ExtremeRavens Posted November 11 Posted November 11 What do Rashee Rice, Davante Adams, Cade Otton, Courtland Sutton and Ja’Marr Chase all have in common? If you’ve watched the Ravens this season the answer is easy. All had at least 100 yards receiving against Baltimore, and that doesn’t include Browns receiver Cedric Tillman, who had 99 yards and two touchdowns in last month’s stunner over the Ravens in Cleveland. Baltimore’s defense against Chase — or more appropriately lack thereof — was of course the most egregious. The Bengals star had 10 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5 in Cincinnati and last week scorched the M&T Bank Stadium grass for 264 yards and three touchdowns on 11 receptions. “We have to turn over every stone on that as a defensive staff,” coach John Harbaugh said last week. “We have to figure out a way to stop those plays from happening, because they shouldn’t be happening.” The Ravens (7-3) won both games against the Bengals, but it took quarterback Lamar Jackson needing to put on a cape (again) to avoid his own defense (again) snatching defeat from the jaws of victory after being shredded once more. “These wins are getting harder to enjoy based off of what we’re doing in the pass defense,” said visibly frustrated cornerback Marlon Humphrey after the game. “I feel like when I was a rookie – first-year guy, second-year guy – the vets I looked up to [and] the standard that was there and the pass defense … We’ve really lost that standard, and I feel like that falls on me.” Humphrey, who is in his eighth season and has played 251 snaps out wide and 181 in the slot, has easily been Baltimore’s best pass defender and one of the better cornerbacks in the league this season, ranking fifth overall in Pro Football Focus’ grades. The rest of the secondary — notably, cornerback Brandon Stephens and safety Marcus Williams — not so much. Not only are the 294.9 passing yards the Ravens are allowing per game the worst in the NFL, they are the most by more than 30 yards. What’s been the issue for a defense that only a season ago led the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game while also allowing the sixth-fewest passing yards? It hasn’t been just one — communication, missed tackles, players in the wrong spots or, according to one former player, players looking like there’s at times a lack of on-field trust among the group and an ineffective pass rush have all played a part. So, too, perhaps has all the coaching staff turnover. Aside from losing its former defensive wizard and coordinator Mike Macdonald (now the Seattle Seahawks coach) and veteran defensive line coach Anthony Weaver (Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator), Baltimore also lost defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson (Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator). While first-year Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr has taken his share of heat, it’s telling that Humphrey has publicly defended him twice, including after Sunday’s game. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey leads the team with four interceptions. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) “We’ve got to take the practice to the game,” said Humphrey, adding that the defense has been the little brothers of the team. “I think each guy has got to look at themselves in the mirror and figure out, ‘Why are you not playing how you practice something?’ You practice this route concept [and then in] the game, you don’t do it how you practice. It’s becoming more of a mental thing, I think, but we’ve got to get that fixed.” Meanwhile, the Titans entered Week 10 allowing the fewest passing yards per game (155.8) in the league after last season allowing the second-most per game (269.1). The Ravens’ secondary, which is helmed by assistant head coach/passing game coordinator Chris Hewitt, on the other hand is on pace to surrender a whopping 5,013 passing yards over 17 games this season. To put that in perspective, the 2015 New York Giants nearly became the first team in history to give up 300 yards passing per game when they averaged surrendering 298.9 yards per game over the 16-game season. Things likely won’t get any easier for the Ravens this week. Baltimore heads to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers (7-2) and quarterback Russell Wilson and receiver George Pickens (91 yards, one touchdown in a win over the Commanders on Sunday) with first place in the AFC North on the line. And it doesn’t end there. Among the remaining receivers the Ravens will face are Malik Nabers, Nico Collins, DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown and Pickens again. “I just don’t think [with us] playing like this we can go far,” Humphrey said. “It’s cool winning; it’s great we’re winning, but I want to go far. I want to go to the end. The way we’re playing … Something has got to change. We’ve just got to play better. I’ve got to play better; we’ve all got to play better. We’ve got to play as a unit, and we’re just not doing that. “[There’s] really nothing really more to say.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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