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The Best Running Performance of the Year

Justin Forsett running in Pittsburgh against the Steelers escaping the grasp of Antwon Blake
Photo credit: Jason Bridge - USA Today Sports
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Report Card: Ravens at Steelers

Quarterback: C+

Early on, Joe Flacco showed a quick release and put good zip on his passes. He didn’t identify Pittsburgh’s coverage that well, which nearly led to two interceptions.

Ross Cockrell intercepted Flacco and recovered a Flacco fumble. I’m not sure whether Baltimore’s receivers gained enough separation on those plays, but Flacco’s turnovers resulted in Pittsburgh possessions starting from the Baltimore 36-yard line and the Baltimore 26-yard line. That cannot happen.

On the touchdown to Kamar Aiken, Flacco threw a beautiful pass, allowing Aiken to run right underneath the ball in stride.

In addition to two fumbled snaps, Flacco was sacked with 2:04 remaining in the 4th quarter. I can’t ever understand why, with the game on the line, any quarterback would hold onto the ball and not give his receivers a chance.

Running backs: A

Since the preseason, we’ve seen this group of backs play fast, downhill, and with patience. However, Marc Trestman wasn’t calling run plays nearly enough to allow his players the opportunity to get going.

Until Thursday night.

Forsett led the charge with 150 yards, his 2nd-highest total ever in his 111-game career. He showed great footwork up to and through the point of attack, limiting the chances Steelers defenders had to tackle him.

His longest run of the night came at a most opportune time. Two plays after Baltimore went down 20-7, Forsett raced 33 yards to put Baltimore in prime scoring position.

Following Forsett’s lead was Lorenzo Taliaferro (three carries, 13 yards) and Buck Allen (five carries, 19 yards). Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but those runs were effective in that they made the Steelers defend a fresh runner and they gave Forsett a breather.

Especially in Pittsburgh, it was encouraging to see this unit gain so many yards and dictate physicality.

Wide receivers/Tight ends: A-

Michael Campanaro and Kamar Aiken were the best wide receivers the Ravens fielded against the Steelers. Campanaro’s speed and savvy on a 9-yard reverse, coupled with Aiken’s persistence and focus in the second half helped Baltimore get in the end zone (and in the win column).

Aiken led all receivers (on both teams) with five receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown. He made big catches and showed nice burst off the line. Darren Waller made his first career NFL reception with less than a minute remaining in regulation (17 yards), which is good because he may see a spike in playing time next week, due to Campanaro’s and Steve Smith, Sr.’s back injuries.

Besides Aiken and Smith, Sr., no Baltimore pass catcher caught more than three passes or gained more than 20 yards, but they all made timely contributions.

Offensive line: A-

Baltimore’s offensive line played a near masterful game Thursday night against a fast and physical Pittsburgh front. The Ravens ran for a total of 191 yards, which is the most the Steelers have given up since Week 1 of 2014 (191 vs. Cleveland).

In particular, the interior of the offensive line shined. They executed their blocks in textbook fashion, as they fired off the ball and looked confident in their blocking schemes. They gave their running backs really nice lanes to run through and walled off Pittsburgh’s pressure expertly.

The downside is that Baltimore’s offensive line surrendered five sacks, although it’s hard to say which of those should be blamed on Flacco (holding the ball too long) or the receivers (not getting open).

In the end, still without Eugene Monroe, the Ravens offensive line performed at a very high level in adverse circumstances. Credit to Rick Wagner especially, as he saved a touchdown by tackling Cockrell in the open field after the Flacco interception.

In Weeks 1-3, the Ravens ran the ball on 34 percent of their offensive snaps and lost all three games. Against the Steelers, the Ravens ran the ball on 53 of their offensive snaps and won.

Just saying.

Defensive line: B

On the very first play from scrimmage, Brandon Williams asserted his dominance and knocked Michael Vick to the ground. For the majority of the night, the entire Ravens defensive line did the same. They played with good mental discipline, maintained gap control, and really made the Steelers’ offensive line work to gain yardage. They also set up their linebackers for success by collapsing the pocket and stuffing blocks by the opposition.

On Pittsburgh’s second to last drive of the first half, Baltimore’s defensive line got pushed around. On his team’s second play in overtime, Le’Veon Bell broke contain going to his left, and raced 22 yards down the sideline. He would’ve scored if not for a heads up tackle by Will Hill III.

Bell ended up with 150 yards from scrimmage (129 rushing) and one touchdown. Even though he’s (whom I believe to be) the best all-around back in football, you don’t like giving up that many yards to anyone.

Still, Baltimore’s defensive line pushed Pittsburgh’s offensive line backwards early and often and when it counted the most.

The Steelers were 2-for-15 on 3rd and 4th down attempts.

It starts up front.

Linebackers: B+

Four sacks by this group was just what the doctor ordered. Baltimore’s linebackers played really well the entire game. Whether it was inside or outside backers, they took proper pursuit angles, put constant pressure on Vick, and forced him to make inaccurate throws.

Za’Darius Smith‘s two back-to-back sacks in the middle of the third quarter took Pittsburgh from their own 20-yard line to their own 7-yard line. On the very next drive, Elvis Dumervil got in on the act, sacking Vick for a loss of six yards on 3rd-and-8 from the Pittsburgh 25-yard line.

Daryl Smith played an outstanding game too, as he made 13 tackles (two for a loss) and one sack. That sack came midway through the second quarter with the Ravens leading 7-3.

Instead of the Steelers trying a field goal from Baltimore’s 32-yard line (where the play began), Smith forced them out of field goal range with a 9-yard loss.

Obviously, the fact that Pittsburgh didn’t get three points there was a very big deal.

Defensive Backs: B

Early on Baltimore’s defensive backs were making nice hits, but were attempting to tackle with their shoulders. In other words, they didn’t wrap up, and thus, gave up unnecessary yards after contact.

Lardarius Webb was shaky in the open field. He looked like he was guessing out there, like he was uncertain about how to execute his assignment. At times, he was nowhere near the ball and badly out of position.

That said, this unit as a whole played as well as they did against the Broncos. They were on the same page, unified in run support, and most importantly they held Antonio Brown to his lowest yardage total (42) in his last 37 games.

Baltimore’s secondary made a statement Thursday night.

Special Teams: A-

Besides a bad personal foul by Kyle Juszczyk after a punt late in the first half, the special teams unit for the Ravens played really solid football. Having to defend Dri Archer (4.26 second 40-yard dash) on kickoffs and Antonio Brown (4.47 second 40-yard dash) on punts is as challenging a task as any special teams coordinator in this league will face.

But despite allowing 31 yards to Archer on a kick return and an average of 17 yards to Brown on his three punt returns, the Ravens coverage teams did well to not give up more yards than they did.

Koch finished the game with an average of 51.0 yards per punt, which is huge in a game that’s so dependent upon field position. In five of Koch’s last nine games, he’s finished with an average of at least 50 yards per punt. His hang time, power, and placement were exceptional, especially considering the challenge that kicking at Heinz Field presents.

Justin Tucker continues to show why he’s so vital to this team. Tucker made all three of his field goals, including an enormous 52-yarder in overtime to win the game.

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His career field goal percentage of 89.916 is 2nd all-time, .16 percent behind Dallas’ Dan Bailey.

$2.356 million is a lot to pay a kicker for one season, but for the Ravens, that’s a bargain.

Team: B+

Homework:

  • Get a lot of rest.
  • Enjoy this win. You earned it.

Player of the game: Daryl Smith

Game balls:

  • Offense: Justin Forsett
  • Defense: Daryl Smith
  • Special Teams: Justin Tucker

Stat of the game: Justin Forsett had more yards rushing Thursday night (150) than he had in all three previous games combined (124).

Next exam: Sunday, October 11, versus the Cleveland Browns (1-2)

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