Tag: John Harbaugh

Ravens coach John Harbaugh doesn’t see a hole in Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins’ game

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gives his scouting report on Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Very few wide receivers give defenses as many fits as DeAndre Hopkins does. A back-to-back All-Pro for the Houston Texans, Hopkins has the attention of whoever he plays. The Baltimore Ravens are no exception to the rule.

Hopkins, who is second in the NFL in catches (68), presents the Ravens defense that Baltimore coach John Harbaugh won’t undersell.

“Everybody is on the same page, but number 10 (Hopkins) is one of the best, if not the best, in the league,” said coach Harbaugh on a Wednesday conference call. “He’s right there.”

On the season, Hopkins has 68 receptions for 665 yards and four touchdowns. Recently, he has seen an uptick in targets, receiving at least 11 in his last four outings, as compared to one instance of 11+ in his first five.

In his previous three games against Baltimore combined, Hopkins has tallied 18 receptions for 223 yards. He has yet to face the Ravens with Deshaun Watson taking snaps.

Known for his physicality, Hopkins is often described as a nightmare to defend on the line of scrimmage. He boxes as if he were Mike Tyson to beat cornerbacks. His large catch radius, chemistry with Deshaun Watson and experience rounds out a full-fledged force.

“He’s really tough to cover, he bodies people up, he’s got great body control, he’s got great hands, he’s very strong, excellent after the catch,” continued Harbaugh. “I don’t see one hole in his game, and that’s what we’re confronted with and we’re going to try to do our best against him.”

Though the Ravens boast defensive secondary playmakers, Hopkins could be in-line for a big game against the coach that praises him. Baltimore is 22nd in the NFL in wide receiver catches (125) and yards allowed (1,654).

Harbaugh is prepared to face Hopkins. He has the scouting report. However, on Sundays, a scouting report will only get a team so far.

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh raves about the Texans offensive line

The Houston Texans have built themselves an offensive line. Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh is all too aware of that.

The Houston Texans offensive line used to be the butt of jokes. Key words: used to be.

After investing three first-round and two second-round selections to acquire blockers in the offseason, the Texans built Deshaun Watson and the run game an offensive line they can rely on. The league is taking notice, particularly their next opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.

“I think they’re playing really well,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh on a conference call on Wednesday. “Obviously they’re doing great. They’re running the ball at a very high level, they’re also protecting the quarterback.”

Houston’s 13th-worst 25 sacks don’t do the new-look offensive line —  LT Laremy Tunsil, LG Max Scharping, C Nick Martin, RG Zach Fulton and RT Tytus Howard — justice. In their 176 snaps played together as a unit, they have allowed just two sacks.

The Texans’ offensive line rising from the dwellers to respectability lie within the additions of Tunsil, Scharping, and Howard. Tunsil being a 25-year-old franchise left tackle; Scharping being his trusty sidekick; Howard being the first-round right-side centerpiece.

“They’ve got a first-round pick at right tackle, a top-10 or 12 pick or whatever he was at left tackle — did a great job of getting him in there. I think their guard, they’ve got a rookie guard from Northern Illinois, Scharping, we liked, a big, physical guy,” Harbaugh continued.

The two remaining starters from last year, Martin and Fulton, have played to stay. “Got one of the top centers in the league (Nick Martin), Notre Dame guy, and one of the most physical right guards (Zach Fulton) in football,” said Harbaugh.

Houston, after much-maligning, has their five-man offensive line. Harbaugh won’t doubt that; he knows what he will see on Sunday.

Said Harbaugh: “I just think they’ve done a great job putting that line together and they’re very well coached and they’re playing at a high level.”

Ravens sign DTs Domata Peko, Justin Ellis; punt returner Cyrus Jones waived

The Baltimore Ravens beefed up the center of their defensive line with defensive tackle Michael Pierce expected to miss time with an injury.

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With defensive tackle Michael Pierce having suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of Week 10’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Baltimore Ravens brought in reinforcements.

The Ravens announced they signed defensive tackle Justin Ellis, a five-year veteran who had been with the Oakland Raiders. Over his time in the league, Ellis (6-2, 350 pounds) has accounted for 119 tackles and a half-sack.

In addition, Baltimore added former Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko. Initially reported by The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec and confirmed by his agent, Peko adds a wealth of experience to the defensive line. Peko played 11 years with Cincinnati and the last two with the Denver Broncos, amassing 589 combined tackles, 20 sacks, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 50 quarterback hits.

To make room for Ellis and Peko, the Ravens announced they have waived punt returner Cyrus Jones and defensive end Ufomba Kamalu. A Baltimore native, Jones became dispensable after Baltimore signed return specialist De’Anthony Thomas last week and made him a healthy scratch for Week 10. Kamalu had been signed off New England’s practice squad but had not been active in a game this season for the Ravens.

While Pierce’s injury is considered day-to-day, according to coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens have been thin on the defensive line. They initially entered the season with just five defensive linemen on the 53-man roster, a departure from the usually stacked units Baltimore carried in previous years.

With no clear timetable set for Pierce’s return from injury and rookie Daylon Mack only being active for one game this season, the Ravens needed some beef in the middle of their defensive line. Peko and Ellis give them exactly that right at a time when they’ll go up against two of the best rushing teams in the league: the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers.

Baltimore has found quite a bit of success with signing free-agent defenders this season. The Ravens added linebackers L.J. Fort and Josh Bynes earlier in the year, and both have provided a major impact for the defense. So there’s plenty of hope both Ellis and Peko could do the same in the second half of the season.

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