After a solid drubbing of the poor-old Bengals, it’s time to share some Ravens thoughts heading into the Chargers game. The loss of Mark Andrews was the only thing that went wrong against Cincinnati. As great as Andrews is – and he is – the Ravens have enough remaining offense to continue piling up the points. Let’s get into last week a bit, and extrapolate from there.
Give Me More and More Keaton Mitchell, Please
The Ravens didn’t highlight Mitchell much more than they had against Cleveland. But Mitchell’s reps against the Bengals jumped so far off the tape that I’m more excited for his (and the Ravens offense) upside than before. I’m focused on Mitchell’s third quarter effort.
On his first impact play the Ravens’ went empty in the backfield (five wide) with Mitchell lined up to the far outside against safety Dax Hill. Hill backed off roughly ten yards. Lamar spotted the match-up and tossed to Mitchell for an easy nine yards.
Mitchell’s next action highlighted his phenomenal vision and cutback ability. He received the handoff and immediately spotted a hole directly behind Tyler Linderbaum. But as Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson began filling that hole, Mitchell instantaneously planted his left foot as Wilson committed, and cut back against the grain at full speed, all the while eluding the edge linebacker. Mitchell then outran Hill, faked a cut behind a wide receiver block, and split two would-be tacklers while angling towards the sideline. If ever there was a classic example of a Vince Lombardi’s run to daylight philosophy by a dazzling natural God-given talent this was it.
Then there was more. On a handoff two plays later, Mitchell looked like a SpaceX rocket exploding through a hole. On the very next play we witnessed a zig-zag cut, as a hole in front of him again closed and Mitchell seamlessly found another hole inside left tackle Pat Mekari’s shoulder, hitting it at full speed. An absolute thing of beauty.
The Ravens have never had a runner with this combination of natural gifts. They are so difficult to defend, particularly when intermixed with misdirection and decoys. Heretofore I believed that spotting Mitchell was his ideal use. Now, I believe his use should be increased, if not significantly so and particularly (dare I say) at playoff time. As I’ve claimed before, put him out there with Zay Flowers in formations where they can both threaten and look out. Oh, and did I point out that Mitchell and Lamar on run-pass option plays is the ultimate impossible dual-threat for defensive ends?
The Secondary Has Been Outstanding All Year, and Yet Again Against Cincy
The great play of this unit is the result of them playing as a unit. Every group has its occasional individual breakdowns, but group breakdowns (as we’ve seen in the past) can blow up a game. Brandon Stephens, as I’ve noted before, has become a number one corner, pure and simple. But what really sets apart the Ravens group is that they get it, as a unit. Week after week witnesses beautiful transitions and handoffs, with each player sticking to his assigned task and executing them with great proficiency.
All of this in spite of dealing with a fair number of personnel changes. Before the season began the Ravens were probably expecting Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton on the back end, Marlon Humphrey and Rock Ya-Sin as the likely starting outside corners, and some combination of possibly Pepe Williams, Brandon Stephens, Ar’Darius Washington and others manning the slot. It sure hasn’t turned out that way, at least for much of the time. Yet, each week I turn the tape on and watch the back six or seven provide blanket coverages, which has led to more sacks. Secondary coach Chris Hewitt has done a masterful job.
The cover two zone over the top is the staple in Mike Macdonald’s approach. He ran it almost 100% of the time against Cincinnati after almost 90% of the time against the Browns. It’s hard to get deep on the Ravens, and with the (dare again I say) bare minimum of missed assignments in front of the back two, the whole is greater than the sum of these parts.
We will know whether all of this is the result of great defense and great coaching – or the beneficiary of playing largely against mediocre quarterbacks – after the Ravens play San Francisco and Miami.
Increasing Difficulties Stopping the Run
The trade-off with the cover two defense is lack of personnel available for run support. When teams run 11 personnel, as both the Browns and Bengals did over 80% of the time, the Ravens are left with just six men in the box. Moreover, both teams used a large dose of zone blocking schemes, making gap control by the Ravens’ defensive linemen more challenging. Michael Pierce, Brent Urban, and Travis Jones have each performed well when given the opportunity to handle two gaps.
But on many of the zone blocking calls by the offenses where the Ravens defense lost, one of two things has generally occurred. Either one or more blockers got to the inside linebackers, or one of those backers made a poor read or react. In both cases, because both safeties are so deep, the Ravens are yielding too many yards. We’ve seen an increasing number of “gash” plays against the defense.
More Patrick Queen
In recent weeks I’ve blamed Patrick Queen to a large degree for most of the misplay by the inside linebackers. Queen’s diminished effectiveness continued against the Bengals, though it wasn’t as noticeable because the Ravens controlled the game in the second half. And I’m continuing the downbeat on Queen as he’s reacting too slowly in coverage too. You just can’t hide this on tape.
A Fix?
What can Mike Macdonald do to plug a hole in the run-game dike? Against 11 personnel (three wide receivers, one running back and one tight end) Kyle Hamilton typically lines up in the slot, with both safeties starting 13 yards downfield pre-snap. From there, Hamilton is frequently called on to blitz from the outside. But instead, Macdonald could roll Hamilton into a third linebacker position where he would play freer in run support. This would require one of the deep safeties to roll onto the slot receiver, weakening the Ravens deep secondary support. But a free-reign and likely unblocked Hamilton would be a salve in the run defense.
Alternatively, and we witnessed this on a few occasions against the Bengals to good benefit, Macdonald could roll one of the safeties (so far, it’s been Marcus Williams) up in run support on the snap. In these cases Williams is counted upon to recognize whether the play is a run or pass, and compensate accordingly. I wouldn’t task Geno Stone in this manner because Stone lacks the quickness and speed to react backwards if the play becomes a pass attempt.
It’s all a chess game and Macdonald clearly prioritizes protection against the big play (who can blame him). But rest assured that the likes of the 49ers and Dolphins are going to exploit this weakness in the Ravens defense. Again, these are the games that will prove whether the Ravens defense is either elite – or something less.
Ravens Thoughts: The Post-Mark Andrews World
The Ravens are left with two tight ends who individually lack the complete tight end package. Isaiah Likely is a weapon with the ball in his hands but a liability as an in-line blocker. Frankly, you can’t count on him in-line on any play. How effective Likely will be as a primary receiving tight end remains to be seen. He has had focus drops, albeit without enough chances. This is a step-up for him.
On the other hand, Charlie Kolar is the better in-line blocker (though that’s a low threshold). I’ve seen Kolar improving the last few games in this respect, and thought he had several plus blocks against the Bengals. Kolar is a big target with good hands and yards after the catch potential. He’s smart and should be able to find soft spots against zone coverages (like Andrews). And he times faster in the forty than Isaiah Likely. The Ravens haven’t really scratched Kolar’s surface yet.
No doubt we are going to see both players. Todd Monken must avoid falling into the simple trap of playing Likely primarily on passing downs (though that might be hard to avoid). In 11 personnel sets I’m assuming we will see more of Likely. When the Ravens run bubble screens I’d prefer to see Kolar out there.
Odell Beckham is Beginning to Benefit, With More to Come
I thought Beckham looked quicker against the Bengals. He was more dynamic and a major contributor. With Zay Flowers on the field, Beckham is not drawing double coverages and his footwork really aided him in getting free and after the catch. When Keaton Mitchell lines up as a receiver, he’s likely to draw safety attention (he’s an impossible cover for any linebacker), and this simply must further benefit Odell.
Now let’s think about Odell in the post-Andres world. Whether it’s Likely or Kolar as a tight end on passing downs, who will Lamar turn to when the play breaks down? I expect the principal beneficiary on those plays will be Beckham, and I see Andrews’ loss as a big opportunity for Beckham to become a more prominent feature in the attack. He might well turn out to be the Andrews security blanket substitute. Frankly, you can’t expect a rookie to assume that role, and though Rashod Bateman is playing well, who else does Lamar have to rely on?
Ravens Thoughts: This Weeks Errata
Now for some final comments from the couch.
Odafe Oweh
Oweh just keeps improving. One has to elevate the ceiling for Oweh given what he’s accomplishing. I found numerous plays that I “starred” for Oweh last week, yet again. He’s holding the edge, he’s developing an impressive pass rush repertoire, and he remains a relentless attacker. His sack against the Bengals was a total effort play as, even after he was pushed up the arc by the left tackle, he continued back to get the quarterback. Oweh is on his “weh” to becoming a cornerstone of the defense.
Left Tackle
As expected, Pat Mekari struggled against Trey Hendrickson. Readers are well versed in the decline of Ronnie Stanley. It’s clear that the difficulty at left tackle will be an albatross around the Ravens’ offense the rest of this season. Elite edge rushers will continue to give the Ravens fits. Left tackle will, in the end, set the ceiling for Lamar and the gang. And it’s the position that could separate the Ravens from a team like the 49ers.
The Deep Pass
There’s not much more to say here other than that Monken has to continue calling these plays. Every deep ball that Lamar has missed in the last several weeks (and I counted at least three against the Bengals) witnessed wide open receivers. Sooner or later Lamar will hit on something here. And, the Ravens must continue to force defenses to protect the entire field to keep it open for Zay Flowers (as in the infamous Beckham holding call play last week) and Keaton Mitchell in those spaces where they can maximize their joy-stick abilities.
The Chargers Game and Beyond
Los Angeles is not a good team, period. In a tight AFC at the top, this is the Ravens easiest remaining road game and the one they simply must have. The Chargers defense is atrocious, and the Ravens should attack at all three levels in this one. This is no time to throw in a stinker. Three in one season is enough.
Yes, the Ravens have a difficult schedule ahead. But let’s face it, the Bengals should be toast. The Steelers finally fired Matt Canada in an effort to jump-start that part of their team they call the offense. The Browns defense is elite and will lead them to the playoffs. But the road is wide open for the Ravens to win this division. If they stay focused and avoid more major injuries.
One more thing. The 49ers are simply the best team in the NFL.
