Baltimore Ravens: The pass rush looks deadly thus far in preseason

Despite solid production from the pass rush in 2017, the Ravens are hopeful that they’ll continue to improve in the sack department 2018.

The Baltimore Ravens accumulated 41 sacks as a team in 2017. 25.5 of those came from their edge rushers, roughly 62.2% of the team’s total sacks. 41 isn’t a bad number, but it can certainly be better. After all, the Ravens finished tied for 11th in the league for team sacks. For a Ravens defense that prides themselves on consistently being top ten in nearly every defensive category, that’s not enough.

But how much can we ask of the pass rush? Terrell Suggs is turning 36 in October and Matt Judon, probably isn’t ready to be the team’s ace pass rusher as it stands today. Meanwhile, guys like Tyus Bowser, Tim Williams, Kamalei Correa, and Za’Darius Smith remain intriguing, but no one stands out.

These were all thoughts prior to the 2018 preseason. Through two games, however, the above paragraph can be completely ignored.

Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams, just about everyone looked great. Suggs and Williams both had strip-sacks, while Judon added one of his own. The previous week in the Hall of Fame Game, Correa put on a clinic versus the Chicago Bears with three sacks, including a strip-sack of his own.

This is exactly the kind of production that gets you excited for the 2018 season. The Ravens defense a year ago was terrific, but if everyone stays healthy this year’s version could be even better. A great secondary, a massive defensive line, and one of the league’s top inside linebackers makes for a great defense. However, it’s the team’s pass rush that appears to be the showstopper in 2018.