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Ravens: Aggressive defense could come with some trade offs

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Defensive End Za'Darius Smith #90 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Defensive End Za'Darius Smith #90 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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All offseason long we have heard how Don Martindale wants to be more aggressive with the defense. This could be a good thing but it will come with some trade offs:

Bringing a more aggressive defense to Baltimore will be a breath of fresh air. With a new defensive coordinator, there comes a chance to change things up for the first time in quite a while. Dean Pees bend but don’t break approach became as tired as coming up short late in the season. Pees very much owns these failures. He decided that a prevent defense was going to save the day on Christmas in 2016, but all it did was give Ben Roethlisberger the chance to carve the Ravens up. 2017 had the 4th & 12 debacle.

The Ravens want to be more aggressive on defense, because that is where the big plays can come from. Sacks, fumbles, interceptions, these are the things that a great defense that gets after it can bring. The problem is it is always a balancing act between risk and reward. Blitzing takes defensive players out of pass coverage.

Pees always wanted to get as much pressure as he could with a three to five man rush so that he could have more help in the pass defense. It worked when he had constant pressure from the outside linebackers. It did not work when an offensive line was able to stifle the pass rushers of the purple and black.

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One of the benefits of the bend and don’t break philosophy is that it came with great red zone defense. Shutouts are hard, more often than not points are going on the scoreboard. In today’s NFL, field goals shouldn’t beat you. Pees had a habit of calling a defense that kept everything in front of the defense. Pees decided that the slow death was the one his defense could risk.

The take home point:

A more blitz happy defense could provide big plays, but it could also get the Ravens beat quick. When the defense takes a shot, it often sets up a shot for the opposing offense. The Ravens being more aggressive will put more pressure on the secondary. While the Ravens secondary is good enough to be tested, stretching the defensive backs limits can be a mistake.

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The Ravens want to be more aggressive because they want the defense to be the reason they win, rather than the reason for a last second defeat. This will be a change for the better, but if Martindale does not switch it up, and play to the best of both strategies, the defense could give up some very costly plays.

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