Michael Pierce showing up to training camp overweight and out-of-shape is bad press in itself, but it could turn into a huge issue for the Baltimore Ravens.
When people talk about the Baltimore Ravens defense, guys like Marlon Humphrey and Earl Thomas are the first names who come to mind, followed closely by Brandon Williams. Not many casual fans will mention Michael Pierce, despite his elite level of play since making the team as an undrafted rookie free agent back in 2016.
Michael Pierce has proven to be one of the Ravens best examples of finding undrafted gems and turning them into stars. Pierce’s work in the trenches largely goes unnoticed by the media because of his lack of production in the sacks category, but everyone who plays against him knows how dominant he can be.
That’s why when news broke that Michael Pierce was removed from practice because of a lack of proper conditioning, it was widely discussed throughout the league.
A lot of factors roll into this news, especially concerning Pierce’s hopes for a big-contract following 2019. More than anything, we have to wonder how Pierce even got to this point and whether or not this will be an ongoing problem. This is not only a pressing issue for Pierce, but for Baltimore’s defense entirely.
Pierce’s play in the trenches has been one of the Ravens best secret weapons on defense. Pierce’s massive strength makes him more than a handful for any offensive lineman, and he simply swallows lanes as quickly as they open. Matching Pierce with the aforementioned Brandon Williams is almost entirely unfair and is nearly impossible to replicate.
With no offense to the other talented defensive linemen the Ravens possess, Michael Pierce is just that much better. If Pierce were to have another strong season this year, there’s no doubt he would get a huge payday this off-season with any team in the NFL, and Baltimore would miss him sorely. But, with how Pierce has apparently conditioned himself this off-season (or lack thereof), he might be in for a harsh setback.
Unfortunately, Pierce will be far from the only person to pay for this misstep, should it linger into the regular season. His partner in crime, Williams, will once again face double-teams more consistently and could be washed aside. Linebackers like Patrick Onwuasor and Kenny Young could also be swept away in traffic in a season where they need to step-up and develop.
The pass rush will struggle because the pocket won’t collapse as effectively as it would with Michael Pierce on the field… Simply put, Pierce’s lack of conditioning is a massive red-flag and could put the entire defense in jeopardy.
Not many would expect a nose tackle to be a breaking point for a defense, but for the Baltimore Ravens that could be a reality if Michael Pierce doesn’t get back to his old-self. There’s still time between now and the regular season, but Pierce has to get it together. If he can’t, a lot of people are going to learn fast how important of a role Pierce played for this defense.