Baltimore Ravens: It’s Time for Marlon Brown to Take His Place
Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA USA; Baltimore Ravens receiver Marlon Brown (14) is defended by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brice McCain (25) during an AFC wild card playoff game at Heinz Field. The Ravens defeated the Steelers 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Ravens’ defense has many players who are taking on new roles this season. However, the offense is not without these players.
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Joe Flacco’s number one receiver has already said he does not plan to play until he is 40. Steve Smith Sr. said he has other things to do that are not football related, so the other receivers have to begin to step up to replace him.
The Ravens certainly treated this offseason and previous ones with an eye to the future. The veteran is not on the last year of his deal, but this season is still very important for the other receivers around him.
The problem is, if you look at the roster, the wide receivers behind Smith are very inexperienced. Marlon Brown is heading in his third year along with Kamar Aiken. The third-year receiver out of Georgia has shown great promise in his short career. In 2013 after starting 12 games, he put together a season worth more than 500 yards receiving and seven touchdowns as a rookie.
If he is given the chance, Brown could easily become a star receiver. With Breshad Perriman behind him, the two young wideouts could turn into the best two pass catchers on the roster.
When training camp begins at the end of July, Brown is one of the players who need to begin to take on a new role. Head coach John Harbaugh even said he expects a breakout year from the receiver.
Brown played well his rookie year when he was given a starting role, and I believe he will continue his success if he moves back into a starting role.
This year may be the best chance for him to take on this new role with the departure of Torrey Smith. After Smith Sr. arrived in Baltimore, he lost many of his snaps because the Smith duo took the majority of the receptions from Flacco.
With one Smith gone, the young receiver has yet another chance to take his place as a starter. However, he will find this position is not being given to him. The rookie and other receivers are going to fight him for the rights to the spot next to the veteran.
I believe as he tries to move into this bigger role that he will move ahead of the other receivers for the second spot. Even if he does not outperform the others, I think he has the best chance to help the team headed into the future.
If he does not show he is capable of stepping up into the new role, Brown could still move into that role if he wins the starting job. However, the Ravens need to look to the future, and whoever is lining up across from Smith Sr. needs to be able to help the team going into the future and not just this season.
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