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Baltimore Ravens: 3 keys to returning to the postseason

By Isaiah Stumpf

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 3: Outside Linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a sack in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 3: Outside Linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a sack in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 20: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 20, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 20: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 20, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Fans and players alike are hoping for playoff football to make its return here in Charm City. Let’s take a look at how that can happen.

For four of the last five the seasons, the Ravens have been on the outside looking on when it comes to the playoffs. Each of the last two seasons, they have been within one stop of possibly reaching the postseason. The hype for this year’s team is as high as its been in some time.

3. Play aggressive on both sides of the ball:

This one applies to both the players and the coordinators. Too many times last season you saw conservative play calling, whether it was on offense or defense. In today’s NFL you have to be an aggressive play caller on both sides, especially with these being a passing league. With so many high-powered offensive and defensive teams you have to be able to step on the gas at any given moment no matter which side of the line you’re on and the Ravens seemed to fail on both at times last year.

On the offensive side there were too many times where Joe’s arm wasn’t used to the advantage it proposes. Deep play accuracy. Joe has a huge arm and Morhninweg failed to use that to the team’s advantage last season and Flacco didn’t seem to take as many deep shots as he did in the beginning portion of his career and hasn’t for quite some time.

Last season Joe was second to last on average completed air yards which shows the average air yards a passer throws on a completion, in which Joe had an average of 4.4 yards. Flacco also finished 38th out of 42 quarterbacks in air yards to the sticks which measures the amount of yards ahead or behind he first down marker on all attempts for a passer. He finished with a measure of -2.2 which means Flacco threw the ball two yards behind the first down marker on average. That has to change if this offense wants to improve and take the top off of defenses as it has in the past.

On the other side of the ball the Ravens defense seems as if it’s going to be just as good or possibly even more dominant than last season. The only issue with last year’s team was the reason the Ravens did not make the playoffs. They were extremely diffident when the game was on the line. Now most of this I feel falls on than defensive coordinator Dean Pees. Pees always called a prevent style defense whenever the team was leading. I understand the issue with not wanting to give up the big play, but Pees focused way to much on that aspect, that he didn’t allow his play-makers to do just that.

He would drop seven and only bring a four man rush. Ultimately that finally came back to bite him when it mattered the absolute most. In game sixteen, fourth and twelve, we all remember what happened next. But now with Pees out and Martindale in there’s hope that the play style will change and Martindale will allow the defense to step on the necks of opposing offenses when needed.

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