The Baltimore Ravens have to get back to what Ravens football is all about. They have to be physical and relentless. The Ravens have to own the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football.
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Taking care of your business up front makes everything easier in the NFL. Dominating the line of scrimmage on offense means a powerful rushing attack and a clean pocket for Joe Flacco. Dominance up front defensively means creating a new line of scrimmage in the backfield, pushing them back before they get going in the first place.
In 2014 the Ravens offense found a spark that helped the team take new heights. That spark came from the rushing attack. In Gary Kubiak’s offense the Ravens had more runs of over 20 yards or more than anybody in the NFL. This set up the entire attack for Joe Flacco.
The play-action passing game became available for the Ravens which led to a bunch of big throws from Flacco. It is crucial that the Ravens can reestablish that kind of dominance from their running game. This is another reason the Ravens need to be able to stretch the field vertically. If the defense is waiting to jump on the short pass, it is there to stop the run.
Injuries have served as the Ravens get out of jail card. It’s hard to pin fault on anybody because this excuse is more available than any excuse the Ravens had to offer. The Ravens front seven really took a hit when Terrell Suggs went down. That being said there was still plenty of talent up front for the Ravens. Terrell Suggs does a lot, he doesn’t drive the bus, cut the orange slices and every job on the defense. The point is he couldn’t do it all anyway so that doesn’t excuse the entire defense for everything.
Brandon Williams was a stud muffin. Brent Urban and Carl Davis showed flashes. Jernigan was inconsistent. Up front the Ravens defense got it together but was nothing special. This has to change. It will if Timmy Jernigan gives us his full potential. If we’re being honest Lawrence Guy was more consistent than the overly talented Jernigan and that is a problem.
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The Ravens have to dominate teams. They have to come out swinging from the first play to the last. As frustrating as this team could always be, it was the Ravens who have thrown the first punch. It was the Ravens who dominated at the line of scrimmage. It was the Ravens that forced their will on their opponents. The Ravens have to get back to this smash mouth style of football. It’s time to get back to Ravens football.