7 Baltimore Ravens who must step up against Tennessee Titans
3. Michael Pierce
Thought I was done talking about run defense? I’m going to be drilling this point in until the clocks hit all zeroes in the fourth quarter of the Divisional playoff game. Outside contain is important, however if Henry can just run dive plays up the middle all day, the Ravens will be in trouble. Pierce has to be the space eater of all space eaters in this game. He has to take up the rushing lanes in the middle like a Snorlax blocking the way to Lavender Town (I used a Pokemon reference and I’m quite okay with it).
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Henry is a cutback runner which means he’s always getting started one way and than going the other. Pierce has to be a gap sound enforcer in this game that takes away any notion of the cutback lane.
One of the most valid complaints about the Ravens defensive line is that they don’t add enough in the pass rushing department. They’re big, they’re powerful and they stop the run up the gut. This is one game where that is exactly what the Ravens need from the defensive line. If the Ravens are able to suffocate the Titans’ rushing attack, they will win this game. It’s never been more important for the Ravens to own the line of scrimmage. All I want from Pierce is for him to get in the Titans way. He must be the immovable object that meets their unstoppable force.