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Baltimore Ravens: Ground And Pound A Good Direction For Offense

By Chris Schisler

Dec 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA;Baltimore Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon (30) follows the blocks of wide receiver Kamar Aiken (11) and center Jeremy Zuttah (53) during the third quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA;Baltimore Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon (30) follows the blocks of wide receiver Kamar Aiken (11) and center Jeremy Zuttah (53) during the third quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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A Ground and Pound Baltimore Ravens Offense Would Not Be A Bad Idea:

The Ravens ignored their running backs in the 2016 season. There were multiple games where Kenneth Dixon or Terrance West were averaging over four yards per carry and they didn’t get enough touches. Joe Flacco threw the ball an ungodly amount of times and there was no balance to the Ravens offense.

Even if the Ravens want to be an air it out offense, how are they going to accomplish it. Their passing game lacks elite weapons. Flacco is not the type of quarterback who can do it all on his own. Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger are probably the only three quarterbacks in the league right now who can put a team completely on their back. Flacco just isn’t that guy. He needs a running game. He needs balance.

Kenneth Dixon Is A Game Changer

Kenneth Dixon looks like he will be a superstar. The Ravens could add another running back, or they could keep the tandem going with Terrance West. One thing is for certain, Dixon has a special skill-set and is primed to have a great career. Making Dixon and the running game the focal point of the offense is a good idea.

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Dixon is useful as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. When you get him the ball in the open field, good things happen. When Dixon touched the ball, everyone in the stadium got excited. We know what Dixon can do, the Ravens just have to let him do it.

Ryan Mink of the Baltimore Ravens official website wrote an article after interviewing Greg Roman. This is what he led with, his take home message:

"“The Ravens’ new senior offensive assistant/tight ends coach said the message he’s gotten from Head Coach John Harbaugh and Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is that the Ravens want to be balanced. With that said, they’re not going to be a ground-and-pound attack.”"

My question is why shouldn’t the Ravens go to the ground and pound offense? They need to upgrade massively at the wide receiver position. I doubt that the Ravens would go into the next season without addressing their needs at wide receiver. That being said, how much will they really fix it?

The Bottom Line:

In 2014 Joe Flacco had his best statistical season. He had 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. This was the most efficient and productive Flacco has ever been. Do you want to know something interesting? In that season he threw 118 less passes than he did in 2016. Flacco is like garlic. A dash of garlic is delicious, a ton of garlic can throw off the taste of an entire dish. It is not about taking the ball out of Flacco’s hands. It is about getting the most out of Flacco rather than asking him to do too much.

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The Ravens used to use Jamal Lewis as a workhorse. Baltimore went a long time without a quarterback. Everyone knew the running game was coming and the Ravens didn’t care. Now the Ravens have a franchise quarterback but they don’t have the weapons to be a pass first offense. The more they run the football the better off they will be.

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