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3 things Baltimore Ravens must do against the Patriots

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Running Back Gus Edwards #35 of the Baltimore Ravens carries the ball during the first half against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on November 03, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Running Back Gus Edwards #35 of the Baltimore Ravens carries the ball during the first half against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on November 03, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Ravens
Aug 19, 2020; Owings Mills, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale watches defensive player drills during the morning session of training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Blitz more

The Baltimore Ravens will be without their best pass rusher in this game. Calais Campbell being out doesn’t help the Ravens get pass rush on Cam Newton. The Ravens won’t have the same kind of interior pass rush they’ve been accustomed to. Remember, while Campbell only has four sacks he makes a big difference with pressures and by getting his long arms in the way of the quarterback. That’s not something the Ravens are going to get out of anybody else, at least not in the same way. So what does that mean? The Ravens have to blitz more.

It’s also important to look at who the Ravens are playing. They’re playing Cam Newton, who isn’t quite the same player as he was when he took the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl. However, do you remember that Super Bowl? Newton, who had an MVP 2015 season looked like a different player against the pressure the Denver Broncos gave him. Baltimore has to go after Newton. This is the perfect game for Don Martindale to call elaborate blitzes and try to confuse the quarterback. Newton is trying to find the glory of his best years and that glory is probably over. If the Ravens want to win this game they have to make that point abundantly clear to the national audience.

When you put everything together for this defense, the game plan is fairly clear. The Ravens have to use the speed of their defensive backs and linebackers to force the issue for Cam Newton. Surely, the outside linebackers have to do their thing, but something has to make up for the absence of Campbell. A little more blitzing could be the trick, which is something Don Martindale is probably okay with. This is a game where the defensive coordinator can really make a difference.

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