The Baltimore Ravens are in dire straits. Trapped at 1-4 and staring down into the abyss, they desperately need a win against the Rams. It’s not going to be easy with a number of players still sidelined. Let’s go over some of the Ravens’ keys to success in Week 6.
1) ESTABLISH. THE. RUN.
The talk all last week was how the Ravens should focus on getting Derrick Henry and the run game going with Lamar Jackson being out and the recent struggles. The Ravens did manage to get Henry to carry the ball 15 times, but it was for a measly
33 yards, one of Henry’s worst career performances ever. The Ravens’ offensive line created nothing for Henry, who was hit behind the line of scrimmage all game. Todd Monken did not look to Keaton Mitchell to generate some momentum for the run game, either.
There’s been a lot of talk recently about offensive line changes, but no matter who is blocking, the Ravens have to find a way to establishing something on the ground this week. Even if they are down by 20 by the second quarter, they should remain stubborn about running the ball. The Ravens need to throw the whole playbook at this game: counter, traps, whams, duo, and toss sweeps. Get Henry and whoever plays on the line moving forward towards the next game when Jackson hopefully returns. Twenty carries for Henry, minimum.
2) Cover Puka Nacua
Puka Nacua is the biggest part of the Rams’ offense this season. He is on pace for 210 targets and 1999 yards this season, both NFL records if he keeps it up. The Ravens, of course, have been awful at limiting teams through the air, allowing 262.4 passing yards per game. That has created real buzz about Nacua’s potential to set a single-game receiving record.
The Rams will feed Nacua, just as they have all season, and the Ravens have to figure out a way to stop him. The problem is, no defense in the league has been able to even slow Nacua down this year – his worst game featured 10 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. At this point, schematic tweaks will probably not be enough. Zach Orr has to be willing to devote extra resources – including consistent double-coverage on key passing downs – to keep the Rams’ best player from beating him singlehandedly.
3) Get up early
If the Ravens have any shot at winning, two things have to happen early. The defense needs to get a quick stop early, and the offense has to put up a touchdown. Last week, the Ravens defense started the game by allowing a 10-play, five-minute touchdown drive to the Texans. The Ravens offense followed that with a seven-plus-minute, 12-play drive, but it ended in a field goal. Not good enough.
The Ravens defense has played some of the most snaps of any unit in football. They have not been able to get off the field, and the offense has failed to sustain drives and lost the time-of-possession battle. Their interplay has been the opposite of complementary football, but they need to find some synergy on Sunday. Baltimore can’t expect Cooper Rush to chase Matthew Stafford if the Rams get a big lead early like the Texans did. Finding a stop and putting up seven early is paramount to slowing down and staying in the game.
4) Blitz all day
The Ravens have one of the worst pass rushes in the National Football League. The injury to Nnamdi Madubuike has had massive ramifications for this defense that can’t be fixed without an injection of talent that’s not coming any time soon. Since then, the Ravens haven’t been able to generate pressure with four rushers. Odafe Oweh was not living up to expectations, but he was still the team’s second-most proven pass rusher before he was traded to the Chargers. Kyle Van Noy is now the defense’s only consistent source of pressure, as Travis Jones has been constantly double-teamed and other young pass rushers like Mike Green and Tavius Robinson have not stepped up as expected.
Having found no success with a four-man rush, Orr has to change it up. The new Ravens defense has to be one that sends extra rushers all game, every week. The Falcons currently lead the NFL in blitz rate through Week 5 at 41.1%, and the Ravens should try to obliterate that mark over the rest of the season. With two new safeties in town, Kyle Hamilton can move into the box and take on more blitzing duties. Other second-level players like Marlon Humphrey, Teddye Buchanan, and Trenton Simpson should also be sent after opposing quarterbacks in the hopes of forcing the turnovers that underdogs need to win.
