Ricard and followers aren’t the solely ones occupied with the prospects. At Henry’s introductory press convention, Head Coach John Harbaugh was requested about the Henry-Ricard pairing.
“I do enable myself to take into consideration all these issues, and I do it with a smile on my face. It might be nice,” Harbaugh stated. “Game planning-wise, it is going to give us lots of choices. We have lots of playmakers, and our offensive line goes to be large and bodily and difficult and good. We’re trying ahead to it.”
Having overlapped for seven seasons in the NFL, Ricard and Henry have crossed paths over the years. In addition to enjoying in opposition to one another, the two have met at the Pro Bowl a number of occasions the place they’d some conversations however by no means bought to know one another too properly.
Now, Ricard has gotten an prolonged look.
“He’s virtually like the create a participant in Madden, you make No. 99 general in all stats. That’s who he’s in individual,” Ricard stated. “Seeing him out right here doing his factor in the weight room, in the assembly room, in the locker room, simply being an excellent teammate.
“On the subject, it is similar to the whole lot is precisely what everybody at all times says about him. We’re simply grateful to have him right here. He’s simply actually going to enhance our working sport and general offense and crew. Very excited to have him.”
Last offseason, there have been questions on how a lot enjoying time Ricard would get in Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken’s new scheme. Ricard ended up seeing 39% of the offensive snaps, down from 64% the 12 months earlier than however nonetheless a wholesome quantity.
This 12 months, there are questions on how a lot the Ravens will use Ricard as a lead blocker now that they’ve a giant, punishing working again in Henry, who has lengthy operated out of single-back formations.
Ricard was usually used as an additional in-line blocker on the offensive line final 12 months. He might see a major quantity of that once more, and Harbaugh even talked about his skills as a receiver.
“It’ll evolve form of the route it goes, when it comes to the place the offense goes and what we’d like, however there’s at all times going to be a requirement for a man like Pat, you probably have a man like Pat,” Harbaugh stated.
“The questions final 12 months have been just about form of debunked. He performed lots, and I believe it is going to be the similar factor this 12 months. You’ve bought an excellent soccer participant; you’ve to put him on the market. He’ll be on the market enjoying, and we’ll discover lots of nice roles for him to do.”
