A buzz is building around these Baltimore Ravens. Major platforms are split on how they rank them, but most slot them among the league's best after a week of NFL action. FOX Sports even labeled them pro football's best team. They couldn't have asked for a much better start to the Jesse Minter era defensively. They certainly had things to clean up after allowing 23 points to the Indianapolis Colts, but Baltimore's defense repeatedly made timely plays and found creative ways to pressure the quarterback.
Now comes a different challenge. The New Orleans Saints showed in Week 1 that they can move the football through the air, particularly with Chris Olave leading the way. If Baltimore wants to build on its encouraging opener, these four areas could
help the defense shine again.
Capitalize when Tyler Shough makes mistakes.
No one should be surprised if Tyler Shough becomes one of the game's great young gunslingers. There is a little bit of a cowboy in his game, and that's meant as a compliment. But every great gunslinger eventually hangs the ball out there, giving the defense a chance to make him pay.
Shough threw for more than 400 yards on 56 attempts against the Detroit Lions, but two interceptions were tucked inside that impressive performance. He also lost a fumble on a third-quarter strip-sack. The Ravens will get opportunities against him. They need to turn those opportunities into takeaways and points when they arrive.
Keep the Saints behind the chains and on the scoreboard.
This assignment could be more manageable than what Baltimore faced in Week 1. Jonathan Taylor is an elite running back, while New Orleans' rushing attack produced only 91 yards and 3.64 yards per carry against Detroit. The Saints' low rushing total was partially a product of game script after they fell behind and had to throw their way back into the contest.
Still, Baltimore's defensive front should attack the line of scrimmage and make it difficult for Travis Etienne Jr. to establish a rhythm. If the Ravens can consistently put New Orleans behind the chains, the Saints could find themselves in another pass-heavy script.
That's when things could get particularly interesting. Baltimore's edge rushers can become much more aggressive when they know a pass is coming. The Ravens don't necessarily need to shut down everything New Orleans wants to do. They need to create enough unfavorable situations that their pass rush can take over.
Keep attacking from nickel and dime.
Watch Baltimore operate from nickel and dime personnel, and there's usually something entertaining happening. Those formations are designed primarily to counter the passing game, but the Ravens have shown they can use them to create problems for quarterbacks, too.
Here's an example. Against Indianapolis, Baltimore lined up in nickel with roughly four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Kyle Hamilton served as a free rusher. Jones rolled right to escape, but Tavius Robinson was waiting for him to clean up with a sack.
Later, Baltimore lined up in dime on fourth-and-11. Indianapolis had to account for multiple rushers to the right, creating a free lane for safety Malaki Starks. Running back Seth McGowan tried to slide to pick him up, but he arrived too late. Starks got home for the sack.
Those are the types of looks that can keep an offense off balance. Baltimore has enough versatility to attack from multiple personnel groupings, and the Saints now have to account for that unpredictability.
Whatever happens, don't let Chris Olave beat you.
Sometimes the defensive game plan really can be that simple. If another Saints player becomes the hero, so be it. Baltimore cannot allow Chris Olave to put together another performance approaching 200 receiving yards.
Olave caught 10 passes for 182 yards against Detroit and led the NFL in receiving yards after Week 1. The Ravens know exactly where the Saints' most dangerous receiving threat is, and their secondary will have to find a way to limit him without creating opportunities for everyone else.
That may be easier said than done, but Baltimore has reason to be optimistic. Nate Wiggins played extremely well against Indianapolis, and the Colts didn't have a receiver come close to Olave's production. Alec Pierce led Indianapolis with 61 receiving yards, while the Colts' other receivers managed fewer than four catches and 38 yards.
Olave is a different challenge, but that performance still offers a glimpse of what Baltimore's secondary can accomplish when it keeps opposing pass catchers contained. If the Ravens can prevent Olave from taking over while forcing the Saints to find production elsewhere, they should give themselves a chance to control the game.
Final thought
There is plenty to like about what Baltimore's defense showed in Week 1, particularly the creativity behind its pressure packages. The next step is turning that promise into consistency.
The Ravens don't need to shut down New Orleans completely. They need to force mistakes, win early downs, create obvious passing situations, and make sure Olave isn't the reason the Saints stay in the game. If they can do that, Baltimore's defense should have plenty of chances to make life uncomfortable for Shough and the Saints' offense.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens vs. Saints: 4 ways Baltimore's defense can shine in Week 2
