Tag: Justin Ellis

Week 11 snap counts: Ravens leaning on midseason additions

Beating the Houston Texans, 41-7, allowed the Baltimore Ravens to sit much of their starting lineup for half of the fourth quarter. It’s the third time this season Baltimore has been out to such a large lead they’ve been able to bench impact players …

Beating the Houston Texans, 41-7, allowed the Baltimore Ravens to sit much of their starting lineup for half of the fourth quarter. It’s the third time this season Baltimore has been out to such a large lead they’ve been able to bench impact players during the game.

On the snap counts for Week 11, we see that reflected as guys like Robert Griffin III, Patrick Mekari and Bennett Jackson got some playing time when they normally wouldn’t. But when I looked a little closer at the snap counts, something interesting popped off the page for me.

On defense, the Ravens saw their midseason additions get significant playing time. In this game, six different players added in Week 5 or later played at least 34% of the defensive snaps. In many cases, these free-agent signings and trade acquisitions actually played more snaps than their long-tenured counterparts.

For instance, cornerback Marcus Peters played 100% of the defensive snaps, significantly more than the 67% Jimmy Smith and 7% Anthony Averett played. Linebackers L.J. Fort (48%) and Josh Bynes (39%) played more than Patrick Onwuasor (15%). Jihad Ward (56%) played more than Brandon Williams (54%). Even Justin Ellis (34%) and Domata Peko (36%) — added last week — played a significant amount.

I contend the Ravens are the best team in the NFL, and a large part of that argument revolves around their defensive turnaround over the last six games. With six players added during the season getting significant playing time in their Week 11 win, a giant glowing sign points to general manager Eric DeCosta’s work behind the scenes.

Seven of the 21 players of the active defensive roster this week were added during the season. That group accounted for 195 of the 671 total defensive snaps (29.1%) against the Texans. That’s practically unheard of for a group that’s playing this well and a testament to both DeCosta and the coaching staff for finding them, signing them and getting them up to speed so quickly.

Click on the next page for the full snap counts for the Ravens in Week 11 against the Texans.

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Ravens place rookie DT Daylon Mack on injured reserve

The Baltimore Ravens placed rookie defensive tackle Daylon Mack on injured reserve after signing two veteran defensive tackles this week.

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The Baltimore Ravens made a whole host of roster moves over the last few days. In addition to activating rookie cornerback Iman Marshall from injured reserve, the Ravens signed two defensive tackles in Justin Ellis and Domata Peko. To help make room for the roster additions, Baltimore placed rookie defensive tackle Daylon Mack on injured reserve.

Mack was listed as “questionable” for Week 10’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, after being limited in Friday’s practice with a knee injury. Mack played in just one game this season — being a healthy scratch through seven others. With the signings of Ellis and Peko, the move to injured reserve was to be expected.

It will allow Baltimore to get more experienced defensive linemen on the field, especially with Michael Pierce’s ankle injury potentially keeping him out of the lineup. But it still allows the Ravens to continue developing Mack for the future. As a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, there were no expectations that Mack would become an immediate contributor but could hopefully grow into a solid depth player or potential heir for guys like Pierce and Brandon Williams down the line.

According to the team’s site, Mack becomes the 10th Ravens player to head to injured reserve this season — all on defense.

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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