The Baltimore Ravens fell short of the ultimate goal. Now here are five positions the Ravens must address this offseason:
1. Interior Pass Rush:
The defensive line is the Baltimore Ravens biggest need going into the next season. The Ravens need difference makers up front for their defense. It’s not good enough to have run stopping defensive linemen, especially when a running back puts up nearly 200 yards on you in a playoff game. The Ravens need versatility out of their defensive line. When you look at Michael Pierce, Brandon Williams and Chris Wormley, their three main players for the defensive line, you see that they are all essentially one dimensional players. They are all big, physical space eaters without much explosiveness.
The Ravens couldn’t get pass rushers without blitzing. While the outside linebacker play has to be improved, it starts with the defensive line. If the Ravens had defensive ends who factored in more as pass rushers, life would be easier for the edge rushers. The Ravens have no interior pass rusher. Don Martindale had to create pressure, he couldn’t get it with a five man rush. Imagine how much fun the defense could have if Martindale didn’t have to waste all his creativity just to get a standard, half-decent pass rush.
Instead of shelling out big money to keep Michael Pierce, the Ravens should target a defensive lineman or two that can give them what they don’t already have. Two defensive linemen that come to mind are Derrick Wolfe from the Denver Broncos and Chris Jones from the Kansas City Chiefs. If they hit the free agency market, the Ravens need to bring in either one of them. This would give the Ravens more natural pass rush. It would give them the interior pass rush they flat-out don’t have.