If a medal was awarded to the top player at Ravens training camp so far, Travis Jones would win gold.
The third-year defensive tackle has dominated many of his reps, barging into the backfield to wreck both running and passing plays.
Whatever Jones did to prepare this offseason was the right formula. He was already a good player before this season, a reliable member of the defensive line rotation. However, Head Coach John Harbaugh and many of Jones’ teammates believe Jones’ 2024 campaign could be special.
“I expect his next step to be a breakout season,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a dominant guy in there right now. Whenever somebody blocks him, I just think it’s like a super-human feat almost. He’s like a super-human player. We’ll see if it pans out in the games. I know it’s a high tag to put on him, but let’s go for it.”
Jones isn’t backing down from the expectations after finishing with 36 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and five quarterback hits last season. He watched fellow defensive lineman Justin Madubuike become an All-Pro for the first time in 2023, and Jones believes he’s just tapping into his potential.
Like Madubuike, Jones has a combination of strength and quickness that gives offensive lineman fits. He’s continuing to gain experience and add moves, and Jones feels things coming together like never before. He believes he can eventually follow the same path to Pro Bowl and All-Pro status that Madubuike took.
“Since I got here Madubuike has been a big role model for me,” Jones said. “I’ve been looking up to him for the past two years. What he did last year just gave me motivation. I want to follow in his footsteps.”
That sounds great to Jones’ coaches and teammates. But it’s not always fun for the offensive linemen trying to block Jones at training camp.
Since the pads have come on, left guard Andrew Vorhees has felt the full force of Jones’ power. Vorhees is extremely strong himself and led all players at the 2023 NFL Combine with 38 bench presses of 225 pounds. However, Vorhees said Jones has come at him with more force than anyone he blocked in college at USC.
“He’s a load for sure,” Vorhees said. “It’s like a full-grown bull just running right at you, but you’re grateful for that. You want everything to be hard during practice, so when it comes time for competition, you’re prepared and ready.
“I’m just grateful for him and excited to watch him this year. I think he’s going to have a special year, and he’s just a tremendous person at the end of the day.”
The entire defensive line has taken Jones under its wing, as well as Pass Rush Coach Chuck Smith and Defensive Line Coach Dennis Johnson. They all see Jones’ potential to become an impact player, and Jones credited Smith for fine-tuning the approach to pass-rushing
“For me, [it’s] just having a rush plan in mind and executing it all the way through; and not panicking and going straight to power,” Jones said. “I just trust my instincts; and going into my third year, I am having more confidence and experience.
”‘Broddy’ (defensive tackle Broderick Washington) is still here; and me and him became really close. We work out every day together, and he helps me improve my game.”
With a defensive line rotation of Madubuike, Jones, Michael Pierce, Washington and Brent Urban, the Ravens have the potential to dominate up front. That’s exactly what Jones has done during training camp, and Urban believes that level of play will extend into the regular season.
“I think he’s doing it,” Urban said. “He has a guy like Justin to look at. Broderick Washington who works so hard. He’s up with them early in the morning working out.
“He kind of sees the model of what to do. You guys can see it out on the field. His pass-rushing ability has gotten so much better. The way he moves, his quickness size, speed, just the way he thinks about the game now, it’s at a more mature level. I think he’s going to take off this year.”