Ravens vs. Redskins Grades For Each Position Unit
By Brett Foote
Aug 23, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) is pressured by Baltimore Ravens tackle Timmy Jernigan (97) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Defense: A-
The offense may have been up and down, but the pass rush came alive Saturday night. After posting a whopping two sacks in the first two games combined, this Ravens defensive unit was constantly in the Redskin’s backfield. Recording sacks in game 3 were Timmy Jernigan, Terrence Brooks, and Elvis Dumervil. The team also tacked on a total of 7 QB hits as they constantly kept dishing out punishment.
It was by far Timmy Jernigan’s best game, as he added two QB hits to his one sack. The rookie is really growing into his role as a situational pass rusher quickly. Jernigan’s emergence, along with excellent play by fellow rookies Terrence Brooks and C.J. Mosley, should breath new life into what was once an aging unit.
The defense did a great job slowing down the Redskin’s rushing attack as well, which is a formidable task with the spry legs of both RG3 and Alfred Morris on the field. The Redskins were limited to 24 carries for 81 yards (3.4 average). That’s an impressive number, even with the sloppy field conditions.
Perhaps the most surprising development is how well the secondary held even though the Ravens were missing their top three corners. The pass rush obviously masked part of this deficiency, but the Ravens still held the Redskins passing game to a paltry 127 yards passing on 28 attempts for a horrible 4.1 yard per attempt average.