Yet another fourth quarter collapse that has become all too much of a regular experience for the Ravens. I walk through some of the Raiders debacle below. But make no mistake, a victory over the Cowboys is essential for the Ravens 2024 chances. At 0-3, their playoff aspirations would likely hinge on very poor play across the entire AFC North for the balance of the season. Now that’s possible, as the Browns have real issues, the Bengals find themselves in the same hot seat, and the Steelers just can’t be believed offensively. But let’s take a look at what was shockingly terrible in the Raiders game, and identify the promising things as well.
Raiders Debacle – The Worst Player on The Field for the Ravens Last Week
As is often said, the tape doesn’t lie. The worst player last week wasn’t Brandon Stephens, it wasn’t Marlon Humphrey. It wasn’t even Daniel Faalele (though he gets a very high honorable mention). I get to Stephens, Humphrey, Faalele and more below. But the worst player on the field award goes to Roquan Smith. Change one vowel in the word “champ” and that’s who Smith has been through two games. He owes it all to his putrid play in zone coverages, where he was – again – absolutely abused.
I counted at least seven pass plays where Smith was in the wrong place, guessed wrong, got turned, dropped too deep, or didn’t get enough depth. It was actually shocking to see. And this from a man who last year was a superstar in pass coverages. Smith was locked in on the quarterback’s eyes way too often, and was seemingly guessing on several plays, instead of just executing his play responsibilities. Plus, Gardner Minshew didn’t miss any of the opportunities Smith’s play presented.
Is Smith trying to do too much? Perhaps. But it better stop right now, because it’s glaring on tape, and you can expect Dak Prescott and the Cowboys to try to move Smith around too.
And by the way, it’s not because Trenton Simpson doesn’t know his zone responsibilities. Yes, Simpson gave up a few too many receptions (Brock Bowers looks like the real deal), but it wasn’t because he missed assignments. And Simpson generally allowed very little YAC. He’s been an excellent tackler through the first two games.
Daniel Faalele and Ben Cleveland
I’m not a beat writer for the Ravens so the blunt tool is available for your humble blogger. Here’s one sentence about Mr. Faalele. He cannot be a starter in the NFL. Not at right tackle. Not at right guard. When I review game tape, I mark large asterisks for great plays, and the old thumbs down for terrible ones. Faalele collected the most down thumbs I’ve ever noted for one player in one game. He can’t move, he can’t bend, he can’t react. And he can’t be on the field. If he starts against the Cowboys, Coach Harbaugh will have a lot of “splaining” to do.
If the Ravens want to get the offensive line moving in the right direction – and there was some good and some not so good last week – it starts with getting Faalele off the field. I’ve said before that I hated the Ravens’ draft selection of Faalele. He was abused in the Senior Bowl practices that year (a personal favorite measuring tool for me). And he’s proven to be that player in the NFL. Yes, the coaches clearly disfavor Ben Cleveland who – when he’s been called upon – has been a much better performer than Faalele. Cleveland lives in doghouse and won’t get out absent injury. So, the solution must come from somewhere else.
But if I’m the GM and I you have a player on the 53-man that the coaches won’t play, then I say get him off the roster. The Ravens have done neither with Cleveland. In game action he’s been a much better run blocker than Faalele, and certainly no worse (but actually better) than Faalele as a pass blocker. But under the current circumstances, the Ravens really should get him off the 53-man because they just don’t want to play him
Did Brandon Stephens Cost the Ravens the Game?
Devante Adams is a great player, and he was brilliant against the Ravens. Excepting one play, none of Adams’ success was because Brandon Stephens couldn’t cover Adams. Indeed, on a couple of Adams’ catches, particularly in the fourth quarter, Stephens had the proverbial blanket coverage on Adams. The problem for Brandon Stephens – who made great strides last year – is that he seems incapable of turning his head to the ball. It’s not just great shadowing and great positioning (among other things) that makes a great cover corner. But it is the ability to turn, locate the ball, and bat it away from the receiver. And Stephens just hasn’t shown any ability to do that.
Now Gardner Minshew was about as accurate in the game as one could ask of any quarterback. In the second half, he was almost picture perfect. But Mr. Stephens was in perfect position to break up some of those passes to Adams, and he failed.
I’m jumping ahead a bit, because whether Stephens remains with the Ravens next year more likely may depend on the fate of Marlon Humphrey. But Nate Wiggins needs to get healthy and on the field before it gets too late for the Ravens. Wiggins can locate the ball. And he can run.
Did the Referees Cause the Raiders Debacle?
I don’t like to write much about refs because they have a tough job and they want to get it right. Football is a very difficult game to officiate. But I’ll just point one thing out regarding the critical third down pass interference call in the end zone against Humphrey on Adams. The side judge was positioned at the goal line, in perfect position to evaluate whether a flag was warranted on a play within three yards of his eyes. He did not throw one.
Rather, the flag came from the down judge who was trailing the play. He was positioned at the 16 yard line, and his line of sight was partially blocked by Adams’ back. In my view – and as is typical of my personal view of NFL officials – he threw a flag for a foul that he couldn’t fully see. I don’t think he could have seen Adams giving as much in the hand fighting with Humphrey as he was getting. I believe that most officials, with a full view of the play, would have wound up with a no-call. But as Kurt Vonnegut quipped – and so it goes.
Good and Bad on the Offensive Line
Through these first two losses, Ronnie Stanley has been a real revelation. His holding penalty aside, Stanley’s pass protection was excellent against the Raiders, as it was against the Chiefs. Lamar has largely been clean from the blind sine. And Stanley moved in space adequately, if not reasonably well.
Roger Rosengarten was given two significant series against the indomitable Max Crosby. Rosengarten, who played poorly against the Chiefs, was much more effective against Crosby, and held up well when he had to man-up Crosby alone. Crosby is a lot like T.J. Watt; he brings a tremendous motor, has a superb first step, and moves equally well with both feet and in all directions.
Rosengarten played so well in pass protection that you just have to believe he’ll get the first crack against Micah Parsons, with Pat Mekari playing at right guard. We’ll see. But kudos for Rosengarten’s performance on a very tough cookie. He moved his feet very well, showed very good hand placement, and was quick enough to stay in front of Crosby. There is faster upside for Rosengarten than I saw in week one.
Andrew Vorhees had a much tougher time in pass protect against the Raiders than he did in the Chiefs game. Quickness across his face caused him a lot of trouble, and he had several breakdowns. I believe it’s part of the learning curve for Vorhees, as he tries to acclimate against elite NFL tackles. The Raiders took him to the shed last week. Vorhees continued to struggle in the run game. He latches on reasonably well, but again lacked the lower body strength to drive defenders off the line.
A Clear Development With Mark Andrews
I don’t believe Andrews is entirely healthy. Why? Because Todd Monken does not have Andrews on the field for most running play calls (especially on first downs), preferring Charlie Kolar instead. Kolar is an average in-line blocker at best. Andrews used to be above average, and certainly brought more power. But it’s glaring now through two games. And Monken still had several sets where he impossibly positioned Isaiah Likely in line next to the tackle. To no surprise, Likely was regularly overpowered, resulting in busted running plays.
If there’s another reason for Andrews not being on the field on run calls, I’d like to hear it. If Andrews still has a leg problem, Monken could compensate by lining Pat Ricard up as the in-line tight end and positioning Andrews outside of Ricard’s shoulder. Or even as an H-back. But if it all possible Andrews needs to be on the field more often.
And another thing with Andrews. He isn’t being targeted like he was, as most readers already know. But he’s still getting open fairly regularly. And against the Raiders, Lamar made another horrendous throw on a deep route to Andrews. This play was a touchdown in the making, but the ball was a good five yards over Andrews’ head.
Another Aspect of the Raiders Debacle – Zach Orr Better Figure This Out Right Away
The Ravens have had two utterly dominant players on the defense through two games. I get to Travis Jones below. But Odafe Oweh has become the great player the Ravens hoped for. He brings great pressure with spins, swipes, some swims, and just raw power. He’s holding the edge like T-Sizzle.
Yet, when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter on both red zone series by the Raiders, incredibly Oweh was not in on either set inside the 20. Now I don’t know whether that was because Orr is running specific groupings and it was Oweh’s turn off the field. And frankly, I don’t care. That kind of game strategy – if that’s what it was – is why you lose games. Unless Oweh was in the blue tent or throwing up in the locker room, he just must be on the field when the game is on the line. Would the Steelers take Watt off the field at that point? Would Myles Garrett or Micah Parsons be on the sideline watching? Max Crosby never comes off the field!
I don’t think any of the beat writers picked up this huge mistake by Orr. But it can’t happen again. Win or lose, when the game’s on the line the best players must be on the field.
And I’ll add this. After Malik Harrison’s horrid performance from the inside in coverage against the Chiefs, Orr amazingly tasked him (once) with doing it again. And to no one’s surprise, Harrison utterly failed again. Message to the coach: fix these mistakes now. Harrison can’t do it. Keep him on the edge on expected running downs, or pinned to the bench.
Another Week, Another Word for Travis Jones
Later in the season (though perhaps earlier than I fear if the Ravens don’t get on the winning train soon) I’ll write about some salary-based changes heading the Ravens’ way. But one thing is for certain. Travis Jones is utterly dominant on the inside. His club move is superb. In the run game no single blocker knocks him back. Jones swats those guys as if they aren’t on the field. He stands up double teams in the best of the Ravens’ tradition. And he chases down the line and into the backfield like a man 50 pounds lighter. This guy’s in the process of earning a huge deal, and the Ravens must lock him up. Can you say “superstar?”
Mistakes in the Secondary
Other than a few mistakes by Eddie Jackson, the assignment execution in the secondary was actually much better last week. The Ravens had a bit of trouble with late motion by the Raiders wideouts. And the Raiders utilized a ton of motion. The Ravens must do better in keeping those assignments mistake free. As noted, Smith was a disaster, and Marlon Humphrey was a tad slow from a reaction perspective. But Kyle Hamilton stepped it up and Marcus Williams played well on the back end. There is still a lot of upside in this group, particularly once (if) Wiggins gets acclimated.
The Same Old Song
Here’s how to balance out the Ravens offense. Force Jackson’s first read to go the way of Rashod Bateman. Once again, Bateman was open early and often. Coach Monken, please call his number seven or eight times and make him the weapon he can be. Yes, Bateman had one ball clink off his hands for the interception, but he was hit almost simultaneously on a read that Lamar probably should have passed on. Bateman gets open down the field, at the snap, in the middle, and across. I reiterate – once you make Bateman a threat, Flowers, Likely and Andrews become that much more difficult to handle.
When Justice Hill is on the field, the Ravens rarely call a running play. On the flip side, when Derrick Henry is on the field, he’s an afterthought in the passing game. He caught one ball last week and was very effective. He’s a decent if not solid receiver. And I’ll make the same comment about throwing him the ball as I did last week regarding Zay Flowers. Throw Henry the ball on a circle route when he’s beyond the big boys and facing corners and safeties. That’s a scenario that is a big advantage for the Ravens. Let’s put that in the playbook.
And one more thing Derrick Henry. He looks good to me. His power and explosion are still there, but the Ravens offensive line has done a terrible job giving him running room. Henry is facing first contact way too quickly on most running plays.
I know Todd Monken is a veteran play caller with oodles of knowledge and experience. But it’s not translating to the current group. He’s not fully exploiting what he has, and he must be more creative in getting some quick hitters across the middle and on the other side of the line until this offensive line settles down. And it better start right now.
Now here’s a record for your blogger. Only one Lamar comment this week – because I’m also tired of the same old song!