What Ails The Ravens Running Game?

Through three weeks, the Ravens are just 22nd in rushing DVOA. They’ve been far more successful as a passing offense than most would have thought — though much of that did come on an unprepared Bills team — but haven’t been able to replicate last season’s run terrific rushing game.

In our quest to determine the “Why?” our first look has to be at the running backs. Alex Collins has 34 carries for 114 yards. Buck Allen has 16 carries for 32 yards. Collins has broken seven run tackles, per Sports Info Solutions’ charting. That ties him for 12th in the NFL. Allen has broken one.

So part of this is that, just based on pure regression, we should expect a little more wiggle from Allen. Allen has broken 22 tackles and 23 tackles in his last two seasons with 100 carries. In a pace for 100 carries, he’d be at about 7 broken tackles at the moment. Collins is regressing from last season as well, but not in a way that sets off alarms or is unsustainable. Collins had 53 broken run tackles last season, and is on pace for a number in the high 30s. That’d be a very solid number for an NFL starter.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

So we turn to the offensive line, and here’s where things get a little more dire.

I think Marshal Yanda has played quite well, and he’s certainly shown off some splash plays. That’s not a surprise. I’ve seen some of the rating sites dig into him a little bit, but I think the talent level is still evident. There’s no way anyone could look at this line and conclude that he’s an issue.

I think the “big issue” sweeping the Ravens running game — and put big issue in scarequotes, because I think they’re on their way out of the funk — is on plays where they’re asked to use their athleticism.

Since BSL has asked me not to use GIFs due to cease and desist letters, here’s the result of a sweep play. Yanda and two other linemen pull from the right. It’s a well-designed play. They had a lineman on the outside of the line of scrimmage ready to take out the safety. But Yanda gets spilled by the nose tackle. They gain a yard.

On this run for no gain in the second quarter, Mark Andrews (89, ahead of 72), is asked to pull up to get 51 on the second level. He can’t do it. The penetration spills Collins outside. With a seal, this is a nicely developing cutback lane. Without it, nothing.

This play went for one yard. Buck Allen had to slam the brakes, and he gave enough time for Derek Wolfe to take James Hurst on the outside edge.

Driving in the second quarter, Ronnie Stanley (79) and Alex Lewis (74) try to combo block Adam Gotsis. But Lewis’ hold on him is never secure, and he winds up tackling Gotsis into Collins.

This isn’t all bad news, by the way, the Ravens have been excellent in Power situations per FO’s definitions. The percentage of runs on third or fourth down, two yards or less to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown for Baltimore is 92%. That’s the fifth-best rate in the league.

I have a lot of faith in Greg Roman’s ability to adapt to his personnel. What he’s thrown out here early on has not been easy blocking for this line. Yanda’s speed is a slight concern compared to what they’ve asked him to do over the entire course of his career. But for the Ravens to get back to what they were last year in the run game, they can’t have missed blocks up and down the field like this.