Tag: Patrick Ricard

Derrick Henry had his way too, but meddling Ravens OC Todd Monken

Baltimore Ravens HB Derrick Henry had just 16 carries in the most important game of the year but meddling OC Todd Monken sees no problem.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry had just manhandled the Pittsburgh Steelers with 26 carries for 186 rushing yards in the 28-14 Wild Card victory. So common sense would tell Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken to give Henry more than 16 carries in the AFC Divisional round versus the Buffalo Bills, right?

Tied 7-7 to begin the second quarter, the Ravens had gained chunks on four consecutive rushing plays for 46 yards on the Bills defense. That’s when, on 1st & 10 from the Bills’ 45-yard line, Monken decided to get cute and sequence in a few passing plays to try and cap the drive off in style. 


Jackson’s second-quarter fumble on 2nd & 10 from the Bills 28-yard line was the fourth consecutive pass play called by Monken on the drive. Perhaps center Tyler Linderbaum was preoccupied with having to pass block so many successive times and rushed the snap. Yet, it doesn’t end there.

Monken used the exact same recipe on the ensuing drive, a drive that stalled out with a field goal by kicker Justin Tucker. With the Ravens on the Bills 2-yard line, Monken called a reasonable run-play out of 21 personnel, and rightfully so. The Ravens successfully used the I-formation in the red zone all year but were stuffed for losing one on first down.

No big deal, Monken still had 2nd & Goal from the 3-yard line with 4:38 to go in the second quarter. Monken could’ve forced the unstoppable Henry or even sequenced in the QB inside zone play. Fans had seen the Ravens succeed with Jackson all season. Instead, Monken tried to use play-action with the same 21 personnel and tackle Ronnie Stanley, reporting as an eligible receiver! Take a look below, Jackson’s eligible targets on the play-action play that led to a five-yard loss (sack) were Stanley, fullback Patrick Ricard, tight-end Mark Andrews, Henry and wide receiver Tylan Wallace. 

While Ravens head coach John Harbaugh defends Monken, it’s obvious that Monken’s play calling always favors passing the ball over running it in the most important games. For perspective, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had three more passing attempts than Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the AFC Divisional Round.

Monken’s genius sometimes suggests that he tends to be overwise. Yet, his wisdom doesn’t seem to prompt him to do the most obvious thing: give Henry the ball. 

Beyonce shines for Netflix on Christmas Day: Top photos from Ravens win over Texans

Top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 31-2 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day in front of Beyonce on Netflix

Some thought Baltimore had peaked too soon after its 24-19 loss to the Eagles, but the Ravens have been 3-0 since then, and they have had a much-needed bye week.

A team unsure about their AFC North status can win the division in Week 18 after an impressive 31-2 win over Houston on Christmas Day in front of Beyonce and a monstrous Netflix audience.

Lamar Jackson was 10-15 passing for 168 yards, two touchdowns, and a 143.9 rating.  As a rusher, Jackson carried the ball four times for 87 yards and a touchdown, moving past Michael Vick on the NFL’s all-time rushing yards list for a quarterback.

With preparation for the Browns set to begin, we’re looking at the top photos from Christmas Night.

***

Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-2 lead over Texans on Christmas Day

Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-2 lead over Texans on Christmas Day

The Ravens can smell a division title. After watching the Steelers fall to the Chiefs in the earlier game, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have Baltimore rolling through one half in Houston. With Beyonce and Post Malone in the building, the Ravens jumped out to a 17-2 lead on the back of Jackson’s arm, Henry’s strong running, and a stingy defense that improves each week. Baltimore held Houston to 125 yards of total offense in the first half, and if not for a Texans safety, it would have been on its way to blowing out the host team on Netflix. With the second half set to begin and Beyonce’s incredible performance just finished, here are sights and sounds from the first half. ****

Patrick Ricard believes Ravens can be efficient out of heavy personnel sets

Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard believes the team can be effective out of their heavy personnel groupings

The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 of the 2024 season by the final score of 27-20. The team saw success with running back Derrick Henry on the first drive of the game but only utilized him sparingly after that.

Baltimore found success running out of its heavy personnel early in the game, which it should try to do more often over the course of games. Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard spoke on Baltimore’s use of its heavy personnel, saying that it can be very efficient but does not take away from everything else the offense can do.

“I think very. It all depends. We’re going to see. But yes, when you have two big-body guys like that [Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews] who can get open, who can make difficult catches and are hard to bring down, I think it’s going to be very efficient, but it’s not going to take away from everything else that we’re going to do.”

Baltimore brought in Henry for a reason, and while head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that he isn’t getting 30 carries per game, he should be the focal point on the ground, particularly in heavy looks. Add in tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely who can do damage through the air, The Ravens should be looking to capitalize in every way they can with heavier sets all season long.

Ravens FB Patrick Ricard talks about ‘incredible’ size and speed of RB Derrick Henry

Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard talked about the “incredible” size and speed of running back Derrick Henry

The Baltimore Ravens signed running back Derrick Henry to a two-year deal worth $16 million during the 2024 offseason. The team will rely on him significantly during the year, especially alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Henry found the end zone in his first game as a Raven, showing why Baltimore brought him in. Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard talked about Henry’s size, mentioning how his unique blend of size and speed makes him such a special player.

“OK, so it’s a little weird, but if you look at Derrick [Henry], he’s a lot of legs. Like, he has very, very long legs, so I think that is why he’s very fast, very explosive [and] very hard to bring down, because when you are moving those big legs, it’s really hard to bring down. But yes, it’s just incredible how he has that size with that speed. That’s why he’s so special.”

Henry wasn’t utilized much after Baltimore’s first offensive possession of their Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and multiple contributing factors contributed to that. However, the team should be able to use him much more going forward, especially as the season continues.

Ravens FB Patrick Ricard building chemistry with RB Derrick Henry

Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard is building chemistry with running back Derrick Henry

The Baltimore Ravens have assembled an incredible one-two punch in their offensive backfield with quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. The two should cause plenty of problems for opposing defenses, from Week 1 all the way to the end of the year.

Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard was asked about Henry, and had great things to say about his new teammate. He talked about his it’s been good to get in practices with the veteran, especially as they continue to build chemistry.

“It’s nice to finally get to practice together and kind of see what plays [Derrick Henry] likes, and he told me he likes every running play, so it makes it easy. For me it’s just to kind of see what he sees in terms of the flow of how the run play kind of develops and how I should hit the hole to get my guy so he can run off of it; it’s little things like that. I mean, with a [running] back like him, it just makes you want to just hit someone even harder [and] push him even a little bit further, because he’s a big guy. He’s got to run through there, but he’ll run through it, so as long as I can move a guy, we’ll be all good.”

Henry and Ricard is a massive duo to try and bring down, which opposing defenses are likely to find out the hard way. Both players are almost impossible to bring down, and Ricard should be able to clear plenty of pathways for the veteran.

Ravens vs. Packers: Top photos from preseason finale at Lambeau Field

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field

It’s only the preseason, but the Ravens will head towards the 53-man roster cutdown date with a sour taste after a 30-7 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday afternoon. Josh Johnson was 5-7 for 71 yards and one passing touchdown, while Michael Pratt led Green Bay in passing, going 8-12 for 80 yards and one touchdown. The Packers were dominant on the ground, amassing 193 rushing yards, as Ellis Merriweather led all ball carriers with 16 yards for 74 yards. The Packers held the ball for nearly ten minutes longer than the Ravens and out-gained Baltimore by 326 yards to 177 for John Harbaugh’s bunch. With Baltimore now turning its attention toward the Chiefs, here’s an instant analysis of the loss. ***

Ravens vs. Falcons: Top photos from Baltimore’s 13-12 win in preseason Week 2

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 13-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason Week 2 matchup

Backup quarterback Josh Johnson was perfect on the afternoon, and rookie Emory Jones added a 56-yard touchdown throw to Dayton Wade in the second half to lift the Baltimore Ravens to a 13-12 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium.  The Ravens snapped a three-game preseason losing streak, while Atlanta had 343 yards of total offense but was 4-13 on third downs. Baltimore had another putrid day on the ground, rushing for 71 yards on 30 attempts.  With the team set to start preparation for the preseason finale, here are the top photos from the win over Atlanta. ***

Ravens OC Todd Monken must get Zay Flowers more 1-on-1 opportunities

Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers produced 387 YAC on just 77 receptions last season.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has a dynamic skill set that must be adequately utilized in 2024. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken should strategize ways to scheme Flowers into more 1-on-1 opportunities at the intermediate and third levels in the passing game.

Ultimately, Monken must force opponents out of Dime and Nickel personnel to give Flowers more one-on-one opportunities. Monken can do this by deploying 22 personnel, three tight ends, and one wide receiver sets. 

Flowers is best when he has space to operate on the outside. Yet, when Monken deploys three—and four-receiver sets, the field becomes cluttered, and defenses can sit in zone coverage.

Impressively, Flowers produced 387 YAC on just 77 receptions last season within an offense with the second-fewest pass attempts in the NFL. 

Monken should focus on establishing the run and then deferring to the pass on second and third downs when the Ravens offense has shorter lines to gain. Creating explosive passing plays with Flowers can be the astronomical ingredient to perfect the Ravens’ offensive attack in 2024.

Top photos from Ravens 16-13 loss to Eagles in preseason opener

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 16-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the preseason opener at M&T Bank Stadium

The Ravens returned to the field for live game action for the first time since their heartbreaking, 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game.

Baltimore hosted Philadelphia at M&T Bank Stadium, with both teams on similar arcs, and championship paths. Starting quarterback Lamar Jackson sat out along with key starters on both sides of the football.

Eagles kicker Jake Elliott made a 49-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 16-13 victory after Baltimore quarterback Emory Jones — who had just entered the game — was sacked and fumbled on the next play.

The recovery by Patrick Johnson gave Elliott his final opportunity of the night.

With Baltimore set to start preparation for the Falcons in the second week of the preseason, we’re looking at the top photos from Friday night.

***