The Baltimore Ravens have rushed for 200-plus yards in three of the last four games, sparking an offensive resurgence and seeing the team on a four-game winning streak that has them likely headed to the postseason. A large part of why the rushing attack has improved has been the change to rookie running back J.K. Dobbins.
So when Dobbins left Sunday’s game and was ruled “questionable” to return with a chest injury, many were rightfully concerned even though he eventually returned to the game. However, Dobbins said it wasn’t quite that serious.
“I feel 100%,” Dobbins said Wednesday when asked about the injury. “I was just kinda tired — I gotta say, I was just tired, I had to sit down a little bit.”
Though only listed as starting one game this season, Dobbins has pretty clearly taken over the starting role. Along with Gus Edwards, the pair have pushed Mark Ingram out of the picture, seeing the veteran be a healthy scratch the last two weeks in favor of the younger backs.
On the season, Dobbins has 645 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 121 carries, adding another 120 receiving yards on 18 receptions. But the bulk of Dobbins’ stats have come over the last five games where he’s had no fewer than 11 rushing attempts in a game while putting up 335 of his total rushing yards and scoring a rushing touchdown in every game.
Even when Dobbins isn’t getting the ball himself, offensive coordinator Greg Roman has managed to get the rookie involved in the gameplan. Dobbins has been split out wide or put in motion more frequently over the last five weeks as Roman has used him as a decoy at times, freeing up guys in the passing game or creating misdirection for Edwards to run the ball more effectively.
There have been quite a few changes made to the lineup and the scheme to see Baltimore’s offense produce recently but Dobbins has been a massive part of it as well. It’s good to know he’s healthy as the Ravens wrap up their regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 and then refocus on their larger goal of winning a championship.
[vertical-gallery id=58357]