In an ugly matchup against the Browns, the Ravens’ rookies helped to grind out one of the team’s toughest wins to date. Divisional games on the road are always difficult, no matter the opponent, so it’s good for rookies to get familiar with these matchups early. Here’s how they performed.
Malaki Starks
After a two-game breakout period, Starks had a quieter day against the Browns, but still contributed to one of the defense’s best performances of the season. Like most of his teammates, Starks struggled to tackle
on the Browns’ second drive, leading to their field goal. After that, the Ravens defense tightened up and terrorized Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders the rest of the game. Starks did his usual work in centerfield limiting deep balls, but he also contributed two the pass rush with pressures on both of his blitzes, per PFF. Sounds pretty efficient to me.
Mike Green
Green had a rough day at the office in Cleveland. After some really solid performances since the bye week, Green graded out as the worst Ravens defender against the Browns. A couple of weeks ago, this would have been a disastrous sign for the pass rush and the defense in general. But since the acquisition of Dre’Mont Jones, the Ravens are capable of weathering rookie moments from Green instead of relying on him to be the top pass rusher off the edge. He will look to bounce back against the Jets.
Teddye Buchanan
This was one of Buchanan’s best games to date. He has looked fantastic since Roquan Smith came back after the bye and finished Sunday’s game with an 80.2 overall PFF grade, including a 79.7 coverage grade. Buchanan is increasingly comfortable in pass coverage situations, finding his drop spots and passing routes along to his teammates. He’s physical when he gets a chance to stick a ball carrier and has been one of the team’s surer tackles this year. Buchanan still hesitates in the run game and struggles when linemen get their hands on him, but when he can work in space, he’s a menace.
I didn’t expect much from a fourth-round rookie playing inside linebacker, one of the hardest college-to-NFL transitions there is, but I will be the first to admit I was wrong. Buchanan has come in and quickly developed into a real starter for this defense. If he can be a cheap running mate for Smith as the veteran’s cap hits explode in the next few years, Buchanan will be a home-run of a pick.
Carson Vinson
Vinson once again got the game day activation over veteran Joseph Noteboom as the backup swing tackle. He only played three special team snaps on Sunday on the field goal unit, but the confidence the coaching staff has shown in him is encouraging.
Tyler Loop
This was the biggest game in Loop’s young NFL career: his first divisoinal game on the road with extremely windy conditions and an offense that struggled throughout the entire game. The Ravens needed Loop to make his kicks in order to win this game. The first two field goals of 25 and 24 yards were nothing special, even in the tough conditions. He also hit both point after attempts. But with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Loop drove the ball 44 yards through swirling wings to tie the game with less than five minutes remaining. It was a massive moment for the rookie, perhaps his biggest in the NFL to date.
LaJohntay Wester
This was Wester’s worst game by far. After taking control of both punt and kick return spots last week, Wester started this week with a strong 19-yard punt return and took the first kick return for the Ravens. But then on his second punt, he made a baffling error. Backed up to around his own 10-yard line, Wester was clearly struggling to track the punt in the winds of Huntington Bank Field. Instead of letting the ball bounce, likely into the endzone for a touchback, Wester tried to dive to catch the punt. He muffed it instead, giving Cleveland the ball back at the 6-yard line. A heroic effort from the Ravens defense limited the damage to a field goal, but the momentum had already swung in the Browns’ direction.
Afterwards, Wester was removed from the kick return duties he seemingly earned last week in favor of Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali. He did stay on as the punt returner, but it was clear that his confidence was shaken for the rest of the night. I don’t expect the rookie to end up in Harbaugh’s dog house, nor do I expect this to be a long-term issue. It was a rough night in tough conditions for a young player, which I’m sure the coaching staff will use as a teaching moment for him. He’ll continue to be back out there for punts, and I expect him to get the kick return duties again soon as well.
Keyon Martin
We can’t finish a rookie report without talking about Keyon Martin’s performance in place of Marlon Humphrey. Martin only played 33% of snaps on Sunday, but was impactful on the field with three tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, and a pass defense. If Marlon Humphrey has to miss any more time, the Ravens should continue to feel comfortable that Martin can fill in that slot role when needed on the field.
