After defeating the Cleveland Browns 28-3 on Sunday, the Ravens defense is soaring.
The team ranks third in points allowed per game (14.5), total yards per game (260.75), passing yards per game (168.25) and team sacks (15). Baltimore is ranked No. 4 in defense-adjusted value over average or DVOA (-22.5%). This is without the likes of linebackers Tyus Bowser (knee), Odafe Oweh (ankle) and David Ojabo (knee/ankle), cornerbacks Pepe Williams (ankle) and Marlon Humphrey (foot), safeties Marcus Williams (pectoral) and Ar’Darius Washington (chest) through various points of the season.
Despite missing each of these players, defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald discussed why the team is blitzing more during Thursday’s press conference – pointing to the diversification of talent in defensive personnel. The team is getting sacks from defensive backs – safety Kyle Hamilton had three against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3, middle linebacker Patrick Queen and defensive lineman Justin Madubuike have two each, while middle linebacker Roquan Smith and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney each have 1.5 sacks. Washington, Ojabo and Broderick Washington each have one.
“Well, it’s something that we want the ability to do at any given point,” Macdonald said on Thursday. “So, to have the threat of blitz on either side or up the middle or double edge or whatever, you always want that threat to an offense. So, that’s just part of our identity. You might not have seen it last year for several reasons – probably what we felt like our team strengths were and how good we were at the different pressure packages that we were able to get to. So, it’s still a gameplan idea, but it’s something that we’re definitely going to carry and have the ability to get to at any point in time.”
The team is also getting to the backfield with 21 tackles for loss and 30 quarterback hits. The pressure generated is causing five turnovers with a fumble recovery and four interceptions. It may also stem from a bit of luck too and the Ravens have searched for that luck for a while.
Baltimore faced off against rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud in Week 1, preventing the Texans signal-caller from scoring a touchdown, bringing him down five times and holding their running game to 72 yards in the 25-9 win. The Ravens took on Joe Burrow, capitalizing with an interception and forcing three punts by the Bengals and winning 27-24. Instead of facing another rookie in Anthony Richardson, the Ravens took on Gardner Minshew who had 227 passing yards and one touchdown pass, resulting in Baltimore’s 22-19 loss on Sept. 24.
Without Deshaun Watson at quarterback, the Browns were rendered helpless and the Ravens feasted on rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The Ravens compiled three sacks and matched with three interceptions with Thompson-Robinson going 19-for-36 on passes for 121 yards. Cleveland had under 93 rushing yards and was held 4/16 on third down. Baltimore allowed 2.3 yards per play in the game – the best at the metric in the NFL this season.
Both Smith and Queen have been at their best this season. Queen has a 72.2 grade from Pro Football Focus this season, the best of his career so far. Smith has allowed just a 65.5 passer rating in coverage, boasting an 89.4 PFF grade, also the best of his career.
Smith had 10 total tackles (six solo), a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and two pass deflections. He’d also be the first to tell someone why the defense is ready to step up with injuries.
“Honestly, whoever lines up out there, they’re warriors,” Smith said on Sunday. “How I think of it – we all go to war for each other. We all have each other’s backs, and if they’re out there – the coaches and myself have the utmost respect for those guys that they can get the job done regardless of who’s out there with us. You love when your guys are out there, and you know there’s some fallen soldiers. When they get back, they get back, but until then, we just have to keep going the course. We can’t get sidetracked by [a] little adversity on the road.”
Baltimore’s bye week isn’t until Week 13 (Nov. 28-Dec. 4). They will have a chance to get some players back from injury before then. Oweh, Williams and Humphrey are week-to-week. Bowser is eligible to return from the injured reserve on Week 5. As the season goes on and players begin to return from injury, the Ravens have an opportunity to have one of their best defensive units in years.
Kyle J. Andrews is a 2018 University of Baltimore and Mount Saint Joseph High School graduate, along with former sports reporter for the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa., the Baltimore Sun Media Group, 105.7 The Fan, Baltimore Beatdown, and Fox Sports 1340 AM. He has covered the Orioles, Ravens, high school sports in the Baltimore area and Central Pennsylvania, minor league baseball, Penn State and Maryland athletics and more.