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Baltimore Ravens: Stopping Brandon Marshall Is Key

By Chris Schisler

Oct 17, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Jets 28-3. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Jets 28-3. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brandon Marshall Should Be A Concern For the Baltimore Ravens When They Play The Jets On Sunday:

The Baltimore Ravens must make stopping Brandon Marshall their number one priority against the New York Jets. Stuck on a 1-5 team, Brandon Marshall is one of the best receivers in football. If there is one player that can make a difference for the green and white, it’s Marshall.

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Marshall is coming off a three reception game with 70 yards. There were a couple of plays in which Marshall essentially schooled Patrick Peterson, who is one of the elite cornerbacks in the game. Marshall has a huge frame, and he can go up and get the football. Covering him tight isn’t always good enough.

Marshall has 27 receptions for 433 yards and two touchdowns this season. The stats don’t do him justice. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been the quarterback for the Jets and Marshall is a big fish in a small pond. There’s no place to hide, and with Eric Decker out it’s all on him.

The Ravens defense is doing pretty well this season. They may be coming off of their worst performance against the Giants, but it’s hard not to be confident in the defense. The Ravens offense had long lulls of doing nothing in that game. Eli Manning used a no huddle offense, that passed on almost every play. The defense got so much work in, that they were gassed in the second half.

Sep 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) looks on prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) looks on prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

The real key for the Ravens is the availability of Jimmy Smith. The Ravens top cornerback man handled Odell Beckham Jr. last week. Once Smith left the game with a concussion, Beckham went off. Jimmy Smith is listed as questionable on the injury report and hasn’t been a full participant in practice. We’ll see what happens.

If Smith isn’t available in this game the Ravens can not put any one cornerback on an island with Marshall. When you have a top tier receiver going up against an cornerback that’s just okay, big plays can happen. Dean Pees has to be creative. When he needs a little extra help he can have a linebacker help underneath and a safety over the top. The Ravens cannot allow Marshall to give the Jets big plays. Take him away and the Jets will struggle.

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This is clearly one of the things that the Ravens have to think about when they play the Jets. However it may not matter. Geno Smith is their quarterback. When you hear the name Geno Smith it’s not like you start shaking in fear. Pass rush can solve all the Ravens problems. When you look at the Ravens pass rush though, it hasn’t been productive. Adding to the concern that the Ravens are unable to get to the quarterback, Terrell Suggs will not be on the field Sunday.

Baltimore’s best bet is to take away the Jets best player. It seems like the Jets haven’t had a ton of big plays this season. However Marshall is averaging 16 yards per catch. When your opponent has this kind of a play-maker, you have to take him away.

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