The Baltimore Ravens are sitting at 8-3, but even after a decisive win against the Cincinnati Bengals, there are vibes that the team can do better and more to close out the season. With the injury to Mark Andrews, they will have to make significant improvements across the board.
If the Ravens want to turn an 8-3 start into a playoff run, they need to get more from the following players.
5. Patrick Queen needs to improve his play for the Baltimore Ravens
One of the better storylines of the early part of the season was the play of Patrick Queen. His career changed when the Baltimore Ravens traded for Roquan Smith. It allowed him to think less and play faster as Smith would help him align, and he would take off from there.
Still, Queen has seen his play drop in recent weeks, and the last two games may have been the worst. It was under the spotlight because of the division games, but Queen has seen his play drop since week six when the team came back from their overseas travel.
From weeks seven through 11, he has ten missed tackles, when he had just three in the first six weeks. Also, PFF has him charged with 52 yards per game over the last five games. In the first six games, he was allowing just 23 yards per game in coverage. His worst game as a run defender was against Cleveland, and his worst game in coverage was against Cincinnati. That is a bad trend.
This had made the decision of what to do with Queen easier, as he is always likely to walk in free agency. Now, the team is realizing that they can save money and upgrade from Queen if they play it right.
When Queen was at his best, the defense was elite. Is it as good right now, and can Queen help get it back to the best status?
4. The Baltimore Ravens depth at cornerback will be tested
The Baltimore Ravens cornerback usage was interesting in week 11. The Ravens were without Marlon Humphrey, who has a calf injury, so they had three different cornerbacks get outside work to replace him.
Ronald Darby played 31 of the 61 snaps, Rock Ya-Sin played 19 snaps, and Jalyn Armour-Davis played 11. It was clear that the Ravens wanted to start Darby, who is the best cover cornerback of the three.
However, the Ravens have not allowed Darby to play a full game as this is the first year he is returning from an ACL injury, and he has a long track record of injuries. They want to keep him healthy, so they only play him for about half of the game.
The Ravens moved to Rock Ya-Sin at times, but he gave up a devastating pass interference when Jake Browning was in the game that led to a field goal. It was the only points Cincinnati scored until garbage time late when the score was 34-13, and Ya-Sin was almost solely responsible.
With Darby at his limit and Ya-Sin benched, the Ravens saw it as a good time to get Armour-Davis his first looks of the 2023 season. It is hard to take too much away from his play.
Between all three, the Ravens really just need one to step up, and it may not be long-term. Still, this is the second time this year that Humphrey will miss time with an injury, and the Ravens need to have depth at cornerback.
If it is Darby getting through a full game, Ya-Sin staying clean while also being his physical self, or Armour-Davis being a surprise leap candidate, they need some reliability here.
3. The Baltimore Ravens made Broderick Washington a healthy scratch
One of the bigger surprises of the game came right before the game. Broderick Washington, a depth lineman who had been playing about 40% of the snaps, was a healthy inactive for the game.
The Ravens needed the cornerback depth, but the move is surprising when you consider Washington signed an extension with the team this offseason, and the Ravens made Brent Urban active over Washington.
Washington has not been nearly as good this year as years past. His play has dropped, and the Ravens have played him less. He is down from 44.2% of the snaps last year to 40.9%. That will obviously plummet if he is not playing moving forward.
One of the strengths of the Ravens is their depth. Justin Madubuike and Michael Pierce are doing heavy lifting, but the next six weeks will require depth as they prepare for the playoffs. We need to see Washington get back on the field.
2. Is Marcus Williams improving with the Baltimore Ravens?
Marcus Williams is easing back into football after his pectoral injury. Williams chose to play through that pain rather than get season-ending surgery. So far, it has taken him time to adjust to playing through the pain.
Williams has not looked very willing to tackle. He started to make a few plays as the game went on, but during the Bengals' first scoring drive, he had a poor attempt on Joe Mixon.
The Ravens are going to need Williams to play better in this area. Geno Stone, like Williams, is better in coverage than he is as a tackler. The Baltimore Ravens have moved Kyle Hamilton into the slot, so they cannot have two safeties who are bad at tackling as their last line of defense.
Williams has moved around a lot more and has played in the box a bit more, with Geno Stone staying as the deep safety when the two are on the field together. This is asking a lot of Williams, but as the higher-paid safety, he needs to step up and make things work.
1. Can the Baltimore Ravens get three players to replace Mark Andrews?
The Baltimore Ravens are going to need a full team effort to replace Mark Andrews. Like cornerback, it may come down to three players having that chance. First is Isaiah Likely.
Likely had a great rookie season, but year two has not been nearly as good. A lot of that comes down to his lack of playing time. The Ravens have gone three wide receivers more, which means fewer tight ends.
Now, he will get his chance. The issue is that Andrews missed week one and then missed the game after just one drive on Thursday. In those two games, Likely has one catch for four yards.
To be fair, the game plan will now feature him as a starter. In week one, Andrews was a late inactive, and on Thursday he went down in the game. Still, Likely needs to play better.
If not, it will be Charlie Kolar. Kolar had one catch for 13 yards on Thursday and has played more in year two after an injury in his rookie season.
Lastly, Patrick Ricard must step up. Ricard went from lining up as an in-line tight end 49% of the time last season to 71% of the time this year. Todd Monken does not feature a fullback, but he does need a blocking tight end, and Likely nor Kolar bring that. So, we could see the Ravens lean into running the ball out of 11-personnel more, featuring Ricard as a tight end.