OTL: Ravens’ Offensive Success Starts Up Front

The Ravens’ offense has been eating up the highlight shows and filling the mouths of talking heads the past several weeks, as the Lamar Jackson–Derrick Henry combo has become what many thought it could be, and the young pass-catchers are beginning to show off their own talents.

But offense starts up front. It always starts up front.

PFF’s rankings of the NFL’s offensive lines showed the Ravens currently at 9th, which seems to be something out of a science fiction novel if you only watched them the first two weeks of the season.

“Left tackle Ronnie Stanley did not allow a single pressure in Baltimore’s Week 7 win against Tampa Bay,” stated the article. “His 88.0 PFF pass-blocking grade ranks third among all offensive linemen this season, and his 90.1 pass-blocking grade places third at his position.”

And while Stanley’s return to dominant form has been a much-welcomed mild surprise, the growth of right guard Daniel Faalele from human turnstile to decent guard has been more breathtaking to watch take place in just a few short weeks.

“Whereas right guard Daniel Faalele surrendered six pressures in the first three games of the season, he has allowed just five pressures in his past four games,” per PFF. “His 75.4 PFF pass-blocking grade ranks 13th among guards over that span.”

But the real star of this year’s line is star center Tyler Linderbaum, as his 85.3 overall grade places him third among all centers.

Speaking of PFF, their year-to-date grades for the Ravens have some other positives, as well.

The top five highest-graded players on offense are probably who you’d want them to be — Henry, Jackson, Linderbaum, Stanley and Mark Andrews. If you could have picked who would be leading the way this season, those very well might have been your picks.

On the defensive side, the top five are Marlon Humphrey, Travis Jones, Kyle Hamilton, Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh. I would have probably liked to have seen Nnamdi Madubuike in that top five before the season, but Jones is filling that interior big-dog role quite well. The hope is Madubuike returns to form here in the second part of the season and gives the Ravens a dynamic one-tow punch inside heading into the playoffs.

The Sun’s Mike Preston shared his latest Q&A with his readers, and we got some interesting stuff out of it.

Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Trade talk, Derrick Henry usage and Zach Orr patience | COMMENTARY

Preston was asked if the Ravens should make a move for a corner, particularly with Marlon Humphrey injuring his knee the other night.

“… the Ravens recently got healthy cornerbacks returning in Arthur Maulet and Jalyn Armour-Davis, and both of those guys are decent,” wrote Preston. “They aren’t great, but they can help, and they are familiar with the system as opposed to bringing in a new player who has to adjust, which could take a week or two.

“A better trade might be for the Ravens to work a deal with the Carolina Panthers for outside linebacker-defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who had 9 1/2 sacks for the Ravens last season,” he continued. “Baltimore’s pass rush needs an upgrade, so why not make the deal for Clowney? He is 31, but worth the gamble. Pass rush and coverage in the secondary go hand-in-hand.”

Preston was also asked about the struggling defense and if that falls on the new coordinator, Zach Orr.

“It’s a combination of problems,” answered Preston. “Against Tampa Bay, the Bucs ran two or three passes with running backs out in the flat and the Ravens couldn’t stop it. That was a problem in the season opener versus Kansas City.

“I fault the scheme for the Ravens trying to match up middle linebacker Roquan Smith with a running back or a receiver because he doesn’t have that “kind of speed,” he continued. Where is weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson, who does? I also question Smith. He got picked on one play out of the same formation, but he should have seen it coming the next time. He didn’t. That’s on him.”

Another reader suggested that George Warhop should get a ton of credit for the improving offensive line, after he faced a tough situation coming in late this summer after the passing of longtime coach Joe D’Alessandris.

Preston credited a lot of the success on Stanley’s revival, but also did give some to Warhop.

“As far as Warhop, there were some people around the league who said he would come in and make changes that wouldn’t be proper,” explained Preston. “Maybe he did, but so far those changes have worked. The combination blocks have been excellent, and the Ravens have run outside, especially late in games, with authority.

“So yes, no complaints here,” said Preston. “It’s tough to come in and then try to fit in under unusual circumstances, but so far the line has improved, and that was the most suspect area heading into the season.”

Also of note:

Seahawks Add Former Ravens CB Damarion Williams to Practice Squad | Field Gulls

Seahawks Claim LB Josh Ross Off Waivers | Seahawks.com

Derrick Henry has been a dominant force through 7 games in Baltimore. Only 127-yards from 1,000 for the season, his utilization in the “I Formation” has been brutally & direct. Here are some of the concepts Todd Monken uses from a 70-year old platform to unleash Henry.#Ravens pic.twitter.com/vF2XZcFHsS

— All 22 Films (@All_22_NFL_Cuts) October 24, 2024

“We have 10 regular season games left… and we’ve got to keep building on it.” Harbs on the growth of the offense throughout the season pic.twitter.com/m0YABPf3I1

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 23, 2024

.@_KeatonMitchell back on the practice field pic.twitter.com/KGpLgHPyh9

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 23, 2024

Could @theantedwards_ tackle @KingHenry_2??

The King weighs in @espn pic.twitter.com/GwWEjvVpZN

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 23, 2024

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