Ravens sign L.J. Fort; Baltimore needs Jimmy Smith, Brandon Williams back
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The 2-2 Baltimore Ravens signed inside linebacker L.J. Fort but what their defense really needs is Jimmy Smith and Brandon Williams back healthy for Week 5.
After the loss in Week 4 at home to the Cleveland Browns 40-25, the Baltimore Ravens fall to 2-2 and are now 2nd in the AFC North. The Ravens have the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 but they need their defense to wake up as they are a bottom ten in the league right now (ranked 8th worst). The Ravens offense is the best in the NFL currently (top rushing offense and ranked 7th in passing) but it cannot lean on their run-heavy gameplan when they are down big early in games and defenses are taking away the deep throws over the top.
While the run game has been the engine of their offense, it is a flaw in itself as it does not help get back into games when opposing teams have a large lead. Baltimore needs its defense to get back healthy, especially with veterans like Jimmy Smith and Brandon Williams. The Ravens have missed some of their former veterans (Terrell Suggs, C.J. Mosley, Eric Weddle, and Za’Darius Smith for example) that were not brought back in the offseason but they need their current investments in the secondary like Earl Thomas and Tony Jefferson to play up to their contracts.
The secondary other than Marlon Humphrey (who held Odell Beckham Jr. to two catches for 20 yards late in the game) needs Jimmy Smith more than ever.
Maurice Canady, who the Ravens cut but brought back to elevate him off the practice squad, had an interception early in the game and had a few nice moments in coverage. Without Tavon Young (who is on injured reserve), the nickel cornerback position has been an issue as both Anthony Averett and Brandon Carr (who both play inside and boundary) have had their struggles.
Veteran safeties Thomas and Jefferson are still having communication issues but the defense in general needs to execute better in general. With a below-average pass rush, getting Jimmy Smith back from an injury that he has been dealing with a week to week would help some of their issues. Lack of takeaways is also a problem that has to get better against better competition, as the offense needs more opportunities for drives and the defense needs to get off the field more.
Covering the other pass-catching option for opposing teams have been exploiting against the Chiefs but especially against the Browns with Jarvis Landry. This secondary will have to be ready against Juju Smith-Schuster, who was shut down with only three catches and 15 yards against the Bengals. I expect Humphrey to shadow him but rookie Diontae Johnson is also another receiver to not to be slept on, catching six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.
Brandon Williams, who was ruled out before gameday with an injury, showed why he is much needed in the interior of the Ravens defensive line.
Matt Judon is leading the team in sacks (with three) but with his inconsistency and nobody else stepping up (other than Pernell McPhee with two sacks), Baltimore is not going to mask their secondary issues by blitzing more. Even an average pass rush will come once the coverage is better but a bigger problem could be the run defense, as nobody on the defense play disciplined gap control and had problems tackling since Week 3.
Michael Pierce is still a promising piece but they need more from their other defensive lineman. The Ravens run defense had cracks and a few mishaps against the Chiefs with LeSean McCoy but Nick Chubb torched them and was the main offensive piece that was productive for the Browns. McCoy had only eight carries for 54 yards and a touchdown but Chubb was a whole different beast, rushing for 165 yards on the ground on 20 carries and three touchdowns on the day.
James Connor, who was not a big factor on the ground against Cincinnati (only 10 carries for 42 yards) had a huge day as a receiver; catching eight passes for 83 yards from Mason Rudolph and a touchdown. This Steelers team should not be ignored as the Ravens need to come out of Pittsburgh in Week 5 with a win. The offense relying on the defense for stops is just not Ravens football.
Baltimore Ravens sign veteran L.J. Fort to help out in the inside linebacker rotation and special teams as depth.
The Ravens needed inside linebacker help and they signed veteran journeyman L.J. Fort, someone who can give them depth at inside linebacker and a special teamer. Before he was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles this past offseason; Fort was with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and New England Patriots as a 29-year-old. He would not solve any of the Ravens defensive problems but they needed depth at a weak position group.
Patrick Onwuasor has not played well as the lead inside linebacker with the mic (as they gave Tony Jefferson the mic instead against the Browns) and neither Kenny Young nor Chris Board has done enough in the snaps they have played in the middle of the Ravens defense. With undrafted rookie Otaro Alaka going on injured reserve before the game, Baltimore needed another body at inside linebacker.
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Write about all things football; including the Baltimore Ravens (my favorite team), College Football, the NFL Draft, and other football related content.
