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2017 Baltimore Ravens: 3 reasons the defense will wreak havoc

By Chris Schisler

Nov 20, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) blocks against Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Brandon Williams (98) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) blocks against Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Brandon Williams (98) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 6, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) gets introduced prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) gets introduced prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Reason 3: You Can’t Double Team Everybody

The purple and black are going to put pressure on the quarterback. That’s a guarantee. They’re going to wreak havoc and make offensive coordinators worry. The Ravens defensive line is going to be insanely good. Brandon Williams is a dominant force in the middle. He will clog the inside running lanes and he’ll keep offensive linemen off linebackers blitzing up the gut. Bronson Kaufusi and Chris Wormley are going to win battles at the line of scrimmage; and they will add more pass rush than we’re used to seeing from defensive linemen. It’s a lot of confidence in two linemen who haven’t played a lick in the NFL, but I have it for a reason. They’re great athletes who dominated in the college ranks. The opposing offensive linemen have their hands full, and I haven’t even gotten to the linebackers.

Pass Rushers Galore

The Ravens have one of the all-time great players off the edge in Terrell Suggs. Suggs now has some help. Matt Judon had 4.5 sacks in his rookie season and Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser’s influence could make that look like chump change. Don’t forget C.J. Mosley and the defensive backs can get into the blitzing action too. With more speed and sure coverage in the back end, aggressive defense is going to manifest itself in many ways. Baltimore’s opponents will have to pick their poison. The Ravens went from not enough pass rush, to too much pass rush not to be successful.

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The defense is going to be a force for good in 2017. It’s going to be hard to score against the Ravens. That’s a good thing, because it could be hard for the Ravens offense to score as well. The defense is going to have to carry the team for another season in Baltimore. The good news is, they can.

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