The Baltimore Ravens have had plenty of problems to address after four consecutive losses, but their offensive line hasn't made life any easier. Pre-snap penalties, inconsistent execution, and a rotating cast of personnel have made it hard for the group to establish the rhythm needed to support an offense dealing with significant quarterback uncertainty.
Those frustrations were visible Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars. During the Prime Video broadcast, offensive line coach and run game coordinator Dwayne Ledford was shown having an animated conversation with the unit before spiking a tablet. It was an unusually visible display of frustration. Guard Vega Ioane offered some insight into the exchange after Baltimore's 33-10 loss post-game
while speaking with the media.
"Coach 'Led' [Ledford], he was fired up about the little things that we mess up. You look at it the wrong way, and you think that's a problem. That's not a problem. Like, he was doing the right thing. Sometimes it's the right thing to be a little aggressive with it. That's just what everybody needs, and with the way the game went, it's what we needed."
Veteran Ronnie Stanley also offered insight. He echoed much of what Ioane said. Standards aren't being met. The results aren't good enough.
"There's a lot of frustration, and there's a lot of passion. Guys care, and we have to be able to control that [and] make sure that we're keeping a positive message and making sure we're optimistic about what's going on."
Both responses suggest Ledford wasn't simply overreacting. He was demanding better execution from a position group that has repeatedly hurt itself with avoidable mistakes. Baltimore has committed 24 false-start penalties this season, an NFL-high total that has disrupted drives and put the offense behind the chains.
The offensive line has struggled to maintain consistency amid injuries and personnel changes, but Ioane doesn't believe those circumstances excuse the mistakes. He acknowledged that Baltimore must eliminate the pre-snap penalties that continue to disrupt its offensive rhythm.
"In the games that we have played, if you guys look at it, we keep beating ourselves. It's as simple as that. We just have to keep working at it and keep fixing it, but we still have a lot of time and a lot of games left. So, we just have to build off it, get it off the screen, and get it off of our minds."
The Ravens' offensive line knows it must become more consistent. The Ravens haven't sustained any success. Ioane pointed to consistency as the biggest issue, acknowledging that pre-snap penalties have repeatedly prevented the unit from building momentum.
"Just consistency in it. As an offense, we just have to keep building on it. Pre-snap penalties are definitely part of it, for sure. We just keep shooting ourselves in the foot. It's as simple as that. We can't win games if we do that."
The offensive line also has to adjust to changing personnel without letting those circumstances become an excuse. Ioane praised Jurgens for making his job easier in their first game together, pointing to the center's communication and ability to handle responsibilities up front.
"It felt great. Cam [Jurgens]'s a great player and a great communicator. He made my job easier. All I had to do was go out there and play ball, and he was handling the rest."
The rookie was also asked whether having Jurgens back in the lineup and establishing more continuity could help the group improve. He rejected the idea that injuries or personnel changes should excuse the mistakes.
"It's never been an excuse, and it shouldn't be an excuse at all. We're all in the NFL. All we have to do is go out there and play, but whoever is up, they're up for a reason. It's as simple as that. We just have to go out there and play ball."
Ledford's frustration was understandable given the circumstances, but the message now has to translate into better execution. Baltimore has an extended break before its Week 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, giving the offensive line time to review its mistakes and work toward greater consistency.
The Ravens don't need another animated sideline exchange to understand what's wrong. They need to stop making the same mistakes that have repeatedly put their offense in difficult situations. We'll see if there is any improvement moving forward.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens' Vega Ioane explains why Dwayne Ledford slammed tablet
