Offense

Stack Release

One of the signatures of a Marc Trestman offense is the use of multi-stack alignments and 3×1 sets. A 3×1 can be characterized as three receivers lining up collectively to either the strong or weak side of the formation, with a single X receiver on the opposite side.

Last Sunday, Trestman flashed the 3×1 look on a pivotal field goal drive that helped the Ravens close the gap on a 6-0 deficit. On this drive, Trestman showed the 3×1 look on first down out of a base formation (2 WRs, 2 backs, 1 TE), and ran the ball with Buck Allen to the open side of the formation. The Ravens had success on those runs, but that look wasn’t employed consistently throughout the game.

As for stack alignments (in which two receivers line up on top of each other), there weren’t any of note.

Using more 3×1 looks, with the receivers stacked or bunched to the same side, would be an effective strategy to help the WRs gain separation and create mismatch opportunities against the Oakland back end, especially if they try to use press coverage.

Use of motion in conjunction with these same-side stacks will also create quick-hitting opportunities for Joe Flacco to cash in on. Flacco held the ball too long last Sunday, waiting for long-developing routes, and needs quicker underneath outlets. This is a game in which Michael Campanaro should be more involved.

Stretch the Seams

Another area the Ravens rarely attacked was the seams, in-between the hashes. Tight ends Crockett Gillmore and Nick Boyle were primarily used as blockers. And Maxx Williams didn’t see the field until the offense was forced into hurry-up mode on the final drive of the game.

Gillmore eventually got loose behind the Denver linebackers. Against an Oakland defense that was just shredded by Tyler Eifert, the massive second-year TE needs more opportunities to work from the slot.

Specifically, the Ravens need to run more spread looks in which the outside receivers run verticals to stretch the safeties to the sideline. If the safeties are forced to extend out, the tight ends will have room to maneuver on the inside from the slot against a depleted secondary.

Return of the Mack

Second-year defensive end Khalil Mack had a relatively quiet game against the Bengals. You better believe he’ll be looking for atonement in the Black Hole.

Mack’s rep is growing by the day. Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave him the highest grade of any preseason performer (regardless of position). You may say preseason games don’t matter, but two sacks and six QB hurries in just three games (basically one full game of action for Mack) is good by any measure.

The former University of Buffalo product plays with outstanding leverage and pad level. He is consistently able to dip under the arms of opposing tackles to jolt them off their base stance. When Mack has his speed/power game going, he also combines a vicious spin move to break free and gain access to an outside or inside line.

The Ravens tried to block DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller one-on-one and the plan blew up, quite literally, in the backfield. Against Mack, Trestman needs to slant the blocking scheme to his side. Through a combination of tight end chips and double teams, they need to consistently force the Raiders’ wrecking ball to fight through multiple blockers to get to the QB.

Flacco should also look to vary the timing of the snap count so the young rusher isn’t able to settle in and consistently get the jump. This is something he failed to do against the Denver tag team.

Defense

It’s the Jimmy Smith Show

The loss of Terrell Suggs to a second Achilles tear looms large. There’s no doubt about that. But the good news for the Ravens? Jimmy Smith is back and he was in shutdown form against the Broncos. His presence will help offset the loss of Suggs, especially in passing situations.

Smith’s ability to lock down the opponent’s top receiver without safety help gives defensive coordinator Dean Pees more flexibility with his rush packages. He can roll or deploy his safeties to other spots on the field to help inside or play closer to the line. From the nickel package, he can also blitz the slot corner, which is exactly what happened on three different third-down passing situations against Denver.

Against the Raiders, Smith should be matched up against rookie Amari Cooper. Although Cooper is wet behind the ears, he’s already a fluid route runner that gets in and out of his breaks with precision. Smith will need to match his quickness, and be prepared for the double move.

If Pees is able to entrust Smith and the rest of the secondary to play man coverage more often, he’ll be able to blitz his safeties and backers to compensate for the Suggs-less four-man pressures.

Edge Contain

Running back Latavius Murray isn’t exactly a household name, but he is a dangerous lead back for the Raiders, who possesses home-run hitting ability. Even though the Raiders were getting shelled last week, Murray still averaged over four yards a carry and was effective on the few touches he had.

Murray is especially dangerous on the edges, where he can use his speed to turn the corner and get into open space. Murray ripped off four runs covering 25 yards or more in just six games last season.

The edges, especially where Suggs used to reside on the weak side, is where Oakland will likely take aim. Elvis Dumervil is expected to take over Suggs’ early down duties. While the Pro Bowl outside linebacker has been a three-down player in the past, and has played the run well, this is still a shift in responsibility for one of the top speed rushers in the game.

Moreover, the Ravens struggled to set the edge throughout the preseason. In particular, rookie Za’Darius Smith (who will eventually see more snaps to help replace Suggs, though whether or not that happens this week remains to be seen), lost contain several times when defending perimeter run plays.

If Smith and Dumervil get caught too far down the line, Murray will be able to bounce the ball outside and rip off chunks of yards.

Checking the Backs Out of the Backfield

Murray isn’t just a threat as a runner. He’s also going to test the Baltimore backers as a pass-catcher coming out of the backfield. Although his role as a receiver was in question to start the year, Murray caught seven passes against the Bengals. Meanwhile, fullback Marcel Reece – a player with sneaky speed and the versatility to line up out wide or in the slot – caught two TD passes against the Bengals, even though he did his damage in garbage time.

The danger both of these backs present in the passing game is very real, especially if Pees continues to use ILBs Daryl Smith and C.J. Mosley to blitz more often. Moreover, the threat becomes worse if Dumervil and Courtney Upshaw are forced to play in space.

Pees will need to account for the possibility that both backs will be active pass catches, whether they go in motion and split out, or leak out on flares and dump-off routes.

One-on-One Matchup to Watch

Kelechi Osemele versus Dan Williams

In light of last week’s disappointing rushing performance (23 rushes for 73 yards), Baltimore needs to get back on track against a Raiders front that was gashed for 127 yards against Cincinnati. Running the ball to Williams’ side will be a stiff challenge. The 330-pound plug eats up a lot of space and is difficult to root out. Osemele has the power to match up against Williams. KO will need to get the large NT moving laterally to give the backs space to run away from his side.