Week One found the Ravens locked in a surprising defensive battle, and after some typical Baltimore late-game drama, the away team came up one play short. Despite the result, Sunday’s game was an exciting first taste of NFL football not just for Ravens fans, but for the talented young group of Ravens rookies.
Five rookies saw the field for the first time as professionals, with Carl Davis, Maxx Williams, and Buck Allen all playing important roles. And after the game, the focus would shift to two important rookies who did not suit up against the Broncos: Breshad Perriman and Za’Darius Smith. But first, to the action:
Carl Davis
The defensive tackle’s impressive preseason carried over into an exceptional first-ever regular season performance. With Timmy Jernigan out of the lineup, Davis saw extended time paired next to Brandon Williams on the defensive line. Davis and Williams wreaked havoc in the Denver backfield all game long, setting the tone for the defense that would settle in quickly and shut down Peyton Manning at all three levels.
Davis notched two solo tackles, one tackle assist, and one batted ball. Williams had more splash plays than Davis, but the two set each other up all afternoon in the run game. Davis also attracted a double team that freed Albert McClellan for his second-quarter sack.
Buck Allen
Allen was able to shake off a slow preseason by carrying the ball nine times for 30 yards and adding a catch for four yards in his NFL debut. It was tough sledding all day, but the coaches trusted him as the main backup runner in Lorenzo Taliaferro’s absence, and Allen rewarded them.
On this play in the late third quarter, despite initially being turned off the line by Jeremy Zuttah, Denver nose tackle Darius Kilgo briefly gets free in the A-gap. Allen patiently shuffles his feet, diagnoses the A-gap traffic, and spots the hole off-tackle.
He accelerates downhill gaining three yards after contact, and lunges for a first down.
A modest six-yard gain, but a mature run by a young player. Patience before the hole, explosion into the hole. ”Slow to, fast through” as they say.
Maxx Williams
Williams caught just one ball, but saw extended time and played well overall as the second tight end.
With 70 seconds left in the game, facing a 3rd-and-2 on the Denver 39-yard line, Marc Trestman wisely caught the Broncos defense on their heels with a run call. Justin Forsett got the ball on a toss right while Williams, from a bunch formation, attempted to set the edge to provide outside running room.
Williams threw a phenomenal low block that sealed off two defenders providing a wide lane on the perimeter, springing Forsett for a huge 20-yard gain.
The play got the Ravens into position to take legitimate shots into the end zone in the dying seconds.
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Dynamic (Absent) Duo?
Two concerns emerged as Peyton Manning took a knee in the final seconds. First, Ravens fans held their breath for news on the Terrell Suggs injury, only to soon learn that the heart and soul of the Ravens defense would miss the remainder of the season. Who will step up in Suggs’ absence at a position of limited depth?
Second, as the offense struggled, there was a glaring lack of fast wide receivers who could separate from defenders.
Enter Za’Darius Smith and Breshad Perriman, respectively.
While the Ravens will likely look outside the building for help at outside linebacker, Smith will suit up in Oakland after being inactive this weekend. Smith had an inconsistent preseason, but has exciting upside and will be thrown into the fire within a “pass rush by committee” approach. See if Smith can bring some pressure this Sunday.
An unfortunate running theme of Rookie Report so far has been first-round pick Breshad Perriman’s injury. While we do not know what kind of pro Perriman will be, we do know what he would bring when healthy: speed. Give Denver’s talented defense credit for stymying Joe Flacco and the offense all afternoon, but the lack of perimeter speed was a huge factor Sunday. Perriman has yet to return to practice and will not play until he does so, but the Ravens need him back . . . fast.
