Ravens Training Camp: Dealing With Extreme Heat
It's the peak of summer, and NFL teams are feeling the heat as training camps begin.
The Baltimore Ravens are no exception to this rule. Over the Ravens' last three practices on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, temperatures in Baltimore have soared to a high of 97 F with a humidity around 50 percent each day. Being out in that heat alone is tough already, but something as intense as an NFL practice makes the extreme weather that much more grueling.
For the Ravens, though, the extreme weather isn't entirely a bad thing. While practicing in such heat takes a heavy toll on players, but it also allows those players to prepare for those conditions in actual games. On Saturday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh praised his players for how they've battled the elements through the first days of training camp.
"Right, you do look at it hard – in the heat – how they hold up fundamentally and assignment-wise. It's an opportunity," Harbaugh told reporters. "Fatigue, we call it. So, when you get fatigued, take the opportunity to create the ability to produce in that fatigue and get your performance at the highest level when you're the most tired, plus there are elements of conditioning that really are a benefit to us. So, I thought the guys did a really good job of it, and [we'll] see what it looks like next week."
As for the players, they see the harsh conditions as a way to better themselves. Quarterback Lamar Jackson briefly acknowledged the heat at practice, stating that he enjoyed participating despite the harsh conditions. Linebacker Roquan Smith went more in depth, detailing how the heat is positively affecting the team.
"It definitely affects you, but it's nothing until the end of the day," Smith told reporters. "It's definitely draining for sure, but it's just preparing us for the season. We're building up cardio, getting our legs right with the lactic acid as well. So, I'm excited. The heat is a good thing and as long as we're staying hydrated, taking care of ourselves, it'll pay dividends for us in the long haul."
Weather will certainly be a factor for the Ravens this season, at least early on. Baltimore's first five regular-season games are all at 1 p.m. ET and take place at outdoor venues. In that sense, it's good to get acclimated to the heat before the actual games begin.
Preparing for the elements isn't the first thing most think of when it comes to NFL training camps, but the Ravens and other teams know it's a crucial part of the process.
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