Raven Undrafting WR may be missing links due to crime

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Ravens WR Shemar Bridges celebrates after scoring the winning goal on her NFL debut.

The Baltimore Ravens have been looking for a wide receiver capable of consistently winning and creating plays on the outside for nearly a decade since they swapped Anquan Boldin in their 2012 Superbowl postseason.

Their quest to find a big-bodied player to line up at the ‘X’ collection point included recycling through seasoned veterans, picking the earliest draft in the first round and Friday at the latest, and unbuilt free agents are all futile though Marlon Brown has shown some promise as an incomplete rookie in 2013.

While it’s still too early to tell and it’s unfair to compare him to a future Hall of Famer like Boldin, the Ravens may have just stumbled across their diamond in its rough form in the rookie Shemar Bridges. has not been completed. The former Fort Valley State University standout hit a tight fourth round with rookie Isaiah potentially the two brightest stars in the team’s 23-10 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 of the money. season on August 11, 2022.

The school skit knew he had to make the most of his chances in a live match against the opposing team and did so with a very strong performance against the Titans. He showed his ability to go up and down with controversial catches and even some nuanced runs on the road to score 62 yards receiving a team-leading ball and a touchdown on four. catch the ball.

Bridges said in his post-match press conference on August 11, 2022: “I just want to go into this game and show that I can play big and do it at a consistent level. I still have a lot of work to do. Just be humble and move on. “

He was determined to bring some of the same powerful opportunists he’s shown in practice such as catching passes, blocking runs and being a contributor to special teams on ice to the coaches.

“I just try to make an impact and do whatever I have to do,” says Bridges.

At 6-4, he overcame most of the defensive defenders he lined up and said he likes to use his sheer length, weight and size to “catch people and knocks”. leave others”. On his 14-yard touchdown, he did exactly that, knocking off a Titans defender for an impressive score in a dribble on the back shoulder, which is usually the way to go. to the bigger players.

“I feel like a big receiver who can play big,” says Bridges. “Also, I feel like I’m learning how to run routes and get better at running routes, while being able to be flexible and flexible with my size.”

During his time with Raven, Boldin’s most memorable and timely plays came when in situations where he used his size advantage to make clutch plays for touches. Ball and key switch.

Having that kind of weapon outside would help quarterback Lamar Jackson elevate his play even further and be a great addition in opposition to second-year Rashod Bateman, who is expected to explode in 2022.

Ends in Baltimore

Bridges said Raven was one of the most active teams pursuing him after the draft. He feels like a great fit and opportunity to make the team so good, especially since they traded in one of their top receivers and didn’t take one in the draft.

“I feel like it’s a good situation,” Bridges said. “I met one of the scouts who really got me here at the HBCU Bowl. I just ran from it to there. Through other relationships, I think it’s a great situation, and I love it here.”

While his stock is certainly rising after a sizzling start to training camp and pre-season, he knows his spot on the final 53-man roster is far from guaranteed. He is highly motivated to not only build the team but to make a name for himself in the league and knows that it’s more than just a talented catcher.

“I have to keep working hard, keep honing, work for special teams, keep working hard and improve the things I need to improve on,” Bridges said.

Impressions & Prospects from Coach

Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman agrees with the first year expansion that he has some areas for improvement where his game could use some improvement. However, he is pleased with where Bridges is currently growing and that “he is doing a good job”.

Roman said during his press conference on August 14, 2022: “He is a good young prospect, really shining. .

Bridges didn’t get the chance to play special teams as much in the second half of his pre-season opener as he did in the first half but he’s still performing well on those units in practice and will have plenty of chances. than in the remaining two exhibitions.

“He’s done a great job and we have to find a way to put him in the right position and get him on the field,” special team coordinator Chris Horton said in a press conference on Wednesday. August 2022. “He will play a little more [special] compared to last week he played. Only certain things happened throughout the game where we didn’t beat [in] In the second half, he didn’t have a chance to play AD carry. But he will get a chance to show off his skills. “