It may not feel like it, especially on the heels of losing Rashod Bateman for the season, but the Ravens offense had a pulse against the Buccaneers a week ago, at least for a half and largely due to a switch to the run game and a perfect 8/8 passing performance from Lamar Jackson.
I have enough analysis on Jackson alone for another article, so for now let’s focus on the playcalling and individual players who helped Baltimore flip the switch in Tampa Bay.
Without Bateman around, Greg Roman has just one reliable target who can consistently win his matchups/routes: Mark Andrews. Devin Duvernay is certainly a weapon, and a combination of Demarcus Robinson, Isaiah Likely and yes, even James Proche, can be tertiary threats.
None but Andrews is an elite receiving threat, though, so Roman will need to help his skill players out by scheming them open and forcing Jackson to take easy throws.
One way to do that is the good ol’ run-pass option, or RPO. Jackson is typically pretty sharp on RPOs, and his legs allow him to get out of trouble, too. It’s so easy to hit defenses for quick yards on early downs in the first half, which is when Roman dialed up this one.
2nd play of the 1st drive. One way to get Lamar to take easy throws is to force him to through RPOs. GRo needs to call more of these; they were a big part of the 2nd half success. pic.twitter.com/pkFJnGqcG5
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) November 1, 2022
Roman then started to go to his RPOs more often in the second half, to a ton of success. The threat of the Ravens’ run game is enough to pull in defenders and open up cleaner windows for Jackson and more space for his targets on the other end.
This one towards the end of the game works despite good defense from the Bucs. Lamar stays patient and finds his second-window throw, something he did a few times in this game.
Lamar's target on both? None other than Devin Duvernay… pic.twitter.com/dUvhcjB8h7
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) November 3, 2022
Jackson is becoming more comfortable with Duvernay, especially on these plays. He even finds him as the second read on the second play above.
Roman still gets a little predictable, but this is where Jackson’s legs are a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card. Jackson probably should have handed this off, anyway.
Of course, Roman does switch it up on the next play. Lamar remembers the last play and hands it off to Hill, but should have probably hit Likely or taken it up the left side himself. pic.twitter.com/3s0Kkln5d8
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) November 3, 2022
Jackson tries to make up for that mistake on the next play, but could have gone to Likely in the flat with Ricard leading the way and plenty of space.
Justice Hill doesn’t care, though! He continues an inspiring comeback season by shaking off four would-be tacklers on his way to pick up five to set up a 3rd-and-short.
I would also be extremely remiss to not shout-out Josh Oliver again, who is blocking – no, not just blocking, physically owning – a 270-pound defensive lineman on this play. Sheesh.
Roman will also need to continue unleashing Duvernay as a multi-threat offensive weapon. Let’s go back to the Browns game, when Duvernay spent most of the first half being used as a decoy motion man. Roman knew that Cleveland did their homework and would be looking for Duvernay on jet sweeps. So he (smartly) uses Duv as a decoy in the first half and the Browns key on him for positive run plays in the other direction. Good!
By the second half, the defense is ignoring Duvernay and Drake does well to prevent a loss on this play. pic.twitter.com/hBl21eM3Jc
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) November 3, 2022
But Roman (mind-numbingly) never takes advantage of what he’s set up, as the Browns defense stops keying on Duvernay and instead stuffs the run game with Duvernay left as a useless decoy. Bad!
Fast-forward to Tampa Bay, and Roman deploys Duvernay similarly in the first half, with plenty of threatening motion but never actually calling his number. Then the Ravens come out in the second half, and Roman immediately goes to his playmaker.
The margins are tight on this screen – on every screen, really – but Jackson just gets it off to a waiting Duvernay with *checks notes* Patrick Ricard and Isaiah Likely leading the way. That’s 550 pounds of lead blockers against defensive backs. You tell me how that one goes.
Then this to open the next drive, with Gus Edwards leading the way and Demarcus Robinson executing a nasty runoff-block combo to help Duv get the extra yards. pic.twitter.com/k6vK0slURi
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) November 3, 2022
But who needs a fullback and tight end lead blocking when you have Gus Edwards and Demarcus Robinson blocking their butts off? Edwards takes out Devin White and Mike Edwards in one block, while Robinson uses a filthy outside vertical release to take his defender way downfield before locking in his block.
In both plays, Duvernay accelerates so quickly that defenders can never get a good angle in pursuit; it’s what makes him such an effective returner. Roman has finally started to intentionally feature this in the Ravens offense, and it’s been one of their best go-to’s all year.
Roman keeps things a little tricky by calling a screen with Duvernay off the field and targeting Robinson instead. Again, Likely and Oliver are blocking mismatches for defensive backs and Robinson seems pretty comfortable in open space. Something to explore further, perhaps?
It also kind of looks like an RPO, but Kenyan Drake makes a really smart play. Many thought this looked like a miscommunication that just happened to turn out well watching live, but that’s not it. Drake sees, maybe even pre-snap, that the screen is the right read and trusts that Jackson will make it, maybe having also already recognized it. That considered, Drake knows he won’t be taking a handoff and instead tries to protect his QB and his throwing window. A savvy, veteran, heads-up play!
And then, the coup de grâce, which I titled "2 fast 2 easy 4 duv" when I clipped it. It's beautiful, and perfectly executed. Duv is so fast turning the corner and makes the TD-worthy cut at the 15. pic.twitter.com/ouoQlSEJ3s
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) November 3, 2022
And finally, to cap off the Ravens’ 4th-quarter scoring drive that gave them a lead they would not relinquish, Roman goes back to the Duvernay (runs really) well one last time.
The Bucs defense, especially Antoine Winfield, is somewhat ready for it, but the Ravens execute too well. Stanley, Powers and Linderbaum all downblock with Zeitler pulling and looking for second-level work. Ricard gets upfield off the snap and combines with Likely – who drew his man inside – to light up Devin White. Hill avoids a block-in-the-back and Duvernay does the rest. He is able to maintain a high speed when he turns the corner to go upfield and his subtle cut at the 15 is really what secures the end zone.
I’ll have a lot more on Jackson specifically in the coming days, so I’ll just add a few clips with brief analysis on the run game.
Using both Lindy and Stanley as pullers almost feels unfair. Josh Oliver executes his combo perfectly and Kenyan Drake is smart to stay inbounds with an 11-point lead and under 5 minutes left in the game. pic.twitter.com/Hd4IeUXRVu
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) November 4, 2022
He had that one bad missed hole early in the season, but since then, 43 has become Justice (Up)Hill. Lightning fast cuts that keep him going upfield, where that 4.4 forty can really shine. pic.twitter.com/SebbMMqM61
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) November 4, 2022
Kenyan Drake is still a pretty effective back. Finds the hole here, created by a nice combo from Ben Powers. LG didn't turn out to be such a weak spot after all! pic.twitter.com/WRnEMvLHUo
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) November 4, 2022
Solid OL play, great blocking from skill players and the ball carrying threats of Jackson, Duvernay and Edwards plus effective running from Hill and Drake can absolutely carry this team to the playoffs. From there, well, that first name and his arm get a lot more important.
