Ravens rookie RB JK Dobbins will likely have a “significant role” on offense

The Baltimore Ravens backfield is loaded with playmakers at the running back position and their dynamic dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson gets in on the action too. While veteran Mark Ingram is slated to enter his 10th season as the starter, promising rookie J.K. Dobbins won’t be spending much time on the sidelines this season according to Head Coach John Harbaugh.

“He’s definitely going to have probably a significant role,” Harbaugh said Tuesday. “But again, it comes down to how it goes.”

The coronavirus pandemic presented this year’s rookie class with quite a unique challenge. Since they were robbed of any semblance of an actual offseason program and weren’t able to hit the field with their teams until training camp opened up last month, making an immediate impact will be tougher to do in most years.

However, that hasn’t stopped the second-round pick out of Ohio State from blowing away his coaches and teammates with his ability to learn and willingness to be coached up in both virtual meetings and on the practice field.

“He’s looked really good in practice. He works really hard. He’s just the most coachable guy. He has a lot of talent, and he’s very coachable. So, he wants to be good, he wants to play. He’s confident. Confidence plus coachability plus talent; it’s a pretty good combination.”

That talent that Harbaugh was alluding to has been on full display in training camp and especially in padded practices during both one-on-one drills and full team periods. Dobbins had been arguably the brightest star of training camp right along with Jackson, second-year receiver Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown, and prized offseason acquisition Calais Campbell on the defensive side of the ball.

It seems likes every day the permitted media members that attended practice came away amazed at yet another impressive play that the rookie made in practice. He’s been showing just why so many pundits pegged him as one of the steals of the draft for where the Ravens were able to take him at 55th overall.

Dobbins is an explosive athlete and possesses all of the skills and attributes to be a day-one difference-maker in the Ravens offense. He is a fiery competitor, a powerful runner that runs behinds his pads, has great lateral agility and quick feet to pull off nasty jukes and cuts that leave defenders grasping at the air where he once was, holds up well in pass protection and natural pass catcher and smooth route runner out of the backfield.

“I think every day, his athleticism, his physicality, his vision – all the things that make a great running back – show up on the field,” Running Backs Coach Matt Weiss said. “I think honestly, though, I’ve been even more impressed with his mindset, of his make-up, which is really his competitiveness, his work ethic. He’s kind of wired a little bit differently.”

With no preseason or live scrimmages with other teams this year, it is harder to ascertain how rookie and other young players will perform early on in the season. The Ravens tried their best to create a game-like atmosphere with a pair of inner squad scrimmages that they held at M&T Bank Stadium but there’s nothing like the real deal. That still didn’t stop Dobbins from putting on a show under the simulated bright lights.

Even though he possesses the talent to be an instant impact player, he doesn’t have the pressure to do so right away because the Ravens have three other gifted backs that were part of last year’s team that shattered the single-season rushing record that stood for over four decades. In addition to Ingram coming back this year, the team has bruising power back Gus Edwards and 2019 fourth-rounder Justice Hill returning to share the load as well.

The Ravens believe in playing the best players and awarding those that show out in practice consistently with more and more playing time. Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman will find creative ways to utilize Dobbin’s skill set as he does for all of the team’s dynamic talent on offense at every skill position. The rookie isn’t worried about how the snaps will be distributed but he is eager to for the season opener and helping the team win in that game and many more to come.

“My thing is just keep going hard and the chips will fall into place,” Dobbins said. “Of course, I’m not going to be patient. I’m working as hard as I can to play, get on the field, and help this team win. I feel like I’ve been preparing well for this first game. Hopefully, I can get in there and make some plays.”

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