The Colts stink. The Steelers are bad. The Ravens are . . . ? There are no mincing words after the Ravens’ outrageous performance in Pittsburgh. A team that just keeps throwing away games isn’t a very good team. Every time the Ravens play Pittsburgh, whether with or without Lamar, they blow it. Losing six out of seven over the last four years just doesn’t cut it, especially when the Ravens dominate most of the play.
I don’t need to rehash all of what we saw against the Steelers. Pittsburgh should not have been on the field with the Ravens in the fourth quarter. I’ll get back to them after I’m laying back on my sofa. Nevertheless, here’s this week’s comments from the couch.
John Harbaugh is a Problem
His players apparently love him. Week after week, no matter the circumstances, Harbaugh’s teams give maximum effort until the last whistle. There’s a lot to be said for that. One never hears about grumbling inside of Harbaugh’s clubhouse (with a scant few exceptions over the years). But while the missiles are flying around him, his decision making is consistently awful. Does Harbaugh have no feel for the game?
The Ravens had the Steelers at their mercy in the first half last week. They marched up and down the field yet, with 30 seconds to play, had only ten points for their efforts. In that type of scenario, when your points output doesn’t match your domination, the natural concern is that the game is “much closer than it should be.” With the clock running and on fourth down at the end of the half and a gimme field goal to grab, there is no decision to make. You’re only ahead by one score (it was 10-3 at the time) and you take the field goal to go up by two scores. That’s it! There’s nothing else to think about.
I’m amazed by how, in an era dominated by alleged superior “analytics”, coaches have lost their basic understanding of the game. I can rant for days regarding the analytics, and maybe I will with another post. But you didn’t need analytics in this situation. Harbaugh has really hurt the Ravens in their two losses.
Lamar Jackson Killed the Ravens Again
Sure, Ravens receivers dropped more balls than the Americans dropped bombs in World War II. No need to review that. But I’m sure that after the Steelers fumbled that fourth quarter punt, every one of you thought, “game over” in favor of the Ravens. I have no idea why Monken would call a fade route to the 5’11” Beckham on Lamar’s ill-fated interception throw. In the comparatively few plays Beckham received on Sunday, he struggled to get separation (he didn’t). Anyone could see it.
The judgment to throw to Beckham was terrible. He was blanketed from the snap. Lamar, however, was mentally locked into the play. He was unable to come off of Beckham, either because the play call demanded the throw given the one-on-one isolation, or because he couldn’t accept the post-snap blanket coverage that his eyes surely saw.
But it’s worse than that. Mark Andrews was crossing from outside of the left tackle into the middle of the field. He just began to clear as Jackson began to throw the ball. Andrews would have been open and available, in my view, if Lamar had waited one beat and come off of Beckham. The safety in the middle of the field had already reacted to Beckham when Lamar turned his eyes that way immediately after the snap. But these are the type of mid-play adjustments that we don’t see.
The throw, of course, was awful. It was at least four yards short and lacked any type of arc. Watching that throw from that distance reinforces the conclusion that this is not a high probability throw for Lamar. At least not to a 5’11” receiver. Fades in a short area require excellent touch. Is that a strength for Lamar?
The Steelers
This is not a good bunch. Yes, they were missing Cam Heyward on defense and that can’t be overstated. But I saw a group that just can’t cover, even with Minkah Fitzpatrick on the back end and doing his thing. They were beaten by every Ravens receiver (other than Beckham, but for a play or two) who took the field. T.J. Watt is still tremendous and one of the top two pass rushers in the league. Alex Highsmith is also exceptional as a rusher, and the two of them are arguably the best tandem in the league, something the Ravens can’t begin to sniff. But this is not your mother’s Steelers defense at this point.
Offensively, their line is a mess. They are sub-par in every way. The Ravens dominated them up front. Najee Harris, as athletically talented as he is, is just too indecisive as a runner. Yes, George Pickens is a superstar. He’s a match-up nightmare for most corners in the league. Kenny Pickett just isn’t there yet. His decision-making is spotty though I believe he’s gifted enough to be successful with better line play in front of him. And give him Diontae Johnson and he will be more effective. There is good talent in the skill position group but without better line play it won’t matter.
Much has been written elsewhere regarding the strategy and play calling of their offensive coordinator, Matt Canada. He called a poor first half, consistently attacking the Ravens’ defensive strength (up the middle and in the middle of the field) while eschewing assaults against their weaknesses (to the edge and against their corners). To Canada’s credit he figured it out in the fourth quarter. But I can see why Steelers’ fans are frustrated.
For all of that, the Steelers are in first place. Which brings me back home.
Unacceptable – More Ravens Challenges
Now for this week’s potpourri.
Ron Darby and Dummy Tackling
It’s interesting to see that Mike Macdonald favors Ron Darby over Rock Ya-Sin. We know one thing. Darby’s “tackling” efforts, if you want to call it that, were unacceptable in the fourth quarter. He, as much as anyone, cost the Ravens the game with his humiliating attempts to bring down Jaylen Warren. Darby looked like he was closing his eyes as he ducked his head and sold out. You just can’t have a “tackler” like Darby on edge, not unless he’s Deion.
What is going on with Ya-Sin? The Ravens are mum, but we would expect him to be on the field before Darby. The Ravens’ lack of speed at the corner position is a concern, but I suspect it’s one of the factors contributing to Macdonald calling so many cover-two shells to prevent deep ball attempts.
Offensive Tackle Woes
Ronnie Stanley is not anywhere near as effective as he was last year. He struggles to re-establish a base when necessary. That foundation just isn’t what it was, at least not to this point. Daniel Faalele cannot play tackle in the NFL. Yes, he was facing the great Watt, and Faalele could not lay a hand on him. And I was surprised that Todd Monken didn’t help Faalele on every play. I predicted a strip sack of Lamar in last week’s post, and Faalele helped Lamar deliver it with his “look out!” pass blocking. Once Patrick Mekari left the game last week, the Ravens offense was doomed. Faalele was so bad I’d probably have tried Ben Cleveland out there (is he still on the team?).
Offensive tackle will be a central focus in next year’s draft. But I can write about that next April.
Fumbles
I’m not going to write about that. Oh, I just did!
Pass Rush
Continued creativity is needed here. The Ravens just don’t have a natural pass rusher on the edge other than Clowney, who continues to wreak havoc but can’t finish. They need Odafe Oweh back, though we really aren’t sure what that means (I’m still holding out hope that his excellent game one was not a mirage). There are no magic answers with this group. Another 2024 draft focus.
Pat Ricard
I had no illusions that Ricard would yet again play a major role in the Ravens offense. But he’s an essential ingredient given the poor play of the Ravens’ offensive tackles. If you want to find the unsung hero on the offense, it’s Ricard, who has been fantastic.
Rashod Bateman
Bateman’s play has been massively disappointing. He was supposed to be the number one receiver when drafted. He’s contributing nothing at this point. I am, and remain, a big proponent of getting him involved in a material way. The Ravens must attempt to exploit what Bateman can bring, and I’m not talking about five yard tosses underneath. It’s nice to have Odell Beckham; he will at least catch the ball. But Bateman has much more big play potential and the Ravens, once and for all, need to generate it if they want this offense to reach it’s potential.
Yes, Bateman’s hands have been unacceptable. But before he lands in the dung heap of failed Ravens receiver draft picks, the Ravens should find out if he can reach the potential they expected when they drafted him. Because the combination of Zay Flowers, a Bateman who reaches his potential, Beckham and Mark Andrews should be un-defendable.
London
I hate these games. Anything goes for these Ravens. And that’s the point.
Oh scathing but accurate