These are not YOUR Baltimore Ravens.
YOUR Baltimore Ravens were once a tough, physical team that tackled well, intimidated opponents and made them earn every yard. That now seems like ancient history.
Here’s something to chew on – the Ravens are the 4th ranked run defense. You might think that the strength of the front seven might force opposing offenses into a one-dimensional attack, which usually spells: ADVANTAGE DEFENSE.
Unfortunately that’s not how it works with THESE Baltimore Ravens.
How often do you see a defense ranked 4th against the run also ranked 31st against the pass? Why would anyone even bother to run the football when they take on the Ravens? Could you imagine the Ravens facing Peyton Manning in Denver?
It’s still possible that a trip to Mile High could happen given the watered down product that is the NFL. Parents would be warned in advance that the broadcast could be disturbing to children.
Some fans might argue that with the right combination of wins and losses that the Ravens could be right back in the thick of things and earn a five or six seed or possibly even the divisional crown. After all how seriously can you take the Bengals, a team that should have lost to the Bucs yesterday in Tampa?
And that thought process really isn’t flawed.
But let’s get real — the Ravens aren’t very good.
Sure they’ve had their fair share of injuries, particularly in the defensive backfield having lost Jimmy Smith and Asa Jackson for most of the season while Lardarius Webb hasn’t really been healthy since the knee injury he sustained in 2012.
It’s no one particular player or coach’s fault but something has to change and that should be Dean Pees. The 65-year-old defensive coordinator has been a weak play caller this season and if you need change – clearly the Ravens do, you can’t just fire all of the players.
The time is now to give Pees the “Cam” treatment.
But this mess isn’t solely on Pees. What exactly does Steve Spagnuolo do all week? Apparently former offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell poached the right defensive coach when he took Teryl Austin to Motown with him. Don’t look now but the Lions have the league’s 2nd ranked defense.
But I digress…
Moving up the pecking order Ozzie Newsome has to accept some responsibility for this sieve of a pass defense. Since 2011 he has invested No. 1 picks in Jimmy Smith and Matt Elam and a No. 3 pick in Terrence Brooks. They paid Lardarius Webb handsomely to be a lock-down corner yet his play has rotted faster than Roger Goodell’s reputation since signing his new deal.
And then the Ravens went and re-worked Webb’s $50M deal this year to create some more cap space. You only do that with players who have a future and are expected to perform to the level of their contract. Yesterday Webb made Keenan Allen look like Jerry Rice in his prime.
What’s really borderline insane is how Ozzie banked on Messrs. Webb, Smith and Jackson to stay healthy when nothing in their professional history suggests that they can. How many times have we heard Ozzie say, “You can’t have enough good corners”?
At this point even one would be nice.
And then there’s Matt Elam who grades out as the 82nd ranked safety per Pro Football Focus among the 86 safeties graded. Since he arrived in Baltimore Elam is at best a step late, misses tackles and is a complete non-factor when asked to blitz.
He’s not even a factor during training camp.
The Ravens touted him as a leader with good football instincts yet his play suggests a tweener – a short safety not capable of handling tight ends and he lacks the top-end speed and change-of-direction skills to be effective in space against more agile foes. One only needs to look at how he tackled WR Eddie Royal twice yesterday, unable to stay with the shifty wideout.
Elam supporters claim he’s better equipped to defend in the box but that alleged area of strength hasn’t shown up on Sundays at all. He misses 1 tackle every 36.6 plays he’s on the field, which is among the worst in the league at safety.
When you play that poorly it’s difficult to be a leader.
Of course a big win in Miami could cover up (at least temporarily) the many blemishes in the secondary. But how long will that last? Until Ryan Fitzpatrick carves them up in Houston?
Don’t laugh!
Long-term it may be best that the Ravens are exposed during the weeks ahead.
Then, it might force them to take a harder look at their growing list of flaws – flaws that now make it difficult to recognize YOUR Baltimore Ravens.
