When Cincinnati Bengals large receiver Tee Higgins jumped over a pair of Kansas City Chiefs defenders on a again shoulder throw for a 27-yard landing within the third quarter of Sunday’s AFC championship recreation, it most likely set off numerous wishful pondering in Baltimore.
What if the Ravens had only one receiver as tall, quick or proficient because the 6-foot-4 Higgins?
That play confirmed the most important distinction between the elite groups and the Ravens: They have influence gamers, and the Ravens don’t have sufficient.
Three of the ultimate 4 groups have high quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts. If you want cross rushers, there’s Kansas City’s Chris Jones, San Francisco’s Joey Bosa and Philadelphia’s Haason Reddick. Cincinnati has receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins, the Chiefs have tight finish Travis Kelce and the Eagles have large receiver A.J. Brown.
The 49ers have the most effective protection within the recreation with Bosa and inside linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, whereas the Ravens have just one influence participant in center linebacker Roquan Smith.
That’s it, of us.
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, defensive sort out Calais Campbell and quarterback Lamar Jackson make important contributions, however accidents have pressured Campbell and Jackson to overlook substantial taking part in time the previous two seasons.
There are some who consider the Ravens are near being high contenders and that’s most likely the case with most fan bases heading into subsequent season. But till confirmed in any other case, the Ravens are merely the most effective of the common groups in a league dominated by mediocrity.
There is an opportunity they will make up floor on groups like Buffalo, Cincinnati and Kansas City within the AFC by free company, trades and the draft, however it takes time for these plans to return collectively, even with a 17-game common season.
With the Ravens, it’s the identical offseason story yearly. Since transferring to Baltimore from Cleveland for the beginning of the 1996 season, there was hypothesis the group may choose a receiver with its high decide within the draft. But there are two main issues: the Ravens have but to rent an offensive coordinator to exchange Greg Roman, they usually haven’t traded Jackson or signed him to a long-term contract.
Finding an excellent offensive coordinator received’t be simple. Coach John Harbaugh has already mentioned the Ravens will keep on with their run-first id, which is smart due to the expertise invested in constructing round Jackson and the working recreation.
But in case you’re a seasoned veteran with a dominant persona like former Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, would you come to Baltimore and permit Harbaugh to dictate phrases? Maybe the Ravens have to show to a younger coordinator popping out of the faculty ranks who is aware of rather a lot about unfold offense and run-pass possibility performs or rent a “yes man” already on the teaching employees.
What occurs with Jackson?
There are questions on his work ethic and sturdiness after he missed the group’s last six video games with a sprained knee, together with the wild-card playoff loss towards Cincinnati. The Ravens are anticipated to make use of the unique franchise tag on Jackson if the perimeters can’t come to a long-term settlement earlier than the March 7 deadline, however they may even pursue commerce choices. The Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers make sense as commerce companions, and the Ravens will most likely need two first- and two second-round draft picks in alternate for Jackson.
Once the Ravens get an offensive coordinator and attain some sort of settlement with Jackson, then it’s on to the subsequent step, the draft. They want a receiver like TCU’s Quentin Johnston or a cornerback like Miami’s Tyrique Stevenson or Maryland’s Jakorian Bennett. They doubtless want an offensive lineman to exchange left guard Ben Powers, who is predicted to maneuver on when he receives a profitable contract provide in free company.
But bear in mind, few rookies are available in and dominate immediately. Even Hall of Famers like linebacker Ray Lewis and security Ed Reed had studying curves that lasted a yr or two.
There has been numerous hypothesis that the Ravens may purchase Arizona Cardinals large receiver DeAndre Hopkins, however how do the Ravens pay him, Smith and probably Jackson? The Ravens most likely can’t cope with Hopkins’ high-maintenance persona, both.
There aren’t as many openings on protection. The Ravens have their coordinator in place in Mike Macdonald and the centerpiece to construct round in Smith, who signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension Jan. 10. But the Ravens are fooling themselves if they continue to be established order.
If they wish to turn out to be a very nice protection, they should get constant stress from their entrance 4 as a substitute of counting on blitzes. They don’t have an enormous, bodily, quick cornerback who makes a speciality of press protection. Humphrey can deal with it to a sure diploma, however he’s higher close to the road of scrimmage than in area.
This all sounds acquainted, doesn’t it? The Ravens must develop a passing recreation. They must discover a big-play receiver. They want dominant cross rusher.
Despite all of that, the Ravens have been capable of win 10, 11 or 12 video games a yr, which is a tribute to their scouting division and entrance workplace for having the ability to discover depth. Now, this group is in want of some dwelling run hitters.
Even if that occurs, it’s going to require numerous endurance and timing to maneuver into the highest tier of NFL groups. Like they are saying, nothing occurs in a single day.
There aren’t any ensures, solely wishful pondering.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
