Most would probably agree with this next sentiment. The Baltimore Ravens can state whatever they want publicly. Everyone knows they didn't simply bring in Jake Moody to take a look at another leg.
Executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCostaspoke with media members on Wednesday for the first time since Baltimore introduced its initial 53-man roster. As expected, everything was on the table for discussion. He mentioned the inquiries the organization received about Joe Fagnano's services. The conversation shifted to a possible Lamar Jackson extension, which the GM said he'd like to have done by March.
He also addressed another elephant in the room, the added kicker. Except this time, the answer sounded less diplomatic and closer to
what most Ravens would probably say had they been given the microphone.
Eric DeCosta says what every Ravens fan was probably thinking
Per Baltimore's GM, the goal was to indeed create competition at kicker as the regular season approaches. Whilethe Ravens have publicly supported Tyler Loop throughout the summer, as they should, DeCosta made it clear the organization felt compelled to explore another option.
"We have got to make kicks. [This] gives us a fresh set of legs to look at, evaluate, compare, [and] see how it all works out. In the end, it is a performance business, right? It starts with me. We have got to do our job."
The comments represented Baltimore's most direct acknowledgment yet of why Baltimore added competition at the position. Rather than treating Moody's arrival as a routine roster move, the Ravens appear to view it as a necessary response to inconsistency.
Eric DeCosta is leaning on trusted expertise.
DeCosta was also candid about the evaluation process, admitting that kicking is one of the few positions where he relies heavily on others within the organization. He pointed to senior special teams coach Randy Brown as a trusted voice in identifying and developing specialists, comparing the process to former special teams coordinator Frank Gansz's role in helping the Ravens discover legendary punter Sam Koch nearly two decades ago.
"I think Randy has proven that he is one of the very best at evaluating kickers and punters and coaching those guys up. So, yes, we definitely depend on Randy's input."
That input ultimately led Baltimore to Moody, giving the coaching staff another option to evaluate as the season draws near. Tyler Loop, per special teams coordinator Anthony Levine, is embracing the competition. Good for him.
The Ravens have consistently stressed that competition exists at every position, but DeCosta's remarks suggest this battle is about more than organizational philosophy. Baltimore believes it has a roster capable of competing for a championship, and unanswered questions in the kicking game were significant enough to warrant action.
Whether Loop responds by reclaiming control of the job or Moody emerges as a legitimate challenger remains to be seen. What DeCosta made clear, however, is that the Ravens did not create competition for competition's sake. They created it because they felt they had to.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Eric DeCosta admits the Ravens had to create a kicker competition
