With the results of week two set in stone and all thirty-two teams looking ahead to week three, let’s take a look at a few key notes and stats of the still young 2014 season along with a couple of standout Ravens performers.
More Forsett/Pierce news:
– After racking up 126 yards on just 19 attempts in the first two games of the season, RB Justin Forsett will go into FirstEnergy Stadium with the highest YPC (6.6) in the NFL, while Forsett and Bernard Pierce ( 28/113) have combined for 239 rushing yards heading into week three, the most by a RB tandem in the NFL through two games.
Smith/Pitta:
-The twenty-six combined receptions between Steve Smith (13/189/1) and Dennis Pitta (13/113) are the most in the NFL by a receiving duo, and their combined 302 receiving yards rank 5th-most by a receiving tandem as the Ravens prepare to head into the Dawg Pound.
– Albeit with fourteen games remaining on the Ravens 2014 schedule, Smith is projected to rack up 1,512 receiving yards and Pitta is projected to post 904 receiving yards, putting them on pace for a combined 2,416 receiving yards. If their actual production stays in the ballpark of their early projections, the Ravens dangerous duo could break WR’s Derrick Alexander (1,099 receiving yards) and Michael Jackson’s (1,201 receiving yards) single-season franchise record of most receiving yards by a tandem (2,300- 1996).
It would also mark the first time Ravens pass catching duo posts 2,000+ receiving yards in a single-season since Alexander and Jackson’s amazing campaign in the franchises curtain-raising 1996 season.
Standout notes on Offense:
– Even though OC Gary Kubiak’s scheme isn’t quite in full swing as of yet, the Ravens offense has still been consistent and effective by ranking in the top-15 in both passing (12th) and rushing offense (13th), and as a result, the Ravens currently rank 9th in Total Offense (373.0 ypg).
– The Ravens attack through the air and on the ground has been propelled by a ferocious offensive line and rightfully so, the entire starting cast on the Ravens O-line has been earning rave reviews. LT Eugene Monroe graded out at +3.2 and earned an honorable mention in PFF’s team of the week in week two for his stellar effort in the 26-6 win over the Steelers last Thursday, while LG Kelechi Osemele was ranked as the #1 OG in the NFL in week one after grading out at +4.7 against the Bengals. In addition, RG Marshall Yanda also graded out at an impressive +2.9 in PFF’s ratings in week two, RT Rick Wagner earned an honorable mention in PFF’s team of the week in week one, and Center Jeremy Zuttah is a clear upgrade over 2013 starter Gino Gradkowski.
Standout notes on Defense:
– Despite being ranked in the middle of the pack in Total Defense (15th), Dean Pees’ unit has been very solid, having allowed the 5th-fewest points per game in the league (14.5) and they are tied for the 4th-fewest first down’s allowed per game (16.5).
Led by the 8th ranked run defense (89.0 ypg allowed), the Ravens D is one of just seven teams to have not allowed a rushing TD going into the third week of the season, while they are also just one of three teams to have allowed 1 passing TD or fewer on the season. Add it up and the Ravens D is the only defensive unit in the league to have allowed just a single TD in the first two games of the season.
Bend but don’t break!
