A nationwide tv viewers that was electrified from watching the biggest comeback in NFL historical past was introduced shortly again to earth courtesy of the Baltimore Ravens’ offense. There was some stuff on the market to love by way of taking part in bodily on either side of the road, however there was so much to carry your nostril about.
Loads.
You understand how an ocean has numerous water? That sort of “so much.” That’s what we’re speaking about right here in the present day.
Let’s get to the grades:
Offense: F
It’s an F. Best grade of the yr. They produced three factors in opposition to a less-than-stellar protection, to be charitable. They failed time and time once more to generate factors when there was one thing going — with failed fourth-down makes an attempt, a red-zone decide, a fumble when a glimpse of optimism appeared, dangerous work with the clock… simply a lot ugly. And I give this grade understanding full nicely they rushed for 198 yards and seven.1 yards per rush. Are you aware how a lot you need to underperform to get an “F” whereas dashing for 198 yards on 7.1 yards per rush?
Quarterback: F
It wasn’t Tyler Huntley’s greatest day, although he wasn’t the one one at fault right here. He was 17-30 for 138 yards and an interception, and solely produced 4.6 yards per try. He is an efficient fast passer who can hit his again foot and throw, if that learn is there. If not, at the least in the present day, there was indecision, and at the least two sacks that had been Huntley operating out of bounds behind the road of scrimmage when he might have thrown it away for innocent incompletions. I appreciated the 19-yarder to Andrews on third-and-nine on the finish of the primary half to get off a subject aim try. There wasn’t a complete lot extra to love on the market.
Working Backs: A
JK Dobbins (125 yards on 13 carries) and Gus Edwards (55 yards on seven carries) had been the perfect gamers on the sector in the present day. They each ran by arm tackles and busted into the secondary time and time once more. Justice Hill made a pleasant play on a shovel cross on third and 13 within the second quarter, however obtained flagged for a false begin later. They did every little thing they may have completed in the present day. They need to have been given extra alternatives, however that wasn’t their fault.
Receivers: F
Demarcus Robinson had six catches — that’s the excellent news. He additionally had 29 yards and fumbled twice, dropping one. After having good chemistry with Huntley final season, Mark Andrews simply isn’t producing proper now, with three catches for 31 yards in the present day. James Proche had a troublesome, however catchable, ball undergo his arms on fourth down. Isaiah Possible appeared first rate on restricted alternatives, and DeSean Jackson obtained out-muscled on that interception. Devin Duvernay had a pleasant little catch-and-run for 19, however no person actually made an enormous play. In any respect.
Offensive Line: B+
There have been generally that Huntley obtained some strain, however his three sacks had been two scrambles out of bounds and one other tried scramble that obtained him wanting the sticks. These three sacks misplaced the Ravens 12 whole yards. They dominated within the run recreation, with the inside guys all making holes. I felt like Morgan Moses was in on a number of huge runs, together with Edwards’ 25-yarder within the first quarter, and Dobbins’ huge run to finish the third quarter.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh on what wants to alter: “We have to throw the ball higher.” He stated that’s the precedence.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 18, 2022
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Protection: B
The protection was not the issue, although they’d a pair alternatives to make a play, and couldn’t pull it off. They held Cleveland to at least one landing, 283 yards of offense and fared fairly nicely in opposition to an amazing operating workforce till it appeared like they ran out of fuel within the fourth quarter. They once more had been too free with protection on the finish of the primary half (sound acquainted?), and couldn’t power any turnovers, however they performed adequate to win.
Defensive Line: B
Broderick Washington had one other superb recreation, with 4 tackles and pushing again the Browns’ offensive line constantly. Calais Campbell once more appeared good, however his late harm is regarding. He has been good all yr. Justin Madubuike was fairly quiet, however Brent City stepped up, selecting up a sack and a pair tackles, to associate with a success on Watson one other play.
Linebackers: B
Roquan Smith had 11 tackles, six of them solo, and was lively as soon as once more. Patrick Queen had six stops, half a sack and a success, however was additionally crushed in protection on the Browns’ landing. It appeared like a zone learn the place he leaned the unsuitable method. Odafe Oweh mixed with Queen on that sack and had one other hit. Justin Houston had an enormous third-down sack that may have killed a drive, however obtained flagged for a face-mask. The Browns continued that drive and scored their landing. Malik Harrison had his greatest recreation shortly, with 4 tackles.
Defensive Backs: B-
They weren’t dangerous in protection, per se, however there have been too many simple throws. That was both lacking assignments or dangerous schematic selections — it’s arduous to inform on the printed view. Kyle Hamilton stood out, with seven tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, a cross damaged up within the pink zone and one other hit on Watson. He might need been the defensive participant of the sport. Marlon Humphrey had a really good cross break up on Amari Cooper within the pink zone, and Chuck Clark was in tight protection on an finish zone cross within the first half. Clark additionally had a low-key huge sort out on Chubb on a 19-yard run within the first half. That one appeared harmful.
Particular Groups: D-
It was clearly not an amazing day for kicking on the market, as each groups missed on two subject aim makes an attempt. Nonetheless, we count on Justin Tucker to be immune from that. Jordan Stout solely had one punt (which is wild for a workforce that scored three factors), nevertheless it was a pleasant 41-yarder contained in the Browns 15. Devin Duvernay continued his mini-slump, and I didn’t like his selections to run two balls out of the top zone.
Teaching: F
This was not a well-coached recreation, particularly offensively. Make no mistake — the gamers tousled sufficient instances to lose this recreation on their very own this week, however the offense didn’t at all times make sense. Dobbins and Edwards mixed for 180 yards on 20 carries, and solely had 20 carries. Sure, they obtained behind, however they appeared to overthink issues each time the run recreation would get the offense shifting, solely to place it again within the air and do one thing to screw up the drive. I appreciated the shovel cross to Hill, as a result of if it failed it might have been an incompletion. The jet sweep to Duvernay, nevertheless, resulted in a loss as a result of there was a fumble. That didn’t make sense. I felt like they need to have taken the factors on that opening possession, significantly in a recreation everybody anticipated to be a defensive battle.
