Shutting down the run:
If it wasn’t clear that Baltimore was shaken by how they got beat by the Tennessee Titans in the playoffs, they’ve highlighted it this offseason. The Ravens don’t want to get bullied and run on again, and they’ve invested heavily in their front seven as the remedy.
The Ravens already revamped their defensive line in the offseason, trading for Calais Campbell and signing Derek Wolfe. Entering the 2020 NFL Draft, Baltimore was already sporting a significantly improved run defense. But that didn’t stop them from improving it even further.
The Ravens were expected to draft Queen, a three-down linebacker that has the range to drop back into coverage. But they shocked many by doubling down at the position and selecting Malik Harrison, an old-school linebacker well known for stuffing the run. Baltimore also continued their remodel of the defensive line by drafting two more defensive tackles — Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington Jr.
While the Ravens worked hard to return most of their starters from last season, the front seven could realistically see five new players in the lineup come Week 1. For a team that went 14-2 last season and had very few weaknesses, this level of change is clearly in an effort to squash their biggest flaw.