(In this series, Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield takes a look at one important metric per NFL team to uncover a crucial problem to solve for the 2020 season. In this installment, it’s time to look at one area where the Baltimore Ravens defense struggled in 2019, and why one loss heavily influenced their offseason decisions).
Ask any Baltimore Ravens fan what number matters most for their team’s 2020 chances, and it is likely the response is a single word.
Zero.
Or more specifically, zero wins in two chances. In two seasons in the NFL quarterback Lamar Jackson has led the Ravens to two-straight playoff appearances, and has zero wins to show for it.
In the 2018-2019 playoffs the Ravens hosted the Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card Weekend, and struggled offensively in the first half, trailing Philip Rivers and the visitors 12-0 at halftime. Jackson would throw two touchdowns in the second half, but it was not enough as the Ravens fell 23-17.
Last season, however, Jackson took a big leap forward as a quarterback, and Baltimore followed suit. The Ravens finished the regular season with a 14-2 record and secured homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, and Jackson’s stellar sophomore campaign saw him secure an MVP for his efforts. Jackson completed 66.1% of his passes for 3,127 yards and 36 touchdowns, against just six interceptions. His Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt of 8.19 placed him fourth in the league, behind Ryan Tannehill, Patrick Mahomes and Drew Brees. Everything was set for the Ravens to make a deep playoff run.
Then the Tennessee Titans came to town.
A week after upsetting the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots, the Titans knocked off the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium 28-12. The visitors got out to an early 14-0 lead and for the second-straight season, Baltimore trailed at home at halftime of their first playoff game. Just like the year before, Jackson struggled in the loss. He completed 31 of 59 passes for 365 yards and a touchdown, but threw a pair of interceptions, including one on Baltimore’s opening drive of the game.
But while Jackson’s 0-2 playoff record is probably at the forefront of every Ravens fans’ thoughts this offseason, there was another number from their loss to the Titans that seemed to drive a large majority of their decisions this offseason from a personnel standpoint.
195.
Titans’ running back Derrick Henry ran for 195 yards on that night, spread over 30 carries for a stunning 6.5 Yards per Attempt. Henry also tallied six runs that resulted in a first down, and 127 of those rushing yards came after contact. He also threw a touchdown pass in the game, but it was what he did carrying the football that seems to have left a lasting impact on the front office, and played a role in many of their decisions since.
The first addition came in the form of Calais Campbell. The Ravens traded for the Jacksonville defensive end in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Next the team looked to acquire Michael Brockers in free agency, but when that deal fell through they turned on a Plan B. That second option was Derek Wolfe, another stout defensive end with a penchant for both rushing the passer and stopping the run.
Then it was time for the draft.
In the first round Baltimore again addressed the front of their defense, selecting linebacker Patrick Queen out of LSU. Queen became a starter early in the season for the Tigers at linebacker, and showed the ability to both contribute in pass defense, as well as against the run as he displayed on this play against Clemson in the National Championship Game:
Then in the third round, the Ravens added two more players to their defense front. Up first was linebacker Malik Harrison, a downhill, thumper of an LB who showed the ability to stop the run, as well as the ability to blow up lead blockers:
Also in the third round, Baltimore selected defensive tackle Justin Madubuike out of Texas A&M. He flashed as a pass rusher, as he did on this quick interior rush against Mississippi:
But it was what he also contributed against the run that saw him check in at Touchdown Wire’s third-ranked defensive tackle, behind Javon Kinlaw and Derrick Brown:
Against the run he shows violent power at the point of attack, with the ability to long-arm trap blockers and fight the half man, enabling him to make some plays behind the line of scrimmage. He has powerful hands at the strike point against singles or doubles, and is able to maintain his balance when knocked from the side, allowing him to stay effective in a variety of scenarios.
What makes these moves all the more interesting is that there were warning signs regarding Baltimore’s run defense prior to Henry’s outburst in the Divisional Round. While the Ravens were ranked fourth in the league in Defensive DVOA, that was largely on the basis of their pass defense. Baltimore’s run defense checked in with a Defensive DVOA of just -7.0%, good for 20th overall in the league. The Ravens also surrendered 4.4 yards per carry in 2019, 12th most in the league. In terms of yards per game, Baltimore averaged just 93 rushing allowed per game, but this was largely due to the benefit of a positive game script. When you win 14 games, you’re going to have lots of leads, and teams are going to be forced to throw more against you as a result.
That changed in the playoffs for the second-straight season.
Of course, there is an argument that in today’s NFL the passing game remains king, and therefore stopping the pass is more of a priority for defenses. Adding Madubuike and signing Matthew Judon to the franchise tag are moves that will certainly help, in terms of bolstering the pass rush, and what Queen can do as pass defender will help as well.
But remember, the Ravens’ pass defense was solid last year, it was their run defense that was lagging behind.
Thus, the offseason additions made to stop the run, and perhaps stop Henry himself. That, the Ravens and their fans hope, leads to a bigger number in 2020.
Super Bowl 55.