Ebony Bird
FanSided

3 ways the Baltimore Ravens 2020 season could go up in smoke

By Darin McCann

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 08: Marshal Yanda #73 of the Baltimore Ravens lines up against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 08: Marshal Yanda #73 of the Baltimore Ravens lines up against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 11: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball against the defense of the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 11: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball against the defense of the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

The center of the defense gets gashed:

I will die on the hill that the Ravens saved their season last year with the trade for Marcus Peters, and the signings of Josh Bynes and L.J. Fort. Peters, quite obviously, allowed the Ravens to present strength on the perimeter with him and Jimmy Smith, while the multi-talented Marlon Humphrey could fill the slot vacancy created by the injury of Tavon Young. This year, with Young presumably back, the cornerback position is one of the top units in the NFL — if not the best.

Bynes and Fort took the keys to Don Martindale’s defense from the moment they arrived, and they provided stability, accountability, and some playmaking to an area that had been gashed against Kansas City and Cleveland — and, to a lesser extent, against Arizona. The Ravens brought back Fort this year, but Bynes left for greener pastures (or, more green in his wallet).

Rookies Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison were drafted to fill the void created with the departure of Bynes, and the loss of CJ Mosley the year before. Both are extremely talented, though very different players and both figure to get on the field quite a bit their rookie years.

But what if they aren’t any good? Or, what if it takes them more than one season to grow into the players the Ravens believe they will become? I mean, that’s entirely fair, right, especially when considering rookies?

If teams can do what they want to the middle of the Ravens defense, and force Martindale to dedicate more pieces to that area, everything can go bad on that side of the ball very quickly. A drawn-up safety can expose the defense to big plays. A soft underbelly can allow teams to move methodically down the field, erasing the time-of-possession advantage the Ravens typically enjoy since Jackson took over.

Next. Why the Baltimore Ravens defensive draft picks have to be hits. dark

The Ravens should have a tremendous season — barring injuries and the virus, obviously. They are stacked on paper and have a very good coaching staff. But things go badly in a hurry in the league, and it can happen to the Ravens, too.

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