the outside. He was able to intercept a high pass intended for Jayson Foster during an 11-on-11 drill. Walker was primarily responsible for coverage against the smaller but faster Foster and Yamon Figurs, and he held up by using his body to muscle both receivers.      

o     Edgar Jones: The two-way player lined up as a crash guy on kickoff coverage and was active as the No.2 tight end. He also scored on a creative fake field goal in which punter Sam Koch, who is also the holder, grabbed the snap, turned his body and threw while on the move. At this point, Jones looks like a good bet to edge out rookie Davon Drew for the third tight end job.   

o     Haloti Ngata: There were a couple of times when Ngata was the decoy to occupy linemen at the line-of-scrimmage. Occupying multiple linemen is a job that Ngata normally holds, but in this case, he was able to get the job done without engaging blocks. Instead, he would take a few steps forward and fake the rush and then drop into zone coverage.

o     Derrick Mason: Mason gets mention here for pulling off a classy move and tossing a free ball to one of the young fans seated on the grass.  

·         The UDFA Corner

o      Jayson Foster is an incredible route runner. He accelerates and decelerates effortlessly as he breaks in and out of his cuts. He was able to gain separation on a consistent basis, but he was never able to finish the play, dropping every pass that came his way.    

·         Other Rookie Notes

o      During a 1-on-1 passing drill, wide receiver Eron Riley was able to get by cornerback Dominique Foxworth off of a double move, but the pass was underthrown, and Foxworth was able to catch up and make a play on the ball. On another play, the long rookie from Duke had a hard time releasing quickly at the line. The result was a mistimed connection between the quarterback and the receiver.

o      While going up against tackle Jared Gaither, Paul Kruger was able to break through an inside rush lane by setting up Gaither outside with a strong jab step to his right.

Photo by Sabina Moran