He already has lofty ambitions for a new role, but Keaton Mitchell is doing more for the Baltimore Ravens than simply filling a void on special teams. The third-year running back is helping the team find a new “identity” in a key area of football’s third phase.
Specifically, Mitchell taking on kick returner’s duties is helping special teams coordinator Chris Horton reshape his unit. Horton explained how after Mitchell caught the eye as one of the standouts during the first week of training camp.
As Horton put it, “Obviously, Keaton has done a tremendous job for us when he has been back there, just the body type, the style of play. It took us a while to really figure out our identity and who we wanted to be as a kickoff return unit. As the season went on late in the year, those body types, those running back body types, they’re used to bouncing off tacklers. So, it allowed for that type of player to really have success back there,” per Ravens.com Editorial Director Ryan Mink.
That’s quite the changeup after the Ravens spent years relying on wide receivers to return kicks. Players like the late Jacoby Jones and All-Pro Devin Duvernay thrived in the role, but the Ravens have struggled to find worthy successors.
Mitchell can help Horton shift emphasis in the return game, but still retain invaluable potential for big plays.
Keaton Mitchell Set to Be Difference-Maker in New Way for Ravens
Mitchell is planning to emulate the right Hall of Famer in his bid to make his job returning kicks one the Ravens can ill afford to be without. He’s been making the right start by impressing Horton at camp.
Horton wants “a guy with some toughness, a guy that’s going to run with speed with vision, he’s going to have success back there for us. Keaton, he’s done a heck of a job, and it’s really good to see him out here just rolling,” per Mink.
Those words represent a strong endorsement because they prove Mitchell’s breakaway threat is intact, despite the torn ACL that cost him almost all of last season. The 23-year-old eased doubts about the integrity of his underlying speed with plays like this explosive runback against the Cleveland Browns in Week 18, highlighted by Nic Mason.
In all, he “averaged 31.2 yards on five kickoff returns last season. With touchbacks now giving the offense the ball at the 35-yard line due to the NFL’s rule change, there should be even more kickoff return opportunities this season,” according to Mink.
Mitchell taking advantage of rule changes to earn star status as a returner is a realistic prediction. If it comes true, the Ravens will have the ability to flip field position in a hurry and strike suddenly for momentum-changing scores.
Horton will hope another undrafted player emerges to do the same when handling punts.
Rookie Free Agent Part of Evolving Ravens’ Return Game
Mitchell can put all his efforts into mastering the kick returner role because he may find work as a running back hard to come by in a crowded backfield. As offensive coordinator Todd Monken told reporters at camp, per Kevin Oestreciher of Ravens Wire, “It’s a fight to get touches in the backfield. Justice Hill is an established, outstanding football player. Now we have Derrick [Henry], so that third running back position is fighting for reps, fighting for touches.”
A scarcity of carries should leave Mitchell hungrier to make the most of every opportunity he gets on special teams. It’s a similar story for rookie free agent LaJohntay Wester, who will struggle for catches in an increasingly loaded wide receiver room, but he’ll be part of the mix to return punts.
Wester is set “to be a primary contender, but he will have to win the job. Veteran wide receiver Anthony Miller and others are also in that mix,” according to Mink.
The picture is changing for the Ravens in an area they have traditionally dominated. Restoring the franchise staple can be the X-factor for a contender needing something extra to get over the Super Bowl hump.
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