On October 30, Baltimore Ravens’ fourth-round rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan was named Defensive Rookie of the Month for his outstanding play in October. He tallied 30 tackles and 0.5 sacks throughout the three-game stretch.
While there were questions about the decision to give Buchanan the award, as he had his fair share of struggles in coverage and filling running lanes, he had the chance to prove he deserved it on Thursday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins. He did just that in Baltimore’s 28-6 win.
Teddye Buchanan backs up award win with dominant defensive showing
Buchanan was a game-changer in the Ravens’ primetime victory. He finished the night with eight tackles, which was second on the team, and helped limit the big plays. With electric playmakers like running back De’Von Achane and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle threatening to break into the open field all game, Buchanan and company did a tremendous job at limiting the big play.
The 23-year-old also helped force a couple of turnovers. He assisted on safety Alohi Gilman’s forced fumble deep inside Miami’s own end. Later, he made a game-sealing play, forcing the ball out of wide receiver Malik Washington’s hands early in the fourth quarter.
While his mistakes were more obvious when All-Pro Roquan Smith was out with a hamstring injury, Smith’s return and safety Kyle Hamilton’s usage closer to the line of scrimmage have significantly improved the middle of the field. It has helped Buchanan take strides in the past two games, and his performance in Week 9 was another step forward for the fourth-round rookie.
In his press conference following Baltimore’s win on Thursday, Buchanan talked about the impact his coaches and teammates have had on his rookie campaign thus far.
“My teammates and coaches around me make it super easy for me,” Buchanan said. “They put me in really good spots, and the trust that they have in me allows me to play free and play fast.”
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Buchanan’s play was still below average against the Dolphins. Most of those struggles came in pass coverage (36.4 grade), but he was a force at the line of scrimmage. He registered a 51.9 defensive grade on Thursday night, but his run defense grade of 75.8 and tackling grade of 80.8 were two of his better outputs of the season. Each of those marks ranked top-five on the team in that game.
Buchanan still has a long way to go, obviously. He has a 49.4 PFF grade through nine weeks, including an abysmal 37.1 coverage grade. He still shows some hesitancy against the run at times, but that should change with more opportunities. Regardless, he is taking the steps to become a strong starting linebacker, and he shone in Miami.