Ravens found growth in difficult joint practices with Vikings

The Baltimore Ravens traveled to the North Star State this week in search of more than just quality practice reps. They were searching for discomfort, and truth be told, it didn't take long at all to find a fairly hefty portion.

After competing against one another in training camp for nearly a month, the Ravens wanted to measure themselves against something unfamiliar. What they found was a Minnesota Vikings defense led by Brian Flores and an offense littered with quality skill players.

Flores' reputation precedes him. He's aggressive. He has a pressure-heavy approach, and for two days, that environment created exactly the type of challenge Baltimore hoped to see before the regular season arrives. By the time both sessions concluded, coaches and players throughout Baltimore's locker room sounded convinced the experience made them better. Head coach Jesse Minter repeatedly pointed to Flores' defense as one of the most unique challenges in football.

"Nobody probably pressures more in the league than 'Flo' [Brian Flores]. He does a phenomenal job. He is one of the best coordinators in the league."

A day later, Minter expanded on that thought. He explained that Minnesota's defense presents problems that are difficult to simulate on a normal practice field.

"They are really aggressive. They do a great job showing all these different looks, and sometimes there's pressure, and sometimes there's dropping [into coverage]."

Wide receiver Rashod Bateman echoed his coach's assessment. From his perspective, the Vikings' defense forced Baltimore's offense to process information faster and communicate more effectively. Bateman believes success against a defense like Minnesota's can serve as preparation for almost anything an offense might encounter during the season.

"They play a very chaotic defense, for sure, do if you have success against them, you can kind of assume that you'll have success against other teams. They are a '1-of-1' defense with all the blitzes and different coverages and disguises that they do, but it was a good test for us. I think that'll definitely prepare us [into] being a smarter football team moving forward."

Veteran left tackle Ronnie Stanley arrived at a similar conclusion after spending two days sorting through Flores' pressure packages. He acknowledged that the practices exposed areas where Baltimore still needs improvement, particularly in communication and in handling complex defensive looks.

"I think there is a lot of good to build on, but there is also a lot of stuff that we need to fix. I think this was a great challenge for us. A [Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores] 'Flo' defense bringing all the pressures. I think this is great for us to see, and [there's] a lot of stuff that we know we need to get better at if we want to be where we want to be."

The Ravens' defense gained plenty from the experience as well. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey called the Vikings' offense one of the toughest units Baltimore could face in August because of the talent on the field and the stress it places on defenders.

"It was good. I think going against some pretty good receivers with 'Jettas' [Justin Jefferson] and [Jordan] Addison and all those guys, [we were] getting some really good work. Those type of offenses are always hard to defend. It is kind of an offense similar to what we run now. I think most of the best offenses in the league have that style. I thought it was some really good work to go against a different team."

Humphrey later went even further, describing one of the sessions as among the best practices he can remember during his lengthy Ravens career. The common theme throughout Baltimore's locker room wasn't that the Ravens dominated. It was that they were challenged.

That was the point from the beginning. Joint practices are most valuable when they reveal weaknesses, force adjustments, and expose players to situations they cannot replicate against teammates. The Vikings accomplished all three.

By Saturday's preseason game, the score will matter little. The more important result may already be in hand. Baltimore arrived in Minnesota looking for a test that could sharpen both sides of the ball, and based on the reactions from Minter, Bateman, Stanley, and Humphrey, the Ravens found exactly what they came for.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens found growth in difficult joint practices with Vikings