Baltimore Ravens intel

Here's what I gathered from PFF, injury reports, depth chart, and Rotoworld:

offense:
The Ravens’ OL is LT Ronnie Stanley, LG Alex Lewis, C Jeremy Zuttah, RG Marshal Yanda, and RT Rick Wagner. C John Urschel started 7 games last year at center but has been passed on the depth chart by Zuttah. Yanda made the 2017 Pro Bowl.

Week 15 vs PHI--Make no mistake, the credit for this victory goes to the Ravens’ offensive line. The spotlight should be appropriately centered upon rookie LT Ronnie Stanley out of Notre Dame, the first game of the season where he didn’t allow a single pressure during 34 snaps of protection. LG Marshal Yanda’s performance was also notable, as he and Stanley’s combined efforts permitted RB Terrance West to accumulate 122 total yards

Week 14 vs NE—Raven OL excelled. Allowed the fewest QB pressures of any team in week 14.

Week 13 vs MIA-OL opened holes for the running game and protected Flacco well on his 47 passes. Yanda in particular was good, not allowing a sack, hurry or pressure all game.

Week 12 vs CIN—OL had another good game, partly because they are improving, partly because the passing game was all short/intermediate passes. Only allowed 4 QB hurries, no sacks, no QB hits. Made Flacco look good. But the running game clicked too, RT Rick Wagner was especially good. About half of the Ravens rushing yardage was gained before the runner was even touched by a defender.

Week 11 vs DAL—Strong day by the OL, opening up rushing holes and only allowing 2 hurries/ 0 sacks./ 0 hits all game. If Balt had kept on rushing the ball, might have won. Flacco couldn’t complete the long ball so it was a poor offensive day.

Week 10 vs CLE—rough day for the Raven OL. Couldn’t open rushing holes.

Week 9 vs PIT—Ravens OL did a fine job protecting Flacco, G Alex Lewis and RT Rick Wagner especially.

Week 8 vs NY Jets—Ravens OL looked bad in pass protection because Flacco played injured and couldn’t pass the ball really. Couldn’t open running lanes either. Ravens only had six yards rushing.

Week 7 vs NY Giants—Stanley and Yanda were out, but the OL exceeded expectations, and against a top DL that the Giants have.

Week 6 vs WASH—Ravens OL did their part, opening holes for RB West. Ravens tried to mix in RB Dixon and RB Allen but shouldn’t have as those two didn’t run well. West had the hot hand and should have gotten the ball more. Didn’t have to pass block much for the short passing game.

Week 5 vs OAK—Lewis and Stanley were out and their subs stunk. Fortunately Yanda had a great game and the Ravens rushed RB West successfully behind Yanda all game.

Week 3 vs JAX---enough to win. Balt hadn’t sorted out its crowded backfield yet.

Week 2 vs CLE---Ravens OL did a good job protecting Flacco and it paid off.

Week 1 vs BUF--when Stanley and lewis started in game 1 vs the Bills, it was the first time two rookies started for an nfl team on the left side of the line in 21 years. Did ok, several false starts but they’re still starting today.

Wr steve smith sr- had an ankle injury earlier this season that he seems to be fully recovered from now. His reliability and swagger adds something to the team when he’s playing that spreads to his teammates. Averages 95 yards per game, has 3 TDs this season. kamar aiken is the backup and had almost 1000 yards receiving last year. Plays the slot often. Gets some stats but not really a #1 WR.

Wr mike Wallace- still a one trick pony. Ravens save $5 million in cap space if they cut him after the season so it might happen, especially if Flacco can’t get him the ball. breshad Perriman---tall and 4.4 speed but has so many minor questionable injuries his rookie season he was labeled a bust before he even dropped his first pass. This year inconsistent and the Ravens and their fans don’t trust him.

Te dennis pitta- he’s 6-4 so you’d think he’d dominate but rotoworld writeup says he has an occasional good grab or good game but lacks big play ability. I get the impression he’s not reliable or dominant.

QB Joe Flacco----

Week 15 vs PHI- only 3 of 9 completions on throws of 10 yards or more on 22 dropbacks with a clean pocket. QB rating of 145 when blitzed, 51 when not blitzed.

Week 14 vs NE- started out poorly but came on strongly and got the Ravens back into the game with some long passes.

Week 13 vs MIA—Flacco was impressive with his short and intermediate passes. Highly accurate to everybody.

Week 12 vs CIN—Flacco had a solid game using a very conservative gameplan.

Week 11 vs DAL—Flacco couldn’t hit the deep ball so the offense stalled most of the game.

Week 10 vs CLE—Several ‘what- was-he-thinking?’ throws by Flacco. The only long pass completed was completed only by a mid-pass correction by WR Perriman. PFF said Flacco did his best to give the game away!!

Week 9 vs. PIT—WRs gained yardage with their legs after short completions. Flacco only 1-or-6 in passes 10 yards or more. QB rating only 32 when pressured by PIT defenders.

Week 8 vs NY Jets—Flacco played injured, still suffering from a sholder injury from the previous game against the NY Giants. Had a QB rating of 0 (that’s right, ZERO) when pressured. Interceptions, incompletions

Week 7 vs NY Giants----Not big numbers but almost led a comeback victory. Got a shoulder injury.

Week 6 vs WASH—Flacco had no completions on four pass attempts on passes of 20 yards or more. This is going to become a problem.

Week 5 vs OAK—First bad game of the season, an INT and fumble and another pass that should have been intercepted. Although his stats look average, he struggled.

Week 3 vs JAX---Flacco completed 83 percent of his passes less than 20 yards downfield, completing zero of four passes of 20 yards or more. Led the team to victory with the short/intermediate passing game.

Week 2 vs CLE---efficient and won.

Week 1 vs BUF---had a long ball for the only time in this season. Long completions to Perriman and Wallace. The new weapons produced. Flacco looks recovered from his ACL injury.

Flacco's QB rating against Pitt was 32 when pressured, and 105 when not pressured.
Flacco's QB rating varies wildly from game to game. His QB rating against the NY Jets when pressured was 0 (that's right, ZERO) yet against Cleveland when blitzed his QB rating was 140.


Fb kyle juszczyk- graded as the best FB in the NFL thru the first eight games by PFF. He made the Pro Bowl this year. He’s not much of a runner, only 3 rushes this year, but they’re trying to use him as a pass receiver, he has 33 catches in 2016 averaging 18 yards receiving per game. No touchdowns. I didn’t see any mention of him as a blocking back although he’s built for it, he’s 6-1, 240 pounds. I honestly think the Steelers don’t have much to worry about with Juszczyk.

Rb terrance west- kenneth Dixon- West and Dixon had good games against the Browns. Both seem like grind-it-out backs who can kill the clock but aren’t elite. Dixon misses blocks in pass protection and will likely be replaced by FB Juszczyk on passing downs. OC Trestman was fired partly because he didn’t go more to a running attack now that it’s obvious that Flacco is an inconsistent passer this season but, oddly, the Ravens are running two fewer times per game since Trestman left. (???) Dixon had a chest injury earlier this season but seems to be recovered.

. Baltimore Ravens defense

Ravens secondary rated 24th in the NFL by PFF earlier in the season.

Current nickel package: CB Jimmy Smith, CB Tavon Young, SCB Shareece Wright, S Eric Weddle, S Lardarius Webb

After seeing his performance dip a bit last year, Eric Weddle has regained his elite form with his new team to earn the highest coverage grade among all safeties in the league through Week 6. At the other safety spot, Lardarius Webb has held his own in his transition from cornerback. Shareece Wright is the only Baltimore secondary defender with a below-average coverage grade, surrendering five touchdowns in as many games. Wright lost his starting CB job to Young. Jimmy Smith is injured so Antonio Brown might have a big game.

DT Timmy Jernigan---his promising rookie year last year let the Ravens get rid of Ngata. Has 5 sacks this season.

NT Brandon Williams—will be a free agent and he’ll get an extension with whatever cap space the Ravens have. Newsome says he’s the best NT in the NFL now. Has 1 sack.

DE Lawrence Guy—signed when Jerrigan was out with injury. Rotoworld calls him a mediocre run stopper and has no pass rush.

OLB Terrell Suggs----has 8 sacks this year. Suffered a torn bicep in week 6. Tore Achilles last season. Clearly a guy Pittsburgh must gameplan against.

ILB C.J. Mosley—made the Pro Bowl in 2017. Was defensive Rookie of the year runner up in 2014. Has 3 INTs this season and 1 forced fumble. I’d still rather have Shazier, but I’d trade Bud Dupree for him.

ILB Zachary Orr—not as good as Mosley but has 2 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries in 2016.

SLB Elvis Dumervil- a foot injury has limited him to only 6 games this season but has 2 sacks and 1 fumble recovery.


P Sam Koch---is pretty good. He averaged 47 yards last season. Ravens signed him to a 5 year, $16 million contract thru 2020. Five touchbacks out of 73 punts this year.


K Justin Tucker---probably the best kicker in the NFL this year. Ravens just signed him to a 4 year $16 million contract that had the most guaranteed money ever given to a kicker. 10-for-10 from 50+ yards this year. All 47 of his kickoffs have been touchbacks this year.

H Sam Koch

LS Morgan Cox

KR Chris Moore—nothing special

PR Ladarius Webb—nothing special

 

Great job man. Really enjoying reading these for sure. You stated you used PFF. I assume you have a membership?

 

Stats and records are All tossed out the window when these two play. Who want it the most and who execute best will win this game. I pray that we come out with the win and no injuries.

 

No, I don't have a subscription, I just take the free stuff off the internet, but I do wish I had one for PFF.

 

Short version: Ravens OL is playing well. Our DL is broken. This is where the game will be decided second only to "good Ben vs bad "Ben".

I miss the days when "Ben is elite" was even worthy of discussion.

 

1. the steelers are the only team in the top 10 in both offense and defense right now.
2. the steelers have been favored in every game since we went 4-4 at the beginning.
3. the defense in #1 in yards allowed since week 7
4. as stated well in another thread, our chances of making the playoffs are really good.
5. CB Jimmy Smith is injured. And even if their OL is strong and our DL is really weak, what are they going to do with it? they have no long ball and no RBs that can take over the game.

 

Wow. Kudos to Butler and the players for the turn-around!

 

jimmy smith missed practice all week and is likely out. That is huge for our depleted WR core. They are likely going to double and even triple team brown so rogers or cobi have to make some plays.

 

Sounds like the Ratbirds will try to establish the run on us. On defense, the usual, try to take away Brown.

I say we need a big game from Hamilton and Bell, plus no turnovers or game changing penalties.