Stock Up
Chuck Clark
Have a day, Chuck! The fifth-year safety had only three interceptions going into Sunday – having dropped several of the gift-wrapped variety over the course of the season – and picked off Matthew Stafford twice, returning one for six and the only Ravens touchdown.
Clark’s first INT was a perfect example as to why Wink Martindale calls him one of the smartest players he’s ever coached. He clearly watched Rams film and knew the stick concept was coming and jumped the Stafford throw intended for Tyler Higbee and walked into the end zone.
Rams go Stick on 3rd-and-2, Chuck Clark playing over #2 and traps the inside stick route from #3. Looked like he was communicating w/ the S behind him right before the snap
— Derrik Klassen (@QBKlass) January 2, 2022
You can tell they saw that this week. Queen inside leverage and let Beckham completely uncovered at Stafford’s drop. https://t.co/yo0IdXcvIG
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) January 2, 2022
Chuck Clark is the #Ravens pass D currently (these all are recorded PDs in H1)#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/8N6HQsr0LZ
— KingMoose (@Yoshi2052) January 2, 2022
Clark had a nice pass breakup on Cooper Kupp in a key situation in the first half as well. It wasn’t just turnovers. As one of the few remaining healthy Ravens starters, he was maybe the best Raven on either side of the ball Sunday and did his best to keep the season alive.
Freeman and Murray
Both RBs did what was asked of them and ran as well as they could behind that makeshift offensive line. Devonta Freeman had one of the longest runs of anyone on the team with a 32-yard run to jump start a drive that ended in a field goal to go up five in the fourth quarter, and made some sharp cuts and did well at getting skinny to get through holes throughout the game. Latavius Murray’s line won’t pop out in the box score (11 attempts for 31 yards) but was excellent in short yardage situations all game long, always fighting for extra yards, being tough to bring down falling forward.
For a big picture take, these two have stepped in admirably into what was a disaster of a situation in the preseason. Neither of the two will be back next season, but we should respect what they were able to do this season. After next week, Freeman and Murray will have combined for close to 1,000 yards with at least 10 touchdowns. Not bad for two has-beens on their third and fourth teams.
Stock Down
Hollywood
Quietly, Marquise Brown has faded down the passing game option pecking order. He hasn’t topped 60 receiving yards in seven games and had less than 50 for the fourth straight week. He needed only 47 yards going into Sunday to reach the 1,000 yard mark and finished with just 28 on three catches.
It looks as if the chemistry between him and Tyler Huntley is off. Almost every time Huntley targets him the ball is either short or low, forcing Brown into some difficult catches that he doesn’t always make.
Meanwhile, Rashod Bateman’s usage and targets have steadily increased week to week. I think it’s fair to say that Brown is pretty clearly behind Bateman and Mark Andrews heading into 2022.
Alejandro Villanueva
Alejandro Villanueva has found himself in this section multiple times throughout the season to the point where I almost wanted to choose someone else for this. He was bad on Sunday, struggling with whoever the Rams threw at him and responsible for multiple drive-ending penalties. But, as the season winds down and the team’s playoff chances fall into the single digits, he may be the team’s biggest Stock Down guy if I were doing a season long edition of this.
Signed to a two-year deal to ideally be the right tackle, Villanueva was thrown over to the left side and has not looked good there all season. Going into Sunday, he ranked sixth among all NFL offensive lineman in total penalties and first in holding calls. On the season, he’s Pro Football Focus’ 56th highest graded offensive tackle and 69th highest graded tackle in pass blocking.
The Ravens save over $3 million if he’s cut before June 1 of this year. I’d say there’s a zero percent chance he is back in 2022.
