Baltimore Ravens: A Change in the Air
Dec 16, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) looks to get vertical after making a catch during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
As a final look at the Baltimore Ravens offense in my series of articles, today let’s look at the receivers before the team heads to training camp.
I have mentioned this previously, but play-action passes were a major part in Gary Kubiak’s offenses with his previous teams. Therefore, it should be no surprise to see them in place in Baltimore.
The pass catchers of the Ravens are going to have to prepare differently. Play-action will no longer become an occasional play that is used when the ground game works, but should become a frequent play used because the running game is going to be better organized.
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The receivers as a whole are going to have to block well, but also be able to get off blocks to create open space for play-action passes.
The tight ends should easily be able to control the center of the field with Dennis Pitta and Owen Daniels.
Kubiak was given essentially free reign over the offense this offseason, which should also mean the Ravens’ tight ends will be given a bigger role.
If anything is going to be shaken up the most with the new offense, it will be the receivers. Kubiak uses a lot of two tight-end formations, and in doing so, the tight ends get their hands on the ball quite a lot.
Rather than just the one player, both of the Ravens top tight ends in Pitta and Daniels are going to be big parts of the offense.
”They are both entering the season with the same new offense with Daniels having a slight advantage over Pitta.”
Pitta is the number one tight end on the Ravens, but that does not mean Daniels is behind him in any way. They are both entering the season with the same new offense, but with Daniels having a slight advantage over Pitta.
Daniels is reunited with Kubiak on the Ravens, as well as with Tight Ends Coach Brian Pariani. He may be the new player on the Ravens, but he is going to be far from behind.
Pitta and Daniels could easily be fighting for the number one spot during training camp with Pitta having the upper hand because he has shown his success with Joe Flacco over past seasons.
With that exception, along with Kubiak’s new offense, I believe both tight ends are going to do very well next season.
Their success may be enough to result in the two-tight end formations to become a common sight in Baltimore.
Daniels should see the familiar offense as an opportunity to help Pitta excel, because the Raven’s veteran is going to be used in a way that is new to him.
I would like to see new wide receiver Steve Smith do the same thing as Daniels with Torrey Smith. This is a pivotal season for T. Smith, and I would like to see the veteran Smith help him become the best receiver possible.
With a new offensive coordinator, the Smiths can help each other understand the new offense and become better players. The Ravens have not had a true veteran receiver in a while, so there is a real opportunity here for each to help the other.
The Ravens have a lot of potential in their pass catchers this next season, and it is time for the new veterans to pass on the knowledge to the young talent on the roster.
These players are not going to have to worry about losing their spots on the rosters, so they should focus on helping each other perform even better under the new offense.