2. Figuring out what they want to do at running back:
Serious question here: Who is the Ravens starting running back? Now who is the main running back? Because the Ravens don’t seem to know. Mark Ingram has 34 carries. Gus Edwards has 27 carries and J.K. Dobbins has 15. Against the Washington Football Team, all three running backs got a fairly even work load. Edwards and Ingram combined for 17 carries while Dobbins had five. The Ravens seemingly have a different running back in the game every time you blink. Not only does this prevent any running back from developing the hot hand, it may be hurting the rhythm of the offense.
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It’s obvious that the Ravens have a surplus of talent at the running back position. The problem is that none of the running backs have been given the chance to get anything going. So far the running backs aren’t factoring into the receiving game that much, and Ingram and Edwards are used in what seems to be the same kind of function. It doesn’t look like there is a method to the madness. It looks like an experiment. The Ravens either don’t know what they want from the running back spot, or their plan is just problematic.
In 2019 Ingram had 202 carries while Edwards had 133. There was a clear dichotomy here. You knew that Ingram was the starter, Edwards was the complementary number two running back. Now, the Ravens are acting as if they have two starting running backs. Edwards and Ingram are getting almost the same amount of touches. Dobbins then fills the role of the complementary number two back, yet the rotation of backs is almost random. If the Ravens can figure out the right balance this could be an incredibly potent trio. Right now, Jackson leads the Ravens in rushing attempts and rushing yards. Baltimore has so much talent at running back. They must make it all work together well.