The Ravens were struck with more bad news on the defensive side of the ball this week, with star defensive lineman Haloti Ngata banned for the four games after violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Ngata admitted to taking Adderall, leaving the Ravens without one of their top performers on defense.
(Discuss this post on the BSL forums here)
Ngata is a big miss for Baltimore, but fortunately they have good depth on the defensive line. They drafted Timmy Jernigan back in May in the second round of the NFL draft with the knowledge of Ngata getting older and his contract running down. Jernigan figures to be the most obvious benefactor in terms of playing time. The Ravens had been bringing him along slowly, rotating him in for less than 20 snaps a game on average. But now Jernigan has an opportunity to step up and make a claim for the starting role. He’s shown in his limited snaps this season that he’s a strong run defender.
Here, Jernigan lines up as a defensive end. The Ravens run a stunt, asking Jernigan to stunt inside.
Jernigan gets inside leverage on the defender and holds him at the line of scrimmage as he diagnoses the play.
Once he spots the run going away from him, Jernigan sheds the block and starts his pursuit of the runner.
Jernigan started outside the right hash-marks and chased the runner all the way to outside the left hash-marks. Not only did he do a great job controlling and then shedding his block, he showed excellent desire and pursuit of the play to make the tackle.
Jernigan also displays versatility to play in different positions along the defensive line. He lined up at defensive end on the previous play, but he also takes some snaps at nose tackle.
This time we see Jernigan line up directly over the center. He attacks the A gap to the left side of the offensive line.
He bursts into the left guard, allowing the center to roam freely to the second level. Jernigan has to be able to make the play if he’s going to allow the center to do that, but as soon as he engages with the left guard, he gets his eyes in the backfield and on the running back.
Jernigan shows good technique, keeping his pad level low and using his hands well to keep the guard from gaining any leverage. Jernigan works inside to close the gap for the running back.
Jernigan then sheds the block and fills the gap completely. With the support of the backside edge defender, Jernigan closes the lane and makes the tackle on the runner for a minimal gain.
Perhaps Jernigan’s most impressive play against the run came against the Titans.
The Titans were backed up on their own goalline on this play. Jernigan is back at defensive end, but this time lines up against the right side of the offensive line. The Titans want to run behind their right guard, Chance Warmack, who takes on Jernigan one-on-one.
Right off the snap, Jernigan is ready for Warmack and plays him with excellent technique. Jernigan stays low with a stout base.
He then explodes up into Warmack, pushing him back and holding the point of attack at the line of scrimmage.
Jernigan quickly recognises the play and takes outside leverage, knowing he’s blown up the lane inside.
The back has no choice but to run right at Jernigan, who makes the tackle for another minimal gain and keeps the pressure on the Titans backed up near their own end zone.
In the run game, Jernigan should hold up fine in Ngata’s absense. But he still has plenty of work to do when it comes to his pass rush. The reality is that Jernigan will be rotated out in some pass rushing situations in favor of a better pass rusher; but he’ll still have to show he provide some pressure and push the pocket from the inside. There’s no reason to suggest he couldn’t become a strong interior pass rusher, given his upper body strength and power.
Against the Titans again, Jernigan lines up at defensive end to the left side of the Titans offensive line. Jernigan stunts inside and attacks the A gap between the left guard and center.
Jernigan displays the same technique that he did against the run. He plays with a low pad level and uses that leverage with his upper body strength to push the center up in the air and off-balance.
Jernigan is able to drive the center back before subtly moving his hand to the left shoulder of the center.
He uses that hand to shove the center inside and disengage from the block.
The Titans quarterback attempts to escape the pocket, but Jernigan chases him down and makes the sack.
The potential is there for Jernigan as an interior pass rusher, but he has to show it more consistently. If he is given a bigger role as expected, that playing time might give him the experience that helps him develop quickly. The Ravens will certainly need him to do so in the midst of a play-off race.
Mark is an NFL follower from across the pond. He began analyzing Redskins football for SBNation’s HogsHaven.com, before moving on to The Washington Post. He also helps with NFL Draft coverage on FanSpeak.com. Mark was born and still lives in England, often battling the time difference to watch every minute of football he can.