It’s a new year, but some of the same questions remain for the Baltimore Ravens in 2021.
Did the front office give quarterback Lamar Jackson enough new weapons? (especially while WR injuries run rampant) Can the team stay healthy ahead of the league’s first 17-game regular season? Will the defense remain at an elite level with a revamped front seven?
The Ravens look to build off their 2020 Divisional Round playoff appearance, and The Sports Extra Podcast got their first look at the 2021 squad this week.
LISTEN ON
The Pod Squad took to the road to attend Ravens Training Camp at the team’s facility in Owings Mills, Maryland. In watching two and half hours of drills, there are plenty of story lines to talk about.
QB Lamar Jackson returned from COVID-19 protocol this week for his first appearance at Training Camp.
First round draft pick Rashod Bateman limped off the field with an apparent groin injury that could sideline him through the rest of Training Camp and possibly into the season.
Can the other first round pick in DE Odafe Oweh adjust to the NFL speed? Remember the former Penn State player is still relatively new at football as he only began playing midway through high school.
Former Penn State QB Trace McSorley
Plus, how did Penn State’s former QB Trace McSorley like taking first team reps last week in Baltimore? The Ravens backup quarterback got his first taste of the team’s new offensive weapons.
McSorley joins The Sports Extra Podcast crew over video chat to talk about his third season in the league, his relationship with the other QBs on the Ravens and his reunion with Oweh.
Playing career
Doubted at every stage of his football career, McSorley’s future in the NFL wasn’t a given. After posting a 4.57 second 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine (best among all QBs), some teams reportedly asked McSorley to perform workouts with the DBs.
He stuck to quarterback, and was drafted 197th-overall in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
It wasn’t until Week 17 of 2019 when the third-string QB would make his NFL game debut. He took one snap for a QB draw which went for one yard against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 28-10 win.
In 2020, a hamstring injury for backup Robert Griffin III pushed McSorley onto the field again. Against the Steelers in December, McSorley rushed for 16 yards on three carries and completed two of six attempts for 77 yards plus his first career touchdown (70-yard TD to Hollywood Brown).
He also played two games later against the Browns when Jackson reportedly suffered cramps in the third quarter. He went 1-for-4 for 13 yards passing and rushed twice. He suffered a left knee sprain and Jackson took over again.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – AUGUST 08: Trace McSorley #7 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass in the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 08, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) 
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 15: Chris Moore #10 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with Trace McSorley #7 after scoring against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) 
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 22: Trace McSorley #7 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass before a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 22, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) 
LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 29: Trace McSorley #7 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass before a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on August 29, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 29: Trace McSorley #7 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass before a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on August 29, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 29: Trace McSorley #7 of the Baltimore Ravens attempts a pass against the Washington Redskins during the first half of a preseason game at FedExField on August 29, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 13: Trace McSorley #7 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) 
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 29: Quarterback Trace McSorley #7 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 02: Trace McSorley #7 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes the ball during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 02, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) 
OWINGS MILLS, MD – JULY 28: Trace McSorley #7 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center Baltimore Ravens on July 28, 2021 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
His career at Penn State was highly decorated as McSorley holds multiple school records, including most passing yards (season), most passing touchdowns (season), most total yards of offense all time and total touchdowns in a season.
Honors, awards & records
- Fiesta Bowl Champion (2017)
- Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP (2017)
- Big Ten Champion (2016)
- Big Ten Championship game MVP (2016)
- Second team All-Big Ten (2016 & 2017)
- Most single-season passing yards (3,360 yds)
- Most single-season total yards (3,979 yds)
- Most single-season passing touchdowns (29)
- Most single-season 300-yard passing games (5)
- Most consecutive games with touchdown pass (27)
- Most total offensive yards in a single game (461)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 01: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after rushing for a 12 yard touchdown in the first quarter against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on September 1, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) 
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 08: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hurdles Dennis Briggs #20 of the Pittsburgh Panthers in the fourth quarter on September 8, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) 
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 15: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions scrambles from Matt Bahr #6 of the Kent State Golden Flashes during the first half at Beaver Stadium on September 15, 2018 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 20: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions leaves the field after the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. Penn State won 33-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) 
BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 20: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball for a four-yard touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers in the fourth quarter of the game at Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. Penn State won 33-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) 
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions drops back to pass against the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 10, 2018 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on after the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Beaver Stadium on November 10, 2018 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 24: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes for his second touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins during the first quarter at Beaver Stadium on November 24, 2018 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions throws a pass against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first quarter of the VRBO Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Also in the episode
Also in this week’s episode of The Sports Extra Podcast, the crew discusses their impressions of Ravens Training Camp, including our first look at Lamar Jackson this Training Camp.
Meet the voices behind the podcast: Allie Berube and Logan Reever. The Sports Extra Podcast is designed to bring listeners closer to the games, teams and athletes they love. The podcast will dive deeper than the hosts can go on TV.
The Sports Extra Podcast releases episodes every Thursday. The goal is to talk about national sports with a local flair. Allie & Logan bring guests on each week to share their perspectives on sports.
You can catch The Sports Extra Podcast presented by abc27 each week. The team drops new episodes every Thursday. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or right here on abc27.com.
