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Ravens roundtable: Addressing inquiries on 2024 free agents, trade deadlines, early appraisals, and other matters
Former Detroit Lions quarterback forced by Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy… Ravens tight end Mark Andrews crosses the goal line ahead of… Minnesota Vikings defender Danielle Hunter is seen pursuing Bears QB Lamar Jackson as he runs against the Lions in…
Kyle Van Noy of the Ravens forces the Detroit Lions quarterback, and Ravens tight end After Mark Andrews crosses the goal line, Ravens center Lamar Jackson sprints against the Lions on the next play. Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter of Minnesota is seen pursuing the Bears quarterback. Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy forces the quarterback of the Detroit Lions.
Ravens tight end In the second quarter of the game on Sunday, Mark Andrews scores a touchdown by going over the goal line over Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46). Against the Lions, the Ravens were at their best, but can they repeat that kind of performance?
The Ravens have an uneven season thus far, and even though they lead the AFC North and are 5-2 going into this week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, there are still a lot of unanswered issues.
Will they continue to play with the same dynamic and explosive offense that they displayed in a resounding victory over the Detroit Lions as the midway point of the season draws near, or will they occasionally regress? What about wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman, who have failed to hit the end zone despite having 14 and 12 catches apiece for 162 and 118 yards, respectively? Despite recording a league-high 29 sacks and conceding an NFL-low 13.9 points per game, the defense has been outstanding. But will they be able to pressure the quarterback going forward?
Auto (nullp) Brian Wacker’s subtitles are off. Compared to their performance against the Steelers, the Ravens are a far better team than they were against the Lions. It’s important to keep in mind that despite their inconsistent play, clumsy communication, and tendency to underestimate opponents, they had a number of injuries during the first few games, particularly to the offensive line and secondary, and nearly none of the offense participated in the preseason. As a result, it was always going to take some time for them to gel.
Baltimore’s defense is playing at a very high standard as well, and it should continue to improve throughout the season. Justin Madubuike has already surpassed his career best in sacks for a season. Inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen are a deadly tandem.
Now that he is mostly healthy, quarterback Lamar Jackson will be a contender for a second NFL Most Valuable Player award if the Ravens can maintain that status and keep improving offensively.
Childs Walker: Well, nobody is, but the Ravens aren’t as good as they appeared on Sunday. According to FTN Fantasy’s Aaron Schatz, their performance versus Detroit was the 14th-best in a single game since 1981 based on his DVOA measure of team efficiency. But the Ravens are more than just the club we witnessed blowing a lead against the Steelers, who have a weak offensive line. Notwithstanding mistakes in the second half and in the red zone, they have outperformed each of their seven opponents and could easily be 7-0. Their offense was, in the words of tight end Mark Andrews, a sleeping monster before it completely awoke against the Lions, and their defense has played astonishingly well in spite of injuries to important players.
Logic has always predicted that the Ravens will be a work in progress over the first few games of the campaign. A slew of early injuries did not help, and their best players did not suit up together until the season opener. They also needed time to get comfortable with coach Todd Monken’s offense. Prior to their meteoric rise in 2019, during Lamar Jackson’s first full season as the starting quarterback, we witnessed similar missteps. Should their luck with injuries continue, they will be really strong going forward.
In the third quarter, Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy forces Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff to fumble momentarily as defensive tackle Justin Madubuike (left) charges in.
In the third quarter, Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy forces Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff to fumble momentarily as defensive tackle Justin Madubuike (left) charges in.
Despite missing Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo for the majority of the season, the Ravens led the league in sacks. Will they complete the first season?
Brian Wacker: They’ll still rank in the top half of the league in sacks, which seems impossible considering their schedule for the second half. In order to generate mayhem, defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has done a fantastic job of hiding looks, employing stunts, and applying pressure from unexpected locations. As previously noted, Madubuike is having a fantastic season during his contract year. However, their lack of a top-tier edge rusher that records double-digit sacks will prevent them from taking the top spot.
Childs Walker: Not at all. Their pressure rate is mediocre at best, and they still don’t have an edge rusher who can beat his blocker one-on-one on a regular basis. They have strong pass rushers all over the field, and Macdonald—who is highly regarded among prospective head coaches—is skilled at giving them free throws at the quarterback through clever manoeuvres like fake pressures and stunts. However, it’s difficult to believe that any of the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, or Buffalo Bills won’t pass the Ravens in the sacks chart given how much more pressure they are putting on the opposition.
Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr. haven’t produced anything thus far. Do the Ravens need to worry?
Brian Wacker: Not at all. On November 5th, Beckham will turn 31. He was never going to regularly produce large statistics, especially with so many other targets to feed, such as Bateman, tight end Mark Andrews, rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers, and others. Nevertheless, he possesses exceptional hands, can occasionally make a huge play, and adds a lot of information to the conversation. Although Bateman has a history of injuries and is occasionally not as involved as he should be, he has generally played well when given the chance, with the exception of a dropped score against the Steelers. Keeping him interested and making the most of his quickness and playfulness are crucial.
Childs Walker: The Ravens shouldn’t be astonished because they knew there was a lot of danger involved with their wide receiver strategy. Bateman and Beckham have already been late. During training camp, Beckham performed better than anticipated, and when healthy, he has played decently. After a mediocre regular season, he was a Los Angeles Rams postseason standout in 2021. If he stuck to the same plan this season, the Ravens would be okay with it. Bateman’s situation is particularly worrisome considering he is halfway through his third season and has not yet experienced a sustained period of excellent health and output. Although he has little control over the wounds, he should use his hands more consistently when the chance arises. Having said that, he performed admirably as a chip blocker and looked good against the Lions.
