SQUAD GOALS: The Beginning
Welcome to Cover32/Ravens’ SQUAD GOALS, a weekly series following the journey of Baltimore Ravens Practice Squad members. The following is their words and their perspectives on what’s happening in their world, often along a weekly theme. This week’s theme:
My Journey to the 2016 Practice Squad
Keenan Reynolds
Wide Receiver, #81
Rookie/6th Round 2016/Navy
“Off the bat, I knew it was going to be tough. It was a lot of ups and downs and good and bad throughout the whole process. I was kind of in a situation where I didn’t know what was going to happen. When I got cut, I was obviously upset. I wasn’t really worried about it, I knew there was a higher plan and place. Whether that was with the Ravens or whether I wasn’t playing. But as far as practice squad, I figured why not the Ravens? I had spent so much time in the organization, getting to know the culture, growing closer to people on the team. Really love my position coach, Bobby Engram. Just felt that this was the best place for me to go.
I knew right before it happened that they were going to waive me. They said, “We want to bring you on the practice squad as soon as we can.” Got a lot of texts on that Friday. It was kind of overwhelming. People asking, ‘What’s happening, what’s going to happen next?’ It was just a lot going on. I was at the same time, trying to get everything together. That was probably the craziest time, when it came out early, people calling me and texting me all over the place. At that point, I just stayed in stride. There were hundreds of millions of athletes who have gone through this, I didn’t feel like I was anything special. I just kept it in stride and kept it going.
“It’s been an awesome time, playing under Coach Harbaugh really reminds me of where I came from. The culture of the Ravens is a lot like the culture of the Naval Academy.
When I signed, Ozzie Newsome was three to tell me, “Hey, it’s great to have you back!” And then I ran into Coach Harbaugh, who was really excited to see me, which really meant a lot. To know that even though I didn’t make the 53, I still feel like they wanted me in the organization for sure.”
Brennen Beyer
Linebacker, #45
1 Year/UDFA/Michigan
“Feels good to finally be in the season and with a win under our belt.
“It’s really cool to play for an awesome Coach in John Harbaugh, and then to go to Michigan and see the other Coach Harbaugh coaching up the guys I know at Michigan. One side or the other were’ always taking and seeing how the other side is doing, so it’s cool.
“Came in to camp and had a new position coach. It was kind of like starting with a clean slate. I was excited to get rolling with that. Right at the beginning, he told me that ‘You’re kind of at the bottom, I don’t know you too well, you’re going to have to be a stud in special teams.’ I took note of that. Throughout camp, I focused on doing really well special teams and outside linebacker; doing everything I could to show that I could play out there.
“As camp went on, my coach said, ‘I don’t really know you but I like what I see. I’m confinement you can play outside linebacker in this league. Now go do it on special teams.‘ So I got my opportunity in preseason. Played all four phases of special teams. Did really well in all four games, and that helped a lot. So I had done well on special teams, and my position coach knew I could play outside linebacker.
“Finished preseason, and final cuts came back, and I was confident that I would be on practice squad, and I was really hoping for a roster spot. I had already been told that they were thinking of Practice Squad, and there is always a shot to move up. Finally came got to sign day and I came in to sign. Then I was told, they always sign more guys for Practice Squad than spots, because people always get picked up. So they told me that I might not have a spot on Practice Squad. That got me a little rattled. Called my agent and that was a little crazy, seeing what the interest was with other teams. Shortly after, I got a call from Ozzie Newsome. He said, ‘Hey Brennen, we’ve got a spot for you.’ Checked with my agent, I liked Baltimore a lot and think I fit in well here, so that’s what we decided to do. I went upstairs and signed it.
“Ozzie Newsome was running back and forth taking care of things, and he told me congrats.
“My mindset is, to just as a practice squad player 1)get the team ready, best I can, to win, and 2)play well enough to where the coaches can’t do anything but, at the first opportunity, give me a shot on the 53. I’m focusing on proving to the Coaches and everyone that I can play on Sundays.”
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Matt Skura
Center, #68
Rookie/UDFA/Duke
“It’s funny. Born in Pittsburgh, grew up a Steeler fan all my life, never thought I’d be willing to wear a Ravens uniform. But now seeing it from the inside out, how they run the program, all the players are great and giving me advice, just trying to help me out. Can’t really measure everything they’ve meant to me and my career. Now, I’m a Raven through and through.
“Back in January, once we got done with our Bowl game in New York City, I went down to Atlanta to train with Chip Smith for about three months, and then I got invited to the NFL Combine. I went to Indianapolis, had my pro day, and then it was a long wait from then until the draft. I worked out with some other teams, and then once the draft was over, I got a call from two other teams and the Ravens.
“Something just stuck with me about the Ravens. Coach Castillo is about developing players, he’s really technique oriented. I felt that I need that, someone who could improve upon everything I had done in college. Build upon those things to be a good NFL player. Going into Baltimore, I knew I would have to work really hard to the coaches and staff to prove that I could play in the NFL and be on the 53 man roster.
“Right after the Saints game heading home, I was informed by Castillo that they were going to waive me but wanted me back on the Practice Squad. Coach Harbaugh said the same thing, that they wanted to see me develop. It’s kind of crazy. They release you, and then you kind of wait around for 24 hours to clear waivers. It is a little stressful because most teams can’t talk to you unless they are going to claim you off waivers. You’re kind of waiting around.
“Once I cleared waivers, I went back to the facility the next day and signed for the Practice Squad. It wasn’t too crazy because I knew what to expect. First person to greet me was Ozzie Newsome. He said they were glad to have me back, and to just go, relax and have a good weekend with my wife.
“It was funny calling my parents, who are huge Pittsburgh fans. I prefaced it: ‘Mom and Dad, please don’t be mad at me. I’m going to the Ravens.’ Obviously, they are happy with me. They’ve got a Ravens jersey, Ravens hats, they’ve bought in. Got an older and younger brother, they couldn’t be happier for me, funny how it all worked out.”
Stephen Houston
RB, #43
1st Year/UDFA/Indiana
“Most of them don’t even know who I am.
“Baltimore is nice. Treating me well. The people that I have talked to are die-hard Ravens fans, and that makes it nice to move around.
“But this goes back to the NCAA basketball tournament. Blessings come in mysterious ways, in all shapes forms and fashions. John Harbaugh was at the game between Indiana and Kentucky. I went up to him and introduced myself. ‘Hi coach, how are you doing, my name is Stephen.’ At the time I was under contract with the Canadian Football League, so I wasn’t trying to get a job, but you really never know. I was just extending my hand out to tell him my name and where I was from. I told him that I was still with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, going into my last season, and then I would be a free agent after that.
“But this season, three days before it was time to report, they called me up and released me. That’s when I heard from Vince Newsome.
“When I got here, Vince told me that I had to pass the conditioning test, or I would be on the first flight home. Make or break it. I did pass it. Went out to practice humble and hungry, ready to learn, thankful for the opportunity.
“In the preseason games, every day is an opportunity. I really just tried to have a good time and to win the ballgame. New Orleans was the crucial game. The guys on the sidelines were real positive, telling me to keep going. They wanted to see more after halftime. I wanted to give them more and I wanted to give myself more, because I knew I had more in the tank. After the game, I had emptied the tank out.
“We came back the next day to practice and get ready for Buffalo. I treated it like another day to get better. I was just letting the chips fall, whether I got cut was the furthest thing from my mind, because I was just trying to get the team better for the week one game. The second day they called me in and told me that they were going to release me, but wanted to bring me back for the Practice Squad.
“I didn’t have nervousness or anxiety during waivers because I felt that I had shown what I could do. It was just more of a patient waiting game for that day and a half. No other teams tried to claim me, which was a blessing in disguise. I didn’t want to go to another team and another system. I wanted to stay here.
“When I was walking in the building to sign, I saw Juan and Wink and they told me congratulations and they were happy that I was back. Ozzie walked by and was like, congratulations, and then later on that day, I saw my position coach, who was happy that I was back as well.
I’ll be, in practice, giving my best look for the team that we play. Doing my best to get the team ready for the next game. Playing for a great organization and practicing for a great organization.
Anybody that is playing ball, whether in the CFL or on a practice squad, it’s a blessing, it’s a win-win for anybody in this situation.
“I want to make the 53-man roster, but really, just to get better at my craft. To help the team get better at their craft and win a lot of ball games.“
SQUAD GOALS will recur each week during the NFL 2016 season exclusively from Cover32/Ravens. Tune in early next week to read more about the life of these professional football players, biding their time until the Big Time.
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