The Baltimore Ravens have a leadership problem. Jesse Minter even admitted this after the Ravens gave up 35 unanswered points in the second half to the Cincinnati Bengals.
"We have guys that care and want to do it right, but there are also moments in the game where it’s like, ‘Who’s the guy that’s going to grab everybody and get them together on the sideline?’' Minter said. “As a team, we’re working through who that is. Who is that person? Who are those players? … I think there are moments where we need a little bit more.”
Thankfully, veteran tackle Ronnie Stanley is starting to help the Ravens fill this void. During Wednesday's media availability, Stanley spoke about how important it is for the Ravens to keep the energy up and how, before even talking to Minter, he met with some of his teammates to discuss the Ravens' struggles.
"I know a couple of us met together, after the game, and without him even having to tell us anything," Stanley said. "We talked about ourselves, and you know, just seeing kind of the energy that we had on the sideline when things aren't going our way is something that needs to change."
Ronnie Stanley is becoming the leader that the Baltimore Ravens need
Stanley talking with some of his teammates unprompted is exactly the type of leadership the Ravens need. Uncomfortable and honest conversations must be had for the Ravens to move past their constant late-game collapses.
The talent is there, but the Ravens struggle to execute. After Sunday's game, Stanley admitted that the Ravens tend to lose focus in late games.
Outside of Lamar Jackson, the Ravens don't have a calming presence or someone who can rally the troops when the going gets tough. Or at least, it's not clear who that person is.
Look, Jackson has been great in this role, but he can't be the lone leader and extension of the coaching staff. Stanley likewise noted that the Ravens can't be overly reliant on Jackson's return. Whether he's active or inactive, it needs to be a team effort.
Obviously, a big part of this is football issues. A lot of the Ravens' frequent late-game problems come down to fundamental football: missed tackles, blown blocks, blown coverage—you name it. And part of this comes down to a lack of leadership.
Stanley is the longest-tenured Ravens player and a respected voice in the locker room. While he's not a captain, he's part of the leadership team, and he's showing the exact type of leadership this team sorely needs.
The Ravens are 4-3. As we saw last year, they can't get to the playoffs on talent alone. If these late-game problems persist, the Ravens will find themselves either on the outside looking in on the playoffs or with an early playoff exit. As such, Stanley taking on more of a vocal leadership role is coming at a crucial time.
Look, I'm not saying that Stanley becoming more of a vocal leader will transform the Ravens' clutch time struggles. That would be unrealistic. Regardless, the Ravens clearly need some more leadership, and Stanley's comments are a promising sign. When the Ravens inevitably find themselves in another close game, Stanley could help stabilize them.
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