OWINGS MILLS — Four-time Pro Bowler Pat Ricard has often been described as a “Swiss Army knife” for the Ravens.
At 6 feet 3, 305 pounds, Ricard can play fullback, tight end, fill in as an extra blocker on the offensive line and can also be a run-stopper on defense.
This year, Ricard, 30, can be used as a battering ram for another four-time Pro Bowler, running back Derrick Henry. It’s almost certain that Ravens coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Todd Monken will look for ways to get Ricard on the field.
“It’ll evolve kind of the direction it goes, in terms of where the offense goes and what we need, but there’s always going to be a requirement for a guy like Pat, if you have a guy like Pat.” Harbaugh said. “The questions last year were pretty much kind of debunked. He played a lot, and I think it’s going to be the same thing this year. You’ve got a good football player; you have to put him out there.
“He’ll be out there playing, and we’ll find a lot of great roles for him … The nice thing is, he can actually run routes and catch the ball, and that’s something that people kind of take for granted that he wouldn’t be able to do.”
Ricard is ranked 25th all-time for games played with the Ravens with 104 appearances.
Ricard’s playing time decreased last season when he played 39 percent of the offensive snaps, compared to 64 percent the previous year. He caught seven passes for 52 yards with a touchdown.
He will continue to get opportunities because he can play several positions. Ricard has earned the respect of his teammates, who want to claim him for their respective positions.
“For sure. Pat [Ricard] is that Swiss Army knife,” tight end Isaiah Likely said. “Pat is the best blocking person, I feel like, in the league. He’s that sixth offensive lineman, and last year, Pat had, at the time, the longest run-after-catch – against Detroit, I’m pretty sure, where he caught a check-down and went for like [28] yards. He hit a little spin move at the end. So, at the time, that was like one of the longest plays that we had that year.”