Tag: Roquan Smith

Report: Roquan Smith to be fined for hip-drop tackle on Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith to be fined for hip drop tackle on Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin

Roquan Smith had 18 tackles in the Ravens 41-31 win over the Buccaneers, and one of those stops ended Chris Godwin’s season, when the Tampa wide receiver suffered a dislocated ankle.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports is reporting that Smith will be fined for what the league labeled a “hip drop tackle” on the Buccaneers star pass catcher.

The tackle is at least the ninth such instance of the now-prohibited hip-drop tackle the NFL has sought to eradicate from the game. But by the start of Week 8, there have been zero on-field penalties for the play.

Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is facing a fine of $16,883 for what would be his first offense of the new rule, and Smith is able to appeal that fine with the league.

Godwin led the league in receptions (50), was second in receiving yards (576) and was tied for third-most touchdowns (5) in the league at the time of his injury.

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews suffered a similar ankle injury during a hip-drop tackle by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson on November 16, 2023 of last season.

Ravens’ DC Zach Orr brought mayday to Baker Mayfield, Bucs final score is misleading

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield only padded the final score after Baltimore Ravens DC Zach Orr and his defense let off the gas.

Of course, on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield tried to pad the score against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens’ lead had inflated to 23 points in the fourth quarter, and defensive back Marlon Humphrey and linebacker Roquan Smith had been reading Mayfield’s mail all game long.


With a sizeable scoring lead, the Bucs needed to rely on the pass, so Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr deployed Smith primarily as a quarterback spy. Thus, Smith could hone in on stopping Mayfield from scrambling while covering check-down options.

Humphrey and safety Kyle Hamilton were frequently used on the back end in Cover 2-man sets. Orr’s plan baited Mayfield into making tight window throws on blurred reads, leading to a few interceptions.

Smith finished with 18 tackles and was involved in nearly every play. Orr’s unit finished with three sacks and two interceptions, and the 31-point allowance doesn’t truly reflect how dominant they were in Tampa.

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Roquan Smith’s tackle causing Chris Godwin’s ankle injury suggests NFL will cautiously officiate hip-drop tackles

The NFL might not be taking hip-drop tackles as seriously as we thought.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took one on the chin in their Monday night loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and Chris Godwin’s season-ending ankle injury was the awful cherry on top for the NFC contender.

However, while Godwin’s absence will have a significant impact on the NFC South race and for his fantasy football managers, the biggest ripple effect from the sequence might relate to NFL officiating.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL has apparently said that Ravens star linebacker Roquan Smith used a hip-drop tackle to bring Godwin down on the play where he got injured. As we all know, discussions about the hip-drop tackle and needlessly complicating an already overwrought game with MORE penalties were major sticking points during this past offseason.

However, if the hip-drop tackle was that clear, Smith weirdly (or unexpectedly?) wasn’t flagged for it in the middle of Monday night’s game. And the NFL only reviewing it after the fact for a potential fine suggests this might be the penalty structure for most if not all, hip-drop tackles moving forward:

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1848765723096613249

My stance about penalizing hip-drop tackles as a symptom of over-officiating only changes slightly in this scenario. I still think it’s very silly to take a tool out of the toolbox for defenders in an already offensively slanted sport. It’s not like dudes are trying to injure people on purpose. You bring skill players down by whatever means possible, and sometimes that happens. This has always felt like trying to officiate out the brutality of an inherently brutal sport for optics.

With that said, I appreciate that defenders like Smith might, at least, not hurt their team in the middle of important games with a backbreaking penalty thanks to the foolish rule.

If penalizing hip-drop tackles will really only have the structure of reviews the following day, followed by possible fines, I find this whole deal much easier to stomach. It’s still not great that it hurts the pockets of guys just doing their jobs, but you can live with it if it doesn’t otherwise affect the outcome of a game too much.

Maybe this is the way the NFL always intended to officiate hip-drop tackles.

Ravens vs. Buccaneers: Top photos from Baltimore’s 41-31 win on Monday Night Football

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 41-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night in Week 7

The Ravens started the game down 10-0, then scored 41 unanswered points, jumping out to a massive lead before allowing 21 late points to the Buccaneers in the fourth quarter. Even with the defensive letdown, Baltimore’s performance won’t overshadow Lamar Jackson’s five-touchdown pass performance, as the Ravens moved to 5-2 on the season with a 41-31 win over Tampa at Raymond James Stadium.

Baltimore amassed 508 yards of total offense but had a dominant performance ruined as the defense allowed over 430 yards of offense for Tampa.

With preparation for the Browns in Week 8 set to begin, here’s an instant analysis of the big win on Monday Night Football.

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Ravens star LB Roquan: Commanders are ‘in good hands’ with Jayden Daniels

Ravens All-Pro linebacker said the Commanders are “in good hands” with Jayden Daniels.

Last week, Ravens All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith raised some eyebrows when he said Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels hadn’t seen a defense like Baltimore’s.

As it turns out, Smith was right as the Ravens beat the Commanders 30-23 on Sunday. But, it wasn’t like Baltimore’s defense shut Daniels down. The rookie passer completed 24 of 35 passes for 269 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Ravens’ top-ranked rush defense did hold Daniels to 22 rushing yards and Washington to 52 rushing yards overall.

After the game, several Ravens, including Smith, came away impressed with Daniels.

“Washington is in good hands with (Daniels),” Smith said. “He’s the truth, for sure. He can run it, he can throw it — whatever you want — and for him to come into a hostile environment and perform the way he did, I’ve got much respect for him. He took some licks, too, so the guys……I heard he was tough as nails, and even from watching him in college at couple of games, but he showed that. So, much respect and love for that guy, and yes, Washington is in good hands.”

That’s high praise from one of the NFL’s top defensive players. And when Smith said last week that Daniels hadn’t seen a defense like Baltimore’s, it wasn’t trash talk. While the Ravens won, Daniels and the Commanders earned Baltimore’s respect.

Ravens vs. Commanders: Roquan Smith wants to lay down the law on QB Jayden Daniels

Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith is ready for the week 6 challenge vs. Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels.

Nobody on the Baltimore Ravens roster wants to re-establish defensive dominance more than inside linebacker Roquan Smith does.

Smith was emphatic when his unit held all-pro Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen to just 10 points in week four and he certainly has his mind set on putting a half to the red hot Washington Commanders pass offense.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DA4fO7IPUzp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The Ravens still rank No. 1 in the NFL in rush yards allowed per game but issues on the backend have been a blemish to success.

Although all-pro safety Kyle Hamilton chimed in on the defensive shortcomings, it is actually Hamilton’s absence from the third-level, his deployment inside the box that is leaving an unfilled void in the secondary.

Smith and defensive coordinator Zach Orr will be looking to lay down the law on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Ideally, Smith will want to nullify his scramble ability by spying him. However, this will leave the Ravens’ defensive backs in man coverage where they have shown to be inadequate.

Perhaps Smith and Orr can get things figured out this weekend at home.

Ravens LB Roquan Smith on Jayden Daniels: ‘He hasn’t seen a defense like ours’

Ravens LB Roquan Smith says Jayden Daniels “hasn’t seen a defense like ours.”

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is arguably the best at his position in the NFL. Smith has been named first-team All-Pro twice since coming to Baltimore via a trade with Chicago in 2022. He’s also made the last two Pro Bowls.

Smith is off to another fantastic start in 2024, leading Baltimore with 50 tackles through five weeks. Unfortunately, the rest of the Ravens defense hasn’t played as well.

Smith and Baltimore have a difficult task in Week 6. The Ravens host the red-hot Washington Commanders and sensational rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Smith is confident and believes Daniels could be in for a long day.

“When he’s in the open field, he’s a dangerous guy to tackle, but we love challenges,” Smith said Wednesday via Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore. “He’s still a rookie at the end of the day, and he hasn’t seen a defense like ours just yet.”

Smith is correct. Baltimore’s defense will present challenges that Daniels hasn’t seen yet. Although the Browns came into last week with a solid defense, Daniels was so good that he sat almost all of the fourth quarter in a blowout win.

The Ravens brought back legendary former defensive coordinator Dean Pees to serve as an advisor for first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr this week. Orr played for Pees, and they have a strong relationship. Baltimore is currently ranked 19th in total defense and No. 1 in run defense but 31st in pass defense.

There will be opportunities for Daniels to make plays against the Ravens this weekend. Smith is also right in saying Daniels will see some things he hasn’t yet seen in his young NFL career.

Ravens vs. Bengals: Top photos from Baltimore’s 41-38 win in overtime at Paycor Stadium

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 41-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime at Paycor Stadium in Week 5

Lamar Jackson and company rallied from a late fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime with a 56-yard field goal from Justin Tucker. In overtime, the Bengals recovered a Jackson fumble but could not win it after Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard field goal of his win.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Joe Burrow was 27-for-34 for 353 yards and five touchdown passes, while former college teammate Ja’Marr Chase had nine catches for 174 yards and two scores.

Burrow finished 30-39 passing for 392 yards, five touchdowns, and one costly interception. His MVP counterpart, Lamar Jackson, was 26-42 passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson also had 12 carries for 56 yards on the day.

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Joe Burrow dominates early, but Ravens rally for a 41-38 win over Bengals in overtime

Joe Burrow dominates early, but Ravens rally for a 41-38 win over Bengals in overtime

After a week of pundits and experts questioning Joe Burrow’s demise, the former LSU star put the NFL back on notice with a dominant, five-touchdown performance against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium.

Still, it wasn’t enough, as Lamar Jackson and company rallied from a late fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime with a 56-yard field goal from Justin Tucker. In overtime, the Bengals recovered a Lamar Jackosn fumble but were unable to win it after Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard field goal of his win.

Baltimore used a big Derrick Henry run to get into field goal position, and Justin Tucker’s 24 field goals gave the Ravens their third straight win.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Burrow was 27-for-34 for 353 yards and five touchdown passes, while former college teammate Ja’Marr Chase had nine catches for 174 yards and two scores against a Ravens secondary full of first-round picks and high-paid defenders.

Burrow finished 30-39 passing for 392 yards, five touchdowns, and one costly interception. His MVP counterpart, Lamar Jackson, was 26-42 passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson also had 12 carries for 56 yards on the day.

After a slow start, Derrick Henry finished things with a bang, rushing for 91 yards on 15 carries, with one rushing touchdown.

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Kyle Hamilton leads the Ravens in solo tackles in DC Zach Orr’s dynamic scheme

Thanks to the genius of DC Zach Orr, Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton leads his team in solo tackles through NFL week four.

Thanks to the genius of defensive coordinator Zach Orr, Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton leads his team in solo tackles through NFL week four.

Hamilton and linebacker Roquan Smith have expectedly been the leaders on defense, using physicality and speed to hinder opposing skills players in Orr’s scheme.


What’s been so dynamic about Hamilton this season is his frequent deployment near to the line of scrimmage. Orr (according to film) is using the big nickel formation, installing safeties Eddie Jackson, Marcus Williams, and Hamilton on the field at the same time. This has led to Hamilton often  operating as a coverage/run stopping linebacker to assist Smith in the box.

The Ravens defense only spent 28 minutes on the field in Sunday’s victory, a recipe for success to account for a previously struggling secondary. As long as the Ravens’ offense can sustain offensive drives, Hamilton and company will avoid attrition and maximize effectiveness in Orr’s blitz scheme.