As a fifth-round draft pick, the defensive end out of Mississippi State proved to be a hidden gem for the Ravens, finishing second on the team with six sacks.

Now word about McPhee is out – he’s even been selected by FOXSports as the Ravens’ breakout player this season – and he won’t catch teams off guard.

The expectations for him have grown, especially with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs out for an unspecified amount of time with an Achilles injury.

“I think after the fifth game, I stopped catching teams by surprise last year,” McPhee said after a recent offseason workout. “Now I know what to expect. I know what the coaches expect. I’m just here trying to be focused and trying to go to work.”

In Suggs’ absence, McPhee is a candidate to take over as the team’s sack leader.

But he also sees himself as doing more than chasing down quarterbacks. 

“I plan on playing more than just a pass rushing role,” McPhee said. “That’s T-Sizzle, Defensive Player of the Year last year, so it’s going to be really hard to fill in his shoes. We just got to help out the guys who are filling in his shoes and go out and play ball.”

Last year McPhee played behind starting end Cory Redding, rotating in to provide fresh legs on the line.

Having the chance to learn behind a veteran like Redding was a valuable experience for McPhee.

“I learned a lot,” McPhee said. “You got to always stay humble in this game and you’ve always got to compete every day.”

Redding left in free agency this offseason, so even before the injury to Suggs, McPhee’s playing time was expected to increase.

He will compete with third-year lineman Arthur Jones for the starting defensive end spot, but right now he isn’t concerned about where his name ends up on the depth chart.

“It’s just a blessing and an opportunity to go out and show my gift that I got out there on the field,” McPhee said. “I’m just going to let it roll out there from training camp, and whatever happens, it just happens – if I start or if I don’t, more plays or not.”

With Suggs down, fans are looking to McPhee as a likely candidate to make up the sack total, even though the two play different positions.  

McPhee, however, insists that the individual statistics aren’t his top concern.

“I don’t have individual goals, not right now,” McPhee said. “My goal is to come in and make the defense seem like they gained a step.

“I just want to go out and play ball and try to win a championship.”

“I definitely will be going down,” Upshaw said. “Just getting myself prepared is the reason why I want to get down.”

The 6-foot-2 outside linebacker played last season at 272 pounds, which is about what he weighs right now.  He would like to lose about 5-10 pounds.

He feels like he’s in good condition, but trimming some weight could also give him a little more speed and flexibility that he’ll need to make the transition to the NFL. 

“I’ve been running well and maintaining throughout practice, but it’s just something where I feel I’d be able to move better, cut, turn and run with receivers, tight ends and running backs,” Upshaw said. “This is a fast league. In college you got guys that you can run with, but here it’s a whole other level.”

Upshaw played the rush linebacker position last year at Alabama, which is similar to what Terrell Suggs plays for the Ravens. With Suggs likely to miss time because of an Achilles tendon injury, Upshaw could move into that role, where he’ll need the speed to get past offensive lineman.

Suggs (6-foot-3) played last season at about 260 pounds.

The other possibility for Upshaw is to play the SAM linebacker position on the opposite side, which Jarret Johnson (6-foot-3, 260 pounds) played last season. In that role, Upshaw would have to drop into pass coverage at times, so losing the weight could help give him the speed to run with tight ends and running backs.

Overall, he’s not looking for any drastic change, but just wants to put himself in the best condition to compete for a starting job this fall.

“It’s something I want,” Upshaw said. “It’s definitely to be in better shape. I don’t want to be a slack in the defense. I want to be 100 percent.”

He moved high schools and eventually went on to earn a college scholarship.

Then he transferred from Southeastern Louisiana University to Lane College after his freshman season, and became an all-conference performer before getting drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round.

Now, after five seasons in Houston, Jones is making another move.

He signed with the Ravens as a free agent last week and expects the most recent change to bring another round of success. 

“Change is good in life,” Jones said after an offseason workout. “I left one high school, went to another and I was successful. I left one college and went to Lane College and was successful. And now I’m leaving Houston and I will be successful.

“Change is good. It’s always good to have a breath of fresh air.”

Baltimore signed the wide receiver/return specialist to a two-year contract after he was released by the Texans.

He is the favorite in a competition for the Ravens’ No. 3 receiver spot and also handle punt and kickoff return duties. Jones is participating in the team’s voluntary offseason workouts, and says he is willing to do whatever the coaching staff wants from him.

“My goal right now is to play my role,” Jones said. “Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do it. If they want me to block every play, I’ll block every play. I just want to contribute, play my part and do my job.”

Jones started 10 games at wide receiver last year, finishing the season with 31 receptions for 512 yards and two touchdowns. He has 127 catches for 1,741 yards and 11 touchdowns throughout his career.

Jones has explosive speed, which could make him a downfield threat alongside second-year receiver Torrey Smith.

“As a receiver, there’s nothing like catching that rock and taking off and beating a good defender,” Jones said.

He will have to compete with Tandon Doss, LaQuan Williams, David Reed and rookie Tommy Streeter for playing time at receiver behind Smith and veteran Anquan Boldin.

Regardless of what happens at the receiver spot, Jones could also provide an immediate impact on special teams. He returned 49 punts last year for a 10.6-yard average, including a 79-yard touchdown. Jones didn’t return kicks last season, but has 64 career returns for a 23.3-yard average and one touchdown.

The Ravens used top cornerback Lardarius Webb as their main punt returner last year, but would prefer to have someone else handle that role going forward. At kick returner, Reed is coming back from knee surgery to repair a torn ACL, and his exact timetable for a return is still up in the air.

Jones could potentially win both return jobs.

“I love returning kicks and punts because it’s like playing in the backyard,” he said. “I’ll do everything. I’ll play inside, outside, special teams, block, whatever, all of the above.”

Jones’ ability to provide a boost to the return game and wide receiver corps was why the Ravens were interested in him when he became available.

For Jones, the attraction to him was the players in the Ravens’ locker room and the chance to challenge for a Super Bowl. 

“When I came here on my visit, they welcomed me here like I was already signed,” Jones said. “The other attraction is the opportunity. They are contenders. That’s the big thing right there.”

Wednesday, May 16

Cowher Urges Melanoma Screenings
Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, whose wife died from melanoma in 2010, has helped launch an educational campaign to encourage more people to get screened for the form of skin cancer. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Concussion Symptoms End Sweat’s NFL Career
Undrafted free agent Andrew Sweat ended his pro football career this week before it even got started. The linebacker signed with the Browns, but decided to walk away from the game over concussion symptoms. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

WR Sanu On The Rise
Cincinnati Bengals third-round wide receiver Mohamed Sanu has caught the attention of the team’s coaches after minicamp last weekend, and the belief is that he could be able to come in and contribute right away to the offense. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Welker Inks Franchise Tender
New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker said Tuesday that he has signed the $9.5 million franchise tag for this season. The four-time Pro Bowler led the NFL with 122 receptions last season and has been one of the most productive receivers in the league the last few years. [SI.com]

Monday, May 14

Ward Honored At Steelers Game
Recently-retired Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was honored at a recent Pirates game, throwing out the first pitch of a game last week. The Pirates reached out to Ward after his retirement and offered him the chance to throw out the first pitch of a game. [PittsburghSteelers.com]

Weeden Ready To Enter QB Competition
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden participated in the team’s minicamp over the weekend and immediately entered a battle for the starting quarterback spot. “I think we’re just going to compete,” Weeden said at the close of rookie camp. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Bengals Wrap Up Rookie Minicamp
Like the Ravens, the Bengals held their rookie minicamp over the weekend. “It’s been a very good and productive five workouts,” Head Coach Marvin Lewis said. One of the players who put forth a strong showing over the weekend was wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, who will could start alongside A.J. Green. [Cincinnati Enquirer]

Ochocinco Voices Support For ‘Dad’ Goodell
Outspoken Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco wrote a letter of support to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday in the wake of increased discussion about football safety.  In the letter, he referred to Goodell as “Dad” and said the two have a “father-son relationship.” [SI.com]

Ravens former offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, one of the best to ever play the position, has been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The former UCLA star will be inducted this September with 13 other college players.

A four-year starter at left tackle for the Bruins, Ogden’s number has been retired at UCLA and he has already been inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame (2006).

He was awarded the Outland Trophy, which is given to college football’s top lineman, and was named a unanimous first-team All-American. 

The next question to be asked is whether Ogden will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He is eligible for the 2013 class and is considered a strong first-ballot candidate.

The Ravens used their first-ever pick on Ogden in the 1996 draft (fourth overall). Staying in Baltimore his entire 12-year career, Ogden was selected to 11 Pro Bowls and was a nine-time All-Pro.

In 2008, the team honored Ogden by inducting him into the Ring of Honor.

Ogden will be joined by the following former standouts in the College Hall of Fame: including Cal quarterback Steve Bartkowski, BYU quarterback Ty Detmer, Rice quarterback Tommy Kramer, LSU running back Charles Alexander, Purdue running back Otis Armstrong, Syracuse wide receiver Art Monk, USC tight end Hal Bedsole, Notre Dame tight end Dave Casper, Colorado guard John Wooten, Kansas State linebacker Mark Simoneau, Texas Tech defensive end Gabe Rivera, Colorado State defensive back Greg Myers and Air Force safety Scott Thomas.

Three former coaches will join the group: Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee), Jimmy Johnson (Miami and Oklahoma State) and R.C. Slocum (Texas A&M).

Lewis Turned 37. Remember What That Means?

Ray Anthony Lewis turned 37 yesterday.

But it wasn’t just another ho-hum birthday for the Ravens linebacker. It carried special significance.

You remember what Lewis said about his current age, right?

“I can’t see myself playing football past 37,” he told NFL Total Access a little over a year ago.

Lewis exceeds expectations every time he steps onto the football field, but if he were to continue playing beyond this season, he would exceed his own.

He got out in front of what could have been relentless speculation about playing in 2012 by making it clear the night of the Ravens’ AFC championship loss that he would be back this season.

“Football is too fun for me, man,” Lewis said in January. “Whenever God says time is enough, then it’s enough. But when you’re having the fun that I’m having, and you’re playing at the level I’m playing at, do it until you can’t do it no more.”

In 222 career games, Lewis has racked up 2,004 tackles, 40.5 sacks, 31 interceptions and plenty of mileage on his body. Only kicker Jason Hanson has played more games among active players. Entering his 17th season, no other great linebacker comes close to playing as long.  Mike Singletary retired after 12 seasons, Jack Lambert after 11 and Dick Butkus called it quits after nine.

“At some point, Lewis is going to have to say goodbye to football, although there haven’t been any recent indicators he will be calling it quits anytime soon,” wrote ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “His contract runs through 2015, and the Ravens showed confidence in Lewis when they once again didn’t draft his eventual replacement in April. …

“Lewis is now entering his 17th season in the NFL. And, after turning 37 today, you have to wonder whether this will be his last.”

Newsome Not Considered ‘Traitor’ In Cleveland

Several Browns fans who attended Ozzie Newsome’s speaking engagement in Cleveland Monday don’t consider him a “traitor,” according to Akron Beacon Journal.

The Ravens’ general manager played all of his 13 NFL seasons for the Browns and was inducted into the Hall of Fame after his storied career with the team.  But when Art Modell relocated the franchise to Baltimore in 1996, Cleveland’s beloved Newsome came with him.

“[F]rom the day the Browns left town, Newsome has largely remained a favorite son, exempt from the hatred that prevented Modell from setting foot in Cleveland again,” wrote Marla Ridenour. “Perhaps it is because Newsome played for the Browns for 13 years and never put on another NFL uniform. Perhaps it is because he has always conducted himself with class. Perhaps, above all, it is because no one can blame [him].”

Modell made Newsome the league’s first African-American general manager and Ozzie said he doesn’t believe that would have happened if he had stayed with the Browns because the team brought in new administration at the time.

Hensley ponders what might have happened to the two teams had Newsome decided to stay in Cleveland.

“Newsome is right. He probably wouldn’t have ascended to the general manager’s role as quickly if he chose to stay in Cleveland,” Hensley wrote. “But just think of how the fortunes of the two franchises would have changed if Newsome didn’t leave with the Ravens and eventually worked his way up to being the Browns’ top decision-maker. Baltimore probably wouldn’t have won a Super Bowl in 2000, and Cleveland likely wouldn’t be a perennial last-place team.”

Players Under Most Pressure

There are several NFL players and coaches that will be feeling the heat in 2012.

Kevin Kolb is expected to step up after the Arizona Cardinals invested heavily in him last offseason to solve their problem at quarterback. The Pittsburgh Steelers hope new Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley can step in his first year and fill the shoes of Bruce Arians. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan needs to win his first playoff game. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick needs redemption after an 8-8 finish.

Without even playing a snap in the NFL, rookie Courtney Upshaw’s name was listed among these and other veteran superstars as one of 13 players who will be facing the most pressure in 2012.

Only two other rookies made the list, as both are expected to turn around their franchise – the Redskins’ Robert Griffin III and the Browns’ Brandon Weeden.

CBSSports.com’s Clark Judge believes that the pressure to step in for the injured Terrell Suggs will be as great as any player can feel.

“Someone has to take the place of Terrell Suggs, the Ravens’ best pass rusher and one of the game’s top impact players, and Upshaw pulled the short straw,” Judge wrote. “It’s tough enough to make it in the NFL as a rookie, but to step in for the Defensive Player of the Year? Good luck, Courtney. …

“Somebody must do heavy lifting in Suggs’ absence, and Upshaw’s the first one in line. He thought there was pressure when he sat in the Green Room during last month’s draft, waiting to hear his name called. He was wrong.”

Quick Hits

• Ravens former running back Ricky Williams doesn’t believe there is a link between concussions and brain damage. “I don’t buy it,” Williams said, while appearing on ESPN2′s Dan Le Betard Is Highly Questionable.  “I’m only speaking from my personal experience, because I haven’t allowed myself to buy it, and I haven’t been affected.  Yes, I’m aware that football is a rough sport, but instead of saying, ‘Oh — I’m doomed to brain trauma,’ I said, ‘What can I do about it?’  And I just started taking care of my body.  I found people, places, and things that really helped me — again, I don’t know what’s going to happen to me in 10 years, but I look at the other things I’ve learned about, and the way I see the world.” [ESPN]
• Calvin Watkins listed five potential troublemakers for the Dallas Cowboys, who are scheduled to battle the Ravens in Week 6, and Upshaw is already on the team’s radar. [ESPN]
• Ravens’ breakout player in 2012? Defensive end Pernell McPhee. [FoxSports.com]
• Former Ravens scout and NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah ranked the AFC North as the league’s fifth-best quarterback division. [NFL.com]

They received two nominations in the Sports Feature/Segment category and another in the Daily or Weekly Sports Program category. RaveTV has won 16 Emmy awards over the years.

“We’re excited about the nominations and thrilled to have the access within our organization to put together high-quality material for our fans,” Ravens Vice President of Broadcasting Larry Rosen said.

Rosen, Director of Broadcasting Administration Don DiRaddo, Broadcasting Manager Jay O’Brien, Broadcasting Coordinator Matt Brevet and Production Coordinator Eddie Coughlan were all highlighted as part of the nomination.

“It’s always nice to be recognized by your peers and we’re fortunate to be nominated,” DiRaddo said. “The thing that’s great about our group is that we work really well together and everyone has a say in the process.”

The segments that earned nominations were an Anquan Boldin interview, a “Ravens Report” episode with Joe Flacco and a Play Like a Raven feature with Ed Reed.

In the Boldin interview, clips of an interview with his mother were featured, and the Ravens’ receiver then reacted to the stories that his mother shared. The stories that she shared included her passion as a Cowboys fan and the time Anquan kicked out his brother’s front teeth.

“Having Anquan react to the clips from his mom really brought out the human element of the stories,” DiRaddo said.

The nominated piece with Flacco was an interview inside the quarterbacks meeting room. Flacco sat down with “Ravens Report” host Gerry Sandusky, who incorporated a game clock from the meeting room into the interview.

“The setting of that piece was great because we were able to take fans inside the room where these guys meet every day,” DiRaddo said.

In the Play Like a Raven feature, Ravens former Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano broke down an Ed Reed interception and return against the Carolina Panthers from 2010. During the play, Reed lateralled the ball to safety Dawan Landry, who took it back for a touchdown.

During the segment, Pagano used coach’s film to dissect the play and give viewers a better understanding of what’s happening.

“When coaches are breaking down film like that, they actually forget the cameras are on and are really at home,” DiRaddo said.

The awards will be presented on June 16 in Washington, D.C.

Not only was he beat up physically, but the mental toll of losing the game was crushing.

“That game definitely took a lot of emotion out of me,” Ngata said Monday at the team’s facility. “I just took a full month off. It felt good to just kind of get some rest and get my mind right.”

Ngata was exhausted from the season, where he started all 18 games (16 regular season and two playoff games) and played through pain at the end of the year.

“This year was probably the hardest, the worst I’ve felt at the end of the season,” he said. “We went further and I think I played more snaps this year than other years. This past season took a lot out of me. And that loss just kind of sucked, so it took a little bit more.”

Ngata did have a procedure after the season, General Manager Ozzie Newsome said in February, as he battled a thigh injury that held him out of practice at times during the year. 

Despite the injury, he still had a highly productive season, as he earned his third straight Pro Bowl nod and was a leader in the middle of a Ravens defense that finished second in the league against the run. He totaled 65 tackles, five sacks and three fumble recoveries throughout the season.

After taking time to recover, Ngata is now gearing up for this seventh NFL season.

“I feel really good,” he said. “I’m just training and trying to eat healthy, communicating with the coaches.”

Part of Ngata’s goal for the offseason is to add some weight. He played at about 330 pounds last year, but would like to be closer to 340 pounds for this season.

“I think I could probably push the pocket better with a little more weight,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Ngata has primarily been training in his offseason home of Salt Lake City, but he decided to come to the team’s facility in Owings Mills this week to work out and visit with the coaching staff.

He also spent time talking with teammates and meeting some of the new rookies on the roster.

“I just wanted to come in for a week to see the coaches and let them see me, let them know I’ve been working out,” he said. “There’s a lot of new faces that you’ve got to get to know now. It’s fun to see the rookies wide eyed and excited, but also kind of nervous.”

One of the big changes for the Ravens defense this season will be the potential absence of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs, who had surgery last week to repair an Achilles tendon injury.

Ngata has played next to Suggs for his entire six-year career, and while the Ravens still hope Suggs can return this year, replacing him for any amount of time will be no easy task.

“Suggs is irreplaceable,” Ngata said “There’s no one in this world that can replace Terrell. But I think Coach Harbaugh said it best: the next guy up has to do his best to replace him.

“I think we’re always going to be a great defense. A lot of it has to do with the veterans helping out the rookies as much as they can, and the rookies doing their best trying to fill in that spot. I think we have a lot of guys that could do well. We’ll see what goes on during camp.”

Regardless of whether Suggs returns this season, Ngata still has Super Bowl aspirations, and hopes to avoid the feeling that soured the end of last year. 

“Hopefully we can get back to the AFC championship again and this time get to the Super Bowl,” he said.

Quick. Off the top of your head, when was the last time the Ravens lost a home game?

You’ll have to go beyond the 2011 season to find it, as they went undefeated in Charm City last year.

It was against the bitter rival Pittsburgh Steelers (surprise) in Dec. of 2010.

It was the only loss the Ravens suffered while playing at M&T Bank Stadium over the past two years. You’d have to go back another 13 months to find the next home loss.

The Bank doesn’t exactly provide a warm welcome to its visiting foes, but according to National Football Post, Baltimore doesn’t have the biggest home-field advantage in the league.

Rather, it’s the sixth-best.

Writer Joe Fortenbaugh looked at all the regular-season games from the last three years (2009-2011) and devised a formula that consists of both home records and ATS (against the spread) record.

If the rankings were solely based on home records, the Ravens would rank second (tied with the Packers) with a 21-3 record over the last three seasons. The Patriots have the best record at 23-1.

“ATS record is included because I feel it provides an accurate assessment of how well a team plays at home against inferior competition,” wrote Fortenbaugh. “Think about it: how much value would you assign a Ravens win in Baltimore over a team like St. Louis?  Probably not all that much.  But if the Ravens failed to cover the Vegas number, that would serve as an indicator that maybe it’s not as tough to play in Baltimore as the team’s 21-3 straight-up home record since 2009 indicates.”

Adding in ATS, the Ravens rank dropped from second to sixth.

Using Fortenbaugh’s formula, the top 10 home-field advantages are: Green Bay, New Orleans, New England, San Francisco, Atlanta, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, San Diego, New York (Jets) and Chicago.

Ozzie’s Secret? Scouting Passion

Ray Lewis is too small.

Ray Rice is too short.

Anquan Boldin is too slow.

Strictly judging by their measurables, these three Pro Bowlers aren’t supposed to be successful in the NFL.

Yet Ozzie Newsome added them to his roster and John Harbaugh has each one starting on his team. And it’s for this reason: passion.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who sat down with Newsome over the weekend, explained why the Ravens are willing to abandon the height/weight/speed guidelines in favor of a prospect who plays with fire.

That’s not a trait you discover on piece of paper.

“You have to just see it,” Newsome told Rapoport. And he’s gotten pretty good at it, with 16 homegrown Pro Bowlers on his resume to prove it.

“You see it when a guy runs to the football,” he continued. “The way they play when they’re not involved in the play, what are they doing? When he’s not involved, is he running to the ball? Is he still playing with the fundamentals he’s supposed to play with during that time?”

The idea is to fill the locker room with guys who love the game enough that they would play for free. And the more passionate players they bring in, the easier it gets.

When players play with passion, Newsome believes, “they exceed the limitation that they have. They play above that limitation.”

The Ravens are hoping rookie Courtney Upshaw is their next draft pick that exceeds what his measurables say he can accomplish. At 6-foot-1, Upshaw is considered short to play linebacker and slightly heavy at 272 pounds.

But Newsome and his staff don’t believe that will stop this “junkyard dog.”

“He plays with a sense of nastiness about him,” Newsome told Rapoport with a smile. “At some point, our players [have] got to win the one-on-one battles and he wins the one-on-one battles when he’s up against tackles or tight ends. He can win that one-on-one battle like Ngata can, like Suggs can, and eventually it’s going to come down to you vs. him. We want more guys that can win more of the battles.”

Oher, McKinnie Notch Best Tackle Performances

Michael Oher and Bryant McKinnie each notched one of the best individual performances for a right and left tackle, respectively, during the 2011 season.

Actually, Oher had the best individual performance for a right tackle.

Pro Football Focus used a fancy grading system while examining how well each NFL tackle did in pass protection, run and screen blocking, and penalties assessed.

Oher’s Week 8 performance against the Arizona Cardinals, in which the Ravens scored 24 second-half points to get a 30-27 win, is considered by PFF to be the best of any right tackle last year.

“Two of the top right tackle performances came against Arizona,” wrote Khaled Elsayed. “What does that tell Cardinals fans? In any case, let’s not take anything away from a fine showing by Oher in a year that was riddled with inconsistency. He didn’t give up a single pressure and effectively neutralized Darnell Dockett every time the two men went head-to-head. That’s never an easy job, but Oher made it look so.”

McKinnie’s best game – the fifth-best among all left tackles – last season came in the Ravens’ divisional playoff win against the Houston Texans.

“With the eyes of the NFL world on him, all wondering if he could keep Joe Flacco clean, McKinnie gave up just two pressures and had an outstanding day with his run blocking,” wrote  Elsayed. “Eight times he graded positively during the game as Antonio Smith found out that Mount McKinnie can still be a formidable challenge.”

Quick Hits

• “I was struck by how fast-paced the [Ravens] practice was,” wrote Rapoport. “There were no pads and nobody was stickin’ out there, but it was all at a high-tempo. Coach John Harbaugh says the word ‘walk-through’ is banned, and it’s obvious why. Players were tugging jerseys, knocking each other down, the whole deal. If I ever wondered why the Ravens play like they do, this explains it. As I was told yesterday, Baltimore’s padded practices are at an even faster pace. Man, I can only imagine how shell shocked the rookies are.” [NFL.com]
• The Ravens are deep in the secondary, but struggled on special teams last season. That’s why rookie safety Christian Thompson knows in order to contribute on this team, he’ll need to become “that extra piece.”[The Baltimore Sun]
• RayRice27: Certified Momma’s boy I definitely tackled her in this pic lol [Twitter]
• TorreySmithWR: You would be surprised at the amount of guys in our locker room that watch reality tv haha [Twitter] 
• KOsevendeuce: We put in that hard @zz work today! #Ravens seven deuce clockin out! [Twitter]
• RAVE_TV: RT @NFLFilms: Happy Birthday @TonySiragusa! For his birthday, we found this 1999 intv between Steve Sabol and Goose: [Twitter/NFL Films]

More than 40 players participated in the three-day minicamp, but most of the attention from fans has been directed at the team’s eight draft picks.

So how did they do?

Here’s a closer look at how each of the Ravens’ draft picks performed over the weekend.

OLB Courtney Upshaw: The Ravens’ top draft pick was one of the stars of the weekend, showing his size and strength at both outside linebacker positions.  “He’s just a quick learner,” Harbaugh said. “He’s off to a good start.”

In his time playing rush linebacker, Upshaw was able to get into the backfield and apply pressure to the quarterbacks. Although they aren’t playing full speed on the line, Upshaw was in position to make several tackles in the backfield during 11-on-11 drills.

The one area where Upshaw admitted he could improve is in pass coverage. When he moved over to the SAM linebacker spot, he had to drop into coverage in some instances and was not as smooth in that role.

“That’s something that I have to get more used to, being a drop linebacker,” Upshaw said. “Once I get everything down, I’ll be ready to go.”

OL Kelechi Osemele: The big lineman from Iowa State spent most of the weekend practicing at left guard, making a relatively smooth transition from the left tackle spot he played in college. Osemele’s physicality was evident from the time he first got on the practice field, and even Harbaugh admitted that he looked massive once he put on the uniform. 

He still has to learn the intricacies of being a guard, but this weekend was a good starting point for him.

RB Bernard Pierce:  The third-round running back was solid throughout minicamp, showing some bursts of quickness through the holes and a slashing style that fit the Ravens running schemes.

Like most players, one of the most challenging aspects of the weekend was picking up the mental part of the game, so Pierce said he spent several hours on his own going through the playbook.

“I try to be perfect in every pass protection, run, substitution, anything,” Pierce said. “I made sure that I got in the playbook so there were no mental errors.”

C/G Gino Gradkowski: The fourth-rounder rotated between both guard spots and center throughout the weekendas he’s expected to compete for the starting left guard job and also backup center Matt Birk. Gradkowski doesn’t have the size of a player like Osemele, but he did show athleticism and versatility.

In working between the different spots on the line, Gradkowski also looked comfortable pull blocking on run plays, which he often had to do in college.

S Christian Thompson: He made a good impression throughout camp, showing his athleticism in the secondary. He wasn’t necessarily flashy, but played solid football and showed a willingness to learn.

“Christian did well,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a talented guy, works hard. He’s got a lot to learn. I thought he had a really good camp.”

Thompson could back up Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard at safety, but he will likely be expected to make an immediate impact on special teams.

CB Asa Jackson: The cornerback and return specialist played with energy and swagger throughout the weekend, showing a quick step in coverage. He uses his speed, which is critical because at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he’ll be undersized when guarding many NFL receivers.

On a number of drills throughout the weekend, Jackson was in good position to defend passes or come up with interceptions.

“If you’re not making plays, they’re going to find somebody who will,” Jackson said. “So you’ve got to make plays.”

WR Tommy Streeter: At 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, Streeter’s size is impressive right away. When he gets on the field and shows off his speed, he looks even better.

That mixture of size and speed caught Harbaugh’s attention.

“First impression: he is really tall. Second impression: he is really fast. I’d say third impression: he is going to be a good player,” Harbaugh said.

Streeter showed good hands throughout the weekend and reeled in some nice catches in drills. He said he had a stomach flu on Saturday and Sunday, which limited what he was able to do at times.

Streeter’s focus coming into the weekend was to focus on the fundamentals of his game.

“I try to be technique-sound and work on the little things,” Streeter said.  “Just correct the small things; my steps coming out of my breaks, and the way I look the ball in, hand placement, little things like that.”

DL DeAngelo Tyson: Physically, he looked impressive on the line. He is a big body at 6-foot-2, 315 pounds, and also displayed some explosiveness working through individual drills.

Assessing defensive lineman is always difficult in the early stages because they aren’t working at full speed, but Tyson did show competitiveness and potential.

Literally.

At 6-foot-5, 333 pounds, the Ravens second-round pick was the biggest player on the field, and he used that size to push people around as he worked at a number of spots along the offensive line.

“He has done a really good job,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said as camp concluded Sunday. “He is really athletic for a big man. He can explode and uncoil. He has a lot to learn though, just like they all do. But, I am very optimistic and excited about him.”

Osemele spent most of the weekend playing left guard, where he expects to challenge for the starting job this fall. He was a four-year starter at left tackle in college, but is now making the transition inside, which he thinks will be a good fit for him.

“It suits me well,” Osemele said about playing guard. “But also, the thing about guard that a lot of people don’t know, is that things happen so fast that you can’t make up for mistakes.”

The biggest challenge over the weekend, Osemele said, was learning the language and picking up the schemes of an NFL playbook. He has the size and strength to outmuscle some of his fellow rookies, but understanding the playbook was more of a process.

“Physically, I’m good, that’s not the problem at all,” Osemele said. “It’s not a physical thing, I’ve just got to get it [mentally], especially when I get tired I’ve got to lock in.

“I’ve been struggling a little bit, but now I have it. It’s taken me to the third day to have the hang of it.”

Osemele also pointed out that playing guard has some intricacies he hasn’t dealt with previously.

“There’s a lot more detail at guard,” Osemele said. “It’s a challenge. It’s more of a chess game, so it’s pretty fun.”

Even though this weekend’s minicamp only included rookies and a handful of second-year players that spent most of last year on the practice squad, Osemele already noticed a drastic jump in talent compared to the college game.

That has forced Osemele, who was always been able to rely on his physical tools, to place a greater emphasis on the mental aspect of the game.

“You hear, ‘the speed or level of the game is different,’ but this is the first time in my life where it’s actually different, where I actually have to try,” he said.