
2. A problem getting the run game going:
The Ravens also are having problems running the football. The Ravens are averaging 94.4 yards rushing per game, which is 25th in the NFL. This is a little misleading though, because Lamar Jackson has a chunk of those yards. Jackson is averaging a healthy 4.5 yards per carry, while Collins is averaging less than four yards and Allen is picking up less than three yards per rush. The moral of the story is that if you’re a Ravens running back, you’re not getting the job done.
Like the Ravens inability to take the football away, this problem has sneaked up on the Ravens all of the sudden. The Ravens were great at running the football in 2017. That makes this problem hard to understand. Last year the Ravens had no Marshal Yanda and a horrible passing attack for much of the season. This year the passing attack is putting up some good numbers and yet the running game has dragged behind.
Greg Roman is still helping offensive coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg, with the run game. Alex Collins is still a dynamic talent. The biggest change has been with the offensive line. Alex Lewis has struggled as a run blocker and it has essentially roped off the left side for running the ball. Matt Skura has proven to be no Ryan Jensen and James Hurst is inconsistent to say the least. Collins has also demonstrated a lack of good ball carrier vision, which has prevented him from breaking bigger runs.