While the Ravens front office is busy preparing for next week’s NFL Draft, it’s the current players who are starting to fill up the team facility in Owings Mills.
It may only be April but the Ravens are back, at least for some conditioning work that is.
“I can guarantee you this, we’ll be the strongest, most in-shape Ravens team that this team has ever had,” said Ravens safety Eric Weddle.
The Ravens have started their first week of their voluntary offseason workout program. Right now they’re limited to only strength and conditioning work. One guy taking part, who wasn’t at this time last year because of a knee injury, quarterback Joe Flacco. He said his health should give him a head start with his offense.
“Everything will be better,” said Flacco. “You can just attack it with a little bit more oomph. You’re starting with a better foundation. I think that always helps.”
“There’s no hiccup in his running form. He’s getting after it,” said Weddle about how Flacco looks during the workouts.
“He looks really good running,” said Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace.
“Hopefully we can get some more scrambles from him. Maybe he can go 50, 60 yards this year. We’ll see about that,” Wallace joked.
Flacco says he intends to wear a knee brace again in 2017.
Another important piece to the Ravens success is oft-injured corner Jimmy Smith. He said he’s healthy and ready to go.
“It’s my first offseason in two years where I don’t have no injury. I can actually work out with the team and participate in OTA’s (Organized Team Activities). I’m really excited. I think it’s probably going to be one of my best years,” said Smith.
Not only are players getting in their reps, they’re sharing their ideas regarding what needs to change to get back to the playoffs.
“We just need to make a couple more plays at the end of the game,” said Wallace. “Whether it be offense or defense or even special teams. Sometimes we got in our own way.”
“We were in those games, those tough moments. We won some. We lost some. I think it's going to build us to be more mentally tough,” added Weddle.
On a much more serious note, Flacco said he is going to Arizona on Thursday to visit Todd Heap, as he tries to support his former teammate following the tragic death of Heap's 3-year-old daughter.
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