It takes a village to make a successful team, and no more was that evident than in the Ravens fiasco against Cleveland. We must not forget that a lot went right in this game. The natural response is to focus on what went wrong and why. I’ll take a crack at that first.
A Tale of Two Games
The Ravens dominated the first quarter of the game, played to a rough push in the second quarter, and were outplayed in the second half. There’s a bunch of bad in the second half, but on my game review much of that was isolated to poor play by a handful of players. So, what did I see?
The Defense
There’s plenty to account for from last week.
The Defensive Game Plan
Mike Macdonald ran a cover two package on 90%+ of his defensive calls. Almost universally, this consisted of Marcus Williams (100% of the time) and Geno Stone each playing 13 yards deep at the snap (occasionally, Kyle Hamilton was there in lieu of Stone). This strategy attempts to eliminate the big play over the top. And it succeeded throughout the game. It also requires solid man coverage underneath, and this largely worked in the first half (with a caveat I discuss below). I counted numerous plays where the man packages underneath the cover two zone were executed flawlessly – the corners played well in the first half.
Marcus Williams
The exception obvious on tape was Marcus Williams. In one man coverage matchup underneath package, Williams picked up no one as the underneath corners and linebackers swapped assignments, leading to a big gain. On another pass play Williams was very late helping out, i.e., his reaction was poor, leading to another gain. Throughout the game I could find virtually no occasion where Williams offered any type of run support, and on most plays, Williams was in full retreat mode at the snap. No one was going to get behind Williams under this approach.
Some observers have criticized Williams’ inability to tackle last week. There was one instance where Williams offered (using only his right arm) where he unsurprisingly whiffed, resulting in a 30 yard gain. But most of the time Williams was largely unengaged in tackling. Thus, two things about Williams’ use were obvious. First, he was utilized as the “last defense” almost exclusively. And there was no instance where Williams was an active threat on any pass attempt. Second, the ancillary effect of this positioning was that he was uninvolved in contact play. As a result, Williams had virtually no impact on the game. Sure, the fact that he remained deep was a deterrent to deep attempts by the Browns. But that’s about it. The Ravens defense functionally played with ten men throughout the game.
At this point, Macdonald has to make the judgment whether Williams’ limited impact can (quickly) improve, or whether it’s better to rest Williams until he gets to full strength. It’s not as simple a judgment as it might appear. With Williams out, either Kyle Hamilton must play more on the back end, or Daryl Worley has to take one of the cover two responsibilities. If Hamilton goes to the back end, his impact up front is lost and Arthur Mallet takes over in the slot. Against Cincinnati, what do you prefer?
Cover Two and Run Support
The Ravens struggled, particularly in the second half, with run support in some of their cover two sets. Over 85% of the time the Browns ran an 11 personnel package (three wide receivers, one tight end and one running back). Against these packages the Ravens typically offered six men in the box. In the second half the Browns began to run more frequently out of their 11 personnel. With only six defenders in the box this required the Ravens corners and safeties to help in run support. There was no occasion (unless I blinked) where Marcus Williams offered any assistance.
Geno Stone offered support on several plays, but with mixed results, as there were instances of Stone over-committing and/or taking bad angles. Stone’s run support, more generally, has been middling at best and it showed in this game. The Ravens’ corners were generally positioned to execute their man coverages (though Brandon Stephens was very effective in run support when called upon), leaving the safeties to compensate. Below I get a little more into what happened against the Browns’ running attack but for now let me switch back to the secondary.
The Ravens’ Corners, But For Rock Ya-Sin, Generally Played Well
There were a very high percentage of plays where the Ravens corners in man coverage performed admirably. Brandon Stephens played well again, yielding one big gain to Amari Cooper and a little bit underneath. But Stephens was otherwise very well positioned and did a good job mirroring.
The clear problem in the secondary was Rock Ya-Sin, particularly in the second half. On one pitch-out running play when the Ravens actually had seven players in the box Ya-Sin’s effort was abysmal, yielding a big gain. But his playing in the secondary really hurt. On one pass to Amari Cooper in the second half Ya-Sin’s mental mistake left him playing zone coverage underneath while everyone else was in man. He turned Cooper loose on a middle-deep route, leaving Cooper wide open for a big gain. Then, Ya-Sin took the wrong man in a ten personnel package (four wide receivers and one running back), yielding a touchdown.
On the game’s final drive, Ya-Sin again allowed Cooper to get wide open as the two deep safeties continued retreating (a mistake by at least one of them), yielding another big gain to Cooper. A very bad day for Ya-Sin. And I don’t remember Ron Darby taking the field at all.
Cleveland Fiasco – Another Bad Effort By Patrick Queen
Because of the Browns’ packages, the Ravens frequently found themselves with six men in the box. This puts pressure on both inside linebackers (and of course the front four), as they must read and react properly and not permit the guards to get to them. Queen, for the second time in the last three games, hurt the Ravens on numerous running plays. I saw him: (1) jump to the wrong hole, (2) properly fill the hole but miss the tackle, (3) miss an open tackling opportunity, and (4) get engulfed by guards.
Queen didn’t have his finest hour in passing assignments either. On one play Queen simply took the wrong man. On another play where Queen was showing blitz (along with Roquan Smith), he dropped back 14 yards deep into coverage but found no one, leaving his tight end assignment open underneath. Queen tried to recover but took a bad angle and missed the tackle. On yet a third play he and Kyle Hamilton were tasked with switching coverages on a crosser, but Queen was late, yielding a gain down to the two yard line. And on a fourth play he failed to get into the flat to cover the tight end.
The mental pressure seems to be mounting on Queen. I never want to conclude that a player is pressing because he’s in his contract year. But Queen’s play has deteriorated over the last few games and bears watching. The Ravens have no alternative to Queen, and it’s not horrible yet. But Queen has to get re-focused, and in a hurry.
Defensive Front Play
The Ravens continued to get plenty of pressure out of both their play designs and by players’ efforts. Jadaveon Clowney, yet again, jumped off the screen with several individual wins, yielding two sacks and several other pressures and hurries. Clowney was great coming forward. Overall, Clowney has been sensational.
Odafe Oweh continued to show progress as a pass rusher. On his sack he executed a beautiful left shoulder dip, leaving the tackle off balance as he sprinted to the quarterback. This was a one-on-one win (albeit against a backup tackle). Oweh held up well against the run, but when tasked on one occasion to drop into coverage he was completely lost on his assignment. There’s little reason to drop him back at all, at this point, and I hope Macdonald takes that out of his game plan.
The interior front three played reasonably well until the end of the game. Macdonald is not, however, fully utilizing Travis Jones in the rotation. Michael Pierce is playing at a high level, but I’d like to keep him a little fresher, and more fully utilize Jones in obvious running situations. Jones is improving. Although Justin Madubuike had a straight up win on his sack, he was not dominant in holding the point of attack. This is no overall criticism of Madubuike, he just struggled a bit more in the running game.
Kyle Van Noy has been tremendous on the pass rush so far. But the downside of his game was more apparent on Sunday, as he missed in the open field several times. That’s part of the trade off with Van Noy that had not been exposed until the Browns game.
The Offense
Now for some highlights and lowlights from the offense.
The Offensive Line
It was going to be a tough week for Ronnie Stanley regardless. Myles Garrett is the top pass rusher in the game, bar none. He is dominant moving left or right, punching, swiping, spinning, power rushing – everything. Garrett’s only “weakness” is leaving his side of the field exposed to runs underneath him.
Garrett notwithstanding, Stanley’s struggles are a weekly occurrence and it showed yet again against the Browns. He continues to need a bit more help than Todd Monken is providing. When Daniel Faalele replaced Stanley after Ronnie’s injury, on virtually every pass attempt Monken helped him with either Patrick Ricard or a running back. I’m not suggesting that level of help with Stanley, but more chipping and help is needed.
Tyler Linderbaum had his worst game of the season. The Browns have an excellent defensive front, and Linderbaum struggled to get any consistent push at the point of attack. He was also overpowered too frequently in pass protection, yielding one sack, and being pushed back into the pocket on other attempts. Even on one zone blocking play calling for a pitch to Gus Edwards, he failed to get out in front. And on Gus’ touchdown plunge in the second half Linderbaum was blown backwards as, of all people, Charlie Kolar made an excellent block to help Gus score. If only Isaiah Likely could do the same (he whiffed – again – on a Keaton Mitchell attempt).
Lamar and the Wide Receivers
No need to spend much time on the obvious. Lamar’s deep ball misses are killing the Ravens. It wasn’t just the open touchdown to Zay Flowers that Lamar left on the field. On his first interception he had Rashod Bateman wide open on a deep route as he threw the ball short.
It’s hard to get receivers wide open in the NFL. It doesn’t seem to matter with Lamar, as he can’t seem to triangulate the deep throws to either hit receivers in stride, or to loft the ball at a high enough angle to allow the open receiver to run underneath. At this point this isn’t just a pattern – it’s a problem.
And what a pity, too. Todd Monken should run Zay Flower more frequently on deep routes. Flowers is made to give a double move and go. Or to just fly by. His quickness and speed are a deadly combination, made to be utilized away from the line of scrimmage where there are fewer would-be tacklers. More of Flowers down the field, and less of Flowers on bubble screens (which, by the way, disappeared from the attack this week, and good riddance!). Monken has to call more of this stuff, whether Lamar can hit it or not.
And let’s not forget Rashod Bateman on deep throws too. Bateman generally had an excellent game against the Browns, as he was regularly open and engaged. Sure, whether one calls deeper routes is all about the pass protection, but Bateman and Flowers get open. Monken has to find a way to call their numbers more often.
The Receivers Need to Work Harder on Lamar Scrambles
With Stanley’s struggles, Lamar finds himself in scramble situations more frequently. But I noticed in the Browns game that when receivers are (say) running routes to the left and Lamar scrambles to his right, they (generally said) aren’t working their way back towards Lamar to help. The result finds Jackson looking to – at best – one possible receiver, often leading to a throw-away.
The Ravens have to adapt here. Their wideouts have to understand that protection breaks down too frequently and Jackson is on the move and needs help. Lamar can’t do it alone. Better awareness and effort are needed from the receiver group.
Keaton Mitchell
I hate to write about what everyone sees, and it’s true Mitchell disappeared after his two big plays. It’s hard to fathom why. Mitchell is dynamic, pure and simple. The defense must account for him all over the field. Even if you don’t call his number, misdirection involving Mitchell can be invaluable. Let’s get more creative here.
For one, conceive of formations with both Gus Edwards and Mitchell aligned in the backfield. The defense must be geared up inside and outside. RPO potential is everywhere, and the pressure is on everyone. Play action fakes with these two could yield legions of opportunities. Jet action involving Zay Flowers and/or Mitchell could offer large misdirection chances. There’s a whole playbook of toys to utilize here. I’m not sure Monken has a page or two here, but if he doesn’t, he should add them – and now.
Mitchell’s attempted touchdown catch was a high degree of difficulty play on an underthrown ball. Not to be forgotten on that play is this – Mitchell had his man beat. And we should see that over and over again if Monken calls his number. Mitchell is a unique threat. It’s unacceptable to “forget” about him as a play caller.
The Cleveland Fiasco – Special Teams
This was another very poor effort out of this group. Jordan Stoudt punched two kicks out of the end zone when he had plenty of space to work with. Myles Garrett blew up Tavius Robinson as he easily blocked Justin Tucker’s long attempt. Special teams is a serious problem for the Ravens, and it’s not getting better.
At the time of Tucker’s attempt, I believed the Ravens’ should have punted and attempted to bury the Browns back inside of the ten, instead of risking a miss and giving up good field position. This year, I don’t consider a Tucker attempt at this distance to be “automatic”, if only because of the blocking problems. And in any event, the game at that point just “felt” like the better tactic was to bury the Browns back instead of going for a roughly 55% probability kick. I’m not a guy who plays it just by the probabilities. It’s also about how the game is playing out.
The Bengals Game
In the last three contests against Cincinnati, the Ravens have thrived defensively with the cover two concept they prominently featured against the Browns. The Bengals, on the other hand, have faced this approach in these last three Ravens’ games, and it’s high time we see them adjust. Tee Higgins is out, and we’ll see if the Bengals run eleven personnel packages, and how frequently. But if they do, given the Ravens run-game struggles in cover two last week a Bengals run attack focused on the middle of the field would not be surprising. Patrick Queen needs to step it up.
The Ravens, apparently without Marlon Humphrey, should have Brandon Stephens shadow Ja’Marr Chase all over the field in man packages. I wouldn’t task Ya-Sin to cover Chase. Stephens brings physicality and improved technique, and physicality against Chase is essential if you can bring it. I suspect we will see more underneath zone calls this week.
With Daryl Worley apparently questionable for the game, the probability of Marcus Williams being on the back end increases, with the same attendant risks we saw in the Browns’ game. Overall, I don’t expect Macdonald to change his approach, at least not until the Bengals succeed against it.
Having Patrick Mekari back at left tackle against Trey Hendrickson is not ideal. Mekari played well against Hendrickson in the first game, and his play this week – hopefully with some help – is key to a Ravens victory. Monken needs to retain, if not enhance, his aggressiveness. If Keaton Mitchell can go, then feature him either directly or with misdirection. Get Zay Flowers involved down the field. If John Simpson can’t go, will we see Ben Cleveland at left guard? I continue to believe Cleveland can hold his own in the run game.
This is a critical game for the Ravens. If they lose, then everything they gained in their divisional road wins will be gone, with a burningly tough schedule ahead of them. More than any other game on the schedule, I consider this one a must-win.
