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Baltimore Ravens: First Quarter Report Card- Defense/Special Teams Edition

By Jake Lippman

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Patrick Queen #48 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with teammates after a play against the Cleveland Browns during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Patrick Queen #48 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with teammates after a play against the Cleveland Browns during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 28: Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens kicks a field goal during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium on September 28, 2020, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 28: Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens kicks a field goal during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium on September 28, 2020, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

Special Teams:

  • Justin Tucker– 8/8 FGA, Long 47, 14/14 XPA,
  • Sam Koch– 11 Punts,  507 yards, 46.1 average, 44.7 net average
  • Devin Duvernay– Seven returns, 238 return yards, 34 average yards per return, one touchdown

John Harbaugh the Ravens head coach is a former special teams coordinator under Andy Reid with the Eagles. He has an extensive career coaching special teams and a history of producing great units. The Ravens have always been solid and this year is no different. The coverage units have been sturdy on kickoffs and punts. While the return units have also produced good returns including a huge touchdown against the Chiefs. Whenever the Ravens unit is on the field look for them to produce.

Justin Tucker is the most accurate kicker in the history of the league and every time he kicks the ball, Ravens fans can feel good. He has yet to miss a kick this year and has yet to show his range although he can. Sam Koch has been one of the best punters in the league for years, reinvigorating the position with new kicks and great efficiency. His net average continues to grow and his numbers are amongst the league’s best. Koch, also the league’s most accurate passer of all time, completed his seventh pass to Miles Boykin last week to convert a fourth and nine. When Koch is in the game he is always changing the game whether it’s field position, first downs, or making returners struggle.

Next. Baltimore Ravens back into top-5 of latest Ebony Bird power rankings. dark

Moving forward the teams unit needs to continue producing, the players in the units may rotate slightly as injuries and playing time shifts, but as long as the unit continues to gell and work together they will do well. With rookie returners doing a good job, expect them to only improve with time. As the season continues look for more big plays on special teams that other teams cannot produce like the Ravens.

Grade- B+

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