Baltimore Ravens: Offseason Panic Mode 2021 Edition
The Baltimore Ravens just came off one of their best seasons in 2020. Their turnaround was fairly quick after a few bad seasons and they look to be steady competitors for a while. Despite all their success, there’s still plenty of reason to be in panic mode going into the 2021 offseason.
Is Lamar Jackson It?
By now you have to wonder if the young QB is the guy to get the job done. That’s not saying he’s a bad quarterback, he has the talent to succeed in this league. It’s hard to question Jackson after getting the Ravens to the playoffs and losing to a good Bills team. However, it’s not the first time Jackson came up short in clutch situations. He’s playing well enough against good teams but underperforming against great ones. He’s gotta find that next level.
Finding Balance
While the Ravens lead the NFL in rushing yards, the passing game was not so fortunate. Having a quarterback who can run as well as his running backs challenges defenses to cover the entire field, but only if he can pass as well. Coming in dead last in the NFL’s passing yards won’t keep up with the high-powered offenses that ran through this year’s playoffs. If Baltimore wants to be competitive they need to focus on big plays through the air as well.
More NFL: Cleveland Browns: Offseason Panic Mode
Cleveland Catching Up?
Before this year, the Ravens had to constantly battle the Steelers for the division. The back and forth between the two lead to an interesting stretch in the final few games of each season. With the status of Ben Roethlisberger still up in the air the Steelers might be on the decline. Even though they finished a 12-win team, a weak schedule lead them to the division title.
The real problem Baltimore faces while being on the rise is just how serious do they have to take the Browns. Could they be the team with the talent that keeps pushing Baltimore to be on their A-game? They could have just had a fluke season, but unless they go full tilt and panic sell their top players, Cleveland has a pretty solid core. If the Ravens get too complacent they might not be able to secure the top spot.
Defensive Gap Filler
Remember back in the day when the Ravens had a defense to be feared? They still have a decent defense but they could use a few big bodies front and center to fill out their line. Despite blitzing almost 50% of their downs, more than any other team, they were in the middle of the pack in both sacks and QB hurries. On top of that, other than the Las Vegas Raiders, the Ravens were at the top of the league in missed tackles in 2020. Getting a bruiser up front who can put pressure on a QB, get sacks, and stop a runner in his tracks should be a priority.
The Ravens have little to worry about this offseason, but their job isn’t done. While they have the right pieces in place, their shortcomings are more than a few minor misfires. Not being able to pass the football and missed tackles will keep them from topping out their potential if they don’t come up with a quick fix.
Rick ODonnell aka Caveman Rick has many years covering the Miami Dolphins, Sports, and all sorts of movies and television.
