NFLPA report card: Ravens strength coaches rank last in NFL, but team grades well in other areas

The Ravens have the worst strength coaches in the NFL, according to an NFL Players Association survey released Wednesday.

The first NFLPA report card sampled more than 1,300 players on 2022 rosters and handed out grades for every team in eight areas, from nutrition to facilities to travel. The Ravens ranked 17th overall out of 32 NFL teams, with a C or better in seven of eight categories.

But the one area the Ravens flunked, according to the anonymous survey, was their strength staff, earning an F- to rank last in the NFL. Steve Saunders, the team’s former strength and conditioning coach, was “at the core of these issues,” according to the NFLPA’s conclusions of the Ravens’ survey results. The Ravens parted ways with Saunders last month and promoted his assistant, Scott Elliott.

The flunking grade doesn’t just stand out among the rest of the Ravens’ scores, though. It stands out among the entire NFL. In addition to the Ravens, only five other teams received an F- in a category: the Washington Commanders (travel, locker room, training room), Los Angeles Chargers (training room), Arizona Cardinals (training room, weight room, nutrition), Cincinnati Bengals (nutrition) and New Orleans Saints (nutrition).

Additionally, of the eight categories, strength staff was the one the players judged the least harshly, with 27 teams earning an A and three others receiving a B. The second-worst team in this category, the Atlanta Falcons, got a D-.

The view of Saunders in the survey was “markedly negative,” as just 38% of respondents believed each player had an individualized plan, with others noting the lack of staff. Saunders, who many fans blamed in 2021 as the Ravens dealt with a rash of injuries, was suspended for a month in 2020 after sources said he was caught not wearing a proximity tracker or mask as required by the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols.

“Things move for different kinds of reasons, and I think what Steve did for us, what he brought to this thing for the last eight years, was pretty revolutionary itself,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “We are one of the strongest teams in football, one of the most physical teams in football, one of the most conditioned teams in football. That’s why our record in December and January is really pretty phenomenal — November, December and January. It’s pretty remarkable. So a lot of that has to do with the way we condition. So I appreciate Steve in that sense. It’s going to be some opportunities for him, I’m sure, going forward.”

After an injury-marred 2021 season, the Ravens took steps to be healthier in 2022 and beyond, hiring Tennessee Titans director of physical therapy and sports rehabilitation Adrian Dixon as head athletic trainer. They also implemented a new preseason plan last summer, which involved moving practices from the morning to the afternoon, emphasizing stretching and limiting one-on-one work, among other changes.

Harbaugh said Wednesday he’s excited for Elliott and his team to “get an opportunity now to show what they can do.”

“We’ve been great — all the things we did on the injury front last year, I think, paid off this year,” Harbaugh said. “Yeah, we had some injuries. But the soft-tissue stuff was vastly improved. So I think we’re headed in the right direction.”

Aside from their strength staff, the Ravens ranked among the best in the league in “locker room” and “team travel,” earning an A and finishing top five in both categories. For the locker room, 94% of players said there’s enough space, while the team’s travel accommodations include no roommates in hotels and first-class seats offered to players.

The Ravens ranked middle of the pack in the other categories: training staff (B+), nutrition (B-), treatment of families (C+), weight room (C+) and training room

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NFLPA president JC Tretter, a former center for the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, said the union’s intent is to continue to field player opinions and feedback every year.

“The reason we want this to be reoccurring is next year, there can be no claim of ignorance because we’ve brought the problem up and it would be even more telling if these issues continue,” Tretter said. “Then that’s a clear choice and there’s no claim of ignorance there.

“It’s going to be very clear what the next steps should be. If you’re unwilling to take those next steps, I think that tells us a lot going into the following year.”

The survey was sent to approximately 2,200 players, with nearly 60% responding. The Minnesota Vikings finished atop the rankings, according to the survey, while the Commanders were last.

The full report and rankings can be found on NFLPA.com.

Baltimore Sun reporter Hayes Gardner contributed to this article.

(C). The players also believed that Ravens owner Steve Biscotti is committed to “high quality,” as 100% of the respondents believe he is “willing to invest in upgrades to the facility.” NFLPA president JC Tretter, a former center for the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, said the union’s intent is to continue to field player opinions and feedback every year. “The reason we want this to be reoccurring is next year, there can be no claim of ignorance because we’ve brought the problem up and it would be even more telling if these issues continue,” Tretter said. “Then that’s a clear choice and there’s no claim of ignorance there. “It’s going to be very clear what the next steps should be. If you’re unwilling to take those next steps, I think that tells us a lot going into the following year.” The survey was sent to approximately 2,200 players, with nearly 60% responding. The Minnesota Vikings finished atop the rankings, according to the survey, while the Commanders were last. The full report and rankings can be found on NFLPA.com. Baltimore Sun reporter Hayes Gardner contributed to this article.

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