Ravens: Carroll natives Braun and Copeland look 'really good' at rookie minicamp

OWINGS MILLS - Jeff Braun didn't have any decleating blocks, and Brandon Copeland didn't have any highlight reel-caliber plays defensively, but, to both Braun and Copeland, this weekend's rookie minicamp was a positive first step in their respective quests to make the Baltimore Ravens' roster.

Braun, a Westminster native and Winters Mill High School graduate, and Copeland, a Sykesville native and graduate of Gilman School in Baltimore, were two of 14 undrafted free agents Baltimore signed last week and the rookie minicamp was their first practice time with their new team.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Braun and Copeland both looked "really good" during the minicamp.

Said Harbaugh: "Those guys played well. ... [They are] big, good, athletic guys, smart players, guys that can definitely make it in the NFL."

The 6-foot-4, 309-pound Braun played guard his final two college seasons at West Virginia, but he also saw time at right tackle and center during his college career and could see time at multiple spots along the offensive line during the next few months for the Ravens as he hopes to earn a roster spot.

"Right now, I'm not even looking at the numbers or who's in front of me," Braun said. "I just want to get better. And when training camp comes, and that time comes, then it's time to really put the pads on. Out here, we're not padded, so it's not really too much of football. It's more just schemes and stuff.

"But once the pads come on, I'll worry more about where I'm at on the depth chart and what I can do to move up."

Braun was a three-year starter for West Virginia - at guard each of his final two years and at right tackle as a sophomore in 2010. He was an honorable mentioned All-Big 12 selection as a senior last year.

Braun worked exclusively at center during rookie minicamp.

"It went well," Braun said. "The biggest thing was trying to get the offense down in as little time as possible. They're throwing a lot at us each day and we don't have enough meeting time to go over everything, so you have to study on your own and be able to understand everything, but it was fun and I had a blast out here."

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Copeland was a three-year starter at defensive end at Penn, but he's converting to linebacker with the Ravens.

"It went well," Copeland said. "I learned a lot out here. It was nice getting to see and learn the defense that I've been looking up to my entire life.

"I'm making the switch from defensive line to Mike linebacker, which is a big switch, but I learned a lot the past few days and I'm just hoping to keep building on that."

Copeland was a first-team All-Ivy League selection during each of his final three seasons at Penn. He had 51 tackles and a team-high five sacks for the Quakers last season.

At Penn's Pro Day in March, Copeland ran the 40-yard dash in 4.72 seconds, considered an above-average time for a player of his size, and did 30 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press, which, if done at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, would've been the second-highest mark among linebackers and tied for sixth-best among defensive linemen.

He also tested out well in the vertical jump (34.5 inches), the broad jump (10-2) and the three-cone drill (7.29 seconds) as well as in the 20-yard shuttle (4.37). The 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle are drills designed to test an athlete's quickness.

Copeland may end up seeing time at outside linebacker for the Ravens as well, but he was used primarily at inside linebacker during rookie minicamp.

"This week, I stayed mostly at Mike linebacker, but I think the coaches already know that I can play outside linebacker and that that's probably where I'm most comfortable," Copeland said. "But they realize that I'm also working to learn that inside linebacker position, and I think that versatility will help.

"You can see I'm not as comfortable with inside linebacker yet - back-pedaling, reading run and all that type of stuff - but they've seen how quickly I've caught onto things. My breaks are better already, and this only a few days at inside linebacker, so imagine where I'll be in a week or two weeks or a month, so we'll see. Hopefully this versatility does help me, though."