The Baltimore Ravens' loss to the Cleveland Browns stings, but all that they can do now is look for ways to get better. The team was already hoping to see a better version of their roster with some changes in week 10. What were the biggest differences, and will they stick around moving forward?
3. The Baltimore Ravens used Kyle Hamilton almost exclusively in the slot
The debate around the Baltimore Ravens all year has been whether or not the team should use Kyle Hamilton in the slot or back at strong safety. For the most part, the injuries around him have dictated his role.
In week three, injuries led him to play almost exclusively in the slot. It was arguably the best game of his career. In week nine, the return of Daryl Worley allowed the Ravens to mix and match who was in the slot, and in week 10, the return of Marcus Williams put Hamilton in the slot full-time.
The Ravens played Arthur Maulet a bit, but Hamilton almost every snap in the slot. Hamilton was great again, and he caused a pick-six to start the game.
Hamilton is consistently at his best in the slot, and while this was not their intention when they drafted him, they have to roll with it now. When the Ravens did have a slot on the field, they did sit Geno Stone and played Hamilton at safety, but this is a nickel league, so we will be seeing plenty of Hamilton in the slot.
This will get Marcus Williams and Geno Stone together at safety, which is the best group on paper. However, Stone played free safety to replace Williams, and now, with Williams back, neither is a great strong safety. Missed tackles from both was an issue on Sunday.
John Harbaugh expects Williams to get used to tackling more with his pec injury, and Stone has been progressing here. Does this continue?
2. The Baltimore Ravens asked more out of Zay Flowers
Sunday was the most that the Baltimore Ravens have asked to get out of Zay Flowers. His response was averaging 2.81 yards per route run, the best rate of his career.
The keyword here is routes run. Flowers has been good for the Ravens, but it is pretty notable how often his touches are schemed up. Screens, handoff, quick passes to get him the ball without working for it. 30% of his targets this year were screen passes.
On Sunday, he had six targets and caught five of the balls for 73 yards. None of them were designed touches. He had an average depth of target of 15, the second deepest rate of his career. Flowers also saw all five of his targets move the chains. For his career, 62.1% of his targets were within ten yards of the line, but that number was just 17% on Sunday. He had five targets beyond ten yards and caught four passes for 73 yards on them.
This was the best we have seen from Flowers in terms of usage. Now, will this continue, and will the Ravens keep putting more on his plate? You would assume so since he did so well, and the team needs one of these receivers to step up as the top dog.
1. The Baltimore Ravens are playing Keaton Mitchell more
Sunday was the curious case of Keaton Mitchell. Mitchell was the story of the first half, with a 39 yard touchdown run, and a 32 yard reception. However, the only time he touched the ball in the second half was for a loss. He had a chance to earn a target, but Lamar Jackson scrambled instead.
Either way, we started to see them work Mitchell in more. He went from 17% of the snaps played in week nine to 22% in week two. One of the big issues for Mitchell is pass protection, though.
He was playing in the first half, but a bad pass protection rep had the team lean back toward Justice Hill. Hill played 26% of the snaps, which is well below the 64% he played the week prior. However, he played 100% of the two-minute drill, and seven of his 13 snaps were two-minute or long down and distance, which is when the extra pass protection is needed. That was just two of the 11 snaps that Mitchell has played, and overall, he has just three snaps on the 26 career snaps in that situation.
Will the Baltimore Ravens get more used to using Mitchell on the obvious pass downs, or will his pass protection limitations keep Justice Hill involved in a three-man committee and keep Mitchell as a gadget player? We will find out soon.