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Baltimore Ravens: 3 2020 season predictions for defense

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 13: Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens in action against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 13: Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens in action against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND – AUGUST 18: Defensive end Calais Campbell #93 of the Baltimore Ravens trains during the Baltimore Ravens Training Camp at Under Armour Performance Center Baltimore Ravens on on August 18, 2020 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND – AUGUST 18: Defensive end Calais Campbell #93 of the Baltimore Ravens trains during the Baltimore Ravens Training Camp at Under Armour Performance Center Baltimore Ravens on on August 18, 2020 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

It’s starting to feel real. The 2020 season is just about here. Here are three predictions for the Baltimore Ravens defense:

1. Calais Campbell will lead the team in sacks:

The Baltimore Ravens have one player on their roster who has a single season with double digit sack totals. That player is not Matt Judon. That player certainly isn’t Tyus Bowser or Jaylon Ferguson. That player is Calais Campbell. Campbell had 10.5 sacks in 2018 and 14.5 sacks in 2017. We’ve already mentioned what he did last year and he’s good for at least five every year. The one player that you know is going to produce from a pass rushing standpoint is Campbell. While Matt Judon may give Campbell a run for his money, Campbell is the one player we already know can have a monster season for the Ravens.

The Ravens are hoping for Judon to take a step up this season. In fact there isn’t an outside linebacker that they don’t expect a step up from. Last year Judon got the purple and black nine and a half sacks. Tyus Bowser chipped in five. Jaylon Ferguson had two and a half. With any of these players, it would take a big leap for them to become the top sack provider for the defense. Most of the pass rush in a 3-4 defense comes from the outside linebacker position. If there isn’t a sure fire double digit sack artist here, then you have to look toward the defensive line.

On the defensive line you have more pass rush than you had last year. Other than Campbell, who is already established as a stud, you have Derek Wolfe. Wolfe is coming off a career high seven sacks in 2019. That’s good production but matching the best year of his career won’t get him the numbers needed to be the number one pass rusher. When looking for the top pass rusher it boils down to Judon vs. Campbell. Campbell is the player with the history of dominating in the NFL. By process of elimination you can take a good guess that Campbell will have more sacks than anybody else.

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