ExtremeRavens Posted December 6, 2024 Posted December 6, 2024 Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions in the middle of each week throughout the Ravens season. After a home loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore (8-5) enters its bye week in second place in the AFC North while holding onto a wild-card playoff spot. Here’s Preston’s take on a handful of questions from readers: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) Pat Mekari is one of the most penalized offensive linemen in the league. How far is Andrew Voorhees from seeing the field? — Johnny DiBattista in Millsboro, Delaware The Ravens took off in the 2012 playoffs when Bryant McKinnie got out of Harbaugh’s doghouse and played left tackle, with Michael Oher moving to the right side. Will we see changes to the line with Ben Cleveland or Voorhees out there? — Mike Ginsberg on X When is Harbaugh going to stop being petty and get Mekari and Daniel Faalele out of the starting lineup against elite D-linemen? — 100Dejuan on X Gentlemen, let’s get serious. The Ravens are like most offensive lines: When they have a running game, it opens up the play-action passing game as well as the run-pass option (RPO) plays. I’ve mentioned that several times during the season. When there is no running game, the Ravens will struggle, as do most lines when the offense becomes predictable. You want to drive an offensive line crazy? Force them to play from behind when the team has to throw 70% to 90% of the time. No offensive line wants to be in that position. As I mentioned before and we saw on Sunday, the Ravens will struggle against good defensive lines. Look at their losses: All were to teams with good defensive lines that can get consistent pressure with the front four. Under coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens have struggled in pass protection. They want heavy, road-grading offensive linemen, but players like Faalele will struggle when the Ravens have to play from behind. And let’s be honest: Cleveland and Vorhees will not make this offensive line better — not at this point. Line play is about being in sync and knowing the rhythm of the player next to you, which is why the Ravens have one of the best run-blocking units in the NFL. Most teams have a weakness or two on the offensive line, and the Ravens are no different. That happens when a team pays a quarterback a lot of money, which the Ravens did to re-sign Lamar Jackson. It’s a risk most NFL teams are willing to take. Jackson certainly makes this offensive line look a lot better in pass protection when he is scrambling around. Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh pressures Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. (Staff) What are your thoughts on the team’s struggles in developing edge rushers? While Odafe Oweh has eight sacks, he is not a game-changer demanding double teams. — WordofJosh on X I agree, and for years wondered why the Ravens took him in the first round of the 2021 draft. I still can’t believe he didn’t have a sack in his final season at Penn State. Harbaugh said he expected Oweh and David Ojabo to have breakout seasons in 2024, but that hasn’t happened. Ojabo, taken in the second round of the 2022 draft, has had problems getting on the field regularly. He has more power than Oweh, but Oweh has more speed. Maybe they should combine skills and become the perfect edge rusher. Oweh has eight sacks, but that’s usually against bad competition or poor offensive tackles. He seems to play well in training camp, but his results are different during the regular season. The Ravens still have outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, but getting edge rushers has been a problem for this organization for years. Fortunately, the streak was broken with outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, who combined for 22 1/2 sacks in 2023. Seems like forever ago that we had a returner like Jacoby Jones, changing the momentum of a game with a breathtaking punt return. Tylan Wallace had a shining moment vs. the Rams last season, but there have been more games like at Cincy or vs. Eagles where he either muffs the punt or doesn’t field it and costs the Ravens crucial field position. See any changes being made there, or too late in the season for that now? — Paul in Orlando, Florida Sometimes, I think Wallace adds more to this team as a receiver than a return specialist. You are correct, Paul, Wallace has had his moments, but he struggles like the rest of the Ravens’ return specialists. They always seem hesitant about returning a punt or kickoff. It might be the coaching. I really don’t know the answer, but it has been going on for years. As for Wallace, he fumbled twice in the Eagles game. By the fourth quarter, he wanted to go nowhere near catching a punt. It was disappointing but hilarious at the same time. Like most people, I am mystified by Justin Tucker’s troubles. I can see three possibilities: Either he suddenly lost it, or he is hurt and is trying to kick while injured, or the holder is not doing a consistently good job. In your opinion, which is the most likely? — Al in Columbia All kickers fall into slumps. I’m not sure Tucker’s can be attributed to him just missing or being in the league for 13 years. Regardless, he seems to be overcompensating, which is why most of his attempts go wide left. I agree with Harbaugh, though. I’d stick with the unknown rather than bring in a new kicker at this point of the season. Plus, kickers are flakes by nature. Those frail egos can be damaged quickly. Mike, what is an agent’s involvement (if any) with the players and the team during the season? If there is a “less than performing player” or healthy scratch (a la Eddie Jackson, Marcus Williams, Diontae Johnson), is the agent notified to see if they can motivate their respective clients? I am sure that the Ravens’ management has to have a relationship with the various agents whether the players thrive or not in the organization. — Dan in Elkton Dan, you are correct. In my experience in dealing with agents, they always seem to know when their players are performing well or underachieving. The smart general managers know when to place a call to an agent to get his player(s) motivated. For the players you just mentioned, I firmly believe that football players are like the rest of us. One day they get up, and they just don’t have it anymore. It might be about motivation, money or age, but it happens to the best of us. Individually or as a team, what should the Ravens ask from Santa for Christmas? Will it be a short or long list? — Ed Helinski in Auburn, New York Ed, it’s a short list. This team needs to make it to the Super Bowl or at least play well in the conference title game. If not, it will be a long season for a lot of people, particularly the coaching staff. Have a question for Mike Preston? Email sports@baltsun.com with “Ravens mailbag” in the subject line and it could be answered in The Baltimore Sun. View the full article Quote
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