ExtremeRavens Posted October 10 Posted October 10 The Ravens spent the entire offseason and summer talking about takeaways, forming their so-called identity around the idea that the defense isn’t truly dangerous until it snatches the football away. Five games in, that identity has yet to surface. Baltimore has just two takeaways, tied for second-fewest in the league and ahead of only the winless New York Jets. In all four of their losses, the Ravens have come up empty in the turnover column. At the current rate, Baltimore is on track to finish the season with just seven takeaways, which would tie the NFL record for fewest in a single season, set by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. “That’s crazy,” second-year defensive Zach Orr said Thursday of Baltimore’s takeaway drought dating nearly a month to Sept. 14. Crazy indeed. Takeaways, after all, have served as a foundation for the franchise’s most successful teams and most especially during both of the Ravens’ Super Bowl seasons. In 2000, the Ravens led the NFL with an overwhelming 49 takeaways, while in 2012, they tied for 10th with 25 takeaways en route to Baltimore’s second Lombardi Trophy. Those dominant, memorable defenses caused havoc and created extra possessions time and time again. This year’s defense, well … isn’t creating or stopping anything. Entering Week 6, the Ravens rank 32nd in the NFL in scoring defense (35.4 points per game), 31st in total defense (408.8 yards allowed per game), 31st in pass defense (262.6) and 29th in run defense (146.4). The lack of takeaways also is reflection of a unit that is struggling making impact plays elsewhere. The Ravens’ seven passes defensed are the fewest in the AFC North and second fewest in the conference. When the Ravens aren’t disrupting passing lanes, they’re often pushed down the field. Baltimore is credited with 38 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and has surrendered 121 first downs, most in the NFL. Orr suggested that early down failures as a root cause for many of the defense’s issues. “We have to get teams into more true drop-back situations,” he said. “Right now, we’re just letting offense be too comfortable, which is our own problem. So we have to be better at making offense uncomfortable by getting stops on early downs and forcing them into situations where they have to force the ball.” Two weeks ago, coach John Harbaugh said that he “wasn’t worried about our defense. Bitterly disappointed, sure. But we will be ready to play. I promise you.” Since then, the Ravens have added two more ugly defeats, only worsening their league-worst defensive ranking. The 177 points allowed by Baltimore are the most surrendered by any team in NFL history through the season’s first five weeks. The revolving door of personnel across the defense’s three levels hasn’t helped; five rookies started in last week’s historically embarrassing 44-10 home loss to Houston. But Orr, 33, still sees hope if his players show more urgency. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr addresses the media Thursday. Orr's unit has forced just two turnovers in five games. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) “I see that guys are in position for the most part,” he said. “Now it’s just time for us to go make our plays, like pull the trigger. Just being where I’m supposed to be at — it’s not good enough. Take chances. That’s the only way you’re going to make plays, is to take chances. ‘Scared money doesn’t make money.’ “We’re just encouraging our guys to go trust yourself … go make the play. I think that’s why we’re so confident that we can get this thing turned around, but we have to start doing it.” Some much-needed assistance could be coming soon. Veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who signed to the practice squad this week, has 18 career interceptions. Only a handful of players in the league have the reputation for being a ball-hawk like Gardner-Johnson. If he can get up to speed quickly with Orr’s scheme and avoid causing unnecessary controversy, Gardner-Johnson could provide a necessary spark. The Ravens also acquired safety Alohi Gilman (252 career tackles, 21 passes defensed, five interceptions, four forced fumbles) this week in a trade that sent 2021 first-round pick and underwhelming defensive end Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers. Baltimore’s defense currently doesn’t possess a defining trait. Because of the unit’s lack of competence, the offense has little room for error. Consider that a daunting task for an offense currently missing star quarterback Lamar Jackson because of a nagging hamstring injury that’s expected to sideline him for a second straight week this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Still, 12 regular-season games remain. Several predictor models and major sportsbooks still favor Baltimore to win the AFC North, a sign of belief in its softer post-bye schedule — and in Jackson’s expected return. Optimism only goes so far. Orr, viewed by many as an occupant on the hot seat, urgently suggests that the Ravens need to take more chances to create momentum swings, starting with the Rams on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. As polarizing a subject he’s developed into over the course of his brief tenure as the defense’s top coach, Orr is correct. Baltimore’s most dominant defenses once turned games with a single punch. Through the first 1 1/2 months of the season, the Ravens can’t land one. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article Quote
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