The Baltimore Ravens opened the Jesse Minter era with a 24-7 victory
over the Philadelphia Eagles, but the preseason opener was about much more than the final score. With nearly all of Baltimore's projected starters watching from the sideline, the Ravens used Saturday night to evaluate a large group of young players and roster hopefuls. Baltimore ultimately played 76 offensive snaps and 64 defensive snaps, giving the coaching staff plenty of film to study.The unofficial snap counts also provide some insight into which players received extended opportunities.
1. Joe Fagnano received the biggest quarterback workload
Joe Fagnano played 51 offensive snaps, or 64%, by far the largest workload among Baltimore's quarterbacks.
The undrafted rookie completed 22 of 28 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
He also operated the offense for much of the game after Tyler Huntley played 15 snaps and Austin Reed played 14.
Fagnano's performance was one of the biggest stories of the night. Baltimore is looking for depth behind Lamar Jackson and Huntley, and Fagnano gave the coaching staff plenty to evaluate.
2. The Ravens gave their young offensive players significant opportunities
Tight end Josh Cuevas played 36 snaps, while running back Adam Randall also played 36. Matt Hibner played 32 snaps and rookie receivers Elijah Sarratt and Dayton Wade each played 30.
Ja'Kobi Lane played 27 offensive snaps, or 34%, but made the most of his opportunities with three catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. His workload was enough to make another strong case for a significant role moving forward.
3. Keyon Martin's workload tells part of his story
Keyon Martin played 16 defensive snaps, or 36%, but he made a major impact.
Martin recorded a sack and a tackle for loss in the second half, continuing the momentum he established during training camp. The Ravens' official stock report specifically highlighted the young cornerback's ability to consistently make plays.
His production demonstrates that snap count alone doesn't tell the entire story of a preseason performance.
4. Baltimore spread the defensive workload
The Ravens rotated heavily on defense. Keondre Jackson and K'Von Wallace each played 29 defensive snaps, while Reid Williford played 29 and Dominic DeLuca played 28.
T.J. Tampa received 24 snaps, Zion Young 22, Amani Oruwariye 20 and Chandler Rivers 17.
That distribution gave Baltimore an extensive look at its young defensive depth while established starters remained out.
5. The rookies received exactly what the preseason is designed to provide
Baltimore's young players dominated the snap counts, and several turned those opportunities into meaningful performances.
Lane scored a touchdown. Hibner caught five passes for 61 yards. Sarratt caught six passes for 66 yards. Adam Randall carried the ball 12 times for 46 yards and a touchdown, while Fagnano threw for 224 yards.
That is the real value of Baltimore's 24-7 victory.
Minter got an extended look at players competing for roster spots, and several responded with performances that will make the Ravens' upcoming roster decisions more difficult. The preseason opener provided Baltimore with a strong first evaluation period, particularly for a rookie class that already generated considerable buzz during training camp.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens snap count vs. Eagles: Takeaways from preseason opener
