Baltimore Ravens Highest and Lowest Rated Players Week Fifteen
By Brett Foote
Dec 14, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens tackle Timmy Jernigan (97) tackles Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Highest Rated Defensive Players: Daryl Smith (3.5), Rashaan Melvin (2.4), Lardarius Webb (2.3), Terrell Suggs (2.2), Brandon Williams (1.7)
Poor Blake Bortles has taken a beating this season, and he took another one Sunday. The Ravens racked up 15 hits and 8 sacks on the rookie signal caller as Suggs, Dumervil, and Jernigan set up camp in the Jaguars backfield all day. The only reason Dumervil and Jernigan didn’t make the top five is because the rest of the defense really played well. In fact, 12 of the 18 defensive players who took the field received a positive grade this week.
Rashaan Melvin is the real story this week, though he will get overshadowed a bit by the sack parade. Melvin stepped in as a full time player once Asa Jackson went down, and he played a heck of a game. Lardarius Webb wasn’t bad either and had perhaps his best game of the season. It’s easy when you’re facing a rookie QB who has no time to throw.
Smith’s late season run continues as he posted another excellent performance. Williams played only around 50% of the snaps but had three stops and a QB hurry.
Next: Lowest Rated Defensive Players: Anybody?