Stopping Joe Burrow is rarely as simple as taking away one receiver or winning a few battles at the line of scrimmage. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback can change plays before the snap, exploit defensive alignments, and distribute the ball to a collection of dangerous playmakers. To slow that offense, the Baltimore Ravens will need all three levels of the defense to work together.
Calais Campbell believes Baltimore's defensive line will play a major role in determining whether the Ravens can contain Cincinnati's offense. The veteran defensive lineman has seen progress in the unit's pass rush, but he also recognizes the standard required to disrupt an offense with this much talent. Against Burrow, the front must be more than disruptive in stretches;
it must make a difference when the Bengals need to sustain drives.
The legend knows the Bengals have the personnel to test every level of the defense. He spoke with the media on Wednesday and explained Burrow's command of the offense makes the matchup particularly demanding because he can adjust based on what the defense shows him.
"It starts with [Joe] Burrow; he's a general out there. He knows how to check all the right plays and che"ck into the right runs based off how people play them, and you have to give the attention to the receivers. They are the best in the game. [Ja'Marr] Chase is probably No. 1, or arguably the best receiver in the game, and then you have Tee Higgins who's Top 10 at the worst; he's a really elite receiver as well. Then the running back is a monster as well, so they really have a lot of talent all over the place."
Campbell's assessment reflects Baltimore's dilemma. The Ravens cannot sell out to stop the passing game and leave themselves vulnerable to Chase Brown. Their defensive front must maintain its assignments even when the Bengals use formations and personnel to create difficult choices.
"It's a great challenge for us, but the biggest thing is just playing together and just having that mentality that we all have to do our job for one another at the highest level and then just execute. When they make plays, [just] tackle them, get them down and defend every blade of grass. They are going to make some plays – it's football. But [we need to] keep them from getting the big explosives and be able to stop the run in light boxes, which has kind of been modern-day football now anyway. As defensive linemen, we have to be able to play our two-gap or play a gap and a half and really work with each other on understanding what runs are coming so that we can condense space, make it easier for our linebackers and just play our game."
Calais Campbell explains the progress he sees from the Ravens' defensive line
Baltimore's ability to affect Burrow will depend in part on how well its pass rushers coordinate their movements. Campbell said the linemen are becoming more familiar with one another's tendencies, which should help them execute stunts and other coordinated rushes with greater consistency.
"Yes, a lot of it is just getting familiar and comfortable with each other and trying to just understand how we like to run in our games. A lot of that comes with just time, and so I think as the season goes along, we should have a lot more success with our games. But I do think that we started rushing better the last couple weeks, and I hope that continues. I know it will, just with the people we have in our room."
That development will matter against Burrow, who can punish defenses when the pocket remains clean. Campbell believes the defensive line's potential must translate into a difference-making performance against an elite quarterback.
"I think that for us to go where we want to go and be the kind of team we want to be, we have to be really elite on the defensive line, especially this week. Our defensive line – it's always a big challenge, but when you play against these really good quarterbacks that have all these weapons, the difference maker has to be up front and making them uncomfortable."
Campbell says the Ravens must respond to adversity together
Campbell also addressed how Baltimore can continue progressing through the inevitable setbacks of an NFL season. He believes the team's ability to learn from mistakes, rather than dwell on them, will help determine how well it handles the challenges ahead.
"We have a tough group, a tough group. We have really good coaching, and a lot of it comes down to just like executing our responsibility, consistently. We'll play really good football for a lot of the game, but there's just those mental breakdowns, lapses or just execution and our technique that we just kind of have those lapses in moments that kind of hurt us, but it's football. I mean, nobody really has ever had a perfect game. I don't think there's ever been a perfect game ever played by anybody. There's always going to be plays you want back, even when you're winning."
For Campbell, the priority is maintaining the team's identity while continuing to improve as the season advances. He sees the upcoming divisional matchup as an opportunity for Baltimore to show what it can do against a talented opponent.
"And so, I feel like, especially on defense, we've tried to get better each and every week. I feel like we've just gotten a little better each and every week, and so the biggest thing is just staying true to who we are and really just try to put ourselves in position to be the best version of ourselves for where we are right now. And honestly, going into that middle part of the season, it's when you really try to separate yourself from the group. For us, [it's a] tough game coming up. Cincinnati's a really good opponent coming off a bye week with a whole lot of talent everywhere. It's just a big opportunity for us, but a big challenge, and I'm confident my guys will be ready."
The Ravens' challenge is to turn that confidence into execution against a division rival with the weapons to punish mistakes. Campbell believes the defensive line is trending in the right direction. Its performance against Burrow will offer a meaningful measure of how far that progress has taken Baltimore.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Calais Campbell explains what the Ravens must do to slow Joe Burrow
