Ravens Thoughts: Quick Hits

With last night’s loss to New England; the Baltimore Ravens are 6-3 overall.

Here are some quick hits with 7 games remaining.

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

1) Two very important games remaining here in November. Less in-terms of the AFC North, or Conference playoff positioning; and more about identity and confidence.

You’ve got Tennessee at home Sunday afternoon, followed by a trip to Pittsburgh Thanksgiving night. There should be no trouble getting up for the Titans, with memories of Tennessee knocking Baltimore out of the playoffs last season still fresh. Motivation for a Steelers game is obviously never an issue.

Find a way to win these two games, and you’ll enter December with some momentum, and a chance to finish strong (Dallas, @Cleveland, Jacksonville, NY Giants, @Cincinnati).

2) Losing Boyle to a season ending injury last night hurts. We spent a large part of the off-season after the Hurst trade wondering when the Ravens would add a 3rd TE they were comfortable with. If you run an offense, where you want to feature 2 TE’s, don’t you need to have 3 you are comfortable with? And no, Ricard as the HB doesn’t count.

3) The benching of Fluker feels likely to be short-lived to me. His experience and size is needed. Mekari should be taking over at C. It’s time to run a lot of JUMBO packages, and have a 6th lineman on the field with regularity.

4) I’m a Patrick Queen fan. He’s who I wanted the Ravens to select. I think the LB core needed his added athleticism. He’s had an up and down rookie campaign. (Yes, there have been ups.. Week 5 AFC Defensive Player of the Week.) Clearly we’ve seen he needs to add some bulk, and further experience. I think we need to remember despite his sensational Junior season at LSU, he was drafted with limited playing experience. He’s also just 21, and his transition to the pro game was during a Summer with a raging pandemic. He’s gaining experience now. His athleticism is real. He should be significantly improved in Year 2. If the Ravens feel he’s a current issue, they can give more time to Fort and Board in the remaining weeks of this 2020 season.

5) The Ravens entered ’20 with sky-high expectations. That’s what happens when you go 14-2 the previous year, put up a ton of points, have numerous returning Pro Bowlers, and the defending league MVP.

But there were reasons before the season began to question if the Ravens would immediately pick up where they left off. Losing Yanda was a huge deal. Not having Hurst as another capable option at TE was too casually dismissed by some.

The WR group features two 2nd year WR’s, and two Rookies. While you like the long-term investment in the position, it wasn’t a group you went into the year knowing you could count on getting X-level of production from them.

Now you’ve lost Stanley, and you’ve lost Boyle.

When people say, what’s the difference between the ’19 and ’20 offenses? You have to start with saying that the O-line is down 2 All-Pro / Pro Bowl caliber lineman. That has impact.

6) JK Dobbins has the highest ceiling of the Ravens backs, but I think the Ravens should be riding the Gus Bus right now. Gus is the back you can give the ball, and run down hill with. He’s the guy that the lineman in-front look most comfortable blocking for. Bring in the extra-lineman, and hand Edwards the ball. Pound at people between the tackles, and set-up play-action.

7) I think Jackson turned things up in the 2nd half vs. the Colts, and also looked better than he has most of this season last night vs. New England.

I’m not absolving Jackson of any responsibility for the Ravens offensive regression this year. There are circumstances around him which are legitimate issues (another was him likely not being fully health to start the season) and factors as to why the passing offense has struggled; but end of the day – the team is built around him, and he has to elevate everyone up.

Put him in the best position to succeed.
Give him the extra lineman.
Get Edwards going between the tackles.
Get the short-passing going, and spreading the field.
Let Jackson get out and run.

8) Sending Hollywood Brown deep consistently is not working, and not utilizing him properly in my opinion. The Ravens should be looking at giving him short slants and crossers over the middle. Quick hitters, with a chance to turn up field into empty space. Should be able to do that 5-7 times a game.

9) I’ve said several times here, I want to see the Ravens use an extra lineman. The alternative is spreading the field with an extra receiver. Having Hollywood, Snead, Duvernay, Boykin / Proche out together, and thinking you’ll find single coverage somewhere. My issue there, is that I don’t believe the line can hold up in pass coverage to give Jackson enough time.

10) It’s okay if you want to lean into the idea that the Ravens were overhyped, and have been disappointing. That can be true, and it can also be true that the Ravens still have an opportunity for a deep January run.

Get healthy on defense. Get Campbell, Williams, and Smith back and the defense is a capable group.

Ground and pound on offense. Play with the clock.
Utilize your strong Special Teams.

Homefield in this COVID year means nothing.
It’s about finding an identity, and playing your best ball when the post-season arrives.

Don’t spend time uncessarily lamenting the Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and New England losses.

Don’t waste time thinking about how you wished things came easier this year.

Nearly 1/2 of this 2020 regular season still remains. Spend this remaining time figuring out the best path forward for this Ravens team. What gives this group the best opportunity to win each week, starting with the Titans Sunday afternoon.