Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews is invaluable, however he isn’t irreplaceable.
The Ravens have been working since their star tight finish injured his ankle within the first quarter of Thursday evening’s recreation towards the Bengals on easy methods to put together for all times with out the sixth-year, three-time Pro Bowl performer.
Coach John Harbaugh mentioned Monday afternoon there may be an “outside chance” that Andrews might return earlier than the top of the season. Until then, the Ravens have to determine who will fill his sneakers.
That gained’t be straightforward.
Andrews has been quarterback Lamar Jackson’s major goal for the reason that two have been rookies in 2018. He has been Jackson’s favourite receiver each in the midst of the sector and contained in the pink zone, together with his 381 catches for 4,857 yards and 40 touchdowns as proof.
“We have a lot of guys that can step up and make plays — wide receivers, tight ends, running backs,” Harbaugh mentioned. “I really feel actually good concerning the guys which are going to — all collectively — fill in for Mark Andrews. Mark is such a competitor [and] such a expertise. He’s a famous person participant.
“It’s impossible to replace him, per se; we have to replace him together, as a group, and I really believe we can do it. And then when he gets back, we’ll just be that much stronger for it — whenever that is.”
The hardest a part of Andrews’ recreation to interchange isn’t his capacity as a receiver however his blocking. He had labored laborious to enhance since his rookie season and is likely one of the fundamental causes that the Ravens enter Sunday’s recreation towards the Los Angeles Chargers averaging 155 yards speeding yards per recreation.
Harbaugh spent a variety of time lately build up reserve tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, noting that each had improved their blocking in-line, on the perimeter and in move safety, however that was solely to construct their confidence.
Neither second-year tight finish has blocked effectively. Likely has struggled to remain on blocks, and Kolar hasn’t been bodily on the level of assault regardless of his 6-foot-6 body and weighing 257 kilos.
The subsequent most suitable choice could be the Ravens’ finest.
They can use versatile 6-3, 305-pound fullback Patrick Ricard as a decent finish or In the backfield. He loves contact and may nonetheless function a lead or “wham” blocker and is right for goal-line or short-yardage conditions.
There is a certain quantity of predictability when Ricard enters a recreation, however the lack of Andrews is much from supreme. Ricard isn’t going to idiot anybody together with his pass-catching capacity downfield, however each Likely and Kolar have been inconsistent holding onto the ball.
With Likely, it appears to be extra about his confidence. He was the star of the 2022 preseason till Harbaugh overtly criticized him for lacking blocks, after which he disappeared for many of the common season.
He had 4 catches for 42 yards within the Ravens’ 33-31 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 12 then disappeared after he missed a block on what was a 7-yard loss on a reverse to operating again Keaton Mitchell.
Likely wasn’t focused in any respect within the 34-20 win towards the Bengals on Thursday evening. Kolar had one reception for 13 yards.
Unlike earlier years, although, when the Ravens had veterans corresponding to Demarcus Robinson and DeSean Jackson who have been previous their primes, Baltimore has choices.
They ought to maintain Rashod Bateman exterior due to his peak and velocity. They ought to maintain Odell Beckham Jr. within the slot as a result of, despite the fact that he doesn’t have the velocity he as soon as had, he’s nonetheless a troublesome matchup for any No. 3 or 4 cornerbacks or safeties.
The Ravens can do something they need with rookie receiver Zay Flowers, who can line up inside or exterior and share a spot with both Nelson Agholor or Devin Duvernay, relying on the matchup.
The Ravens have an abundance of velocity, and that’s the aspect that may’t be coached in any sport. Harbaugh hasn’t dominated out utilizing completely different receiver packages, both.
“Everything is on the table, for sure — more wide receivers,” he mentioned. “We’re going to play these guys [and] these tight ends greater than they’ve performed, for certain. [We’re] going to combine it up.
“You get forced into certain kinds of groups based on what your roster looks like. But really, I do believe, more than we have been in recent memory, we’re probably more prepared to deal with something like this than we have been.”
The Ravens must maintain getting the ball to their receivers and to Mitchell in area. They must maintain operating these slants, hitches and fast passes — passes that Jackson has been correct with.
It doesn’t must be a high-octane passing recreation, nevertheless it wants to offer a risk and provides the Ravens some semblance of stability.
In years previous, the lack of Andrews could be devastating. It’s nonetheless vital, however nowhere close to as pricey.
They can nonetheless win.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com