Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans: Purple Friday Q&A week 2

Lots of questions about the outside linebackers:

Now I’m going to do something a little different here. I have four people asking about either the pass rush or the outside linebackers. The answers overlap a bit. So let’s tackle this together.

• @edthehead84 wants to know about the possibility of trading for an outside linebacker, specifically what a third or a fourth round pick could get Baltimore.
• @Topnot62 wants to know how the Ravens can generate more pass rush
• @DJ_BMORE wants to know if an outside linebacker will make an impact in this game
• @Titz_Magee_ thinks Matt Judon got schooled on Sunday, and wants to know if that’s the reason the Ravens went with more nickel and dime packages in the second half.

Answers: Well Ed, I have a hard time imagining a trade for an outside linebacker at this point, yet Eric DeCosta is one general manager who can surprise us. The Vikings got Yannick Ngakoue for a second and a future fifth round pick. Jadeveon Clowney has signed with the Tennessee Titans and this kind of concludes the disgruntled or misplaced edge rusher saga. Look towards tanking teams as the season goes on. I wouldn’t mind trading a sixth or a seventh round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for Arden Key. They have players in front of him, so he may be expendable and he still has potential. Sorry, if this isn’t a thrilling answer but it’s what I got.

I don’t think Judon was terrible on Sunday and I think it’s too early to be worried about his output. That being said he only had two tackles and didn’t get near Baker Mayfield much, which is the number one thing he is paid to do. It wasn’t a great performance, I’ll give you that. The Ravens went to more sub package looks because the Browns were playing catch up and they needed more defensive backs on the field. It is frustrating that Mayfield was only sacked twice in the game. Being up multiple touchdowns in the second half if a perfect example of a time where a franchise tagged edge rusher should get his. Judon didn’t.

So will Judon make an impact against the Texans? You would certainly hope so. The one player I think will have the big day however is Tyus Bowser. Bowser sacked Mayfield in the opener and looked like he had gotten a little more efficient with his pass rush moves. The Texans have Laremy Tunsil, who is supposed to be one of the best left tackles in football. Tytus Howard (who is listed as questionable) isn’t that great. Bowser should get chances to get after Watson in this game and if he plays like he did against the Browns it may show up more in the box score.

So how do the Ravens create pressure on the quarterback if we have so many questions about their outside linebackers? This is a fair question. The first thing is the Ravens will get more and more out of Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe as the season progresses, so that will help. Campbell tipped three passes but he’s capable of being more dominant than he was in the opener as a pass rusher. Let’s not count on that though. Let’s create pressure. The first thing I would do if I was Don Martindale is that I would blitz Patrick Queen more. He’s an unbelievably fast blitzing linebacker. He’s going to have six or seven sacks on the season.

The next thing I would do, is get the defensive backs involved in the blitzing. Maybe bring the nickel cornerback. Maybe blitz Chuck Clark a bit. Don’t just blitz to blitz though, do it smart. If I’m the Ravens I’m overloading the side of the line with Calais Campbell on it. Line up Campbell on the offensive tackle. Blitz a safety. Have the outside linebacker come hard and fast at the quarterback and loop Queen over to occupy the guard. Somebody is getting free and if you call it at the right time it will work. Overload blitzes and more defensive backs getting involved may just be the trick.