The Baltimore Ravens will begin their first preseason under head coach Jesse Minter when they host the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium.
Lamar Jackson will not play, and Minter has indicated that several other established starters will be held out. That will shift the focus toward position battles, developmental players and two new systems being operated against an unfamiliar opponent.
The game will not count in Baltimore’s record, but it will be an important first step for a team that underwent significant coaching and roster changes after finishing 8-9 last season. Here are five key storylines to watch in the opener.
Jesse Minter makes his head-coaching debut
Minter’s first preseason game will provide an early look at how the Ravens operate under their new head coach. That evaluation extends beyond play selection and defensive performance.
Baltimore must handle substitutions, clock management, replay decisions and communication between the coaches’ booth and sideline. Minter will continue calling the defensive plays, adding another responsibility to his first game as a head coach.
The Ravens have emphasized organization, urgency and accountability throughout training camp. Saturday offers their first opportunity to carry those principles into a game environment. Mistakes are inevitable during the preseason, but Baltimore will want to avoid operational errors involving personnel, penalties and alignment.
Declan Doyle calls Baltimore’s offense for the first time
The opener will also mark Doyle’s first game calling plays for the Ravens. Jackson and several offensive starters will not be available, but the game will give Doyle a chance to test the communication and sequencing required to operate his new system.
Doyle has installed various motions, formations, and alignments while emphasizing quarterback footwork, tempo, and command at the line of scrimmage. Tyler Huntley is expected to handle the opening series before Joe Fagnano and recently signed Austin Reed receive opportunities.
The playbook will likely remain limited, but the Ravens can still evaluate whether players are breaking the huddle efficiently, lining up correctly and executing assignments without needing Jackson to solve problems before the snap.
How will the new quarterback depth chart perform?
Skylar Thompson’s placement on injured reserve created a late change behind Jackson and Huntley. Baltimore signed Reed, who joined the team only days before the opener after playing for the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League.
Reed’s familiarity with Doyle from their time with the Chicago Bears should help him adjust, but he has had limited practice time with Baltimore’s receivers. Fagnano has spent the entire offseason learning the system and now has an opportunity to strengthen his case for the third quarterback role.
Fagnano and Reed are unlikely to receive ideal protection or work exclusively with the top skill-position players. Their ability to manage difficult situations, protect the football and sustain drives will be more important than their final passing totals.
Can anyone create separation in the center competition?
Baltimore has not named its starting center, leaving Ethan Pocic, Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn in one of the team’s most important training-camp competitions.
Pocic provides the most starting experience, including four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Pinter entered camp as a legitimate candidate after following Doyle from Chicago, while Gwyn remains a younger option with experience in Baltimore’s offensive-line room.
Live repetitions against Philadelphia will test their communication, snap consistency and ability to handle interior pressure. The competition cannot be settled by one preseason game, but a poor exchange, a missed protection call, or surrendered pressure could prove significant in a close battle.
Which young cornerbacks take advantage of additional snaps?
Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey have received positive injury reports, but neither needs to be rushed into the preseason opener. Their limited availability during recent practices has already provided more work for Baltimore’s reserve cornerbacks.
The Eagles have a deep receiver group capable of creating difficult matchups throughout the game. That should provide an informative test for Robert Longerbeam, Chandler Rivers, Lardarius Webb Jr., Marquise Robinson, Keyon Martin and the other young defensive backs seeking roles.
Longerbeam is attempting to take a step forward during his second season, while Rivers and Webb are rookies trying to establish themselves on defense and special teams. Baltimore needs to identify which cornerbacks can be trusted behind Wiggins, Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie. The opener represents their first opportunity to provide an answer.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens vs. Eagles: 5 key storylines to watch in preseason opener